《The Best Actor Insists On Living With Me!》 Chapter 1 - Chapter 1: Chapter 1 Gossip Queen (1) Chapter 1: Chapter 1 Gossip Queen (1) Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Is she still going to come tonight?¡± In the guest holding area outside the red carpet, a PD (director) looked puzzled. Someone beside him glanced at the time, ¡°She probably won¡¯t. Isn¡¯t she scheduled third from last? The penultimate one is about to go on stage, and there¡¯s still no news of her.¡± ¡°True, with such a big incident, her team is busy with public relations. Heard her business endorsements have all been urgently halted, and the movies and variety shows waiting to air had to be postponed. Maybe it¡¯s not that she doesn¡¯t want to show up, but the production crew won¡¯t let her.¡± ¡°Such a pity, if she did come, it would absolutely be a scene of blood and thunder. Look now, even though she¡¯s not here, her name has already surged to the top of the trending searches.¡± To the side, a black Maybach glided past slowly, with a man sitting in the backseat disinterestedly. The two staff members¡¯ discussion didn¡¯t stir any emotions in him, as if he hadn¡¯t heard it at all. Instead, it was Shang Feifei, the actress from the same crew, who opened Weibo. #Xia Siyu Red Carpet# #Xia Siyu Gold Oscar Film Festival# Both terms had made it to the hot search, and their ranking climbed rapidly before the eyes. Of course, firmly above these two terms was another name¡ª#Bo Yan#. Which was the name of the man beside her. Bo Yan, twenty-nine years old. The young master of the Bo family in Yancheng. He burst onto the acting scene at the age of twenty-six, for one reason only¡ªhe was simply too handsome. Bo Yan used to be a university lecturer, invited to a film academy for an academic exchange, wearing a white shirt, carrying textbooks strolling through the campus, he instantly caused a sensation. He wasn¡¯t just good-looking, his acting was impressive too. He won Best Newcomer with his first film, and took home the Gold Oscar for Best Actor with his third. It¡¯s inevitable for celebrities to be gossiped about their love lives, but Bo Yan seemed to be immune to scandals. No matter how deep and faithful his interactions with female actresses in the movies, he maintained his distance outside of work. In three years since his debut, no matter how closely the paparazzi followed him, they failed to catch any scandals. ¡­ The car soon arrived at the designated spot, Bo Yan was the last guest to arrive. In the boisterous night, Bo Yan, in a sharp black suit, remained composed and graceful. Stationed there, he appeared even more detached from the world. The cheers at the scene, the clicking of media cameras, the screams of the fans, almost pierced the night sky. ¡°Ah, ah, ah, Bo Yan is so handsome!¡± ¡°AWSL (Ah, I¡¯m dead), Teacher Bo, Teacher Bo, look at me!¡± After getting out of the car, Bo Yan didn¡¯t directly step onto the red carpet but waited a moment until Shang Feifei also got out. They appeared together, promoting the film ¡°Moonlight.¡± Bo Yan needs no introduction, and Shang Feifei was also a strong contender for Best Actress. Despite being a handsome man and a beautiful woman, it seemed as if something was missing. Although Shang Feifei was naturally attractive, standing next to Bo Yan, known as ¡°the tyrant of faces,¡± she still seemed somewhat overshadowed. Actually, in the entertainment circle, there were people whose looks could match Bo Yan¡¯s, but¡­ ** Because a certain guest didn¡¯t arrive, the red carpet had to reorganize, and the hosts added an interview segment on the fly: ¡°Bo Yan, your portrayal of the silently suffering lover in this current film is quite remarkable, with a very strong sense of empathy. How did you grasp this character?¡± A strong sense of empathy? Bo Yan narrowed his eyes slightly, thought for a few seconds, and then slowly replied, ¡°Because this is my own experience. I once liked someone, and she dumped me.¡± == This is purely fiction, please do not equate characters with real people. This is supposed to be a comedy! A comedy! A sweet tale! No suffering! If anyone is to suffer, it¡¯ll be the male lead, thank you. 1V1 with both virgins, a domineering heroine + a cold male god. The female lead will not be bullied; she¡¯s the one who bullies others. This story isn¡¯t mindless feel-good material; the female lead isn¡¯t omniscient and omnipotent. If you¡¯re looking for something over-the-top, you can turn left and exit, thank you. The main text will be capped at 1.5 million characters at most, never abandoned or hastily concluded, so feel free to follow with confidence. Chapter 2 - Chapter 2: Chapter 2 Gossip Queen (2) Chapter 2: Chapter 2 Gossip Queen (2) Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Perhaps because the content was too explosive, the host barely began to re-inquire when Shang Feifei, quick-eyed and deft-handed, snatched the microphone first and responded with a smile, ¡°Bo Yan is promoting the movie. ¡®Moonlight¡¯ is still in theaters, and his pursuit of me in the film is filled with true emotion. I also put in extra effort, so I welcome everyone to contribute to the box office.¡± Bo Yan did not deny it, lifting his eyes and his lips curved into a faint smile. His eyes were naturally peachy, and this smile, with its touch of nonchalance, seemed like an apology for the joke he had just cracked. But upon closer inspection, it also seemed like he was mocking something. ¡­ The interview was over, and it was time to enter. Everyone unconsciously glanced down at their cell phones¡ªthere were two minutes left until the originally scheduled end of the red carpet event. The missing time was because of that late-arriving guest. Everyone was crystal clear about why that person hadn¡¯t arrived. Two days earlier, a scandal involving them had leaked on a forum and immediately set off an explosion through the entire entertainment industry. They had seen tough, but never anyone this brazen¡ªas a popular actress, she had actually fought someone on the street, covering their face in blood! Had there not been an absence of actual harm, it would have been enough for the society news! ** At that moment, a black sedan silently drove in. In the chaos of the night, a figure approached from afar, gradually becoming clearer from the haze. The figure was clad in a red dress, stepping on red high heels with long wavy hair draped over the shoulders, slanted eyebrows flying into the temples, and bright red lips alluring and enchanting, like a blooming red mandrake in the wilderness. She was arrogantly beautiful, domineeringly beautiful, mercilessly beautiful, like a poison. Seeing her approach, the cameras of the media present went crazy, flashing at her non-stop. No one expected her to actually come, no one expected she¡¯d dare to show up! Xia Siyu, in her high heels with her chin slightly raised, was not the least bit concerned about the gazes of those around her. She was famously known as the scandal queen of the entertainment industry, and the words ¡°relying on beauty to stir trouble¡± seemed tailor-made for her. Barely debuting, she became the female lead in a major director¡¯s big-budget production, and her subsequent roles in youth and urban films performed well at the box office. Because of her great beauty and the pure and lovely image in her films, she became an ¡°Otaku Goddess,¡± ¡°the dream of a billion men.¡± Everyone thought she would be the new generation goddess, but it wasn¡¯t long before they were proven wrong. Someone revealed that she used to be a little gangster. She dropped out of university, uncouth in speech. DJing in nightclubs, bullying classmates. How could someone who smoked, drank, and bleached her hair be a good girl? Following that, accusations of acting like a diva, being unprofessional, having a foul temper, being difficult to attend to, and all sorts of bad reviews came pouring in. But what was most off-putting was her fierce love life. She had ripped apart scumbags and kicked her exes, and the man she had confronted on the street a few days ago was her latest romantic scandal. And without exception, all of her so-called romantic interests were wealthy men. Thus, she was branded with the huge label ¡°gold digger.¡± After her public image collapsed, a mass fan exodus ensued. Fans turning into haters, attacks from the opposition¡¯s side, even bystanders joining in, relentlessly giving her negative reviews, making the trending searches all about insults, nearly reducing her to a laughingstock of the entire internet. Just like now, ever since she appeared, the barrage of comments in the live stream of the red carpet soared, though they were all insults toward her. Xia Siyu walked the red carpet with utter composure until she reached the end and paused slightly, exchanging a glance with Bo Yan who had just finished the interview. Chapter 3 - Chapter 3: Chapter 3 Gossip Queen (3) Chapter 3: Chapter 3 Gossip Queen (3) Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios The man faintly lifted his eyelids, his pupils shallow and clear like glass beads, rolling discreetly over her body. That one look seemed indifferent, yet it had the calm before the storm, harboring an undercurrent difficult to discern. After that glance, he quickly looked away, making it seem as though their eye contact had merely been her illusion. ¡­ Xia Siyu arrived too late, missing the standard procedure of red carpet walks, autographs, and interviews. She hadn¡¯t planned on posing for photos either, but after greeting the hosts, she headed straight for the main venue. Just as she entered, her phone rang inside her purse. The sender¡¯s name brought an immediate smile to Xia Siyu¡¯s face that had been so dismissive just moments ago. It was her good friend Zhou Weiwei: ¡°I just watched the red carpet live, you looked beautiful.¡± Xia Siyu typed back with haughty playfulness: ¡°When am I not beautiful?¡± Zhou Weiwei¡¯s next message was: ¡°Your husband is very handsome too.¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s phone almost dropped to the ground. ** Throughout the entire awards ceremony, Xia Siyu was in a daze. She too was here with her work; her movie from last year was nominated for Best Actress. But she had no interest in who would win the award¡ªshe knew it wouldn¡¯t be her. If it weren¡¯t for her agent, Qin Baizhou, insisting she attend, she would have preferred to be lying in bed and ¡°dreaming of Duke Zhou.¡± It wasn¡¯t until the intermission when the camera focused on the front row, that a female artist stood up. Shedding her shawl, she revealed a deep V-back dress, and with a smile, she headed towards Bo Yan. The female artist was Li Yiru, known for her sultry roles. Xia Siyu knew her because Li had once posted an article about herself online, claiming she had ¡°beauty that didn¡¯t lose to Xia Siyu and a figure far superior to hers.¡± Seeing Li Yiru approaching, Shang Feifei, who had been sitting primly on her own, preserving her distance, feared being overshadowed. Under the guise of adjusting her seating, she subtly inched a bit closer towards Bo Yan. Two women vying for one man, all under the watchful eyes of the audience, guests, and judges¡ªit was a battlefield. Xia Siyu instantly felt awake, crossed her legs, propped up her chin, and watched from afar with no consciousness of being Mrs. Bo, just like someone enjoying the drama with popcorn. Tsk, have to say, the guy¡¯s still got it with the ladies. Just like back in his day. Thinking of those times, Xia Siyu, originally sporting a jesting expression, became slightly overcast. But soon, she was drawn back in by the excitement of the unfolding scene. With Li Yiru and Shang Feifei both making their moves, Bo Yan kept his composure, his eyes bright and clear. But when Li Yiru flaunted her cleavage near him, he imperceptibly furrowed his brow. ¡°Long time no see, Mr. Bo¡­¡± Bo Yan cut her off: ¡°We know each other?¡± Li Yiru felt slightly embarrassed: ¡°I played a backup dancer in your first production, you might not have noticed me then.¡± ¡°Excuse me,¡± Bo Yan spoke indifferently, ¡°step aside, you¡¯re blocking the light.¡± Shang Feifei couldn¡¯t hold back and let out a laugh, and Li Yiru, receiving not an ounce of face from Bo Yan, stiffened in expression, her face reddening as she awkwardly retreated. The intermission came to an end just in time, and the host, noticing the situation, cued him directly, ¡°Bo Yan is also a hot favorite tonight, especially among the female guests. Out of the many actresses here tonight, who would you like to work with in your next film?¡± The camera, following the host¡¯s words, began to move slowly. From Shang Feifei, to Li Yiru, then to other actresses. In the end, it settled on Xia Siyu¡¯s face. ps: Update coming after midnight, this chapter is a trial run Chapter 4 - Chapter 4: Chapter 4 Uncooperative (1) Chapter 4: Chapter 4 Uncooperative (1) Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Xia Siyu was happily munching on melon seeds just a moment ago, not feeling there was anything improper about her husband being surrounded by beauties. Little did she know, the next moment the melon seeds she was eating would land on herself. On the big LED screen in front, there was already a shot of her. Bo Yan on the left, she on the right, the two of them pieced together by the screen. Ever since Xia Siyu and Bo Yan met, apart from an official photo on their marriage certificate that was properly framed together, this was the first time their images appeared in the same frame. Though one was aloof and the other stunningly beautiful. Merely based on looks, the two of them together were a feast for the eyes, a truly delightful masterpiece. At this moment, Xia Siyu was still maintaining the posture she had while eating melon seeds, with her legs crossed and eyes full of anticipation for the drama. Her expression had a hint of eagerness, as if she was dying to cling to Bo Yan¡¯s thigh, eager to collaborate with him. Seeing the camera, she finally slowly uncrossed her legs and straightened her back, the smile at her mouth also receding. But her attempt to tone down seemed to backfire, sparking even more speculation. Bo Yan¡¯s polite refusal to Li Yiru was still fresh in everyone¡¯s ears, so what about Xia Siyu? Not only were the live audience paying attention, but the live streaming chat was also lively. Unlike the quiet anticipation of the live audience, the comments in the chat were overwhelmingly disdainful: ¡°Back off, stay away from my Yanyan! Who wants to collaborate with a gold digger?¡± ¡°Look at Xia Siyu¡¯s eager face, her desire to cling to Teacher Bo¡¯s thighs is almost spilling out of the screen!¡± ¡°Although they¡¯re both good-looking, it¡¯s a no-go, Xia Siyu, get lost!¡± ¡°Host, open your eyes wide and see where they match! I¡¯d rather watch my bro and Li Yiru act together than see her.¡± ¡°Get lost to the front, Li Yiru isn¡¯t a good match either, Shang Feifei would be a better partner.¡± ¡­ Under everyone¡¯s gaze, Bo Yan picked up the microphone. His face was calm, and if one must describe his expression, there was a slight frown between his brows, and a look of disgust in his eyes. Then he lowered his gaze and dropped two words: ¡°Don¡¯t want.¡± The venue fell silent. In the air, one could faintly smell a hint of gunpowder. Since Bo Yan debuted, there had been no scandals associated with him, and he¡¯d always been direct in his refusals. But even when it came to turning down Li Yiru just now, he had chosen his words carefully. Never before had he declined so bluntly and without hesitation. ¡­ The camera turned to Xia Siyu, and the host asked, ¡°May I know what Siyu thinks about the collaboration?¡± What does she think? Xia Siyu was livid. Though from the beginning of the awards ceremony everyone was required to store away their phones, and she couldn¡¯t read the comments, her eyes weren¡¯t blind! She saw very clearly the look of disgust in Bo Yan¡¯s eyes. She was far enough away from him, always at a distance of over five hundred meters. The two had never filmed a scene, appeared in variety shows together, or lived together. They had absolutely no intersection in their lives or work. Even if they met on the red carpet, it was as if they hadn¡¯t seen each other, passing by like the most familiar strangers. She never meddled in his business, and he should not come provoking her, OK? Others might endure it, but she couldn¡¯t. Xia Siyu snatched the microphone from the host¡¯s hand, her eyes not glancing at the camera that was sliding over but staring straight at the back of Bo Yan in the front row, her voice raised: ¡°Who wants to collaborate with you? It¡¯s never going to happen in this lifetime! You can drop that hope!¡± Chapter 5 - Chapter 5: Chapter 5 Uncooperative (2) Chapter 5: Chapter 5 Uncooperative (2) Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios The award ceremony was over, and Wei Jingjing, the gold-medal assistant, managed to pull Xia Siyu into the nanny van ahead of the reporters. No sooner had they closed the van door than Xia Siyu was subjected to Wei Jingjing¡¯s torrential complaints, ¡°Sister Xia! My dear sister! I¡¯m begging you, could you please think before you speak in the future? Do you have any idea how bad your reputation stinks? Out of everyone, why did you have to pick on Bo Yan? Right now, he¡¯s the darling of the industry, with awards, box office hits, and mass popularity. If you offend him, his fans will tear you apart! And if he speaks up, you can say goodbye to eighty percent of your roles.¡± ¡°He wouldn¡¯t dare,¡± Xia Siyu challenged with a defiant glint in her eyes. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t he dare? He currently has top resources in the industry, the real ¡®self-sustaining¡¯ kind. Even if he doesn¡¯t take things personally, you¡¯ve publicly declared you don¡¯t want to work with him. How many good scripts will you miss out on? When forced to choose, will the capital side pick you or him?¡± Xia Siyu fell silent. She knew it was true, no matter how harsh it sounded. Wei Jingjing was clutching at her chest, feeling a bit breathless, ¡°Sister, you just stirred up trouble two days ago, can¡¯t you stay quiet for a bit? You struck the scion of Zhongtian Group, right in the middle of the street no less, infuriating him enough to sue you for intentional injury! If it weren¡¯t for Brother Qin pulling some strings to calm him down, I¡¯d be visiting you at the precinct today.¡± At the mention of this, Xia Siyu¡¯s chin shot up defiantly, ¡°He deserved it! He cheated and then got into group activities. Why should Zhou Weiwei put up with his abuse just because she¡¯s dating him?¡± ¡°Even if you wanted to hit him, could you not pick the place more wisely?¡± Wei Jingjing looked at her with frustration, ¡°You knew paparazzi were camping nearby. If you had to hit him, couldn¡¯t you have moved to a different place? And why hit him in the face? With the heel of a high-heel shoe so thin, one slash left a bloody mark that you can¡¯t deny!¡± Xia Siyu nodded, ¡°I¡¯ve learned my lesson, next time I¡¯ll beat someone where no one can see, in some back alley. No hitting the face.¡± Wei Jingjing grew even more irritated as she spoke, ¡°And another thing, Zhou Weiwei¡¯s dating him in secret and not admitting it¡ªwhy should it fall on you? I heard he¡¯s planning to enter showbiz and is just riding on your coattails for the publicity.¡± ¡°Zhou Weiwei and I are different, she has an intellectual and pure image. Plus, she has a contract with her agency, where if a scandal breaks out, she has to pay them a lot of money. I¡¯ve known her for a long time; she¡¯s not that kind of person, she wouldn¡¯t hurt me,¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s voice grew quieter as she admitted her fault. ¡°If she¡¯s not, then I am, right?¡± Wei Jingjing leaned back on the cushion, gasping for air, ¡°Sister Xia, Brother Qin just went out of town yesterday, can you please keep it down while I¡¯m filling in for the next two days? I don¡¯t have the same influence as Brother Qin, and if something happens, I can¡¯t cover for you. If you want to cause trouble, at least wait until Brother Qin is back. I¡¯d like to live a few more years.¡± The van fell into a rare silence. After a while, Driver Xiaotang handed Xia Siyu a bottle of water, which she promptly passed to Wei Jingjing, ¡°You must be thirsty after talking so much.¡± Wei Jingjing, who was both angry and disheartened, couldn¡¯t help but laugh at Xia Siyu¡¯s comment and offered the bottle back to her. As she was twisting open the bottle, Wei Jingjing suddenly thought of something, ¡°There¡¯s no personal vendetta between you and Bo Yan, right? You usually have a fiery temper, but you never start trouble with others who haven¡¯t provoked you. But just now¡­¡± Chapter 6 - Chapter 6: Chapter 6 Uncooperative (3) Chapter 6: Chapter 6 Uncooperative (3) Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Xia Siyu turned her head and looked out of the car window at the night sky, ¡°What could there be between him and me.¡± As they spoke, the car left the venue. Little Tang glanced at the rearview mirror, ¡°It looks like a car is following us.¡± Without a second thought, Xia Siyu blurted out, ¡°It¡¯s either the paparazzi or a stalker. Shake them off.¡± Little Tang was puzzled. Nowadays, do paparazzi and stalkers chase after cars in Maybachs? ** The car headed towards Xia Siyu¡¯s apartment building, but as they approached the street corner outside the complex, they saw several cars parked outside the gate from a distance. Without a doubt, the paparazzi had found her again! Weijingjing, with her extensive experience, immediately told Little Tang, ¡°Turn around.¡± The thing was, Xia Siyu had been in the eye of the storm in recent years. Being notorious was still a form of fame; she became a top influencer. When trouble arose, paparazzi, stalkers, and antis (hackers) swarmed like mosquitoes from everywhere. Xia Siyu was exasperated by the harassment, having moved seven or eight times already. She had only moved into this apartment a few months ago, and yet, these people had found her again in less than half a year. The car started driving towards Huixing Entertainment¡¯s dormitory. On the way, Wei Jingjing unlocked her Weibo. She wished she hadn¡¯t, as the sight made her eyes go dark. The top ten trending searches on Weibo included Xia Siyu¡¯s name four times, in addition to the two entries that had climbed the ranks earlier in the day, #BoYanXiaSiyu# and #XiaSiyuUncooperative# were soaring even faster, firmly securing the top two spots. Besides those, #BoYanReluctant# and #BoYanRefusesCP#, although not directly mentioning Xia Siyu by name, were unmistakably discussing her remarks about refusing to work with Bo Yan upon clicking into them. The top ten trending searches were dominated by six entries related to Xia Siyu and seven related to Bo Yan, practically overrun by the duo. And Shang Feifei, who had just won the Best Actress award, was lingering pitifully in the eighth spot. Bo Yan missed the Best Actor award by just one vote and thus narrowly missed the accolade. The main reason was that he had already won Best Actor the previous year; the standards for a second Gold Oscar were quite high, so it was awarded to another senior actor from a different film. But Bo Yan¡¯s acting and professionalism were beyond doubt. Though the absolute stars of the night should have been Shang Feifei and Bo Yan, the spotlight was unexpectedly stolen by Xia Siyu, with her strange trending-search physique. Glancing further down at the comments, there were over thirty thousand replies and more than a hundred thousand shares. She clicked on a random comment and found the responses to be extremely provocative. There were those who cursed her as shameless, ¡°Xia Siyu, you really have no FACE; look at who you are, daring to despise our Yan Bao!¡± Some accused her of chasing clout, ¡°Do trending searches cost you nothing? You bought six! Why didn¡¯t you save it for your mother to celebrate the New Year? Why not donate it to disaster-stricken areas?¡± And then there were the brutally simple ones, ¡°Grass, a type of plant¡± ¡°F***, a type of action¡± ¡°Roll, a type of position¡± ¡­ As Wei Jingjing read on, she felt her heart couldn¡¯t take much more. Sitting beside her, Xia Siyu leaned over, took a casual glance, and showed little reaction, merely pursing her lips, ¡°What does it have to do with them, how boring.¡± No sooner had she spoken than she suddenly snatched Wei Jingjing¡¯s phone, her gaze falling on the tenth trending entry. #BoYanDumped# She clicked into it and saw an interview with Bo Yan on the red carpet. His eyes were intense, his expression serious, ¡°Because this reflects my real experience. I once cared for someone, and then she dumped me.¡± Chapter 7 - Chapter 7: Chapter 7 Uncooperative (4) Chapter 7: Chapter 7 Uncooperative (4) Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Wei Jingjing came to her senses and saw that Xia Siyu beside her had hung up the phone, leaning on the car seat with her gaze sweeping towards the night outside the window. Her eyes were slightly squinted, originally with delicate stage makeup, her eyeliner slightly upturned, which would look enchanting when she smiled. But at that moment, Xia Siyu¡¯s demeanor seemed distant and melancholic, with the streetlight shining on her face, adding an unwarranted sense of loneliness. Wei Jingjing even thought she had become autistic from the scolding. Although celebrities appear to lead a glamorous life, in reality, their every move is exposed to the public eye. People can¡¯t wait to analyze their micro-expressions frame by frame and listen carefully to every word they say, then pretend to deduce explanations with psychological methods. Since Xia Siyu transferred to their agency three years ago, she had always been on this controversial path. Over the years, they had become accustomed to her being scolded to the top of the trending searches. The most troublesome parts were helping her clean up the mess, negotiating with production companies, explaining to financiers, and manipulating trending searches. However, they had overlooked the fact that artists are human too. Being a celebrity means all kindness and malice are magnified. One wrong step, and you can be surrounded by unjustified abuse. She gently patted Xia Siyu¡¯s hand, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, netizens are just a three-minute passion. By the time they wake up the next day, they might have forgotten the quarrels they had online last night.¡± Xia Siyu smiled faintly, ¡°What have I got to worry about?¡± Her tone was light, but there was a clear trace of bitterness in her eyes that she couldn¡¯t hide. ** The car arrived at the Huixing Entertainment dormitory and, sure enough, there was a large group of journalists surrounding it. This time, without a word from Wei Jingjing, Little Tang decisively turned the car around and sped away from the dormitory. But the incident had happened so suddenly that Xia Siyu¡¯s previous residences had already been targeted by the paparazzi. It was likely there were ambushes there now. For a moment, the nanny car wandered the streets and alleys of Yancheng like a lonely island, unsure of where to go. ¡°How about we go to a hotel?¡± she suggested. Xia Siyu had barely suggested this when Wei Jingjing rejected it, ¡°You¡¯re living in Yancheng and going to a hotel. If someone takes a picture of you and claims you¡¯re having a ¡®secret late-night rendezvous,¡¯ you¡¯re done for.¡± She thought for a moment, ¡°How about going to my place?¡± Xia Siyu smiled, ¡°Your place? Isn¡¯t the security at your place subpar? And you share it with someone else. What would you do if I went there?¡± Indeed. There was silence in the car for a while until Xia Siyu frowned and spoke with difficulty after a long time, ¡°¡­Let¡¯s go to Qingcheng Apartment.¡± Qingcheng Apartment was a famous high-end complex in Yancheng, inhabited by the rich and prestigious, with comprehensive security facilities. Wei Jingjing had never heard that Xia Siyu owned a property there and was somewhat surprised. Xia Siyu preempted her concern, ¡°It¡¯s my friend¡¯s place. He probably doesn¡¯t live there normally, and I have the keys. Also¡­ he¡¯s tight-lipped and won¡¯t go gossiping.¡± The car made its way smoothly and arrived at the underground garage of Qingcheng Apartment. Arriving downstairs, Wei Jingjing noticed that there was an elevator for each unit, equipped with fingerprint recognition. Xia Siyu stretched out her hand and pressed the button, and indeed, the elevator started moving. Only then did Wei Jingjing feel relieved, ¡°You get some rest. There¡¯s a mid-video advertisement tomorrow, sponsored by the investor of your last movie, and I will come to pick you up on time.¡± Just as Xia Siyu entered the elevator, a Maybach followed closely behind and drove into the underground garage. Chapter 8 - Chapter 8: Chapter 8 She’s on His Mind (1) Chapter 8: Chapter 8 She¡¯s on His Mind (1) Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios The elevator ascended, reaching the floor, and the door opened directly into the apartment. The room was dark, except for the curtains of the floor-to-ceiling windows which were drawn open, allowing the moonlight and neon light to filter in and cast everything with an otherworldly glow. Xia Siyu first pressed a button to close the curtains. After turning on the lights, a whole wall in the room prominently featured a huge poster of Xia Siyu turned into a mural. And the decor around the room was also obviously to her taste. However, it seemed as though no one had lived in the house for a long time; although it was exceptionally clean, it lacked any sign of life. Xia Siyu changed into slippers and, familiar with the place, made her way inside, turning on the bedroom light. Opening the wardrobe, she found a variety of clothes sorted and folded, all in her size. She randomly chose a set of pajamas and was about to change when her phone rang. Xia Siyu put the clothes aside and picked up the phone. The message was from her agent, Qin Baizhou: ¡°I already know about the trending topic.¡± Just as Xia Siyu was about to reply, Qin Baizhou¡¯s call came in. She answered, ¡°Hello?¡± On the other end, it was noisy, as if he was in some sort of party, with dynamic music playing in the background and drunken voices speaking loudly. Qin Baizhou¡¯s voice was gentle, ¡°I¡¯m discussing business here. Earlier, two investors saw your news and were a bit shaken, but now there¡¯s basically no big problem. They¡¯ll contact us later, and we¡¯ll continue as per the contract.¡± Maybe it was because she was too tired, or maybe it was because too much had happened, but Xia Siyu sounded listless in her response. She nodded, ¡°Mhm.¡± ¡°As for the incident where you hit someone, Zhongtian Group dares not say much¡ªI have evidence of his infidelity and debauchery. If he dares to sue you, we can reveal the evidence, escalate the situation, and take the opportunity to clear your name.¡± Xia Siyu nodded again, ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Being a trending search is both a mockery and a source of popularity. But even as popularity, don¡¯t overdo it. If you¡¯re not careful and it backfires, it won¡¯t be good for you or our team. Keep a low profile for a while.¡± Xia Siyu acknowledged with a sound, ¡°Got it.¡± ¡°Regarding films, there¡¯s no particularly good script at the moment. You¡¯ve been shooting movies with big directors and big productions. My advice is to prefer quality over quantity and not to wear out your spiritual energy on bad films. After all, you¡¯ve had enough exposure for now.¡± Xia Siyu neither agreed nor disagreed, humming lightly in response. ¡°You rest up for now, I¡¯ll be back in a couple of days.¡± After hanging up, Xia Siyu tossed her phone aside and lay down at the head of the bed. She collapsed lethargically, staring blankly at the crystal chandelier on the ceiling. After staring blankly for a while, she suddenly stretched out her legs and, as if pedaling a bike, angrily kicked at the void a few times. Then she turned over and buried her head in the pillow. In the room, one could vaguely hear her biting back curses: ¡°Bo Yan, you bastard, a complete bastard!¡± Unbeknownst to her, at the moment she released her rage, the very person she was cursing by name was standing at the elevator entrance on the negative first floor of Qingcheng Apartment. His long fingers reached out to press the elevator button but, after pausing for a long time, slowly retracted and went into his pocket, clenching into a fist. Seconds later, the man turned and walked towards his Maybach, reopened the car door, and got in. Once the car started, it sped away, quickly disappearing into the night. Chapter 9 - Chapter 9: Chapter 9: She’s on His Mind (2) Chapter 9: Chapter 9: She¡¯s on His Mind (2) Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios At 2 a.m., the bar street by the Yan River was still brightly lit. In the Night bar at the end of the street, the dance song had ended, and the DJ was changing records. The men and women who had been dancing heatedly on the stage had stepped down and were making their way to the bar to sit down. But at the far left of the bar, surrounded by the largest group of people, was a handsome man with slightly long bangs and a somewhat narcissistic smile on his face, who cheerfully said, ¡°Tonight¡¯s trending topic, everyone has seen it, yeah? I¡¯m Bo Yan¡¯s high school classmate, buddies for over a decade. He said he used to like someone and then got dumped. Folks, don¡¯t disbelieve. I¡¯m telling you, it¡¯s not his first time getting dumped. Tonight is the second.¡± The people drinking next to him chuckled and laughed, not taking the bartender¡¯s moment of boasting seriously. A young man laughed and said, ¡°You¡¯re Bo Yan¡¯s high school classmate, and I¡¯m Xia Siyu¡¯s current husband.¡± ¡°I really am his high school classmate.¡± ¡°I really am her current husband.¡± The real current husband, Xia Siyu, suddenly showed up, startling the bartender. Bo Yan had changed into a windbreaker, was wearing a baseball cap, and had a pair of large black-framed glasses on his face. In the dimly lit bar, he didn¡¯t draw much attention. VIP room. The bartender entered with a tray in hand, while Bo Yan comfortably sat on the sofa browsing his phone, with his long legs comfortably crossed. He had unzipped his windbreaker, and two buttons of the white shirt underneath were undone. Hearing the bartender enter, he didn¡¯t look up, simply stretching out his hand, the gesture meaning: ¡°Bring the drink here.¡± The bartender asked, ¡°Can you drink alcohol? Don¡¯t you have an engagement tomorrow? Aren¡¯t you afraid of your face swelling up?¡± Bo Yan still didn¡¯t reply, the fingers of his outstretched hand moving slightly. The bartender, with an unimpressed look on his face, poured him a glass of whisky, and, following his preferences, placed two ice cubes from the ice bucket into it before handing the glass to him. Bo Yan took it, gently shaking the glass. The amber-colored liquid swirled in the square glass, the ice cubes like crystals tinkling as they moved with his motions. He lifted the glass and downed it in one go. After finishing, he stretched out his hand forward, the meaning clear: ¡°Pour another.¡± The disdain on the bartender¡¯s face deepened, and with visible irritation, he filled the glass again. Bo Yan once again drank it all in one gulp, exhaling deeply afterward. However, the gloominess between his brows didn¡¯t ease, seeming to grow even more concentrated. The bartender poured himself a glass, sipping it lightly. Right after he finished, he began complaining, ¡°Next time you come over, could you give a heads up? You¡¯re a bit famous now. This sudden appearance, with no warning¡ªI wasn¡¯t prepared. If you get recognized again and cause a commotion, will I still be able to do business tonight?¡± Bo Yan lifted his gaze, ¡°Just this?¡± ¡°What do you mean, just this? My business is doing really well, you know! At 2 a.m., even though the dockside location isn¡¯t great, having this kind of turnout is pretty good, alright?¡± The bartender, not wanting to be outdone, downed the rest of his glass, served Bo Yan another, and poured himself one more, ¡°I say, what brought you in the mood to drink today? Was it because a certain someone provoked you? Did she say that collaborating is never going to happen, and that she¡¯ll never work with you in this lifetime?¡± Bo Yan ignored him, finished his drink, picked up the chopsticks, and grabbed a peanut, chewing it quietly in his mouth. The bartender threw a peanut into his own mouth and, while eating, mumbled unclearly, ¡°Or is it that scandal of hers from a few days ago that¡¯s got you upset?¡± Chapter 10 - Chapter 10: Chapter 10: She’s on His Mind (3) Chapter 10: Chapter 10: She¡¯s on His Mind (3) Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios As the conversation reached this point, Bo Yan, who had been idly nibbling on peanuts, suddenly stopped. The bartender continued to lament, ¡°She has indeed been quite the troublemaker these past few years, with one boyfriend scandal after another. And if she had to change boyfriends, at least she could¡¯ve done it quietly. Didn¡¯t you see the news a few days ago where she beat up that young master from the Zhongtian Group, leaving his face covered in blood? Although your marriage is nothing more than a facade, isn¡¯t her private life a bit too¡­ colorful.¡± Before he could finish, the bartender pursed his lips and quickly turned off the microphone. That was because he saw Bo Yan, who had just been chewing on peanuts, suddenly lift his head. His eyes were sharp and direct as they locked onto the bartender¡¯s face. Even though his expression was emotionless, his gaze felt as heavy as a mountain, compelling him to close his mouth. After that look, Bo Yan quickly lowered his eyelids again and silently resumed eating peanuts, as if the sharpness had never existed. The bartender didn¡¯t take his threat too seriously. Actually, he knew that most of these scandals surrounding Xia Siyu were fabricated. She was an artist, one with considerable influence, constantly in the public eye. Regardless of her current reputation, she was famous and beautiful, and that was a fact. A beautiful female artist, one who seems to lack any significant backing, was bound to attract the pursuit and desire of countless men. Even if she, like Bo Yan, rejected the idea of being tied up in promotional couples, there would still be all sorts of strange rumors. With these rumors, you can try to clear them up and be accused of acting guilty, or stay silent and let others assume you¡¯re admitting to it. You issue statements that nobody believes, or you send out legal letters, only to land in protracted lawsuits that could take years. In this process, the economic loss and mental pressure are considerable. Moreover, matters of male-female ambiguity are such that even when explained, there will be those who remain unconvinced. The saying goes, ¡®A rumor can be started by a loose tongue, but dispelling it requires running your legs off,¡¯ and the onlookers will only see what they want to see. Referring to that Zhongtian young master and Bo Yan, anyone with eyes would choose the latter. With a husband like Bo Yan, what caliber of men could possibly catch her eye? But even if it was just rumors, Bo Yan was, in essence, ¡®cuckolded¡¯ without any reason. A man, whether in love or not, whether rightfully so or not, is bound to be unhappy when wearing a green hat. Moreover, the two did have a past together at one time. And neither was exactly willing in their marriage. The two of them finished their drinks in turns, one glass after another, and the peanuts were grabbed one after the other until none were left. By the time Bo Yan put down his glass, the bartender, quite tipsy by now, asked, ¡°After all these years, I¡¯ve always been curious. Were you two really together at that time? How did you get together and how did you break up? It couldn¡¯t really be like you said, that she dumped you?¡± Bo Yan gave him a faint glance but did not answer. Undeterred, the bartender pressed on with another question, ¡°Was it you who dumped her?¡± Bo Yan casually picked up a spicy pig¡¯s trotter from a dish and stuffed it into the bartender¡¯s mouth, ¡°Han Yifan, eat more pig trotters to nourish your brain.¡± The bartender ¨C no, the bar owner Han Yifan ¨C mumbled with his mouth full and hardly managed to pull out the pig¡¯s trotter before daring to ask one last question fearlessly, ¡°Bo Yan, do you still have feelings for her in your heart?¡± Chapter 11 - Chapter 11: Chapter 11 Encounter (1) Chapter 11: Chapter 11 Encounter (1) Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Bo Yan was just about to speak when a phone call came in. It was his assistant, Song Fengzhi: ¡°Mr. Bo, you haven¡¯t rested yet, have you? I need to confirm with you some details about the reshoot tomorrow.¡± ¡°I¡¯m outside and had some drinks. I¡¯ll send you my location.¡± After hanging up the phone, Bo Yan put down his chopsticks, stood up, and shook his head decisively: ¡°No.¡± Then he pulled on his jacket, put on a baseball cap and glasses, and pulled the brim down: ¡°You should visit home more often; your dad talks about you a lot.¡± As he opened the door and walked out, Han Yifan muttered softly behind him, ¡°If it¡¯s a no, it¡¯s a no. Why rush off like a startled cat with its tail stepped on, jumping even higher?¡± Of course, Bo Yan didn¡¯t hear this comment. ¡­ Bo Yan stepped outside, where the night breeze, bearing a hint of dampness from Yan River, made his alcohol-fogged mind a bit clearer. He hummed lightly, remembering Han Yifan¡¯s last question. But then he thought of the words Xia Siyu had yelled at him at the award ceremony and decided to open Weibo. He ignored the messy comments on Weibo and went straight to her video. In the video, although the camera was very close, almost in a close-up shot, she wasn¡¯t looking at the lens. He knew where her gaze was directed ¨C at his own retreat. Then there was her roar: ¡°Who wants to work with you? I would never work with you in this lifetime! You can forget about it!¡± As he watched, a growing look of mockery appeared in Bo Yan¡¯s eyes: Not willing to cooperate, eh? I¡¯d love to see if, given the chance, you would beg me to collaborate with you! ** Xia Siyu slept until ten in the morning when Wei Jingjing¡¯s phone call woke her up. The ad insertion during filming was scheduled for one in the afternoon, at the film studio on the outskirts of Yancheng where she had just wrapped up shooting for a movie the previous week. It would take two hours to drive there from the Qingcheng apartment. As a female artist, especially one who relies on her looks, going out without makeup is practically suicide. Even if the ad shoot had different makeup requirements, she could never appear in front of clients without any makeup on. Luckily, Wei Jingjing was prepared and had arranged for a professional makeup artist from the company to come and apply a fresh base for Xia Siyu on the way to the location. In addition to that, they brought two bodyguards. Including driver Xiaotang, the six of them set off grandly towards the film studio, maintaining the appearance befitting a top celebrity. As they approached and were about to arrive, they found a large crowd had gathered around the courtyard where they were supposed to shoot, blocking the path completely. Just as they were pondering how to move forward, a staff member came over: ¡°Miss Xia, I apologize for the inconvenience. The courtyard where we were scheduled to shoot has been temporarily occupied by another crew, so we might need to wait a bit longer until they finish shooting and clean up. In the meantime, you can come with me to a resting area to wait.¡± The film center is small and there aren¡¯t many shooting locations to go around. It¡¯s common for several crews to schedule in turns¡ªfirst I finish, then you shoot, especially for minor scenes like ad inserts. Xia Siyu, wearing sunglasses, acknowledged with an ¡°Mhm¡± and casually asked, ¡°Which crew is shooting?¡± Before the staff member could answer, she saw a familiar figure walking towards her from a distance¡ªit was Bo Yan. Chapter 12 - Chapter 12: Chapter 12: Chance Encounter (2) Chapter 12: Chapter 12: Chance Encounter (2) Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios In front and behind Bo Yan, including actors and crew members, there was a grand procession of several dozen people. Bo Yan, walking at the forefront, was engaged in a conversation about the script with the director next to him, his head turned sideways. Dressed in the costume from the China era, he wore a long robe and cloth shoes, his hair slicked back in a classic style. Such attire could easily look greasy on others, but on him, it exuded an overwhelming sense of scholarly elegance, extraordinarily dashing. The crowd was all around him, with numerous other actors present. But Bo Yan¡¯s tall and handsome stature made him stand out as though he had stepped right out of a painting, emanating a presence that overshadowed all, like a crane amongst chickens, the center of everyone¡¯s attention. As for our side, even with five people surrounding her, compared to his imposing presence, it seemed utterly insubstantial. The moment Wei Jingjing noticed Bo Yan¡¯s appearance, she immediately reached out to grasp Xia Siyu¡¯s arm, whispering with urgency, ¡°Brother Qin said we must keep a low profile, low profile! We can¡¯t cause any more trouble.¡± Especially not with Bo Yan. However, her hand caught nothing but air. She then saw Xia Siyu, with an aggressive stride, step ahead. Her target was none other than Bo Yan, not far away. Wei Jingjing felt a darkness before her eyes, it was over! This was going to be a disaster! Knowing Xia Siyu¡¯s temperament, she was bound to create an earth-shattering scene! Xia Siyu pushed her sunglasses up her nose with one hand and adjusted the jacket on her shoulders with the other, chin up, chest out, she strode toward Bo Yan in her high heels with a flick of her hair. The entrance to the filming courtyard was not large, and Xia Siyu was first to step out, soon the two of them were only five meters apart. As Xia Siyu took that step, people in the approaching group had already spotted her. Recognizing her, they were shocked. Anyone who saw the trending topic last night knew that Xia Siyu¡¯s appearance spelled bad news. Bo Yan had no bodyguards, and Assistant Song Fengzhi had left to fetch his costume, not by his side. The artists and crew around him also didn¡¯t dare provoke Xia Siyu. This woman had a volatile temper, capable of getting into a fight with her ex-boyfriend in the street; after last night¡¯s unpleasantness, who knew what kind of trouble she might stir up? But as they were not Bo Yan¡¯s close associates, most of them had an attitude of watching the drama unfold, so by the time Bo Yan himself noticed, Xia Siyu had already approached him. She even deliberately lifted her sunglasses, her lips curving slightly as she looked at him. Unbeknownst to them, everyone in Bo Yan¡¯s crew slowed their pace. All eyes turned between Xia Siyu and him, their expressions full of suggestive meaning. Under the scrutiny of everyone, Bo Yan¡¯s eyes remained calm, his expression unchanged, his pace steady, and without sparing an additional glance for the person in front of him, he¡ª ¡ªslightly sidestepped, veering past Xia Siyu without even the hem of his clothes touching her, effortlessly circumventing her as if she were an obstacle, then quickened his pace, leaving her behind. Though Bo Yan continued walking, those around him couldn¡¯t ignore Xia Siyu as if she were thin air; a few less popular newcomers politely nodded and bent in greeting, calling her ¡°Sister Xia,¡± but likewise, didn¡¯t slow their pace. When their team had all walked past, one by one, and entered the courtyard, Xia Siyu seemed to awaken from a dream. Turning around, she bellowed his name, ¡°Bo Yan, you stop right there!¡± Chapter 13 - Chapter 13: Chapter 13: Chance Encounter (3) Chapter 13: Chapter 13: Chance Encounter (3) Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Her roar was so loud that it startled the tourists who were visiting the area; it was nearly impossible to feign deafness. The film crew¡¯s footsteps came to an abrupt halt, glancing at Bo Yan¡¯s retreating figure, then turning to look at Xia Siyu, with disbelief and undertones of agitation in everyone¡¯s eyes. Bo Yan stood at the entrance of the courtyard, halting his pace as well, but he did not turn around, his tall and upright figure turned away from her. He seemed disdainful, or perhaps deliberately ignoring her, making a pointed effort to keep his distance. Who did Xia Siyu think she was? If someone spoke to her nicely, she might have cooled off quickly. But the more Bo Yan ignored her, the fiercer the fire within her grew! She hadn¡¯t even settled last night¡¯s score with him, and now he¡¯d pulled another stunt today! He wouldn¡¯t turn around, would he? Sister would go and fetch him herself! Xia Siyu flicked her hair and stomped forward in her high heels. However, before she could take more than a few steps in her imperious manner, the whole confrontation collapsed¡ªtwo bodyguards swiftly grabbed her arms, one on each side! ¡ªIt was Wei Jingjing who, fearing that Xia Siyu could explode from the slightest provocation, preempted her move and blocked her way, at the very least preventing her from charging up to Bo Yan. But even as Wei Jingjing moved to stop Xia Siyu from speaking, she was a step too late. Xia Siyu shouted directly, ¡°Bo Yan, do you think you can bully people just because you¡¯re famous now?¡± At those words, everyone was startled. Even Bo Yan, who had been facing away from her, perhaps found her accusation interesting and turned around to look at her with an expressionless face. Little Tang whispered a reminder on the side, ¡°Sister Xia, are you sure you¡¯re not talking about yourself?¡± Wei Jingjing was also pulling at her arm, trying to persuade her not to say any more, but Xia Siyu, fearless, shrugged off her hand, ¡°What, am I wrong? It was us who booked this filming location first. The time and place were all set, then you swoop in to steal the spot. Is your time valuable, and mine not?¡± Bo Yan¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, but he didn¡¯t respond directly to Xia Siyu. Instead, he turned to the crew, ¡°Is this true?¡± Song Fengzhi, who had just returned with some clothes, seemed to understand the timeline and sorted it out, ¡°Here¡¯s what happened: last night, the crew said that some scenes needed reshooting, but because we couldn¡¯t decide on a time before, we didn¡¯t schedule it, so we booked the ad shoot here. However, this morning, the crew notified the film studio, and since we only needed a few shots, they let us prepare here first.¡± So it was true then. Xia Siyu lifted her chin with a ¡°let¡¯s see how you explain this one¡± expression. This time, Bo Yan¡¯s gaze finally landed on her. Their eyes met in the air, one unyielding and indignant, the other expressionless. After a moment, Bo Yan spoke calmly, ¡°Firstly, I am an artist, and I am contracted with the crew. I am responsible for my work only. These coordination issues are between the two working groups and the film studio, and they have nothing to do with me. If you have any dissatisfaction, you should communicate with your own team, not me.¡± Xia Siyu hummed lightly, clearly unsatisfied with his explanation. ¡°Furthermore, you say I¡¯m famous now and thus I¡¯m bullying others by throwing my weight around, is that it?¡± Bo Yan narrowed his eyes slightly, his tone indifferent, ¡°You¡¯re right. In the entertainment industry, only the famous have the privilege to bully others.¡± Chapter 14 - Chapter 14: Chapter 14: Chance Encounter (4) Chapter 14: Chapter 14: Chance Encounter (4) Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Bo Yan kept filming until four in the afternoon. What Bo Yan was filming was a movie, and movies are different from TV dramas¡ªevery shot, every detail, requires repeated camera moves and polishing, shooting countless times before it¡¯s finally decided. Even though it was just a simple task of reshooting a few scenes, it still required repeated takes. While Bo Yan was filming, Xia Siyu sat to the side. She sat behind the crew, had a staff set up a lounge chair for her, erected a parasol, placed a small table, and even put a coconut on it. The whole person lay back comfortably in the lounge chair, legs casually draped, just sitting there waiting for them to finish shooting, ready to seamlessly take her turn. People in the crew coming and going glanced her way with a somewhat playful look in their eyes. But Xia Siyu didn¡¯t care at all and continued to enjoy her coconut. As long as she wasn¡¯t holding up their filming, that was fine, right? Right after Bo Yan uttered the phrase ¡°bullying others with power,¡± he no longer paid her any attention and turned to walk into the courtyard. Wei Jingjing managed to persuade her to stay, thankfully preventing any major issues. But Xia Siyu still fought for her right to watch from the sidelines. Bo Yan was acting in a China drama. Although Xia Siyu hadn¡¯t read the script, she felt that Bo Yan must be playing a scholarly martial artist. There were lengthy dramatic scenes, complicated and intricate. But Bo Yan delivered these extensive dialogues effortlessly from beginning to end; his pace was neither too fast nor too slow, steady and assured. Bo Yan had once been a university lecturer, a PhD graduate in literature and arts¡ªhis cultural foundation and dialogue level were beyond doubt. And, having come from the Bo Family, a family that feared their child might encounter violent incidents, he had been learning martial arts since a young age. His posture and strength were already there, making his fight scenes beautiful. Xia Siyu started off leisurely watching the action, but as time progressed, she went from lying down to sitting up. Her gaze shifted from initially mocking to boredom, and then to seriousness. She was watching the play, watching Bo Yan act. Xia Siyu might have many scandals and a fiery temper, but she was also an actor, a professional one. The scene that was being shot involved someone challenging the protagonist; Bo Yan sat by the window, leisurely practicing calligraphy while simultaneously sparring with his opponent. She had acted in similar scenes herself, yet Bo Yan¡¯s performance was, how should we say it¡­ He wasn¡¯t the kind of explosive actor who relied on exaggerated expressions, movements, or tones to convey emotions. His expressions were restrained, his movements relaxed and casual, yet a single glance or gesture would suddenly transmit the character¡¯s emotions. After this scene ended, the next one began. He had repelled his challenger and was still in a state of tension. But the next moment, he lowered his head and saw a bamboo dragonfly on the table, his fingers gently brushing over it as his gaze suddenly became complex. Merely with that look, it was very clear that behind this bamboo dragonfly, there might be a story from the past. Ultimately, he looked towards her. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t know if it was because the camera just happened to be positioned between them, or if he was looking for angles against the light board. But at that moment in the real world, he was indeed looking straight at her. He looked at her, his eyelashes slightly lifted, and from his amber pupils, a cascade of emotions flowed. Melancholic, nostalgic, expectant, regretful. In that instant, it was unclear whether he was seeing the female lead in the drama, or looking at her. Chapter 15 - Chapter 15: Chapter 15 Living Together (1) Chapter 15: Chapter 15 Living Together (1) Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Bo Yan¡¯s performance ended at this moment. ¡°Cut!¡± With the director¡¯s shout, the originally quiet film set suddenly buzzed to life. The director went straight up to him and nodded, ¡°Teacher Bo, that last look you gave was just brilliant. The way you grasped the emotion was very impressive.¡± Bo Yan¡¯s gaze retracted, and those complex, deep emotions that had filled his eyes seemed to be drawn back as he lowered his gaze, vanishing all at once. Then, the corners of his lips lifted slightly, ¡°Thank you.¡± Although he was smiling, the tone didn¡¯t carry much joy or humility ¨C instead, there was a hint of dejection. As he retracted his gaze, Xia Siyu, who had been standing in the distance, also abruptly lost the connection in her eyes. Standing by her side, Wei Jingjing, who was always attentively watching her, thought Siyu was about to cause a scene again and quickly reached out to hold her hand. Upon touching, she realized, Xia Siyu¡¯s hand was icy cold. Looking up at her face, she saw a calm expression, with no hint of rage or an impulse to charge forward, but rather, a sense of ¡ª loneliness. Wei Jingjing had been with her for three years, and in all that time, Xia Siyu was the type to wear her heart on her sleeve, being very direct about whom she liked or disliked. Other than when acting or being very upset by online criticism, Jingjing rarely saw this kind of emotion on her face. Could it be that the sun was too strong today and she had waited too long, perhaps suffering a bit of heat stroke? Wei Jingjing tentatively stretched out her hand and touched Siyu¡¯s forehead, ¡°Feeling unwell?¡± Xia Siyu turned her head to the side, dodging her hand, and shook her head quietly. ¡­ Once filming had wrapped up, the crew and other staff hurried over to clean up the props. Bo Yan also turned and went to the makeup room to change and remove his makeup. Xia Siyu, on the other hand, went to the makeup room at the advertiser¡¯s request, right next door to Bo Yan¡¯s. When Wei Jingjing pushed open the door of the makeup room, Xia Siyu was in the final stages of her makeup, with the makeup artist adding highlight and shadow to her face. Hearing the door open, Xia Siyu didn¡¯t react at all, quietly letting the makeup artist do their work. Wei Jingjing glanced twice, then gently tugged on Little Tang¡¯s arm, whispering, ¡°She didn¡¯t go make trouble next door, did she?¡± Little Tang shook her head. Wei Jingjing breathed a sigh of relief. But as she looked up at Xia Siyu, who was being so quiet and compliant with her makeup, she felt vaguely that something was amiss, yet couldn¡¯t quite put her finger on it. ** Fortunately, everything went smoothly during the shooting. After completing her makeup, the crew next door had mostly cleared out and the set was tidy again; Bo Yan had likely left the place long before. Interstitial ads are usually related to the content of the movie. Xia Siyu¡¯s movie had just wrapped up last week and she still remembered some of it. Dressed in her costume, she cutely sang and danced as her character in the movie for a while, when suddenly, the last look that Bo Yan had given in his performance flashed through her mind, and the emotion on her face visibly fell apart. ¡°Cut,¡± came from the advertisement¡¯s director, ¡°Teacher Xia, what happened just now? You were managing your expressions so well, how did they suddenly go wrong?¡± This was Xia Siyu¡¯s mistake, and she readily admitted it, ¡°Sorry, my mind wandered. Let¡¯s do another take, and aim for a perfect one this time.¡± Chapter 16 - Chapter 16: Chapter 16 Living Together (2) Chapter 16: Chapter 16 Living Together (2) Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios This time, Xia Siyu concentrated her attention, as she was an actress. Although she hadn¡¯t won any awards for her previous roles and mostly portrayed naive and innocent characters, the fact that she could at least get a nomination at the Gold Oscar Film Festival was a testament to her competent acting skills. Moreover, since she was only reciting lines from the script, with just a slight addition for the advertisement, she nailed it in one take as soon as they resumed filming. After that take, there were a few still shots. Xia Siyu had walked red carpets and posed for countless formal pictures; plus, her face was truly too beautiful, with a natural highlight. She was the type of beauty that you would notice at first glance in a crowd, with no bad angles in 360 degrees. Following the photographer¡¯s instructions, she struck several poses, each one outstanding. The shoot started at five o¡¯clock. The director had feared the lighting would be insufficient and had almost arranged for spotlights, but before five thirty, all the footage was captured. After changing clothes, the crew was also wrapping up. Xia Siyu had already made her way to the parking lot when halfway there, she touched her neck and suddenly realized her necklace was gone: ¡°My necklace.¡± At her shout, Wei Jingjing and the others also paused. They immediately turned back with her, heading to the shoot location and the makeup room. Fortunately, the yard where they had been filming was still open, but despite searching together for nearly half an hour, they found nothing. As the sun was setting and it was gradually getting dark. Although Xia Siyu had no engagements that evening, staying there indefinitely was not an option. Wei Jingjing was getting anxious, ¡°What kind of necklace was it? Provided by a sponsor?¡± Xia Siyu shook her head. ¡°Is it expensive? Made of gold or studded with diamonds?¡± She continued to shake her head and gestured with her hands, ¡°It¡¯s not expensive, just an ordinary silver necklace shaped like a heart, about the size of a thumbnail. But it¡¯s very important to me.¡± So they continued the search. A few of them split up, with Wei Jingjing and Driver Xiaotang heading to the makeup room, the makeup artist going to check the restroom, and the two bodyguards wandering around the yard. Xia Siyu started to recall the events. She distinctly remembered that after filming and changing costumes, she had personally held the necklace. But she hadn¡¯t worn it; instead, she had carelessly put it in her pocket. It might have fallen out accidentally when she was reaching into her pocket later. Following her memory, she slowly traced her way back from the yard. Sure enough, after walking about three or four hundred meters, she saw something shiny in the grass by the roadside. It was her necklace. The pendant¡¯s design looked somewhat outdated, appearing to be a style from at least twenty years ago. Tapping it lightly against the clasp, the heart could be opened, inside lay a tiny photo. In the photo, a young woman was with a little girl who was a few years old. Judging by the background, it looked like they were abroad. The young woman bore a striking resemblance to Xia Siyu, about seventy to eighty percent similar, only she was thinner, her gaze sharper, and her cheekbones higher. As she looked, Xia Siyu gently brushed the dust off the pendant, then carefully closed it and placed it in a compartment of her bag. After securing the necklace, she sent Wei Jingjing a message on Wechat: ¡°Found the necklace. Come out, I¡¯m almost at the parking lot, I¡¯ll wait for you here.¡± Just as she put down her phone, she faintly heard the sound of a man making a phone call around the corner, which sounded like Bo Yan. Chapter 17 - Chapter 17: Chapter 17 Living Together (3) Chapter 17: Chapter 17 Living Together (3) Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Xia Siyu was a bit surprised as she checked the time¡ªit was already six o¡¯clock. Bo Yan had finished shooting at four in the afternoon, and when she left for her shoot at five, the neighboring film crew had already left. At this point, even the tourists had been persuaded to leave. It was highly unlikely that he would still be here now. But the voice on the phone was indeed his: slightly low and magnetic. Xia Siyu frowned and hesitated for a few seconds before finally following the sound. This was a film studio, with artificial sets specifically built, including a river flowing down from the mountain and winding its way through the studio. There were willow trees planted along the riverbank, complementing the Taihu rocks. Xia Siyu walked along the river and, as expected, saw a man leaning against a willow tree making a phone call not far away. The man¡¯s tall figure, dressed in black casual clothes and shoes, added a touch of cold depth to his demeanor, without feeling excessively stiff. It really was Bo Yan. She was a bit too far to hear what Bo Yan was talking about specifically. Occasionally, she could catch a strain of his voice, which seemed to be laughing at something. But strangely, while the lower half of his face seemed to be smiling, his eyes remained detached and calm, almost mocking. It was a face with two expressions; even when he smiled, the smile did not reach his eyes, let alone his heart. With the end of his final sentence, he hung up the phone. But he didn¡¯t move away or leave. He just stayed there, calmly leaning against the willow tree, letting the willow branches flutter in the wind above him. Right then, Xia Siyu¡¯s phone began to ring. The noise reached Bo Yan¡¯s ears. He glanced back, eyes unwavering as he looked at her. The lights of the film studio came on just at that moment. The dim, golden glow of the streetlamp illuminated him from the side; half of his figure was bathed in the soft light, while the other half was hidden in the darkness of the night. In the eyes of the public, Bo Yan¡¯s image had always been that of a cool, impassive god-like figure. His past as a university lecturer bestowed upon him an air of scholarly grace and aloofness. Furthermore, he always refused to be tied to any on-screen couples, keeping a low profile outside of filming and exuding an aura of ¡®keep out¡¯ to strangers. However, at this moment, Xia Siyu felt that the darkness hiding beneath the night that nobody saw represented his true thoughts. Normally he remained hidden, lying in wait. Once his prey entered his hunting ground, he would reveal his sharp fangs. Then, he straightened his body, a slight movement in his eyes, and took long strides toward her. The phone was still ringing. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t answer it. But as Bo Yan approached, she didn¡¯t hide either. With each step Bo Yan took, the distance between them rapidly closed. Soon, they were only three to five meters apart. The ringtone of her phone coincidentally stopped just as Bo Yan reached her. The film studio had already closed to visitors by this time, and the other film crews had packed up and gone home. The noise of the day had faded away, leaving a stillness that seemed to envelop just the two of them. Although both of them were performers and inevitably met at work, personal encounters like this were rare. The last time had been on New Year¡¯s Eve, when they met over a family dinner. But their conversation did not exceed ten sentences, and the gathering lasted less than an hour. After the meal, you got into your car, I went my way; there was mutual disdain. But now, right at this moment, Xia Siyu felt that Bo Yan wanted to touch her face. Chapter 18 - Chapter 18: Chapter 18 Living Together (4) Chapter 18: Chapter 18 Living Together (4) Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios The two were merely half a meter apart. Bo Yan must have just removed his makeup, his face devoid of the thick layers of cosmetics. The slicked-back hairdo from the drama had been loosened a bit by the makeup artist, losing its rigidity and restraint, yet gaining a casual imperious aura. At such a close distance, she could faintly catch the scent of his cologne, subtle and elusive. He stood before her, his face largely expressionless, but his eyes never left her. Especially those eyes. Bo Yan¡¯s irises were a light shade, and he had peach blossom eyes. Under the dim light, they gave a fantastical impression of a world of glass, snow, and red plum blossoms, an almost surreal illusion. When he wasn¡¯t smiling, his gaze appeared profound and concentrated, but his smile was never frivolous; instead, it carried a reserved sharpness that was incredibly captivating. It was with such eyes, only half a meter from her, that he gazed at her earnestly. He looked at her face, her eyes. He observed her proud chin slightly raised, her round almond-shaped eyes glaring with anger, and her defiant, pert nose. As he looked, he stepped even closer. The distance between them was no more than thirty centimeters. This was a dangerous signal for Xia Siyu, who had spent years acting and performing in love scenes. She had stood opposite many handsome male stars, but none had exerted as much pressure on her as Bo Yan did at this moment. But Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t the delicate and bully-able flower that she portrayed on screen, who would react to the advance of a domineering love interest by bashfully staring at her toes and blushing, waiting for his kiss. Facing Bo Yan¡¯s proximity, she didn¡¯t retreat but advanced instead, boldly taking a step forward. Then she lifted her chin, facing him with pride and looking directly into his eyes, undaunted. If there were cameras rolling, the face-to-face frame of these two could have easily been cut into a shot. They were so close they could smell each other¡¯s breath. Xia Siyu hadn¡¯t removed her makeup, still bearing her elaborate facial art. Although she often played demure roles in films, shedding tears with a drop of the head or a furrow of the brow, her real-life personality was forthright and straightforward. Coupled with her various hot-headed and scandal-filled rumors, male actors dared not offend her lightly during scenes. And so it was at this moment. Although her makeup made her look like an innocent flower, with her own aura, she elevated herself to a level where she could stand on equal footing with Bo Yan. If Bo Yan showed even a slight sign of faltering, she would immediately strike like a snake following a stick, seizing the commanding height of the atmosphere and retaliating with her fierce tactics. But Bo Yan neither backed down nor showed weakness. Facing Xia Siyu¡¯s provocation, he instead¡ªleaned slightly forward, his face approaching closer. Bear in mind, they were only ten centimeters apart at most. At such proximity, they could hear each other¡¯s breathing and heartbeats. But Bo Yan moved closer still, tilting his head to the side. This maneuver was either to whisper in her ear or to kiss her! PS: Don¡¯t worry! This story is definitely not about torment; with the female lead being so fierce, if anyone dares to bully her, she¡¯ll fight back! (Including the male lead) Chapter 19 - Chapter 19: Chapter 19 Ex-Boyfriend (1) Chapter 19: Chapter 19 Ex-Boyfriend (1) Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios When Bo Yan approached, Xia Siyu was a bit shocked. She was no fool, but a predator. After all, having been in the industry for years, she could tell what kind of look a man had for her with just a glance. At this moment, Bo Yan¡¯s expression remained indifferent, his gaze still calm, but beneath that calmness in his eyes, there was clearly a straightforward, male impulse towards a woman! This feeling had nothing to do with love, nor with any other emotion, it was pure sexual attraction. Direct, fiery, naked, teasing. Of course, this might also be a test, a form of intimidation. Even, he was using this hint of tease to force her to retreat! But Xia Siyu wouldn¡¯t step back! Did he think that with this little trick, he could make her retreat, could suppress her? He was dreaming! What kind of situations hadn¡¯t your sister Xia been in? Was she afraid of his threats? She neither retreated nor hid, her lips curving up, a trace of sarcastic amusement showing. Her eyes grew lazy and even carried a touch of mockery. The meaning in her gaze was: Come on if you dare! The one who flinches is the cur! However, Bo Yan didn¡¯t heed her challenging gaze; he really did get closer and closer until she could even feel his warm breath. Ten centimeters, five centimeters, three centimeters¡ªif she didn¡¯t move back, he would definitely kiss her on her lips! What to do? Should she retreat, or truly challenge him, refusing to move even as he neared the moment of closeness? Was she really going to naively stand there and let him take advantage of her? ¡°Siyu!¡± Caught in a dilemma, someone finally came to her rescue. It was Wei Jingjing, who had taken a call earlier and, upon learning that the necklace was found, had left but didn¡¯t see her in the parking lot. After not answering her call, Wei Jingjing feared something had happened and hurried back. The moment she returned, from a distance, she saw Bo Yan standing under the willow by the river with her. And it seemed like Bo Yan was about to¡ªkiss her? Wait¡­ Bo Yan? In the past few years, Wei Jingjing had dealt with a fair share of messy scandals for her, but none had ever been as shocking as what she was witnessing! Wasn¡¯t Xia Siyu his enemy? Didn¡¯t Bo Yan look down on her? How could these two be¡­ Hearing Wei Jingjing¡¯s voice, Xia Siyu instantly relaxed from her tense state. Now that there was a way out, she naturally took a small step back and quickly called out, ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± But as she prepared to step back, Bo Yan suddenly reached out, grabbing her wrist! Bo Yan¡¯s fingers were long with distinct knuckles and cool tips, which brought a bit of refreshment amidst the somewhat hot summer. But his grip was strong, holding her wrist firmly, making it impossible for her to leave immediately. Xia Siyu was startled, and in the moment she turned her head, the corner of his lips lightly brushed against her cheek. Bo Yan¡¯s upper lip was slightly thin with attractive lip lines, the lower lip thick and soft, slightly moist. This shape of lips didn¡¯t make him seem too cold, nor overly sensual. Even though it was just a graze across her cheek, it felt like electric currents, paralyzing her, afraid that if she got any closer, he would directly seal her lips and swallow her whole. Then, Bo Yan¡¯s mouth paused by her ear, and even without seeing his face, the hint of mockery in his words was audible: ¡°Don¡¯t anger me, and don¡¯t challenge me. Otherwise¡­¡± Chapter 20 - Chapter 20: Chapter 20 Ex-Boyfriend (2) Chapter 20: Chapter 20 Ex-Boyfriend (2) Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios After that, he said nothing, all turning into a faint chuckle that slowly dissipated beside her ear. Then, he released her wrist, took a step back, and looked up at her. In that look, he regained his initial noble and elegant demeanor, an attitude cold as frost. It was as though the warm breaths and the softness of his lips that had approached her just now were nothing but illusions. Before leaving, Bo Yan even tidied up his clothes slightly, and nodded politely to Wei Jingjing and the others who ran over, greeting them. Wei Jingjing didn¡¯t dare to offend him and quickly bowed in respect. Afterward, Bo Yan took long strides, no longer paying attention to the group behind him, nor to Xia Siyu, who was still standing there in a daze. Without looking back, he walked towards the parking lot, towards his car. The Maybach started and quickly drove out, disappearing at the end of the road. ** On the way back, the atmosphere inside Xia Siyu¡¯s nanny van was unusually silent. Xia Siyu was the first to get into the car. After she got in, Wei Jingjing closed the door and began to handle the aftermath with an unusual calmness, ¡°Please keep today¡¯s events a secret. We are all unclear about the situation, so don¡¯t go spreading rumors. You all know about Siyu¡¯s situation; she is like one with many lice, not afraid of biting¡ªjust another scandal to add to her list. But to offend Bo Yan¡­ you should know the consequences.¡± Little Tang goes without saying, and the makeup artists and bodyguards were all brought by Huixing Agency Company. They were like a team. But the rumors between Xia Siyu and Bo Yan¡­ Such news would be worth more than ten million. With such a heavy profit at stake, it¡¯s hard to guarantee that some wouldn¡¯t be tempted. It was best to warn them first. Although everyone was shocked, they quickly calmed down. Not to mention Bo Yan¡¯s own team, the Bo Family of Yancheng stood behind him. Even journalists had to show some courtesy; no one dared to provoke him that easily. Fortunately, at this time, the film and television city had already closed, without any extra staff or tourists around. Otherwise, if someone else saw them kissing and leaked it¡ªwould the internet not crash within minutes? The vehicle wound its way into the city, with Huixing Entertainment situated right at the midpoint of the journey. The two bodyguards and the makeup artist got off at Huixing. Before they left, Wei Jingjing warned them with her eyes to behave themselves. After they left and closed the door, only Xia Siyu, her, and Driver Xiaotang were left in the nanny van. There were clearly three people, yet the atmosphere in the car was extremely rigid. Wei Jingjing and Driver Xiaotang caught each other¡¯s eyes in the rearview mirror, neither daring to breathe too loud. In fact, Wei Jingjing had been holding back her curiosity all the way. But sometimes it¡¯s strange, if a small thing happens, she might make a big fuss and investigate thoroughly. If Xia Siyu did something silly again, she might not be able to restrain from complaining¡ªjust like the time of the Gold Oscar Film Festival. But when a real crisis occurred, she became hesitant, not daring to say or ask anything. It wasn¡¯t until the car stopped at the intersection for the traffic light that Wei Jingjing couldn¡¯t take it anymore, and under the guise of work, she asked her, ¡°What exactly is going on between you and Bo Yan? You have to give me some details, so I can deal with it if anything happens.¡± Xia Siyu, who had been silent the entire way, leaning on the car seat, showed no expression on her face upon hearing this and just hummed softly, ¡°It¡¯s nothing much. If you really want to put it into words, he is my ex-boyfriend.¡± Chapter 21 - Chapter 21: Chapter 21 Ex-Boyfriend (3) Chapter 21: Chapter 21 Ex-Boyfriend (3) Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Wei Jingjing was stunned, and so was Driver Xiaotang. Perhaps the topic was too shocking that Xiaotang even forgot that the red light had turned green and neglected to drive. He turned his head to look at her until the cars behind honked their horns impatiently, and only then did he continue forward. It took a while for Wei Jingjing to recover before she continued to inquire, ¡°When did it happen?¡± Xia Siyu gathered her coat around her and looked out the window. The car sped on, leaving everything behind¡ªthe cars, street lights, pedestrians, the street scenes¡ªas if, in these years, as she moved forward, it was destined that certain people and events would be left in the dust of memories. ¡°A long time ago, before I made my debut.¡± Xia Siyu clearly didn¡¯t want to elaborate. After she said that, she closed her eyes, regardless of the outside clamor. Although Wei Jingjing still had questions, she knew that some questions would lead nowhere further if she pressed, so she decided to drop it. Although Xia Siyu seemed rather naive, dealing with things in a straightforward manner, usually carefree and thoughtless¡ªwith people often taking advantage of her to the point where she¡¯d even count the money for them¡ª in fact, she was a person with a sensitive mind and a fragile heart. Seven years ago, she was discovered and signed by a star scout¡ªwho is now her agent, Qin Baizhou¡ªand was brought into the entertainment industry. She officially debuted six years ago, and her first film was an instant hit. Despite experiencing a character breakdown and being cursed by the whole internet, her career path remained straightforward. Over the years, it didn¡¯t matter to her how she was criticized. As an artist, she was meant to present herself like merchandise on stage for public judgment. The rumors and gossip spread about her were all fake. She hid herself well and protected her family. Even as her assistant, Wei Jingjing knew very little about her family matters. Her true secrets, if it weren¡¯t for their accidental discovery today, might never have been revealed. Given her personality, her conflict with Bo Yan now seemed reasonable. Perhaps¡­ it was Bo Yan who wronged her back then. As the car continued on its way and neared Qingcheng Apartment, Xia Siyu suddenly said, ¡°I want to go back to my own apartment.¡± Last night, because her apartment was surrounded by paparazzi, she didn¡¯t dare to force her way in, so she had to take refuge in Qingcheng Apartment for a while. But paparazzi couldn¡¯t possibly stake out 24/7; if they didn¡¯t manage to wait last night, they would likely have dispersed by today. This request was reasonable, and Wei Jingjing immediately had Xiaotang turn the corner, heading towards her apartment. But when they were one street away from the apartment, Wei Jingjing asked the driver to stop: ¡°Xiaotang, don¡¯t park here. I¡¯ll go check it out first. If there¡¯s no issue, I¡¯ll have you guys drive in.¡± Xiaotang nodded, and after dropping her off, he circled nearby in the car, awaiting her message. Wei Jingjing swiped her card to enter the community gate, indeed finding no obvious paparazzi. However, she didn¡¯t relax her vigilance. She continued toward the building, maintaining that she couldn¡¯t truly be at ease until she checked in front of the house. Riding the elevator up, upon reaching her floor, she was appalled: The door to Xia Siyu¡¯s apartment had been splashed with red paint, covering the entire door! Chapter 22 - Chapter 22: Chapter 22 Ex-Boyfriend (4) Chapter 22: Chapter 22 Ex-Boyfriend (4) Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios It¡¯s either a sasaeng fan or a hacker! They managed to follow here! Wei Jingjing quickly took a photo, turned around, and walked back down the elevator, paying attention to her surroundings as she walked, in case someone was following her, afraid that those people might harm Xia Siyu! After making her way back to the car, she finally showed the photo to Xia Siyu. The situation was urgent just now, and she didn¡¯t dare to stay longer. Now, she had time to call the property management, and she was even considering whether to call the police. The property management checked and found that the person who had splashed paint was a young man in his twenties, wearing a hoodie and a mask. Because there were a lot of paparazzi, sasaeng fans, and hackers around yesterday, the scene was quite chaotic, so it was impossible to determine who exactly did it at that moment. But whoever it was, one thing was certain: this house was no longer livable. This time it was paint, next time it might be sulfuric acid, razor blades, or other dangerous items. Xia Siyu, however, remained calm; she had experienced worse things before. The first time she was involved in a scandal, because the other party was also a celebrity and a rich second generation, she was immediately labeled as a ¡°gold The worst part was that she was also branded as the ¡°other woman,¡± interrupting the fairy-tale romance of the celebrity and his girlfriend. Xia Siyu¡¯s previously pure and sweet image was thoroughly overturned. The celebrity¡¯s girlfriend, who also came from a wealthy family, hated her to the bone and dug up countless marketing accounts to expose her so-called bullying of classmates and gangster past in school. She was too famous at the time, blocking many people¡¯s paths, so once she got in trouble, even without the celebrity¡¯s girlfriend, her enemies still seized the opportunity to drag her down. Therefore, while she was making an appearance for a sponsor, she was met with the fury of ¡°angry bystanders,¡± who threw an egg that hit her skirt right on the mark. What¡¯s a bit of paint? At her worst, she had to switch apartments three times in a month! After a round of indecision, they eventually returned to the base of Qingcheng Apartments. After cooling down, Wei Jingjing said, ¡°Siyu, we can¡¯t find you a particularly good place to stay for now, so you¡¯ll just have to put up with it here.¡± Xia Siyu nodded. ¡°Regarding your issue, I will report it to Brother Qin. He was originally coming back tomorrow, but due to a sudden event, it might be delayed by a day or two.¡± Xia Siyu nodded again. But after thinking for a moment, she still pulled Wei Jingjing back, ¡°Don¡¯t tell Brother Qin about my history with Bo Yan. It¡¯s been six or seven years, and any grudges have long been let go. I don¡¯t want Brother Qin to use this to create a story.¡± Wei Jingjing looked at her, hesitated, and then said, ¡°Then you have to promise that in the future, in public, you won¡¯t have any form of conflict with Bo Yan. Otherwise, with such a big issue, I can¡¯t make any decisions.¡± ¡°I promise.¡± After parting ways, Xia Siyu returned home, turned on the lights, kicked off her high heels, too lazy to even change into slippers, and walked barefoot to the bedroom, flopping onto the bed. She lay there drained, staring at the ceiling, feeling tired, extremely tired, not just physically but also mentally drained. She got up, drew a hot bath, and soaked in it. The hot water did not wash away anything; instead, it made her feel even more fatigued. The heat took away her strength and her thoughts. As she soaked, drowsiness overtook her in the bathtub. She was completely unaware that the door to her home had been opened by Bo Yan.. Chapter 23 - Chapter 23: Chapter 23 Bathing (1) Chapter 23: Chapter 23 Bathing (1) Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Bo Yan had a bit of a drink, as he had left home today to discuss a new movie with the director. The director was previously an internationally acclaimed filmmaker knovvn for his art-house films, having won numerous prestigious awards. However, in recent years, he had been flipping back and forth between commercial and art-house films, which constituted a bit of a slump. Of course, even in a slump, a renowned director remained just that, and such a script was not easy to come by. The script Bo Yan was considering also leaned toward a commercial style, with the male lead indecisively jumping back and forth between the innocent and naive leading lady and the seductive and fiery secondary female character. Of course, in the end, righteousness triumphed over evil, and purity over seduction, as he chose the leading lady. In fact, this movie script had landed in Bo Yan¡¯s hands a month ago, but at the time, he did not have a strong desire for it. Yet after the events of yesterday and today, when they reconvened, he immediately nodded in agreement and did not ask the production company for too high of a price. But he did make one condition: he could provide some input on the casting of the leading lady. On this point, the production company did not refuse. Firstly, Bo Yan was only requesting to join the audition process to offer his suggestions, and the final decision would still depend on what the production company required. Secondly, since the female lead role wasn¡¯t particularly challenging, as long as his recommended person was not entirely unsuitable, they would respect his opinion. Furthermore, Bo Yan, having been in the industry for many years, had never explicitly made requests concerning casting female roles. Truth be told, there was a bit of surprise on the other side when he had made the request. If it was not for a family member of his¡­ The choice would almost certainly be his rumored love interest, right? After the meal, he got into his Maybach, leaning against the back seat and resting with his eyes closed without saying where he wanted to go. Song Fengzhi reported his schedule, ¡°Brother Bo, you have a live broadcast in Shangcheng tomorrow night, and there¡¯s an event the day after tomorrow; you¡¯ll stay in Shangcheng for at least two days. The day after that, the tryouts for the new movie¡¯s actresses will begin.¡± Bo Yan neither agreed nor disagreed, having not uttered a word throughout the journey. Since Bo Yan remained silent, Song Fengzhi had no choice but to drive him back. In Yancheng, aside from the Bo Family¡¯s old residence and Qingcheng Apartments, Bo Yan also owned a villa. Usually, he would have Song Fengzhi drop him off there. The car sped along the road, and as they were heading to a villa area quite distant from the main city area, they took a bypass highway. The lights along the road grew dimmer, and it was in this darkness that Bo Yan opened his eyes. He didn¡¯t adjust his seat but instead sat up straight, his gaze cold and indifferent as he looked out the window at the sky. Street lamps receded one by one, the buildings along the road left behind, and as he watched, his eyes slightly narrowed, as if something had come to mind, and he let out a long sigh. Then he reclined against the cushion again and slowly uttered a few words, ¡°Go to Qingcheng Apartments.¡± The car made a round and returned, and Bo Yan got out. He thought for a moment, then went back to fetch the script, squeezing it in his palm. He flipped to the section about the leading lady, folding it to the most visible part. He also specifically marked the page with the contact information and timing for the actresses¡¯ auditions. Then, the elevator arrived, and upon pushing open the door, he immediately saw Xia Siyu¡¯s skewed high heels by the entrance, Seeing the shoes, he looked up. Xia Siyu had not turned on the lights in the living room. The place was very quiet, with only the door to her bedroom ajar, a sliver of light peeking through. He didn¡¯t think much of it, placed the script on the side table near the entryway, and walked in.. Chapter 24 - Chapter 24: Chapter 24 Bathing (2) Chapter 24: Chapter 24 Bathing (2) Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Standing in front of Xia Siyu¡¯s room, Bo Yan paused for quite a while, his expression so calm it bordered on indifferent. The bedroom was unusually quiet, not at all like someone was living there. If he hadn¡¯t seen the trail of clothes she had carelessly discarded on the floor through the crack under the door, he would have doubted that she had come back that evening. Wait, clothes discarded all over the floor? Even from under the door, he seemed to make out her bra and the lace-print panties, pathetically hanging off the foot of the bed. Yet, she was not in the bedroom. If she was just changing into pajamas, there was no need to strip down so thoroughly, even her bra and panties were gone. Bo Yan slightly frowned and gently pushed the door open. The room was brightly lit, indeed, it was messy with clothes scattered all over, but there was no person to be seen in the bedroom. He stood at the doorway, looking around the room. This apartment had a large open space combining the living room, dining room, and balcony, other than this bedroom, there was his study, media recreation room, and the guest room. No matter how he looked at it, the other rooms didn¡¯t seem to be occupied either. He thought for a moment, took a step inside, and then looked towards the half-open bathroom door. There seemed to be light coming from the bathroom, and faintly, the sound of water. Before Bo Yan pulled open the door of the bathroom, he really had no indecent thoughts. He had drunk a bit, his head feeling slightly light. In his somewhat murky mind, what he thought of was the talk at dinner about an actor with depression. The profession of an actor, though seemingly glamorous, is always in the public eye. The slightest mistake could be magnified and critiqued by all sorts of people. Even someone like Bo Yan, born into an aristocratic family, a university lecturer, with knowledge, character, and acting skills beyond reproach, still faced hackers, it was just a matter of how many. After all, he wasn¡¯t renminbi; not everyone was going to like him. Some people had strong resilience and didn¡¯t care. Others were more fragile, feeling doubtful about their lives after being targeted by professional hackers and fans of rival stars, with some even leaving the industry, suffering depression, or, most tragically, taking their own lives. Xia Siyu was frequently criticized, and though it seemed she had developed a thick skin, she was still a woman in her twenties. Just opening up her Weibo comments, you¡¯d find language so vile it was unbearable to witness, as if the greatest malice in the world was concentrated there. Especially since this time, Xia Siyu was severely criticized because of himself. What if¡­ As the door opened, steam filled the bathroom. Through the misty vapor, Bo Yan indeed saw Xia Siyu lying in the bathtub, one of her fair and slender arms hanging over the side, her head resting on her arm, leaning against the edge of the tub. The scene resembled the famous painting ¡°Death of Marat¡±. Bo Yan felt a slight jolt in his heart, and he quickened his pace a few steps, reaching out to check under her nose for breath. Thankfully, she was breathing. And her breath was steady, her expression peaceful, the water in the bathtub was very clear, with no signs of blood or medication. So, she had fallen asleep while taking a bath? Dipping his hand into the water, he found the temperature to be slightly cool; she must have been soaking for quite a while. But as he reached into the water, Bo Yan accidentally caught a glimpse of a flash of exposed skin under the water¡­ He averted his gaze, and in that moment of diversion, his eyes landed on her face, which was close at hand.. Chapter 25 - Chapter 25: Chapter 25 Bathing (3) Chapter 25: Chapter 25 Bathing (3) Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Xia Siyu was very beautiful. Her beauty was the kind that even if you didn¡¯t like her, or even disliked her a lot, you had to admit she was pretty. Because it was an objective fact. There were many celebrities who looked like goddesses with makeup on but like crazy women once they took it off, which was not at all the case for Xia Siyu. In her roles, she often played innocent and cute, ¡°silly sweet¡± characters with light makeup, and some movie scenes even called for her to appear makeup-free, which didn¡¯t make her look much different from how she really looked. She was, after all, young and had fair, cool-toned skin; her natural complexion was very good. Engulfed in the steam of the bathroom, she looked even more radiantly pale with a hint of rose. At this close distance, he could almost see the fine, rosy capillaries under her fair skin. Her eyelashes were long; at that moment, she was quietly sleeping, stripped of her usual haughty demeanor, her slightly furrowed brows lending her an added touch of soft vulnerability. Then there were her lips, the top lip adorned with a beautiful Cupid¡¯s bow. The corners of her mouth were slightly sharp, curving into a beautiful arc when she smiled. But when pressed together, they revealed a trace of stubbornness. But now, amidst the hazy steam, that bit of stubbornness turned into a tenderness that evoked pity, making her even more eye-catching. Unconsciously, as Bo Yan watched her, the indifference in his eyes softened slightly, and he even slowly leaned in toward her. In the air, his breathing became faintly audible, growing more erratic. The moment Xia Siyu opened her eyes, she yawned leisurely and stretched languorously. As she stretched, the sound of water splashed, and only then did she realize she was still lying in the bathtub. The bathwater had gotten cold, so she quickly got up, grabbed a towel to dry off, and lazily put on a bathrobe. She had been incredibly tired lately; just last week the filming for a movie wrapped up, and almost every day following that she had been on the go with a packed schedule, pushing her mental and physical energy to the limit. She had actually fallen asleep in the bathtub. Having just slipped on a robe, Xia Siyu felt a little thirsty. So, slipping into her slippers and toweling off her hair, she left the bedroom to get some water in the living room. With the bright lights of the living room on, she had barely taken a few steps when she suddenly noticed something was off. Turning around, there was a man sitting on the living room sofa¡ªBo Yan! Xia Siyu, startled, dropped her towel. Her first reaction was to secure her bathrobe more tightly around herself to cover all exposed skin. Then she looked up and asked, ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Bo Yan¡¯s legs were comfortably crossed, one hand holding a script, the other a cup of tea. Hearing her question, he showed no particular reaction, not even bothering to glance her way, simply took a sip from his tea and responded evenly, ¡°This is my home, too. Why can¡¯t I be here?¡± It had been a long time since Xia Siyu had been used to being alone with him, and his words did not put her at ease. She still looked on guard, ¡°When did you come back?¡± Bo Yan turned a page of the script, still not looking at her, and calmly replied, ¡°While you were passed out in the bathtub.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xia Siyu was stunned for several seconds before she exploded, a bit incoherently with rage, ¡°Bo Yan, that¡¯s so shameless of you. So, you saw¡­¡± Everything? Only then did Bo Yan set down the script and look at her, his gaze as impassive as if viewing a piece of porcelain, ¡°Isn¡¯t there a part of you that 1 haven¡¯t seen before?¡± Chapter 26 - Chapter 26: Chapter 26 Bathing (4) Chapter 26: Chapter 26 Bathing (4) Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Xia Siyu was stunned for several seconds, her face, all the way to her ears, and down to her neck, turned completely red! She could even feel the sweat breaking out on her back. Although Xia Siyu was rumored to have numerous scandals in the eyes of outsiders, if it wasn¡¯t for her too explosive personality, making her seem not easily subdued, there might even have been talks of having previous agreements. But even so, the comments about her on the internet definitely contained these words: ¡°Experienced with many.¡± In front of outsiders, Xia Siyu could put on an arrogant face as if ¡°there¡¯s nothing I haven¡¯t seen.¡± But facing Bo Yan, although she could rely on her momentum to support her, he indeed knew her secrets, knew her past. That bit of momentum was like a paper tiger, easily deflated with a poke. Bo Yan put down the script and slowly stood up. Xi Siyu was initially in a state of high alert, and the moment he stood up, all her radars immediately went off. She didn¡¯t step back, but her eyes became extremely sharp. The slight frown that had rested upon her brows while she lay next to the bathtub now shot up fiercely, like a small animal with its fur puffed up, ready to attack its enemy. Especially as his steps moved directly toward her, her defensiveness intensified. This was different from their encounter in the film city that afternoon. That was a public place, and she knew Wei Jingjing and the others were not far away. If Bo Yan dared to be rude to her, even if she couldn¡¯t beat him, a loud shout could bring four or five helpers running. But now, alone together in a room, with a roof above and walls around. The house had soundproofing to prevent paparazzi from taking secret photos, and the curtains were even drawn. Moreover, she and Bo Yan were legally married¡ªthey had actually registered their marriage. Although the current Marriage Law could protect in-marriage issues, in reality, even domestic violence, which is a criminal matter, often doesn¡¯t get interfered with; it¡¯s mostly dealt with through mediation. If Bo Yan really did something to her, wouldn¡¯t she just be bullied for nothing? Bo Yan advanced step by step, and she firmly refused to retreat, only turning her eyeballs to the side, her gaze locked on the glass cup beside the water dispenser! If Bo Yan really tried anything, she would use that glass cup to knock his head, gouge his eyes, and then kick his vital parts! Bo Yan, expressionless, walked towards her, drawing closer with each step. This time, Xia Siyu didn¡¯t just stand there foolishly like she did in the afternoon. She quickly turned around, directly picked up the glass cup beside her, and glared at him with clear hostility. He stopped in front of her, his long arm reaching out towards her, seemingly about to grab her arm just like in the afternoon. Xia Siyu, in a reflex, raised the cup, ready to retaliate, but Bo Yan¡¯s arm¡ªpassed by her side, his fingers picking up a glass cup beside her, and poured himself a glass of water. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t lower the cup in her hand, watchfully observing his throat as he swallowed. Atter Bo Yan finished the water, he turned around¡ªwithout casting a glance at her the entire time, as if she were air, leaving her with his back and directly heading to the study. This, this was it? Before she could speak, Bo Yan¡¯s footsteps paused, and Xia Siyu once again tightened her grip on the cup, her look unfriendly. Bo Yan, without turning his head, coldly dropped a sentence, ¡°Don¡¯t disturb me, and don¡¯t come near me. I don¡¯t want your presence within a two-meter radius of me.¡¯ Then he closed the door with a ¡°bang..¡± Chapter 27 - Chapter 27: Chapter 27 The Golden House Conceals the Beauty (1) Chapter 27: Chapter 27 The Golden House Conceals the Beauty (1) Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Xia Siyu, who was locked out, was initially surprised, but within a few seconds, that surprise turned into immense anger! Was she being rejected? She must be, right? By what right did he reject her? She was clearly so beautiful, her entire being was attractive, and yet he dared to reject her! She hadn¡¯t complained about him living here, and now he had the audacity to tell her to stay away? Rest assured, she would definitely keep two meters, no, three meters away from him, and never lay eyes on him again for the rest of her life! Xia Siyu snorted loudly, tossed her head, and walked straight to her bedroom, slamming the door forcefully. A few seconds later, she stormed out again, poured herself a full glass of water, and returned to her room, slamming the door once more. In the adjacent guest room, Bo Yan stood behind the door, hearing the commotion on the other side, and the indifferent expression in his eyes immediately relaxed. His hand gently moved up to press against his somewhat chaotic, wildly beating heart. A few minutes later, once he had fully regained his composure, his face was once again as calm as a still pond, and he lifted his leg to walk further into the room. The night passed without incident. Xia Siyu was awakened by a series of urgent rings from her cell phone. Without opening her eyes, she reached out to fumble on the bedside table, her voice hoarse: ¡°Hello.¡¯ ¡°Siyu, it¡¯s me, Jingjing. Are you still at Qingcheng Apartments? I¡¯m heading to your old place to pick up some daily necessities for you.¡± Xia Siyu responded with a ¡°hmm,¡± but just turned over, eyes still shut. ¡°About the issue with your house, I reported it to Brother Qin last night. He said that temporarily he can¡¯t find anywhere with security measures better than Qingcheng Apartments. If your friend doesn¡¯t mind, you might have to stay here a little longer until we find a better place.¡± Xia Siyu lazily nodded: ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°There¡¯s an event this afternoon; get ready early. I¡¯ll come to pick you up in a while.¡¯ ¡°Okay.¡± Xia Siyu tossed the phone aside and buried her head back into the bed covers, rolling around at the head of the bed for a while. She was just getting up, believing Wei Jingjing had arrived, and thus wrinkled her brow and squinted her eyes. She obviously hadn¡¯t had enough sleep, thinking she was still in her old house. She staggered to the bathroom, squeezed toothpaste onto her brush. Feeling a tad hungry and brushing her teeth, she scratched her shoulder and, with disheveled hair, pushed the door open, planning to check the fridge. As she pushed open the door, Bo Yan was opening his door across from her, and both were taken aback. Bo Yan was neatly dressed; because he was at home, he wore an extremely simple white T- shirt with black casual pants. Unlike Xia Siyu¡¯s disheveled appearance, he was clearly already washed and groomed, his hair neatly combed, his gaze calm as he swept over her, his frown visibly deepening as if the word ¡°disdain¡± was etched on his face. Looking past her, her bedroom was a mess with clothes strewn about. It had only been one day, but the room looked as if it had been hit by a level-seven earthquake, completely unlike the neat and charming image she presented when she left the house. As he continued to look, his brow furrowed even deeper. Xia Siyu followed his gaze nonchalantly from top to bottom; her unkempt appearance wasn¡¯t really unfit for public view ¨C after all, ninety percent of women looked like this when they got up. Bo Yan¡¯s gaze swept down to her chest and lingered there¡ª Chapter 28 - Chapter 28: Chapter 28 The Golden House Conceals the Beauty (2) Chapter 28: Chapter 28 The Golden House Conceals the Beauty (2) Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Xia Siyu wore a silk slip nightgown, a style that was very form-fitting to begin with, clinging to her skin and outlining her graceful contours to perfection. Especially, this kind of slip nightgown, which was mostly low-cut in design. Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t short, standing at 168 cm without shoes. But Bo Yan was undoubtedly a solid 183 cm tall. Some female celebrities, in order to look good on camera, starve themselves to the bone. Though they may look stunning on screen, in everyday domestic life, they can appear too skinny. But Xia Siyu had a knack for looking good; she was the kind of person with a small frame, so even if she had some flesh, she wouldn¡¯t appear fat. And for someone as slim as she was, she was curvaceously proportioned, with a slim waist and long legs. Particularly her bust, it was definitely the most proud feature on her figure, no wonder she narcissistically thought, ¡°Every part of my body looks great¡±! Neither of them spoke, and the air was filled with an awkward atmosphere. It wasn¡¯t until a moment later that Bo Yan calmly and composedly averted his gaze, as if he had seen nothing, turned his head, entered his own room, and then firmly closed the door. Bo Yan closed the door with considerable force, as if to tell her that he was very angry. Such lowly tactics used to get close to him were useless. As soon as the door closed, Xia Siyu¡¯s rage flared up! It was her who got seen, and she hadn¡¯t said anything about it, yet the other party despised her, which was intolerable! She angrily charged over and hammered on the door with her little fists. The door was quickly opened, and behind it were Bo Yan¡¯s cold, frosty eyes, ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°What is it? What do you think is the matter!¡± Xia Siyu, still with a toothbrush in her mouth, was just about to complain when the strap of her nightgown slipped down with her movements. The already semi-concealed view suddenly seemed completely unveiled, becoming even more enticing. And Bo Yan¡¯s gaze, following her complaint, gradually moved downward, directly focusing on the moment the strap slipped¡­ With a loud ¡°bang,¡± the sound of Bo Yan closing the door was even louder. It wasn¡¯t just disdain, but also clear anger and irritation. As if accusing Xia Siyu of deliberately ¡°seducing¡± him, eager to put distance between them. Xia Siyu silently returned to her room, closed the door, and quietly pulled up the strap. ¡­Well, looking at it from this angle, at least he wasn¡¯t interested in her, and he wouldn¡¯t suddenly lose control and lay hands on her one day. It seemed he really did despise her, wanting to keep his distance. Although Xia Siyu didn¡¯t want to admit this. Being despised by him, being made to stay away. And his cold gaze and indifferent words¡­ Xia Siyu was sitting in front of the mirror, and with a glance up, she could see herself in the mirror. Even without makeup, she was still radiant and pure. A woman in her twenties, at the peak of her life. She was young, she was beautiful, she was proud, she was affected. But no matter how proud she was, there were still people who didn¡¯t like her, not just the netizens who criticized her, but also the people around her¡­ She suddenly remembered a past incident from years ago, and the initial gloom, the bit of anger, and a touch of shyness once again turned into a deep melancholy, ending with a sigh.. Chapter 29 - Chapter 29: Chapter 29 The Golden House Conceals the Beauty (3) Chapter 29: Chapter 29 The Golden House Conceals the Beauty (3) Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios After taking care of her hygiene, Xia Siyu emerged from the bedroom once again, having completely returned to normal. Just as she pushed open the door, Bo Yan had finished preparing breakfast. The aroma of food filled the dining room, and her stomach couldn¡¯t help but let out a ¡°gurgle.¡± It was already ten o¡¯clock in the morning, and she had only nibbled on a sandwich in the car the night before; apart from drinking water, she hadn¡¯t eaten anything else. As a female star, self-management was essential. In her original home, there were all kinds of fresh organic vegetables that Wei Jingjing had prepared for her¡ªif she was really hungry, she could nibble on some greens or eat a carrot to stave off the hunger. But here¡­ She didn¡¯t dare order takeout blindly, especially since she had an easy-to-gain weight physique and was prone to water retention. If she ate too many oily or salty foods the day before, she would gain weight just from drinking water the next day. Xia Siyu went to the fridge first, opened the door, and found it completely empty. There was not only no food, but also no beer or soft drinks. If there were such things, she could at least last until Wei Jingjing came over with supplies. But now¡­ While she hesitated, Bo Yan had already set out the dishes and opened a bottle of Paris water, pouring it into a tall glass. Xia Siyu glanced over and saw slices of bread, chicken breast, eggs, and vegetables. It looked like a standard diet and fitness meal suited for stars like them. And perhaps because Bo Yan was a man with a larger appetite, he had made two portions; both were placed in front of him¡­ She quickly turned her head and went to the cabinet, opening its doors to see if there was anything to eat or drink inside. Unfortunately, the place had been uninhabited for a long time; not to mention instant noodles or milk, there wasn¡¯t even a single biscuit. Xia Siyu opened the food delivery app. Qingcheng Apartment was in the city center, so naturally there were restaurants. However, after a scan, most of the nearby places were selling fried chicken and barbecue; at this time, the breakfast buns shops had also closed. The few restaurants that seemed a bit lighter were all marked as ¡°Open for business at 11 a.m.¡± If she had to wait until 11, she¡¯d starve! As she struggled with her decision, Bo Yan had already begun to eat. He sat at the table, eating gracefully. Only occasionally, when cutting the chicken breast, did the tip of his knife gently touch the plate, making a crisp sound. She hesitantly approached the table and watched him cut a large piece of chicken, chew it thoroughly with his fork, and put it into his mouth. The chicken breast had been prepared to be tender and juicy, full of flavour, and looked very appetizing. As she watched, her stomach let out another ¡°gurgle,¡± this time loud enough for Bo Yan to turn his head and look at her. Since he had noticed, she didn¡¯t beat around the bush, and looked straight at the breakfast, ¡°Is it good? Where did you buy this meat? It looks quite fresh; next time I¡¯ll ask Wei Jingjing to bring me some too.¡± Bo Yan glanced at her face. Her eyes were fiery, fixated on the food, much like a stray dog on the street eyeing your kebabs, waiting to be fed by a feeder. While gazing at the food, she unconsciously swallowed a mouthful of saliva. Bo Yan had an indifferent gaze as he looked down at his own plate. Then he pushed the other portion of the meal toward her with a flick of his wrist. Xia Siyu¡¯s eyes instantly brightened, and without a word, she sat down, took the utensils as if she was afraid he would change his mind, and made sure to sit at the far end of the long table, a good two meters away from him. Chapter 30 - Chapter 30: Chapter 30 The Golden House Conceals the Beauty (4) Chapter 30: Chapter 30 The Golden House Conceals the Beauty (4) Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Perhaps fearing that Bo Yan would come and snatch away her food, she ate very quickly, her cheeks puffing out like a hamster¡¯s as she finished off a large plate of breakfast in no time. Seeing that Bo Yan hadn¡¯t finished his bottle of Paris water, she sneakily took it for herself without pouring it into a wine glass and unscrewed the cap to drink directly from the bottle. The carbonation traveled down her esophagus, and that feeling of contentment was simply amazing. Not to mention, although Bo Yan seemed annoying, he cooked quite delicious meals. For the chicken breast to be crispy on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside was no small feat. Looking up, at the other end of the long table, Bo Yan was elegantly using a napkin, lightly dabbing the corners of his mouth. Then he got up, taking all the plates to the kitchen to wash. Owing someone for a meal, Xia Siyu also felt ill at ease just leeching a breakfast, so she proactively got up, took her own plate to the kitchen, and offered to do the dishes. Bo Yan didn¡¯t stand on ceremony with her, sliding his plate toward her and then turning to walk away. Having lived abroad with her mother when Xia Siyu was young, she was familiar with these household chores. When she came back after cleaning up, Bo Yan had already brewed a large pot of coffee. He poured himself a cup and started to read the script while sipping. She glanced over and saw half a pot left, so she helped herself to it without asking. Bo Yan was reading the script at one end of the sofa while she played with her phone at the other. Two meters apart, they coexisted peacefully, with only the occasional sound of Bo Yan turning the pages of the script breaking the quiet as if it were an untouched wasteland. Thankfully, she didn¡¯t have to wait long for Wei Jingjing to come to her rescue, ¡°I¡¯ll be there in ten minutes; I¡¯ve got quite a lot with me, come down and help me with it.¡± When Xia Siyu stood up, Bo Yan also put down his script, responding to an audio message from Song Fengzhi, ¡°Bro Bo, I¡¯m downstairs, everything¡¯s packed.¡± Both of them got up and walked toward their respective bedrooms. After changing clothes and coming out, they found themselves taking the same elevator down together. Xia Siyu noticed that Bo Yan was carrying a suitcase, probably heading out of town. She glanced at the coffee table, the script was still there, but she felt too lazy to remind him¡ªit had nothing to do with her anyway. In the same elevator, Bo Yan stood on the outside, she was on the inside; neither spoke, each maintaining their distance. It wasn¡¯t until a phone call broke the silence, ¡°Is this Teacher Bo? It¡¯s Fei¡¯er.¡± Perhaps because the underground parking garage was so quiet, anyway, Xia Siyu could tell it was Shang Feifei speaking. Bo Yan nodded, ¡°Hmm.¡¯ ¡°l heard Director Wang Ju is holding auditions for ¡®Storm,¡¯ and you¡¯re there, too. I¡¯d like to try out,¡± Fei¡¯er said. Xia Siyu glanced at him and thought about the script left on the coffee table. She knew about ¡°Storm,¡± it was famous director Wang Ju t s new project, which had garnered a lot of attention in the industry as soon as it was announced. Qin Baizhou had also wanted to help her get in contact, but with a production by Director Wang, actors were chosen by him alone, and it wasn¡¯t a project you could secure through connections. And now, Bo Yan was going to work with him. ¡°You can contact them yourself,¡± Bo Yan said, his tone as indifferent as ever. ¡°But 1 heard Teacher Bo might be able to make suggestions. I¡¯d appreciate any accommodation during my audition,¡± Fei¡¯er responded, her voice carrying a tinge of coquettishness even through the phone line. Xia Siyu could almost sense the sly pleading in Shang Feifei¡¯s voice through the phone. How unexpected, Shang Feifei always so cold and proud before others, was also capable of acting coquettishly! A frown visibly formed on Bo Yan¡¯s face.. He was just about to refuse when suddenly, a soft body leaned over, whispering gently in his ear, ¡°Darling, who are you talking to?¡± Chapter 31 - Chapter 31: Chapter 31 Relationships (1) Chapter 31: Chapter 31 Relationships (1) Xia Siyu was just that type of person; she liked to be straightforward. If someone had something to say, as long as it was to her face, whether she liked it or not, she could accept it. But those who play dirty behind her back, sorry, she would definitely bitch back at them instantly! And she¡¯d do it clearly and unambiguously. Everyone here is a sly old fox, so why play innocent with her? Just like now, although she had absolutely no interest in Bo Yan and didn¡¯t intend to take that movie role, seeing Shang Feifei act all cunning and weak made her want to vex her! Of course, when she said this, she also elongated her tone, softened her voice. She was an actress after all, and slightly changing her voice to sound enchanting and bonelessly soft was not a challenge for her. After all, to anyone listening, this woman speaking was certainly one thing¡ªa complete vixen. As Bo Yan was speaking, he suddenly felt a warm body, fragrant with scent, pressing closer. He had been frowning, until the softness of her chest pressed against his spine, and her slender arms draped over his neck. Her warm breath brushed by his ear, stirring the fine hairs behind it. He had estimated last night and again this morning that her bust size was quite considerable. Now he was measuring it with his own back. Unconsciously, Bo Yan straightened up slightly, not pushing away the person behind him posing against him. ¡°¡­¡± On the other end of the phone, Shang Feifei was probably stunned. She and Bo Yan had cooperated before, and it had been quite pleasant. Because of ¡°Moonlight,¡± she even won the Gold Oscar for Best Actress. Throughout their collaboration, Bo Yan was gentle and cultured, and very gentlemanly. He wasn¡¯t like some male stars who act all proper on camera but in reality, take every chance during filming to cop a feel. Moreover, he was the kind of actor who could really carry a scene and get into the spirit of the role. Working with him, it was very easy to be caught up in the pace of the plot. Even though she had no ulterior motives towards Bo Yan, she still hoped to collaborate with him again. Bo Yan was handsome and gentlemanly, skilled in his craft, extensively knowledgeable, and came from a good background. Most importantly, he had never been involved in any scandals and didn¡¯t seem to have a girlfriend. Shang Feifei herself was twenty-eight and had been struggling in the entertainment industry for six years, so it was only natural that she felt some attraction to him. But she never expected there to be a woman by Bo Yan¡¯s side! ¡ªWait. the voice of this woman. why does it sound a bit familiar. as if she had heard it somewhere before? With some stammering, Shang Feifei responded, ¡°Bo, Bo teacher¡­ are you outside?¡± On this end, Xia Siyu continued to reply with a softened tone, not only was her voice seductive, but she also purposely employed a vibrato that nearly maide one¡¯s bones turn soft, ¡°Darling, last night totally exhausted me. Do you dislike that nightgown I wore? How about you bring me back another one tomorrow when you go out of town? Something sexy, your favorite kincy I¡¯ll like anything you like.¡± ¡°Click!¡ª¡± The sound that came from the other end of the line was Shang Feifei hanging up abruptly. Hearing the hang-up click, Xia Siyu twisted her body triumphantly, completely unaware that at this moment, she was hanging on Bo Yan. Her chest pressed against his back, her hand resting on his neck. And all of this was happening in a quiet underground parking garage. As she raised her head, Bo Yan happened to turn around, and their eyes instantly met.. Chapter 32 - Chapter 32: Chapter 32 Relationships (2) Chapter 32: Chapter 32 Relationships (2) Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios In the past few days, Bo Yan and Xia Siyu had often been very close to each other, and they had almost kissed yesterday afternoon. However, most of those times, it was Bo Yan who took the initiative. But at this moment, it was she who moved closer, she purposely spoke those flirtatious words. Up until now, they were still holding each other. The air was filled with a hint of awkwardness. Xia Siyu tilted her head slightly and lowered her eyes, perhaps feeling a little embarrassed about what had just happened, her expression showed a tiny crack, ¡°So, don¡¯t take it to heart, I¡­ Before she could finish, the sound of someone getting off the car interrupted them. Both turned their heads at the same time, and it was Bo Yan¡¯s assistant, Song Fengzhi. He had said earlier that he would wait downstairs to take him to the airport, and seeing the two of them hugging, he shuddered and stammered, ¡°Bo, Bo Yan¡­ Xia Siyu hadn¡¯t had the chance to retract her ¡°claws¡± before she immediately explained, ¡°We weren¡¯t¡­¡± Before she could finish her sentence, a car drove into the parking lot, heading straight toward them. Two glaring headlights shone on them in an instant¡ªas if detective lights spotlighting criminals before an arrest, engulfing them inescapably. It was her assistant, Wei Jingjing. Bo Yan, Xia Siyu: In the car, Wei Jingjing hadn¡¯t come out yet, but seeing the scene before her, she grabbed Little Tangs arm and frantically pressed her own chest, ¡°Quick, check for me, am I blind? Am I seeing Bo Yan and our Siyu hugging each other?¡ªAnd Siyu is the one who took the initiative?¡± Inside the parking lot, three parties looked at each other, perplexed. No one spoke; the silence was as if no one had survived. After a short while, Bo Yan¡¯s gaze returned to calmness in a second. He turned his head calmly, extended his hand, and with two fingers, he picked up Xia Siyu¡¯s wrist and tossed it to the side. Then he lightly patted the shoulder where she had been leaning, as if dusting it off, and even blew on it, his expression of disdain almost spilling out of the screen. Xia Siyu hadn¡¯t had the chance to become angry when he frowned, stretched out his finger, and gently gestured the number ¡°two¡±: ¡°Two meters. A two-meter radius.¡¯ Then he slowly stepped back, keeping his distance from her. Xia Siyu was stunned for two seconds, and after he stepped away, her reflexes finally caught up. Furious, she was about to pounce on him and scuffle his hair, ¡°Bo Yan, I¡¯m going to fight you!¡¯ Of course, she didn¡¯t succeed. Wei Jingjing was the first to get out of the car and intercept her, and from the other side, Assistant Song Fengzhi also stepped forward to block Bo Yan, preventing the ensuing skirmish from ever beginning. Speaking of which, although Wei Jingjing was struggling to restrain her at that moment, based on her understanding of Xia Siyu, this girl was a single-celled organism, almost like an amoeba, with a brain that couldn¡¯t turn corners. Her anger and embarrassment towards Bo Yan proved that these two were definitely not a couple. At least, not in the present continuous. Inside the room of Qingcheng Apartments. With three cups of tea in front of them, Wei Jingjing and Little Tang sat across the sofa, swords drawn, looking unhappily around. Meanwhile, Xia Siyu sat elegantly on the carpet, legs crossed, her little finger still picking at a tuft of fabric on the edge of the carpet. Although she felt somewhat embarrassed, she maintained a facade as if it was no big deal, all serious. She had the look of a student caught by parents during a juvenile romance. Wei Jingjing took a sip of tea and placed the cup down on the coffee table, ¡°Tell me, what exactly is your relationship with Bo Yan?¡± Chapter 33 - Chapter 33: Chapter 33 Relationships (3) Chapter 33: Chapter 33 Relationships (3) Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Xia Siyu¡¯s eyes shifted to one side, and she hesitated to answer directly, muttering, ¡°What kind of relationship could it be? Haven¡¯t I said it? He¡¯s my ex-boyfriend.¡± Wei Jingjings eyes widened in disbelief, ¡°Are you kidding me? Ex-boyfriend, can an ex-boyfriend live with you?¡± She looked around and obviously noticed men¡¯s personal items, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me all these things belong to you!¡¯ ¡°l didn¡¯t say anything wrong, I meant I moved into a friend¡¯s house, ex-boyfriend, he¡¯s also a friend, right?¡± Xia Siyu was speaking and suddenly realized something was not quite right. She was the artist and the owner of the house, so why was she being overshadowed? She hurriedly sat down on the sofa, squeezing Little Tang aside, and said in a carefree manner, ¡®You said it yourself, I couldn¡¯t find anywhere else to stay at the time, and this place is quite safe, well-located, and close to the company. Besides, he doesn¡¯t come back every day, he has other places to stay. If not, help me find another more suitable place and I¡¯ll move out without a second word, right now!¡± That¡­ actually didn¡¯t exist. But even so, as a female artist, she couldn¡¯t just casually cohabitate with a man! Even if that man was the esteemed actor Bo! Wei Jingjing was honestly worried like a protective fan mother at this moment, fearing her beloved daughter would be taken advantage of. Although she¡¯d handled countless scandals for Xia Siyu over the past three years, not a single one was true. But this time, it couldn¡¯t be truer, they were living together¡­ ¡°You and him¡­ ¡°Nothing happened between him and me!¡± Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t help but roar, ¡°It¡¯s really not what you think. He isn¡¯t interested in me¡ªno, that¡¯s wrong, I¡¯m not interested in him! Anyway, neither of us is interested in the other, we¡¯re not boyfriend and girlfriend, and nothing of the sort you¡¯re thinking has happened, I swear.¡± Wei Jingjing looked at her very seriously for a while, and Xia Siyu faced her with a proud expression, not backing down an inch. After staring at each other for roughly ten seconds, Wei Jingjing nodded, ¡°OK, I believe you. If you were lying, you definitely wouldn¡¯t have lasted ten seconds of eye contact.¡± Xia Siyu wore a ¡°that goes without saying¡¯! expression on her face. ¡°It¡¯s not an issue who you live with, the problem is whether you¡¯ll be photographed or not,¡± Wei Jingjing had just expressed her concern, then quickly resumed, ¡°But it also seems like it¡¯s not a problem, firstly because the security here is probably the best in Yancheng, paparazzi can¡¯t get in easily. Secondly, even if you were photographed with Bo Yan, he would be the one at a loss. He¡¯s not like you, he¡¯s a top-quality idol, a leading artist with no scandals and excellent professional skills. You, on the other hand, are just one step away from the ¡®artists with bad records¡¯ list. If you were with him, you¡¯d be benefiting from his light, and it¡¯d be his bad luck¡­¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s eyes immediately flared up, ¡°How am 1 inferior? And me benefiting from him, him being unlucky? He may look down on me, but I don¡¯t think much ot him either! Even it he wanted me to like him again, I¡¯m not interested in going back to an old flame! Does he think that just because his public persona is so righteous, he¡¯s become the coveted prize? Let me tell you, I¡¯ve been burned once. You don¡¯t fall into the same pit twice.¡± Xia Siyu spoke fervently, and Wei Jingjing took a serious look at her, adding in a low voice, ¡°l always thought that the woman who dumped him, the one he talked about, was you.. Could it be, in fact, that he was the one who wronged you back then?¡± Chapter 34 - Chapter 34: Chapter 34 Relationships (4) Chapter 34: Chapter 34 Relationships (4) Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios As she spoke, Xia Siyu¡¯s raging anger seemed to be instantly doused by a bucket of ice water, deflated in a moment. But in her eyes flickered distress, a touch of sadness, and a hint of heaviness. She quickly lowered her head and turned towards the window, seemingly unwilling to continue the conversation. When she turned back, she had completely regained her composure, ¡°Well, that¡¯s that. Since I can¡¯t find a place to stay at short notice, I might as well stay here for now. After all, it¡¯s impossible between him and me, and sooner or later we will¡­ let go of each other, so you don¡¯t have to worry. As for the reputation, I believe he values it more than I do, because as you said, the one who suffers if we¡¯re seen together is him.¡¯ Wei Jingjing and Little Tang exchanged glances and decided to seize the opportunity. She had come over this time to help her move, and since everything had been laid out, there was no further hesitation. Over the next two days, Wei Jingjing and Little Tang gradually moved Xia Siyu¡¯s belongings from her old house, effectively settling her in. Bo Yan had been away in Shangcheng these two days, which conveniently facilitated their moving. Xia Siyu had her own schedule to follow as well. She was busy setting up her home and working, spinning like a top for two days and quickly pushing that bastard to the back of her mind. Until the third day. Today, Xia Siyu¡¯s agent, Qin Baizhou, was supposed to return from out of town. They had agreed to meet in the evening to discuss work, but an unexpected call disrupted her plans. It was Zhou Weiwei, ¡°Siyu, how come 1 haven¡¯t seen you yet?¡± Wearing slippers and sipping sparkling water, Xia Siyu responded with confusion, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the audition for ¡®Storm¡¯! Didn¡¯t your agent sign you up before? The lead female role, it¡¯s perfect for you, tailor-made. My agent signed me up too, but I guess it¡¯s just to make up the numbers.¡± Zhou Weiwei¡¯s background was somewhat noisy, and there was a sound of numbers being called, obviously, she was at the audition site, ¡°Also, Bo Yan has been cast as the male lead, and he¡¯s here to help select the actress for the female lead and second female lead roles. Come over, you¡¯re sure to make it!¡± Remembering the call from Shang Feifei that day, Xia Siyu took another sip of sparkling water, ¡°Oh. That¡¯s right, I remember now.¡± ¡°What do you mean ¡®you remember now¡¯? It¡¯s such a good opportunity with Wang Ju! That¡¯s Wang Ju! If you connect with his network, you won¡¯t have to worry about resources in the Yancheng circle in the future. Even if you¡¯re having a conflict with Bo Yan, he¡¯s still your husband after all, there¡¯s no need to keep fighting, right?¡± Xia Siyu did not reply, and it was clear that Zhou Weiwei was called to her turn. She hurriedly said, ¡°You better hurry, there¡¯s one more hour for the lead female audition. Just come over and submit your materials, Bo Yan is there, he won¡¯t block you, but it¡¯ll be too late if you¡¯re any later.¡± Xia Siyu remained noncommittal. After hanging up the phone, she took a sip of water, and as she turned, her eyes accidentally swept over the script Bo Yan had left on the table. Since there was plenty of time and she was quite bored, she simply picked up the script and started reading it. She looked indifferent at the beginning, but after a few pages, she suddenly stood up, checked the time, and then looked at the schedule and location marked on the script. Her delicate brows furrowed gently, as if wrestling with hesitation. At the audition. Wang Ju sat at the center, flanked by the producer and casting director on one side and Bo Yan on the other. After several hours of auditions, exhaustion was evident on their faces. Next, the final candidate for the female lead was about to audition. Chapter 35 - Chapter 35: Chapter 35 Audition (1) Chapter 35: Chapter 35 Audition (1) Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Bo Yan¡¯s expression was calm as he sat before a stack of documents sent over by various artists¡ªamong them was Shang Feifei¡¯s. There were no issues with Shang Feifei¡¯s acting; she had just won Best Actress at the Gold Oscar Film Festival a few days earlier, and her popularity had risen alongside. If it weren¡¯t for Director Ju t s movie, she would undoubtedly be striding confidently within the industry, not lacking resources at all. But this time, she also neatly submitted her materials to Director Wang Ju and waited to audition. Soon she pushed the door open and entered without any diva-like airs, courteously greeting everyone present, ¡°Director Wang, Director Zhang (casting director), Producer Chen, Teacher Bo.¡± Director Zhang and Producer Chen greeted her with smiles as Shang Feifei was perhaps the highest-profile actress auditioning that day. Besides, she was young, talented, and attractive. Bo Yan didn¡¯t speak much, and Director Wang Ju remained serious, ¡°We can start now.¡± Shang Feifei nodded and quickly prepared a short performance. The segment she performed was from the script, roughly depicting the female lead¡¯s wavering and heartache upon learning about the male lead¡¯s engagement to the second female lead. It was a solo performance. It had to be said that Shang Feifei¡¯s acting was indeed faultless, which was a necessity to win a Gold Oscar. She even added subtle layers to her audition. The initial anger was followed by dejection, then a sudden flash of joy when the male lead called, mixed with a hint of rejection but a latent sense of pleasure deep inside. The entire performance was very complete, befitting even of a stage play, where she could quickly immerse herself in character. After her performance, Director Zhang and Producer Chen applauded, ¡°Very good, very good.¡± They had auditioned about a dozen actresses that afternoon; those who were beautiful mostly lacked acting skills, and those with acting skills didn¡¯t quite fit the physical profile of the female lead. Shang Feifei, twenty-eight, had a delicate beauty and solid acting skills, making her indeed the most suitable choice among all the candidates for the female lead. However, in the room, not just Bo Yan, but Director Wang too, did not clap. His expression revealed a bit of contemplation. Shang Feifei¡¯s gaze first lingered on Director Wang and then shifted toward Bo Yan. Bo Yan was looking down at the documents, not speaking. After a few seconds, Director Wang Ju smiled, ¡°Not bad.¡± Shang Feifei let out a sigh of relief, finally resting her gaze on the only person who hadn¡¯t given an opinion¡ªBo Yan. Not just her, but the other three looked towards Bo Yan as well. Although he was only there to provide a reference opinion, they couldn¡¯t completely dismiss him from the decision-making process. Under everyone¡¯s watchful eyes, Bo Yan looked up and said earnestly, ¡°You performed well.¡± It was a baseline comment, and he spoke the truth. Once he finished speaking, everyone in the room smiled. The casting director even said with a laugh, ¡°So, shall we settle on this?¡± Theoretically, after the audition, there would be a comprehensive consideration of salary and other conditions before making a final decision, and usually, this would mean waiting several days at home for a notification. But Director Wang Ju was different; he liked to choose his actors personally, and the capital investors rarely interfered, and he was accustomed to notifying on the spot. Director Wang Ju didn¡¯t object, although in his eyes, Shang Feifei fell short of his ideal vision¡ªsimply put, not beautiful enough. But at a moment¡¯s notice, where could one find someone who was both pure and beautiful and also a good actor? Shang Feifei at least had an award, and her commercial value wasn¡¯t low; she could help carry the box office. ¡°You can go downstairs and rest for now; we will notify you together after we have chosen for the supporting female role.¡± Shang Feifei nodded and relaxedly went downstairs to rest. They started calling in candidates for the supporting female role, and the first person to enter was¡­. Chapter 36 - Chapter 36: Chapter 36 Audition (2) Chapter 36: Chapter 36 Audition (2) Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios The first person who came in was Li Yiru. The female antagonist¡¯s role is the standard villain in commercial films, glamorous, fierce, a daughter of a wealthy family, domineering, visibly less appealing to audiences than the female lead, thus there were far fewer auditions for this role than for the lead. Unlike Shang Feifei¡¯s polite restraint, Li Yiru flaunted her beauty and figure openly. As soon as she entered, she greeted everyone with exuberant enthusiasm, then turned to Bo Yan, her gaze direct and heated, ¡°I¡¯ve always wanted to work with Teacher Bo, and I hope 1 get the chance this time.¡± The others also teased with a smile, ¡°What, you don¡¯t honor Director Wang with the same regard?¡± They were aware of the trending topic from the Gold Oscar Awards day and knew it was a running joke. Li Yiru was merely playing upon this meme. Bo Yan¡¯s expression was indifferent as he uttered just two words, ¡°Good luck.¡± The audition began quickly, and Li Yiru performed a short scene from the script. Her acting wasn¡¯t as good as Shang Feifei¡¯s, but her appearance matched the second female lead¡¯s description quite closely. Plus, she wasn¡¯t asking for a high payment, which, to the producers, was still attractive. Although the directors were somewhat inclined towards Li Yiru, the auditions hadn¡¯t ended yet, so they let her step out to rest a bit. Just as Li Yiru headed out, she ran head-on into Shang Feifei coming out of the makeup room. Li Yiru greeted her directly, ¡°Sister Shang, we meet again.¡± Shang Feifei gave a faint nod in response. Li Yiru smiled radiantly, ¡°Perhaps we¡¯ll be working together again soon. I look forward to your guidance, Sister Shang.¡± ¡°Who knows?¡± The two brushed past each other. One¡¯s smile turned instantly disdainful: Green tea. The other internally scoffed: Man-stealer. The auditions continued. Although there were fewer sign-ups for the second female lead, there were still seven or eight, and with each doing a self-introduction and stage performance, it took about an hour. Added to the auditions for the lead role, Bo Yan and the others had been sitting for three hours. As the last candidate for the female antagonist was reviewed, they finally began to relax. They had a rough idea of whom to choose and whom not to. The next half-hour was allocated for internal discussions. Bo Yan found it dull, so he decided to push the door open and step outside. The sky seemed a bit overcast, with faint thunder, suggesting it might rain. Bo Yan stood by the window, looked outside for a long time, and curled his lips into a mocking smirk. The opportunity had come, but they had failed to seize it. What use was the spectator¡¯s anxiety if the person involved didn¡¯t make the effort? Just as he was about to turn back, a sudden rush of car noises came from outside. A red sports car raced into the courtyard, came to a screeching halt with a drift, and stopped right below the building. Xia Siyu arrived in a hurry. By the time she had finished reading the script, the female lead was almost chosen. She had barely put on any makeup, almost presenting a bare face. She had thrown on a simple black shirt-style long dress and tied her hair into a plain ponytail. The actors waiting for their turn, only a few with significant status had private resting rooms, most were outside along the hallway. Seeing Xia Siyu¡¯s arrival, the murmurs of discussion burst forth. Bo Yan¡¯s face first registered shock, his frown relaxed, but then it deepened, ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Xia Siyu, who had been worried she¡¯d come to the wrong place, breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Bo Yan and asked directly, ¡°Is the audition happening here?¡± Bo Yan replied expressionlessly, ¡°You¡¯re late, the audition is already over.¡± Xia Siyu just uttered an ¡°Oh,¡± not taking his words to heart, and pushed open the door to the audition area beside her.. Chapter 37 - Chapter 37: Chapter 37 Audition (3) Chapter 37: Chapter 37 Audition (3) Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Bo Yan paused for a moment but didn¡¯t argue with her, and followed her into the room. As soon as the door closed, the outside discussion grew louder, and the makeup room¡¯s two doors swung open, with Li Yiru wearing an expression like she was watching a drama: ¡°l really didn¡¯t expect her to come.¡± Anyway, she was definitely here to nab the lead role. Shang Feifei didn¡¯t say anything, but she gave her agent a cold look. Whatever the undercurrents were outside, when Xia Siyu pushed open the room¡¯s door, the other three people inside were all a bit surprised. But after a brief moment of surprise, their expressions all became rather complicated. The first to refuse was Director Wang Ju, shaking his head: ¡°Sorry, the audition time has already passed.¡± Xia Siyu was not at all timid, holding a flyer from outside for the auditions, and then glancing at her watch: ¡°The audition time is from two to five in the afternoon. It¡¯s now four fifty-five.¡± With those words, she left the three teachers on the scene with nothing to say. Director Wang Ju looked her up and down several times, his expression changing from the initial displeasure to contemplation. Especially when he saw that Xia Siyu had almost arrived without any makeup on. In fact, from the beginning, Director Wang Ju t s top choice for the lead actress was Xia Siyu. When it came to beauty, there really was no one else in the entertainment industry who could outshine her. Not only was she beautiful, she was also pure, with a stubborn streak hidden deep within. Although her acting wasn¡¯t as good as Shang Feifei¡¯s, it was sufficient and not like that of a wooden beauty. But she was late, and had not submitted any materials, which slightly marred Director Wang Ju¡¯s perception of her; however, seeing that her image and temperament fit the role, he reluctantly gave her a chance. ¡°Then get ready. Act out the part where the female lead receives a phone call from the male lead. I¡¯ll give you only five minutes.¡± He deliberately arranged for Xia Siyu to perform the same scene as Shang Feifei, wanting to compare them and see which one was more suitable. After saying this, he turned and went back to his seat. Once Director Wang Ju gave his nod, the casting director and producer also settled back into their seats. Among them, only Bo Yan didn¡¯t move, still looking at her with a scrutinizing gaze. However, before Director Wang Ju could sit down, Xia Siyu spoke up again: ¡°Director Wang, I¡¯d like to audition for the supporting actress role.¡± At that, not only was Director Wang Ju stunned, but the others were too. Bo Yan stood by, his face expressionless, but his constricted pupils clearly indicated that he was thinking, puzzling. Yet there, beside him, Xia Siyu stood tall, without the anger she had when arguing, nor the aloofness she normally showed. She was confident, at ease, and clearly serious about her request¡ªnot a spur-of-the-moment decision. After watching for a while, Bo Yan remained silent and was the first to take a seat, waiting on the side. He indeed wanted to see what Xia Siyu¡¯s appearance would bring to them¡ªwould it be a shock or a pleasant surprise? Director Wang Ju hesitated for a moment, then looked back and asked, ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re auditioning for the role of the second female lead?¡± Xia Siyu nodded without hesitation. Director Wang Ju had of course heard about Xia Siyu¡¯s bold exploits; she had a pure face, but a tough girl¡¯s heart, and the news of her fighting had even made the trending searches a few days ago. But the movie didn¡¯t care about all that. He only cared about how she looked on camera, not about her in real life. Director Wang Ju scanned her appearance from head to toe and shook his head directly: ¡°The second female lead? You¡¯re not suitable..¡± Chapter 38 - Chapter 38: Chapter 38 Audition (4) Chapter 38: Chapter 38 Audition (4) Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios When Xia Siyu arrived, the doors to the audition area were open. A crowd surrounded the outside, whispering among themselves. Xia Siyu paid them no heed and walked up to the entrance¡ª The people inside and outside were startled, wondering if she was so embarrassed by a scolding that she was about to leave. Bo Yan sat in his place, his expression cold, but his gaze followed her. Xia Siyu simply opened the door and asked indifferently, ¡°Excuse me, does anyone have a bright red lipstick I could borrow?¡± A circle of auditionees looked at each other. Moments later, a girl timidly handed over her lipstick, saying, ¡°If you don¡¯t mind¡­¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Xia Siyu nodded, turned around, twisted out the lipstick, and meticulously applied it to her lips. After finishing, she swiftly removed the hair tie from her ponytail, shook her head, and ran her fingers through her hair, letting her locks fall loosely. She also unbuttoned two buttons of her shirt, revealing just enough to hint at her cleavage. Watching her do this. Bo Yank brows involuntarily furrowed. Afterward, she walked directly up to the judges¡ªpicking up their pack of cigarettes and lighter, ¡°May I use this for a moment?¡± The directors didn¡¯t speak, so she took a cigarette from the pack and turned to walk towards the center of the stage with confident steps. She twisted her head, turned around, and gracefully sat down, crossing her legs comfortably. Her slender fingers deftly held the cigarette between her red lips and lit it with a flick of the lighter. ¡°Puff¡ª The cigarette tip glowed intermittently; she took a light drag, then suddenly lifted her previously downcast face. Xia Siyu¡¯s complexion was fair, her lips painted bright red, her hair voluminous and black, and her button-down shirt, seemingly loose and comfortable, was subtly calculated to expose just enough. Her eyes, hidden in the hazy smoke, were indistinct, but what was palpable was the languid yet sharp look in them. Unlike Li Yiru¡¯s straightforward beauty, Xia Siyu exuded allure, pride, and incisiveness¡ªa complex kind of beauty. She was merely sitting there, with a cigarette between her fingers, yet she seemed to possess boundless charm, captivating the onlookers. To put it in a sentence: Hers was a face with a story. Inside and outside the venue, there was complete silence. On the quiet stage, she spoke indifferently and lazily, ¡°l wonder what kind of scene Director Wang expects me to perform?¡± Wang Ju instantly made his decision¡ªit must have been the fastest he¡¯d ever resolved something, ¡°You¡¯re the one!¡± Bo Yan had been watching her all along, as she got up to thank them, as she confidently walked out the door, and he slowly bowed his head. A barely noticeable smile curved at the corner of his mouth. He had always thought that she was a person full of life. She grew wildly, her beauty unequaled, her pride unmitigated. She was so naively single-minded that he sometimes worried for her. But in reality, she was thoughtful, and she had potential. Upon leaving, Xia Siyu returned the lipstick with thanks, only to run into an infuriated Li Yiru. Li Yiru had thought the role of the second female lead was almost certainly hers until Xia Siyu unexpectedly came into the picture. With her image, why not vie for Shang Feifei¡¯s leading female role? ¡°Xia Siyu, aren¡¯t you being too much? Are you bullying people with your power?¡± To everyone¡¯s surprise, Xia Siyu, who would normally ignore such remarks, actually stopped, ¡°Someone once told me that in the entertainment industry, only the famous have the right to throw their weight around..¡± Chapter 39 - Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Dignitaries (1) Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Dignitaries (1) Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Li Yiru felt extremely aggrieved, especially since Xia Siyu had just admitted to ¡°bullying by power¡± on the spot. How could she just let it go, ¡°Not only do you bully by power, but the words you speak are like farts. You said it yourself, that you would never work with Bo Yan in this lifetime. How many days has it been now? Have all your words gone to the dogs?¡± As Li Yiru said this, Bo Yan just happened to come out. She quickly sought him as an ally, ¡°Teacher Bo, I hope you can carefully consider your partner for the next film project.¡± Bo Yan didn¡¯t make any statement, nor did he show any expression, just looked at Xia Siyu. Because of the recent argument, quite a number of people had gathered around, even Shang Feifei, who had been watching the drama unfold from the sidelines, arrived shortly after. Xia Siyu was not only unfazed but even more smug, ¡°l don¡¯t care who the male lead is. It¡¯s not that I want to work with him, I just want this role. What¡¯s that saying in the fan circles? ¡®Secured the role, laugh at the mad dogs.¡¯ It¡¯s because you¡¯re ugly and delusional, isn¡¯t it? If you¡¯re not satisfied, why don¡¯t you snatch a role yourself!¡± Others might not know, but Bo Yan¡¯s frown had visibly deepened after he heard her words. He called out in a steady voice, ¡°Xia Siyu!¡¯ Everyone turned to look at him, while Xia Siyu turned her head slowly. Her lips were still bright red, and her slightly curled long hair naturally cascaded down her shoulders, with a look of disdainful, light laughter on her face. He said coldly, ¡°Come inside to discuss the movie. And you, Shang Feifei.¡± After saying that, he turned and went inside. Xia Siyu was not afraid at all, nor did she feel she was in the wrong. After all, she had rightfully and openly snatched the role she wanted during the audition, relying on her own abilities without resorting to any underhanded tactics. In this day and age, even if you¡¯ve signed a contract, joined the crew, or even officially announced the wrap, nothing is guaranteed until the film is released. You know, after capital gets involved, they could even edit you out until you¡¯re not visible in a single frame before the premiere, turning the female lead into a background wall. What then? She held her head high, unapologetically displaying the triumph of a victor. Even in flat shoes, she walked with the posture of high heels, even deliberately cueing Li Yiru, ¡°Please make way, we don¡¯t need idlers blocking the path.¡± Li Yiru didn¡¯t move, and Xia Siyu didn¡¯t care, forcefully shouldering her to the side, making Li Yiru step back a step or two. Xia Siyu might look like just a female star, but for a previous film, she had learned boxing and had been exercising to lose weight. Li Yiru, who merely relied on starvation to get thin, couldn¡¯t withstand a bump like that. Having shouldered past Li Yiru, Xia Siyu showed no intention of apologizing, just turned her face and marched inside, leaving the crowd of onlookers behind. Shang Feifei, who followed after, watched her back and narrowed her eyes slightly. She had stealthily observed Xia Siyu¡¯s audition. Although she couldn¡¯t see much from a distance, she heard Xia Siyu¡¯s words, ¡°l don¡¯t know, Director Wang, what kind of scene are you hoping to see from me?¡± There was nothing wrong with the words themselves, but the tone and voice were strikingly similar to¡ªthat woman who was with Bo Yan when she called him that day! Considering that before, Bo Yan and Xia Siyu had firmly stated they wouldn¡¯t work together, and yet today she showed up for an audition. Bo Yan, Xia Siyu? What is their relationship? Chapter 40 - Chapter 40: Chapter 40: Dignitaries (2) Chapter 40: Chapter 40: Dignitaries (2) Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios After the successful audition, it was only logical to begin discussing the next steps, such as the salary, schedule, and¡ªthe screen credit. The matter of screen credit can seem both insignificant and significant. It is said to be important, but in truth, it is not as crucial as a solid piece of work and a well-established character. In Wang Ju!s film, the top billing was reserved for Bo Yan, with the focus being on the leading lady and her supporting counterpart. Though one was the lead and the other the supporting actress, there wouldn¡¯t have been much dilemma if the supporting actress¡¯s role was played by Li Yiru. But unexpectedly, a thorn in the side appeared: Xia Siyu. Xia Siyu had been in the industry for six years, starring as the lead in all eight films she did. Despite the lack of awards and a not-so-great personal reputation, her box office numbers were still impressive. Some audiences, who had been enthusiastically discussing her ¡°glorious deeds¡± online just days ago, would go to watch her movies with mixed feelings only to find themselves genuinely moved. If Shang Feifei hadn¡¯t won the Best Actress award, her momentum might have been slightly weaker. But now, having won the award and being the lead, this delicate balance was shattered. In truth, Xia Siyu had no issues with the screen credit. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have set her sights on the supporting role, ignoring the competition for the lead. However, her personal feelings about it didn¡¯t matter; what counted was her team¡¯s stance. Especially her agent¡ªQin Baizhou. Qin Baizhou was a true example of personal inspiration. From an ordinary star scout to the owner of Huixing Company, it only took him a few years. Seven years ago, he discovered Xia Siyu and introduced her to the entertainment industry. Three years ago, when Xia Siyu was mired in a scandal, vilified by the entire internet, he and some partners established Huixing Company, signed her on, and started crafting a new image for her¡ª embracing her notoriety all the way to the top, ultimately turning her into an A-list celebrity. Even though Xia Siyu received a lot of criticism, her popularity remained high. Sponsors and investors always wavered between signing her and rejecting her. But no one could deny that she was a star, a big star. Whenever she attended events and was simply put in a crowd, all the cameras would automatically focus on her, ignoring everyone else. Even on trending social media lists, she would dominate, with others barely visible. But without Qin Baizhou behind her, without his support to fall back on, she would lose half her luster; perhaps she would have been chased out of the entertainment industry three years prior. Xia Siyu¡¯s decision to take the supporting role was spur of the moment. Due to the time crunch, she even drove herself to the audition, not informing Qin Baizhou nor even having time to tell Wei Jingjing. At this point, she was left alone here. When asked, she remembered to make a phone call: ¡°I¡¯ll communicate with my agent first.¡± Shang Feifei wasn¡¯t in a hurry at all. She came prepared, and negotiations regarding salary and schedule could be handled by her team. Issues with screen credit and others didn¡¯t require her to charge into battle personally; she could leave them all to her management company. Bo Yan¡¯s side had already settled on the matter and didn¡¯t care much. He was just watching Xia Siyu with a slightly narrowed gaze. So the biggest problem rested on Xia Siyu¡¯s shoulders. The call was made to Wei Jingjing, but Wei Jingjing didn¡¯t pick up. Just as Xia Siyu was feeling puzzled, a call came in¡ªit was from Qin Baizhou. The moment she answered, before she could explain her situation, Qin Baizhou¡¯s voice came through, calm and gentle, ¡°Siyu, come out. I¡¯m waiting for you outside..¡± Chapter 41 - Chapter 41: Chapter 41: Dignitaries (3) Chapter 41: Chapter 41: Dignitaries (3) Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Xia Siyu was taken aback, ¡°I¡¯ve moved, I don¡¯t live in the original place. But I¡¯m not at my new place either, I¡¯m just at¡­¡± Before she could finish, a series of ¡°knock knock¡± sounds came from outside the door, and then, a man¡¯s warm voice rose from outside, ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m Qin Baizhou, Xia Siyu¡¯s agent, may I come in? I have something to say about her role.¡¯ Qin Baizhou was speaking outside the door while Xia Siyu¡¯s call was still not hung up. Bo Yan was sitting in the same spot where he had been selecting actors, When he heard her on the phone, he had no reaction, didn¡¯t even lift his head. He was just twirling a pen, seemingly deep in thought. But Shang Feifei, between the two of them, glanced back and forth between Xia Siyu and Bo Yan with a frown. The door quickly opened, and a young man dressed in silver casual wear, wearing glasses, walked in. His face was travel-worn, obviously, he had just gotten off the plane and had rushed over here without even a chance to change his luggage or clothes. He entered with a smile, ¡°I¡¯m sorry to keep you all waiting, I¡¯m Qin Baizhou.¡± As soon as Qin Baizhou came in, he first shook hands with Director Wang, Director Zhang, and President Chen, and quickly turned to Bo Yan, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Teacher Bo, Siyu is blunt and speaks without much thought. She said something wrong a few days ago and offended you, please be forgiving.¡± Qin Baizhou was referring to the incident at the film festival where Xia Siyu had offended Bo Yan. Bo Yan looked up at him indifferently, did not speak, and did not shake his hand. Qin Baizhou wasn¡¯t angry, and turned to look at Shang Feifei, ¡°It¡¯s been a long time Fei¡¯er, you are still so beautiful.¡± Shang Feifei gave a tepid smile, ¡°Not as good-looking as your Siyu.¡± Xia Siyu had a look of you¡¯re right¡¯ on her face, taking Shang Feifei¡¯s polite remark as a matter of course. When she said ¡°your Siyu,¡± although Bo Yan was sitting expressionless in his chair, the hand with which he was twirling his pen paused for half a beat. Xia Siyu straightforwardly asked, ¡°How did you know I was here?¡± ¡°l couldn¡¯t get through to home when I called, so I knew you weren¡¯t there. Today is the audition day, I wanted you to apply for the lead role, but I didn¡¯t didn¡¯t expect you to come for the supporting role,¡± Qin Baizhou said with a hint of reproach in his tone, but more surprise. Although the supporting role seemed to be the antagonist, the script actually had a very complex character set-up, and without any acting skill, one could only play a standard villain. He had not expected Xia Siyu to step out of her comfort zone and actively seek the role. After all, he was an agent, and being tactful was a must, so he quickly turned to Director Wang and the others with a smile, ¡°Of course, a project from Director Wang is worth trying regardless of the role. If you get selected, you really should thank Director Wang and the other teachers for their appreciation.¡± Xia Siyu, direct as ever, nodded, ¡°I like this supporting female role, I think the character is solid. And there are no major issues with the story, I want to give it a try.¡± Normally, when artists choose a film, the team goes through several rounds of screening. Many artists don¡¯t even know they had a project until it¡¯s been filtered out by the management team. Xia Siyu was very popular, and the company had many resources pushed her way. The company had intended to strive for this project for her, but her involvement in a fight disrupted the process, forcing a temporary hold, and no one expected her to show up on her own. ¡°Alright,¡± Qin Baizhou agreed instantly, ¡°If you like it, go for it..¡± Chapter 42 - Chapter 42: Chapter 42: Dignitaries (4) Chapter 42: Chapter 42: Dignitaries (4) Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios But Qin Baizhou had known her for many years and understood her well. This sister had a volatile temper, and if she set her mind on something, she insisted on trying it even if it meant hitting a south wall before turning around. The right approach was to smooth things over, calm her emotions, and then everything could be negotiated. He was a businessman, and Xia Siyu was his most perfect creation. As both her agent and a friend for many years, he had a responsibility to protect her. If she wanted to play the supporting actress, so be it; after all, it was Wang Ju t s film, and there was nothing wrong with being guided by a great director. So, things were settled, and the details like the remuneration were matters for the agency to squabble over with the production company. Xia Siyu never bothered with these trivialities, nor did she care to. With Qin Baizhou on the team, the coordination with the other side went smoothly. Qin Baizhou was a master of tai chi; once he arrived, he eased the tense atmosphere that had been created by Xia Siyu¡¯s earlier uproar. Soon, the issue was resolved. During this process, Bo Yan had not taken part in their discussions. When everything was almost set, he put down his pen, stood up, and without acknowledging the two teams concerning the female lead and supporting actress, went straight out the door. Outside, since the candidates had been selected, all those who had come for the audition had left. The once-noisy corridor quieted down suddenly. The sky was overcast, and thunder rumbled intermittently. The windows in the corridor were wide open, and the curtains fluttered in the wind. It was not yet six o¡¯clock, and though it was summer, the sky was gloomy, signaling an approaching storm. Bo Yan stood at the door, quietly observing the scenery outside until everyone inside had finished their discussions and come out; only then did he turn around. After turning, he didn¡¯t spare a glance at Xia Siyu; Xia Siyu didn¡¯t pay attention to him either. He only looked at Wang Ju, ¡°Director Wang, when do we start filming?¡± Wang Ju replied, ¡°The crew still needs to set up scenes and scout outdoor locations, and we need to hold a script-reading session, so let¡¯s say in half a month. This production will take quite a long time to shoot, and I don¡¯t like it when people frequently ask for leave, nor do I like overlapping filming schedules. I hope everyone can cooperate as much as possible. Also, I have some things to attend to today, so I won¡¯t be treating everyone to dinner tonight. Once everything is settled, we¡¯ll get together.¡± Bo Yan naturally nodded, and he was the first to leave after Wang Jut Before he left, he didn¡¯t say goodbye to Xia Siyu and Shang Feifei, instead, he greeted the casting director and producer before striding out. Shang Feifei looked at him, then at Xia Siyu. The two had no exchange throughout the whole process, and it was apparent that Bo Yan didn¡¯t seem eager to interact with Xia Siyu. Could she have heard wrong? Was the sultry woman on the phone someone else? When the actors left, they saw Bo Yan¡¯s car parked outside; he leaned against the car door, apparently on the phone. Just after he spoke a few words, thunder rumbled, the weather shifted suddenly, and large raindrops fell like beads. Shang Feifei had her own car, and her chauffeured vehicle was also at the entrance. She sprinted to her car with the help of her assistant. Just as she got in, she didn¡¯t forget to look back. Through the curtain of rain, Bo Yan hung up the phone, got into his car, but did not drive off immediately. On the other hand, Qin Baizhou shielded Xia Siyu as they rushed into the red sports car, and without much delay, the car started up and drove off. After the red sports car fired up, Bo Yan¡¯s Maybach also quickly set off. The two vehicles went in opposite directions, growing farther and farther apart.. Chapter 43 - Chapter 43: Chapter 43 Family (1) Chapter 43: Chapter 43 Family (1) Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°The product of a talent agent is: the artist. Not only does an agent have to plan the artist¡¯s content, including business engagements, film and TV bookings, variety show appearances and so on, they also assist artists in planning their schedules. Using the shortest time possible to do the most efficient activities, coordinating all types of notices and events.¡± But as an agent, the most important thing¡ªthe emotion management of the artist. Artists are human too, and they also have all kinds of emotions, especially when they¡¯re amplified in front of the public. No matter what the team does behind the scenes, in the end, it¡¯s only the artists who are pushed to the forefront. Even if the artists are emotionally strong, it can still affect their business and screen work.¡¯ The last sentence was an impromptu addition by Qin Baizhou, who was looking towards Xia Siyu, who was yawning at the side. Xia Siyu¡¯s sports car hadn¡¯t gone far before they switched vehicles. The sports car had been followed by paparazzi before. To prevent a chase, they quickly switched back to Xia Siyu¡¯s nanny car. Wei Jingjing and Little Tang got in, and Qin Baizhou took charge, giving orders. As the boss of the Huixing Company, he could have easily assigned Xia Siyu to another agent and focused on managing the whole company. But he had been Xia Siyu¡¯s agent for the past seven years, and it was the same now. Moreover, when Xia Siyu really got angry, he was the only one in the company who could control her. ¡°Siyu, in the future, if you have any requests, please let me or Jingjing know first.¡± he said. ¡°Look at how your sudden decision to Olav a supporting role has disrupted our schedule. It has caused Jingjing to run around unprepared.¡± Xia Siyu just hummed a response, not caring about these details. She looked out at the rain-washed scene, as the street view behind her receded one after the other, and it was a while before she spoke again, ¡°But for future scripts, I want to vet each and every one of them.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll pass every reliable script on to you,¡± he assured her. Qin Baizhou nodded and then brought up a new work topic, ¡°Now, I have the premises for two variety shows here. One is an indoor shoot, the kind that films your face for 24 hours straight. The other is an outdoor one, a trip abroad project, seems like it¡¯s in Europe. The timing would be right after you finish filming. The only issue might be that the production crew insists that our agent team can¡¯t do the on-site shooting. Which one do you prefer?¡± Qin Baizhou actually hoped that she would pick the travel-themed variety show; it paid more and the shooting period was relatively concentrated, just 20 days. His principle was always to achieve the highest efficiency in the shortest time possible. Moreover, this variety show was in its second season; the first season had received rave reviews and was considered one of the hottest in China. The audience¡¯s expectations were high. Xia Siyu rarely participated in outdoor variety shows before, and with her ferocious on-screen persona as a base, including fighting and arguing, frankly, many viewers were looking forward to seeing her stir things up. But Qin Baizhou was aware of Xia Siyu¡¯s personality. He couldn¡¯t throw an idea at her directly; he had to use all the enticing words to move her, and only then she would accept. As expected, Xia Siyu initially showed little interest, but her attention piqued upon hearing ¡°Europe,¡± and she even turned to ask him, ¡°Where in Europe?¡± Thinking she was taking the bait, Qin Baizhou smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s two countries, Italy and Germany. One is meticulous, the other romantic. One classical, the other modern.¡¯ She further inquired, ¡°Which part of Italy?¡± Qin Baizhou was taken aback for a moment, before replying, ¡°It seems to be Sicily.¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s eyebrows visibly furrowed, and then she nodded, ¡°Alright..¡± Chapter 44 - Chapter 44: Chapter Family (2) Chapter 44: Chapter Family (2) Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios As long as she nodded her agreement, they could fully follow up on the subsequent itinerary. Qin Baizhou also advised her, ¡°Even so, after you go on this variety show, you must keep your temper in check. Reality TV is both a tool for whitewashing and a mirror that reveals monsters. You know, nowadays, the audience loves to scrutinize with a magnifying glass, analyzing your micro-expressions frame by frame. Of course, it¡¯s not that you can do whatever you want when acting. Although you take acting seriously, there¡¯s Bo Yan, and there¡¯s Shang Feifei¡­¡± When it came to Bo Yan, Xia Siyu¡¯s eyes noticeably cooled, but she didn¡¯t respond much. Seeing the atmosphere was a bit tense, Qin Baizhou lightened it by joking, ¡°Why are you so interested in Sicily? Is it because of that movie ¡®The Beautiful Legends of Sicily?¡± Xia Siyu did not confirm or deny but turned her head to look out at the rain curtain outside the window. Her back of the head facing him, it took a long time before she nodded and murmured, ¡°Mhm.¡± In a corner unseen by anyone, Xia Siyu gently placed her hand over her chest. There, a small bulge was present, precisely where her peach heart necklace lay. As they talked, the car had already arrived at the base of Qingcheng Apartment. Qin Baizhou added, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, the apartment I chose for you before was not very good. We will definitely investigate thoroughly and find you a better place to move into as soon as possible.¡± Xia Siyu shook her head indifferently, ¡°No need, my friend is abroad and won¡¯t be back for a while. Leaving it empty is just a waste, so I might as well live there.¡¯ When she said this, Wei Jingjing glanced at her but didn¡¯t say anything. After all, Bo Yan had no designs on her, and she had no pursuit of Bo Yan. Each of them minded their own business, and Bo Yan would likely be even more averse to her getting close and would certainly go to greater lengths to maintain their reputations. Qin Baizhou hadn¡¯t thought too much about it, mainly because he hadn¡¯t expected her to have any relationship with Bo Yan. Moreover, in all of Yancheng, Qingcheng Apartment¡¯s security was top-notch. For a house with such security grade, even if it were to be rented out, it would cost tens of thousands a month, and it had to meet this young lady¡¯s taste in decor, which was indeed hard to find at the moment. He then agreed, ¡°Okay then, get some good rest. When the notification of your schedule comes, I¡¯ll have Jingjing come pick you up.¡± After Xia Siyu left, he had Little Tang drive off as well. Perhaps it was the heavy rain, or perhaps because the Maybach had stalled, he didn¡¯t notice that just around the corner, a black Maybach had been parked by the roadside the whole time, quietly leaving only after Qin Baizhou¡¯s car had departed. Over the next few days, the team began to liaise with the drama and variety show teams. After Qin Baizhou returned, he took the lead in sorting out Xia Siyu¡¯s previous business engagements: she did live streams and made appearances for brands, and promoted her earlier movie. Indeed, she was kept very busy. With so much work to do, she didn¡¯t have the time to pay attention to other things, especially not to Bo Yan¡¯s recent schedule ¨C they hadn¡¯t seen each other since the day they parted at the audition area, and in the following days, he hadn¡¯t come back at all. But even though Bo Yan wasn¡¯t around, there was no shortage of news about him. For instance, after she had finally finished a busy day of work, and the next day she was due to join the set and film with Bo Yan, Xia Siyu went shopping with Zhou Weiwei before joining the production. While shopping, she did see Bo Yan, only it was on television. Xia Siyu had seen plenty of Bo Yan¡¯s interviews and was not surprised.. But this time, the host mentioned Bo Yan¡¯s family: Chapter 45 - Chapter 45: Chapter 45 Family (3) Chapter 45: Chapter 45 Family (3) Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Teacher Bo, you rarely mention your family.¡± This was a slightly more in-depth one-on-one interview program, where Bo Yan could be seen sitting on a sofa answering questions. His expression was very calm, and at this time, his legs were crossed, with his hands folded on his knees, ¡°Because 1 have always felt that work is work, and life is life. My job is to be a celebrity, but my family isn¡¯t, and I don¡¯t want them to be dragged into my life.¡± ¡°It¡¯s said that your parents passed away when you were very young. Has this had any impact on your life?¡± When it came to his parents, Bo Yan paused for a moment, and even Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t help but lift her head to glance at him. In the camera, Bo Yan remained serene and composed, with no trace of emotional fluctuation on his face, ¡°A person needs to grow up, and there are many things that influence that, the family where you come from being only one aspect, sometimes a very small one. Although my parents have passed away, I still have other family members who have taken care of me, and they are very attentive.¡± ¡°But I hear you were very fond of your grandfather and grandmother.¡± Bo Yan didn¡¯t deny this point, ¡°My grandfather was a very diligent and strict person. He loved us younger ones very much but sometimes would be a bit impatient, and that¡¯s when my grandmother would need to step in to smooth things over.¡± The host quickly picked up on his meaning and went a bit deeper, ¡°You really admire the way your grandparents got along, could this influence your future life choices and in selecting a partner?¡± Zhou Weiwei nudged Xia Siyu¡¯s arm quietly at this point. Zhou Weiwei and she were in a high-end restaurant, where soft music was playing. The television with Bo Yan¡¯s interview was directly in front of them, and throughout the interview, Xia Siyu had kept her head down eating. Prodded by Zhou Weiwei, she looked up just as Bo Yan responded to that moment. Throughout the interview, Bo Yan exhibited little fluctuation in emotion and didn¡¯t mention her by a single word, ¡°Everyone¡¯s situation is different, as are their preferences. Maybe someone is right for you but not for me.¡± ¡°So do you feel that the traditional model of the husband as the breadwinner and the wife as the homemaker, with a strict father and kind mother, doesn¡¯t suit you? Do you actually prefer a strong woman and a weak man? Or perhaps both partners being strong?¡± At this point, Zhou Weiwei cued Xia Siyu again. Xia Siyu, uninterested, bent her head down to bite into her steak, and upon hearing what Bo Yan said, nearly choked, ¡°l once had a relationship where the other person wasn¡¯t the kind of virtuous and good mother that my grandmother was.¡± Zhou Weiwei handed a glass of red wine to Xia Siyu to help her catch her breath, while she herself quickly took a few more sips, almost coughing to the point of tears. Especially since they were out in public, she didn¡¯t dare to make a scene. Maybe it was because Bo Yan¡¯s topic was so sensational that even the host didn¡¯t think to take control, pausing for a moment before directly asking, ¡°Is it that person from the last film festival, whom you once liked and then got dumped by?¡± Actually, last time, because Shang Feifei joined the conversation when Bo Yan brought it up, most people thought he was just joking. After all, such a handsome guy, with both brains and wealth, what woman who could bag him would be so blind as to dump him? ¡°That¡¯s something from a long time ago,¡± Bo Yan wisely wrapped it up with an offhand reply. However, he actually didn¡¯t deny what the host just said about having ¡°liked and then got dumped..¡± Chapter 46 - Chapter 46: Chapter 46 Family (4) Chapter 46: Chapter 46 Family (4) Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Following the script, Bo Yan responded to the host one question after another. It was evident that the host kept trying to steer the conversation toward his love life, but Bo Yan wasn¡¯t a pushover, he deftly shifted the topic and, in the end, didn¡¯t give the host anything substantial to work with. The entire interview lasted only half an hour. It was only the phrase ¡°a past relationship¡± that really stirred up discussion; the rest was just an extension of day-to-day topics. Of course, the show would broadcast shortly before the official announcement, and as he was due to join the cast for filming the next day, the production team had arranged for him to do this interview as part of the show¡¯s promotion. Thus, the host asked him, ¡°I heard you¡¯re about to collaborate with Director Wang Ju.¡± The interview wasn¡¯t aired on the same day. If you looked closely, you could see Bo Yan was actually wearing the same clothes from after his audition. The city¡¯s neon lights visible through the full-length glass behind the host indicated it was evening, so this was after the audition. He already knew who had been selected for the lead actress and the supporting actress roles. He nodded, ¡°Yes.¡¯ ¡°I¡¯ve heard you¡¯ve already met your co-stars. Can you tell us about them?¡± Since the official announcement hadn¡¯t been made and Shang Feifei and Xia Siyu¡¯s involvement hadn¡¯t been completely confirmed, the only certainty was his lead role. He wasn¡¯t about to leak any information: ¡°There are newcomers, as well as those I¡¯m familiar with. Each time I film, it brings me a fresh sense of excitement. I¡¯m looking forward to working with different people.¡± The interview ended there, followed by some behind-the- scenes footage. Zhou Weiwei¡¯s eyes clearly showed envy: ¡°If I had known you were acting too, I wouldn¡¯t have auditioned for the lead. I could¡¯ve gone for the third or fourth female role, or even just made a cameo appearance to get my face known. After all, it¡¯s a tough time in the film and television industry, especially for a Wang Ju project.¡± Xia Siyu didn¡¯t take this seriously: ¡°Then when I join the crew tomorrow, I¡¯ll ask around casually for you. Are you really willing to accept any role, even just a cameo?¡± Zhou Weiwei nodded, ¡°Of course. If it¡¯s a more significant role, I¡¯ll have to discuss it with my agent.¡± Xia Siyu nodded in agreement. After finishing their meal, just as they were about to settle the bill, Zhou Weiwei¡¯s phone chimed with a message. Xia Siyu was busy making a mobile payment when Zhou Weiwei interjected, ¡°Look at this.¡± As it happened, Wei Jingjing was also calling at that moment, her voice tinged with caution: ¡°Siyu, hold off on playing with your phone later. Get your things ready and prepare well. I¡¯ll come over early tomorrow morning to pick you up.¡± With a personality like Xia Siyu¡¯s, who was stubborn and often did the opposite of what was advised, the more you told her not to do something, like checking her phone, the more she insisted on doing it. She was on the phone and at the same time glanced at the mobile that Zhou Weiwei handed her. Seeing the hot search entries, she commented indifferently, ¡°Are you talking about the top ten trending topics on Weibo, where, apart from the ads, everything is about me and Bo Yan?¡± Upon hearing this, Wei Jingjing felt her heart skip a beat. Xia Siyu, however, was remarkably calm, sharing this trait with Bo Yan. She kept a strict separation between her public persona and personal life. Being scolded by netizens wasn¡¯t going to kill her, and their criticism only helped increase her visibility. What did she have to fear? As a celebrity, the worry isn¡¯t about being berated; it¡¯s about being ignored. As long as she wasn¡¯t involved in murder, arson, drug abuse, or adultery, even if she was unpopular, it was highly unlikely she¡¯d be completely banished by the internet. Even seeing a trending topic like #BoYanOnceHadARelationship# couldn¡¯t provoke much reaction from her anymore.. Chapter 47 - Chapter 47: Chapter 47 Play and Life (1) Chapter 47: Chapter 47 Play and Life (1) Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Don¡¯t worry, even if I see Bo Yan when I get home, I won¡¯t scold him.¡± ¡°Am I worried about you scolding him? I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll physically hit him!¡± Wei Jingjing said earnestly, hand on her heart, ¡°Siyu, your reputation hasn¡¯t been great lately, so please don¡¯t fuss about it. Just focus on doing a good job with the filming, okay? I¡¯ll send you some information about the variety show tonight. Wait for me at home.¡± Having said that, Wei Jingjing hung up first. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t really care. She continued scrolling on her phone and saw that the trending searches were buzzing with activity; there was even #XiaSiyuStorm# #XiaSiyuBoYanNewMovieCollaboration# She was used to seeing these kinds of things; they didn¡¯t bother her. That was until she scrolled down and clicked on the Weibo post tagged #XiaSiyuBullying#. In the video, it was clear that the scene was in an audition area, and the camera was focused on her face. The voice was also hers: ¡°In the entertainment industry, only those who are popular have the privilege to bully others.¡± ¡°l don¡¯t care who the male lead is. It¡¯s not like I want to work with him; I just want this role.¡¯ ¡°Once I get the role, I¡¯ll watch the mad dogs bark. Who asked you to be ugly but dream pretty thoughts? If you¡¯re unhappy, go snatch a role yourself!¡± The way she spoke, combined with her bright red lips, waves of curly hair, a black dress with deep cleavage, and a bitchy expression, made her look like the ultimate ¡®green tea bitch¡ªthe kind known for bullying in the workplace. Actually, many onlookers don¡¯t really care about celebrities¡¯ so-called scandals unless they involve illegal activities; it¡¯s only when they identify with them personally that they start throwing shade. Issues like being the ¡®other woman¡¯ or bullying resonate strongly with people. Especially Xia Siyu¡¯s remarks, which were not only directed at Li Yiru but also disregarded Bo Yan, and even Shang Feifei got swept up in the tailwind of the controversy. The fans of these three celebrities, except those of Shang Feifei who were relatively restrained, those of Bo Yan and Li Yiru had already taken a dislike to her. They pushed her to the top of the trending searches with their backlash. Then other onlookers, whether related to school or workplace bullying, suddenly placed themselves in the situation and got very emotional with a myriad of curses. Especially a few minutes later when the movie ¡°Storm¡± was officially announced. The official Weibo account tagged not only Wang Ju but also Bo Yan, Shang Feifei, and the supporting actress¡ªXia Siyu. Although it had been trending earlier, since there was no official announcement, fans were still looking forward to it. But when the announcement was made official, it unleashed a torrent of fury. Xia Siyu had about ten million followers on her personal Weibo, and ever since the company had her take the ¡®black-red route¡¯, she stopped managing her Weibo personally. All the posts published were for business, none of them personal. Now with the official announcement, she didn¡¯t post anything herself, but her agency did it for her. They not only shared the official announcement but also took the opportunity to tag Bo Yan and Shang Feifei. This truly stirred up a hornet¡¯s nest. Although there were many casual onlookers hurling insults, they lacked organization; it was just a matter of numbers. But antagonizing Bo Yan¡¯s fans, whose combat power in fan wars was far beyond that of ordinary netizens, was something else entirely. They immediately took over the ¡®square¡¯. Under her post, they flooded it with comments, shares, and likes, quickly making her infamous in the streets. Xia Siyu was accustomed to the netizens¡¯ insults, but after looking for a while, she still found it somewhat unbearable to witness. She felt it unnecessary to confront the netizens face-to-face using her main account, but she had her own way of handling the situation. Bo Yan was attending an event when his phone vibrated. He took it out and saw that he had received a message from Xia Siyu.. Chapter 48 - Chapter 48: Chapter 48 Play and Life (2) Chapter 48: Chapter 48 Play and Life (2) Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Bo Yan was at the Convention and Exhibition Center in Bin City, neatly dressed and ready to head onto the stage. He was attending a Starlight Ceremony; a show of his had just been released on a video streaming website, and he was there to support it. Although the Starlight Ceremony wasn¡¯t as formal as the Gold Oscar Film Festival or the Cannes Oscar red carpet, it was still a live broadcasted event. Especially when his partner was beside him, it was even less appropriate to waste time looking at his phone or to delay the actual work. Bo Yan frowned slightly, the phone was gripped in his palm. Though he was in the waiting area, glancing at it was not out of the question. He hesitated for a moment and was just about to check the content on his phone when the artist coordinator next to him began cueing the process, ¡°Teacher Bo, you¡¯ll be going up soon. Start with a photo, pose for half a minute, followed by a brief ten-minute interview about the film, and then three minutes of rapid-fire Q&A with the reporters.¡± Bo Yan hummed in acknowledgment and put his phone back into his pocket. His phone was on silent mode throughout, only the vibration was on. It wasn¡¯t the film festival red carpet, so the rules weren¡¯t as strict. He and his partner had only walked a few steps, barely stepping onto the red carpet and not yet reaching the designated photo spot, when his phone vibrated again. His partner, who was linking arms with him, could feel the vibration from his shirt pocket, but she said nothing. Bo Yan remained calm, as if nothing had happened. Until they reached the stage where they posed for photos, his phone suddenly started to vibrate intensely, as if a tiny motor had been switched on, desperately buzzing away. Although it made no sound and was obediently tucked away in his pocket, and even though that pocket was hidden under his suit and out of the camera¡¯s view, he could clearly feel it¡ªand so could his partner. In fact, before going on stage, his partner had also checked her phone and knew that Bo Yan had once again become a trending topic, dominating the rankings. Moreover, he was about to join a film crew tomorrow, co-starring with the newsworthy actress Xia Siyu. It was understandable that many people sought him out for interviews and gossip, and his busyness was to be expected. But this¡­ the frequency of people reaching out to him was too intense. His phone was practically an electric motor, making her arm go numb from the constant buzzing. After finally finishing the photo shoot and the brief ten-minute interview, it was time for the rapid-fire Q&A session. Theoretically, the questions posed by the journalists should have been about the film that Bo Yan and his team were about to feature on this platform. But the news of his filming with Xia Siyu had caused such a stir that the reporters could not contain themselves, and one bold reporter actually asked, ¡°Bo Yan, what are your thoughts on working with Xia Siyu in the new movie?¡± Asking about a new movie collaborator in front of his current partner was somewhat disrespectful, but it looked like his current partner also had an expression of relishing the drama. Bo Yan, holding the microphone, gave a very succinct answer, ¡°It¡¯s work.¡± Four words that, on the surface, seemed highly respectable; but on closer consideration, there was a faint sense of ¡°Life is hard, sigh in the heart.¡± The journalists got the attitude they wanted; once back, they could expand it into an 800-word essay. After the interview concluded, his partner wanted to say goodbye backstage, but he nodded casually and walked toward the dressing room with his phone in hand. As soon as he checked his WeChat, Xia Siyu had bombarded him with a hundred messages.. The latest one read, ¡°Hubby, say something, will you!¡¯ Chapter 49 - Chapter 49: Chapter 49 Drama and Life (3) Chapter 49: Chapter 49 Drama and Life (3) Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Bo Yan, about tonight¡¯s flight, we¡­¡± Song Fengzhi pushed the door open and, seeing Bo Yan sitting on the sofa with his elbow propped on the armrest looking at his phone, the frown on his forehead visibly tightening, jumped in shock. ¡°Bo Yan¡­¡± Bo Yan turned off his phone with an expressionless face and then carefully pocketed it before turning to ask Song Fengzhi, ¡°What time is our flight tonight?¡± Song Fengzhi replied, ¡°l was just about to tell you, 10:30 PM.¡± Bo Yan then asked, ¡°Can we reschedule it?¡± Song Fengzhi hesitated for a moment, somewhat reluctantly, ¡°But tomorrow we need to start joining the crew.¡± Although filming a movie was different from a TV series, there were no complex opening ceremonies before joining the crew. But as the lead actor, he must be present for the midday start. Were they going to delay it even further? Bo Yan shook his head, ¡°No, I want to get back earlier. Rest up today so I can be in better shape for filming tomorrow. See when¡¯s the earliest we can fly to Yancheng and change it to that flight.¡± Song Fengzhi nodded and was checking the flight information when Bo Yan frowned slightly on the side. Song Fengzhi then asked, ¡°Bo Yan, is there anything else you need?¡± Bo Yan looked up, giving him a faint glance with a flicker of hesitation in his eyes, but in the end he said, ¡®Do you know who the main fans in my Fan Support Group are?¡± This was right up Song Fengzhi¡¯s alley. He immediately said, ¡°Are you arranging for fans to visit the set, or is it for support? Or maybe to pick you up from the airport tonight? It might be too tight timing and we may not make it. ¡± Bo Yan shook his head, ¡°No, that¡¯s not it.¡¯ He paused briefly, his gaze shifting slightly, ¡°It¡¯s just that, going forward, we still need to manage these fans. I know they mean well for me, but don¡¯t be too arrogant. Especially with future business collaborations or fellow actors. Remember the top influencer who lost all his commercial endorsements because his fans were too overbearing? Even got into a feud with a co-star. It turned into such a mess, they may have had their fun with the conflict, but I still have to face these people in the same circle.¡± Song Fengzhi nodded, ¡°Understood, I¡¯ll book the tickets first then set things in motion right away.¡± Bo Yan nodded, then leaned back on the sofa and sat in silence, his hand gently reaching into his pocket, fingertips slowly sliding over the screen of his phone, back and forth. After helping her send the latest WeChat message, Zhou Weiwei and Xia Siyu laughed and joked for a while before preparing to head home separately. Xia Siyu had been drinking, so she couldn¡¯t drive and simply called over Wei Jingjing and LaLittle Tang. When Wei Jingjing came to pick her up, all she could do was stand on the roadside grinning foolishly. Fortunately, with the recent pandemic, wearing a mask in public didn¡¯t attract attention. ¡°My dear granny, how much did you drink? Don¡¯t you realize you¡¯re a celebrity? And here you are, foolishly standing by the roadside waiting for me?¡± Zhou Weiwei apologized while helping her into the car, ¡°Siyu wanted to celebrate my liberation from torment, to say goodbye to that scum from Zhongtian. I couldn¡¯t stop her. We opened a bottle of red wine¡­ she drank most of it.¡¯ Wei Jingjing was speechless, she just dumped her into the car. Before leaving, Zhou Weiwei initially wanted to sweet-talk Wang Ju on Xia Siyu¡¯s behalf tomorrow, but seeing her so asleep, senseless to everything, she could only sigh, swallowing her words. Watching the nanny car drive away she sighed again, then slipped into her own assistant¡¯s vehicle. When Bo Yan hurried home five hours later, what he saw was Xia Siyu, drunkenly passed out.. Chapter 50 - Chapter 50: Chapter 50 Play and Life (4) Chapter 50: Chapter 50 Play and Life (4) Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Before going upstairs, Bo Yan had been clutching his phone. After a moment of thought, he tapped to unlock it. He looked at the screen for a while, then opened WeChat, and pulled up the conversation with her. In fact, Xia Siyu had sent him over a hundred messages, most of which were voice notes: ¡°Bo Yan, you jerk, a complete jerk!¡± ¡°Bo Yan, can¡¯t you control your damn fans? What have I done to you, eaten your family¡¯s rice? -¡ª0h wait, that¡¯s wrong, I did eat your family¡¯s rice. Can¡¯t you leash your dog? Always letting it run wild?¡± ¡°Haha, it¡¯s okay, let them curse. After all, they¡¯ve cursed my whole family, but isn¡¯t my family you? What a drama, family fighting family.¡± Bo Yan, holding his phone, wasn¡¯t particularly moved by Xia Siyu¡¯s last message saying ¡°Husband, say something,¡± but the word ¡°family¡± made him pause for a long while, his usually cold eyes softening slightly. The elevator ¡®dinged¡¯ as it arrived at the floor. Bo Yan looked up, withdrawing the warmth from his eyes. As the door opened, he was about to put his phone back in his pocket when his finger accidentally touched her voice message. Then, Xia Siyu¡¯s raucous voice instantly floated out: ¡°Bo Yan, you bastard¡­¡± Bo Yan¡¯s eyes flashed with rare panic. He quickly turned off the phone and stuffed it into his pocket. As he stepped out, his gaze regained composure, pretending as though nothing had happened, he entered, changed his shoes. Xia Siyu¡¯s high heels were still kicked off haphazardly. He hesitated for a moment, then bent down to tidy her shoes and placed them beside his own leather shoes. By the entryway, there was a suitcase¡ªit must belong to her. The room was dark and still, with the curtains undrawn, exposing the multitude of lights from outside pouring through the window. And just upon entering, he smelled a strong scent of alcohol. Bo Yan frowned, initially suspecting she might be sleeping in the bathtub again, but it turned out she was drunk. Did she not know she had to start shooting tomorrow, that she was joining the cast? Even disregarding how bad it was to be drunk, she had a propensity to swell up; her face would definitely be puffy for tomorrow¡¯s shoot. He extended his hand, about to turn on the light when he noticed some movement on the sofa. He withdrew his hand and walked further in, towards the sofa. On the sofa, Xia Siyu was resting. She lay there quietly, covered with a blanket. Bo Yan¡¯s eyes swept over and saw a notebook on the table beside her, which he assumed was the script he had given her last time. Just as he was about to pick it up and put it away, he saw it was a schedule for a reality show. Bo Yan set the schedule aside. Just as he was about to stand up and leave, the person on the sofa stirred. Xia Siyu liked to drink, but her tolerance was poor¡ªhalf a bottle of red wine and she was down. She must have been sleep-talking now, shifting into a more comfortable position, but as she moved, the thin blanket fell to the floor. Bo Yan looked on for a moment, but in the end, he bent down, picked up the blanket, and gently covered her with it. No sooner had he covered her with the blanket than the slight noise seemed to disturb the person in deep slumber. She slowly opened her eyes. By chance, she found herself face to face with Bo Yan, who had just covered her with the blanket. Bo Yan paused, not expecting her to suddenly wake up at this time. His eyes flickered to avoid hers, ¡°l didn¡¯t¡­ Unexpectedly, Xia Siyu let out a soft grunt: ¡°Jerk.¡± Bo Yan¡¯s gaze instantly turned cold, and he was about to reply when Xia Siyu murmured again, ¡°Why did you come so late?¡± Chapter 51 - Chapter 51: Chapter 51 Kissing Scene (1) Chapter 51: Chapter 51 Kissing Scene (1) Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Xia Siyu tilted her head, her gaze unfocused, looking at him with confusion and bewilderment. Bo Yan thought she had drunk too much and mistook him for someone else, his voice somewhat cold, ¡°You¡¯ve got the wrong person.¡± But in the next second, Xia Siyu suddenly slapped him. Perhaps because she was drunk and couldn¡¯t aim properly, the blow landed on his shoulder, ¡°Bastard.¡¯ Bo Yan¡¯s eyes turned frosty, and just after he brushed her ¡®paw¡¯ off his shoulder, Xia Siyu swung another hand at him, this time striking his chin accurately. Then she lifted her chin, glaring with her eyes, her lips likely moist from the alcohol as they shone slightly. She pressed her whole face forward, right up against his. Like a little kitten that had spotted an intruder, she bared her teeth and claws, both fierce and adorable, ¡°What, did I say something wrong? You dead bastard, big bastard, I¡¯m hitting you! Do you know because of you, I¡¯ve been scolded miserably¡­ hic¡­¡± Perhaps it was the alcohol hiccup at the end that made Bo Yan involuntarily frown. He pushed on her forehead with a finger, disdainfully keeping her at bay. But indeed, today his fans had made her life quite miserable, he paused and spoke seriously, ¡°In the future, don¡¯t be so blunt when you speak. Saying things that easily get you slapped in the face. This time you ran into me, but next time if you again¡­¡± What ¡°again,¡± he didn¡¯t continue because Xia Siyu suddenly leaned in, resting her head on his shoulder. And her lips landed just on his neck. Bo Yan¡¯s body tensed, and with every breath, every swallow, he felt as if enveloped by her warm breath. Xia Siyu rarely wore makeup or used perfume when she went out. Her scent was only that of the sweet fragrance of red wine grapes that surrounded her. He lived on the top floor of the Qingcheng Apartment, next to which was a vast floor-to-ceiling window. Without pulling the curtains, from nearly forty stories high, one could see the splendid cityscape in the distance. Moonlight and lamplight poured down, gently spreading across her body. In sleep, she was devoid of the usual sharpness and point, even her posture seemed much softer. For a long time, the world only saw the brash and even tumultuous side of Xia Siyu. She was impervious to both praise and scandal, never caring about others! opinions. No matter how the outside world cursed her, it seemed not to affect her much. After all, no matter how harshly netizens cursed, they could not invade her personal life. But stripped of her celebrity identity, she was just an ordinary person, with normal joys and sorrows. Drunk, she¡¯d be noisy; tired and sleepy, she¡¯d collapse in the bathtub; happy, she¡¯d hit him (?) and unhappy, she¡¯d curse at him (?) However, she wasn¡¯t as strong as she imagined herself to be. Bo Yan paused slightly, then scooped an arm underneath her and with a swing of his other arm, hoisted her up. The half-drunk, half-awake Xia Siyu obediently extended her hands, wrapping them around his shoulders. Bo Yan carried her to her bedroom and gently laid her down. Just as he was about to get up and pull back the covers to let her rest, Xia Siyu¡¯s hand around his neck didn¡¯t let go, and instead, he was pulled down, falling on top of her, his face close to hers. In the silent, dark room where only the two of them were present, the body beneath him was warm and soft, with surprising resilience. Even though the central air was gently blowing and the entire room was kept at a comfortable twenty-three degrees, he suddenly felt a bit parched.. Chapter 52 - Chapter 52: Chapter 52 Kissing Scene (2) Chapter 52: Chapter 52 Kissing Scene (2) Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios He suddenly lowered his head and quietly asked her, ¡°Do you still know who I am now?¡± Even Bo Yan didn¡¯t realize that as he asked this question, his voice lost its usual steadiness and seemed to be faintly expectant. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t reply. After a little while, all he heard was her slow, steady breathing. She had fallen asleep. Bo Yan chuckled softly, relaxed a bit, regulated his breathing, gently withdrew his hand, and pulled back the blanket beside her to cover her. Then he got up on tiptoe, and before leaving, he took a special glance back at the room. Xia Siyu was sprawled out in a comfortable sleep. That was fine¡ªher nature to come and go quickly meant she didn¡¯t dwell on worries. If she faced storms he had caused, he would settle them for her. After closing the door, Bo Yan walked to the water cooler, took a cup, and was about to fill it. Then, thinking of something, he turned to the refrigerator, took out a bottle of ice water, and twisted off the cap. After gulping down three big swigs, his mood gradually calmed down. Then he slowly walked to the living room, sat down by the sofa, and picked up his phone to discuss tomorrow¡¯s affairs with Song Fengzhi. The movie was set to start shooting tomorrow morning. Since it was a story about Yancheng, the filming location was at the production company¡¯s office, which saved him the fatigue of travel. Moreover, filming in the same city meant that if there was extra time, he could return home to rest at night. After the actors were confirmed, the production company had released the script. Once the team assembled, there would be a brief script reading. A script reading was a small-scale meeting where the crew, including the director, actors, producer, and screenwriter, would discuss the character designs, development direction, and plot. After the final draft was set, the script framework wouldn¡¯t be significantly altered, ensuring that no capital or actor could arbitrarily add or remove storylines or interfere with dialogue, which also aided the actors in understanding and performing the script. Of course, that was the final draft during the early creative phase. The final film still depended on the actors¡¯ performance, editing, and post-production effects. Generally, the script reading would be scheduled before filming began, but Wang Ju was too busy lately, and both Bo Yan and Shang Feifei were flying around, so they could only advance after everyone involved with the project met following the start of filming. As he looked on, his gaze drifted toward the coffee table, where the schedule for the reality show lay. Song Fengzhi was still discussing business with him. Moreover, Song Fengzhi paused to say, ¡°Bo, about that¡­ If there are any interviews coming up that ask about your personal life, you can choose to answer them and just let us know beforehand. It¡¯s not that it¡¯s bad, actually, it¡¯s quite good, considering celebrities inevitably get asked these questions. Having an ex-girlfriend at least prevents all that nonsense about same-sex relationships from spreading in the news¡­¡± He was referring to a previous interview where Bo Yan had talked about his romantic history. Bo Yan didn¡¯t pay much attention to him but suddenly asked, ¡°Will I have any free time in two and a half months?¡± Song Fengzhi was momentarily taken aback, then said after some thought, ¡°There should be. May I ask for what?¡± ¡°About twenty days. I need a relatively uninterrupted period of time.¡± Song Fengzhi checked and said, ¡°There is some time available, and we can reschedule other engagements. Does Bo want to take a short break?¡± Holding the schedule, Bo narrowed his eyes slightly: ¡°Not really, it¡¯s just that¡­ I feel like I¡¯m always too uptight, which is why the questions in interviews are so serious. I think I should get more down-to-earth, perhaps participate in a reality show or something..¡± Chapter 53 - Chapter 53: Chapter 53 Kissing Scene (3) Chapter 53: Chapter 53 Kissing Scene (3) Song Fengzhi hesitated for a moment. Bo Yan was an actor, and actors generally maintain a distance from the public, trying to participate in reality shows as little as possible to avoid being typecast and losing their sense of mystery, which would make it difficult for audiences to immerse themselves in their movies next time. Moreover, he had signed with the company three and a half years ago and officially debuted in films three years prior, having shot five movies within three years, leaving him no time to join any reality shows. His personality was also the steady type, and to protect his image, the company rarely allowed him to appear on variety or talk shows, let alone reality shows. If he were to go, this would be his first appearance on a reality show, which was quite significant. ¡°Do you have any idea what kind of show you¡¯d like to join, Bo?¡± Bo Yan leaned back against the sofa, holding a schedule in his hands, his expression unmoved, ¡°A travel-themed one, I suppose. It¡¯s sort of a paid vacation. Ideally, it¡¯d be an overseas trip. In China, just walking around would get me recognized by everyone, and that¡¯s not very interesting.¡± Song Fengzhi nodded, ¡°Then I¡¯ll bring it up with the company.¡± Bo Yan added, ¡°Of course, if it¡¯s my variety show debut, it can¡¯t be a poor choice. The team should be good, and so should the broadcast platform. As for the price, you guys can decide, I¡¯m just going for fun.¡± After hanging up the phone, Bo Yan looked at the notes on the schedule. There was an obvious circle drawn around ¡°Sicily¡±. As he looked, his gaze sharpened slightly, ¡°Sicily, huh¡­¡± Wei Jingjing arrived at Qingcheng Apartments at nine in the morning. The shooting was scheduled for twelve noon, and it would take at least an hour to drive there from Qingcheng Apartments. But she had followed Xia Siyu for three years, and knew her all too well. That girl was the type who, even if living next to the school, would arrive just in time for class. Wei Jingjing rushed over with the makeup artist, instructing Little Tang and the makeup artist to wait in the car while she went to ring the doorbell. The elevator arrived quickly, and as soon as the door opened, Wei Jingjing charged inside. She had barely taken a few steps when she saw Bo Yan, wearing a white T-shirt and casual pants, walking away from her with his back turned. He must have just taken a shower; his hair was still wet, the clothes clinging to his body as he dabbed the water from his hair. Obviously, the person who had opened the door for her was Bo Yan. Wei Jingjing watched Bo Yan¡¯s figure from behind. Although she feared trouble from these two living together, she couldn¡¯t help but sigh at the sight of his good looks. Was Xia Siyu living with such a man every day? Then, the next second, Xia Siyu emerged from behind the door with her hair a tangled mess, her eyes bleary, and a face full of sleepiness. Wei Jingjing felt as though reality had slammed into her like a basketball. Xia Siyu had just woken up. She scratched her head and went to the bathroom to freshen up. The bedroom door was wide open, and Wei Jingjing deliberately looked inside, noting that all the personal items belonged to just one person. Clearly, they weren¡¯t living together in the same room. Of course, Xia Siyu¡¯s room was¡ªas ever¡ªdisorderly. Turning back to look at Bo Yan, he had quickly changed his clothes. A man didn¡¯t need to dress too fancily¡ªsimple T-shirts, casual pants, crisp and clean. Although she didn¡¯t know what his bedroom was like, seeing him calmly eat a hot sandwich, brew coffee, and gracefully check his phone while eating breakfast was a sight to behold. Then there was Xia Siyu, who, after having freshened up, carelessly put on some loungewear and unapologetically took half of his sandwich and coffee.. Chapter 54 - Chapter 54: Chapter 54 Kissing Scene (4) Chapter 54: Chapter 54 Kissing Scene (4) Translator: 549690339 Wei Jingjing suddenly felt a sense of disdain, as if Bo Yan were the girl, and Xia Siyu, in her heart, lived a rough man. She also said, ¡°Look at you, told you not to drink and you still did, now your face is all swollen, isn¡¯t it? So ugly, how are you going to face people later?¡± Xia Siyu tore a bite of her sandwich, ¡°Really?¡± She hurried to the mirror to take a careful look, damn it, her face was really swollen. She immediately opened the refrigerator, eating and applying ice while starting to gnaw on ice cubes, crunching away. Wei Jingjing turned her head and, sure enough, met Bo Yan¡¯s disdainful gaze, she quickly apologized, ¡°Sorry, sorry, don¡¯t take it personally with her, this¡ª she said, pointing to her head, ¡°¡ªdoesn¡¯t work very well.¡± ¡ªFrom this point of view, there should really be no chance between Bo Yan and her, right? After breakfast, Bo Yan changed his clothes and went downstairs first. In a short while, Wei Jingjing also got Xia Siyu changed and took the luggage, following him downstairs. Although the shooting was in Yancheng, the location was a bit far from Qingcheng Apartments. If there were night scenes to shoot, it wasn¡¯t very convenient to commute, so it was best to stay at the hotel designated by the crew nearby. At least secure a room first, it would be more convenient for breaks. Xia Siyu hoped that her living with Bo Yan wouldn¡¯t be known by a fourth person, even if it was the bodyguard and makeup artist who previously saw her and Bo Yan almost kissing in the film city. So she had Little Tang park the car a bit further away, preferring to walk a bit herself to get there. She didn¡¯t like heavy makeup either, opting for a light touch. After applying foundation, lipstick, and eyeshadow¡ªskipping the eyeliner¡ªshe went straight to the set. Usually, there would be reporters interviewing during a movie¡¯s start-up, but never like this time, crowded as today. Besides the great Director Wang Ju, the three main actors were all big names in terms of crowd-pulling power. After a brief opening ceremony, a swarm of reporters rushed up, surrounding the director and the main actors. They asked Director Wang Ju and Shang Feifei a few courteous questions, and then all the attention was focused on Xia Siyu and Bo Yan: ¡°Sister Siyu, didn¡¯t you previously state that you were unwilling to work with Bo Yan?¡± ¡°Is it true that you competed for this role with Li Yiru?¡± ¡°Why did you choose the supporting female role? Is it because it¡¯s typecasting?¡± Bo Yan was quiet throughout, standing on the side without uttering a word. Shang Feifei looked both awkward and entertained. She was a lead actress, yet it felt like she was the one being sidelined. But the spotlight was on Xia Siyu, albeit mostly filled with skepticism. The microphones were pushed to Xia Siyu¡¯s face, and she only responded, ¡°Huh? What? Can¡¯t hear you. Okay, next one.¡± When reporters tried to press further, she turned her face away, ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m a bit tired.¡¯ Then, lifting her leg, she didn¡¯t give another thought to the reporters behind her and left with the escort of Wei Jingjing and Little Tang. Once she was gone, Bo Yan spoke up, ¡°Everyone¡ª¡± The reporters turned back, and he add, ¡°The interview time has ended, sorry, but we have to work now. Please cooperate.¡± Though he spoke kindly, he had Song Fengzhi call the crew¡¯s security to maintain order, quickly clearing out the interviewing reporters. Following that, the director, the main actors, the producer, and the screenwriter gathered for a script read-through. They went over the general storyline and made some adjustments. Afterward, the actors received the first scene¡¯s script scheduled to shoot that evening, which belonged to Bo Yan and Xia Siyu. The content was: a kiss scene.. Chapter 55 - Chapter 55: Chapter 55 Temptation (1) Chapter 55: Chapter 55 Temptation (1) Translator: 549690339 In fact, right from the beginning when they saw the screenplay, Bo Yan and Xia Siyu had a clear idea. Especially Xia Siyu, she found the role of the second female lead interesting and didn¡¯t want to play the innocent, doe-eyed female protagonist that she was accustomed to. Instead, she wanted to compete for this enchanting supporting role, having weighed it up in her mind long ago. In the screenplay, the second female lead is a bar owner, naturally charming, seductive, domineering, and captivating¡ªthe quintessential femme fatale in the traditional sense. The male protagonist is a runaway rich young master, and at this point, his identity is a singer at the bar, initially in a romantic relationship with the second female lead. When they are together, they live in decadent, hazy self-destruction. The female protagonist is the typical innocent beauty. In such a plot, it¡¯s natural that the male lead¡¯s soul gets cleansed by the female lead, and he ends up with her in the end. The second female lead realizes she¡¯s been dumped and causes some trouble, but physical compatibility cannot beat the clash of ideas, and she eventually loses the battle. The main storyline is written this way, and during the script reading, Shang Feifei offered some suggestions. For instance, she thought that the image of the female lead was too one-dimensional; the naive and sugar-coated romance wouldn¡¯t convince the audience. There should be some other elements added, such as the female and male leads having met many years ago without recognizing each other, or having interacted through the internet or some other means without knowing each other¡¯s identities. The director and screenwriters also affirmed these suggestions, agreeing to add some small details. When they asked Xia Siyu for her opinion, she just shook her head, closing the script: ¡°No.¡± Bo Yan frowned from the sidelines. He had not worked with Xia Siyu on a film before and didn¡¯t know her style. But he had seen her movies. Although most were about naive young women¡ªurban dreams with a naive and sweet female protagonist¡ªshe could cry and laugh on cue. These days, the ability to play the naive and sweet without being annoying was a skill in itself. He couldn¡¯t believe that this person had an empty head, appearing to have no opinions whatsoever. Even though she might act foolish in daily life, could she be the same at work? Would they be able to act together properly? However, since the second female lead had already been cast, if she had no comments, then he would just have to¡­ lead the acting himself. And so, the script was handed over to the two of them. Generally, when filming a movie or TV series begins, most directors request to shoot the kissing or bed scenes first. Especially for actors like them, who appear to be completely unfamiliar with each other. Once they kiss, once they touch, even two strangers must quickly adapt and enter the rhythm of the plot. Moreover, this was Xia Siyu¡¯s first time shooting such passionate scenes. In the past, her roles were innocent flowers, with kissing scenes at most being a brief touch, not even feeling the temperature or the touch of skin before the director would call ¡°Cut!¡± Besides, with her reputation, no male actor dared to take liberties in front of her, fearing that she might get upset and smack them squarely in the face, so none would dare to take the opportunity to cop a feel. As for Bo Yan, he had previously taken on more artsy films, and fortunately now the regulatory body was strict, so there weren¡¯t many explicit scenes in them. In the film that had won him an award, all the kissing and bedroom scenes were impressionistic, conveyed through editing, color grading, and cinematography. Apart from wearing less clothing, he had hardly any physical contact with the female lead. But this time, it wasn¡¯t just a kissing scene, but an intimate, intense kiss. And it was Xia Siyu initiating the seduction.. Chapter 56 - Chapter 56: Chapter 56 Temptation (2) Chapter 56: Chapter 56 Temptation (2) Translator: 549690339 Both were professional actors, so if that¡¯s what the script called for, and neither had any objections, then it was time to start rehearsing. Given that the female supporting character was a bar proprietress, and one with a seductive, enchanting demeanor, that¡¯s the direction they would take for her look. While makeup and hair accessories were still undecided, they started rehearsing the first scene set in the dim room of the underground bar. Loud music played outside, neon lights glinted through the messy room, the male lead had just finished singing, and his guitar lay by the bed. The female partner danced the Rumba to the music, approaching him nonchalantly before straddling him. They embraced, kissed, entangled in a roll. The director had planned a long take, a single continuous shot without cuts. This one shot would convey the setting of the bar, the identities of the male and female leads, their relationship, and the male leads confusion about wanting to escape the mire but not finding the direction. This required close cooperation between the two of them. Not only did they need to kiss intimately and beautifully, but they also had to capture a certain inexplicable sexual tension between them, all while fitting the characters. When the director was discussing the play, he had shown them the storyboard envisioned in his mind. A storyboard is like a comic strip, with the shots and plotline advancing through each dynamic panel. Wang Ju had worked with Bo Yan before and wasn¡¯t too worried about him; he was more concerned about Xia Siyu. Even though films these days aren¡¯t shot on film stock and having multiple NGs (no good takes) isn¡¯t an issue, some perfectionist directors will keep pushing actors to deliver 100% even if they¡¯ve already performed at 95%. But Xia Siyu¡­ He did somewhat regret his impulsive decision to cast her after the fact. He wasn¡¯t worried about her scandals; he just worried whether Xia Siyu could truly play the role he envisioned in his mind. After all, some actors simply lack the talent, no matter how much a great director polishes them, a stone will never turn into jade. But there was no helping it now. She was already there, the contract had been signed, and the announcement had been made. What was he going to do, return her like a defective product? Just act. Wang Ju asked first, ¡°There¡¯s a Rumba sequence here. It¡¯s not too difficult, but we¡¯ll still need to rehearse it a bit. I have a dance instructor here; you can follow him and learn for a while, okay?¡± To his surprise, Xia Siyu nodded, ¡°Rumba? No problem, I¡¯ve learned it before.¡± Wang Ju was slightly surprised, ¡°Really? That¡¯s great, it¡¯s much better if you already have a foundation.¡± Strange, he hadn¡¯t seen anything about her dance training in her personal file. He then turned to Bo Yan, ¡°As for the guitar part, you still need to practice.¡± The male lead¡¯s role was as a bar singer, so playing the guitar was essential. Although film sound could be dubbed in post-production, Wang Ju still hoped that Bo Yan could actually play it, or at least make it look convincing. Bo Yan¡¯s expression was calm, ¡°Should be possible. It¡¯s just that I haven¡¯t played in a long time, I¡¯m a bit rusty.¡± When Bo Yan mentioned the guitar, Xia Siyu looked back at him. Just then, Bo Yan also looked up, and their gazes briefly met in the air. However, Xia Siyu quickly averted her gaze, and Bo Yan lowered his head again as if their brief eye contact was just a fleeting moment of narrative exchange. Bo Yan would play the same song on the guitar that Xia Siyu danced the Rumba to, so they rehearsed together in the same room. With the instructor¡¯s guidance, Xia Siyu really could dance the Rumba and kept the beat as she said she could. After an initial period of rustiness, Bo Yan quickly hit his stride as well. In the end, the scene developed with Bo Yan sitting on a chair playing the guitar and Xia Siyu dancing the Rumba, step by step moving closer to him. Chapter 57 - Chapter 57: Chapter 57 Temptation (3) Chapter 57: Chapter 57 Temptation (3) Translator: 549690339 Just when Xia Siyu was one meter away from him, Bo Yan made eye contact with her. Normally during rehearsals, actors wouldn¡¯t wear their costumes. Xia Siyu was dressed in a plain long dress. Having woken up late, her hair wasn¡¯t much styled either, just hanging down in a simple vvay, straight and black. Bo Yan, on the other hand, wore a T-shirt with casual pants, looking fresh and clean, like a young man. Their eyes met, and for that instant, it was as if time had reversed, taking them back to the past. The music stopped right at that moment. And the dance moves came to a halt as well. But their gazes still lingered on each other. There was joy, regret, pain¡ªso many emotions intertwined, making their expressions instantly complex. Especially considering all that lay between them now; even someone as forthright as Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t help but feel her mood darken suddenly. In the quiet practice room, the two of them were silent. So quiet that they could almost hear each other¡¯s breathing. Until Wang Ju clapped his hands, ¡°Good, very good.¡± Only then did their gazes part; Bo Yan looked at his guitar, and Xia Siyu looked at Wang Ju. Wang Ju stepped closer, still smiling, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Siyu¡¯s expressive capabilities to be quite good.¡± Xia Siyu lifted her chin in a second, naturally. ¡°But that look you gave just now was wrong. That look suits the later part, after the female lead discovers the male lead¡¯s infidelity¡ªyou should use that look then. But at the beginning, I want you to be more seductive, wilder, like a vine wrapping around this man. And your Rumba needs to be more affected. Don¡¯t be afraid, be as bold as possible, don¡¯t worry about your performance, just act it out.¡± Xia Siyu nodded. Wang Ju continued, ¡°Bo Yan, that gaze of yours¡ªI want it to be more desirous, murkier at the beginning. Ditch the clean young man vibe, remember the male lead is quite decadent at that time, and that¡¯s the state you should be in.¡± Bo Yan agreed as well. ¡°Then, let¡¯s do makeup.¡± The stylist had long designed makeup, costumes, and hair accessories for both of them. It was relatively easier for Bo Yan since, being a male celebrity, getting ready wasn¡¯t as complex as for women. Since the male lead was a rich young master who became decadent and had fallen from grace, he naturally wouldn¡¯t have money. But even without money, his innate pride and taste wouldn¡¯t fade. So, the stylist designed a simple get-up for him: a white shirt with jeans, the shirt half-tucked in, half out. His shirt buttons were unfastened down to the chest, revealing a small section of his well-toned muscles. His hairstyle was blown upwards, and his face wasn¡¯t heavily made-up, just lightly covered in a foundation so faint it was imperceptible. He finished with makeup first, and Wang Ju brought him to the set to start breaking down his movements for what was to come. This segment of shooting didn¡¯t require dialogue, relying purely on the two people¡¯s gazes and movements. Although in this part of the scene, he merely had to lie at the head of the bed while Xia Siyu had to dance, twist, sit up, and take the initiative, the focus was actually on him. He was like a person flying a kite, firmly holding onto the string, guiding it. Bo Yan listened intently, both of them unaware that the door to the makeup room had already opened. When Bo Yan turned his head, what he saw was Xia Siyu, already dressed up and transformed into the bar owner.. Chapter 58 - Chapter 58: Chapter 58 Temptation (4) Chapter 58: Chapter 58 Temptation (4) Translator: 549690339 Xia Siyu was known for her beauty; everyone knew that. Xia Siyu also had an overpowering presence. When she walked the red carpet, she often wore heavy makeup, using an aggressive radiance to dominate the cameras. But what even Bo Yan didn¡¯t know was¡ªshe was incredibly charming. Her long hair cascaded down, the tips curled into large waves. With eyeliner on, the corners of her eyes were lifted. Her originally round, almond- shaped eyes, combined with the upturned outer corners and a slightly darker lip color, brought out a fox-like enchantment on her face. Beyond that, there were no other decorations on her face, and her body was simply clad in a black dress with a pair of black high heels. Wang Ju t s understanding of sensuality was that it was neither ostentatious nor vulgar. It didn¡¯t require heavy makeup or revealing tops. The dress she wore was a simple crew neck, and its hem obviously longer than the average hot pants, enveloping her body completely without any lace or frills. Yet, it was irresistibly enticing. She walked over in her high heels, her posture both graceful and direct. The form-fitting dress showcased the curves of her body in full glory. Her face bore little smile, her chin tilted slightly upwards in pride, not seeking to please others, yet it added an elevated beauty to her persona. Just looking at her face, just observing her naturally seductive yet unvulgar expression, the vibrant charm of a woman was almost bursting through the screen. When she approached, the entire set fell silent. Even Wang Ju was transfixed for a moment, then he chuckled, ¡°The character is spot on.¡± Bo Yan slowly turned around, his Adam¡¯s apple involuntarily rolling. Xia Siyu also saw Bo Yan turn his back to her, thinking he disliked her appearance. Pfft, I don¡¯t care for your attention anyway. Before the two actors began shooting officially, they had to rehearse many times. And especially for scenes like these, although they may appear sizzling to the viewers in the cinema, in reality, they were surrounded by a large crowd on set¡ªdirector, cinematographer, producer, lighting, stagehands all present ¡ªleaving the male and female leads to genuinely perform in solitude. The Rumba and the guitar scenes no longer needed rehearsal; it was the scene involving her stepping onto the bed¡¯s headboard, sitting on his lap, drawing close for a kiss, then rolling around that they had to go through. The two stood facing each other, pulling and tugging as directed. It had to be beautiful, desirous, yet also pass censorship standards¡ªdetermining to what extent the kiss looked good and how their bodies should entangle and coordinate. After the clapboard sounded, filming officially began. The camera first panned from the loud music of the dance floor outside, entering through the door, to a record player spinning. Then a slender hand with dark nail polish glided into the frame, followed by a graceful silhouette, the swaying Rumba, a woman lazily walking towards the bed. At the foot of the bed, only a man¡¯s long legs were visible; moving up were the woman¡¯s long curls and the man¡¯s belt buckle and shirt. Then, the camera angle switched, showing the side profile of Xia Siyu and Bo Yan¡¯s frontal face¡ªhers seductive, his disheveled¡ªfollowed by her sitting up, her little finger hooking his tie, pulling him closer. The male lead wanted to kiss, but she playfully laughed and evaded. Then a reversal, their positions changed, drawing closer once again. The moment their lips touched, Bo Yan thought, thankfully he wore jeans that weren¡¯t too conspicuous. At that very instant when she hooked her finger, it was as if all his blood boiled. However, he didn¡¯t expect that his blood would keep boiling for four hours.. Chapter 59 - Chapter 59: Chapter 59 Pajamas (1) Chapter 59: Chapter 59 Pajamas (1) Translator: 549690339 After shooting started, Bo Yan kept reminding himself that he was acting. As a professional actor, he naturally knew the difference between work and life. He had filmed similar scenes before, although they were not as physically close, but he still had some experience. However, when Xia Siyu really sat on his lap, pressing down and entwining herself close to him, he found himself struggling to maintain control. The first time they grappled, their bodies entwined, he stretched out his arm around her waist, forcefully twisting to the side. He was on top, she was beneath. At this point, pressing down further¡­ Bo Yan had kissed before, and this wasn¡¯t his first time kissing Xia Siyu either. But perhaps it was because she looked particularly beautiful today, or maybe the presence of an audience added a different kind of thrill, or it could be that the characters in the script were meant to be a bit more desirous from the start. In any case, as seen through the monitor, he indeed appeared both active and passive, both enjoying and distancing. The script didn¡¯t specify how long they were to perform the scene or to what extent. Since it was a film, and not one explicitly taking the innocent route, the director didn¡¯t call cut, so they certainly had to continue. But unexpectedly, before even ten seconds had passed, the director shouted ¡°Cut! ¡± Afterward, Xia Siyu immediately sat up, and he quickly backed away. The two of them moved apart as if their recent intimacy were just an illusory reflection. A movie scene often requires multiple takes, and it¡¯s normal for the first attempt to need refinement. Especially since Wang Ju was aiming for a long take, anyone with even a little understanding of filmmaking would know how much effort it takes. The two actors didn¡¯t make a big deal out of it, instead asking the director, ¡°Is there anything we need to improve?¡± Wang Ju stepped forward, and with a serious tone of criticism said, ¡°Siyu, your dancing earlier was good, so why did you stiffen up as soon as the action started? And Bo, you were too aloof at the beginning. You two are a couple, lovers, not strangers meeting for the first time, nor enemies. I don¡¯t care about any conflicts you have off- screen, but in the film, you need to be more natural. This isn¡¯t a photoshoot. When you¡¯re holding her and kissing, show some movement. If she doesn¡¯t, then you need to express it more.¡± Bo Yan slightly bowed his head, and Xia Siyu frowned in thought before both nodded in agreement. Wang Ju continued, ¡°l don¡¯t care what you are like in private, but in the film, you have to follow the plot. Particularly you, Xia Siyu, you¡¯re the one who gives more in the movie, so you definitely need to show more. Look at you now, not even glancing at your partner. How can you develop feelings like that?¡± Using their full names was a clear sign that Wang Ju was serious. Xia Siyu nodded, turning to glance at Bo Yan. Bo Yan also happened to look up at the same moment, their eyes calm and undisturbed, devoid of emotion, let alone any hint of communication. Wang Ju sighed, resigning himself to the fact that he impulsively chose Xia Siyu as the female support and needed to keep working on it. Action was called again, and this time, perhaps out of nervousness, Xia Siyu messed up the dance moves, Cut! Once more. They finally managed to make it to the edge of the bed, but then her high heel wobbled, and she fell straight on Bo Yan, Cut again. Another attempt, this time they managed to kiss, but when rolling over, one went left and the other right, completely lacking any chemistry. And so on, again and again¡­. Chapter 60 - Chapter 60: Chapter 60 Pajamas (2) Chapter 60: Chapter 60 Pajamas (2) Translator: 549690339 Unbeknownst to them, nearly four hours had passed, and the two had gone from their initial physical stiffness to now skillfully dancing in time with the music. They approached each other with ease, naturally pulling, embracing, and kissing. Strangely, the two appeared to be full of desire while acting, but as soon as the director called ¡°cut,¡± they would split apart at eight hundred times the speed, showing none of the closeness from moments before. Wang Ju was almost at his wits¡¯ end, ¡°Can¡¯t you two act a bit more naturally? Do you know what natural is?¡± If it hadn¡¯t been for the way they parted so quickly after each ¡°cut,¡± and the unabashed disdain in each other¡¯s eyes, Wang Ju might have suspected that Bo Yan was trying to take advantage of his co-star. Yet, to accuse him of such wouldn¡¯t be quite right; after watching them for a while, Wang Ju realized that it was Bo Yan who actually struggled to let loose. Bo Yan¡¯s acting couldn¡¯t be called bad; there were layers to his performance. He did the embraces and the rolls, and was quite the gentleman, not making any offensive moves. After another ¡°cut,¡± Wang Ju, standing behind the camera, called the two over to watch. They had been kissing for four hours, starting after lunch, followed by a script read-through in the afternoon, and now it was already deep into the night. Time-wise. it perfectly matched the timeline set in the script. Wang Ju didn¡¯t say a thing, but simply played back the segment they had just performed together. In truth, after meshing for four hours, and since both had prior movie acting experience, this take actually had no major issues. But as they watched, Bo Yan furrowed his brow, ¡°Sorry.¡± Wang Ju looked at him as he spoke, ¡°It¡¯s not that my performance was bad, or that because it was too good, it turned out bad. It was patterned, lacking in emotion; I still haven¡¯t fully immersed myself into the character. Although it might not seem like a problem at first glance, a character without soul is just that to the audience, unconvincing.¡± Wang Ju nodded, then turned to Xia Siyu. Frankly, Xia Siyu¡¯s performance indeed made him take notice. Not to mention her inherent charisma, she seemed to be the more uninhibited one in their interactions, at least physically. But when it came to emotional engagement, she might have even been more reserved than Bo Yan. This was understandable, though. Despite her formidable reputation in the press, in front of the camera, she was still a woman, and her restraint was normal. Wang Ju t s silence didn¡¯t mean Xia Siyu felt justified. She had come here to act and naturally hoped to give a hundred percent; otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have gone out of her way to vie for this supporting role. Although Bo Yan admitted his fault quickly, she knew her own performance had been the more rigid one. It didn¡¯t matter if her co-actor was Bo Yan; this was a job, and personal feelings shouldn¡¯t interfere with the work. She took a deep breath, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I wasn¡¯t fully invested; it¡¯s my fault. I couldn¡¯t fully capture the character.¡± Seeing both actors own up to their mistakes, Wang Ju breathed a sigh of relief, especially in the case of Xia Siyu, whom he hadn¡¯t worked with before and had heard some not-too-flattering rumors about: being a diva and difficult to please. A long take inherently demanded more effort, and many takes were scrapped, not necessarily due to any fault of theirs. ¡°Let¡¯s try it one more time.¡± ¡°Wait,¡± Bo Yan interrupted him.. Chapter 61 - Chapter 61: Chapter 61 Pajamas (3) Chapter 61: Chapter 61 Pajamas (3) Translator: 549690339 Wang Ju turned his head. Bo Yan frowned, his expression rather calm, ¡°Director Wang, how about we clear the set? Although this scene doesn¡¯t reveal much, she might be a bit nervous. Going over it again and again isn¡¯t a solution. Let¡¯s have everyone except the lighting and photography crew leave. After all, it¡¯s her first time shooting this kind of scene, and she¡¯s not quite used to it.¡± It was common to clear a set when filming, but only for scenes with significant exposure, some male and female stars even going so far as to appear fully nude. Now¡­ the scene was merely about hugging, kissing, and twisting around without even taking any clothes off; Ju hadn¡¯t even considered the necessity of clearing the set for this kind of shooting. He nodded, ¡°That¡¯s fine.¡¯ Clearing the set wasn¡¯t difficult; it just required an instruction. When they were about to clear the set, Xia Siyu spoke up, ¡°Wait a moment.¡± Wang Ju turned his head, ¡°Do you have any requests?¡± Xia Siyu pointed at her face, ¡°Director Wang, we¡¯ve been shooting for four hours, and I haven¡¯t really had a chance to touch up my makeup in the meantime. My hair is a mess now, my makeup is smeared, and I¡¯m covered in sweat. Should I touch up my makeup first?¡± She even wanted to take a bath and change clothes. After all, the weather was somewhat hot, and the dress sticking to her skin was quite uncomfortable. Wang Ju glanced at her. Other than her lipstick being slightly smeared, her other makeup was waterproof, and although her face was visibly covered in sweat with strands of hair sticking to her face, it didn¡¯t much affect her overall makeup. As for the clothes, the black tight-fitting dress was indeed a bit soaked with sweat. But Wang Ju still nodded, ¡°Let¡¯s keep it as it is; I think it¡¯s fine. No need to touch up your lipstick either.¡± ¡°Wait a minute.¡± Bo Yan spoke up again, and with the third interruption, Wang Ju was somewhat speechless. He turned his head to ask, ¡°Can you state all your requests at once, please?¡± This time, Bo Yan looked seriously at Xia Siyu, his expression still rather cold, ¡°Sorry, but this time my movements may be a bit rougher. If I offend you in any way, please forgive me. This is just work.¡± Xia Siyu was taken aback, but she had noticed that Bo Yan had indeed been quite gentle earlier; his hands behaved perfectly, his body kept in check, even his kisses were disciplined. He seemed immersed in the role but didn¡¯t exert any real force. Even less so than the man he used to be. But seeing his indifferent and disdainful demeanor now, she didn¡¯t ponder much and went straight for the sarcasm, ¡°You? Are you up for it?¡± This teasing had a bit more of an edge to it; if they hadn¡¯t been close, it would almost be considered offensive or even¡ªsexual harassment. If it were anyone else, it might be ok, but coming from Xia Siyu¡¯s mouth, it was definitely not flirtation; it was mockery. Sure enough, as soon as she said that, Bo Yan¡¯s eyebrows immediately furrowed, and his lips pursed slightly. Xia Siyu¡¯s words put him in a position where he couldn¡¯t respond well. To say he was ¡°very capable¡± would sound blatantly lewd, and no matter whether they were husband and wife or not, this was a workplace, and such language was totally inappropriate. But to concede that he was ¡°not capable¡± was something no man could admit! Bo Yan remained silent, choosing not to argue with her, and Wang Ju went off to handle the clearing of the set, leaving the pair behind. They stood in place, looking at the script with no one else around. Bo Yan put down the script and looked at the disheveled bed, speaking softly, ¡°Although this is work¡­¡± Xia Siyu turned her head to look at him. Bo Yan¡¯s gaze swept toward her calmly, ¡°You¡¯ll see whether I¡¯m capable or not..¡± Chapter 62 - Chapter 62: Chapter 62 Pajamas (4) Chapter 62: Chapter 62 Pajamas (4) Translator: 549690339 He didn¡¯t forget to say in a mild tone, ¡°You¡¯d better put some effort into it and try to get it right as soon as possible. I¡¯m not interested in you and don¡¯t want to keep rolling around here with you over and over again.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll overwhelm you within three days!¡¯ Wei Jingjing hurriedly stopped her. With all this shouting, she felt even hotter, and sweat was streaming down from her neck. And Wang Ju really didn¡¯t ask her to touch up her makeup, he just went straight to shooting. The initial process was already well-rehearsed. If there was any difference, it was that after four hours, there was an undeniable hint of fatigue in both of their eyes. Then she came to the bed and straddled it with practiced ease. Xia Siyu had an edge to her, and when she pulled on Bo Yan¡¯s tie, she did it with extra force. Bo Yan initially lay there lazily, but after his kiss was rejected for the first time, a fleeting glint flashed in his eyes. His arm clamped around her waist and with a forceful twist, he shifted her to the side. Xia Siyu froze, and after the world stopped spinning, she could distinctly feel the drop of sweat from the tip of his fringe, landing on her collarbone and further moistening her already damp skin. No lines were necessary to exhibit the ambiguous thoughts between a man and a woman. She needed to perform too. Xia Siyu¡¯s finger pressed against his chin, as if rejecting, yet also like an invitation playing hard to get. She wasn¡¯t smiling, but her finger glided from his chin down to his Adam¡¯s apple. She paused intentionally when it swallowed, then continued its trajectory to rest against his chest. Bo Yan seized her mischievous hand, pressed it to the side, and leaned over. It wasn¡¯t just a peck of a kiss like before; he was serious. For a moment, she even thought she¡¯d be devoured by him. Bo Yan wanted to dominate her? She would resist! She tried numerous times to take the lead, only to be ruthlessly subdued by him. If force didn¡¯t work, she turned to gentleness, her leg softly hooked around his waist. She could feel the man before her body tremble slightly, followed by an even tighter embrace and deeper kisses. Tsk, the guy¡¯s got some acting skills. Had it not been for Bo Yan¡¯s clear disdain for her, she might have even thought he got carried away. After some entanglement, Wang Ju yelled ¡°cut.¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s dress strap had been pulled halfway down, and her lips were kissed into a mess. Bo Yan didn¡¯t fare much better, his white shirt nearly wrinkled into a rag. ¡°You both worked hard today.¡± As soon as the shooting ended, Bo Yan sprung up like a bullet, his brows twisted in disgust, an expression that almost spilled out of the screen. Then, after saying goodbye to Director Wang, he left without a word to Xia Siyu, striding out decisively. Wei Jingjing and the others came over and took her to the makeup room. Just as they left the set, she saw Bo Yan coming out of the restroom. He passed by her as if she were air and turned away. The bastard took advantage and ran, what a jerk! It was too late today, so they stayed at the hotel. On the way back, she noticed Song Fengzhi distributing gifts to the whole crew, huh, as if she cared! But when she got to the hotel, Bo Yan was waiting by her room door, shoving a gift box into her arms and saying coldly, ¡°Everyone in the crew has one, this is yours.¡± Then, without waiting for her to refuse it, he went back to his own room. After entering, Wei Jingjing helped her open it: ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Upon opening it, inside was a ¡ª sexy nightgown.. Chapter 63 - Chapter 63: Chapter 63 Opponent Scene (1) Chapter 63: Chapter 63 Opponent Scene (1) Translator: 549690339 Wei Jingjings first reaction was, ¡°Was it delivered to the wrong person?¡± Who would send such a thing, especially since Bo Yan and Xia Siyu have such a bad relationship? Even though they live together, it¡¯s obvious they despise each other. She had watched them filming just now, and if these two really had something going on, that scene wouldn¡¯t have taken four hours. And as soon as it was over, they split immediately, as if the other person was non-recyclable trash, and an extra second together would contaminate them. ¡°What did he send?¡± Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t interested in Bo Yan, but when she saw something had been delivered, she also came over to look. ¡°Take a look.¡± Wei Jingjing unfolded the garment, revealing a black sleepwear, form-fitting, with lace trim. It was similar to what they had just filmed in, only this piece was even spicier. ¡°Could it have been a mistake? Was it actually for Shang Feifei?¡± Xia Siyu looked for a few seconds, smacked her lips, and shook her head confidently without a doubt, ¡°Definitely not, she has no chest.¡± Wei Jingjing examined it closely, and it was true. The sleepwear was clearly size S, but the bust size was marked C. Such a great figure, there was only Xia Siyu in the entire crew. Even in the entertainment industry, there were not many like her, and some were even surgically enhanced. From the look of the clothes, it was definitely for Xia Siyu, but why would Yan send her sleepwear, and such a sexy style at that? It couldn¡¯t possibly be these two¡­ Her mind hadn¡¯t quite caught up when Xia Siyu unceremoniously made a phone call. She called Bo Yan, but Bo Yan didn¡¯t answer. Xia Siyu, impulsive as ever, the other party not answering made her want to rush next door with the clothes immediately, but thankfully, Wei Jingjing stopped her, ¡°Sister Xia, sis, don¡¯t be impulsive! If you go next door with these clothes, what will it look like if word gets out? They¡¯ll say a female star is knocking on a male actor¡¯s door with sexy sleepwear in the middle of the night!¡¯ ¡°Damn it, I¡¯m the one being harassed here, and they¡¯re going to dump this shit on me?¡± Xia Siyu absolutely could not tolerate this injustice and was about to rush out. Fortunately, at this moment, her phone rang, it was actually Bo Yan calling her, and Xia Siyu answered immediately, fuming, ¡°Bo Yan, why the hell didn¡¯t you answer the phone?¡± From the other end of the phone came the sound of rushing water, Bo Yan replied, ¡°Taking a shower.¡± Even though Xia Siyu didn¡¯t put it on speakerphone, Wei Jingjing was right beside her and heard everything clearly. She got a bit of a shock, especially since it seemed too intimate ¡ª after all, they were a single man and woman. Xia Siyu ignored his reply, continuing to press aggressively, ¡°The clothes you gave me, what¡¯s that about? Don¡¯t tell me you sent sleepwear to everyone in the crew, just in different styles!¡± Unexpectedly, Bo Yan responded calmly from the other end, ¡°Isn¡¯t it what you asked me to buy?¡± ¡°When did I ask you to buy it?¡± Xia Siyu even turned to glance at Wei Jingjing, with an expression that said, this guy is really funny. Then the next second, Bo Yan spoke slowly, ¡°It was when Shang Feifei called to ask me to audition and to make some allowances for her, you yourself wrapped your arms around my neck and whispered it in my ear. Song Fengzhi and your assistant Wei Jingjing saw it too, if you don¡¯t remember, maybe you should ask them?¡± ¡°How could I possibly¡­¡± Xia Siyu and Wei Jingjing looked at each other, realizing that it might actually have been her who said it. But that was just a joke! ¡°However,¡± Bo Yan continued slowly, his hand gesturing a little, ¡°I seem to have bought the wrong size. The salesperson told me the sizing runs small, I should have bought you a D..¡± Chapter 64 - Chapter 64: Chapter 64: Playing Against Each Other (2) Chapter 64: Chapter 64: Playing Against Each Other (2) Translator: 549690339 ¡°You can try it on, and if it doesn¡¯t fit, just give it back to me. I¡¯ll have Song Fengzhi go to the store with you to exchange it for a more suitable size. Or you can go and try it on with me. After all, the clothes are quite expensive, eight thousand a set.¡¯ With a ¡°snap,¡± Xia Siyu hung up the phone. If it weren¡¯t for Bo Yan¡¯s exceptionally calm and steady pace of speaking, and if it weren¡¯t for the fact that they found each other repulsive during the filming and even while spending time together lately, Xia Siyu, with her sluggish brain, would have started to suspect that Bo Yan might have some different feelings for her. ¡°So, this dress¡­¡± Wei Jingjing held the dress with a troubled face. ¡°It¡¯s yours!¡± Xia Siyu answered irritably, ¡°You can¡¯t waste eight thousand a set. ¡°l can¡¯t wear it either¡­¡± Wei Jingjings build was M size, but with a B cup, she was decisively eliminated. ¡°Then use it as a cleaning rag.¡± It was just a piece of clothing; who cared about it? Although Xia Siyu didn¡¯t pay much attention to branded clothes in her everyday life, she wouldn¡¯t give a second thought to this particular dress. In other words, even if she really wanted it, she would buy it herself. She didn¡¯t need to spend a man¡¯s money! The next day at 8:50 a.m. Wang Ju had already arrived at the set, along with Bo Yan and Shang Feifei. However, because Shang Feifei had requested some changes in the script, the writing team had made some last-minute changes. Because of these modifications, her initial scenes focused mainly on her solo parts. There were A and B crews for the movie shoot, and today it was Bo Yan and Xia Siyu¡¯s turn again. Seeing that it was almost time, Wang Ju frowned, ¡°Where¡¯s Xia Siyu?¡± Shang Feifei said nothing, just lowering her head to read the script. Bo Yan also didn¡¯t pay attention, as he was discussing with Song Fengzhi on the side. Song Fengzhi was talking to him about a reality show based on travel. Actually, Bo Yan¡¯s stipulations were so strict ¨C requiring a good broadcast platform, decent settings, and an international trip ¨C that they had already narrowed it down to that popular travel reality show from last season, ¡°Flowers and Grass.¡± It was Bo Yan¡¯s reality show debut, so the company was giving it extra attention. Now the show was in the process of inviting sponsors, and when Bo Yan sent a message their way, the producers were ecstatic. You should know, among male celebrities online, Bo Yan had a reputable family background, was a university lecturer, good-looking, had great acting skills, scandal-free, and basically received no negative reviews. And this was his first time doing a reality show, which meant the production team would virtually worship him. Initially, the project was rated S, barely reaching S+ with Xia Siyu, but with Bo Yan joining, it instantly shot up to become the top show on the platform, even catching the attention of the network president. With Bo Yan as the top influencer and Xia Siyu, the controversial actress with a ¡®black and red¡¯ profile, how could the show not be a hit? Just the fangirls¡¯ fights between these two could wrap around each other endlessly, drawing significant attention from bystanders as well. So Bo Yan also had considerable say, such as his request that during his participation, the other participants should not be informed, nor should it be used as a preliminary promotional point. He wanted to maintain a bit of mystery. Also, he insisted on no malicious editing, especially no misleading narratives. With the details settled, it was time to start. Wang Ju was a very serious and dedicated person, and the thing he despised the most was lateness. Seeing that it was almost nine o¡¯clock and Xia Siyu had still not arrived, his expression soured, ¡°Start shooting, don¡¯t wait.¡± Just as he finished speaking, Xia Siyu¡¯s nanny van drove up.. Chapter 65 - Chapter 65: Chapter 65: Playing Against Each Other (3) Chapter 65: Chapter 65: Playing Against Each Other (3) Translator: 549690339 She got out of the car right at nine o¡¯clock, just as the clock struck the hour. Xia Siyu was the last to arrive on the red carpet, tried out her scene just as the audition was about to end, and it was the same for filming. It wasn¡¯t that she was being a diva; she just genuinely liked to arrive right on time. As soon as she got out of the car, she remarked, ¡°Everyone¡¯s here? So early.¡± Shang Feifei glanced at the script, pretending not to hear and not responding. Bo Yan frowned and said, ¡°Not early, we were just waiting for you.¡± Xia Siyu let out an ¡°Oh,¡± not bothered by it. After all, she hadn¡¯t been late, so was there really a need to be thirty minutes early just to show how diligent she was? Shooting began. The location for the scene Shang Feifei was given was still on-site; she followed the director of Group A to the exterior. Meanwhile, Bo Yan and Xia Siyu were once again crammed into the same small room they had used the night before. At most, they expanded from the small room to the outside, in the dance floor of the bar. Especially since their script required them to be very close and intimate. After yesterday¡¯s rehearsal, Wang Ju was actually quite confident. Though it had taken four hours to get through the long take yesterday, anyone who has ever filmed one knows that it can take an entire week just to perfect a few minutes of footage. Yet, they had managed to shoot the scene with great tension in only four hours, something even Wang Ju hadn¡¯t expected. Although the set had been fraught with harsh criticism, the footage they reviewed afterwards was quite good. Today¡¯s script involved flashback scenes. Xia Siyu would dance, making it clear she wasn¡¯t yet playing the role of the madam at that time, with her makeup also looking much fresher. Bo Yan¡¯s attire also looked more youthful. There was trouble at the bar, and Bo Yan would play the hero, saving Xia Siyu who first tries to break up the fight and later joins in the brawl, ending with the two of them embracing and kissing. The script was straightforward, and the focus for Siyu today was¡ªpole dancing. Bo Yan also had his work cut out for him. Since there was a fight scene, the production team had arranged for vocal and guitar teachers as well as a martial arts instructor for him. Their training was separate, with Xia Siyu practicing pole dancing in one room while Bo Yan received martial arts guidance on the other side. Bo Yan had learned martial arts before, and though he hadn¡¯t practiced it in a long time, his regular exercise allowed him to catch on quickly with just a bit of instruction. After completing his martial arts training, he wanted to practice guitar in the music room. As he passed by the dance studio, he saw Xia Siyu practicing. He knew Xia Siyu could dance. What he didn¡¯t know was how well she could dance¡ªa pole dance. Pole dancing requires flexibility as well as strength¡ªand not just any strength, but full-body strength, involving the legs, waist, and arms. The dance instructor taught her several basic moves. Had she been unable to learn them, during the actual shooting they could have used a Weiya harness. But after briefly practicing, she quickly got the hang of it, locking her hands and knees firmly around the pole, keeping her head steady while twisting her waist and hips with suppleness. A simple wave, a toss of the head, and that cold expression could instantly captivate the audience. ¡°l didn¡¯t expect Xia Siyu to have such a strong foundation in dance, and her expression management is also up to par. It seems we might not need the Weiya after all,¡± said Wang Ju, who was also passing by and had stopped to watch Siyu with Bo Yan. Bo Yan didn¡¯t say a word, just quietly watched her tumbling, twisting, and dancing unrestrainedly. For some reason, that cold expression of hers seemed to take him back in time.. Chapter 66 - Chapter 66: Chapter 66: Playing Against Each Other (4) Chapter 66: Chapter 66: Playing Against Each Other (4) Translator: 549690339 Actually, at the beginning, she wasn¡¯t as domineering and immersed in blood and violence as she is now, but because she had gotten used to being scolded online, she seemed heartless and carefree. Back then, she appeared lively and confident on the surface, always pushing forward, but most of the time, she was cold, rejecting others with an arrogant aloofness. It was very similar to the role of the tavern owner she played in this movie. Bo Yan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. It wasn¡¯t just his gaze, his fists also clenched quietly. ¡ªAnd moreover, he didn¡¯t understand why she had dumped him back then. Why she had left without saying goodbye. The pole dance instructor¡¯s progress was alarmingly fast. Originally, Wang Ju had even planned for her to spend at least two days learning here, but to his surprise, she had fully mastered it in just halt a day. The last time Wang Ju and Bo Yan came to watch, they only saw her take off her shoes and climb up and down the pole with ease, her movements graceful. Those unaware would think she truly learned it in a nightclub, even the dance teacher was stunned, ¡°Your flexibility and strength are really good, and the timing and placement of your force are also spot on. Did you spend a long time learning dance before? Without a solid foundation, it¡¯s really not possible to master this so quickly.¡± Unexpectedly, Xia Siyu didn¡¯t arrogantly nod and say, ¡°I¡¯m just that awesome.¡± She simply bowed her head slightly and laughed softly, ¡°Is that so?¡± Bo Yan narrowed his eyes, but it was Wang Ju who stepped forward with a smile, ¡°Very good, this session was well done. Since you¡¯ve learned it, we can start preparing over here as well.¡± Xia Siyu nodded, not wasting any more words. Because she was also involved in the fighting, the martial arts instructor had taught her a bit as well. The official entry into the plot¡¯s rhythm. Yesterday¡¯s rehearsal was a scene without dialogue, entirely relying on the expressions, gestures, and movements of the two people to enact. But today was different, Bo Yan had to sing, and she had to dance. Then a conflict arose, a fight broke out, and both had lines. After yesterday¡¯s adjustment, these two were indeed no longer so averse to physical contact. Even with a large group of extras watching, their performances were fearless. Bo Yan started with playing and singing, Xia Siyu danced around the pole. Then she jumped down, treated him as the pole, her leg brushing against his, her arms hooking around his neck, her face close to his¡­ Everything was harmonious until the troublemakers appeared. The leader was a bald man with a tattoo on his arm. He took a liking to the tavern owner, and then Bo Yan stepped forward, clashing with the opponent. Throughout, Xia Siyu tried to break up the fight but to no avail. Bo Yan charged to the forefront, and when she couldn¡¯t stop the fight, she too joined the fray. At first, there were no problems, especially since the bald actor had specifically rehearsed with Bo Yan, asking him to go easy with the punches. Unexpectedly, Xia Siyu really smashed a bottle against the bald man¡¯s head with a fierce blow, knocking him out cold on the spot. Wang Ju initially thought it was a stage effect and didn¡¯t call cut, not until the scene of Bo Yan and Xia Siyu kissing was over and the bald man still hadn¡¯t woken up. The scene suddenly descended into chaos. Luckily, the bottle used was specially made, so although it hurt a lot, it didn¡¯t lead to a filming accident, and the bald man quickly came to, Xia Siyu apologized, her gaze slightly cold. Bo Yan remained silent throughout, until after the shooting ended, a phone call came through. He glanced at the name on the caller display: Father-in-law.. Chapter 67 - Chapter 67: Chapter 67 Palm (1) Chapter 67: Chapter 67 Palm (1) Translator: 549690339 Bo Yan glanced at Xia Siyu, who seemed to have recovered and hurriedly went to apologize to the bald actor. He, holding his phone, walked straight to his own makeup room, closed the door tightly, and then spoke, ¡°Dad, this is Bo Yan.¡± ¡°Bo Yan, how is Siyu doing?¡± A gentle voice of a middle-aged man came from the other end of the phone. Bo Yan cracked the door of the makeup room slightly and looked out. Xia Siyu appeared to have finished her apology and regained her composure, looking down at the script, ¡°She¡¯s doing quite well.¡± The person on the other end was not moved by his formulaic ¡°everything is fine¡± response, and after a pause, he said, ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve read some news recently¡­¡± With an expressionless face, Bo Yan answered just as mechanically, ¡°Just rumors, the reporters write nonsense.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that, if there are any false reports, I¡¯ll have someone suppress them,¡± Xia Youbiao replied casually before asking, ¡°Actually, what I want to know is how she¡¯s really doing lately.¡± Bo Yan looked at Xia Siyu¡¯s untroubled demeanor, ¡°She should be doing not too bad.¡¯ But having said that, the image of her recent cold gaze suddenly flashed across his mind. However, he couldn¡¯t say anything negative about her in front of a parent, so he remained silent. ¡°As long as she¡¯s fine, that¡¯s good,¡± Xia Youbiao sighed several times, and was about to continue but then fell silent, ¡°In three months, your grandfather will be celebrating his eightieth birthday. Will you both come together, or¡­¡± He paused here and added, ¡°Sorry, it¡¯s because I argued with her last time, and she blocked me. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have felt comfortable calling you about Bo Yan frowned, took a breath, and tried to sound calm, ¡°That¡¯s not a problem, Dad. I¡¯ll have her come. We will definitely attend.¡± ¡°Good, good, good,¡± Xia Youbiao said three ¡°good¡± in a row and then hesitated, not knowing what else to say. After a long silence, he asked again, ¡°What about your relationship¡­ after all, you¡¯ve been married for three years. Of course, Dad knows that you both are actors and understands your pursuit of careers. You¡¯re both adults, making your own considerations; 1 won¡¯t rush you to have children or anything. 1 just hope that you can also consider your family.¡± Bo Yan listened silently to his father¡¯s words, and after a long while, he nodded, humming a soft ¡°mm-hmm¡± through his nose. ¡°If she has done anything overboard, let me apologize to you on her behalf. If it wasn¡¯t for the family situation, she wouldn¡¯t have¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s not her fault,¡± Bo Yan said, seemingly defending her, but his tone was clearly a bit impatient. Xia Youbiao was taken aback, then nodded, ¡°Understood.¡¯ After saying that, Xia Youbiao hung up the phone, reverting to the decisive Xia in a second as he did so. Bo Yan didn¡¯t bother with too many details. His phone buzzed a few times, and when he checked, it was a message from his uncle. He ignored it, switched off the screen, and put the phone in his pocket. The chaos outside had been sorted out, and he followed suit and walked out. Outside, Xia Siyu knew nothing of all this. The bald actor came back after a rest and continued with the scene, which still had areas that were not passable, so they went on to reshoot. After composing herself, everyone delved into the storyline in a second. This time, Xia Siyu managed to control her emotions well and earnestly immersed herself in the filming process.. Chapter 68 - Chapter 68: Chapter 68 Palm (2) Chapter 68: Chapter 68 Palm (2) Translator: 549690339 Xia Siyu felt that in the past few days, Bo Yan had been acting a bit strange, always watching her. Maybe it was because Wang Ju scolded them every day, but she and Bo Yan usually took several hours to sync up before gradually falling into harmony. Yet once she returned to her room to rest, and faced him again the next morning, any semblance of chemistry vanished at the sight of his face. Wang Ju was speechless and could only repeat the process, urging the two to find their connection again and again. In the past, actors often took leave during filming. After all, stars usually have packed schedules, and even if they¡¯re booked for three months on a set, they can¡¯t always stay for the full duration; industry norms allow for the occasional leave for other commitments. Of course, no director wants their actors to take time off during their shoot. Initially, he would have suspected Xia Siyu of deviant behavior¡ªafter all, she had a reputation for being unprofessional.¡± It was rumored that during the filming of a certain movie, she had signed on for three months but took leave thirty times, driving the director and the entire crew up the wall. But to his surprise, after over a month of filming, Xia Siyu turned out to be the most compliant, never taking a single day off. During movie shoots, the camera work is fairly focused. Some shots are right up in the actor¡¯s face. With makeup and hair done, the camera is pointed straight at your face, making you deliver lines, enabling close-ups, and revealing various layers of your performance. Your acting prowess is shown through the tiniest nuances in your expressions, gestures, and even the details of your facial muscles. Wang Ju was a director who insisted on perfection, sometimes not accepting a take until after over 20 NGs. It wasn¡¯t always because the acting was poor; if a shot wasn¡¯t quite what he envisioned, he would call ¡°cut.¡± Unless it was a scene with a large crowd and on a tight schedule, he would push for quick approvals, otherwise even Bo Yan would be asked to reshoot scenes over and over. A scene that made a strong impression on Xia Siyu was one where her character realizes the male lead¡¯s affection is shifting; he starts to show interest in the female lead and becomes distant towards her. Her character¡¯s response is to dance alone in an empty space. After rehearsing, Wang Ju made her dance for five grueling hours, longer than the infamous kiss scene on the boat. At first, she thought it might be because she missed some detail in her solo dance, meticulously refining each movement and obsessing over the specifics. But take after take, Wang Ju stubbornly wouldn¡¯t approve, continuing from noon until the sunset. As the bloody remnants of the sun drenched her body, Xia Siyu finally broke down. Especially since today she was filming alone; both Bo Yan and Shang Feifei had taken leave to attend a Weibo Star event. She had been invited too, but preferred staying back and grinding through the shoot. But after Wang Ju made her dance for five straight hours, without anything to eat except for some water, Xia Siyu, who had managed to keep her temper for two months, reached her breaking point. She furiously threw down her hairband and roared, ¡®Director Mang, what do you want from me? My legs are cramping from all this jumping!¡¯ Wang Ju looked at her sweaty face and the steam rising from her head due to the intense dance, then nodded, ¡°One more time. Let¡¯s try to nail it in this last one.¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s temper flared, and she shouted back, ¡°If it¡¯s not perfect, just pretend it is! I¡¯m done! I¡¯d rather pay the breach of contract fee than continue filming!¡¯ Chapter 69 - Chapter 69: Chapter 69 Palm (3) Chapter 69: Chapter 69 Palm (3) Translator: 549690339 Wang Ju, usually so serious, was rarely seen smiling; they hurried to shoot another take. And, just like last time she filmed a kissing scene with Bo Yan, they didn¡¯t let her put on makeup. Instead, they had her continue dancing with sweat-drenched hair and smudged makeup. Xia Siyu complained, but she still danced with dedication. After she finished, Wang Ju actually nodded, ¡°OK.¡± She came over, ¡°l have to see for myself why you approved this take and what makes it different from the others.¡¯ She didn¡¯t even take off her costume, sprinting over eight hundred meters. The footage behind the camera hadn¡¯t been edited yet; only the raw effect after camera movement could be seen. Xia Siyu watched a segment of the last version she completed. Due to the long practice, her movements were not as precise, her face and body were sweaty, her makeup had smeared, and her energy was depleted. The lighting hadn¡¯t been done well either, with only a few strands of sunlight seeping through from outside the window¡ªall from the setting sun. But with one look, she got why Wang Ju wanted to film it this way, why he let her dance for five hours here. The afterglow of the setting sun was just one of the reasons. The sweat on her face from earnestly practicing, the stiffness of her body, and the steam rising from her head, these were what Wang Ju was looking for. Muscle memory is something you can¡¯t fool anyone with¡ªthe sweat that fell to the ground as she leaped was visible to the audience. It was something that couldn¡¯t be faked with post-production or visual effects. But still, Xia Siyu had to argue, ¡°Director Wang, if next time you want me to have this kind of sweaty performance, you might as well tell me in advance. I can just run on a treadmill for an hour outside, and that would be enough.¡± Another rumor about Xia Siyu is her ¡°diva behavior.¡± Wang Ju initially wasn¡¯t too worried about this. First, he had command of the set, and second, with Bo Yan and Shang Feifei around, both had higher status than hers, and she was only a secondary female lead, after all. It was said she had attended an event where the organizers didn¡¯t meet her standards. She turned around right on the spot, preferring to pay a penalty fee rather than agree to continue. Rumor also had it that when it came to eating and drinking, she only consumed brands she preferred. She even complained about the set meals not being up to par, hired a chef, and had the freshest ingredients delivered from the city to cook for herself. After finishing the part where Xia Siyu danced, it was time for dinner. But it seemed like the chef had gone shopping today. After accepting the water Wei Jingjing handed her, Xia Siyu just stood silently on the side, Wang Ju and the rest of the crew took a brief break to get their box meals. Seeing Xia Siyu, he smiled and offered, ¡°Do you want us to bring you something?¡± Xia Siyu shook her head, ¡°No need, I¡¯m on a diet.¡± Right after she finished speaking, her stomach growled. It was normal for a female actress to be a bit delicate. Wang Ju had encountered pickier ones before, and as long as it didn¡¯t affect the shooting, he couldn¡¯t be bothered to care, ¡°We still have scenes to shoot tonight; don¡¯t let it hold you up.¡± Xia Siyu nodded, holding the script for the next scene. But before she had read two pages, she received a message: the meal delivery van had overturned on the road, and it looked like todays meal wouldn¡¯t make it to her mouth. But this was a filming studio set up by the film company, located far from downtown with only a few modest restaurants around. On a normal day, she could withstand the urge, but today she had danced all afternoon and had to continue into the evening. Having just refused Director Wang, she felt too embarrassed to join the rush for boxed meals, let alone dare to patronize the nearby dive restaurants. At this moment, the first thing that popped into her head was, surprisingly, the sandwich Bo Yan made.. Chapter 70 - Chapter 70: Chapter 70 Palm (4) Chapter 70: Chapter 70 Palm (4) Translator: 549690339 Especially when the tantalizing aroma from the boxed meals next door wafted over, she couldn¡¯t help but swallow her saliva ungracefully. Wei Jingjing saw that her neck was stretched out so long, her eyes almost dripping with desire: ¡°How about I go to the restaurant next door and buy you something to eat?¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s neck snapped back the next second: ¡°No need.¡± Her gaze immediately became as undisturbed as an ancient well, pretending she didn¡¯t care about anything: ¡°You forgot what happened when I first transferred to the company,¡± she said. Wei Jingjing snapped back to reality. At that time, it was the first big smear campaign against Xia Siyu, who went from an up-and-coming starlet to being treated like coal. Their team had no experience, having just transitioned from a previous agency to Huixing, during the lowest point in her life. She had just signed a variety show and after only one day, she found out someone had put something in her water. It wasn¡¯t poison, just hormones. Hormones are colorless and tasteless, and if it weren¡¯t for the fact that due to being unwell she had gone to the hospital, where during a checkup she accidentally spilled water on a pH test strip, she might never have discovered that someone had put hormones in her drink. Such a thing as hormones, not to mention the adverse effects of long-term excessive use on the body, just the biggest side effect for female stars¡ªweight gain¡ªit was practically the grim reaper for celebrities. The team was terrified and quietly checked Xia Siyu¡¯s meals. Since the stars¡¯ meal boxes were different from those of other crew members, the target was easy to find. Sure enough, they contained the same substances. Discovering such a serious issue, Xia Siyu immediately stormed off to the show¡¯s production team. The problem was that the team had just been formed; every other place was under surveillance, but alas, the logistics team wasn¡¯t. Furthermore, the production team was a mixed bag, and at that time, she was continuously slandered, her reputation having plummeted from the top. Huixing Company had just been established and was extremely cautious. Her influence was small, at most causing a commotion within the production team, who merely promised a thorough investigation and hoped she would not spread the word, wanting to keep her silent. Xia Siyu had never tolerated such humiliation before. She turned on her heel and left, choosing to pay the penalty rather than continue filming. The production team didn¡¯t dare to publicize the incident, but even though they remained silent, other stars who participated in the show quietly spread the word. They accused her of being unprofessional and diva-like, a narrative she couldn¡¯t be bothered to correct. But from then on, whether she was filming on location or attending events, she only ate food made by a chef hired by her own team or drank water they provided. As for other bad reputations, let them talk¡ªafter all, having a label such as ¡°diva not to be messed with¡± stuck to her could at least intimidate others and prevent those with ulterior motives from daring to harm her. ¡°It¡¯s fine, 1 1 m not eating supper anyway, which is good for my diet. Didn¡¯t you say I gained several pounds over the two months since I joined the crew?¡± Xia Siyu indeed had a physique prone to gaining weight and easily swelling up; she looked a tad plumper than when she first joined. Wei Jingjing fell silent. But three hours later, Xia Siyu was so hungry it felt like her heart was being clawed at, almost wishing she could gnaw on grass. Turning around, she saw Wei Jingjing sitting comfortably to one side. Having just spoken harshly, she was too embarrassed to go back on her words and could only hope to finish filming as soon as possible so she could return to the hotel to see what food was available. But after only one take, she saw Bo Yan posting pictures of a banquet on his social media circle, which annoyed her even more.. She commented directly below: ¡°Eating so much, why don¡¯t you just die from overeating!¡¯ Chapter 71 - Chapter 71: Chapter 71 Cumin Lamb (1) Chapter 71: Chapter 71 Cumin Lamb (1) Translator: 549690339 After she left that comment, she didn¡¯t think much of it and simply put her phone away, continuing with her next shot. It was Song Fengzhi who reminded Bo Yan that he was trending again, which made him realize that Xia Siyu had left a message for him. The reception this time was organized by the hosts as a follow-up to theWeibo event. Most of the photos he posted were casual work photos taken by Song Fengzhi. Friends Circle was a bit more private though, as it was composed of friends from within the industry. Such professional interactions were perfectly fine, and he hadn¡¯t tried to cater to anyone. With his current status, he had no need to stoop to please others. He would like what he enjoyed and wouldn¡¯t comment on what he didn¡¯t. Little did he know, Xia Siyu would come here and cause trouble for him. The Friends Circle, indeed, was more private than M/eibo, with less interaction from fans and haters and mostly comprised of industry peers and friends. But it was precisely because there were industry insiders that some would surreptitiously take screenshots and leak them. There might not be a public gallery for fans in Friends Circle, but that didn¡¯t mean there weren¡¯t any on Weibo. Xia Siyu¡¯s collaboration with Bo Yan on ¡°Storm¡¯! had already been mocked everywhere. People said she contradicted herself, accused her of snatching Li Yiru¡¯s opportunity, and claimed she rode on Bo Yan¡¯s coattails only to turn against him. Bo Yan¡¯s fans were thoroughly disgusted, and to make matters worse, the movie refused set visits. At the same time as they were repulsed, they also felt a tinge of fear¡ª After all, Xia Siyu was incredibly beautiful, and many male artists who had worked with her had been involved in rumors. Even their virtuous Teacher Bo was not immune to the clutches of this siren. After eagerly awaiting for two months since joining the production, the day came when Xia Siyu posted that message on Friends Circle. While Bo Yan¡¯s fans were filled with righteous indignation, they also breathed a sigh of relief, especially since Xia Siyu!s post was in Friends Circle, signifying a clear break, leaving no need to worry about any secret affair between the two. But even with their relief, the fans were outraged. What had Bo Yan ever done to deserve such insults from her? Thus, without either party¡¯s knowledge, Bo Yan¡¯s fans rallied once again, and this time, not even Song Fengzhi¡¯s attempts to contact the fan club leaders could stem the fury of the multitude of fans. They furiously left comments on all of her 841 Weibo posts from the very beginning, controlling the comments section. They remembered Bo Yan¡¯s previous admonitions to the fan club, forbidding them from insulting rivals with vulgarities or targeting female relatives. So the comments were uniformly filled with ¡°Xia Siyu, damn you,¡± even trending on Weibo. Fortunately, Xia Siyu had previously set a restriction that only those who followed her for more than seven days could leave comments, which blocked a large number of crude remarks. So, many fans silently followed her for over seven days just to leave the message: ¡°l followed you for seven days just to curse you out.¡± With the online commotion getting so big, Wei Jingjing was certainly aware of it. But since Xia Siyu was still filming, she didn¡¯t want to disturb her, so she first contacted Qin Baizhou, who decisively banned comments on Xia Siyu¡¯s Weibo, quelling much of the noise. Enraged fans then flooded her public page, and each comment was so bitterly crafted it would make one marvel at the depth and breadth of the Chinese language! While Wei Jingjing was busy handling public relations, a call came in. It was from Song Fengzhi.. Once she answered, however, the voice on the other end was Bo Yan¡¯s: ¡°Where is Xia Siyu?¡± Chapter 72 - Chapter 72: Chapter 72 Cumin Lamb (2) Chapter 72: Chapter 72 Cumin Lamb (2) Translator: 549690339 Wei Jingjing was startled; she hadn¡¯t expected Bo Yan to call her using Song Fengzhi¡¯s phone. Then she remembered, she didn¡¯t have Bo Yan¡¯s cell phone number, only Song Fengzhi¡¯s. Xia Siyu had just been mocked to high heaven, and many people were calling her. She simply set her phone to block incoming calls from unknown numbers. Perhaps that¡¯s how she missed a call from Bo Yan. She hurriedly answered, ¡°Still shooting¡ª¡± Before she could finish saying ¡°scene,¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s solo part had been recorded, and she came down, feeling a bit weak due to not having eaten much: want to eat¡ªI need water.¡¯ On the other side, Bo Yan seemed to have heard Xia Siyu¡¯s voice and directly ordered Wei Jingjing, ¡°Give her the phone.¡± Wei Jingjing obediently shoved the phone into Xia Siyu¡¯s hand, who then answered, ¡°Hello, who is this?¡± Bo Yan frowned slightly on the other end, ¡°Do you know what message you just posted?¡± Xia Siyu might have been truly famished, her brain a bit hazy. Holding the phone, she looked down and asked Wei Jingjing, ¡°What did I post?¡± Wei Jingjing had a spare phone and quickly pulled it out to turn on. She deliberately showed Xia Siyu the response she had posted and added, ¡°This is it; it just made it to the hot search. Also trending is that photo of you putting on weight recently, where the onlookers mocked you about looking pregnant.¡± Xia Siyu, having been battered by online violence before, didn¡¯t care about this minor uproar, even making a nonchalant comment, ¡°Only two entries in the top ten hot searches? This generation of netizens is lacking.¡± She turned back to respond to Bo Yan, her tone was as blunt as always, ¡°l posted it; what about it?¡± Bo Yan took a deep breath. He was still at the networking event, and his resting room was close to the elevator. There were many people coming and going, so he couldn¡¯t speak loudly. When it quieted down outside the door, he slowly began, ¡°So why exactly did you post that comment?¡± ¡°I¡¯m hungry.¡± Xia Siyu on the other end said just three simple words, and he was suddenly speechless, ¡°l danced for five hours this afternoon and have been shooting until now. I haven¡¯t had dinner. I¡¯m hungry. Is it only okay for you to enjoy delicious food and spicy drinks, and I can¡¯t even complain? I¡¯m annoyed. I want to eat cumin lamb, I want to eat barbecue, I want fried chicken, I want beer! I want to find someone to drink and eat skewers with!¡± ¡°l¡­¡± Bo Yan had just begun to say ¡°I¡± when the call was cut off from the other end. Holding the phone, his brows furrowed deeper. The door to the resting room was knocked open, and Bo Yan turned back to see Song Fengzhi returning. He said, ¡°Bo, it¡¯s taken care of; they¡¯re going to withdraw it from the hot search and slowly decrease its priority. But pulling something from the hot search costs a lot more than getting it on there, at least three times as much.¡¯ Song Fengzhi was still watching Bo Yan as he said this, actually a bit puzzled; after all, the hot search had nothing unpleasant regarding Bo Yan, and if anyone should be withdrawing it, it should be Xia Siyu¡¯s team, not his concern at all. Could it be that their Bo really had something going on with Xia Siyu? ¡°You¡­¡± He had barely spoken a word when Song Fengzhi immediately looked up, ¡°Bo, is there anything else?¡± Bo Yan¡¯s brows were tightly furrowed, and after a long while, he finally asked, ¡°Do you know where to find good cumin lamb? And things like barbecue, beer, and such.¡¯ Song Fengzhi was a bit stunned; he had just seen Bo Yan specifically praise the chef¡¯s cooking as not bad, ¡°There is, but didn¡¯t you already have dinner?¡± Chapter 73 - Chapter 73: Chapter 73 Cumin Lamb (3) Chapter 73: Chapter 73 Cumin Lamb (3) Translator: 549690339 ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s just¡­ maybe I¡¯m a bit tired today and want to eat something.¡± He¡¯s tired? Song Fengzhi gave an incredulous look. Bo Yan had the day off for activities in Yancheng, taking a break for the entire day. To maintain a good condition, he slept in, got ready in the afternoon, and drove there, looking totally relaxed, much more so than on filming days. How could he be tired? But Song Fengzhi didn¡¯t think too much about it. If Bo Yan wanted to eat, let him eat. Although actors shouldn¡¯t consume high-calorie foods, an occasional indulgence wasn¡¯t an issue, and Bo Yan always managed his diet well. ¡°So should I go buy it? We¡¯re getting cumin lamb, barbecue, and beer, right? What kind of barbecue? Any specific beer brand?¡± Bo Yan said offhandedly, ¡°Just see what¡¯s there and get whatever.¡± ¡°Hold on,¡± Song Fengzhi had just turned to leave when Bo Yan stopped him, instructing with an unfazed expression, ¡°Remember, the first thing about the place you choose is it has to be clean and hygienic, then comes the taste. Also, nothing too spicy or greasy, I¡¯m worried about stomach issues, and they¡¯re hard to digest.¡± Song Fengzhi nodded, ready to go, when Bo Yan called out to him again, ¡°Wait, buy a bit more, like enough for two or three people, I¡¯ll take it to the set to see if anyone wants some late-night food.¡± Song Fengzhi paused, wondering how much he would have to buy if he were getting snacks for the whole crew. There might not even be enough at a whole food stall: ¡°How much¡­ should I buy?¡± ¡°Enough for two, go on,¡± Bo Yan finally made up his mind and sent him off. ¡°Then, Brother Bo, I¡¯m going to place the order,¡± said Song Fengzhi, perplexed. Bo Yan, on the other hand, was certain, having just glanced at the group chat for the crew. Aside from his own affairs, the other crew members were already planning to grab late-night snacks after wrapping up. Even if he brought back food, they probably wouldn¡¯t want it. Luckily, the Weibo event was in Yancheng; otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t be convenient to go back late at night. ¡°Come back,¡± Bo Yan spoke up once more, leaving Song Fengzhi speechless, ¡°Brother Bo, if you have something to say, can you just tell me all at once?¡± ¡°Are you planning to directly order food for delivery? Where are you setting the delivery address?¡± Song Fengzhi looked confused, ¡°Isn¡¯t it Qingcheng Apartment?¡± The location was quite close to Qingcheng Apartment, allowing him to return home and rest at night, then head early in the morning to the suburban filming location. After all, the set was too far, and there were no food options nearby. Bo Yan frowned, ¡°Never mind, don¡¯t buy it.¡± Song Fengzhi was taken aback, ¡°So we¡¯re not eating?¡± That was probably for the best, since late-night snacks aren¡¯t exactly good for you. Bo Yan got up and walked out, ¡°I¡¯ll go and buy it myself, then head straight to the set. Better to rest there. Filming is most important.¡± On the other side, Xia Siyu shoved her phone towards Wei Jingjing and gasped for breath while sitting beside her. She was already hungry and yelling for so long had made her brain a bit oxygen-deprived. After wrapping up, other crew members went for a meal together. Since Siyu had previously declared she wouldn¡¯t join, and also worried about the cleanliness of outside food, she had no choice but to take a car back to the hotel. Her stomach rumbled all the way, as Wei Jingjing helped her deal with the aftermath. The trending topic had been taken down, but they still had to clean up the forums and social media. Siyu had been shooting here for two months, with the task at hand nearing its end in a few days. The remaining half a month would be mainly spent on location shooting. Once that was done, she would immediately fly abroad for a reality show, with a very packed schedule. Arriving at the hotel, Siyu suddenly spotted a familiar car ¨C Bo Yan¡¯s Maybach.. Chapter 74 - Chapter 74: Chapter 74 Cumin Lamb (4) Chapter 74: Chapter 74 Cumin Lamb (4) Translator: 549690339 Wasn¡¯t he supposed to go back to the city to rest today? Why did he come all this way here? Xia Siyu had just pondered for a second before she immediately became deflated the next. Forget thinking, thinking takes energy too, and right now she was so hungry her stomach was stuck to her spine¡ªlet alone thinking, even her brain would rather shut down to conserve energy. However, when she came out of the elevator to go back to her room, she didn¡¯t even see the person before she smelled the fragrance wafting through the corridor from afar. It was barbecue! And it was the scent of cumin lamb! Xia Siyu¡¯s footsteps became joyful in a second, until she saw the person holding the takeout box¡ªit was Song Fengzhi. Of course, next to Song Fengzhi was that Bo Yan. But Xia Siyu¡¯s gaze stayed fixated on the takeout box, completely ignoring Bo Yan, and not caring why he appeared here at this moment when he clearly should have gone home. Perhaps her gaze was too fervent, as if she wanted to stare a hole through the takeout box, Bo Yan glanced indifferently and took the food box from Song Fengzhi¡¯s hands. Xia Siyu¡¯s eyes followed the bag, showing a stray dogs eager expression and with an unusually sweet smile asked, ¡°What¡¯s this? Is it delicious? Where did you buy it?¡± Bo Yan didn¡¯t even bother with her, swiping his card to enter his room and then shutting the door instantly. ¡°What kind of person is that?¡± Just because I insulted you once? Well, I was cursed by your fans all night, who¡¯s going to apologize to me? The most irritating thing was that he bought cumin lamb, her favorite! She fixed her hair with an affected gesture, strutted in her high heels, and tossed her head as she walked towards her door. But as she was closing it, her stomach ¡°gurgled¡± noticeably, she was famished to the point of exploding. As soon as she entered her room, her phone rang. It was the crew¡¯s group chat, and they were discussing where to eat. Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t be bothered, she just put down her phone, started to remove her makeup, wash up, and get ready to rest. However, just after she finished washing up, the doorbell rang. Thinking it was Wei Jingjing looking for her, Xia Siyu opened the door in her bathrobe, drying her hair. The door opened, and standing there was the expressionless Bo Yan. She was taken aback and just asked, ¡°Why are you here?¡± Bo Yan didn¡¯t answer, but, not far behind him, someone knocking on another door could be heard, it was Song Fengzhi¡¯s voice: ¡°Do you want some midnight snacks? Bo brought food and beer for you guys.¡± On this floor, all the residents were actors, and it was basically door-to-door service. The reply came from a male extra; he chuckled: ¡°What a coincidence, I just had some midnight snacks. If I¡¯d known Teacher Bo was treating, I would¡¯ve saved some room.¡¯ Song Fengzhi replied, ¡°Hey, I got back a bit late. Take the beer then, I¡¯ve delivered to the others as well.¡¯ Bo Yan looked at Xia Siyu, Xia Siyu looked back at him, then she pulled her bathrobe up warily. Bo Yan, ignoring her reaction, just lifted the bag slightly: ¡°Midnight snack.¡± Xia Siyu was so desperate just now and he refused, but now that he brought it to her, she wasn¡¯t interested! ¡°It¡¯s too late, I need to lose weight.¡± Bo Yan immediately turned around, not staying even a second longer, as if knocking on her door to deliver food was nothing more than a routine task. As he turned around, Xia Siyu intercepted the bag from his hand. She even lifted her chin, saying with a proud air, ¡°Since you personally brought it to my door¡­ I¡¯ll give you some face..¡± Chapter 75 - Chapter 75: Chapter 75: Blocking the Door (1) Chapter 75: Chapter 75: Blocking the Door (1) Translator: 549690339 Then she immediately snatched the bag and ran inside, even preparing to close the door behind her. Just as the door was about to close, Bo Yan swiftly extended his arm and firmly held the door open. Xia Siyu turned back in confusion, just as he lifted his leg and squeezed into the room before her. The door closed right behind his heel. Xia Siyu looked at him with a puzzled expression, ¡°What are you doing coming in?¡± Bo Yan slowly glanced at her once, and after noticing that the opening of her bathrobe was a bit large, he averted his eyes again, ¡°This place is half mine.¡± Xia Siyu had clearly noticed the expression on his face when he looked away, and promptly adjusted her clothes before looking back at him with confusion, ¡°Didn¡¯t you have dinner already?¡± Bo Yan walked straight into the room, glanced at the messy, cluttered floor, frowned, and sat down in a clean spot by the bed, ¡°Midnight snack.¡± Xia Siyu held up the bag, which was indeed a bit much; she had specifically handed out the barbecue, excluding the cumin lamb. Bo Yan didn¡¯t mind, placed the items on the table, and just opened a can of beer. Xia Siyu was starving. In no time, she tore open the bag and started pulling out skewers of barbecue, only to take a bite and immediately complain, ¡°It¡¯s gotten a bit cold.¡± Bo Yan had bought the barbecue in the city center, driving back took over an hour. Before that, he had specifically purchased a thermal box to keep the food in, taking it out of the car when he arrived. But even so, it certainly wasn¡¯t the same as the taste fresh off the charcoal Bo Yan slightly frowned, snatched the chicken wing she had just half-bitten, and took a bite nonchalantly, not at all minding that she had already eaten from it. And that bite, he took it exactly where she had just gnawed, chewing gracefully. Then he looked up, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to eat, then don¡¯t.¡± ¡°That¡¯s mine!¡± Xia Siyu didn¡¯t mind either; after all, in the film crew, everyone often grabbed food carelessly, and sometimes they shared one cup for drinking water. Although she wouldn¡¯t dare, she didn¡¯t find anything strange about it. It¡¯s more fun to compete for food. Afraid that Bo Yan would snatch all the good stuff, she quickly operated with both hands, her left hand holding a skewer and her right using chopsticks to pick up the cumin lamb she wanted the most. She was really too hungry, like a wolf at four in the afternoon, her eyes turning green. But as soon as she tasted something delicious, her eyes happily narrowed. Bo Yan looked disdainfully at the way she ate from the side, frowning more and more, leaning his back further and further away. Eating too fast can cause choking, and sure enough, Xia Siyu immediately choked on the chili, her eyes beginning to water rapidly. She quickly turned to find the beer, hoping to take a sip to wash it down. Just as she popped open the tab of the beer can and was bringing it to her mouth, Bo Yan intercepted it from her hand. He took the beer can away and from the bag, he found her another can of zero-calorie soda and put it in her hands. He drank the beer she had opened himself, ¡°Drink this.¡± Xia Siyu tried to snatch the beer back, but he calmly replied, ¡°Drinking makes your face swollen. You¡¯re already ugly, drinking will make you look even uglier.¡± The nerve of him, I didn¡¯t dislike you, but you start disliking me! Just as she was about to get up, a bit of cumin slid off her chopsticks, and by ill fortune, landed right in her cleavage. The thing was, Bo Yan instinctively stretched out his hand to brush away the seasoning from her chest.. Chapter 76 - Chapter 76: Chapter 76: Blocking the Door (2) Chapter 76: Chapter 76: Blocking the Door (2) Translator: 549690339 Bo Yan¡¯s fingers were slender and well-defined, with a bit of coolness at the tips. Perhaps to help her brush off the dirt, he applied a slight force with his fingertips as he swept over it. Xia Siyu visibly noticed that as he patted her, her chest also bounced slightly. It was like a breeze caressing willows, ruffling the surface of a spring pond. The key point was that after he gently patted her, he also pulled out a tissue from beside and stuffed it into her hand. Then, he respectfully lowered his gaze and softly said, ¡°Sorry.¡± Before he apologized, Xia Siyu was indeed a bit explosive. No one had ever dared to be so presumptuous before¡ªthe last presumptuous one was also him, but back then, they were still in a relationship. Their relationship wasn¡¯t like that now; although living together, they both found each other disagreeable. Yet, with Bo Yan¡¯s seemingly sincere apology, all the anger she had seemed to be extinguished, stifled in her chest and uncomfortable for quite some time. If you argue with him, his clear apology would make you seem unreasonable. If you don¡¯t argue with him, he clearly took advantage, and you¡¯re left feeling uncomfortable. But Xia Siyu was still angry. Just as she was about to raise her hand, she realized she was holding the chicken wings he had bought. Forget it; indebtedness silences criticism¡ªshe¡¯d say one less harsh word today. She angrily turned her head to bite into a chicken wing, but after chewing twice, the food was tasteless, akin to chewing wax. Bo Yan couldn¡¯t say much more either, only turning his head to take a sip of alcohol. For a time, the room was somewhat quiet, with each of them sitting on opposite sides, neither speaking. After a while, Xia Siyu finished eating the chicken wings, and Bo Yan put down the beer. She immediately became alert: Although this big jerk usually acted all prim and proper, now, alone as a man and woman, who knew if he might suddenly lose control? She had just eaten a bowl of cumin lamb and ten chicken wings, and he had already taken advantage of her. How unfair! Xia Siyu said nothing outwardly, but her gaze remained vigilant. Like feeding a stray dog she was unfamiliar with, eating was necessary, but if you tried to pet it, she would show her teeth. Bo Yan did have something to say, and he asked directly, ¡°There¡¯s a little over a month left until my grandfather¡¯s eightieth birthday.¡± Her father, Xia Youbiao, had called him at the start of filming. Back then, the birthday was a long way off, and he had not mentioned it. But now, with just over a month to spare, after finishing the movie and attending the reality show, he estimated that he would travel abroad immediately the following day. By the time he returned to the country, it would be his grandfather¡¯s birthday. Ordinarily, he and Xia Siyu lived their separate lives, but for such significant family events, it was an unspoken agreement between them not to miss them. Xia Siyu was startled for a moment, her first reaction was to frown. She knew what attending a family gathering would entail¡ªtheir two families¡­ it was better left unmentioned. However, not attending such an occasion wasn¡¯t an option, so she nodded, ¡°Alright, when is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the middle of next month.¡¯ Xia Siyu nodded; she showed no signs of reluctance. Bo Yan also did not tell her about the call he had received from Xia Youbiao; the father-daughter relationship was always delicate, and he preferred not to express an opinion. Perhaps talking about family had led them back to silence. After some quiet time, Bo Yan stood up, ¡°I¡¯ll go back¡­¡± Before he could finish saying ¡°back,¡± there was suddenly a knock on the door. Then Director Wang Ju, the scriptwriter, and¡ªShang Feifei¡¯s voice: ¡°Is Siyu there, there¡¯s a change to tomorrow¡¯s scene,¡± The problem was, Bo Yan was still in her house! Chapter 77 - Chapter 77: Chapter 77: Blocking the Door (3) Chapter 77: Chapter 77: Blocking the Door (3) Translator: 549690339 Xia Siyu had never encountered such a situation before. Although she had been the subject of many scandals before, whether it be paparazzi taking secret photos or parties ¡°leaking¡± information, she was never surprised by even the most shocking images because they were never true to begin with. But with Bo Yan, if he really were her lover, she wouldn¡¯t hide or cover it up; she would openly admit it without any issue. The crux of the matter was that her relationship with Bo Yan¡ªwell, they couldn¡¯t exactly say there was nothing between them; they were husband and wife. That would be one thing if they were just a couple in name, but they had also had a brief past together. But now, the two of them mostly just felt awkward around each other. That, and the fact that their work situations meant they couldn¡¯t go public for the time being. Especially since today she even posted that message on her friends¡¯ circle, and got slammed into the trending searches. Now, although the trend had been removed, people were still mocking her, saying she looked ¡°pregnant with all that weight.¡± The relationship between the two of them wasn¡¯t that great to start with, yet they were being put together, and now they had been caught. Therefore, she panicked. On Bo Yan¡¯s side, his eyes raised slightly as he too seemed a bit surprised. But quickly, the surprise on his face was replaced by calmness, and there was even a slight hint of joy. However, as soon as he took a step, Xia Siyu grabbed his arm. Bo Yan was stunned, his body stiffening involuntarily for a moment, as he slowly turned to look at her. She, except when acting, was hardly willing to even give a smile, let alone physical contact. The next second, Xia Siyu quickly said to the door, ¡°Wait, wait a moment! I¡¯m in the restroom!¡± Then she hurriedly pulled Bo Yan towards the door. Bo Yan didn¡¯t move. Xia Siyu was taken aback for a moment, not knowing what he was thinking; she looked up at him. Bo Yan¡¯s expression was composed. After seeing the puzzled look in Xia Siyu¡¯s eyes, his gaze fell on her hand that was forcibly dragging him out, his eyes growing colder by degrees. The next second, without needing her to remind him, he moved his feet, ¡°Where do we hide?¡± Not only did he speak, but he also nonchalantly brushed off Xia Siyu!s hand with an air of disdain, backing away two steps. Xia Siyu thought for a moment, ¡°The closet!¡± It was the usual hiding spot for most people. Bo Yan didn¡¯t say much, went to the closet, and opened it¡ª Xia Siyu had been living here for two months, and although she didn¡¯t stay every day, she frequently came to rest. A female star, well, she could lack other things, but not clothes! The closet was filled to the brim with clothes of all sorts. Though she dutifully hadn¡¯t taken a single day off these two months, she went to the set every day to film, and it wouldn¡¯t be proper to wear the same clothes every day. Plus, sometimes she would sweat through her clothes during dance practice in the morning and again in the afternoon; she would need to change clothes three times in a day. The clothes were packed so tightly that there wasn¡¯t even a bit of space left. Bo Yan frowned, turning back with an incredulous expression. But before the two could communicate further, someone outside was knocking on the door. It was Wang Ju, ¡°Siyu, are you there?¡± ¡°Hold on, just a minute, just a minute!¡± Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t worry about that now; she quickly grabbed Bo Yan¡¯s hand, their fingers interlocked, and pulled him out. Bo Yan looked at her tightly clutched hand, said nothing, and unlike last time, he didn¡¯t resist. He was pulled along by her, following her footsteps straight into the restroom. The restroom here had a separate wet and dry area, with a shower, tub, and toilet partitioned by frosted glass, and the tub shielded by a curtain. She had no choice but to push him beside the tub and then pull the shower curtain closed.. Chapter 78 - Chapter 78: Chapter 78: Blocking the Door (4) Chapter 78: Chapter 78: Blocking the Door (4) Translator: 549690339 The knocking from outside grew more incessant, and Wang Ju could no longer hold back his urging, ¡°We¡¯ll just talk about the screenplay, it won¡¯t take too much time.¡¯ She glanced back at Bo Yan, who had securely stepped into the bathtub. She even took into account the sound of the toilet flushing. Just as she was about to open the door, Bo Yan called out once more, ¡°Come back. ¡± Xia Siyu was somewhat puzzled, thinking he had more instructions for her. But Bo Yan slightly furrowed his brow, said nothing, but reached out a hand- and first pulled out her bathrobe sash. Xia Siyu was startled. She had just come out after a bath, wearing nothing beneath her bathrobe, which Bo Yan had just brushed off the stains from. When Bo Yan pulled her bathrobe sash, her clothes instantly parted to each side. That meant, she was about to be completely exposed in front of Bo Yan! Xia Siyu instinctively tried to grab her clothing. If it weren¡¯t for his cold expression and the knocking at the door, she really might have erupted into a rage and started hitting him, you know? She¡¯d been in the industry for so many years; she wasn¡¯t that easy to bully! Bo Yan¡¯s fingers did not intentionally touch her body, nor did his gaze hold even a shred of prying or lewd emotion. He simply pulled the sash apart, gave it a firm tug, then tied it tightly again. The whole process took only a few seconds. After he tied the sash, he conscientiously stepped back, his gaze still as calm and undisturbed as ever, ¡°There are a lot of people outside.¡± His reminder suddenly made Xia Siyu realize the situation. Indeed, if it had been only him it would have been fine, but now there were many people outside. If her clothes suddenly opened again like before, her reputation would be utterly ruined in an instant. Wait, why was it ¡°fine if only he was there¡±? But Xia Siyu didn¡¯t have time to ponder much. She turned around, immediately closed the bathroom door, and then hurried to put on a bra and a tight-fitting tank top. The door opened, and the first to come in was Wang Ju, followed by the screenwriter and Shang Feifei¡¯s team. Wang Ju and Shang Feifei were here to discuss minor adjustments to the movie¡¯s screenplay. Generally, if there are changes during filming, the screenwriter will adjust in tandem with the crew, but the will of both actors involved must also be coordinated; changes can¡¯t just be made thoughtlessly. This time, it was Shang Feifei who proposed the revisions, and she had convinced Wang Ju. A film doesn¡¯t necessarily demand the same moral correctness as a TV series, and a male lead¡¯s indecisiveness between two women can be accepted. However, she felt that to highlight the character differences between the two women, the conflict needed to be made more apparent ¡ª such as adding a scene with some physical shoving between Xia Siyu and her. When Wang Ju entered and saw Xia Siyu with wet hair and wearing a bathrobe, he understood why she had opened the door slowly. He also noticed the late-night snack on her table: ¡°Weren¡¯t you saying you were on a diet tonight?¡± Xia Siyu smiled, ¡°Well, this was sent by Bo Yan, it would be a waste not to eat.¡± Most people in the crew were aware of the recent online spat between her and Bo Yan and just laughed it off. They knew the two didn¡¯t get along, but it wasn¡¯t as vicious as the online ridiculing. After all, they were colleagues and would not allow their cooperation to become too strained during the partnership. However, Shang Feifei looked around and seemed to notice the beer cans in the room¡ªtwo of them¡ªalong with the autograph tube next to the trash can. For one person, Xia Siyu¡¯s portion size seemed a bit too large. But she said nothing and instead turned to look back at the bathroom door that had been closed.. Chapter 79 - Chapter 79: Chapter 79: Blocking the Door (5) Chapter 79: Chapter 79: Blocking the Door (5) Translator: 549690339 Xia Siyu was a little nervous at the beginning, but she soon became engrossed in her work and had no time to spare for anything else. The only pity was that the restroom in the room she was staying in faced the living room, where a bunch of people were gathered, so Bo Yan could only hide inside, unable to come out. Fortunately, the door was closed, and no one went to the restroom. He hid in the bathroom the entire time, and as long as nobody looked for him, he would definitely remain undiscovered. Back on this end, the new script needed revisions, and several of the creative team were discussing it. Shang Feifei¡¯s intention was to increase the conflict, which might involve swearing, shoving, and fighting scenes. Shang Feifei was considering her interests, after all, her role couldn¡¯t outshine Xia Siyu in beauty and allure, and in terms of complex character construction, she also fell short of Xia Siyu. The most frightening part was that her once-praised acting skills took a hit when she visited the set by chance. Even though it was just unedited footage seen from behind the monitor, she was still shocked. Xia Siyu¡¯s screen presence was too strong. Despite not being formally trained at a film academy and having an unorthodox approach to acting, a lift of her eyes, a widening gaze, a turn of her head, she could convey those subtle emotions. It was indeed puzzling at times¡ªperhaps the director had a good grasp, or maybe her intuitive understanding was just that acute. In any case, under the director¡¯s lens, it seemed like not a minute of her performance was wasted. The emotions might not be entirely on point, but her raw and tense expressions fitted the character¡¯s rough personality even better. She was getting anxious. The issue now was that although she had gotten the second lead role as she wished, and her part was a main character¡¯s, the female lead role itself was a bit flat, and with Xia Siyu outshining her, would she not be in a dire situation if she got overshadowed? Therefore, she kept requesting script changes. Minor adjustments within the framework were possible. After convincing Wang Ju, they came over with the script. After all, Xia Siyu was rather naive¡ªduring the last script reading, she had no opinions and let them manipulate her at will. This time as well, when she proposed changes to the script to intensify the conflict, to make her character more vulnerable and Xia Siyu¡¯s stronger, Xia Siyu did not object at all. She just looked at Wang Ju, ¡°Director, screenwriter, whatever changes you say, go ahead. As long as this role is logically consistent and not out of place in the plot.¡± Wang Ju nodded, and the screenwriter was surprised at how agreeable she was. They had thought she would make many demands and be afraid to play a ¡°villainous¡± role. Both of them nodded their heads. But Xia Siyu had one more suggestion, ¡°l have a small request. If the supporting female character finds out about the male lead¡¯s infidelity, apart from confronting the female lead, I also hope to add a scene where she deals with the male lead, preferably fighting him, and I should be the only one hitting him. Think about it, the character of the boss¡¯s wife is so fiery. She definitely won¡¯t only confront women. If a dog of a man makes a mistake, she would beat him even harder.¡¯ At this point, the screenwriter and Wang Ju exchanged glances. Xia Siyu¡¯s suggestion actually made quite a bit of sense. The screenwriter added, ¡°I¡¯ll go back and discuss it, and we also need to inform Teacher Bo.¡¯ ¡°We¡¯re about to shoot this scene, let¡¯s just call him and let him know,¡± Wang Ju said and immediately took out his cellphone. Before Xia Siyu could react, he had already dialed the number. She was extremely nervous, terrified that Bo Yan¡¯s cellphone ringtone would echo from the restroom! Wouldn¡¯t that just tell everyone that Bo Yan was previously in her room? Chapter 80 - Chapter 80: Chapter 80: Blocking the Door (6) Chapter 80: Chapter 80: Blocking the Door (6) Translator: 549690339 ¡°Wait a minute¡ª,¡± she had just uttered ¡°wait,¡± but Wang Ju had already dialed out, and Xia Siyu was so nervous she felt like she was about to explode. She was afraid that Bo Yan¡¯s cellphone ringtone would sound, with everyone gathered in the living room, if it were to be heard coming from the bathroom, she wouldn¡¯t be able to explain herself even with a dozen mouths! If it were just a scandal, she wouldn¡¯t fear others gossiping, for those with integrity do not fear their shadows. Had she known it would come to this, she might as well have let Bo Yan appear at the door from the start, better than being caught now! She pricked up her ears to listen; on this end, Wang Ju t s call had been ringing for a long time, ¡°dialing¡± on and on without an answer. As soon as the call was automatically disconnected because no one answered, Bo Yan¡¯s message arrived: ¡°Sorry, I was about to take a shower. Does Director Wang need something?¡± Wang Ju quickly replied with a voice message, ¡°Here¡¯s the thing, can you stop by Xia Siyu¡¯s room? The screenwriter and I are here, and we have some modifications and additions to discuss for the later parts of the script.¡± Bo Yan responded with a text: ¡°Wait a moment. I¡¯ll let my assistants go over first. ! Xia Siyu, who had been beside Wang Ju watching all the messages, let out a sigh of relief. Thank goodness, the secret wasn¡¯t out. Shang Feifei, on the other hand, cast a glance at Xia Siyu, seeming to sense that something was off, particularly because there was a pair of leather shoes at the door. And they were men¡¯s shoes. She looked down at the shoes of Wang Ju and the members of the screenwriting team¡ªthey hadn¡¯t changed shoes upon entering. If they didn¡¯t belong to them, whose men¡¯s shoes were those? Just as Shang Feifei was pondering this, someone knocked on the door. Someone hurried to answer it, and it was Song Fengzhi who came in. Upon Song Fengzhi¡¯s arrival, Shang Feifei didn¡¯t feel it was her place to say anything. She only saw that he didn¡¯t just come by himself, but also brought two assistants and a heap of snacks and bottled water. Song Fengzhi first said, ¡°Sorry for the wait, please give me a moment. Director Wang, Screenwriter Zhao, you guys start discussing, he¡¯ll be here soon.¡± As he spoke, he had his people bring in the bottled water and various snacks into the room and also took the opportunity to clean up the leftovers from the late-night snack they had just had. And true enough, with all these people around, the hotel-provided bottled water was clearly insufficient. Nobody had noticed while talking, but now that they had stopped, they were indeed feeling quite thirsty. Moreover, the snacks brought by Song Fengzhi were thoughtfully low in calories, so even Shang Feifei could have a few, let alone the others. While the two assistants were handing out water and snacks, everyone¡¯s attention was diverted to them. At that moment, Song Fengzhi made eye contact with Xia Siyu, and she gave a slight nod. It was a very subtle exchange that would have gone unnoticed without careful attention. Taking advantage of the distraction as everyone was busy with water and snacks, Song Fengzhi immediately turned around, ready to head to the bathroom. As long as Bo could slip out quietly and then later pretend as if nothing had happened, no one would be any the wiser. However, just as he was about to take a step, someone else moved before him¡ªit was Shang Feifei. As Song Fengzhi was preparing to open the door, her hand reached the bathroom doorknob first. Song Fengzhi paused, looking up at her. Shang Feifei still smiling, said, ¡°Sorry, I need to touch up my makeup.¡± After finishing her sentence, she directly opened the door and stepped inside before anyone else. Once Shang Feifei entered, the smile on her face instantly vanished. She looked around calmly and finally, her gaze fixed on the drawn shower curtain.. Chapter 81 - Chapter 81: Chapter 81: Blocking the Door (7) Chapter 81: Chapter 81: Blocking the Door (7) Translator: 549690339 The room was only so big, if someone definitely had to hide, the only possibility would be behind this¡ªthe shower curtain. The man Xia Siyu hid away. Although she didn¡¯t know who it was, Shang Feifei always had a vague feeling that it would be Bo Yan. She didn¡¯t know why she had such a strong intuition, especially since earlier that evening, she and Bo Yan¡¯s fans had argued on Weibo, making it seem like their relationship was really bad. But if there was a man Xia Siyu hid away, it had to be Bo Yan. She and Bo Yan had gone to a Weibo event together today, and she could have stayed in Yancheng, but she had come back early just like Bo Yan. Aside from having her scenes scheduled early the next morning and wanting to revise the script overnight, there was another important reason. She always felt that Bo Yan would return. And if Bo Yan returned, it must be closely connected to Xia Siyu. Her eyes held an unexplainable sense of anticipation. She stepped forward in her high heels, reaching for the edge of the shower curtain. There was water in the bathtub, steam rising, and the lighting was quite dim. She pulled hard, wanting to yank the entire curtain aside¡ª Xia Siyu grabbed her wrist, a cold smile on her face, ¡°Sister Shang, weren¡¯t you just touching up your makeup? How did you end up in the bathroom?¡± Shang Feifei was startled, turning back to see Xia Siyu standing right beside her, her gaze somewhat playful. And she wasn¡¯t alone when she came in; behind her were Wei Jingjing and Little Tang. With several people there, Shang Feifei couldn¡¯t very well force the curtain open. She smiled and said, ¡°l just heard water running and was afraid it was being wasted.¡± ¡°l didn¡¯t expect Sister Shang to be so thrifty. Almost as if the person who blew up several million in fireworks at their birthday party the other day wasn¡¯t you,¡± Xia Siyu said. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t entertain her pleasantries. After Shang Feifei moved aside, Siyu stepped directly in front of the tub, blocking it. In fact, by blocking it this way, she merely confirmed that there was indeed someone there. But she didn¡¯t care. Xia Siyu might act tough normally, but she was no fool. Having been in the entertainment industry for so many years, she understood many of the intrigues at play; she just couldn¡¯t be bothered to get involved. Xia Siyu knew Shang Feifei wouldn¡¯t call out Bo Yan¡¯s name at this time; she still had to survive in the entertainment industry and couldn¡¯t afford to offend him. Xia Siyu also knew that Shang Feifei wouldn¡¯t dare to raise her voice about it, nor would she dare discuss it with anyone else. That¡¯s how a green tea behaves; she lacked evidence and was also very cautious. If Shang Feifei had caught even a shred of evidence, she would have made a huge fuss about it. But without it, she would retreat and protect her own interests. During that brief moment, their eyes clashed, until Wang Ju!s voice could be heard from outside, ¡°Did you all fall into the toilet? Can we go ahead with the script changes like this?¡± Xia Siyu was still holding her wrist, turning her head with a smile to reply, ¡°Not at all, I¡¯m discussing the plot with Sister Shang. Right, Sister Shang?¡± As Xia Siyu spoke, the hand Pinching Shang Feifei¡¯s wrist tightened. Xia Siyu had trained in boxing before and had a strong grip; the increase in pressure made Shang Feifei visibly wince in pain. Then, Xia Siyu coldly flung her arm backward, sending Shang Feifei stumbling back several steps, where Wei Jingjing caught her, asking with a grin, ¡°Sister Shang, is the floor a bit slippery?¡± Wei Jingjing and Little Tang escorted Shang Feifei out one on each side, not forgetting to close the door behind them as they left. In the bathroom, only the two of them remained.. Chapter 82 - Chapter 82: Chapter 82: Blocking the Door (8) Chapter 82: Chapter 82: Blocking the Door (8) Translator: 549690339 Xia Siyu heaved a sigh of relief, but Bo Yan behind her snorted, ¡°Who says your acting isn¡¯t good? Isn¡¯t this quite impressive?¡± The sound of water shifted as he gracefully emerged from it. The light in the bathroom had been turned off by him, the shower curtain tightly drawn by him as well, even the water in the bathtub had been run by him. It was all to avoid the chance of someone like Shang Feifei walking in and seeing through the act. Xia Siyu turned her head and saw that he wasn¡¯t wearing shoes, his socks and legs were soaked in water, making everything below his knees wet and somewhat comical to look at. But his expression was as calm as ever, his upper body stable. The pants clinging tight to his body from being in the water outlined the vague lines of his muscles. This bit of dishevelment ironically added a touch of different hormones to him. Because of the running water, the room was filled with steam and a bit of the warmth from the hot water, making breathing slightly difficult. Xia Siyu felt a tightness in her chest, the atmosphere also a bit delicate. She turned around quickly, ¡°Since everything is fine now, I will talk to Song Fengzhi later and have him help disperse these people, letting them leave first. As soon as they leave, you can go back and rest.¡± She hurriedly walked towards the bathroom door, ready to open it. Her hand on the door handle, a large hand covered the back of hers, gripping it firmly, stopping her from opening the door. Xia Siyu¡¯s heart jumped wildly in an instant. His palm was slightly damp, with rough lines in his grip. His hand was big, fingers long, knuckles well-defined, but his hand was very cold. Bo Yan¡¯s breath floated over the top of her head from behind, his tone calm, ¡°Wait a moment, I have something to say to you.¡± In the past, Bo Yan rarely got so close. When acting, it was okay since it was part of the job. They were professional actors who could clearly separate work from life. All these years, the closest they had gotten was just earlier when he had gently brushed off the stain on her chest and tied the belt of her robe. But his expression was so composed, to the point where she felt like a tree standing before him, unable to stir a single ripple. Sometimes, he showed more enthusiasm towards a little dog than he did to her. But at this moment, perhaps because the room was too hot and stuffy, perhaps because the two of them were too close, or perhaps because his hand was currently holding hers, his breath delicately blowing on the top of her head, she could feel the warmth of his body behind her. She felt a bit stiff, her mind quickly recalling the scenes where they tangled and rolled together while filming kiss scenes on a boat. It had been a room just as stuffy, they had been just as close, just like now with him holding her hand, their breaths mingling¡­ She even remembered the times they spent closely together in the past. The bathroom was very quiet, so quiet that even the sound of a single droplet of water falling from the bathtub could be heard clearly. Then, his voice came through, ¡°You just mentioned adding fight scenes, what kind of fighting were you planning to do in the scene with me alone?¡± ¡°And what if I was?¡± Even Xia Siyu didn¡¯t realize her voice sounded a bit, just a tiny bit, weak. ¡°Is this in retaliation for what happened tonight? It was you who cursed at me first and ate my late-night snack, yet you still want to add a fight scene. How do you plan to fight?¡± Xia Siyu herself was a bit dazed, feeling a lack of oxygen and thirsty. Unconsciously, the tip of her tongue rolled over her lips.. Chapter 83 - Chapter 83: Chapter 83 Marriage (1) Chapter 83: Chapter 83 Marriage (1) Translator: 549690339 She had been in the industry for many years with a fierce reputation and numerous scandals. But when it came to her romantic life, aside from Bo Yan, it was almost a blank slate. Although she had been in the entertainment circle for many years, because she rose to fame early on, and despite the criticisms she received, her career remained smooth sailing. Other male actors didn¡¯t dare to make a move on her, fearing her ferocity. As for the investors who wanted to, Xia Youbiao stood behind her to discreetly handle them. She had never filmed provocative scenes, the only exception being with Bo Yan. Her current predicament only amplified her embarrassment. Because Bo Yan had previously shown such disdain for her, she didn¡¯t even feel like he was approaching her now, just that things were a bit chaotic. Moreover, Wang Ju was still calling from outside, ¡®!Siyu, are you done? We¡¯ve finished the changes here, come and take a look.¡± ¡°Ah¡­ oh, okay, okay,¡± she hastily nodded. Then, switching back, she whispered in a small voice, ¡°l need to go out.¡± ¡°l am also discussing the script issues, you can discuss mine first. I am an innocent bystander.¡± Bo Yan¡¯s voice wasn¡¯t particularly seductive, it was quite normal, even slightly cold. But for some reason, she just felt a tickle in her ears, and maybe because she danced too much today, her legs were also a bit weak, and she almost couldn¡¯t stand. Outside, Wang Ju was still hurrying her, ¡°Siyu, what¡¯s taking so long?¡± He even turned back and asked Song Fengzhi, ¡°Where¡¯s Bo Yan?¡± Song Fengzhi didn¡¯t answer, but Wei Jingjing said with a smile, ¡°She might be feeling a bit under the weather today, practiced too hard, and just happened to run into this situation¡­ She deliberately steered the conversation towards menstrual issues, which made Wang Ju unable to say much more, as it was somewhat private. In the bathroom, Bo Yan glanced at the crown of her head. She had just taken a shower, her hair wasn¡¯t completely dry yet, and the slightly damp ends carried a hint of shampoo fragrance. When he initially stopped her, he hadn¡¯t thought much of it. With so many people outside, he could certainly distinguish priorities. After all, both were celebrities, and both did not wish to go public. His body was actually a few centimeters from Xia Siyu, not completely close, but this distance, where her rising body temperature from nervousness combined with the steam in the bathroom, made the closeness seem even more intimate¡ªsomething to yearn for. Unconsciously, he slowly moved closer to her, until he was only one centimeter away, and even his nose couldn¡¯t resist leaning toward her dark hair, wanting to lightly sniff her scent. However. Xia Siyu suddenly turned around, her gaze stubborn. But in the next moment, it softened, even becoming somewhat seductive, ¡°l did it, so what? Are you going to make trouble for me?¡± The addiction in Bo Yan¡¯s eyes quickly receded, and he too was slightly puzzled, wondering what game she was actually playing. He stayed still, but she moved closer, pulling her hand from beneath his palm. She gently lifted it to rest on his chest, her fingertips playing with the buttons on his shirt inattentively as she said, ¡°Why do you pay so much attention to me? Is it because I insulted you today? Or because I¡¯m your wife in name, and you can¡¯t help but care for me? Or is it that¡ªin fact, you still have me in your heart, you¡¯ve never forgotten me, you still like me, even want to¡­ with me¡­?¡± At this point, her hand suddenly rose serpent-like, wrapping around his neck, and she murmured softly in his ear, ¡°¡­become real husband and wife..¡± Chapter 84 - Chapter 84: Chapter 84: Husband and Wife (2) Chapter 84: Chapter 84: Husband and Wife (2) Translator: 549690339 Bo Yan watched her quietly. Xia Siyu¡¯s arm was draped over his neck, and when her eyes met his, they were at an upward angle. From this angle, much like a selfie taken from below, her eyes seemed larger, her face smaller, but the slightly squinted pupils, the upturned corners of her eyes, and her slightly parted red lips constantly exuded a seductive charm. Without a doubt, ninety-nine percent of men, faced with such a vivid, enticing face, and hearing her soul-stirring words, would be unable to prevent their hearts from wavering. Bo Yan was an ordinary man, but, he clearly saw the smugness and indifference hidden deep within her seemingly flirtatious gaze. She wasn¡¯t doing this because she liked him or had feelings for him. She was only trying to turn the tables. At first, Xia Siyu did feel a bit smug. She had just been flustered by Bo Yan¡¯s approach, losing her bearings. Even her own heart had rippled slightly, and she began to recall the details of their past together. But she quickly realized, damn, wasn¡¯t this the exact same tactic he used that day in the film studio when he drew close to kiss her? He was exploiting her lingering feminine shyness, deliberately getting close, trying to use it as a chance to make her concede, to get her to give up on changing the script, especially the fight scenes! And she hadn¡¯t seen through his cunning plan at first, almost falling for his tricks! If he had lowered his head and rubbed against her a bit more, would she have agreed not to change the script just to avoid him? How could she allow that! Now it seemed that this tactic was somewhat effective; at least Bo Yan¡¯s body was visibly stiffening. Xia Siyu felt a bit proud of the progress. She leaned in even closer, this time deliberately ¡°sacrificing¡± herself by pressing her upper body against him, her arm still hanging around his neck as she twisted slightly, ¡°Am I right?¡± Bo Yan kept watching her, his eyes still serene, but deep within his pupils, a coldness grew. He reached out¡ªslowly pulled Xia Siyu¡¯s arm from around his neck, stepped back, and maintained a distance, ¡°The script issue can¡¯t be entirely up to you. It needs to be discussed based on the film¡¯s requirements. As for how and how much it should be changed, that should be a collective decision.¡± Xia Siyu didn¡¯t mind; seeing his icy expression only confirmed her belief that his recent closeness was all for the sake of the script! This sly and cunning man! Fortunately, she was wise enough to detect his ambitions in time! ¡°Let¡¯s keep it professional.¡± She quickly bounced back, retracting all traces of flirtation and turning back to give him a cool look. Bo Yan stood two meters away, his face showing no desire to interact with her, and she felt a bit annoyed inside. What¡¯s the matter, me, Xia Siyu, a female celebrity who, despite being embroiled in scandals, still ranks in the top three on the most-wanted dating lists on major men¡¯s forums? And I have the bust, the waist, and long, slender legs¡ªwhat about me is not good enough for you, that you disdain me so? If it weren¡¯t for the fact that he had something with her before, she would have suspected that Bo Yan had changed his preferences, that he now fancied men. Over the years, he seemed to have had no scandals, and after marrying her, they led separate lives, even on their wedding night, one slept on the bed, the other on the couch. But to tell the truth, seeing him keep such a respectful distance only sparked a fire within her! She wondered, what would it feel like to ignite a spark within such a cold man? Chapter 85 - Chapter 85: Chapter 85: Husband and Wife (3) Chapter 85: Chapter 85: Husband and Wife (3) Translator: 549690339 Of course, she was only responsible for starting the fire, not putting it out. She just had to stir up his emotions; if he wanted to play dirty¡ªsorry, right now you ignor me, later on, I¡¯ll make sure you can¡¯t even reach me! When Xia Siyu opened the door, her face had already returned to normal. As she came out, she even put on an act by deliberately twirling a strand of hair by her ear and said with a bitchy air, ¡°Sorry to keep you waiting.¡± Then she immediately took the script from the screenwriter¡¯s hand: ¡°Is this the one?¡± She looked it over from top to bottom and studied it carefully, ¡°Shang Feifei, are you sure this is the change? Do I need to fight here? Is there no character conflict?¡± Shang Feifei certainly needed her agreement; it seemed that Xia Siyu really had an empty head with not too many thoughts, so she immediately nodded, ¡°I think it¡¯s fine. What about the director?¡± Wang Ju certainly wouldn¡¯t let her lead him around; in fact, even if the screenwriter changed the script now, how it was edited and turned into the final cut still depended on him. Whatever was shot before could end up on the cutting room floor, and if a few actors wanted to add scenes, he would let them, maybe something useful could be cut from that added footage. So, he nodded. Xia Siyu also agreed, ¡°Alright. Then we shoot according to the new script. The lines and movements are all set, right? Then I¡¯m going to prepare to memorize my lines.¡± ¡°Wait, this part can still be polished a bit more¡­¡± Several people gathered to discuss the details, with Wei Jingjing, Little ¡®I¡¯ang, Song Fengzhi, and two assistants around them, no one noticed that the bathroom door quietly opened and Bo Yan walked past them. After the script was revised, Wang Ju remembered Bo Yan¡¯s scenes and hurriedly voice messaged him, ¡°Are you done with your shower?¡± No sooner had the message been sent than there was a knock on the door, and then Bo Yan, changed into a fresh set of clothes, entered emotionlessly, as if nothing had happened, ¡°Sorry.¡± His hair still had droplets of water, and as he walked in, the drops fell from the tips of his hair. As soon as he entered, he went straight to Wang Ju, without so much as glancing at Xia Siyu, nor paying any attention to Shang Feifei, who was watching the drama unfold, ¡°What¡¯s the script look like?¡± The revisions were simple: the second female lead finds out that the male lead¡¯s affections have shifted and confronts the female lead. In the ensuing argument, she hits the female lead. The male lead, coming to find the female lead, witnesses her being bullied and steps in to help, resulting in the second female lead hitting him as well, and the two completely fall out. Xia Siyu specifically requested, ¡°If there is a fight, it must hit the face. The male lead¡¯s face especially. What skill is it, if the male lead only bullies the female lead after his affections shift? You should beat up the scumbag as well, otherwise it¡¯s a waste of the character setting.¡± Bo Yan paid no attention to her words; he read through the script once and his only request was, ¡°1 would like a slight modification here. The male lead is not a scumbag; he¡¯s just struggling. After he realizes his affection for the female lead, he immediately breaks up with the second female. He has feelings for her too. It doesn¡¯t stand to reason for him to rush out and defend the female lead while belittling the other party emotionally. As for the fight scenes, however you want to do them is fine by me. 1 have no objections.¡± With the three actors being so easy to talk to, both Wang Ju and the screenwriter breathed a sigh of relief. After the discussion, everyone left one after another, with Bo Yan trailing behind, discussing the details of the reality show with Song Fengzhi in a low voice. They walked quickly and didn¡¯t notice that Shang Feifei¡¯s door wasn¡¯t completely closed but left slightly ajar. Once Bo Yan had walked in, she frowned slightly, ¡°A reality show, huh¡­.¡± Chapter 86 - Chapter 86: Chapter 86: Husband and Wife (4) Chapter 86: Chapter 86: Husband and Wife (4) Translator: 549690339 The next morning, on the set. Today¡¯s filming was a bit special because there was a journalist interview. It was okay for TV dramas, but movies rarely entertained journalist interviews since there was worry they might leak something, or that there were too many people and too much chaos, which could disrupt movie creation. But today was an exception, as it marked Director Wang Ju¡¯s tenth work and his twentieth year in the industry. This was more of a personal interview, with the movie being a secondary consideration. Even if it was incidental, with three top-stream actors in the movie, and Xia Siyu and Bo Yan having had a fight on WeChat the day before, the whole industry, both inside and out, knew about it. Although the altercation had been removed from the trending searches, it still generated a lot of buzz. To this day, Siyu¡¯s Weibo and her followers¡¯ square were still besieged. Being controversial over the years, she had not endeared herself to the general public, let alone have any die-hard fans. Bo¡¯s fans attacked en masse, adding insult to injury to her already beleaguered Weibo square. Opening it revealed nothing but scolding; the few active fans stood no chance against the angry tide, like firecrackers thrown into a pit, detonating instantly. Furthermore, today¡¯s scenes were quite intense, with Siyu going one-vs-two in a fight. This was simply a prime ¡°evil woman vs. good people¡± storyline, something the journalists adored. Especially since it took place after the fight with Bo the night before. The interview van arrived, carrying all three protagonists. Witnessing the eager reporters, their faces filled with anticipation, Wang Ju suddenly had a twinge of regret. Why had he forgotten that he changed the script today to include such a contentious scene? Had he stuck to the original plan, it wouldn¡¯t have blown up like this. What could he do? They were all here, so they might as well shoot. The lead actors had made up and were rehearsing their lines, while the reporters followed along, not to interview, but simply to shoot some footage on the side, When the journalists arrived, Siyu didn¡¯t bother to pay them any attention; she couldn¡¯t even be bothered to greet them, choosing instead to sit on a deckchair, her legs crossed as she looked at her script. Ha, such a diva. Turning to look at the smiling Shang Feifei and the politely nodding Bo Yan beside her, now that was the way to humbly and courteously kick things off. During rehearsal, the three leads stood together, with Director Wang explaining the progression and positioning for the upcoming scene: how to fight, how to handle the details, how to move forward and back. There were no actual moves during the walkthrough, just a rough gesticulation to prepare for filming. But just as they were about to start shooting, Siyu put down her script and in front of Shang Feifei, Wang Ju, and all the staff and journalists, asked, ¡°Director Wang, are we going for real hits in the scene?¡± Wang Ju was taken aback, and the reporters¡¯ eyes were drawn to the unfolding drama. Real hits meant a slap across the face, not a gentle stroke or two, no holding back. Real hits would hurt. Wang looked at Siyu¡¯s petit frame, thinking a woman wouldn¡¯t have that much strength when hitting someone. He nodded, ¡°Real hits.¡± He then instructed Shang Feifei, ¡°In the first few strikes as she comes at you, remember to hold back your tears, but in the last one, let them fall. Remember, you must build up to tears at the beginning and make sure they fall in the end, got it? The camera will capture your facial expressions directly, don¡¯t be afraid of looking ugly crying, the tears must drop.¡± Feifei nodded. Siyu, on the other side, stretched her legs nonchalantly, did some chest expansions, twisted her neck, and finally cracked her knuckles ¡®crack crack,¡¯ kindly assuring him, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Director Wang, she¡¯ll cry..¡± Chapter 87 - Chapter 87: Chapter 87: Tearful Farewell (1) Chapter 87: Chapter 87: Tearful Farewell (1) Translator: 549690339 They began filming. The scene was set in a bar where Xia Siyu had arranged to meet the female lead to settle accounts. Later, the male lead discovered that the female lead was keeping the appointment and followed her there. Shang Feifei entered the shot first; her appearance was delicate and pretty, dressed in a plain long dress. The few steps she walked clearly involved a bit of design ¨C nervous, expectant, and determined. The journalists had a favorable impression of her and, thinking about how she would be bullied by the vicious supporting actress later, felt a degree of empathy. The female lead arrived first, pushing open the door of the bar where Xia Siyu was at the counter. A light shone down from above Xia Siyu¡¯s head. With her back to the door, she leaned lazily, clad in a figure-hugging red dress paired with red high heels. Her wavy, curled hair cascaded casually over her shoulders. Her nails were also painted red; one hand propped up her head, the other held a wine glass. Without a single word or even showing her face, her mere presence crisply outlined the character¡¯s personality. But when she turned around, that moment of cold, disdainful, and angry eyes instantly pulled people into the scene. Shang Feifei, with years of experience and an award for best actress from a film academy, was considered to possess significant acting talent. Xia Siyu was different; she didn¡¯t finish college and never studied formally at a film school, sticking to playing simple, sweet, and naive characters in films for many years. Yet she had an air about her, a grace; she stood there with such an imposing demeanor as if it wasn¡¯t a portrayal but rather something naturally destined to be. Although ten out of ten journalists who came to report weren¡¯t fond of Xia Siyu, they were still captivated by this scene. The shooting continued. Xia Siyu, full of arrogance, turned around in her high heels, leading to a dispute between the two women, followed by a physical altercation. In the end, Xia Siyu swung her hand forcefully, ¡°smack,¡± delivering a resounding slap across Shang Feifei¡¯s face, causing her to stumble back several steps. The impact made Feifei¡¯s head ring with a ¡°buzz,¡± dazing her. Her cheek visibly swelled, with the imprint of five fingers slowly surfacing. No acting was needed as tears ¡°whooshed¡± down. The instant she got hit, she began to regret: Why the hell did I change the script? Asking for a beating? But filming was still ongoing, Bo Yan quickly moved into position, first helping Shang Feifei up, then stepping in front of her, shielding her with his body, ¡°Why do you have to do this?¡± Xia Siyu, having just hit someone, maintained a calm demeanor as she wiped her palms, as if the act of hitting someone had dirtied her hands. ¡°We¡¯ve already broken up, if you have any grievances, feel free to come at me. I¡¯m the one who wronged you; it has nothing to do with others.¡± Bo Yan¡¯s words she could ignore, but when she saw the two of them holding hands, she became furious, ¡°Let go of me!¡± Of course, Bo Yan did not heed her, so the second round of conflict ensued. Xia Siyu, following the movie¡¯s script, engaged in a clash with them, then forcefully slapped him. Bo Yan¡¯s face turned with the slap and his fringe flew to one side. Even when getting hit, his jet-black hair and jade-like face maintained a perfect profile. The filming paused for a moment, leaving a space for what was to come next Bo Yan with a shaking voice spoke softly. Turning his head, his eyes deep and faint, ¡°What exactly do I have to do for you to let me go? When will you finally grow up?¡± This line was not in the original script; Wang Ju quickly flipped through the script upon hearing it. ¡°When will you finally grow up?¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s tears fell in that very moment.. Chapter 88 - Chapter 88: Chapter 88: Tearful Farewell (2) Chapter 88: Chapter 88: Tearful Farewell (2) Translator: 549690339 The camera perfectly captured the moment her tears fell. Xia Siyu¡¯s face wore a smile, she had just fought two-on-one, hitting the female lead and the male lead, who had moved on to another love. She was proud, her makeup impeccable, not a trace of spirit lost, beautiful and noble, even in rejection she maintained her grace. But as she smiled, tears fell silently down her cheeks. ¡°Stunningly beautiful,¡± was a phrase many had used. Yet, when everyone on set saw her, even without speaking a line, they could feel the deep pain in her heart. And the words ¡°stunningly beautiful¡± simply and directly surfaced in everyone¡¯s minds. Wang Ju didn¡¯t call ¡°cut,¡± and Xia Siyu kept on crying, eventually, her lips curling into a faint, forlorn smile. That expression seemed to whisper three words, ¡°Let it be.¡± Then, she slightly bowed her head, and all the charm, authority, and sharpness dissipated, her posture as she walked away with head lowered, resembling a stray dog that couldn¡¯t find its home on the streets. Especially, when combined with the hubbub outside the bar, the flickering neon lights, and the merry crowd, her sorrow and joy appeared all the more pitiful. Bo Yan was behind, and the camera also captured his gaze. His bangs were a bit long, hiding most of his eyes, but his Adam¡¯s apple moved up and down continuously, his slightly pursed lips trembling, and it wasn¡¯t until Xia Siyu had exited the frame that he turned his head, looking towards the direction she left, his eyes clearly conveying reluctance, melancholy, and a mix of regret and anger. Shang Feifei behind was simply dumbfounded. It was clearly Bo Yan who messed up the lines, clearly herself who got hit so badly, they had just agreed to capture her crying scene, so why were the cameras now focused on capturing Xia Siyu¡¯s expressions? The most bewildering part was how it now seemed, from the drama¡¯s perspective, that Bo Yan appeared to be more in love with the second female lead than her? Who was the real female lead after all? The scene ended, and the set fell silent. A few leading actors, Bo Yan, and Xia Siyu remained quiet, Shang Feifei was still in a daze, and even Wang Ju just sat silently behind the monitor. He genuinely appreciated a scene when it reached the state it was in now. He pondered in his mind how this segment should be edited, how to present it on the big screen. And after the reporters watched this segment, no further questions were raised about her. They shot the scene a few more times after, capturing different perspectives, Shang Feifei also doing her utmost to perform. But none was more shocking than the first take. After that take was finished, there were still other scenes to shoot, the actors remained fairly professional, except for Shang Feifei who ended up quite tragically, swollen from the beating and taking a long time to reduce the swelling and reapply her makeup. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t utter an apology, it wasn¡¯t her who had insisted on changing the script anyway; you changed it yourself, so you deserve whatever comes. By evening. Because there were interviews scheduled for the day, the crew finished work early. Wang Ju even organized a dinner, inviting the entire crew to eat together, including the reporters. The dinner was arranged in a leisure center, and after eating, there was an opportunity to sing and enjoy some entertainment. Throughout the meal, Xia Siyu was in low spirits, sitting far from Bo Yan, an obvious sign of tension between them. After they finished eating, they moved to a private room next door. Bo Yan saw Xia Sivu heading to the restroom and followed her out.. Chapter 89 - Chapter 89: Chapter 89: Tearful Farewell (3) Chapter 89: Chapter 89: Tearful Farewell (3) Translator: 549690339 In the women¡¯s restroom, Xia Siyu was washing her face with the faucet running. The cool water splashed on her face, and as she looked up, she saw herself in the mirror. The necklace around her neck was still sparkling, and when she opened the pendant, the photograph inside was clear to see. In fact, she didn¡¯t completely resemble her mother. Her mother was sharper, smarter, more talented, and more resolute. She wouldn¡¯t stop until she achieved her goals. If she couldn¡¯t complete the original plan, she¡¯d rather self-destruct along with it. She still remembered being forced by her mother to learn dancing when she was little; if she didn¡¯t meet the standard, she would be required to practice over and over again, without meals or rest. If she dared to slack off, her mother wouldn¡¯t get angry; she¡¯d just throw her out the door and lock it. No matter how much she knocked from outside, the door would never open. It was fortunate that they lived in the Chinese District because if it had been in the White District, her mother¡¯s methods might have resulted in losing custody. Back then, life felt so difficult, and she couldn¡¯t wait to grow up. Looking back now, it wasn¡¯t all that bad ¨C at least back then, her mother was still well and by her side. Lost in memories, someone pushed open the door to the restroom. Xia Siyu quickly closed the pendant and hid it, pretending to wash her hands nonchalantly. Shang Feifei entered, actually coming to touch up her makeup. One was washing her face, while the other was applying lipstick in front of the mirror. Neither of them spoke, the only sound was the running water, as if the rest of the world had fallen silent. After a while, Shang Feifei, looking at the reflection of her face in the mirror, suddenly said, ¡°You look a lot like someone.¡± Xia Siyu replied with a calm face, ¡°There are many people who look like me. Take a walk through Hengtian Film and Television City, and you could knock out several ¡®little Xia Siyus¡¯ with a brick. I¡¯m like a template for plastic surgery.¡± Shang Feifei chuckled, ¡°You somewhat resemble a dancer who won a gold medal and also an actress who won a Best Actress award, a senior from the past. ¡± Xia Siyu paused. A gold medal-winning dancer and a Best Actress ¨C these two labels obviously referred to ¨C her mother, Wen Qunxiao. But then Shang Feifei seriously shook her head, ¡°But she has long since retired. It¡¯s said that after that incident, she went overseas and never returned.¡¯ Xia Siyu didn¡¯t speak; after a long while, she turned the faucet off, her expression serene. Shang Feifei smiled, ¡°l went to a secondary school affiliated with the Dance Academy. I saw tapes of Teacher Wen¡¯s performances, and I thought your dancing posture resembled hers. But you¡¯re right; there are many similar-looking people in the world. Not long ago, there was someone who had surgery to look like me and was determined to debut with my label.¡± As they spoke, other actresses from the crew entered the restroom, exchanging polite greetings. With people coming in, Xia Siyu and Shang Feifei stopped talking. Shang Feifei left after touching up her lipstick, and since Xia Siyu had just washed her face, she needed to reapply her makeup too. For a time, people came and went in the restroom, leaving her alone again. Just as she was about to leave, the door was opened once more. But this time, the person who entered was Bo Yan. Xia Siyu was startled, her first reaction being, ¡°This is the ladies¡¯ restroom.¡± Had Bo Yan chosen the wrong place? Bo Yan shook his head, grabbed her hand at a glance, pulled her into a stall next to them, and closed the door: ¡°l have something to ask you.¡± Xia Siyu was not pleased to see him, ¡°l don¡¯t have any answers for you.¡± ¡°l¡­¡± Bo Yan started, furrowing his brow as if he wanted to speak, but then the door to the restroom opened again, bringing in several more people.. Chapter 90 - Chapter 90: Chapter 90: Tearful Farewell (4) Chapter 90: Chapter 90: Tearful Farewell (4) Translator: 549690339 A few people had come in from outside, clearly a group of extras with smaller roles. They first went to the nearby stalls to relieve themselves then washed their hands and touched up their makeup. It was obvious these few were just stepping out for a breather, and where there are women, there is gossip. They soon began to chat, and the conversation turned to Bo Yan and Xia Siyu, ¡°Did you just see? I noticed Bo Yan seemed to be looking at Xia Siyu the whole time.¡± ¡°Really? Now that you mention it, I think I noticed it too.¡± ¡°No way, he must be angry, right? Theyve been on bad terms in the crew, and they even had a big fight on their social circles yesterday. Look at Xia Siyu hitting someone today, so fierce, and the swelling on Bo Yan and Shang Feifei¡¯s faces still hasn¡¯t gone down.¡± ¡°After all, he¡¯s a Best Actor winner. Even after being hit like that, he could still portray such a loving and affectionate demeanor. His gaze as he watched Xia Siyu walk away, it nearly moved me. Shang Feifei is far from his level.¡± The group of them, chattering back and forth, dared to discuss the main stars without restraint only because there was no one else in the women¡¯s restroom. In the stall, Bo Yan touched his own cheek. Xia Siyu had really used a lot of force when she hit him. Although it was nothing compared to a man¡¯s blow, she had trained in boxing, and a slap from her still hurt a bit. He had something he wanted to say to Xia Siyu, but clearly, she was not the kind of person to be controlled by him. The two of them hiding in the small stall, which normally felt spacious enough for one, now seemed a bit cramped with both of them inside. Xia Siyu was not in a good mood today and had no interest in matching wits or interacting with Bo Yan. She wanted to leave, but Bo Yan had words caught in his throat, words he had been holding back for three years, no, from the day seven years ago when she left until now. One wanted to leave, while the other wanted to stay, and they struggled against each other in the small stall. Xia Siyu struck first, swinging a slap in his direction, but Bo Yan was not easy to handle. Seeing her hand come towards him, he quickly caught it with his agile hands. He was careful when catching her hand to select a spot where the sound of flesh hitting wouldn¡¯t be loud, choosing to grab where there was fabric. When Xia Siyu¡¯s first slap failed, she sent another hand, which Bo Yan also restrained. She tried to struggle, but Bo Yan held both her hands tightly. When Xia Siyu kicked out, Bo Yan trapped her leg with his to prevent her from causing more trouble. In the not-so-large stall, the two had already had several rounds of this. As they fought intensely inside, the conversation continued outside, ¡°What do you think, could Xia Siyu be pretending? Maybe she¡¯s using these antics to catch Bo Yan¡¯s attention?¡± ¡°Who knows, she loves attracting men. And with Bo Yan being rich and handsome, he¡¯s just her type.¡± ¡°Their hotel rooms are very close to each other. What if she sneaks over in the middle of the night through the window to seduce him?¡± ¡°Nothing is impossible, right?¡± Whether Xia Siyu would sneak through the window to seduce him, Bo Yan didn¡¯t know, but right now, Xia Siyu very much didn¡¯t want to be hiding in this small stall with Bo Yan. The more he tried to restrain her, the more she wanted to leave. Bo Yan had locked her hands and feet and also trapped her legs. She couldn¡¯t leave, could she? No problem, she would scream! She wanted to see, with Bo Yan using both hands and feet to control her, how he would stop her when she started to scream! The moment she opened her mouth to scream, she indeed saw a flicker of panic in Bo Yan¡¯s eyes. Xia Siyu was feeling triumphant, but the very next second, Bo Yan suddenly leaned in, sealing her lips with his mouth! Chapter 91 - Chapter 91: Chapter 91 Relations (1) Chapter 91: Chapter 91 Relations (1) Translator: 549690339 They had touched and even kissed each other before. Just a while ago, during filming, they were involved with each other for four hours because of work. But even then, it was just work. They were professional actors, and even if they invested personal emotions into their characters at the moment, these emotions faded quickly once they pulled back from their roles. They could differentiate between their characters and their true selves, dissipating any feelings stirred up during filming as soon as the acting stopped. But outside the set, it was completely different. Previously, Xia Siyu was quite pleased with herself for catching Bo Yan¡¯s hands and pinning down her legs, preventing her from shouting. But now, these conditions had all suddenly turned to disadvantages. She could neither escape nor hide, nor could she call out, and the small space left no room to maneuver, allowing him to pin her down and kiss her. Although Xia Siyu was somewhat panic-stricken and wanted to struggle, Bo Yan was surprisingly proper¡ªhe just sealed her lips to stop her from making a noise, without delving further or entangling too much. Fortunately, he hadn¡¯t come to cause a commotion, or else it would be his tongue that suffered next. Even so, she was completely terrified and stiffened. When Bo Yan leaned in, her eyes were still open, and she could clearly see his thick lashes. It was the same for Bo Yan; the two of them held a strange posture, and although they were kissing, it felt more like a fight. How could Xia Siyu willingly accept such a loss? After the initial shock, she began to twist and turn even more fiercely. During the struggle, Xia Siyu misstepped and looked like she was about to fall. Bo Yan swiftly caught her, twisting his waist to let her sit on the toilet lid. But because of the movement, he also ended up falling onto her. Xia Siyu, nearly having taken a fall just then, couldn¡¯t help but panic, her mouth opening wider. Bo Yan was right on top of her, catching her off guard with a kiss that was hard to break away from. Xia Siyu¡¯s mind exploded like a burst of fireworks shooting into the sky! This was different from the mere brushing of lips they had started with. Even when they had filmed the boat scene kiss that day, he had not taken advantage of the situation, mostly maintaining his professionalism. Therefore, even though Bo Yan had brushed away stains from her chest these past few days and had undone her bathrobe sash, his expression was always too calm, and he behaved like a gentleman, taking no advantage of her. Despite feeling somewhat uncomfortable, she didn¡¯t sense any ulterior motives in him. But at this very moment, they were indeed embracing each other¡ªshe beneath him, and he on top, pressing down on her. And they were truly kissing. It wasn¡¯t just a brief touch, nor was it all for show; they were genuinely entwined! However, the moment she sat down, there was a bit of noise, which immediately alerted the people outside talking to each other. They had been chatting animatedly before, but gossiping behind someone¡¯s back was the very thing they were afraid of being overheard, especially with reporters around now. At this moment, they realized that the innermost cubicle door was latched shut. They exchanged glances and then slowly approached. Xia Siyu was on the verge of collapse, with Bo Yan pressing in close in front of her. and the footstens outside getting closer_ Chapter 92 - Chapter 92: Chapter 92 Relations (2) Chapter 92: Chapter 92 Relations (2) Translator: 549690339 The three people outside were startled by the sound of the door latch being pulled open. Startled by the noise, the three people outside all took a step back. Then there was the sound of a toilet flushing, followed by the click of high heels, and then the door opened halfway, Xia Siyu stepped out, and gently closed the door that was originally half-open behind her. The fact that the murmuring behind her backs had actually reached the ears of the very person they¡¯d been about, made all three jump. Fortunately, the light inside the restroom was dim, so her sudden appearance startled the others as well. Combined with her strong presence, everyone¡¯s gaze automatically centered on her. Nobody dared to check if there was still someone in the stall. Xia Siyu walked in her high heels, chin up, nonchalantly fixing her hair. The three stepped aside to make way, and without even looking at them, she walked past and went to wash her hands again at the sink. These three were just minor characters; seeing that Xia Siyu didn¡¯t take issue with them, they quickly prepared to skulk away. But before they had taken two steps, Xia Siyu suddenly said from behind, ¡°Stop there.¡± The three froze, actually coming to a standstill. Xia Siyu was a force to be reckoned with in Yancheng, known for her candid and explosive temper. She wouldn¡¯t hesitate to hit someone in the street and didn¡¯t even give face to Bo Yan. To anger her¡­ Xia Siyu turned off the faucet, took a paper towel, and nonchalantly wiped her hands. Then she lifted her head, casting a cold glance at herself in the mirror, and at them. Afterward, Xia Siyu crumpled the paper towel into a wad and threw it toward the trash can. The towel traced a parabolic arc through the air, landing precisely in the bin with a ¡°thud.¡± The threes¡¯ hearts seemed to match that ¡°thud¡± with a heavy beat. Xia Siyu, in her high heels and with an imposing aura, walked over with piercing eyes. As she walked up behind the three, they hurriedly bowed their heads, ¡°Xia¡­ Sister Xia.¡¯ Xia Siyu didn¡¯t acknowledge them, simply extending her arm out casually, draping it over the shoulders of the three. At 168cm, with heels she easily stood at 175cm plus. With their average height, they wilted like chicks under her arm. ¡°In the future, make your stories a bit more credible. The notion that I seduced Bo Yan, what a joke. I¡¯ve never considered him important, not in the past, nor now. And 1 wouldn¡¯t care if you¡¯ve recorded this¡ªyou can boldly go and tell him, to his face.¡¯ Xia Siyu¡¯s words genuinely frightened one of them, and the cellphone in her hand clattered to the ground, the screen shattering. Still, it was clear, she had indeed been recording. Having said her piece, Xia Siyu withdrew her arm, adopting an air of indifference, ¡°Now, get lost.¡± The three of them promptly left, picking up the phone with the smashed screen before they went. After they were gone, the door of the small cubicle where Bo Yan was hiding opened, and he stepped out with a slightly complex expression on his face. After a moment, he slowly composed himself and came over with an expressionless face. He had barely uttered the word ¡°Sorry¡± when Xia Siyu slapped him hard across the face. Bo Yan was slapped again, this time even more composed: ¡°l apologize.¡± He paused and then added, ¡°1 have no such interest in you.¡± No sooner had he finished speaking, than Xia Siyu, already brimming with rage, felt her eyes turn red in an instant.. Chapter 93 - Chapter 93: Chapter 93 Relations (3) Chapter 93: Chapter 93 Relations (3) Translator: 549690339 She didn¡¯t know if it was because she was angry, or because he was too good at shifting blame, or because of the shame and indignation of being taken advantage of. Or because of some other reason¡­ After a while, Xia Siyu composed herself and, through gritted teeth, said, remember, I¡¯m supposed to keep a radius of two meters away from you. Mr. Bo, please keep your distance from me in the future!¡± Once she finished speaking, and had just taken a few steps away clattering in her high heels, she thought about it and, still feeling angry, turned back and stomped towards him, kicking his shin hard. The kick was forceful; Bo Yan was caught off guard and immediately arched his back in pain. Only then did Xia Siyu feel relieved, she even turned her head and snarled with a bared-teeth ¡°ah woo,¡± as if to say: don¡¯t mess with me, or I¡¯ll bite! Then, with a haughty turn of her head and the click of her high heels, she walked away with her hips swaying and head held high. After all, I must not let myself be taken advantage of! Bo Yan was right behind her, watching her storm off without immediately following. He turned his head to look at the mirror next to the sink. Xia Siyu¡¯s slap had landed exactly on the previous spot; she had used all her strength, and the overlapping handprints were now very swollen. But he didn¡¯t pay much attention to his own face; instead, he looked at his lips. Xia Siyu rarely wore heavy makeup outside her acting work. Her everyday makeup was always fresh and natural, and her lips wouldn¡¯t be painted with bright colors but just a layer of light lip gloss. When their lips touched, he tasted a bit¡ªit was the flavor of watermelon peach. When he and Xia Siyu had kissed just now, he had started with careful restraint, but towards the end, he couldn¡¯t help stirring up a storm inside. He even couldn¡¯t stop thinking, if those three troublemakers hadn¡¯t been outside, would he have given in to his wild instincts and done something terrible to her¡­ He had come after her to ask why Xia Siyu had suddenly disappeared without a word seven years ago, and then immediately broken up with him upon her return. And then, just a few months later, she made her movie debut, hitting it big with her very first film and thereafter enjoying a fantastic career in the spotlight. He, on the other hand, followed the conventional path of university study, completing his Ph.D. and staying on as a faculty member, until he was discovered by a star scout. Later, they got married. Over the years, they had been living separately. She thrived in the entertainment industry, from being constantly shaded to the point of turning purple, to gaining explosive popularity on social mecna Witnout naxnng to pay for it¡ªeach event was stunning. She didn¡¯t care, nor did she bother to pay attention to the gossip, living a life of pomp and glory up to the present. He, meanwhile, focused on acting in films, earned accolades one after another, and finally, three years after his debut, became a top-tier idol with both popularity and acting prowess, receiving endless praise. Along the way, he might not have always been able to act as he wished. But every step was firm and steady. Even in the unfamiliar world of show business, he managed to achieve great success. Success to the point where his family, who weren¡¯t very supportive at first, now took great pride in him. But now. At this moment, looking at his own reflection in the mirror, he felt a bit lost for the first time. Thinking of the tears in Xia Siyu¡¯s eyes that afternoon and her suddenly reddened eyes just now. He realized that perhaps she was still hiding something. Despite Xia Siyu¡¯s typically carefree demeanor, where she wore her emotions on her sleeve, she never shared her deep-seated troubles with anyone else. If she refused to talk, then he would have to¡ªfind out for himself! And then¡­. Chapter 94 - Chapter 94: Chapter 94 Relations (4) Chapter 94: Chapter 94 Relations (4) Translator: 549690339 Xia Siyu and Bo Yan appeared one after another without causing any controversy. After they returned to the private room, they also sat far apart. Bo Yan was discussing business on this side, continuously talking low with Song Fengzhi. Many people noticed he had been out for quite a while but assumed he had just stepped out to talk about work. After all, the room was noisy and the sound was a bit loud. Not long after, Wang Ju summoned everyone to head back. Xia Siyu was the first to stand up. When she rose, she didn¡¯t say anything to everyone, just nodded toward Wang Ju and turned to walk out directly. When she reached the door, she faintly heard Shang Feifei¡¯s words from behind, ¡°Wow, Bo Yan, why is your face so swollen? Has that slap not faded Bo Yan didn¡¯t respond, and she didn¡¯t pay attention, descending the stairs briskly in her high heels as if they were wheels of fire. The leisure center was in the suburbs, and all the cars were parked outside in the parking lot. When Bo Yan and the others came out, it was raining outside. It was summer now, and the rain came quickly. They had spent quite a bit of time eating and singing when they arrived, and the weather was very clear at the time; no one had brought an umbrella. The entrance of the leisure center was a little distant from the main gate, and there were pillars blocking the way, so cars couldn¡¯t drive up to the entrance. The rainfall was quite heavy. The staff ran out to get the cars, but walking from the door to the cars would definitely result in getting wet. Wang Ju managed to get a hold of four umbrellas. They were just a few days away from wrapping up the shoot, and the filming schedule was rather tight, so he wanted to go back early to prepare. He took one for himself, while the assistant director and the executive director shared another. That left two umbrellas for the three main actors. Shang Feifei, being close by, naturally took one and even joked, ¡°Sorry, I have a live stream soon, and I must go online. Excuse me, I need to get going.¡± Her reason was valid and her wording polite, so when she spoke up, no one felt it was inappropriate. That left only one umbrella. Now it came down to Bo Yan and Xia Siyu. The umbrella was in the middle, with people looking back and forth between Bo Yan and Xia Siyu, who stood alone on the side watching the rain. Bo Yan didn¡¯t speak either, just lifted his eyes to look at her. This was probably the first time on set, aside from acting, that he so openly looked at her outside of the play. Xia Siyu had a straightforward personality and was a whimsical person. Usually on set, although she also had the nickname ¡°Drama Tyrant,¡± if no one played with her, she could entertain herself and would never let the atmosphere go dull. But today, she might have been truly angry, unwilling to give him even a glance, too lazy to speak any pleasantries. ¡­Back then as well, she was always a person full of passion, but when occasionally struck down by setbacks, getting truly angry, she would completely shut herself off to the side, listening to no one. At the time, he hadn¡¯t understood, and on top of that, her temper flared up quickly but also faded faster, and the next day she would be full of energy again. Perhaps, it was precisely these small emotional buildups that led to their breakup. The umbrella was passed in front of Bo Yan, and after another glance at Xia Siyu, who hadn¡¯t even swept her eyes this way as if completely unwilling to interact with him, he lowered his head and took the umbrella. With the distribution completed, everyone gradually prepared to leave. Wang Ju along with the assistant director and executive director left first, followed by Shang Feifei with an assistant holding the umbrella; she walked ahead while also looking back. The rain continued to fall, and at the leisure center¡¯s gate, there was still a group of people. Bo Yan, holding the umbrella and looking down, cast a detached glance around, then suddenly strode forward, approaching Xia Siyu.. Chapter 95 - Chapter 95: Chapter 95: Reality Show (1) Chapter 95: Chapter 95: Reality Show (1) Translator: 549690339 Xia Siyu stood in the corner, watching the raindrops on the eaves. Bo Yan arrived, but she pretended not to see. Then he just stood in front of her. When Bo Yan set off, the remaining people on the crew, including Shang Feifei who had left first but looked back, all noticed. Everyone¡¯s gaze fell on the two of them. Xia Siyu noticed as well, but she couldn¡¯t bother to care. If she were not already in a corner, she would certainly want to move another two meters away from Bo Yan. The car of Song Fengzhi had also pulled up to the front gate, and he was still calling out, ¡°Bo, get in the car. There¡¯s an email that must be sent out on time.¡± Bo Yan gave a grunt of acknowledgment, his brow deeply furrowed, and then ¡ªhe thrust the umbrella into Xia Siyu¡¯s hand, ¡°You are a woman.¡± Xia Siyu was about to refuse when he turned his head, with no cover, and walked directly into the pouring rain. The people on the scene were shocked, and Xia Siyu also lifted her head, watching his back straightening, the rain pounding down on him, as he walked unhurriedly to the car like a leisurely stroll, pulling open the door. Wei Jingjing quickly tried to smooth things over, ¡°Siyu, you forgot that you have to rush to finalize your passport for your reality show, tomorrow is the last deadline. You can¡¯t be careless.¡¯ The umbrella had been handed to her, so it would be silly not to use it. Besides, who else could she give it to? Giving it to anyone else would seem deliberate. So naturally she nodded without any sense of guilt, lifted her face, and walked out with pride, slipping into the nanny van. The return trip was smooth, and they quickly arrived at the hotel. It was fortunate that their filming was now in the studio and didn¡¯t require location shooting, which also did not affect the schedule. Once at the hotel, Xia Siyu asked Wei Jingjing to return the umbrella to Wang Ju and kept to her room without leaving, avoiding any contact with Bo Yan. The next day¡¯s shooting was her solo scene. When she arrived on the set, she heard that Bo Yan seemed to have caught a slight cold after going back, which affected his line delivery, but fortunately, there weren¡¯t many lines and the slight nasally tone wasn¡¯t a big issue. After that day, she and Bo Yan basically had no more scenes together, and until the wrap-up, the two didn¡¯t interact. Even if they occasionally bumped into each other on set, both pretended as if they hadn¡¯t. Even Bo Yan wrapped up his scenes a day early and left the crew ahead of time. Due to a tight schedule, he didn¡¯t even have the chance to invite everyone for a meal, leaving that very night. However, because of their mutual avoidance and Xia Siyu¡¯s continued indifferent and aloof attitude, Bo Yan¡¯s act of giving her the umbrella was easily interpreted as a ¡°gentlemanly gesture¡± and didn¡¯t cause any misunderstanding regarding their relationship. Even those three women on set known for gossiping didn¡¯t make any more fuss. After the wrap party, everyone got into their respective cars, all set to leave. Xia Siyu leaned back in the seat, gearing up to dive into a reality show the next day. And one advantage of reality shows over TV or movies is that they are broadcast shortly after filming, not held up for years due to approval issues like some films and TV shows can be. But reality shows are also a major pitfall for celebrities, where any act, even a subconscious or harmless one, can be chewed over and over by the audience. And the scariest part might be that it isn¡¯t even something done unconsciously, but the effect after editing. They chatted, completely unaware that a car was following them. Moreover, it wasn¡¯t Bo Yan¡¯s Maybach.. Chapter 96 - Chapter 96: Chapter 96 Reality Show (2) Chapter 96: Chapter 96 Reality Show (2) Translator: 549690339 In the car, Wei Jingjing was still offering earnest advice, ¡°This reality show will broadcast live 24 hours a day, without cutting a single scene except for when we shower and sleep at night. Moreover, it¡¯s set abroad. Far from the Emperor¡¯s reach, neither personal assistants nor managers can follow. Over the next 20 days, you¡¯ll have to take care of yourself. But thankfully, the constant close-up filming means that food and drink should be no problem.¡± Xia Siyu paid no heed to this advice and continued to listen with her eyes closed, ¡°You, when you¡¯re on a reality show, try to keep your temper a little. You know your own personality, how you tend to fight at the slightest provocation. It¡¯s one thing to do that normally, but this is abroad, in front of cameras. Even rolling your eyes could result in the audience writing an 800-word essay about it. Even if you don¡¯t care about the audience, you still have to live with six other celebrities abroad for twenty days; otherwise, how do you plan to get through these next twenty days? And even if Zhou Weiwei is there, what about the other five people?¡± Zhou Weiwei had previously expressed interest in participating in Wang Ju t s film, but Wang Ju had his own criteria for casting. Xia Siyu spoke with brash assurance that she would speak on Zhou Weiwei¡¯s behalf, but ultimately it was unsuccessful. Zhou Weiwei didn¡¯t mind, but Xia Siyu felt a bit guilty. As soon as the reality show invited her, she quickly got in touch with Zhou Weiwei. In the end, Zhou Weiwei¡¯s camp signed her and another minor celebrity from her company for a relatively low price, successfully securing their entry into the show. But apart from Zhou Weiwei and that minor celebrity, she knew nothing about the other four participants. However, in addition to being a celebrity travel show abroad, the biggest draw of this program was that it was a live broadcast, with 24-hour face-to-face filming. It¡¯s well known that in reality show editing, men can be edited to look like women, and women can be made to look ridiculous, with laughter and anger manipulated by editing, and a single sentence can be spliced from the beginning to the end. A live broadcast doesn¡¯t have this issue, undoubtedly making it the most authentic ¡°reality¡± show there is, without exception. Abroad, without the presence of managers and assistants, living with unfamiliar celebrities, both male and female, the lack of a sense of security and the immense pressure is easily imagined. With such high demands, the pay is naturally better; otherwise, Qin Baizhou wouldn¡¯t have allowed her to take this gig. The only downside is that quitting midway is not an option; otherwise, a huge penalty must be paid. ¡°A moment of patience may calm the storm, and a step back may broaden the horizon. At worst, if you¡¯re wronged, let Qin help you get revenge when you get back,¡± Jingjing suggested. ¡°l won¡¯t,¡± Xia Siyu suddenly said, startling Wei Jingjing. Theoretically, shouldn¡¯t she be immediately retorting, ¡®IA moment of patience makes me angrier, a step back makes my breast cancer risk increase¡±? Looking down, she realized that Xia Siyu was indeed in a bad mood today, having listened to her without saying a word. Could it be that after spending so much time filming, she¡¯s gone silly from being on set too long? The car continued back into the city, reaching Qingcheng Apartments, and Wei Jingjing added, ¡°The show¡¯s crew will be here tomorrow afternoon. Qin will meet you for a pre-interview, then off to the airport for a direct flight to Italy. Get your things ready and rest well today.¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s nanny van turned into the basement garage, unaware of the car that had followed and stopped not far behind. Before long, Bo Yan¡¯s Maybach also returned to the Qingcheng Apartments, in plain view of that car. In the car, Shang Feifei¡¯s assistant asked her, ¡°Fei¡¯er, should we¡­?¡± Resting against the car seat, Shang Feifei closed her eyes to rest, ¡°Let¡¯s go, we¡¯ve got to head abroad tomorrow.¡± The car drove off, quickly vanishing from sight.. Chapter 97 - Chapter 97: Chapter 97: Reality Show (3) Chapter 97: Chapter 97: Reality Show (3) Translator: 549690339 After Bo Yan entered the house, the first thing he laid eyes on was a pair of high heels, haphazardly kicking around and askew. When he walked in, he was carrying a bag; upon seeing her high heels, he slightly furrowed his brows, set the bag on the entryway cabinet. He bent down intending to neatly arrange the high heels, but as his fingers touched them, he withdrew his hand. The living room was still dark, illuminated only by the light seeping from the adjacent bedroom. Before he could speak up, a head peeked out from that bedroom¡ªit was Xia Siyu, who appeared to have just taken a bath, wearing a bathrobe, with a dry hair cap and a face mask on. Upon seeing him return home, Xia Siyu quickly lost interest and withdrew her head back into the room; soon after, he heard the sound of a hair dryer¡ªit seemed she was drying her hair. Bo Yan did not concern himself with her; he changed his shoes upon entering the door and returned to his own room to change into pajamas before coming out again. Out of habit, he brewed himself a cup of coffee. Since he had already had dinner at this point in time, he didn¡¯t bother to prepare anything like a sandwich. However, he was leaving early tomorrow morning and likely wouldn¡¯t have any time to make breakfast, given Siyu¡¯s tendency to get up late. Thus, he had Song Fengzhi buy him some low-calorie snacks that were enough to fend off hunger without causing weight gain. As expected, while sitting there drinking his coffee and idly rummaging through the plastic bag to grab a few snacks, Xia Siyu finished blow-drying her hair and took care of her skin, then poured herself a cup of coffee as usual. When she turned around and saw him snacking, she naturally sidled up and asked, ¡°What are you eating? Dried tofu? Isn¡¯t that pretty high in calories? 1 envy male actors¡ªthey don¡¯t get mocked like us female artists if they gain a little weight.¡± Bo Yan looked at her with a face full of disdain, the more he looked, the more he leaned back in a tactical retreat, and then he pushed the bag gently in her direction. Xia Siyu¡¯s eyes lit up, and she quickly took a few snacks from the bag. Fearing he might refuse to share later, she took several more, piling them up into a small mound. Neither of them said a word; she sat at this end of the sofa, and I sat at the other, a two-meter distance between us. The recent downturn in the film and television industry meant that most stars weren¡¯t as busy as before. Top-tier celebrities like Xia Siyu and Bo Yan had a bit more luck, but even they were receiving fewer film offers than in the past. However, as Xia Siyu was nibbling on the dried tofu, she noticed that Bo Yan had two or three scripts on his side, one of which was from an emerging art-house director who had gained popularity over recent years and was very talented. On her own side, there were offers as well, but they were the same old fresh and sweet typecasts. Xia Siyu was now twenty-six, a month shy of twenty-seven. She could rely on her fresh-faced looks for a few more years, but once she hit thirty, she would face the pain of transition. She did not want to be typecast, nor did she want to be confined to her comfort zone for life; otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have strived to take on the role of the second female lead in ¡°Storm.¡¯ But wanting to choose a breakthrough was one thing; it also depended on luck. Opportunities like the one with Wang Ju might not come again. As she was lost in thought, her phone rang. Glancing at the caller ID, she saw it was Qin Baizhou and answered directly: ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Siyu¡­¡± He had only said her name, but Bo Yan¡¯s eyebrows twitched slightly across the couch. Xia Siyu immediately said, ¡°It¡¯s about the reality show, right?¡± Qin Baizhou nodded, ¡°Do you have time right now? I¡¯m downstairs at your building. ¡± As his words fell, the doorbell rang. Chapter 98 - Chapter 98: Chapter 98: Reality Show (4) Chapter 98: Chapter 98: Reality Show (4) Translator: 549690339 When Xia Siyu and Bo Yan got married, it coincided with the most chaotic period of her switching management companies. After marriage, they had been living apart all along, without any interaction. Even Qin Baizhou didn¡¯t know she was married, and she hadn¡¯t reported it. She also threatened and tempted Wei Jingjing and Little Tang to keep their mouths shut about her living with Bo Yan now. In short, she didn¡¯t want to let Qin Baizhou know about her issue with Bo Yan. She didn¡¯t want to mix work with her personal private matters. Moreover, her situation with Bo Yan was awkward to explain, and maybe by the time Qin Baizhou found out, she and Bo Yan might have already divorced. She glanced at Bo Yan, who was looking down and leisurely flipping through the script in his hand, turning the next page. Over the phone, Qin Baizhou was still talking, ¡°Is it inconvenient? Has your friend come back?¡± ¡°¡­Yes, a bit,¡± Xia Siyu nodded. ¡°Then how about this, you come downstairs and we can talk outside. Otherwise, you could move out tonight as well, since you¡¯ll need to be in the room for the pre-shooting tomorrow. Might as well rest there early tonight. Anyway, that place has everything.¡± Hearing this, Bo Yan slightly adjusted his sitting posture and turned another page of the script. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t even look at him, just feeling, ¡°Forget it, my things aren¡¯t properly packed yet. I just took a shower, so wait for a bit. I¡¯ll open the door in five minutes.¡¯ After hanging up the phone, she looked at Bo Yan, who was still looking down at the script, pretending as if nothing had happened. Xia Siyu thought it over, lifted her foot, and nudged his shin with her toe, meaning to give him a reminder. But Bo Yan drew in his leg, changed his posture, and continued reading the script. He clearly knew, but he was doing it on purpose, not wanting to pay her any mind! With Qin Baizhou waiting downstairs, was he expecting her to stay out overnight? After some thought, Xia Siyu decided to speak plainly, ¡°You heard what was said just now. My manager is waiting for me downstairs. Please go to your room and give us some privacy, we have work matters to discuss.¡± Bo Yan had finally finished that script, and Xia Siyu thought he would get up and leave, but he simply moved his fingers, picked up another script and continued, ¡°¡­You could also take your manager to your room.¡± ¡°Hey, you!¡± Xia Siyu was speechless. Was that even something you could say to someone? It was lucky she and Qin Baizhou didn¡¯t have any flirtatious relationship. If there had been even a slight bit, wouldn¡¯t his remark have meant the end of their friendship? She stood up abruptly, without a word, and kicked Bo Yan¡¯s shin. He quickly drew in his legs and turned away, presenting a demeanor of not wanting to deal with her. Xia Siyu, staring at the back of his head, felt accumulating anger inside, ¡°Fine, if you¡¯re not afraid to see, I¡¯ll just bring him up. Qin Baizhou isn¡¯t Wei Jingjing; he will definitely take advantage of this. I don¡¯t care personally, scandals don¡¯t bother me anymore, but congratulations in advance on losing your top-tier status.¡± Bo Yan completely ignored her, even flipping happily to the next page of his book. Xia Siyu was truly angered by him. She actually stomped a few steps in her slippers, ready to go open the door. But after two steps, the more she thought about it, the angrier she became, and she turned around and snatched the script from Bo Yan¡¯s hands. Bo Yan wouldn¡¯t allow it, immediately standing up to wrestle the script from her. During the struggle, he caught her wrist, pinned her down on the couch, and then leaped onto her, sitting on top of her.. Chapter 99 - Chapter 99: Chapter 99: Roommate (1) Chapter 99: Chapter 99: Roommate (1) Translator: 549690339 Xia Siyu was not one to be easily defeated. Even though her hands were held tight by him, she kicked her legs and twisted her body, struggling desperately, and he was just as determined not to let go. The two of them fought fiercely, the atmosphere was tense. Bo Yan had the natural advantage, pinning her on the sofa and pressing down on her waist and abdomen to prevent her from using her legs. Xia Siyu was not the type to admit defeat. If she couldn¡¯t use her hands or feet, then she would bite him! She lifted her neck and bit down hard on his shoulder. Her bite was strong, causing Bo Yan to grunt, and his face soon showed a slight change, as if in pain. Xia Siyu was feeling smug when suddenly, as she looked into his eyes, a flash of an image seemed to pass through her mind. It seemed that at some point in the past, she had also bitten down hard on his shoulder, in the exact same spot¡ª She hesitated for a moment and then released her bite. But as she did, Bo Yan, like a deflated balloon, lost all the strength in his supporting elbow, and collapsed on top of her as she let go. They had tussled during the filming before, but at that time, she had been partly focused on acting, especially remembering the choreography of their movements. After all, it was just a scene, and even if the set was cleared, there were still people filming; it wasn¡¯t a big deal. In terms of intimacy, there was that day in the bathroom stall when he ¡°helplessly¡± covered her mouth and they came into close contact because of a fall. But then, she had been more afraid of the people outside discovering their relationship. Although she felt embarrassed, it wasn¡¯t too uncomfortable. But today, even though there was no kiss, and at most it was just him falling on top of her, the sudden recollection of that past image made her entire spirit deflate. Especially when Bo Yan collapsed, his head resting on her shoulder in a jumble and his breathing close to her ear. Her breathing was unsteady, and so was his. Even though she couldn¡¯t see his face or eyes, the sound of his breathing was clear, and because their bodies were pressed together, his heartbeat was distinctly audible. Thump-thump, thump-thump-thump, the heartbeat grew faster. Like out-of-sync drumbeats matching the chaotic rhythm of her own heart. The more intertwined they were, the more it frustrated her. Despite the air conditioning, she felt hotter than when she sweated during filming, a sweltering heat. She did consider pushing him away, but the thought hadn¡¯t even left her mouth when all the strength in it seemed to be sapped away. The doorbell was still ringing. She knew, he knew, but neither of them paid any attention to it. After the doorbell had been ringing for a while, it finally stopped, but at the same time, her mobile phone also started to ring continuously. Xia Siyu finally caught her breath and softly said, ¡°My phone.¡± Bo Yan hummed a muffled ¡°Mhm¡± in her ear. Although he agreed, he didn¡¯t get up and still leaned on her. After a while, just when she thought the phone would hang up, Bo Yan slowly stood up, and she answered the call along with him, ¡°Hello?¡± The voice on the other end was Qin Baizhou¡¯s: ¡°Siyu, are you okay over there?¡± ¡°Ah, sorry, I was just¡­ uh, in the bathroom. I¡¯ll be right over.¡± She answered in a low voice while straightening her hair. When she looked up again, Bo Yan had already stood up. Perhaps because he got up too quickly, the script had fallen to the floor. He intended to pick it up, and as Xia Siyu also bent down to do the same, their fingers touched.. Chapter 100 - Chapter 100: Chapter 100: Roommate (2) Chapter 100: Chapter 100: Roommate (2) Translator: 549690339 Bo Yan reacted as if he¡¯d been scalded, hurriedly flicking his hand away and hopping a small step to the side, his face showing a clear desire to avoid contact, ¡°Get away.¡± Perhaps he retreated too swiftly; his calf struck the edge of the sofa, falling to the other side, but he quickly scrambled to his feet, racing away at the speed of an 800-meter sprint. After that came the sound of him slamming the door with force. Left behind, Xia Siyu froze for several seconds. For an instant, she was ready to confront Bo Yan. She hadn¡¯t bothered to make a fuss when he took advantage of her in the restroom that one time, but what was this now? Clearly, she was the one being groped, yet he acted as if he were a young wife abused by a bully, desperate to keep a distance of eight feet from her. What was he playing at, drawing close one moment and showing disgust the next? She could feel that, for a moment, the look Bo Yan gave her was complicated. To say it was disgust couldn¡¯t capture the whole story, but to call it closeness wasn¡¯t quite right either. To accuse him of taking liberties, he was mostly a gentleman, bordering on indifferent. To say he had no ulterior motives¡ªshe wasn¡¯t so naive as to believe that herself. Was it possible that living the life of an artiste, maintaining a cold and prohibitive persona, had twisted him? While she was still pondering, the doorbell rang again, and she quickly got up to open the door. Soon, Qin Baizhou had made his way upstairs. At the door, Qin Baizhou greeted her with a smile, ¡°I thought something happened to you just now. I was about to call¡ªthe police.¡± He paused briefly because as soon as he entered, he noticed a pair of men¡¯s slippers on the floor. Xia Siyu looked back, ¡°Why don¡¯t you come in?¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing.¡± He quickly changed his shoes and casually glanced around, ¡°Jingjing and Little Tang came earlier, didn¡¯t they? They helped you tidy up.¡± Xia Siyu nodded, ¡°Yeah, I had a lot of stuff. Without their help, I wouldn¡¯t know when l t d have finished tidying up.¡± Qin Baizhou nodded and began looking around the living room. He noticed two cups on the coffee table. Underneath the coffee table in the shelf were several scripts. One of them was clearly not provided by the company. Then, looking at the flatware, although the set had six of each type, two were noticeably in frequent use. Even though he didn¡¯t look into the bedrooms, it was apparent that one room had been used by Xia Siyu, and the other door was tightly shut. Qin Baizhou¡¯s gaze lingered on the closed door, the smile fading from his face. But the next moment, when Xia Siyu emerged from her bedroom, he quickly relaxed again, ¡°This house isn¡¯t bad.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Xia Siyu invited him to sit on the couch and, noticing Bo Yan¡¯s cup, she quickly took it away, ¡°Would you like some water?¡± ¡°No need.¡± Qin Baizhou pretended to be oblivious and started chatting with her. He was here for two reasons. The first was about her reality show tomorrow. Wei Jingjings words were always the same: don¡¯t be too impulsive. After all, Jingjing had been on a reality show and lost fans each time¡ªarrogant and temperamental, although malicious editing played a part, Xia Siyu¡¯s fiery temperament was also true. The second matter was about her contract with the company, which had only three months left before expiration. Qin Baizhou certainly wanted to sign her on again; now, it was up to Xia Siyu¡¯s intentions. She didn¡¯t really care, ¡°Send me the contract, and I¡¯ll look over it when I get back. Qin Baizhou nodded; these two matters resolved, the atmosphere became much lighter. He hinted indirectly, ¡°Siyu, you¡¯re at the age where you might think about dating. If you have any thoughts in that direction¡­.¡± Chapter 101 - Chapter 101: Chapter 101: Roommate (3) Chapter 101: Chapter 101: Roommate (3) Translator: 549690339 ¡°No,¡± she flatly denied. Actually, what she said wasn¡¯t wrong; she and Bo Yan could hardly be considered in love, even their marriage was questionable. Qin Baizhou scrutinized her carefully, his smile gentle, ¡°Nowadays, public taste has diversified, and the golden age for female artists isn¡¯t as fixed at thirty as it used to be. In fact, for many female artists, thirty to forty years old may be their golden years. However, once many female artists pass thirty without a successful transition, remaining mired in their past, their acting careers might be ruined. You are very talented and have a demand for acting. While it¡¯s not wrong for female artists to pursue love and marriage, my advice to you is to try to go as far as you can. It would be best to calm down, refine your skills, produce a few good works, and aim for awards. That way, even if one day you wish to return to the entertainment industry after marriage and having children, people will still take you seriously.¡± Xia Siyu nodded. The old her didn¡¯t have such a strong sense of crisis, but now, nearing twenty- seven, she could only circle around roles in young girl movies. Meanwhile, Shang Feifei had won a Best Actress award and flaunted it in front of her. Not to mention Bo Yan, who debuted later than her but won awards earlier and was now one of the hottest new stars in the entertainment industry. Even without considering these external factors, she too had thought about wanting to make movies that would be cherished for a century, remembered by movie fans instead of being entangled in messy scandals. ¡ªAt least, she wouldn¡¯t tarnish her mother¡¯s reputation. ¡°l know, so I want to act. I want to play good roles,¡± she said sincerely. ¡°As long as you trust me, I will do my utmost to help you become a big star, no, a megastar. I believe in your potential, and I believe in your value. Trust me, and believe in yourself,¡± Qin Baizhou was clearly moved, his smile becoming much gentler. Xia Siyu nodded and yawned, ¡°Is there anything else? I want to get some rest early today, as I have to fly abroad tomorrow, followed by that headache-inducing reality show.¡± ¡°Of course, get some good rest,¡± Qin Baizhou stood up, then turned back after a moment¡¯s thought, ¡°I¡¯ll find you a better house sooner, after all, staying in someone else¡¯s place for too long isn¡¯t quite convenient.¡± Xia Siyu didn¡¯t refuse, especially after considering Bo Yan¡¯s odd behavior. Even if Bo Yan wasn¡¯t interested in her now, they were still a man and a woman who had been intimate, and nominally husband and wife; living together was indeed awkward. What if he got carried away and did ¡°that¡± to her when she wasn¡¯t paying attention? What if she drank too much and did ¡°that¡± to him while he was asleep? As adults, doing ¡°that¡± wasn¡¯t a big deal, they could just consider it an exercise to lose weight. But the interpersonal relationship after the ¡°exercise¡± was what made things truly awkward. Currently, they clearly weren¡¯t lovers, nor did they plan to be a couple in earnest. She was unwilling to continue living with him as if nothing had happened, or to evolve into friends with benefits. Seeing her nod, Qin Baizhou truly relaxed this time, smiling as he said, ¡°Rest well. Although I can¡¯t accompany you on the reality show, if you need anything, just call, and I¡¯ll fly to your side immediately.¡± Xia Siyu nodded again and after some thought, she asked, ¡°Do you know who else is participating in the show?¡± Chapter 102 - Chapter 102: Chapter 102: Roommate (4) Chapter 102: Chapter 102: Roommate (4) Translator: 549690339 Qin Baizhou thought for a moment, then shook his head, ¡°From what I¡¯ve gathered so far, besides you and Zhou Weiwei, there¡¯s also the popular young actor Wang Zisu from the same agency, and Hu Juyue, who hosts for Huangcheng Media. I¡¯m not too clear about the remaining three. The official promotion has been huge, touting it as a top-tier celebrity survival live show abroad, so the online reservations for the show have already exceeded a million viewers. Tomorrow you¡¯ll do the pre-filming, and the day after they¡¯ll probably air a segment of your pre-filming, the day after that, you¡¯ll be in Sicily for the live broadcast.¡± ¡°Among these people, don¡¯t provoke Wang Zisu. He came from talent selection shows and has previously acted in a BL drama; he is the main star his company is promoting, and his fans can be quite troublesome. If you get along with him, fans will say you¡¯re hyping up a CP. If you have a falling out, his fans will also come after you. Just steer clear of him. But considering your reputation, 1 guess he won¡¯t dare to provoke you. Zhou Weiwei you can team up with, and Hu Juyue too, as a host she is there to control the situation, she shouldn¡¯t be biased¡ªat least she won¡¯t be plotting behind your back.¡± Xia Siyu nodded casually, and it was unclear whether she really took it in or not. Originally, Qin Baizhou wanted to advise her to curb her temper, but then he thought better of it. Reality shows tend to magnify a person¡¯s true nature, especially live broadcasts like this one. It was better for him to be on watch all the time, ready to handle any major publicity issues swiftly. After all these years, Xia Siyu had always been the one charging into the fray, causing trouble, and he was always behind her, leading the team to clean up the mess. He had grown accustomed to it. ¡°Then rest up, I¡¯ll come pick you up tomorrow afternoon,¡± he said. Xia Siyu nodded. As Qin Baizhou left, he made a point of glancing back several times at the closed door, which remained shut the entire time. Once he had taken the elevator down, Bo Yan emerged from the room, Xia Siyu was still lazily sprawled on the sofa, leisurely flipping through a script. And the script she was perusing was actually Bo Yan¡¯s. Bo Yan approached slowly, first casually glancing at the entrance to see that the slippers Qin Baizhou had worn were not the pair he usually wore, a slightly different color. Then he strolled back to find that Qin Baizhou hadn¡¯t used his glass for drinking water, which made his expression relax even more. Finally, he walked to the edge of the window and reached out to pull the curtain open. Beneath the night sky, Qin Baizhou¡¯s car drove out of the garage, waited at the street corner for a little while at the traffic light, and then drove off. Watching the car¡¯s receding figure, Bo Yan suddenly spoke, ¡°Your agent is very considerate towards you.¡± He paused, then added, ¡°He understands you very well, especially regarding your personal life.¡± Xia Siyu hummed in response, her tone candid as she retorted, ¡°Is your agent not good to you?¡± Isn¡¯t it only the less famous artists and those with little clout who are led around by their agents? Bo Yan was clearly neither. Bo Yan¡¯s lips curled into a rare smile of agreement, ¡°You¡¯re right. My agent can¡¯t control me. Especially when it comes to my personal life, they don¡¯t get a word in.¡¯ Xia Siyu responded casually with an ¡°Oh,¡± clearly not taking his words to heart. The room suddenly became quiet, Bo Yan standing at the window, Xia Siyu behind him looking at the script. Outside, the neon lights were shining brightly and colorfully on the two of them, neither of them speaking. After a while, Bo Yan suddenly broke the silence, his voice as soft as a feather, ¡°Do you want to move out?¡± Chapter 103 - Chapter 103: Chapter 103 Living Together (1) Chapter 103: Chapter 103 Living Together (1) Translator: 549690339 Perhaps her voice was too soft, or maybe the people behind were too engrossed, but no response came from the back until she suddenly exclaimed with an ¡°Ah¡±. Bo Yan looked back and noticed Xia Siyu browsing through his script, several of his scripts piled beside her hand, which she had apparently finished reading. ¡°l like this character, it¡¯s well-defined, and the story is quite good.¡± Bo Yan realized the script in her hand was from a rising director who had given it to him. He had worked with this director before; although not very famous, the director was talented and had crafted a solid screenplay. However, being a newcomer, the director wouldn¡¯t have a large budget, meaning the pay wouldn¡¯t be much, and it might even require Bo to cover some expenses or invest in it. But indeed, this was the person he intended to collaborate with next. He hadn¡¯t expected that Xia Siyu would also be fond of the script. The female protagonist in the script was certainly a complex and multifaceted character, struggling through the plight of the lower class while also displaying an aspirational side, and ultimately, hers was a tragic role that diverged from the male lead¡¯s path. Her character was well-developed, and the story was compelling. He had never before considered what it would feel like to offer Xia Siyu this role, since she had always played the innocent ing¨¦nue, and at most, was the second leading lady in ¡°Storm,¡± a role akin to a glamorous figurehead. Could she, with this layered and nuanced character entrusted to her, bring the role to life successfully? She lacked profound life experience and hadn¡¯t undergone systematic acting training. Though she indeed carried a certain spiritual energy when acting, he seriously doubted her ability to fully grasp and embody the character. Not to mention, with the production team short on both fame and funds and led by an emerging director, it was highly unlikely her prominent agent, Qin Baizhou, would agree to it. Qin had always been about optimizing time and maximizing efficiency. Such underfunded projects carried significant risks, and it was probable that, given Qin¡¯s character, he wouldn¡¯t consent to her participation. ¡°Are you considering this role?¡± Although Bo was 99 percent sure she wouldn¡¯t be able to take the role, he still asked. Xia Siyu nodded casually, ¡°The other scripts I¡¯ve been offered are either sappy sweet or whiny and melodramatic. I can¡¯t even bring myself to finish them, let alone the audience. Today¡¯s audience isn¡¯t easy to fool; it¡¯s not like the old days. After looking through them, this one still seems more appealing.¡± Bo was slightly surprised; Xia Siyu had always been known for her airheadedness, asking the least during script read-throughs, simply performing whatever she was asked. Though the results were usually not bad, could it be that she was just stumbling through it all by accident? But now, it seemed she actually had her own unique insight into scripts, at least her intuition was remarkable. ¡°Considering your current status¡­ taking on this might be a bit difficult,¡± he said, appreciatively, yet wanted to remain realistic. ¡°What¡¯s so difficult about it? I¡¯m not short on cash. If it turns out well, I could even do it for no fee, or I could invest. Or are you questioning my acting abilities?¡± Xia Siyu rolled her eyes, leaving Bo at a loss for words. He paused for a moment before saying, ¡°If you¡¯re truly considering it, I could help you make contact. Although he¡¯s a new director, the team behind him is quite capable, and he himself is talented and creative. However,¡± He paused, then added, ¡°If you play this role, we¡¯d likely end up living together for the next six months..¡± Chapter 104 - Chapter 104: Chapter 104 Living Together (2) Chapter 104: Chapter 104 Living Together (2) Translator: 549690339 Xia Siyu wore a puzzled expression, ¡°Why six months?¡± She even looked down, specifically glancing at the timeline, ¡°There shouldn¡¯t be a scheduled shooting time on here, right? It just says it will start within the next six months. And even if it¡¯s filming a movie, at most it would take three months. This film isn¡¯t like ¡°The Lord of the Rings,¡¯ the kind that you shoot for six months.¡¯ Bo Yan¡¯s expression remained calm, ¡°Because this shooting schedule¡ªit¡¯s set by me. The director has already made ample preparations beforehand; it¡¯s just that as a rising director without a track record, he can¡¯t pull in investments, nor does he have any famous actors joining, which makes starting the shoot difficult. If I agree to sign on, the director has promised to schedule around my availability. And l, will be free in about a month. If I¡¯m to shoot this film, it¡¯s definitely with the aim of winning awards, so I need to make sufficient preparations in advance. The male lead is from a small town in the West, which is a bit far from my life. If I go, I¡¯ll definitely need to observe local conditions and immerse myself into the role, which will take at least more than a month. The official shoot starts three months from now, and filming will take three months.¡¯ After he finished speaking, he glanced at Xia Siyu, his brow slightly furrowed, a hint of disdain in his eyes, ¡°As for you, to be honest, they¡¯re not offering much money, and the director isn¡¯t well-known, so what are you doing here? Even if you get the role of the female lead, you¡¯re not willing to come and experience life, to earnestly observe local conditions for a month for a work. Even if you shoot it, and put in the effort, you¡¯re still far removed from the life of the female lead. Later, everyone in the crew does well, but you, the female lead, lag behind, affecting the whole shoot, affecting my chances at winning awards. No money, it¡¯s hard, and you can¡¯t win awards, so why bother? Better just forget it.¡± Xia Siyu hated when others said she wasn¡¯t up to snuff, especially when it came to things she was striving for¡ªthe more people tried to hold her down, the more she wanted to get her hands on it. ¡°Why forget it, why should I give up? I haven¡¯t even shot it yet, how do you know I can¡¯t handle hardship, that I would drag down the whole crew? Besides, I¡¯ve suffered plenty when I was a child, you just don¡¯t know it. I can definitely handle more hardship than you!¡¯ As she spoke, she quickly called Qin Baizhou, ¡°Brother Qin, I want to shoot ¡®Spring Light.¡¯ Could you please help me get in touch? The director is Sun Wujiu.¡± Qin Baizhou had just arrived at the company and was getting out of the car when he took out his phone and paused, ¡°Sun Wujiu? Who¡¯s that?¡± ¡°He¡¯s a prot¨¦g¨¦ of Yu Fenfei from Xinjiu Media, previously Yu Fenfei¡¯s executive director. This is his debut work, but the team is from Yu Fenfei¡¯s, and Yu Fenfei himself will serve as the executive producer and producer for this film. I¡¯ve read the script; I think it¡¯s feasible, and I want to take it.¡± Qin Baizhou felt dizzy from her words, then suddenly remembered that he had seen several scripts that he was unfamiliar with under the coffee table at Xia Siyu¡¯s place, one of which was very likely this one. ¡°In that case, send me the script and your letter of intent first. I¡¯ll take a look and if it¡¯s suitable, I¡¯ll contact them immediately for you, okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll send it to you right away.¡± Xia Siyu hung up and directly asked Bo Yan, ¡°You have the script document, right? Send it to my email.¡± Bo Yan smiled slightly, ¡°Of course, that¡¯s possible. But 1 need to remind you that in this script, the male and female leads have affection for each other and live together. It would be best if you were there when I go to live the life.. Especially some tacit understandings of life, if people haven¡¯t been together for a long time, they simply can¡¯t be formed, so¡­¡± Chapter 105 - Chapter 105: Chapter 105 Living Together (3) Chapter 105: Chapter 105 Living Together (3) Translator: 549690339 As Xia Siyu hesitated, his expression became serious, ¡°However, this is a thankless task that greatly exceeds your abilities. Even though we¡¯re not on good terms, I don¡¯t want to harm you, so please spare us too. If I were to add a bit of investment, I could easily find a low-key but skilled actor to play the part, and the effect would be ten thousand times better than you. Actually, the director and I have our sights set on an actress who won the Best Supporting Actress at the Golden Sparrow Awards the year before last. She¡¯s also keen to come on board and is willing to take time to immerse herself in the role. It would be better to give it to her.¡± Although Xia Siyu may be naive, she wasn¡¯t easily swayed by Bo Yan¡¯s words. Her choice was¡ªto lower her head once again and review the plot. This script was written by the director himself, well-constructed, based on the story of his parents¡¯ generation, which also made it particularly realistic. The setting is during those chaotic ten years. The male protagonist is a local college student who returns home because the university suspends classes, while the female protagonist is an educated youth sent to the countryside from the big city, affected by her parents¡¯ status as capitalists. These two outcasts comforting each other in that era and place was virtually a given, but ultimately, as the female lead returns to the city, the relationship still ends in tragedy. Indeed, without substantial experience and at least a modicum of acting skills, one could not possibly perform in such a play, where the dramatic tension between the male and female leads was crucial. She glanced at the female lead¡¯s character design, read through the whole story once more, and nodded, ¡°I like this story.¡± Moreover, if it weren¡¯t for the current film industry slump that left many crews and movies on hold, and artists with more free slots in their schedules, she might never have had the chance to see such a script. Bo Yan didn¡¯t push the sale as aggressively as he had before. He understood the principle of advancing and retreating, and instead narrowed his eyes, adopting a composed demeanor. ¡°Send the script to my email, I¡¯ll have Brother Qin take a look,¡± Xia Siyu had said before that except for other business and variety shows, she didn¡¯t want to be involved, but for choosing scripts, she wished to have full autonomy. ¡°Sure,¡± Bo Yan was straightforward. He used his mobile email to send the script and the production crew¡¯s information to her. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t even look at it and directly forwarded Bo Yan¡¯s email to Qin Baizhou. Thus, Qin Baizhou¡¯s inbox received a forwarded email originally from ¡°[email protected].¡± In Huixing Company¡¯s office, Qin Baizhou stared at that ¡°yuyan¡¯! name for a very long time, so long that only when his assistant said, ¡°President Qin, your coffee has spilled,¡± did he snap back to reality. Qin Baizhou held his cup of coffee, his eyes fixed on the script on the screen, but his thoughts had long since drifted far away. He quickly typed a few words and searched for information in the search bar. Even though Bo Yan hadn¡¯t marked the lead male actor¡¯s information in the script he sent to Xia Siyu, Qin Baizhou still found several likely candidates from Sun Wujiu and Yu Fenfei¡¯s previous records, one of which was Bo Yan. Remembering Bo Yan¡¯s recent collaboration with Xia Siyu, recalling that although she usually had a fiery temper, she never publicly expressed dissatisfaction with a male artist on social media more than once or twice. He also remembered, this reality show has three unknown artists. If, in addition to this movie collaboration, Xia Siyu and Bo Yan would likely be spending eight or nine months together. Then, there were the men¡¯s items in the Qingcheng apartment. Qin Baizhou¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. Xia Siyu and Bo Yan, were they living together? Chapter 106 - Chapter 106: Chapter 106 Living Together (4) Chapter 106: Chapter 106 Living Together (4) Translator: 549690339 Qin Baizhou¡¯s matter was put aside, Xia Siyu finished packing her luggage and hurried to rest. When she got up the next day, the door to Bo Yan¡¯s bedroom was wide open, and he was gone. Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t surprised, that¡¯s just the life of an artist. Today in A Region, tomorrow off to B Region. If the schedule is tight, it¡¯s common to run between two or three places in one day. Qin Baizhou came to pick her up, and Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t tell if it was her imagination, but she felt that he seemed preoccupied that day. He even borrowed the restroom in her room and, upon seeing that all the toiletries in her bedroom were hers alone, and only one set of pillows and comforter, his expression cleared up from cloudy to sunny. Xia Siyu, being rather thick-skinned, didn¡¯t notice these details. After a simple pre-interview at the interview location, they headed to the airport. Before security check, she said to Qin Baizhou, ¡°Be sure to get in touch about that movie for me. The money doesn¡¯t matter; I just want that role.¡± Qin Baizhou smiled and nodded, ¡°I¡¯ll try.¡± After clearing customs, fortunately, the plane wasn¡¯t delayed, and after more than ten hours of travel, another day had passed by the time they arrived in Rome. Then, they took a connecting flight from Rome to Sicily. Sicily, in the southern part of Italy, is the largest island in the Mediterranean. This island has a long history and culture but, in the eyes of the world, it¡¯s famous for two reasons. One is the Italian Mafia, and the classic masterpiece that resulted, ¡°The Godfather¡±. The other is another immortal classic, ¡°The Beautiful Legends of Sicily¡±. The beautiful and enchanting Mediterranean scenery, the splendid historical culture, the gorgeous Baroque-style architecture, and the lasting influence of classic movies have all made the world stop and take notice. However, for Xia Siyu, the moment she stepped off the plane, her cellphone and wallet were handed over. Wei Jingjing and Little Tang were politely asked to leave at this point, and Xia Siyu alone boarded the vehicle prepared by the show crew and drove off. The villa arranged by the show crew was near Palermo, the capital of Sicily, located by the seaside, They rented a villa here for several stars to live in for ten days. After ten days, they would move on to Germany and continue living out their days in Heidelberg. As soon as she got off the plane, the show had begun. The live broadcast showed her waving goodbye to her assistant, embarking on the journey alone. Xia Siyu was the first officially announced female guest. As soon as her name was released, the crowd couldn¡¯t hold back their excitement. This one¡¯s a drama queen! This one¡¯s fierce! Although many people didn¡¯t like her or her movies, this was a variety show, and they just loved to watch her stir up trouble! Especially when the second officially announced female guest, Shang Feifei, was revealed, they had previously worked on a movie together, and it was rumored that Xia Siyu was a Drama Tyrant and did not get along with Shang Feifei on the set. The onlookers were even more eager to see the two of them fight and tear into each other! The cars carrying the two women arrived at the villa arranged by the crew, one on each side, and then they got out at the same time. Shang Feifei knew Xia Siyu would be there, so she wasn¡¯t surprised and even smiled as she greeted her, ¡°We meet again.¡± Xia Siyu, though not particularly fond of Shang Feifei¡¯s somewhat affected personality, always believed in not taking things personally. She wouldn¡¯t hit someone who¡¯s smiling at her, so she also nodded, ¡°Isn¡¯t it a coincidence? We just parted a few days ago and here we are again. It¡¯s fate.¡± As they were talking, another batch of guests arrived, and the ones getting off were Zhou Weiwei and¡ªLi Yiru.. Chapter 107 - Chapter 107: Chapter 107: Double Room (1) Chapter 107: Chapter 107: Double Room (1) Translator: 549690339 Li Yiru had no idea who the other participants were before she signed the contract. She agreed to sign on because reality shows pay well and quickly. Just twenty days here could net her several million in income. Although such a price wouldn¡¯t have been much to talk about in the entertainment industry¡¯s heyday a few years ago, now, with salary caps and government rectification of the industry, stars don¡¯t make much from acting. Moreover, a carefully produced drama might not even make it to air, whereas there¡¯s no such worry with variety shows. When she got out of the car and saw Zhou Weiwei opposite her, her mood stabilized slightly. Zhou Weiwei¡¯s star status was lower than hers, and she was gentle and gracious. If all the invited guests were like Zhou Weiwei, she thought she might be able to relax a bit. Then she turned her head and saw Xia Siyu and Shang Feifei. Since it was a live broadcast, the moment they got out of the car, the live show was already on the air. Li Yiru didn¡¯t even need to express her own surprise, as the live chat was already buzzing: ¡°Here comes another troublemaker; let the fight begin¡± ¡°l see the program team¡¯s intention now! Feeling sorry for Shang Feifei and Zhou Weiwei¡± ¡°Xia Siyu VS Shang Feifei, Xia Siyu VS Li Yiru, Xia Siyu taking on two at once!¡± There was also a comment questioning; ¡°So the program team only invited female guests?¡± Following that comment, the popular young actor Wang Zisu got out of the car, and instantly the live chat¡¯s traffic surged: ¡°Ahhh, my Prince!¡¯ ¡°Carry away my Prince, I don¡¯t need anyone else; Prince is uniquely gorgeous!¡± ¡°Prince, stay away from those women, especially Xia Siyu! r Amidst the flurry of comments, the host Hu Juyue got out of her car, but her arrival was completely drowned out by the noise. Before officially moving in, the group had to get to know each other, or at least exchange a few polite words. Among them, Hu Juyue, as the host, moved swiftly and sure-handedly through the various sisters. Zhou Weiwei, acknowledging her lower status, was more humble in her approach, greeted everyone with a smile, and they all smiled back in passing. It was Xia Siyu who was the issue. In many people¡¯s eyes, she was arrogant due to her beauty, had a powerful presence, and didn¡¯t like to talk much. Li Yiru greeted everyone, saving Xia Siyu for last. The live chat exploded with: ¡°High energy ahead, don¡¯t you dare skip this!¡± Li Yiru had lost a role in ¡°Storm¡± to Xia Siyu and subsequently played the victim using the announcement¡¯s popularity to sell her misfortune. But having been in the entertainment industry for a long time, she thought these off-screen shenanigans were separate, and now that they were facing each other, the other party would at least maintain some courtesy, right? She was known for her straightforward and generous nature, and so she approached Xia Siyu with a smile, reached out her hand, and said in a falsely magnanimous tone, ¡°Hello Siyu, I¡¯m Li Yiru.¡± Unexpectedly, Li Yiru¡¯s hand hung in the air for a long time, as Xia Siyu showed no intention of shaking it. Her hands remained in her pockets. After about half a minute, Xia Siyu lazily lifted her face and nodded, ¡°Hello.¡± She had the air of a leader greeting a subordinate. Li Yiru!s face turned bright red in an instant; she genuinely hadn¡¯t expected Xia Siyu to snub her so publicly, and it almost felt like a flashback to the Gold Oscar Film Festival, with Bo Yan kicking her out all over again. After Xia Siyu nodded, she didn¡¯t pay any further attention to Li Yiru¡¯s expression and walked away, moving on to Wang Zisu. She remembered what Qin Baizhou had said and didn¡¯t get too close. She greeted him formally: ¡°Xia Siyu. ¡± Wang Zisu was skinny, tall, and pale, exactly the kind of pretty boy the public adored. But when Xia Siyu greeted him, his face visibly reddened.. Chapter 108 - Chapter 108: Chapter 108: Double Room (2) Chapter 108: Chapter 108: Double Room (2) Translator: 549690339 Although this was a live broadcast, the production team craftily cut to a pre-recorded clip of Wang Zisu discussing his ¡°ideal type.¡± At the time, he had answered, ¡°Active as a startled rabbit, introverted as a maiden.¡¯ One might think it was just an artistic expression he casually uttered, but when you apply this adjective to Xia Siyu, doesn¡¯t it perfectly describe someone who is introverted as a maiden when acting but as active as a startled rabbit off-screen? Could it be that Wang Zisu¡¯s ideal type is¡ªsomeone like Xia Siyu? The barrage of comments exploded with wails: ¡°Is the production team deliberately stirring up a CP (couple pairing)?¡± ¡°What a trashy company, to pair my brother with that woman? ¡°Producers, be professional!¡± Once all six participants had gathered, the director standing on the other side began to speak, ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to our show ¡®Flowers and Grass.¡¯ Over the next ten days, we will spend our time in this seaside villa. After ten days, we will embark on a new journey to Heidelberg.¡± After a token round of applause, there were seven envelopes placed on the table in front of the director. ¡°Just now when you got on the vehicle, we asked you to hand over your cell phones and wallets. The cell phones will be returned to you later, but the wallets will temporarily be confiscated by the production team. Everyone¡¯s daily meal allowance is in these envelopes. Also in the envelopes is information about your personal rooms; those with the same color room cards will be living together for the next ten days.¡± The one who noticed the point was Hu Juyue. She pointed at the envelopes and counted, ¡°There are seven envelopes, there¡¯s an extra one, does that mean there is still a roommate who has not arrived?¡± The director nodded. ¡°There is still one roommate who, due to scheduling reasons, could not arrive today. He should arrive tomorrow without any mishaps.¡± Everyone rushed forward to grab the envelopes. Upon opening them, the first thing they checked was the room cards: ¡°1 got yellow.¡± ¡°l got green, who¡¯s with me?¡± ¡°Me, me, what about you? What color did you get?¡± Zhou Weiwei was a little disappointed not to be in the same room as Xia Siyu, but having Hu Juyue as a roommate wasn¡¯t too bad. Shang Feifei and Li Yiru both picked green cards, meaning they would live together. Xia Siyu held up a red card while Wang Zisu had an orange one. The two of them ended up in separate rooms. Since the last guest, according to the official announcement, was another male, Xia Siyu was particularly pleased to have secured a single room for herself. Some people go on variety shows for the camera time, like Hu Juyue, unfortunately, she didn¡¯t get to share a room with any of the top three female stars, so there wasn¡¯t much to talk about. But for Xia Siyu, being able to rest well was, of course, the best. She wasn¡¯t used to sharing a room with someone else. The last envelope, lonely and abandoned, lay on the table. After checking the room cards, they moved on to what was most important¡ª the daily living allowance: ten bucks. To be precise, ten euros. Receiving such a modest sum, the group of celebrities was a bit dumbfounded. Even though ten euros is equivalent to sixty or seventy yuan, the purchasing power that it represented locally was indeed just ten bucks. Labor is expensive overseas; just one dish in a restaurant easily costs twenty euros. They could probably manage one meal at a fast food joint, but there were obviously three meals a day to consider, perhaps even other expenses. Were the producers forcing them to cook and learn to plan and manage? Amid a collective sigh, several guests grumbled as they moved their luggage in. Xia Siyu¡¯s red card room was the smallest one on the second floor, at the very back. Although it was a double room, she happily pushed the two small beds together. Chapter 109 - Chapter 109: Chapter 109: Double Room (3) Chapter 109: Chapter 109: Double Room (3) Translator: 549690339 Opening the window, she was met with the azure expanse of the ocean. The sea breeze caught her face as she inhaled the familiar air. Even though the reality show claimed to film ¡°24-hour face-off¡± style, with her face turned towards the outside while opening the window, the camera could only capture her graceful silhouette from behind. In a corner unknown to others, the tranquility on her face was slowly replaced by a trace of solemnity, which then transformed into a hint of melancholy. After packing up and coming downstairs, several people sat around the table in the living room, each pondering over their own ten euros. Shortly after, Wang Zisu¡¯s stomach rumbled. He looked up, ¡°Can I order some food? I haven¡¯t had lunch since I rushed for the flight.¡± ¡°Me too¡­¡± Li Yiru raised her hand, and Shang Feifei nodded. Zhou Weiwei said meekly, ¡°But we only have ten euros each, which isn¡¯t enough.¡± Hu Juyue suggested, ¡°How about we pool all our money together? That should be enough for something to eat?¡± That might be a solution, but even then, all their money would probably only be enough for one meal, and it would have to be fast food. They wouldn¡¯t be able to touch anything for dinner and could only stare hungrily. Shang Feifei expressed her regret, ¡°It would¡¯ve been better if we were in our own country. Without going through customs, we could¡¯ve brought some things with us. After clearing customs, everything got confiscated. What will we do for the next twenty days?¡± The gloomy faces of the group prevailed, and out of everyone, only Zhou Weiwei noticed Xia Siyu coming downstairs. She called out, ¡°Siyu, you¡¯re here? What are you planning to do for lunch today?¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s reply seemed off-topic, ¡°Do you have water?¡± Zhou Weiwei nodded and pointed to the tap, ¡°It¡¯s Purified Water, drinkable straight from the tap.¡± Xia Siyu asked again, ¡°Do you have a kettle? 1 want to boil some water.¡± Li Yiru couldn¡¯t help but mutter softly, ¡°What times are these, and you still insist on drinking boiled water?¡± Xia Siyu rebutted directly, ¡°If I don¡¯t use boiling water, how am I going to prepare instant noodles?¡± The rest of them instantly looked at her, their faces filled with surprise, ¡°Instant noodles?¡± Xia Siyu had a suitcase by the door. Upon opening it, they saw several boxes of instant noodles, about seven or eight in total. Next to them were various seasonings¡ªsalt, pepper, fish maw, star anise, and other spices, and there were even dried noodles. If it hadn¡¯t been for the inconvenience of going through customs, she would have even brought soy sauce with her. The others stared on somewhat dazed before she remarked, ¡°That¡¯s all I have, and it¡¯s not enough to feed everyone for twenty days.¡± ¡°No way, that¡¯s more than enough, Sister Xia!¡± Hu Juyue quickly stood up, elated, ¡°Sister Xia, you¡¯re really like a sister to me. How could you bring so much? You¡¯re amazing! I¡¯ll go boil the water!¡± And with that, she dashed off to fetch and heat the water. ¡°I¡¯ll go get the cutlery ready!¡± Zhou Weiwei popped up from her seat, enthusiastically organizing the gear. Shang Feifei, feeling somewhat obliged, stood up and said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll pour water for everyone.¡± Wang Zisu also stood up, ¡°Sister Siyu, I saw that you didn¡¯t take one of your suitcases upstairs. Let me help you with that.¡± Xia Siyu casually replied, ¡°Thank you.¡± Wang Zisu blushed, looking down, he added, ¡°No problem.¡± The instant noodles were quickly prepared, and the stars, who were usually pampered and wouldn¡¯t spare a second look for such ¡°junk¡± food, were now savoring them as if they were the most delectable foods portrayed in Korean dramas¡ªeven the previously aloof Li Yiru couldn¡¯t resist joining in. After a satisfying meal, Hu Juyue couldn¡¯t hold back her curiosity, ¡°Who do you think the remaining guest is?¡± Chapter 110 - Chapter 110: Chapter 110: Double Room (4) Chapter 110: Chapter 110: Double Room (4) Translator: 549690339 The group exchanged puzzled looks before Zhou Weiwei nudged Xia Siyu. ¡°Who do you think it¡¯ll be?¡± Xia Siyu appeared nonchalant: ¡°l don¡¯t care who it is.¡± She also asked, ¡°So we have to live here for the next ten days. Are we allowed to move around freely?¡± Hu Juyue pondered for a moment, ¡°Probably not. I guess the crew will give us a task card every day. Otherwise, why bother sending us all the way here, wasting money?¡± After saying this, Xia Siyu fell silent for a bit. Then Li Yiru said with a smile, ¡°1 hope the visitor is a top influencer like us.¡± The group broke into laughter. When this topic ended, Hu Juyue stood up and said, ¡°Comrades, no matter what, eating is of utmost importance. The money given by the crew probably won¡¯t be enough for dining out. We¡¯ll need to make a trip to the market regardless.¡± Zhou Weiwei countered, ¡°But this is a foreign country, we¡¯re strangers in a strange land, how are we supposed to know where the market is?¡± ¡°Use the map,¡± Shang Feifei immediately responded, ¡°Didn¡¯t the crew return our phones? Just download a map and navigate there.¡± The group started searching, and sure enough, there was a market nearby, just a kilometer away. Well, there was no need to discuss further; they got ready and set out together. Six people marched out majestically, the crew trailing behind them. The market wasn¡¯t far, but the tangle of small streets and alleys en route made it easy to get lost. This was just the outskirts of Palermo, not the Chinese District; perhaps it was rare to see so many Asian faces, so the passersby looked on curiously. Luckily it wasn¡¯t the weekend, so the market was open. However, once they arrived, the guests were a bit dumbfounded. They didn¡¯t speak Italian. Among the guests, Wang Zisu had been a trainee in Korea and spoke Korean well. The others, despite having traveled abroad extensively, were barely managing with English, let alone Italian. Looking back at the crew, even if they had translators, they wouldn¡¯t lend you one at this moment; they wanted to see you flounder. While they were still wondering, Xia Siyu stepped forward and spoke fluently to a vegetable stall owner, who nodded cheerfully. She wasn¡¯t speaking standard Italian, but Sicilian. With that one sentence, everyone around her was astonished. Zhou Weiwei asked, ¡°How did you¡­?¡± ¡°l took Italian as an elective in college.¡± Xia Siyu and Zhou Weiwei were college classmates, even though Xia Siyu dropped out in her junior year. After buying the groceries, the group headed back home triumphantly. Sure enough, they got lost, but Xia Siyu confidently asked for directions. While the people around didn¡¯t say much, the online comments were quite shocked: ¡°To be honest, she brought a lot of spices and instant noodles. She¡¯s quite savvy.¡± ¡°Does anyone understand what she just said? Italian?¡± ¡°I¡¯m dying of laughter. I majored in Italian, and what she said was nowhere near standard. And they¡¯re praising that?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t she supposed to be the school bully? Like ¡®bully¡¯ in ¡®school bully¡¯!¡¯ Back at the house, Hu Juyue cooked, making the simplest of dishes: tomato and egg stir-fry. Zhou Weiwei boiled noodles, while Wang Zisu was in charge of frying steak. After the meal was ready, Shang Feifei and Li Yiru cleaned up. Although the live broadcast was a novelty, the audience was slightly disappointed that the anticipated intense conflicts didn¡¯t erupt. After washing up and resting, the broadcast ended, and the guests each drifted into sleep. Three in the morning. Bo Yan, holding a red room card, pushed open the door to Xia Siyu¡¯s room.. Chapter 111 - Chapter 111: Chapter 111: Couple Outfits (1) Chapter 111: Chapter 111: Couple Outfits (1) Translator: 549690339 After parting with Xia Siyu that day, Bo Yan first flew to Shangcheng. After attending the event hosted by the brand in Shangcheng, he took the late-night flight to Frankfurt. From Frankfurt, he transferred to Rome, and then flew to Palermo. He had thought that the journey would be delayed a bit, but surprisingly, he arrived even earlier than expected. At that time, he hadn¡¯t booked a hotel room. It wasn¡¯t suitable to go anywhere else, so he might as well go directly to the program crew¡¯s location. Of course, someone from the program crew was there to greet him. He looked tired and dusty, and knowing that most people had gone to sleep, he didn¡¯t want to disturb anyone. He took his room card and went straight to the room with the red card, pushing the door open. Generally, the program staff would separate the sleeping accommodations by gender. Only in unavoidable situations like mountain climbing or exploring would they have men and women sharing rooms. But this program was different since it involved 24-hour close-up filming, with cameras covering every angle all the time. Although the celebrities were used to covering the cameras with clothes while sleeping to block the view, nobody would dare to fool around at this time, right? After all, even though it was advertised as a live broadcast with celebrities living together overseas, there were actually around a hundred staff members from the program crew. A shout could be heard throughout the entire building. Bo Yan arrived very late and, not wanting to disturb his roommate, he went to the washroom to change his clothes and take a bath. After washing up, he removed his makeup, put on a set of comfortable home clothes, and tiptoed with his room card in hand. Although Bo Yan came from a good background, he had experience living in dormitories during summer camp and military training. So, sharing a room with other guests didn¡¯t bother him too much. Pushing open the door, the curtains inside were drawn tightly, leaving only a sliver of space where the hazy moonlight could barely be seen. This was the smallest and innermost room. Standing by the door, Bo Yan thought it was a double room, the kind with two beds. But it seemed like there was one large double bed, and he could vaguely make out a human shape in the middle, the head buried under the covers, well hidden, perhaps for fear of the program crew secretly filming. Yet, the person was sprawling over the bed in a disordered manner. His entrance did not disturb the good sleep of the person inside, who even stretched out a leg, laying diagonally and occupying three-quarters of the bed. Bo Yan was speechless. He hadn¡¯t actually considered that the program staff would be bold enough to allow male and female guests to share a room, nor had he expected that Xia Siyu would combine two beds into one. Forget about mixed-gender sharing; even two guys sharing a bed could cause an uproar among fans in this day and age, okay? He stood at the head ot the bed for a while and then decided to head downstairs to make do with a night on the sofa in the living room below. Just as he was about to turn around, a murmur from under the covers stopped him in his tracks. That voice, Bo Yan was certain he couldn¡¯t mistake it it was his own wife: Xia Siyu. He was shocked at first and then filled with boundless anger. What was the meaning of this? Did the program crew do this on purpose? How could male and female guests be allowed to share a room? This time, he had been lucky to end up in the same room as Xia Siyu, but what if she had been paired with another male guest? He definitely would have felt murderous, But at this moment, he obviously couldn¡¯t continue to stay here. This was a program, not a private interaction. Just as he was about to leave, his footsteps were once again halted by a murmur from behind: ¡°Don¡¯t go¡­.¡± Chapter 112 - Chapter 112: Chapter 112: Couples Outfits (2) Chapter 112: Chapter 112: Couples Outfits (2) Translator: 549690339 Bo Yan¡¯s footsteps halted. He actually knew that Xia Siyu!s plea, ¡°Don¡¯t leave,¡± wasn¡¯t meant for him. She was clearly asleep, and she only let down her guard around him when she was either fast asleep or completely drunk. Yet, knowing the words Xia Siyu murmured weren¡¯t meant for him, he still paused, moved by the trace of vulnerability in her voice. Especially since he wanted to know who the subject of her sentence was. Who didn¡¯t she want to leave, a man or a woman? If it was a man, was he a relative or her lover? Bo Yan was aware that the show¡¯s crew probably wanted to stir up some drama from the beginning, which was why they intentionally arranged for male and female guests to live together. If the lot had been drawn on the spot, he and another male guest certainly wouldn¡¯t have the gall to sleep in the women¡¯s bedroom. It just so happened that he arrived early, and in the middle of the night no less, so the crew felt uncomfortable waking the others. Moreover, perhaps for every minute he lingered here, there were a dozen people watching him, and it wouldn¡¯t even take half an hour before a press release would fly across China¡¯s social media. But he still wanted to ask clearly¡ªwho she didn¡¯t want to leave. Bo Yan crouched down, took a deep breath, and in the gentlest voice he asked, ¡°Who don¡¯t you want to leave? Who is it?¡± People often don¡¯t respond coherently in their sleep, and most of the time, nothing follows a muttered dream phrase. Bo Yan waited for a long while, listening to the noises outside as he did so. Although the crew members didn¡¯t dare barge in directly, they were indeed worried¡ªwhat if these two really stirred up trouble? Would their show still be able to air? And damn it, the show was being broadcast live. Finding a way to edit this segment out wouldn¡¯t be easy. Ten seconds, twenty seconds, thirty seconds, a minute passed. Bo Yan stood up. No matter how curious he was, he wouldn¡¯t stay and ruin her reputation. Even though they were husband and wife, theirs was a secret marriage, and they had their own reasons for keeping their work and relationship private. However, just as he was about to open the door to leave, he heard Xia Siyu murmur from behind, ¡°Don¡¯t go¡­ Mom¡­ ¡® Bo Yan didn¡¯t know whether to feel sad or happy, relieved or more pitying. But he quickly opened the door and then hurried to close it again. Facing the crew outside, he reprimanded sternly, ¡°You¡¯ve gone too far.¡± Those five words, even without much anger behind them, chilled the spine of everyone from the crew. From what they could tell, it seemed nothing had happened. Nothing might have occurred, but the indignation of Bo Yan and Xia Siyu¡­ That was something they couldn¡¯t bear the brunt of. ¡°Sorry, it won¡¯t happen again,¡± the show¡¯s executive director quickly bowed his head. ¡°Arrange your own explanation to the head of the network,¡± Bo Yan said, dismissing them, and he went downstairs and lay down on a sofa on the first floor with a thin blanket. Such a grave error could indeed lead to a major scandal that might crush the crew and even the entire platform. The internal affairs of the show¡¯s crew were their own problem to handle, and he wouldn¡¯t interfere for now. But if they didn¡¯t handle it well, he wouldn¡¯t let it go. Xia Siyu and the others resting upstairs were completely unaware of what had happened. But a while later, Xia Siyu groggily went to the bathroom. Feeling a bit thirsty, she went downstairs to get some water. Her bleary eyes met Bo Yan¡¯s as she descended the stairs.. Chapter 113 - Chapter 113: Chapter 113: Couples Outfits (3) Chapter 113: Chapter 113: Couples Outfits (3) Translator: 549690339 Xia Siyu was indeed groggy from sleep. She had flown all the way from China, certainly not getting any proper rest on the plane. After all the exhausting travel, transfers, and car rides, she had to deal with the program crew¡¯s cameras and the other five guests, particularly the troublemakers Shang Feifei and Li Yiru. In addition, everyone suffers from jet lag; she had only managed to lie in bed until two o¡¯clock before falling asleep, and now her brain hadn¡¯t even had time to recover. When she came downstairs and saw Bo Yan, perhaps because she had been living with Bo Yan recently, or maybe because her head was still a bit foggy, she didn¡¯t realize that this was happening during the filming of the show, nor did she remember that they weren¡¯t in China. Bo Yan also sat up from the sofa, a blanket falling from his waist. His eyes fixed on Xia Siyu, first noticing that her clothes were properly on, with nothing amiss, which made him sigh with relief. Then he realized her demeanor was calm, as if she wasn¡¯t overly surprised by his presence. Thankfully, at night, the cameras were mostly on standby or turned off. Especially after Bo Yan had criticized the crew earlier, they wouldn¡¯t dare pull any more stunts. Bo Yan was sleeping in the living room, so naturally, they turned off the living room cameras. Especially since the live broadcast in China had already been shut down, since it was disabled, they wouldn¡¯t bother turning it on again. So now, there was no surveillance in the living room. Looking at him indifferently, Xia Siyu turned to the water dispenser next to her, poured herself some water, and drank it down in big gulps. It was a good thing that during their everyday life at Qingcheng Apartments, they ignored each other unless food was involved. After finishing her water, she rinsed out the cup and placed it aside. Then she turned around, her hand on the railing, and began to walk upstairs step by step. However, after she took a few steps, just as her foot was lifted midair, she suddenly felt something was off. Her head whipped around almost reflexively. Then she looked down, her gaze freezing on Bo Yan. Bo Yan had been keeping an eye on her. As she turned her head, their gazes collided perfectly. For a split second, the air seemed to freeze. Apart from the sound of waves hitting rocks outside, nothing else could be heard. Yet the very next second, Xia Siyu missed her step. Even though she was holding onto the railing and had years of dance training which gave her great balance and flexibility, she was still too shocked and tumbled down the stairs. The stairs she was climbing weren¡¯t very high, but falling down would still hurt. If she hadn¡¯t fallen just right, she might have even broken a bone; it would have been a disaster. As her world spun, Xia Siyu was completely bewildered. In a daze, she dimly saw Bo Yan, who had been sitting on the sofa, surge forward like a dart. But the sofa was quite a distance from the stairs, and he couldn¡¯t possibly reach her in time to catch her, could he? Bo Yan indeed couldn¡¯t catch her in time. The moment he realized she was going to fall, he leapt up like a cheetah, ready to pounce. However, the distance between the sofa and the stairs was considerable, and he wasn¡¯t Bolt, a god of sprinting capable of covering a hundred meters in under ten seconds, performing a move out of an idol drama where he rushes in front of her, scoops her up, and spins around¡ªall beyond what a normal person can achieve. But he still charged forward, watching as Xia Siyu!s body lifted into the air, twisting and then rolling downwards, about to hit the ground when Bo Yan threw himself forward, extending his arms and using his own back to catch Xia Siyu as she tumbled from above! Chapter 114 - Chapter 114: Couples Outfits (4) Chapter 114: Couples Outfits (4) Translator: 549690339 Xia Siyu only felt herself falling onto a soft body, and because of the huge impact, they even rolled together in an embrace. She had originally thought she would fall very badly and heavily, and although it did hurt, fortunately, there was a ¡°cushion¡± behind her to absorb most of the impact, so it wasn¡¯t too uncomfortable. Bo Yan got up before her, and as he rose, he still had one hand supporting her back, asking her, ¡°Are you all right?¡± Xia Siyu first said, ¡°It hurts.¡± Bo Yan immediately followed up with, ¡°Where?¡± Perhaps because of the fall just now, Bo Yan¡¯s voice wasn¡¯t as calm as usual. But quickly, Xia Siyu realized this was part of a show, and the living room was full of cameras, so she hastily pushed him away with her hands while whispering, ¡°Let go of me.¡± The next second, Bo Yan instantly withdrew the arm that was supporting her. Xia Siyu¡¯s center of gravity was unstable, and she fell to the ground again. Perhaps because he withdrew too quickly, she couldn¡¯t balance herself and her arm struck the edge of the coffee table, causing her to shout loudly, ¡°Are you sick! ¡± And it has to be said, Xia Siyu¡¯s shout, with its loud volume, instantly woke up all the residents in the building. Except for Hu Juyue, who was a heavy sleeper, the other three female guests, including Wang Zisu, who was cranky just after waking up with an eye mask on, angrily opened their doors. Then the lights came on quickly, and the few guests who came downstairs, along with other members of the production team, saw the scene where Xia Siyu was angrily lying on the ground and Bo Yan was sitting on the sofa with his arms folded, looking nonchalant. Everyone looked back and forth between Xia Siyu and Bo Yan, not sure what the situation was. After a long time, it was Li Yiru who first broke out into a smile, ¡°Didn¡¯t expect to see Teacher Bo again, what a coincidence.¡± Li Yiru was wearing a nightgown, the kind with sensual spaghetti straps, a bright red silk dress that outlined her figure. Clearly, she had originally planned to stand out with her nightgown, too bad for her, the production team wasn¡¯t filming their bedtime discussions, and Shang Feifei was someone who knew how to pass the buck and wouldn¡¯t pay attention to her flirtatious behavior. Li Yiru also didn¡¯t dare to dance in front of Wang Zisu. Wang Zisu obviously wasn¡¯t interested in her, and with the fans being too terrifying, she couldn¡¯t afford to provoke them just yet. Now seeing Bo Yan, that was different, it was like seeing the hope of the entire village. Bo Yan looked up, calmly and indifferently glanced over her face, ¡°Not a coincidence. 1 am the last guest of this production.¡± Shang Feifei was much smarter. Having dealt with Bo Yan before, she knew he didn¡¯t like female stars throwing themselves at him, so she asked straightforwardly, ¡°Weren¡¯t you supposed to arrive tomorrow? Why didn¡¯t you tell us you were here?¡± ¡°The journey was too smooth and I arrived earlier than scheduled.¡± Among the group, it was Wang Zisu who asked, ¡°Sister Siyu, what happened toyou?¡± Then Zhou Weiwei quickly went over to help her. ¡°l came down for a drink of water, got scared by him and took a fall, it¡¯s nothing serious,¡± Xia Siyu said as she rubbed her bottom and got up. Seeing Bo Yan looking so composed and nonchalant still really annoyed her. Bo Yan also said, ¡°You all go back to rest. There are only a few hours left anyway. I¡¯ll make do on the sofa for tonight, and we can discuss the room situation tomorrow.¡± Indeed, several of them were still scarcely awake, yawned, and went back upstairs to rest. However, Shang Feifei, because she had paid attention to Bo Yan and Xia Siyu before, turned back to look at them again. Why did it seem that the two of them were wearing ¡ª matching pajamas? Chapter 115 - Chapter 115: Intimate Partner (1) Chapter 115: Intimate Partner (1) Translator: 549690339 The next day, Xia Siyu was woken up by the noise from downstairs. She groggily climbed out of bed, reached out to draw the curtains, and peered down from the window. The live broadcast had not yet started, but the production crew was already at work, cameras in place. The footage being shot now would later be included in the PLUS version for members. When she looked out, she saw Bo Yan, Shang Feifei, and Li Yiru in the yard. Bo Yan was dressed in sportswear. Despite arriving late the night before, he was very alert and woke up instantly the moment the production crew arrived. Entertainers have the consciousness to spruce themselves up for the camera, even when lacking sleep. He simply changed his clothes and started exercising. After all, he was abroad in Italy and not quite familiar with the vicinity, so he didn¡¯t venture far for his run. Instead, he strolled nearby before returning and was now doing some stretching exercises. Li Yiru had been holding back her frustration. Having just arrived yesterday, she was not only unfamiliar with the place and hesitant to act up, but also struggling with jet lag. Shang Feifei wouldn¡¯t fall for her tricks either; the two maintained a polite facade, but it was just surface-level peace. With Bo Yan around, she felt like her opportunity had come. Li Yiru had faced rejection from Bo Yan multiple times, so she was well aware of his disinterest in her. But she understood a principle: Bo Yan was the traffic, the camera, and the topic of conversation. Being closer to him meant more camera exposure for her. Though she joined the program for the money, she had received a message from her agent that there were twenty million people watching the live stream online. The program had just gone live and had already trended several times. Xia Siyu, with her outstanding performance, had once again dominated the trending searches. The hashtags #XiaSiyulnstantNoodles, #XiaSiyuSeasoningPack, and #XiaSiyuItalian were trending the highest. Despite the ongoing backlash against her online, her performance the previous day indeed earned her a wave of goodwill. Wanting to stand out, Li Yiru knew Xia Siyu wouldn¡¯t cooperate with her, neither would Shang Feifei, and she didn¡¯t dare to leech off of Wang Zisu¡¯s popularity, leaving her with only Bo Yan to exploit. As soon as Li Yiru got up, Shang Feifei, who shared a room with her, naturally woke up as well. She went through a similar thought process but had the pride of a female celebrity. Having been rebuffed by Bo Yan, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to fawn as shamelessly and obsequiously as Li Yiru did. Shang Feifei wasn¡¯t fond of Xia Siyu either. After all, they were of similar age, and although their acting roles slightly differed, there were bound to be clashes. Even without Bo Yan in the picture, they were natural competitors, and they had been in overt and covert conflicts while filming. Seeing Bo Yan exercising, Li Yiru hurriedly changed into a sporty outfit. She too wore sportswear, but opted for a low-cut, tight top and short hot pants. Emerging with a radiant smile, she stretched lazily, accentuating her voluptuous chest: ¡°Hmm¡­ Good morning, Teacher Bo. The weather is so nice today, perfect for a morning workout.¡± From the second floor, Xia Siyu closely observed and judged their outfits. Although Li Yiru¡¯s chest could barely be considered a C-cup, she had a long waist and slightly thicker legs. Shang Feifei, on the other hand, kept it simple with a T-shirt and jeans, appearing naturally refreshing and ensuring her presence in front of the camera.. Xia Siyu was pondering how the scene with the two women and one man would unfold when Bo Yan suddenly looked up, his gaze accurately locating her at the window: ¡°You¡¯re up?¡± Chapter 116 - Chapter 116: Intimate Partner (2) Chapter 116: Intimate Partner (2) Translator: 549690339 Xia Siyu paused for a moment, then nodded. Bo Yan¡¯s next sentence was, ¡°Then I¡¯m coming up.¡± Shang Feifei and Li Yiru also looked up and indeed found that Xia Siyu was awake. Shang Feifei was fine, but Li Yiru¡¯s smile hadn¡¯t faded from her face yet and was completely frozen. Wait, what did Bo Yan just say? Where was he going up to? And what did it have to do with Xia Siyu? As Bo Yan moved, she hurriedly followed. Shang Feifei glanced at Xia Siyu on the second floor and also followed suit. Bo Yan led the way, walking up to the second floor with ease, coming to Xia Siyu¡¯s door, and even took the time to knock: ¡°Have you changed your clothes yet?¡± Xia Siyu, wearing pajamas that consisted of shorts and short sleeves, was covered up well. She yelled from inside, ¡°What¡¯s it to you?¡± ¡°You can brush your teeth, put on makeup, and change your clothes first, even apply your makeup. I¡¯ve got time.¡± Bo Yan turned around comfortably and stood at the door, leaning lazily against the wall, even taking out his phone and scrolling through it a couple of times. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that he and Xia Siyu seemed to have a very bad relationship, his attitude could almost be likened to that of a husband waiting outside a fitting room while his wife is inside shopping. Shang Feifei was fine, but Li Yiru was somewhat incredulous: ¡°Teacher Bo, you¡­ um, not exercising anymore?¡± ¡°A little exercise in the morning is enough for me. Didn¡¯t you already change into your workout clothes? You can go if you want,¡± Bo Yan said without even lifting his head, dismissing Li Yiru in a few words and leaving her face instantly fraught with awkwardness. Shang Feifei also joined in, adding insult to injury with a smile, ¡°Yes, just yesterday while eating instant noodles, you were saying how you¡¯ve been wanting to lose weight through fitness recently. The weather is so nice today, perfect for a morning workout.¡± That¡¯s why they say, female celebrities who make it big are no easy targets. Li Yiru, who opted for a sexy image, naturally faced much more criticism than the pure and innocent Shang Feifei. A moment of awkwardness wouldn¡¯t make her back down; on the contrary, it only firmed up her resolve that staying here meant more camera time. Thinking of sending her away to hog Bo Yan and the camera all to herself? Dream on! She laughed loudly a couple of times to dissolve the awkwardness and counter-cued Shang Feifei: ¡°Fei¡¯er also admired Prince¡¯s muscle-bound physique yesterday. Since you¡¯re up so early too, why not join us?¡± The two ¡®fake-smile sisters¡¯ snickered at the door, but Bo Yan at the doorway didn¡¯t pay them any mind and continued scrolling through his phone. Their laughter, however, did draw other celebrities. Hu Juyue opened the door with a smile, ¡°Good morning, everyone. Wow, Brother Bo, you¡¯re here too!¡± The host, with her naturally gregarious vibe, knew Bo Yan from when he was on her show, so they were somewhat acquainted. Last night, she had been asleep when Bo Yan arrived, unaware of his presence. But this morning as soon as she woke up, before Zhou Weiwei had even spoken, she inquired about the last guest¡¯s status; her surprise at the moment was mostly feigned. Zhou Weiwei was much shyer, and as soon as she stepped in, she greeted, ¡°Teacher Bo, long time no see.¡± Bo Yan looked up and grunted in acknowledgment. When the others called Bo Yan ¡°Teacher Bo,¡± it might have been out of courtesy, but when she did, it was because she genuinely attended his class. Soon enough, Wang Zisu arrived too, politely greeting everyone as well. All seven guests were finally assembled. Even though Italy and China had time differences, they had gone to sleep late the night before and also got up late today. It was now 11:45 am in Italy, which was just right for 5:45 pm in China, with fifteen minutes to go before the live broadcast. Six people were all gathered in front of Xia Siyu¡¯s door.. Chapter 117 - Chapter 117: Intimate Partner (3) Chapter 117: Intimate Partner (3) Translator: 549690339 After the pleasantries, Wang Zisu couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Why are you standing in front of Sister Siyu¡¯s door? Is she in trouble, or did she oversleep?¡± No sooner had she finished speaking than a hint of embarrassment pervaded the air. Wang Zisu herself quickly realized she had said something wrong and hurriedly averted her gaze. When everyone first gathered around, there wasn¡¯t this feeling, but now that everyone was collectively waiting at the door, it seemed that the real issue had come to the fore. The phrase ¡°throwing a diva tantrum¡± was almost on the tip of Li Yiru¡¯s tongue. Seeing the situation turning south, Hu Juyue was about to smooth things over when Bo Yan got up, put away his phone, and turned to knock on the door: ¡°Are you ready?¡± He asked very naturally, with a hint of intimacy in his voice, but at this moment, it was also a perfect way to divert everyone¡¯s attention. The others found it a bit odd, but they didn¡¯t inquire further and turned their gazes toward the door along with Bo Yan. No one responded from behind the door, but soon enough, footsteps could be heard inside. That meant she was ready. ¡°I¡¯m coming in.¡± Bo Yan pushed the door open and found Xia Siyu already dressed and sitting on the edge of the bed. She wore a simple black long shirt dress, her hair¡ªa most ordinary black and straight¡ªcasually draped over her shoulders. Her face wasn¡¯t heavily made up; aside from her lips being a shade too red, she looked fresh and clear. Against the backdrop of Italy¡¯s blue skies and white clouds, she seemed even more ethereal. Bo Yan glanced at her hair and makeup, but then quickly looked away. Perhaps because of the recording, her room had been tidied up; the bed was made and the comforter folded, at least it all looked orderly. Xia Siyu was relaxed and even in the mood to tease: ¡°Everyone got up quite early and arrived together.¡± Li Yiru couldn¡¯t hold back and responded, ¡°Not early, it¡¯s almost twelve o¡¯clock now.¡± Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t about to hold her temper and retorted: ¡°Weren¡¯t you supposed to go morning exercise with Bo Yan? You¡¯ve changed into your outfit already, how come you¡¯ve finished so soon? That was what, not even five minutes?¡± At the beginning, when everyone gathered together, Li Yiru¡¯s so-called ¡°sportswear¡± seemed a bit provocative, and everyone just felt it was a little odd. It turned out she wanted to be with Bo Yan and tried to stand out by wearing something cooler. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t hold back, calling it out directly; after all, she wasn¡¯t the one feeling awkward. Bo Yan didn¡¯t join the conversation, just gave Xia Siyu a cool glance before saying, ¡°Get up first.¡± Xia Siyu naturally refused, glaring at him. Hmph, don¡¯t think that just because there are lots of people around and it¡¯s a TV crew that he can throw his weight around; I won¡¯t allow it! Bo Yan didn¡¯t insist further; he just looked at her coolly: ¡°Then I¡¯ll have to take action. Take what action? What did that mean? Xia Siyu didn¡¯t know, nor did the others. But after Bo Yan said that, he walked two steps to the bedside, where Xia Siyu was sitting on the one facing out. He towered above her; she sat unafraid. He looked down; she looked up. He was indifferent; she was defiant. As a battle seemed imminent, even Zhou Weiwei, who knew they were husband and wife, couldn¡¯t help but feel concerned about the current tension: ¡°Umm, Siyu¡­¡± Hu Juyue also couldn¡¯t help stepping up to perform the host¡¯s duty, ready to control the situation. In front of everyone¡¯s eyes and amidst Xia Siyu¡¯s fury¡ªBo Yan leaned forward from the waist, head down, arms open, and suddenly his face was in front of hers, as if to embrace Xia Siyu! Chapter 118 - Chapter 118: Intimate Partner (4) Chapter 118: Intimate Partner (4) Translator: 549690339 That movement startled everyone, so much so that Hu Juyue, who was about to speak, choked on her words, took a gulp of water, and coughed fiercely. There¡¯s a saying: when you¡¯re this close, it¡¯s either a kiss or a fight. What was Bo Yan planning to do? Xia Siyu was also taken aback, but she wasn¡¯t as frightened as the onlookers around her. The first thought that flashed through her mind was: This wasn¡¯t the first time he had played this trick. He had used this method before to intentionally create ambiguity and force her to give up, to agree to his unreasonable demands! The only difference was, maybe this time she had succumbed. He must¡¯ve felt assured by his past successes, so now he was escalating it? To dare to play such tricks during the program recording, in front of the other guests, was utterly shameful! She had no intention of being led around by the nose by him; she had to resist! Under the watchful eyes of the audience, she didn¡¯t step back; instead, she leaned in a bit further, meeting Bo Yan¡¯s gaze directly. And her expression was one of pure anger¡ªif glares could materialize, her eyes would be throwing knives. That saying was right¡ªif you¡¯re this close, it¡¯s not a kiss (crossed out), it¡¯s a The two of them locked eyes, neither willing to back down, until Hu Juyue finally intervened, calling out, ¡°Teacher Bo, Siyu, the live broadcast is about to start. We¡¯ve got ten minutes.¡± Hearing this, both Bo Yan and Xia Siyu stepped back, with Bo Yan even nodding, ¡°That¡¯s right, just ten minutes left. So please, go out; I need to change clothes.¡± His suitcase had been placed at the door earlier; now, with a deft movement, he pushed through the crowd, heading straight out, and rolled the suitcase in. Before Xia Siyu could even react to his actions, Li Yiru exaggeratedly exclaimed, ¡°Teacher Bo, what are you doing? You¡¯re not really going to make Xia Siyu move out, are you? Let her give the room to you?¡± Bo Yan didn¡¯t answer, just quietly took out a red room card from his bag: ¡°You can sit still, no need to move beds. Anyway, when it¡¯s time to rest at night, just give me half the space. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll put a bowl in the middle, so I won¡¯t cross the line, and I hope you won¡¯t either.¡± Xia Siyu: Everyone else: ¡® After a brief moment of shock, it was Hu Juyue who spoke: ¡°What¡¯s with the arrangement from the show¡¯s crew? Can men and women cohabit like this?¡± No wonder Bo Yan went straight to sleep on the couch after coming back last night¡ªthat explained it! Bo Yan replied quite naturally: ¡°There are only four bedrooms in the villa.¡± The other double rooms were occupied by pairs of girls; he had no choice but to bunk with Wang Zisu. Sure enough, it was Wang Zisu who finally said, ¡°Why don¡¯t you come and have a look with me, Teacher Bo?¡± Bo Yan nodded, and even Xia Siyu got up; the group made their way to Wang Zisu¡¯s room¡ªwhich was indeed very small, with just a single bed. Bo Yan glanced at the earplugs and eye mask on the bedside table, indicating that Wang Zisu was a bit neurotic. The show¡¯s crew did this on purpose, didn¡¯t they? It had to be intentional, creating this situation? Bo Yan turned back with a calm face and said to Xia Siyu: ¡°Let¡¯s just fairly divide the bed spaces. Don¡¯t worry, there¡¯s a camera. As long as you don¡¯t come over and snuff me out at night, that¡¯s fine.¡± Before Xia Siyu could respond, Wang Zisu¡¯s face turned slightly red, and in a voice as faint as a mosquito¡¯s, she said, ¡°If Teacher Bo wants to sleep alone, I can also give you my room¡­.¡± Chapter 119 - Chapter 119 Task (1) Chapter 119 Task (1) Translator: 549690339 In the final half-minute before the live broadcast started, all seven people finally gathered downstairs. Bo Yan had changed into new clothes, with a white, oversized shirt on top, black casual pants below, and black sneakers. He stood in the middle, with Shang Feifei on his left, and Xia Siyu on his right, making a sour face. After Wang Zisu finished that remark, Hu Juyue broke the tension with a chuckle, ¡°Big brothers and sisters are worried about you rushing around too much, and you¡¯re suffering from neurasthenia. 1 even heard you recording live last night.¡± No one took his words seriously, including Xia Siyu, who was five years younger. Plus, Wang Zisu had a baby face, with curly hair and even fangs when he smiled, which made him look much younger. To the unaware, he could easily pass for a high school student. Bo Yan and Xia Siyu were at loggerheads just a moment ago, and to the onlookers, he probably didn¡¯t even regard her as a woman. Xia Siyu was all bluster and bravado, not showing any fear. Forget about these two having any kind of a fling and sparking something; it was already good that they hadn¡¯t come to blows. With cameras all around and microphones attached, causing a ruckus was probably impossible, right? So, the idea of male and female guests cohabiting, an event that¡¯s highly unlikely under normal circumstances, miraculously became a non-issue for these two, except for the two insiders. Then everyone assembled, and the live broadcast began. The moment Bo Yan appeared, the barrage of comments nearly crashed. Especially since today was Saturday. The premiere broadcast was on Friday evening, which featured three leading actresses and a popular star, already drawing considerable attention. This morning, plenty of people were waiting early at the channel, and though the live stream had just started, there were already over ten million people watching online. In recent years, with the popularity of idols, many have transitioned to acting. Film and drama academies also churn out a large number of entertainers every year. Strangely, even though the numbers have increased, the quality seems to have decreased. Not only acting skills but even beauty standards seemed to have dropped significantly from the past. In this context, Bo Yan¡¯s appearance was like the descent of a Ziwei Star. Handsome, skillful in acting, well-cultured, with no scandals, and his good looks spanned all age groups, capable of looking both mature and youthful. Yesterday, Wang Zisu¡¯s fans were already quite mighty, but compared to a top-tier influencer like Bo Yan, they were still not on the same level. But Bo Yan¡¯s fans had a sworn enemy they truly despised, and it wasn¡¯t a male celebritys fandom¡ªit was Xia Siyu. Particularly since Xia Siyu was in a black shirt dress, and Bo Yan was in white shirt and black pants, even their shoes were black and white. Their hairstyles were also simple, without any adornment, making them look suspiciously like they were wearing matching couple outfits. The comments section was already exploding: ¡°Is Xia Siyu some kind of plaster that can¡¯t be shaken off?¡± ¡°Her face has already been slapped to a swell, okay? Who said they would never collaborate in this lifetime?¡± ¡°She¡¯s so scheming, daring to wear a couple¡¯s outfit with Teacher Bo! She doesn¡¯t even look at whether she¡¯s worthy of him or not!¡± Before the barrage of mockery could finish, the director started assigning tasks, ¡°Welcome Bo Yan to our program, becoming the seventh official guest. Starting from today, everyone will officially start participating in game activities as dorm units. The winning group will receive a reward, while the losing group will have to surrender half their food expenses for the day and will also be responsible for cleaning the entire building. Wang Zisu has a bye in the first round.¡¯ Wait a minute, since the other groups were already assigned yesterday, and with Wang Zisu having a bye, that meant¡­ Bo Yan and Xia Siyu, living in the same room?! Chapter 120 - Chapter 120 Task (2) Chapter 120 Task (2) Translator: 549690339 ¡°I was too naive, really. I thought Xia Siyu and the Prince stirring up a CP was already rock bottom for the production team, but it turns out that was their ceiling! ¡°Bo, Teacher, run! I¡¯ve got the production team pinned down for you, and I¡¯ll reimburse your round-trip tickets!¡± ¡°F*ck the comment above, what, our Prince can¡¯t stir up a CP? Focus on your own, please don¡¯t diss (drag)!¡¯ The barrage of comments went insane, and the atmosphere here was equally turbulent. The other groups all stood by themselves, with Hu Juyue and Zhou Weiwei needless to say, and although Shang Feifei and Li Yiru were not on good terms privately, they at least appeared to get along outwardly. However, once they stood in place, they couldn¡¯t help but glance over in this direction. Bo Yan and Xia Siyu exchanged looks, Siyu ¡°hmphed¡± and turned her head away, Bo Yan slightly uxinkled his brow and shifted his gaze, even moving a small step away, both feeling mutual distaste. Since Wang Zisu had a bye today, the task of cleaning the house was his to handle. The director team took out a glass jar, which contained various colored paper folded into little stars. Clearly, those Task Cards were inside those little stars. Hu Juyue went to pick the first star, opened it and saw: ¡°Go to a pet store and wash five cats or dogs, a 10 Euro fine for each unwashed.¡± Washing five cats or dogs wasn¡¯t much, but the key was: ¡°A 10 Euro fine for each unwashed? Sir, are you kidding me? If I miss five, I won¡¯t have any money for five days!¡¯ Hu Juyue was utterly stunned to see this rule. The director team said with a mischievous smile, ¡°Not five days, and if you fail to complete the task, you¡¯ll be fined half of your team¡¯s food expenses for the day¡ª60 Euros in total. You and Zhou Weiwei are a team; if you do poorly today, you won¡¯t have anything to eat for the next three days. Plus, you¡¯ll have to clean the entire house. We mean what we say.¡± As soon as the director team finished speaking, the faces of several people there turned grim. Shang Feifei¡¯s group, she went to draw a star and unfold it to see: ¡°Perform in the square for two hours, you can sing, dance, do stand-up comedy, whatever you want, but it must be for two hours or more.¡± Before Shang Feifei could speak, Li Yiru snatched the note and glanced at it: ¡°Two hours? Singing and dancing? The problem is whether people will understand us if we sing, dance, or do stand-up comedy. Singing and dancing for two hours isn¡¯t a big deal, but I¡¯m afraid we¡¯ll embarrass our China and affect our international image.¡± The director team replied in the same manner, ¡°You can also choose not to go as long as you pay tomorrow¡¯s food expenses, plus clean the whole building.¡± So, there was no room for negotiation. Next, it was Bo Yan and Xia Siyu¡¯s turn. Siyu assertively went to fetch a little star, but she hadn¡¯t really folded these things before and wasn¡¯t good at unfolding them. Struggling to open it, she was getting annoyed and wanted to tear the thing apart. A hand with white skin, slender joints, and neatly trimmed nails reached out and took the star from Siyu¡¯s hands¡ªit was Bo Yan. As he took the star, his fingertips brushed lightly against her fingers, the pads of his fingers carrying a slight pressure, like a gentle breeze wafting by. Xia Siyu was startled, and by the time she reacted, Bo Yan had already taken the star. His fingers deftly flipped it, quickly unfolding the star: ¡°Earn a hundred Euros in two days.¡± Looking at this condition, the two groups nearby immediately dropped any complaint they might have had. Even though the director team had provided two days, earning a hundred Euros wasn¡¯t a piece of cake.. Did they think money just fell from the sky? Chapter 121 - Chapter 121 Task (3) Chapter 121 Task (3) Translator: 549690339 The director group was smug about their tough challenge, but Bo Yan looked calmly at Shang Feifei beside him, ¡°Where are you guys performing?¡± What does that mean, thinking of swapping? Hu Juyue asked first, ¡°Director, can we exchange tasks?¡± The director group nodded, ¡°You can, just discuss it amongst yourselves.¡± Although they are celebrities, maybe they could play up their star power and easily earn 100 Euros while in their home country. But overseas, how many people would recognize them? Earning 100 Euros through labor isn¡¯t impossible, but the time is short (two days), it¡¯s in a foreign land (unfamiliar territory), with no seed money, and even getting hired would be difficult, so how to make this money? Shang Feifei was taken aback, ¡°It should be the biggest square nearby, I guess.¡± Bo Yan nodded, ¡°Good, we will follow you there. While you are performing, we will place two bowls at your feet.¡± Shang Feifei, Li Yiru: . The director group was about to object, ¡°This is not okay, is it?¡± Xia Siyu immediately retorted with a string of words that pushed back, ¡°Why isn¡¯t it okay? You just told us to earn 100 Euros in two days, but you didn¡¯t specify how we should earn it, right? They can perform, so can¡¯t we beg? What, you look down on beggars or something? Right, you only said to complete the task, but what reward will you give us if we exceed the target? Even if there are no additional rewards, if we earn a lot, we can avoid doing tasks for the next few days and just get by with the 10 Euro fines, right? Cleaning the house is not a problem at all, we are willing to contribute.¡± The director group was speechless, ¡°This¡­ doesn¡¯t really work.¡± ¡°Also, you said we need to earn 100 Euros in two days, but didn¡¯t specify how, right? That¡¯s easy. We¡¯ll start a livestream; I don¡¯t believe we can¡¯t get 100 Euros worth of gifts in two days.¡± As Xia Siyu went on, the director group could only emphasize, ¡°You must earn it here, and the Euros must be handed in by tomorrow night. Also, you can¡¯t go begging with them!¡± The last few words, being so high-pitched, were almost a squawk. After breaking up, the other two groups set off. Although their tasks were also challenging, at least they had a direction and some purpose. Unlike Bo Yan¡¯s group, which was clueless and faced a daunting task. After the other four left, Bo Yan, Xia Siyu, and Zisu were the ones who stayed behind, with Bo Yan still in the mood to cook noodles. Xia Siyu ate quite leisurely as well, whereas Wang Zisu ate with care and then obediently handed over his 10 Euros from today, ¡°Sister Siyu, I¡¯ve eaten several meals with you these past few days, and I know you need seed money to make money. Take this for now; we can talk about it after earning with Teacher Bo.¡¯ Bo Yan¡¯s brows furrowed slightly and he immediately pushed the money back, ¡°Not needed.¡¯ Xia Siyu glanced over, ¡°That¡¯s for groceries. The 10 Euros issued by the show must be confiscated: nobody can touch them. We still need to buy groceries later, or else there will be nothing to cook with tomorrow.¡± Wang Zisu uttered an ¡°Oh¡± and then asked in a low voice, ¡°So Sister Siyu, what are you guys planning to do to earn money later on?¡± Bo Yan¡¯s frown deepened, and Xia Siyu spread her hands, ¡°Don¡¯t know, we¡¯ll figure it out later.¡± After the meal, they took a short rest before preparing to go grocery shopping. Wang Zisu also got up, ¡°We need to buy quite a bit, let me help you carry it.¡± Just as he got up, an arm blocked his way¡ªit was Bo Yan. He spoke indifferently, ¡°You tidy up the house first. They will be back soon..¡± Chapter 122 - Chapter 122 Task (4) Chapter 122 Task (4) Translator: 549690339 Wang Zisu was stunned for a moment, but then Bo Yan strode out, blocking his way. He then quickened his pace to catch up with Xia Siyu. Outside the villa was a coastal road; on one side of the road were sheer cliffs, and on the other lined up neatly were European cottages, mostly white. Blue sky, white clouds, the blue sea, the white houses; heaven, earth, and sea all blended together perfectly. Bo Yan and Xia Siyu walked side by side, the sea breeze fluttering her skirt. Xia Siyu was usually chatty, but perhaps because she was now walking with him and there wasn¡¯t much to talk about, she was also quiet. Unintentionally, there was a sense of peaceful times and a stable life. ¡ªThe live comments also became sentimental: ¡°l admit I¡¯m a face-chaser, I actually think these two look good together.¡± ¡°Good together my ass, kick Xia Siyu away, Bo Teacher alone is gorgeous!¡± ¡°YJGJ (an acronym), Xia Siyu¡¯s looks really can¡¯t be criticized.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t be criticized, how else could she snag a rich guy?¡± As they walked toward the alley, Xia Siyu seemed a bit lost. When she was about to ask for directions, Bo Yan spoke indifferently, ¡°This way.¡± ¡°How did you know, did you use navigation?¡± Bo Yan didn¡¯t answer, but Xia Siyu still followed him, and sure enough, they quickly arrived at the market. Bo Yan turned around and said lightly, ¡°l watched your live stream yesterday.¡± Xia Siyu said ¡°Oh¡± and didn¡¯t think much of it, heading straight into the market. She had the eighteen euros left over from yesterday¡¯s grocery shopping and the seventy euros from everyone else today. But she couldn¡¯t be reckless with the money; who knew what trouble the show crew might cause later on, so of course it was better to save and spend conservatively. Bo Yan followed her inside and saw her head straight for the barbecue stall, where a roast chicken was five euros. Xia Siyu then went to the seafood area where, in this foreign country, most of the fish was sold in large chunks like pork or beef. She saw the prices ranged from three to twenty euros a pound. Bo Yan thought she would choose the expensive ones, but Xia Siyu directly pointed at the fish heads. Naturally, fish heads were much cheaper than fish meat. This sea fish head weighed three pounds, but it only cost ten euros. She then went to the pork stall, where the vendor was enthusiastically calling out. She scanned the area and noticed what seemed like discarded items in a bag in the corner. She asked in fluent Sicilian, ¡°I want this.¡± Seven pigs feet for just five euros; together with some leftover vegetables from yesterday, it was more than enough. Not only was Bo Yan stunned but even the viewers in front of the live comments were amazed by her shopping skills: ¡°Didn¡¯t see that coming; Xia Siyu is actually good at buying stuff.¡± ¡°l thought she would go for the twenty-euro garnet grouper! Who knew she would buy a head.¡± ¡°Are pigs feet that cheap in Italy? Less than one euro each? So, foreigners really don¡¯t eat pig¡¯s feet! ¡± Bo Yan, holding the groceries, looked surprised, ¡°How did you know these things were cheap?¡± It was common sense, but seeing Xia Siyu¡¯s usual intelligence, she might not have this knowledge. ¡°No big deal, you just know these things after buying a lot.¡± Xia Siyu said casually, then her expression changed slightly, and she didn¡¯t want to talk any more about it. Bo Yan, with his sharp senses, felt there was something more, and since there were cameras filming behind them, he didn¡¯t say anything more either. On their way back, at the entrance to the alley, she was attracted by a bulletin board covered with advertisements. early at the channel, and though the live stream had just started, there were question is, what kind of work do you want to do? Do you want to go fishing or moving bricks?¡± Chapter 123 - Chapter 123 The Room (1) Chapter 123 The Room (1) Translator: 549690339 After graduating from N University with a bachelor¡¯s degree, Bo Yan went straight into a doctoral program and graduated with a Ph.D. at the age of 26. He then stayed at the university to teach. He studied literature in college, and film culture and art in his doctoral program. In terms of literary cultivation, he was not lacking; in terms of professional theory, he could speak with authority. During his university days, he had gone on exchange programs, with English and French posing no problem for him. But Italian, he truly did not know. ¡°Fishing? Bricklaying?¡± What kind of nonsense was this? Xia Siyu pointed to the advertisement board: ¡°Yeah, it says right here, urgently hiring for fishing at sea, a hundred euros per person, bricklaying at fifty euros per person per day. There¡¯s also a contact number.¡± Overseas blue-collar workers are paid well; for instance, a plumber or electrician in America might charge a hundred dollars just to make a basic repair. Of course, that¡¯s for skilled technicians, bricklaying wouldn¡¯t cost as much, but fifty euros for a day of laying bricks was still possible. As she spoke, she actually called the number. The call was quickly connected, and halfway through the conversation, she turned back: ¡°Can you swim? Can you pilot a boat?¡± Bo Yan nodded: ¡°I have a diving certification and a yacht piloting license.¡± Before the online comments had time to praise with ¡°666¡±, Xia Siyu asked again: ¡°Did you bring them?¡± Bo Yan unusually got stuck: ¡°No.¡± The production team didn¡¯t specify, and unlike a driver¡¯s license, ID, or passport, who would bring such things when traveling abroad? Xia Siyu pursed her lips in disapproval and asked, ¡°Do you have a fishing license then?¡± In many places abroad, a license is required for sea fishing and can be obtained from specific administrative offices. Illegal fishing could result in hefty fines, and in severe cases, deportation. Applying for the license wasn¡¯t difficult; one could do it online or at local administrative offices. However, the show demanded they earn a hundred euros by the next day, clearly leaving no time for preparations. Bo Yan continued to shake his head: ¡°No.¡± Xia Siyu hung up the phone. Although she didn¡¯t say much on the surface, the disdain in her eyes was more than evident. She dialed the second number: ¡°Looks like we can only go for bricklaying.¡± This job didn¡¯t have as many requirements, working from one in the afternoon till five in the evening. A local church needed renovation, so the task was to unload bricks from the truck and stack them neatly, facilitating the workers¡¯ construction¡ªliterally just as the job description said. Four hours, fifty euros, tiring and without provided meals; the local people were unwilling to do it, hence the recruitment. But Bo Yan and she had no other choice, endure the hardship they must. So the job was set. After finishing their grocery shopping, they even made a special trip to the church to ask about work details. After showing their passports and work visas, the people at the church administration didn¡¯t give them a hard time. They were only told to be on time the next day. The rest of the work and filming details were up to the production team to coordinate with the church, not their concern. When leaving, Bo Yan walked ahead and noticed Xia Siyu¡¯s steps were slightly slow; he looked back. Just then, the church bells tolled, she turned to look back, and the setting sun shone through the church¡¯s stained glass windows, casting light onto the statue of the Virgin Mary, adding an inexplicable sense of nostalgia. He didn¡¯t hurry her and silently waited for Xia Siyu to turn around. The online comments flooded with admiration, with some praising: ¡°Professor Bo is really a gentleman, quietly standing to the side waiting.¡± ¡°l wish to have a husband like that, waiting for me every day when I get off work.¡¯ Only Bo Yan knew that Xia Siyu had been a bit off these past few days. Chapter 124 - Chapter 124 The Room (2) Chapter 124 The Room (2) Translator: 549690339 She knew Italian, she was intimately familiar with the local customs, and there was the occasional depth in her eyes that slipped through. Ever since they had met, she had never shown any signs that she had lived abroad, including her knowledge of Italian. He vaguely felt that this might have something to do with Xia Siyu leaving him seven years ago. Even if it wasn¡¯t related, it had undoubtedly left an indelible mark on her life. Too bad, this was all for a show. If it were in private, he would definitely dig deeper. After completing their task, Bo Yan even suggested, ¡°How about we get a fishing license?¡± Even though they didn¡¯t need it for sea fishing tomorrow, who knew if the show crew would have such a requirement in a few days. Besides, the office just happened to be nearby, so it was on the way. Xia Siyu did not object, and the two of them went to the institution together. But as soon as they started talking, the other party quoted seventy Euros. Bo Yan and Xia Siyu had never imagined they would be turned away because they couldn¡¯t afford the meager seventy Euros. It felt like having a monthly income of tens of thousands, but not being able to afford a T-shirt while shopping because they didn¡¯t carry a cellphone or wallet. The two left sheepishly, and at the doorway, they exchanged glances, both wearing a self-mocking wry smile. But it was this smile that slightly eased the original stiffness between them. On the way back, Xia Siyu was still directionally challenged, getting lost at places with many small alleys. Just as she was about to ask for directions, Bo Yan, with a look of disdain, said, ¡°Is your head just there to emphasize your looks or what?¡± Xia Siyu flared up in a second,¡±What, I¡¯m just a face to debut with!¡± She was about to jump up when Bo Yan pointed to the camera crew following them. But who was Xia Siyu? She was bold enough to deal with paparazzi with her high heels, leaving someone¡¯s face bloodied. She was thick-skinned and not afraid of criticism or cyberbullying. Bo Yan thought he could throw a comment and run? No way! But just as she jumped up, Bo Yan immediately stepped back, putting a finger to her forehead. Although Xia Siyu was not short, Bo Yan was taller. Her arms reached forward, spinning like a whirlwind, trying to hit Bo Yan¡¯s head, but she couldn¡¯t even come close. Bo Yan mocked, ¡°Short arms, short legs, short stature.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll bite you to death!¡± Xia Siyu turned her head, preparing to take a bite on his arm, but Bo Yan quickly withdrew his hand and turned to walk briskly away, escaping the battlefield. Xia Siyu wouldn¡¯t let him get away so easily, and managed to grab a handful of his hair, only then was she satisfied to let go. Fortunately, a handsome guy like him still had a rebellious charm with his hair in a mess, looking more attractive than when he was dead serious. Xia Siyu led the way while he tidied his hair from behind. Watching her footsteps lighten up on the way back, he also breathed a sigh of relief. He didn¡¯t want to see her so burdened and hoped she would be a little happier. Bo Yan walked a few steps, and his scalp still ached: it¡¯s just that, her blow was too fierce. After returning to the room, the others gradually came back as well. Shang Feifei and Li Yiru actually did sing and dance, and fortunately, street performers were not a rare sight in Europe. They went out to liven up the atmosphere, which wasn¡¯t strange at all. Hu Juyue and Zhou Weiwei were extremely tired. Bathing five cats and dogs might seem easy, but an Alaskan dog weighs eighty pounds, and even though cats are lighter, one swipe of their paw leaves several marks. After washing the pets, they were so exhausted they didn¡¯t even feel like talking when they returned. They casually ate something, chatted for a while, and then it was time to rest in the evening. Bo Yan and Xia Siyu were really going to sleep in the same room.. Chapter 125 - Chapter 125 The Room (3) Chapter 125 The Room (3) Translator: 549690339 By the time Bo Yan came out of the bathroom, Xia Siyu had already changed into her pajamas, with a face mask on, and she was looking at her phone with her head bowed. Bo Yan emerged, but she made no move whatsoever as if he were mere air. The bed had been separated earlier and now was back to the mode of two single beds. However, due to the small size of the room, the distance between the two beds was still quite close. But Bo Yan could clearly feel that she was a bit nervous. It wasn¡¯t just Xia Siyu who was nervous, Bo Yan was also feeling the tension. Although they had been married for years, they had never shared a bed, living like strangers under the same roof. Going back to their student days, they never lived together even when they were a couple. This was, after all, their first time experiencing this. To sleep in such a small room, on beds so close to each other¡­ It wasn¡¯t just them feeling anxious¡ªthe moment the live stream switched to this room, the view count and the barrage of comments exploded: ¡°Protect our Mr. Bo!¡± ¡°It¡¯s over, it¡¯s over, Yan Bao has fallen into Pansi Cave.¡¯ ¡°l really want to take Xia Siyu mountain climbing!¡¯ After Bo Yan came out, he kept his back to her, gently dabbing the droplets of water from his hair with a towel. Accidentally making a louder noise, Xia Siyu slightly trembled, and even though she didn¡¯t look at him, it was clear she was paying attention to him. Then Bo took down the towel and turned his head back into the bathroom. The sound of running water indicated he was probably brushing his teeth this time. Xia Siyu relaxed a tiny bit and even felt a bit self-deprecating. Please, they were filming a show with countless eyes on them; what could he possibly do, what would he dare do? With this thought in mind, Xia Siyu¡¯s spirits soared, and she even dared to get up and peel off her face mask in front of the camera, revealing her bare face. They say that with makeup, a woman can look like a goddess, but without it, she becomes a ghost. This is especially true in the entertainment industry. A meticulous makeup job can hide a lot of flaws, such as skin problems, spots, dark circles, pimples. It can also enhance eyes, sculpt the nose, darken the eyebrows, and plump the lips¡­ As the saying goes, you market what you lack; many female celebrities in the entertainment industry market themselves as ¡°bare-faced goddesses.¡± But very few of them are actually natural-faced, and those who dare to show it off are definitely outstanding beauties. Like Xia Siyu. On camera, her skin was moist and fair, without a single flaw. Apart from her pale lips, untidy eyebrows, and her eyes, nose, and lips¡ªeverything else was of the most beautiful kind. When Bo Yan and Xia Siyu were resting in Italy, it was about twelve o¡¯clock at night. But in China, it was around six in the morning. Normally, no one was expected to watch a live stream at this time. However, countless people woke up early just to see how they would spend their night! The heartbroken fans of Bo Yan busied themselves, spamming the live chat, venting on Weibo. There were rival fans too, secretly chuckling while watching the screen, ready to lodge complaints at the slightest misstep! Although Xia Siyu didn¡¯t have many active fans, being insulted in such a way provoked a fierce response, and in no time, Weibo and various forums erupted with activity. They didn¡¯t expect that before seeing any exciting parts, they would be mesmerized by Xia Siyu!s beauty. The phrase ¡°true beauty does not need adornment¡± echoed in their minds. But soon, as Bo Yan emerged from the bathroom, the excitement kicked up a notch again.. Chapter 126 - Chapter 126 The Room (4) Chapter 126 The Room (4) Translator: 549690339 Xia Siyu didn¡¯t turn her head, although her attitude was the same when Bo Yan had come out earlier, it was clear that her posture had relaxed even more at this moment. She smoothly applied lotion to her face, followed by eye essence and eye cream, her movements meticulous, her expression serene. After finishing with the skincare products, she even took out a hairdryer, tilting her head as she blow-dried her hair. Under the camera lens, her hair fluttered in the breeze, looking unbelievably beautiful. Even though they knew this beauty had thorns like a rose, she was still a rose, blooming exquisitely. Bo Yan was about to share a room with her¡ªcould he resist? Putting oneself in his shoes, having such a vividly attractive woman sleeping next to him, sharing a house with him, one would have to feel indifferent only if their orientation was different, right? As others watched with curiosity, Bo Yan stood up and actually took a couple of steps towards her direction. The barrage of comments exploded in two different camps: One was ¡°Ahhh Ahhh Ahhh¡±, ¡°Bo Teacher, stop right there¡±, ¡°Yan Bao, stay back¡± from Bo Yan¡¯s fans. The other was ¡°High energy ahead, do not skip¡±, ¡°l haven¡¯t slept all night just for this moment¡±, ¡°Go on, hurry up, are you a man or not?¡± from the onlookers just there for the drama. Xia Siyu was aware that Bo Yan was approaching, but she showed no fear. Her expression didn¡¯t change, nor did she move, still sitting on the stool blow-drying her hair. What was there to fear? The camera was focused on her, the microphone was on; his every word and action was being watched by the whole country. She didn¡¯t believe he would dare to harbor any improper thoughts under these circumstances! Bo Yan moved closer, one step, then another, rounding the end of the bed and coming up behind her, where he stood still. The window framed the sea, the stars, and a crescent moon in the sky. He glanced at it twice, extended his hand¡ªthe hand reached out to pull the curtains. With a ¡°swish, swish¡±, he drew the curtains tight, then turned around, not even giving her a glance, and went directly to the desk, poured himself a glass of water, and took a small sip. Xia Siyu remained equally tranquil, as calm as an old couple who had lived together for many years, without the slightest ripple. After finishing her hair, she turned her head and asked with ease, ¡°Do you still need to use the bathroom?¡± Bo Yan shook his head, and Xia Siyu walked to the bathroom, closing the door behind her. Bo Yan had already pulled back the covers and wriggled in, preparing to rest. Before resting, he sat at the head of the bed and flipped open a book, ¡®Quasimodo Poems Collection¡±. Quasimodo, a Nobel Prize winner in Literature, an Italian poet born on Sicily Island, was adept at writing lyrical poetry. Xia Siyu knew about him because her mother had also read his collections of poetry in the past. Pretty fitting for the scene. She had also spread a yoga mat and did some relaxation exercises with a foam roller. She exercised, he read; aside from the faint noise of the roller, the room was very quiet, only the ebb and flow of the tide outside could be heard. Actually, the director had already split the screen in half, showing Hu Juyue and Zhou Weiwei squeezed on a small bed gossiping. In another room, Li Yiru dressed extremely seductively and was doing yoga on the bedside, kneeling with one leg raised high, as if the words ¡°Look at me, I want to be famous¡± were etched on her body. But the room with Bo Yan remained the most watched. After Xia Siyu finished exercising, she skillfully took off her headset, turned it off, then picked up a piece of clothing, instinctively covering the camera lens. As soon as she covered it, the livestream screen went black, shocking everyone. What did this mean? Was she preparing to make a move on Teacher Bo? Chapter 127 - Chapter 127: Brick Moving (1) Chapter 127: Brick Moving (1) Translator: 549690339 But if you think about it closely, sleeping is a matter of personal privacy. Isn¡¯t it kind of inappropriate for so many of you to watch someone rest in front of the camera? There were many camera positions in the room, and Xia Siyu turned off each one, leaving only a long shot one. She then manually adjusted the camera to a position where it couldn¡¯t capture the bed, but could just barely show their feet lying down. Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t foolish, if she turned off all the cameras, the audience would never let it go. Besides, she was also worried that Bo Yan might get agitated in the night and come make trouble. But not turning them off was seriously affecting her sleep. Then she went to the bathroom again, probably to wash her hands, especially since she had just rolled on her legs with the foam roller. When she came back, the viewers could see from the live stream that she looked at Bo Yan as if she had something to say. Bo Yan had been reading a book, but when he saw her turn her head, he also glanced up slightly, his gaze light as he looked at her, and then¡ªhe took Ott his headset. The audience was dead curious, dying to know what the two of them were actually saying. But they couldn¡¯t hear a thing. As soon as Xia Siyu saw him pull off the headset, she immediately jutted her chin out, ¡°The camera is still on, I warn you, don¡¯t come over tonight!¡± Her expression was serious, with a hint of proud defiance beyond that seriousness. Bo Yan just glanced at her silently, quickly shifting his gaze away, bowed his head, and placed the book he had in his hands on the bedside table. He pulled back the covers and lay down, turning his back to her. His expression all but screamed: Keep away from me, I¡¯m not interested in you! Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t afraid of arguing, but what she hated the most was being ignored. Bo Yan¡¯s glance was like a jab in her lungs, as if she was some non-recyclable trash, not even worth a second look. Dammit, if it weren¡¯t for the contract I signed that forbids me from dropping out or causing trouble, and if there wasn¡¯t a camera perched behind me, I would really want to hit someone! Angry, Xia Siyu turned her head back and shut off the light with a bang. The viewers in front of the screen all saw her rage-filled expression. Needless to say, the two of them must have had an argument just now, but since the headset was off and the camera had been moved away, the altercation wasn¡¯t captured clearly. As soon as the light was turned off, the infrared device immediately kicked in. Even in total darkness, one could see two people sleeping in twin beds, completely uninvolved with each other. When you think about it, there doesn¡¯t seem to be anything wrong. These two have had a bad relationship from the start, having publicly stated they didn¡¯t want to work together, and even taking to social media to curse each other after cooperation was established. Today, although they were grouped together, Xia Siyu charged at him like a primary school kid and pulled his hair! For these two to stay in the same group and not fight was already a miracle of human decency, so who would expect any romantic sparks to fly? Bo Yan¡¯s anxiety was halved. No mic to hear and only a static image to see, but others wouldn¡¯t let it go, some were indeed still squatting in front of the camera lens, waiting to see what would happen. Time ticked away, second by second. Even with the camera angle shifted, it was obvious that Xia Siyu was a restless sleeper, frequently turning over, occasionally kicking off the covers. In contrast, Bo Yan on the other side slept very properly, steady and still without moving an inch. A long, long time passed until Xia Siyu turned over once more, with too vigorous a movement, kicking the blanket to the floor, and finally, Bo Yan moved.. Chapter 128 - Chapter 128: Chapter 128: Brick Moving (2) Chapter 128: Chapter 128: Brick Moving (2) Translator: 549690339 Viewers had been waiting all morning, and now six hours had passed, nearly time for lunch. Could they finally expect Bo Yan to take some action? In an instant, the barrage of comments surged. Some people were excited and agitated, eager to see how exactly Bo Yan would act. Xia Siyu¡¯s bed was inside, while Bo Yan¡¯s bed was closer to the exterior. Even with only one camera angle, it was clear that after getting up, Bo Yan walked around Xia Siyu¡¯s bed¡ªthen headed to the restroom. Not long after, the restroom door opened. He didn¡¯t even glance at Xia Siyu, and irrespective of her kicking off the covers, he simply walked back to his bed, pulled back his blanket, and lay down. Then, the screen was still again. Evidently, Bo Yan had just gone to the restroom and then fallen back asleep. The audience, who had waited all morning, was met with silence. No way, sir, is that it? That¡¯s it? Some viewers who weren¡¯t ready to give up remained in front of the screen, waiting and waiting until three in the afternoon. Lunch was over, and they had woken up from their naps; it was almost time for afternoon tea. Finally, Bo Yan woke up. Once awake, he freshened up quietly, changed his clothes, and tidied himself up. After getting ready, he walked out leisurely, closing the door behind him. From beginning to end, he didn¡¯t give even a passing glance to the woman sleeping on the bed inside, nor did he cover her with the blanket. All the while, Xia Siyu slept soundly, not stirring in the slightest until an hour later. When Xia Siyu woke up, she also sat groggily at the edge of the bed, carelessly running her fingers through her hair before shuffling off to the restroom. After freshening up, she nearly changed her clothes in front of the camera but, fortunately, noticed just in time and took her clothes to change in the restroom before coming out. After finishing her skincare and makeup, and tidying herself up, she then turned on the cameras and pulled back the curtains. Sunlight streamed in; she stretched lazily and smiled towards the window, ready for another energetic day. And the newly turned on camera lens quite clearly caught her smile. When Xia Siyu does not smile, her eyes are almond-shaped and round, but when she does, they narrow into crescent slits, with beautiful pouches beneath, quite charming and friendly. Considering her performance in the past two days, the comments gradually became less hostile toward her: ¡°She was simply too good at buying groceries yesterday, quickly pinpointing the cheapest produce in the entire market. I suspect she might have studied abroad?¡± ¡°Studied abroad my foot, doesn¡¯t everyone know she didn¡¯t even finish college? She doesn¡¯t even speak Italian properly.¡± ¡°The one above made me laugh, so what if she doesn¡¯t speak it perfectly, at least she can speak it, can you? If you went there, would you even be able to fart? The important thing is that the foreigners understand her.¡± ¡°Marketing fail, huh? Starting to hype up the effort just over buying some groceries. ¡± ¡°True mockery of effort. If you¡¯re so capable, watch her move bricks today and then talk about whether she¡¯s hardworking or not.¡± Hard work aside, Xia Siyu really was preparing to move bricks after she got up and had a simple meal. The group with Shang Feifei and the group with Hu Juyue had done well yesterday, so today new tasks were assigned. Wang Zisu was not idle either, as the landlord had tasked him with weeding, pruning the lawn, and tending the flower beds, with everyone bustling energetically. Half an hour later, Xia Siyu and Bo Yan arrived in front of the church, put on their helmets, gloves, and work clothes, and started moving bricks.. Chapter 129 - Chapter 129: Chapter 129: Brick Moving (3) Chapter 129: Chapter 129: Brick Moving (3) Translator: 549690339 In the churchyard, a truck had already delivered bricks, and they needed to put the bricks into a wheelbarrow, then transport them to the designated spot and stack them properly. The work wasn¡¯t difficult, just exhausting. Moreover, it was midday, with the Mediterranean climate making the summer hot and dry, and the sun was blazing. Italy had slightly better working conditions compared to some domestic construction sites, but moving bricks and being scorched by the sun was normal, not to mention the dust and dirt. Moving a few bricks was manageable, but evidently, there were two whole trucks in the backyard! With such a large workload, could Xia Siyu, such a delicate female artist, really accomplish it? Indeed, even before the production team could ask, the church¡¯s priest was already showing some doubt, ¡°Can you do it?¡± Although the audience didn¡¯t understand Italian, they could guess the meaning from his doubtful and distressed expression. Bo Yan also glanced at her, and Xia Siyu nodded vigorously, afraid he wouldn¡¯t believe her. She even rolled up her sleeves to show the muscles on her arms. If she hadn¡¯t sneezed right after, this gesture might have seemed a little more credible. The priest shook his head and then left, and the two of them started working officially. Xia Siyu was the first to climb onto the truck, handing off the bricks, and then Bo Yan would catch them and place them on the wheelbarrow. The two then pushed it together and stacked the bricks properly. Many netizens watching the live broadcast were initially ready to mock and enjoy the show. But seeing her jumping on and off the truck, and putting in extra effort when pushing the cart, with no signs of slacking off. The sun was scorching, at one in the afternoon, right overhead. It was also summer, and the subtitle team thoughtfully added the temperature in post-production: Italy¡¯s temperature was 35 degrees, with ground temperatures exceeding 40. In such hot weather, both of them were soaked with sweat after just a few rounds of carrying bricks. Although there was no noise of concrete mixers or the coming and going of cement and shovel trucks like back home, they were nonetheless restoring the place, complete with scaffolding, plasterers, lime, and cement. Even with a mask, one could feel the dust hitting their face. Bo Yan himself didn¡¯t mind; he was a man, already much stronger physically than women. Moreover, having grown up in the Bo Family with his parents gone at a young age, he had had his fair share of hardship despite being well-provided for. As a child, his grandfather sent him to learn martial arts and sports under the scorching sun as well. He was worried about Xia Siyu. Seeing the two full trucks of bricks, he thought that if Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t keep up, he could handle it all by himself without issues. But what¡¯s commendable was that Xia Siyu was indeed working hard. He could feel her putting genuine effort into it when they were moving and pushing the cart. The two worked in silence for over an hour, taking breaks to drink more water to prevent heatstroke and collapse. During a rest, Xia Siyu took off her gloves. It was quite visible on camera that several blisters had formed on her fair palms. Xia Siyu poked at them slightly, probably feeling some pain, but she didn¡¯t make a sound. She continued to put her gloves back on as if nothing had happened, and rested while drinking water. Bo Yan saw this and his brows furrowed slightly. When it was time to resume work, Bo Yan stepped in front of her, blocking her path, ¡°You go rest.¡± Xia Siyu looked at him puzzled, but Bo Yan didn¡¯t linger, leaving her with only his back to look at, ¡°This is originally a man¡¯s job.¡± The next second, Xia Siyu quickened her pace to walk side by side with him, ¡°Sorry, but women can do it too..¡± Chapter 130 - Chapter 130: Chapter 130: Brick Moving (4) Chapter 130: Chapter 130: Brick Moving (4) Translator: 549690339 Bo Yan was momentarily stunned, but Xia Siyu had already passed him, leaving a suave silhouette behind. Just as before, she jumped onto the truck first, her movements agile and strong. After jumping onto the truck, before Bo Yan could catch up, Xia Siyu had already shifted the bricks inside, making it easier to pass them down later. It was now two in the afternoon, the hottest time of the day. The temperature in the back of the truck was even higher than on the ground. Xia Siyu was scorched a deep red. Even though she had applied a thick layer of sunscreen and was wearing her work clothes securely, it was clear that she was about to overheat. Her hands had just blistered, and her arms and legs were scraped blue in several large spots, but she said nothing. Bo Yan quickly caught up, and she began to cooperate with him. The two of them¡ªone passing and the other receiving, then pushing the cart to stack the goods¡ªworked in perfect harmony, unloading a trucks load in an hour and a half. Once they finished, she didn¡¯t ask for a break but hurriedly moved on to the next truck, where the two of them continued their efficient teamwork. The live comments, which had at first been full of spectators waiting to see a drama unfold, couldn¡¯t help but open their mics at this moment: ¡°Xia Siyu really exceeds my expectations.¡± ¡°She is pretty hardworking. Look at her work clothes; they are completely soaked with sweat.¡¯ ¡°Working outdoors in the summer is tough, yet she keeps hopping on and off without ever complaining of fatigue.¡± ¡°My dad used to work on a construction site, and I brought him meals. Just one thing to say: it¡¯s literally blood, sweat, and tears, hard-earned money.¡± The commentators, even through a screen, were saying this; Bo Yan, who was on site, felt it even more deeply. He was tired, yes, but beyond that, he was astonished. Seven years ago when they were dating, she had been a delicate lady. Although she was dedicated during the production of ¡°Storm,¡± he had heard she wouldn¡¯t eat the meals provided by the crew, wouldn¡¯t drink their water, and would arrive just on time, never early. He¡¯d never thought she could reach this point. No wonder she insisted on taking on that new movie ¡°Spring Light¡± and claimed she could withstand hardship¡ªit was true. After stacking a cartful of bricks and transporting them to the designated spot, Xia Siyu misjudged her strength while jumping off and twisted her ankle. Bo Yan rushed to support her, leading her to a cool area: ¡°Are you alright?¡± Fortunately, Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t seriously injured; her leg was just a bit weak. She shook her head and even rotated her ankle a few times, showing its flexibility. Perhaps it was because of the scorching heat, perhaps because her clothing was too thick and stifling, or maybe because she had caught a chill the night before from not covering up properly, but she felt a bit stuffy in the head, with the back of her skull feeling like a lump of paste, very groggy. After taking a big gulp of water, she shook her head and checked the time: ¡°It¡¯s three in the afternoon now; we¡¯ve already completed three-quarters of the work. Let¡¯s push a little harder and finish the job early.¡± Finishing the sentence, she put down the water bottle and threw herself back into the arduous work. Bo Yan watched her from behind. In fact, thinking back, he often used to watch her like this seven years ago. She was carefree and independent, not needing anyone¡¯s support and capable of living well on her own. Back at work, Xia Siyu exerted even more effort than before, She was like a rechargeable battery, her body filled with boundless energy. In just half an hour, the remaining bricks were almost moved. Finishing the job more than an hour in advance, Bo Yan was also pleased. However, when he turned around, he found that Xia Siyu had closed her eyes, her legs gave in, and she fainted right there.. Chapter 131 - Chapter 131: Chapter 131 Responsibility (1) Chapter 131: Chapter 131 Responsibility (1) Translator: 549690339 She had just fainted when Bo Yan, with quick eyes and hands, caught her in his arms before she hit the ground. ¡°Xia Siyu, Xia Siyu!¡¯ He called out urgently twice, but Xia Siyu¡¯s eyes remained tightly shut. The camera suddenly went chaotic, and the crew rushed over. Viewers watching the live broadcast were also startled, especially seeing her pale complexion, drenched in sweat, looking distinctly different from that of a healthy person¡¯s skin. Even the fans of Bo Yan who extremely disliked Xia Siyu didn¡¯t have many negative comments to make when they saw Bo carrying her to a shady spot; any that did were quickly silenced by the barrage of criticism from other netizens. Bo quickly laid her flat in the shade and called out again, ¡°Xia Siyu, can you hear me?¡± Xia Siyu didn¡¯t respond, and he quickly turned around, ¡°Get ice water, a towel, and call a doctor!¡± The production team, fearing an incident with their guests, had medical personnel on standby from the start. Especially as overseas medical services can be quite troublesome: public hospitals may have queues stretching three months out, and while private hospitals offer better service, they¡¯re usually too far away. At this point, the cameraman rushed off to find the doctor, ready to take her to the hospital immediately if things looked bad. Bo had learned first aid before, and now felt her pulse; it was very weak, yet her heart was beating rapidly. Nine times out of ten, it was heatstroke. In front of the camera, he said, ¡°My apologies.¡± Then he unbuttoned her tightly buttoned work uniform. As the clothes parted, it was evident to everyone that she looked as though she had been pulled from water, her white T-shirt soaked through, clinging to her body, outlining her curves distinctly. But neither Bo Yan nor the audience had the time to concern themselves with that. An assistant handed over ice water and a towel, and he promptly wet the towel with ice water and placed it on her forehead. Another towel, also doused with ice water, was taken by Bo who pulled up her hand, pulled off her gloves, and carefully applied the cold compress to her hand with gentle touches. As he applied the cold compress, both the camera and the audience saw the varying shades of bruises and the blisters formed on her palms from moving bricks earlier. Clearly, when Bo was about to apply the cold compress to her palm and saw the blisters, he was visibly taken aback. He knew she had blisters, but he hadn¡¯t expected so many or so severe. He held Xia Siyu!s hand in his palm, it was pale, delicate, yet cold and clammy, lacking warmth. After a few seconds of hesitation, he continued to carefully wipe her hand with the towel, as if he were cherishing a delicate piece of porcelain. Bo kept his head down, and at an angle that the camera couldn¡¯t capture, his expression was visibly complex. There was guilt, pity, and a heart full of tenderness. The wet towel quickly warmed up, and he immediately changed it for a fresh one, continuing until the doctor arrived. Xia Siyu¡¯s condition wasn¡¯t too severe; she caught a cold from not covering up well the night before, coupled with the hot weather causing mild heatstroke and slight dehydration. The doctor wiped her down with alcohol, and she soon came to. When Xia Siyu regained consciousness, there was a cheer from the crowd, and Bo let out a huge sigh of relief, as did the viewers watching the live broadcast. Yet Xia Siyu, struggling to focus, looked up at Bo and asked, ¡°Is the work¡­ finished?¡± Bo was taken aback for a moment, not expecting her to ask such a question as soon as she woke up, and he nodded. Yet Xia Siyu was still not reassured, and her next words were, ¡°Go and get the pay.¡± Chapter 132 - Chapter 132: Chapter 132 Responsibility (2) Chapter 132: Chapter 132 Responsibility (2) Translator: 549690339 No matter what, Xia Siyu and Bo Yan still managed to earn a hard-fought one hundred Euros. In front of the cameras, this silly girl held two fifty Euro notes, as happy as if a two-hundred-pound fatso. Bo Yan kept a disgusted distance, as if getting too close to a fool was contagious. When Xia Siyu returned to the villa in a small car, the other groups had also come back. Hearing that she had fainted, Wang Zisu anxiously put down the hand-held weeder and ran up to the second floor. Zhou Weiwei followed closely behind and immediately grasped her hand upon entering the room, ¡°Siyu, are you okay? 1 was terrified when I heard you fainted.¡¯ Xia Siyu shook her head, grinning, ¡°I¡¯m fine, I won¡¯t die.¡± Then came Hu Juyue and Shang Feifei. Li Yiru, who had been in the middle of a shower, saw on her waterproof phone that Xia Siyu was returning by car and acutely sensed something was amiss¡ªshe knew the production team wouldn¡¯t be so kind. She finished showering at eight hundred times speed, got dressed, and rushed out. No matter the state of their relationships, they knew they should show unity and warmth at such times. And coming over now also meant more screen time. The doctor from China had brought some traditional Chinese medicine, naturally including remedies for heatstroke. He also mentioned, ¡°Miss Xia also shows some symptoms of a cold, and she should rest more these next few days.¡± With the mention of a cold, the filming crew, all the guests, and even Wang Zisu couldn¡¯t help but turn their heads to look at Bo Yan. There was no need to explain, the previous night Xia Siyu had kicked off her blanket while sleeping, and without even a glance, Bo Yan¡¯s act had made the hot search. It was okay when it made the hot search; at that time, Xia Siyu¡¯s reputation had not improved, and Bo Yan¡¯s fans were still able to control the narrative. Clicking on the hot search, the top twenty most liked comments all had this tone: ¡°After all, men and women live together, Teacher Bo needs to avoid suspicion. ¡± ¡°You¡¯re old enough to not kick off your blankets, he¡¯s not your dad, why should he help you?¡± ¡°Helping is an act of kindness, not helping is duty, so entitled indeed.¡± But now, through her efforts over the past day or two, along with the hardship of brick-moving work and the stinginess for money at the end, though it hadn¡¯t resulted in a massive shift from hate to support, the number of bystanders speaking up for her had visibly increased: ¡°Even if Bo Yan isn¡¯t her relative, is it such a big deal to cover her with a blanket as she sleeps?¡± ¡°Strictly speaking, they¡¯re a team at the very least, and knowing they¡¯d have to work together the next day, couldn¡¯t he just give a hand?¡± Leaving aside the hot search situation, on this side, Bo Yan lowered his head, ¡°Sorry, I¡¯ll pay attention next time.¡± He apologized quickly, and since most on the scene knew about the grievances between the two, no one really blamed him. Wang Zisu, however, was particularly anxious, quickly handing her water, ¡°Sister Siyu, get some good rest. We¡¯ll handle dinner and all.¡± Bo Yan glanced sideways at the water being passed, his eyes fixating on it. Even after Xia Siyu finished drinking the cup of water, his gaze remained on the empty cup. Then he casually spoke up, ¡°Have you finished your work? I seem to hear your hand-held weeder still running.¡± This prompted Wang Zisu to exclaim ¡°Oh!¡± and dash downstairs, where soon after, the regular sound of the weeder resumed. After the doctor gave his instructions, everyone else withdrew. Zhou Weiwei even said, ¡°I¡¯ll make you my special salmon head soup later.¡± Xia Siyu nodded with a smile. In the room, it was once again just the two of them, Xia Siyu and Bo Yan. Chapter 133 - Chapter 133: Chapter 133 Responsibility (3) Chapter 133: Chapter 133 Responsibility (3) Translator: 549690339 Of course, even though there were only the two of them in the room, the camera was still on, and the microphone wasn¡¯t taken off, so in fact, there were still countless onlookers present. Especially sleeping together, bricklaying, fainting, they practically dominated all the headlines around the clock, with one trending topic after another. Qin Baizhou didn¡¯t even need to spend money for the popularity¡ªit was naturally hot. The fainting occurred at four in the afternoon, which was ten at night in China. Everyone had finished eating and had nothing to do, so they came to watch. The online audience had already reached thirty million. In front of the camera, Bo Yan still looked aloof, but there was a slight shade of guilt on his face. He had been standing by the window, but now he slowly walked over and sat down by his bed, ready to apologize. But unexpectedly, it was Xia Siyu who spoke first, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, because of my issue today, I delayed the work and affected you and the staff.¡± Bo Yan was stunned for a moment, then looked up and saw that Xia Siyu was serious. She wasn¡¯t pretending or putting on airs; she was earnest. Though she had straightforward thinking and was a single-celled creature like an amoeba, she was indeed one hundred percent serious when it came to work. Be it acting or variety shows. Bo Yan spoke, ¡°No, I should take more responsibility. After all, I am older than you, and I¡¯m a man.¡± ¡°We¡¯re a team, no one should bear more responsibility than any other-if one lags behind, then they lag behind. I won¡¯t make excuses, and after I recover, I¡¯ll work hard to catch up as well.¡± Bo Yan looked up at Xia Siyu¡¯s calm face. She wasn¡¯t trying to create an image or be false¡ªwith her way of thinking, she wouldn¡¯t come up with something so complicated. She sincerely treated everyone as equals. Since they were a team, everyone had to pull their weight, and if she fell behind, she would feel guilty. Instead of relying on the fact that she was a girl, younger than Bo Yan, expecting him to concede to her at every turn, and not owning up to her shortcomings. Thinking back, she had always been like that. Once she developed a liking for him, she would tirelessly hang around him, without a shred of feminine delicacy or affectation, straightforwardly adorable. ¡°Okay,¡± he nodded. This time, his expression was much more serious and solemn. He even got up and patted her shoulder. Even if the camera captured this gesture, to the viewers, it appeared to be between coworkers, comrades, colleagues who advance and retreat together¡ªan atmosphere of trust and shared responsibility without any hints of ambiguous feelings between a man and a woman, yet it felt like a breath of spring. ¡°Then take a good rest and get well. When you¡¯ve recovered, we¡¯ll complete the tasks together.¡± Xia Siyu nodded. However, just as Bo Yan was about to leave the room, Xia Siyu called out to him, ¡°Wait.¡¯ Bo Yan stopped in his tracks, looking at her seriously, ¡°Do you have something else to say?¡± The previously solemn Xia Siyu was now even more earnest, as if she were about to discuss a very, very important matter in life. With such a grave expression, even the audience felt the urgency through the screen. Xia Siyu asked with utmost seriousness, ¡°l want to ask you, did I really faint just now?¡± Bo Yan nodded, ¡°Yes.¡¯ Xia Siyu¡¯s expression showed a slight crack, ¡°Did my makeup get smudged? I sweated so much, the makeup must have smudged, right?¡± It¡¯s all over, the perfect image is shattered! The head can be broken, blood can flow, but the makeup must not smudge! Chapter 134 - Chapter 134: Chapter 134 Responsibility (4) Chapter 134: Chapter 134 Responsibility (4) Translator: 549690339 Bo Yan thought carefully, ¡°No, you just sweated a lot. When you took off your jacket, the clothes inside were all soaked with sweat.¡± Xia Siyu stiffened, quickly looked down, and saw that she was still wearing the same white T-shirt, which was indeed covered with dust and dirt. She hastily wrapped herself with the quilt, but then felt that she was dirtying the blanket, so she didn¡¯t wrap herself too tightly. ¡°When I collapsed, was my hair a mess, my expression fierce, my face detestable? Was my pose very ugly?¡± Bo Yan: r . He turned to leave, not wanting to deal with her. Just as he opened the door, Xia Siyu called out from behind, ¡°Come back.¡± Bo Yan did not turn around, but he paused in his steps. Xia Siyu buried her head in the quilt, a bit embarrassed as she said, ¡°l want to eat pig trotters. Pig trotters with rice, just the perfect combination!¡± Bo Yan did not immediately agree, opened the door, and walked out, ¡°I¡¯ll ask if they can make it.¡± After saying this, he closed the door. Xia Siyu rested for a bit longer before getting up, heading to the bathroom for a shower, and changing into a fresh set of clothes. Her heatstroke wasn¡¯t very serious, and the cold she caught was also minor, but she truly felt a bit weak all over, her body temperature had risen, and she was a little feverish. After tidying up following her bath, two hours had passed. Now it was about 7 p.m. Summer, the sun sets late, and it was still bright outside. From the second-floor window, one could see the azure sea. Downstairs, there was laughter and playfulness¡ªit was Wang Zisu and a dog. The dog belonged to the neighbors, a completely white Samoyed. Wang Zisu, relying on his rudimentary English, reached an understanding with the neighbor¡¯s child, and the two were amusing the dog with a frisbee. The Samoyed looked robust and chubby, and when it missed a frisbee catch, it pounced directly onto Wang Zisu, tangling in a playful mess with him. When he looked up, he saw Xia Siyu on the second floor, and his eyes instantly brightened, ¡°Sister Siyu!¡¯ After her shower and skincare routine, Xia Siyu applied only very light makeup and left her hair unstyled, long, black, and straight, dressed in a loose white shirt. Because she was sick, her complexion was somewhat pale, but it added a touch of delicate beauty. ¡°How are you feeling, are you okay?¡± Xia Siyu nodded, but she wasn¡¯t in the mood to engage with him¡ªbecause she was attracted by the delicious scent that was assailing her nostrils: the smell of pig trotters! She quickly pulled her head back in, opened the door, and ran out. As she went downstairs, she saw Bo Yan in the kitchen, with Hu Juyue and Li Yiru by his side. Hu Juyue exclaimed, ¡°That looks so tasty.¡± Li Yiru also nodded in agreement, ¡°Cooked in an electric rice cooker. Teacher Bo is really amazing!¡¯ Zhou Weiwei was boiling fish head soup on another stove, Hearing the commotion, she turned around, ¡°Siyu, you¡¯re awake?¡± As soon as she spoke, Bo Yan, who was cooking the pig trotters, immediately turned around, his gaze faintly swept over Xia Siyu, and then, uninterested, he looked away. Next to them, a pressure cooker was also hissing with steam¡ªit was cooking rice. Rice cooked in a pressure cooker is a bit more fragrant than that cooked in an ordinary rice cooker. Soon Wang Zisu entered, and Shang Feifei also came downstairs. Everyone gathered around the table. Hu Juyue and Li Yiru, who had just been praising the dish, only tried a small piece of the pig trotters before putting down their chopsticks¡ªthis thing was high in calories, not suitable for female celebs to eat too much. Only Xia Siyu, very supportive, picked up piece after piece, even soaking her rice in the sauce. Bo Yan frowned: He finally understood how the ¡°Fat as Pregnant¡± trending topic arose. He hoped that the next time this topic trended, she would indeed be pregnant.. Chapter 135 - Chapter 135: Chapter 135 1 Want to Kiss You (1) Chapter 135: Chapter 135 1 Want to Kiss You (1) Translator: 549690339 After a full meal, Bo Yan and Xia Siyu also completed their tasks for these two days: a hundred Euro. The other groups also turned in their tasks in full. The production team said, ¡°First, we¡¯d like to announce something. Our show will be welcoming a guest appearance in a couple of days. We can¡¯t reveal who it is just yet.¡± Actually, looking at the selection of participants, only seven regulars were chosen. Normally, with the tasks, someone would end up on their ovvn, so it was apparent that the production team had planned for this from the start. With a guest appearance, partnering with the leftover team would create four groups in total, which would make completing tasks more convenient. ¡°But because Siyu is currently sick, she may not be able to carry out tasks smoothly tomorrow. So Bo Yan and Wang Zisu will temporarily team up, while Siyu stays behind at home, responsible for cleaning, shopping, and various preparation activities.¡± Indeed, it¡¯s not practical to always leave Wang Zisu alone at home either; a rotating guest brings a fresher feel to the show. It just so happens that Xia Siyu is sick, and she¡¯s good at shopping, so isn¡¯t it perfect to leave her behind? Xia Siyu didn¡¯t refuse but simply stated, ¡°Then I need to recover quickly and rejoin the team as soon as possible.¡± This kind of polite conversation was met with laughter and taken lightly by everyone. After resting, they returned to their room. Bo Yan was still reading, visibly engrossed in the ¡°Quasimodo Poems Collection,¡± with some parts even marked with a pen. Xia Siyu must have really been feeling unwell; after rolling out on the foam roller and completing her skincare and cleaning routine, she quickly went to sleep. It was Bo who turned off the mics and than also the other cameras, only leaving one running, and like last night with Xia Siyu, he moved it so that it couldn¡¯t capture even their feet, just the end of the bed. The night grew deep. After all, these two had already proven to their viewers yesterday that they weren¡¯t looking for trouble. No one would be foolish enough to broadcast inappropriate content to millions of people on a live platform. In the middle of the night, Bo woke up and went to the restroom. When he came out, perhaps learning from yesterday¡¯s lesson, it was obvious that he glanced in Xia Siyu¡¯s direction before heading over. A few seconds later, he hurriedly put on a coat and left the room as if there was some emergency. Soon, he returned with a doctor, and lights once again brightened the room. This time Bo l s microphone was on, and the audience could hear his deep voice, ¡°Does she have a fever?¡± The doctor nodded, ¡°A bit, but not too serious. And it seems her stomach is a bit upset, maybe from eating something too greasy.¡± That made sense; a whole pot of pigs trotters, and she ate a third of it. If he hadn¡¯t been concerned that eating too much would be bad for her health and hadn¡¯t taken some himself, she might have eaten half. Bo turned to pour some water, gently woke Xia Siyu up, and supported her back with his arm, allowing her head to rest on his shoulder. Then, following the doctor¡¯s orders, he gave her the medicine. Xia Siyu was drowsy and, guided by his hand, took the medicine and drank the water, even complaining, ¡°It¡¯s so bitter.¡± Bo couldn¡¯t be bothered to quibble with her; he put the cup aside and then quickly withdrew his arm, thankfully replaced by a soft pillow, causing no pain. ¡°That¡¯s it, as long as she won¡¯t die, it¡¯s all good.¡± After the doctor left, Bo turned off the microphone again. The medication the doctor prescribed for Xia Siyu contained a sleep aid, and at this point, she was sleeping soundly. Bo sat on the edge of the bed, turned to look at the only camera that was still operating, and was certain that it couldn¡¯t capture them from this angle. Turning back to Xia Siyu, he felt a sudden urge¡ªto kiss her.. Chapter 136 - Chapter 136: Chapter 136 1 Want to Kiss You (2) Chapter 136: Chapter 136 1 Want to Kiss You (2) Translator: 549690339 He knew it was very wrong, even if they were filming a show. Even in private, she was fast asleep, oblivious to everything. For him to approach her, kiss her, maybe even take liberties with her while she was unaware¡ªeven if he held their marriage certificate¡ªit wasn¡¯t something a gentleman should do. But his wife was lying right beside him. Unless it was an old married couple without any feelings left, how could he remain indifferent? Moreover, she was beautiful, proud, and full of vitality, yet she was reliable when it mattered most. In the afternoon, when she fainted, he hadn¡¯t given it much thought and just wanted her to recover quickly. But now, in retrospect, when he held her in his arms, she was clearly thin but with curves in all the right places, not the emaciated type. Especially when he unzipped her jacket and her sweat-soaked shirt clung to her skin, those curves were even more exquisitely outlined¡­ Fortunately, the microphone was off, and fortunately, Xia Siyu was already sound asleep. Neither the audience nor she could hear the sound of his Adam¡¯s apple bobbing up and down at this moment. The most terrifying part was that while he was thinking all this, he had uncontrollably leaned towards her. Just a little closer, and he could kiss her lips. When they got married, they were on bad terms, and they set rules from the beginning to live their own lives and not interfere with each other. Even though they said to live their own lives, Xia Siyu had plenty of scandals, but Bo Yan had actually been observing her discreetly. Most of her scandals were fabricated for movie promotion to create a couple¡¯s hype, or her company trying to get her to endorse newcomers. Then there were those who attached themselves to her, like Zhou Weiwei¡¯s former boyfriend, who didn¡¯t count for much. It seemed her private life was colorful, but in reality, it was all hollow. The entertainment industry is a vanity fair, but then, being in a family like theirs, everywhere was a vanity fair. However, within the vanity fair, perhaps she was too domineering, perhaps too proud, perhaps she shot to fame from the very beginning, perhaps the Xia Family backed her up. Anyway, despite the occasional strange rumors, she managed to maintain her purity. But the moment he was about to draw close, he stopped. He remembered Xia Siyu¡¯s words from the afternoon: ¡°We are a team, no one is more responsible than another, dead weight is dead weight. I won¡¯t make excuses. Once I¡¯ve recovered, I will work hard to catch up.¡± Her purity was because she was confident in herself and worked hard enough. She didn¡¯t think she was any less than others, nor did she believe she should have privileges just because she was a woman. She took her work seriously, and although she was a mess with the small things, she was never unclear about the big issues. If he kissed her secretly here, he would secretly gain something for himself. But he would never catch up to her. His closeness was born from affection, not affection from closeness. Bo Yan, who was initially prepared to kiss her lips, slowly withdrew his action, but he wasn¡¯t willing to leave just yet. In her dreams, Xia Siyu, unaware, furrowed her eyebrows slightly. The more he watched her, the softer his gaze became, until he finally tucked her in properly and kissed her on the forehead, smoothing out her frown. Gently whispering in her ear, ¡°Good night, my princess.¡± Before turning off the light, he looked at her one more time: In the future, I will make you wholeheartedly be my true wife.. Chapter 137 - Chapter 137: Chapter 137 1 Want to Kiss You (3) Chapter 137: Chapter 137 1 Want to Kiss You (3) Translator: 549690339 A quiet night passed. Xia Siyu had no inkling of what Bo Yan had done the previous night, and of course, the audience didn¡¯t know either. When she awoke the next day, Xia Siyu was the same energetic self, and Bo Yan, he remained the lofty and striking figure he always was. However, the team pairings for today put Bo Yan and Wang Zisu together; since arriving in Sicily, Wang Zisu had been staying in the villa for a few days. While the other groups lamented their outdoor tasks, he watched them longingly, wishing he could swap places and endure the hardship himself. At the directors team gathering, Bo Yan and Wang Zisu stood together, with Wang Zisu cheerily calling out to him, ¡°Bro Bo, just call me Prince.¡± Bo Yan nodded, ¡°Prince, brother.¡¯ Wang Zisu then remarked, ¡°That¡¯s quite a mouthful.¡± Bo Yan immediately responded, ¡°Then just ¡®brother¡¯ it is.¡± The barrage of comments on the screen went wild: ¡°Ahhh, Teacher Bo is so doting,¡± ¡°Both are really good.¡± Only one discordant comment floated by: ¡°Does it mean ¡®you¡¯re just a brother?¡± Of course, this provocative comment was quickly reported repeatedly and then disappeared. The two were getting along quite harmoniously until the director announced the tasks. Shang Feifei and Li Yiru were to go near the Norman Palace and the cathedral to find seven relics. Hu Juyue and Zhou Weiwei were tasked with going to a sausage factory to learn how to make sausages. And as for the two men, Bo Yan and Wang Zisu, they inevitably drew a more exhausting task: rock climbing. And it was real rock climbing, a hundred-meter cliff, an extreme sport. Bo Yan was indifferent, for he had learned rock climbing and wilderness survival during a summer camp in North America; this was not an issue for him. Wang Zisu was a bit afraid of heights. He began to argue, ¡°Director, could we do something else? I¡¯m a bit scared of heights.¡± The director smiled slyly, ¡°You could consult with the other two groups. Otherwise, if your team loses, are you ready to continue cleaning toilets tomorrow?¡± Having barely managed to get out for a breath of fresh air, Wang Zisu naturally didn¡¯t want to go back to that. The director consoled, ¡°Of course, your task is more difficult, so if you win, each of you gets a reward of ten euros.¡± Hearing the promise of a reward, Wang Zisu was somewhat comforted. As the meeting concluded, he couldn¡¯t wait to hop over to Xia Siyu¡¯s side, ¡°Sister Siyu, how are you feeling today?¡± After spending a few days there, Xia Siyu could tell that Wang Zisu was quite friendly to her. She nodded, ¡°Pretty good, eating and sleeping well.¡± Wang Zisu¡¯s eyes crinkled with his smile, ¡°That¡¯s great, Sister Siyu. Today, if we complete our task well, there¡¯s a reward. I¡¯ll use my prize money to buy you some citrus fruits from a stand on the way back. They¡¯re a Sicilian specialty¡ª sour and sweet, and they won¡¯t make you fat, perfect for you to eat.¡± Bo Yan coughed sharply, his expression stern as he cut off the conversation, ¡°Brother, come here, we need to get ready to leave. Today¡¯s task is formidable, don¡¯t collapse halfway like someone did.¡± Xia Siyu bristled at that, ¡°Collapse halfway like someone did¡±? She had completed her tasks competently! Before she could roar in protest, Wang Zisu was quick to pick up the conversation, ¡°No way, Sister Siyu was very diligent yesterday, I¡¯ll take her as my role model! I will surely succeed at rock climbing today!¡¯ ¡°Prince, come here,¡± Xia Siyu summoned him with a single breath, and Wang Zisu hurried over, as she beamed and tousled his hair. Zisu¡¯s hair was slightly curly, soft, and fluffy, extremely pleasant to touch. She indulged in rubbing it a bit longer, then gleefully and provocatively glanced at Bo Yan across from her. The sight made Bo Yan¡¯s expression increasingly darken.. Chapter 138 - Chapter 138: Chapter 138 1 Want to Kiss You (4) Chapter 138: Chapter 138 1 Want to Kiss You (4) Translator: 549690339 Several groups quickly went their separate ways. After Xia Siyu returned to her room, she, as usual, obediently swept the floor and cleaned. The director split the screen into several sections. Because she was alone, her screen was very small, but whenever the footage cut to her, she was sufficiently serious and hardworking. She handled domestic chores like a pro, not at all like a rich and idle female celebrity who ¡®wouldn¡¯t touch spring water.¡¯ The bullet comments started to show more favor: ¡°Xia Siyu isn¡¯t as annoying as I thought.¡± ¡°She¡¯s not bad at housework, and she isn¡¯t forcing a love line.¡± Xia Siyu had no idea and quickly finished cleaning, then went to the market. They had eaten all the food from the day before, and upon her arrival at the market, she went straight for the cheapest local ingredients. She was interested in chicken feet and found out that they were available, but not until later that day. However, the farm owner was going to deliver some, and she could reserve a batch in advance. She left her phone number, asking the vendor to get in touch, and then, at an especially low price, managed to secure pork leg bones and pig ears. They didn¡¯t eat organ meats, which was a pity because those are high in cholesterol and fat. She ate too many pork feet the day before and was afraid of getting fat, so she dared not buy any. While Xia Siyu was shopping energetically, Bo Yan was actually in quite the predicament. The deep water referred to the azure sea beneath his feet, and the fierce sun above referred to the scorching sunlight overhead. He was tied with a safety harness, wearing a helmet, and using gloves and shoes made for professional rock climbing. Bo Yan had indeed learned rock climbing before and had managed to pick it up after being taught by a coach. But Wang Zisu was really afraid of heights and wouldn¡¯t go higher after being led up a few steps by the coach. The coach only spoke English and Italian, neither of which he understood well, so he stubbornly clung to the rock face, refusing to move. The rock climbing section wasn¡¯t very high, at most ten meters, and there was a thick safety mat below, with all rescue measures in place. But Wang Zisu was genuinely afraid of heights, his head was dripping with sweat, and his legs were shaking. Regardless, the segment made for great television. Bo Yan was above; him climbing up alone was pointless, as it was a team exercise and both had to complete it. He held onto a protruding rock with one hand and stepped on another with his foot, turning around to look at him: ¡°Don¡¯t look down, use the strength of your toes, not the soles of your feet.¡± ¡°Bo, Bo, Bo, Bo brother, I¡¯m really afraid¡­ afraid of heights.¡± ¡°The more you¡¯re scared, the more you need to gather your courage in one go,¡± Bo Yan said calmly, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you wanted to win the competition and buy some oranges to take back with you?¡± Wang Zisu, knowing that hesitating would do no good, angrily and desperately climbed upwards. Even if a few rocks came loose, it did not matter since his waist was tied with a rope. Being young, he climbed very quickly, surprisingly surpassing Bo Yan, who also continued, but in the end, he reached the top before Wang Zisu. By the time he got to the top, Wang Zisu¡¯s legs were weak, and he rolled and crawled away from the edge of the cliff. Bo Yan couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Are you very interested in Xia Siyu?¡± Wang Zisu nodded while panting, ¡°Yes, she¡¯s my idol. The year she debuted, I had just become a trainee in Korea. It was her movies that accompanied my adolescence. I¡¯m very happy to work with her.¡± Bo Yan: ¡°Then your taste is really¡­ quite unique.¡± After completing the task, on the way back, Wang Zisu ended up buying some oranges, and Bo Yan, fearing he might not have enough money, also spent his prize money. As soon as the car stopped, Bo Yan saw Xia Siyu and a foreign man¡ªwere they kissing? Chapter 139 - Chapter 139: Chapter 139: The Wedding Ring (1) Chapter 139: Chapter 139: The Wedding Ring (1) Translator: 549690339 It was just as the words implied, as soon as Bo Yan got out of the car, he saw a tall, large foreign man hugging Xia Siyu, and they seemed very intimate, talking and laughing together. Then, as they drew closer, it looked like they were about to kiss! He was holding oranges in his hand, which he didn¡¯t secure properly, so the oranges rolled onto the ground. Wang Zisu, who had just gotten out of the car behind him, also saw this scene and immediately sprinted over at a hundred-meter dash pace, ¡°Sister Siyu!¡¯ Upon a closer look, Xia Siyu and the foreign man were giving cheek kisses, where they embraced and touched each other¡¯s cheeks left and right. This was a normal social greeting in foreign countries, especially in the famously romantic Italy, where it was even more common. Atter the oranges rolled away, the staff nearby helped to pick them up one by one. Bo Yan looked down and saw a big, round orange at his feet, which he lightly kicked over, and it rolled with a rumble, coming to a stop right beside Xia Siyu¡¯s feet with a light tap. Xia Siyu indeed first noticed the orange, then followed it to see Bo Yan standing at a distance, looking a bit puzzled. Then, there was Wang Zisu, who took a couple of steps forward and started boasting, ¡°l succeeded in rock climbing!¡¯ ¡°That¡¯s great.¡± Xia Siyu said with a smile as she ruffled his hair. Next was Bo Yan, who spoke dispassionately, holding up the torn plastic bag as evidence, ¡°The bag tore.¡± Then he walked over leisurely, glancing at the little truck next to the foreign man. Although he didn¡¯t understand Italian, he recognized the animal logo on the truck, guessing it belonged to a delivery driver. ¡°Are you the delivery boss?¡± He didn¡¯t speak Italian, but his English was perfectly fine, and most young Europeans could speak English. As expected, as soon as he spoke, the foreign man smiled and nodded, replying in English, ¡°Yes, I am.¡± Bo Yan didn¡¯t say much else, his gaze still falling on the arm with which the man had embraced Xia Siyu. Then he reached out his hand, meaning to shake hands, ¡°Hello, my name is Yan, nice to meet you.¡± The foreign man also withdrew the arm he had used to hug and shook hands with him, ¡°Hello, my name is Pietro. Also a friend of Charlotte.¡± Charlotte was Xia Siyu¡¯s English name. When Xia Siyu went to buy groceries today, she had already asked the stall owner to order chicken feet and given him the address, to be delivered personally by the local farm owner. Little did she know that Pietro would be the one to come. Since an acquaintance had arrived, the production team actually invited him in for a cup of green tea. He introduced himself to everyone with a smile, saying he was born and raised in Sicily, and the furthest he had ever been was to Rome with a few classmates after graduating high school. When he grew up, he also inherited his father¡¯s farm in Sicily. He proudly said that more than half the chickens and ducks in the market here came from his farm. The guests next to him were all astonished, and Wang Zisu even asked, ¡°Then how do you know Sister Siyu, is it because she came over for a magazine shoot or something?¡± Pietro shook his head, ¡°No, she was my neighbor, but she moved away a long time ago.¡± Neighbor! Not only the guests, but also the production team and the viewers watching the live broadcast were shocked. Wang Zisu asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you¡¯ve always been in Italy and have never been abroad?¡± Pietro nodded, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± So, does that mean Xia Siyu really lived in Italy? Chapter 140 - Chapter 140: Chapter 140: Wedding Rings (2) Chapter 140: Chapter 140: Wedding Rings (2) Translator: 549690339 Only Bo Yan was not particularly surprised. The water had boiled, and he poured it into the teapot, decanted the tea into a fairness cup, and then filled each attendee¡¯s cup in turn. The bullet comments were scrolling: ¡°Did Xia Siyu really live in Italy?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t kid me; does anyone still believe in reality shows these days? Aren¡¯t they all scripted?¡± ¡°To the person above, you¡¯re talking about editing, this is a live broadcast. Even if there¡¯s fakery in a live broadcast, it¡¯s more credible than regular reality shows, right?¡± ¡°Look at you all startled, while our Teacher Bo is so composed. As expected, our Bo doesn¡¯t like that Xia, completely uninterested in her affairs.¡± ¡°The script is not bad, if not for Teacher Bo l s calmness, I almost believed it.¡± In fact, after Xia Siyu¡¯s first day of interacting with people in Sicilian, there was indeed some mockery initially. But soon, there were overseas Chinese living in Sicily or seasoned experts who understood Italian saying that she was speaking Sicilian, a dialect. Moreover, she spoke it very fluently, obviously very familiar with the language, at least it was often used in the past. Now a foreign friend had come, even claiming to be her neighbor. Was this the final confirmation? But it was also possible that Xia Siyu had arranged for the show crew to set up this narrative to boost her own profile. Pietro even reminisced, ¡°But to be precise, she was my grandmother¡¯s neighbor. When I visited my grandmother¡¯s house, the little girl living next door was her. My grandmother lived in the Chinese District, and the prettiest girl in the entire Chinese l)istrict was Charlotte, I remember her mother was also really beautiful, just very fierce, very fierce¡­¡± ¡°Pietro.¡± Xia Siyu suddenly spoke up to interrupt him, then poured him a cup of tea, ¡°Try our Chinese green tea.¡± Pietro nodded, took a sip, then set it down, using the exaggerated tone typical of foreigners: ¡°l still prefer our Earl Grey tea with milk and sugar. It tastes good. ¡± No one responded to this remark. But Bo Yan, who was sitting nearby sipping tea, kept holding his cup, seemingly lost in thought, as if to drink or not to drink. Fortunately, Pietro didn¡¯t speak Chinese; he spoke English, but with a slight Italian accent. Among the guests present, aside from Xia Siyu, only Bo Yan could keep up with his English; even Zhou Weiwei, who had attended university, was somewhat befuddled, responding only with a silly smile. The audience watching on the screen, even if they heard this sentence, didn¡¯t find anything out of the ordinary. A strict mother, and as for beauty¡ªgiven Xia Siyu¡¯s good looks it would be no surprise if her mother weren¡¯t far behind in appearance. Pietro wasn¡¯t jobless. After drinking two cups of tea and having a couple pieces of dessert, which he found not sweet enough, he stood up to take his leave. When saying goodbye, it was the same old cheek kissing ritual. Just as Xia Siyu was about to lean in, Wang Zisu whispered, H BO, do you think this European handsome guy has a thing for our Sister Siyu?¡± Then came Bo Yan¡¯s chilly yet categorical tone: ¡°No.¡± Wang Zisu looked astounded: not?¡± Bo Yan responded coolly: ¡°He¡¯s married.¡± ¡°How come, how do you know?¡± Wang Zisu asked, looking puzzled. ¡°He¡¯s wearing a wedding ring, didn¡¯t you see?¡± Bo Yan said of the wedding ring, Xia Siyu stretched out her hand, and on the other side, Pietro stretched out his hand, indeed one was without and the other was wearing one.. Chapter 141 - Chapter 141: Chapter 141: The Wedding Ring (3) Chapter 141: Chapter 141: The Wedding Ring (3) Translator: 549690339 But when they were looking at wedding rings, Xia Siyu subconsciously glanced at her own hand, and Bo Yan also lightly hooked his left hand¡¯s finger. At his words, Xia Siyu felt too shy to kiss him on the cheek, so she simply shook hands with him to say goodbye, ¡°Next time we have the chance, let¡¯s get together again.¡± Pietro laughed cheerily, ¡°l don¡¯t see much of a chance. You¡¯re so busy. You¡¯re a big star now, aren¡¯t you? Just look at the crowds around you. I never imagined that I used to be neighbors with ¡®Monica Bellucci¡¯ from China (¡®The Beautiful Legends of Sicily).¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s eyes were indifferent, ¡°Not quite, I still need to work harder.¡± At least she needed to vin Best Actress or something like that. After Pietro left, the room returned to its previous state. Cooking was typically Bo Yan¡¯s responsibility, but this time, Xia Siyu was in charge of household cleaning, so she naturally took over the meal preparation tasks without hesitation. One person washed the vegetables, while the other prepared various sauces. Li Yiru had wanted to join in too, but she had never cooked before, and even when she had come over the previous days, supposedly to help, she ended up being a nuisance. But the past few days of brushing up against Bo Yan had some effect: Li Yiru finally got her wish and trended on the hot search, and it was not because she paid for the exposure, but rather due to naturally generated heat: She trended because of the backlash. It was because she insisted on being a nuisance despite not knowing how to cook, she wore short hot pants to Bo Yan¡¯s morning exercise, and she giggly agreed to whatever Bo Yan said. Bo Yan¡¯s fans hadn¡¯t been criticizing Xia Siyu much these days, precisely because they discovered Li Yiru, who shamelessly stirred up a CP (couple pairing) on shows. Fans of popular figures are dignified, of course, and could not endure seeing their idol being used as a stepping stone for someone else¡¯s fame, quickly tearing Li Yiru apart on the hot search. In addition to some absurd comments she had made in the past being dug up, her talent agency tactfully advised her to lay low for the next few days to avoid more trouble. Having received the news, Li Yiru spoke even less than usual when completing tasks that day. She didn¡¯t dare come to the kitchen to brush up against Bo Yan in the evening. The kitchen was quiet for a time. Having spent some time with Xia Siyu in Qingcheng apartment and on the set, it was clear she couldn¡¯t cook. But she was good at supporting tasks like washing and chopping vegetables. With a kitchen knife in her hand, she could rhythmically chop with a grandiose fervor, turning a potato into fine shreds in an instant. Bo Yan glanced over, noting that they were evenly and finely cut. She seemed quite adept at housework, coming across as very domestic. She was now a famous actress, surrounded by seven or eight staff members. Rewinding seven or eight years, when they first met, her family situation was already quite good. After all, she was the daughter of the Xia family, and everything about her upbringing was excellent. Though publicly, the Xia family hadn¡¯t extensively publicized the fact that they had this younger daughter, he too had only found out not long before their marriage that she was the Xia family¡¯s younger daughter. But looking at her, she seemed to have experienced hardships. Moreover, who was her mother? It seemed she didn¡¯t want others to bring it up. Of course, her relationship with the Xia family wasn¡¯t great. She didn¡¯t have much contact with her dad, Xia Youbiao, or her siblings. Bo Yan had a vague feeling that these memories she was reluctant to recount, and the ¡°mother¡± she never mentioned, could be the key to all the puzzles.. Chapter 142 - Chapter 142: Chapter 142: The Wedding Ring (4) Chapter 142: Chapter 142: The Wedding Ring (4) Translator: 549690339 But she was unwilling to speak, and he didn¡¯t feel it was right to press her, so the atmosphere naturally grew colder. Although Xia Siyu could be gregarious, the only person she would not create a stir with was Bo Yan. With one unable to speak and the other not wishing to, the quiet between them somehow took on a strangely warm feel. Xia Siyu, too, had come to Sicily not to hole up in a villa every day. Her purpose here was to revisit old haunts. Yet she didn¡¯t want the crew to follow and film her, nor did she want to exploit her mother, and even less did she wish to expose her privacy to the public. She still didn¡¯t know how the crew had been allocated, but having gone to great lengths to come to Sicily, she ought to fulfill her own wishes. She needed to think of a way; even if she couldn¡¯t visit her old home, just a distant glimpse would suffice. ¡°Xia Siyu, Xia Siyu?¡± Xia Siyu was startled and quickly looked up, her mind still turning slowly, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Bo Yan remained silent, simply lowering his head to look at her fingers. Only then did Xia Siyu follow his gaze and realize that she had cut her finger while chopping vegetables and that it was bleeding. Bo Yan seized her injured hand, seriously inspecting the wound, his expression calm, ¡°You¡¯re hurt.¡± Xia Siyu was someone who, when happy, would let the whole world know but would hide away when hurt, not wanting anyone to see her wounds. Moreover, a small cut from chopping vegetables was a minor issue to her; it was just a nick, not a deep wound, so she really didn¡¯t pay it much mind. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing.¡± She was about to withdraw her hand when Bo Yan gripped it tighter. Xia Siyu looked at him in surprise as he led her forward a few steps, directly to the sink. He pressed out the bruised blood near the wound and, though at first Xia Siyu felt only a delayed dullness, the pressure soon brought a burning, stinging sensation. Yet the cool flow of water quickly neutralized this dull pain. After cleaning the cut, Bo Yan still pulled her to sit on the sofa, ¡°Wait here for a while. I am going to get you a first aid kit.¡± Bo Yan quickly went upstairs and came down with a small first aid kit. He was accustomed to carrying some medical essentials, especially when traveling abroad, as they were convenient for minor ailments. Xia Siyu still appeared indifferent, ¡°Just give me a band-aid, I can stick it on myself.¡± Bo Yan looked serious, frowning, ¡°Either you let me handle it, or I call a doctor, or you go to the hospital. Choose from the three options.¡± Xia Siyu didn¡¯t want to choose any, but the first option seemed slightly better. She handed her paw over to Bo Yan. Bo Yan opened the first aid kit, inspected the wound carefully, disinfected it with an alcohol swab, then selected a plaster, cut a suitable length with scissors, and wrapped it around her finger methodically. He was bending his head, bangs falling over his forehead, swaying gently with his movements. From this angle, his eyelashes appeared dense and long, his nose sharp, and his lips soft and full¡­ Indeed, if he hadn¡¯t had such good looks, her mother wouldn¡¯t have fallen for him back then. As she mused, Bo Yan had already finished bandaging her, seeming to sense something, he lifted his head to look at her. In the camera lens, the empty living room, the two seated on the sofa hand in hand, their gazes meeting.. Chapter 143 - Chapter 143: Chapter 143: Don’t Like You (1) Chapter 143: Chapter 143: Don¡¯t Like You (1) Translator: 549690339 Generally, in TV dramas, when the female lead cuts her finger while chopping vegetables, the male lead gently grasps her hand and then sucks on the finger to clean off the blood. The cameraman would then take a clear close-up shot of their faces, and in such a scene, their gazes would be interlocked, full of tender affection. As it stands, although Xia Siyu and Bo Yan don¡¯t share affectionate gazes, they are indeed engaging in a rare and peaceful eye contact. As long as two attractive men and women hold hands and look into each other¡¯s eyes within the same frame, the atmosphere becomes instantly ambiguous. The audience also feels tense. Rarely, although there are still Bo Yan fans in the barrage clamoring for Xia Siyu to get lost, these past two days Li Yiru has been excessively flaunting Bo Yan, causing many Bo Yan fans to shift their focus and start badmouthing Li Yiru instead. There are also a lot of CP shippers¡ªthose who are fans of looks¡ªwho feel like they¡¯re getting candy as soon as they¡¯re in the same frame, and feel like they¡¯re pregnant just from making eye contact. Witnessing such a scene, they keep howling, ¡°Shipped it, shipped it,¡± ¡°KSML (I¡¯m dead from shipping)!¡¯ In everyone¡¯s gaze, Bo Yan held her hand, his thick and soft lips parted as he asked in a deep and magnetic voice, ¡°Does your hand still hurt?¡± His voice, like the sonorous melody of a cello, had the power to bewitch. Xia Siyu shook her head. ¡°It doesn¡¯t affect daily life, does it?¡± Xia Siyu shook her head again. ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± Bo Yan turned around and let go of her hand, then started to clean up the medical supplies. He didn¡¯t forget to throw in a remark, ¡°Don¡¯t let it affect work tomorrow. Don¡¯t drag us down.¡± With that remark, the whole romantic moment collapsed in an instant. Xia Siyu sobered up within a second and immediately flared up, ¡°Who¡¯s dragging you down? It¡¯s just a cut on the hand. 1 don¡¯t CARE about such a minor injury.¡± Bo Yan didn¡¯t even bother to respond to her, stood up with the medical box, and left. As he walked upstairs, he said, ¡°You hurt your hand just by cutting vegetables¡ªare you a primary school student?¡± The response to him was a throw pillow that Xia Siyu tossed at his back. When it was time to eat, Xia Siyu was still baring her teeth at Bo Yan, showing an indomitable enemy¡¯s attitude. Meanwhile, Bo Yan, sitting opposite her, elegantly ate his meal, turning a blind eye to the person across from him. The whole table also sensed this inexplicable atmosphere. Wang Zisu and Zhou Weiwei looked worried. Shang Feifei was fine, appearing uninvolved. But Li Yiru had an expression of someone enjoying the drama: the footage of these two holding hands in the afternoon had gone viral. Although it ended in an argument, many non-Bo Yan fans who loved aesthetics especially shipped this pair and had even formed a fandom, getting it approved, and it was now gaining momentum. The most irritating thing was that the CP fans of Bo Yan and Xia Siyu called this pair ¡°Fable,¡± which was a play on words, reversing the ¡°Yanyu¡± (¡°words¡±) that Bo Yan¡¯s fans called themselves and even putting Xia Siyu¡¯s ¡°Yu n (rain) at the front. This made Bo Yan¡¯s true fans even angrier, wishing they could tear Xia Siyu¡¯s fans and the CP fans apart. After the meal, Zhou Weiwei cautiously approached Xia Siyu, held back for a long time before asking, ¡°Does Teacher Bo have a piece of vegetable on his teeth?¡± Xia Siyu was startled and shook her head, ¡°No.¡± ¡°Then why were you staring at him all the time?¡± Zhou Weiwei said, ¡°If you keep staring at someone, it¡¯s either because they have something on their teeth, or you dislike them, or you like them.¡± Xia Siyu slammed the table and stood up, ¡°l like him? Where are your eyes looking?¡± Her voice was so loud that everyone around turned to look and, since she had not removed her microphone, it was almost as if all the people in the nation had heard her. Bo Yan was still unfazed, ¡°Oh, it¡¯s fine, I don¡¯t like you either..¡± Chapter 144 - Chapter 144: Chapter 144: Don’t Like You (2) Chapter 144: Chapter 144: Don¡¯t Like You (2) Translator: 549690339 He and Xia Siyu exchanged glances, and with a humph from Xia Siyu, neither of them showed any smile on their face. Seeing this scene, Bo Yan¡¯s fans hooted excitedly, and even held a raffle event The response to him was a throw pillow that Xia Siyu tossed at his back the dead weight. Stacking comments to draw three gifts. Excluding Xia Siyu fans, Li Yiru fans, and CP fans.¡¯ ¡°Look, I knew my Teacher Bo would never fancy someone like her.¡± ¡°The shameless clinging dud, Yan Bao doesn¡¯t support the destitute.¡± In the evening when they rested, it was the same routine: one lying to the left, the other to the right, each turned their back to the other. But their attitude assured the live-streaming audience: it didn¡¯t seem possible that anything could happen between these two, let alone the development of feelings. Another day. Bo Yan got up early as usual, and after getting up, perhaps learning from the heatstroke incident with Xia Siyu a couple of days ago, he would carefully cover her with a blanket. Because of yesterday¡¯s incident, no one thought Bo Yan was deliberately getting close, and when they saw him taking care of Xia Siyu, they would even praise him for ¡°holding no grudges¡± and ¡°gentlemanly behavior.¡± After that, he washed up, tidied up, and exercised in the morning. Xia Siyu woke up a bit later and, as usual, sat in bed disheveled, staring into space for a long time before lazily going to the washroom to clean up and dress. Li Yiru, having been scolded so mercilessly the past two days and frankly lacking the habit of morning exercise, decided to rest properly today. However, Shang Feifei was as steadfast as ever in getting up daily. She didn¡¯t join Bo Yan for morning runs, but she would still move her limbs and do some light exercises in the small courtyard. When Bo Yan returned from his morning run, he also went back to the yard to do some relaxing exercises, and when the two met, they greeted each other coolly, just like any ordinary friends would. Of course, Shang Feifei wouldn¡¯t miss this opportunity, but she didn¡¯t want to be too conspicuous, so she simply asked, ¡®E l heard a new person is coming today, right?¡± As she asked, Xia Siyu just happened to push open the window, obviously having heard as well. Yet Xia Siyu¡¯s expression remained calm, without a flicker of interest. She couldn¡¯t be bothered to inquire whether it was a man or a woman, nor did she care how many came. After all, as long as she was paid for her work, she would just focus on doing the show well. But Shang Feifei had reasons for asking Bo Yan. His participation in the reality show was like a debut for him, and with his current fame, joining such a program was a boost for the show¡ªeven if he personally insisted on coming, his management would seize the opportunity to pose conditions to the production team. Like planting someone as a flying guest, for instance. Just as Wang Zisu and Zhou Weiwei signed on together, the flying guest was also something the production team agreed to in consideration of Bo Yan¡¯s presence. However, with the reality show¡¯s novel idea of live-streaming celebrity cohabitation hitting new heights, reaching up to fifty million concurrent online viewers at peak times, and trending searches one after another, the program had become an instant hit. Numerous celebrities eagerly awaited their chance to be a flying guest, but unfortunately, they were too late to get the opportunity. Bo Yan nodded, ¡°Mhm.¡± ¡°They should be arriving soon, right? Guests usually arrive in the afternoon or evening when they participate in variety shows.¡± Bo Yan nodded again, ¡°Mhm.¡± Although he knew who was coming, he couldn¡¯t possibly spoil it before the program aired. But then, Shang Feifei said something that piqued even Xia Siyu¡¯s curiosity from upstairs, ¡°l heard that Teacher Bo will be leaving in a couple of days, not staying in Italy?¡± Chapter 145 - Chapter 145: Chapter 145: Don’t Like You (3) Chapter 145: Chapter 145: Don¡¯t Like You (3) Translator: 549690339 Bo Yan was definitely a permanent guest, but he was very busy. Although the company managed to allocate twenty days for him, it was impossible for him to stay for the entire duration of the reality show filming, as he had to make a trip to Paris in a couple of days. Actually, he was going to stay with the person who came to be a flying guest for two days before flying to Paris. Bo Yan glanced up at Xia Siyu, his gaze indifferent, and nodded as he said, ¡°Yes, because of work.¡¯ Xia Siyu met his gaze and then calmed down. Whether he left or not was none of her concern; she wouldn¡¯t leave Italy anyway. Without him, she could sleep more peacefully at night. At least the cameras could be turned off completely, allowing her to sleep undisturbed to her heart¡¯s content. ¡°How many days will you be gone? Will I see you again in Italy?¡± ¡°l don¡¯t know, maybe we¡¯ll meet in Germany.¡± Xia Siyu had never asked about his itinerary nor did she care about it. All she hoped was for the production team to give everyone some free time on the last day so she could go and visit the place where she used to live. As they were talking, a car happened to stop downstairs, and then a girl poked her head out of it. Upon seeing Bo Yan in the courtyard, she immediately smiled with squinted eyes, ¡°Brother Yan.¡± This person, Xia Siyu really knew. Her name was Wu Di, the same age as Siyu and also born into a rich family, having known Bo Yan since they were children. She had liked Bo Yan for a long time. Even when Wu Di was still at the Dance Academy, she often visited them at N University to show her affection. After Bo Yan entered the entertainment industry, she also followed suit. Moreover, she ended up at the same agency as Bo Yan, becoming his junior. Because they were from the same agency, Bo Yan inevitably participated in promotional events bundled together with Wu Di, and this time was no exception. However, Xia Siyu remembered Wu Di, but Wu Di might not remember her. Firstly, there were too many people pursuing Bo Yan back then, and he was low-key. Although he dated Xia Siyu, he was never the type to publicly display his affection. Their relationship didn¡¯t last long before they broke up, and the next time they met was two years later when Wu Di had already graduated. Perhaps Wu Di didn¡¯t even know that Bo Yan once had a brief affair. Secondly, the Xia Family had never announced her identity to the public over the years. Those unaware might think her father, Xia Youbiao, only had one son and one daughter when in fact, this youngest daughter was easily overlooked. Back in the day, the controversy over Bo Yan¡¯s fianc¨¦e did not involve her, but her paternal half-sister, Xia Sicai. Even if Wu Di had a rival in love, it wasn¡¯t her but Xia Sicai. The marriage between Bo Yan and Xia Siyu had never been made public outside of the Bo and Xia families. Besides these family members, Wu Di might have even thought that Bo Yan was still single. Relying on their childhood friendship, she had continued to show her affection over the years, though it had all ended in failure. At this moment, without even pulling her luggage, Wu Di came over with a beaming smile to find Bo Yan. While she was indeed rich, she was merely a nobody in the entertainment industry, roughly at the same level as Zhou Weiwei. With Shang Feifei standing by, she didn¡¯t have the status to ignore her. Bo Yan, on the other hand, subtly stepped aside, allowing Wu Di to see Shang Feifei. No matter how proud Wu Di was, she knew this was a show and promptly greeted her. Looking up again. Xia Siyu quietly observed Wu Di, too lazy to bother. Wu Di squinted her eyes at Xia Siyu, then with a smile, she said, ¡°Hello, my name is Wu Di. I feel like I¡¯ve seen you somewhere before..¡± Chapter 146 - Chapter 146: Chapter 146: Don’t Like You (4) Chapter 146: Chapter 146: Don¡¯t Like You (4) Translator: 549690339 Xia Siyu had a look on her face that said ¡°this person is really funny¡± as she asked, ¡°Did you also participate in the film festival¡¯s red carpet? Or did you receive some kind of Fashion Week invitation?¡± She had been to many such events, and Wu Di t s status was much lower than hers, so who knows where they might have met before. Wu Di shook her head: ¡°It was on another occasion.¡¯ Xia Siyu thought for a moment, then nodded: ¡°Indeed, my billboards have been popping up quite a bit lately.¡± She was an A-lister, an A-lister! Even if she was being criticized, she was still an A-lister. In China, it was normal to know her; if you didn¡¯t, then you probably haven¡¯t watched TV or been online for at least six years. Wu Di did not argue, but her expression clearly carried a deeper meaning. Since the villa had only four bedrooms, there weren¡¯t enough to go around for the flying guests. However, it wasn¡¯t a problem¡ªthe family next door that had a Samoyed dog was also approached by the production team, so Wu Di and the other flying guests were arranged to stay in the next-door rooms. After Wu Di settled into her room, she went about introducing herself and shaking hands with the celebrities present. When the director called everyone together, she naturally stood next to Bo Yan. The problem was, Bo Yan was the center of attraction for the whole program. Normally, standing positions were determined by status, with Bo Yan in the middle, flanked by Xia Siyu and Shang Feifei. But now, Xia Siyu had been squeezed aside, next to Wang Zisu, making room for Wu Di. Wang Zisu leaned in close to Xia Siyu and asked in a particularly quiet voice, ¡°Sister Siyu, is that Wu Di very close with Brother Bo?¡± To make sure his voice wasn¡¯t heard, he even switched off his microphone. Xia Siyu nodded: ¡°From the same company, I guess.¡± ¡°So what if it¡¯s the same company, just like Weiwei and me. We¡¯re from the same company too, but apart from the annual company meeting and other specific occasions, we hardly ever meet.¡± Zhou Weiwei acted, and Wang Zisu was an Idol who mainly performed on stage. Even if they were to act, these two had different paths in acting, indeed making it hard for them to meet. Wu Di r s acting skills were the complete opposite of her name, just a normal actress without any acting chops, a vase. Even if you gave her an idol drama, she might still need to be photoshopped in, let alone Bo Yan¡¯s arthouse films. ¡°Didn¡¯t she just say she knew you?¡± Xia Siyu immediately puffed up her small chest in retort: ¡°Nonsense, who do you think I am? If she doesn¡¯t know me, my billboards are all over the streets, and my commercials are inserted during the prime time slot. Go online, and I¡¯m trending every day. She said she¡¯s seen me, maybe at some red carpet event where I was the finale, and she hitched a ride. The entertainment circle is just that big, you bump into each other sooner or later, what¡¯s the big deal?¡± ¡°Do you think she has a thing for Brother Bo?¡± Xia Siyu was silent; she wasn¡¯t just uninterested in Wu Di, she was uninterested in Bo Yan as well. ¡°I don¡¯t know, whatever.¡¯ Although Xia Siyu had also turned off her microphone, the microphone of Zhou Weiwei standing next to her was still on. Bo Yan, being close by, could clearly hear the two of them whispering to each other through the microphone. Especially when he heard the words ¡°whatever,¡± Bo Yan¡¯s brows unconsciously furrowed. Soon the director announced the task: ¡°Today we have a newcomer, Wu Dia Welcome to ¡®Flowers and Grass.¡¯ Now, the task for today will be announced.¡± As everyone knows, when announcing tasks, one needs to work in groups. Bo Yan couldn¡¯t wait to take long strides towards Xia Siyu. He had just taken a step when the director said, ¡°Bo Yan, stop.¡± Chapter 147 - Chapter 147: Chapter 147 Career Contrast (1) Chapter 147: Chapter 147 Career Contrast (1) Translator: 549690339 Bo Yan was taken aback, then looked toward the director, who announced, ¡°Today, Xia Siyu and Wang Zisu are in one team. You and Wu Di are in another.¡¯ No sooner had the words left his mouth than Wang Zisu and Wu Di both cheered. Wu Di looked at Bo Yan with a smile, ¡°Brother Yan, I look forward to learning from you.¡± Bo Yan did not respond but simply nodded. Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced over at the corner where Wang Zisu was particularly happy. If it weren¡¯t for the camera lens filming them, he would probably have buried himself in Xia Siyu¡¯s embrace. Bo Yan drew back his legs as the director continued, ¡°Moreover, the team allocations for today and tomorrow will be counted toward the final rankings. The winning team will receive a special reward on the last day: a visit to the Grand Cathedral Square of the Ortigia Island Cathedral in Syracuse, which is featured in ¡®The Beautiful Legends of Sicily.¡± The guests who came to participate in the show were more or less actors, and indeed they aspired to ¡®The Beautiful Legends of Sicily¡¯. Regardless of whether they had been here or not, for the sake of the show¡¯s effect, they at least had to pretend to be very happy. But Xia Siyu was not among them. She was only concerned, ¡°And the team that¡¯s lagging behind? They won¡¯t have to stay in the villa, will they?¡± The director was momentarily at a loss for words; this person always veered off the script. Fortunately, they were prepared, ¡°The team with the lowest score will work in a caf¨¦ for a day while the others are visiting, to earn money for the train ticket to Germany.¡± To Xia Siyu, working was no big deal; it wasn¡¯t something she cared about. Her only question was, ¡°Where will we be working? Not here, right?¡± Even though she didn¡¯t say anything, her expression was one of disdain. The director picked up the conversation, ¡°Not here, in Taormina. It¡¯s a seaside town not too far from here.¡¯ Upon hearing the name Taormina, Xia Siyu quieted down in an instant. Wang Zisu, beside her, was puzzled but clenched her little fist, ¡°Sister Siyu, we won¡¯t lose.¡¯ Xia Siyu smiled but did not respond. Only Bo Yan glanced in her direction, then bowed his head, seemingly pondering something. The teams soon set off separately. The previous days had been in simple mode for the program team, the tasks were tiring, but not difficult to complete. Unexpectedly, it suddenly turned into competition mode. Especially for Xia Siyu and Bo Yan¡¯s teams, since they had male members, the program team increased the difficulty. The first two teams had left by bus, but they had to wait another half hour before they could depart. Bo Yan was already a man of few words, and Wu Di was rather proud by nature. The two of them stood together, with Wu Di speaking to him unilaterally from time to time, and Bo Yan responding briefly. However, his voice was not very loud, nor was his attitude particularly enthusiastic. On the other hand, Xia Siyu had always been loud and expressive, and Wang Zisu was also the playful type. The two came together, one moment chatting away, the next moment Wang Zisu teaching her to sing and playing his own compositions for her. The key was that for listening to music, Wang Zisu brought headphones, and of the earbuds, one was for him, and the other for Xia Siyu. The headphone cord wasn¡¯t very long, so the two had to be close to each other to listen. The vehicle was a seven-seater, with Bo Yan and Wu Di in the last row and Xia Siyu and Wang Zisu in the row in front of them. Whenever there was a sharp turn, Wang Zisu¡¯s phone fell down and the headphone cord flew out, causing Xia Siyu to lean to the side. Bo Yan, sitting in the middle of the back row, just managed to catch her by the shoulder. His voice was somewhat cold, ¡°You should be careful when riding in the car, to avoid straining your back.¡± Chapter 148 - Chapter 148: Chapter 148 Co-stars Contrast (2) Chapter 148: Chapter 148 Co-stars Contrast (2) Translator: 549690339 They soon reached their destination. Since it was a competitive show, naturally some of the tasks involved running and jumping. The first two groups were girls, and they had already set off. The last two groups, after the director announced the rules, quickly set off as well. Although it was a competition, it wasn¡¯t really like a sports event with outdoor long-distance running or triathlons. Combining local history and cultural knowledge, the two groups each received different Task Cards. For instance, Bo Yan¡¯s side focused on history. Sicily has been a strategic military location since Ancient Greece, with countless historical and cultural knowledge from Ancient Greece to the Middle Ages and then to modern times. As soon as he got the relevant Task Card, Bo Yan quickly analyzed and came to a conclusion, then dashed off to solve it. On Xia Siyu!s side, she didn¡¯t have as much knowledge as Bo Yan. Wang Zisu, who had gone to Korea to be a trainee right after finishing junior high, naturally didn¡¯t know these common sense facts either. However, Xia Siyu¡¯s team had two advantages. One was that she lived there and was more familiar with the area, plus she spoke Italian. The other was that both Wang Zisu and she were accustomed to exercise and found no trouble with running and jumping. At the beginning, Bo Yan leveraged his rich knowledge to quickly take the lead and even began catching up with the two groups that had left half an hour earlier. Unfortunately, as it came to the latter half of the race, Wu Di couldn¡¯t keep up with the stamina and had a very difficult time chasing from behind. A team must finish tasks together, so even if Bo Yan was faster, he had to wait for Wu Di, and they had to stick together through the competition. Conversely, Xia Siyu¡¯s team had a clear division of labor. Since Xia Siyu had a poor sense of direction, Wang Zisu took on the responsibility for the running and searching. Although Wang Zisu had succeeded in the rock climbing the day before, she was still somewhat scared of heights. So Xia Siyu took care of asking for directions and all parts that involved climbing to higher places. Though they started out as the last group and were not great academically, they at least worked well together, and being young and energetic, they quickly caught up, and it seemed they were about to overtake Bo Yan¡¯s group. Between the two groups, there was just one last task left. Bo Yan¡¯s group drew the task of finding a clue about a mythological story from the ¡°Roman Epic¡± at the Massimo Theatre. The Massimo Theatre was also a filming location for ¡°Godfather 3¡±. Xia Siyu¡¯s group was tasked with picking up a Sicilian specialty dessert from a nearby flea market. The two teams happened to run into each other near the theatre. Actually, Xia Siyu had no desire to win; she wasn¡¯t very keen on winning and had even thought about deliberately falling behind the day before to go to Taormina. But they were a team, and Wang Zisu did have a desire to win; she couldn¡¯t let the team lose the competition for her own whims. As for Wu Di, she had even less desire to win. She just didn¡¯t like Xia Siyu very much, or to be more precise, she didn¡¯t like any girls around Bo Yan. Wu Di, who had been lagging behind all the way, finally burst forth at that moment¡ª she was the first to rush into the theatre¡ªand then got lost. It was still Bo Yan who quickly found the check-in point based on the clues provided by the crew. All they needed to do was to report at the designated position by the production team to be considered having completed the task. The production team also said, ¡°You are the first to check off all the tasks. Just report to the designated spot, and you will be in first place.¡± Hearing this, Wu Di also became excited, but just as she and Bo Yan exited the theatre door, not even descending the steps, they saw from a distance Xia Siyu¡¯s team had already checked in and were heading towards the final destination.. Chapter 149 - Chapter 149: Chapter 149 Co-stars Contrast (3) Chapter 149: Chapter 149 Co-stars Contrast (3) Translator: 549690339 Although there were only two contestants on each side, they were followed by a large group of the show¡¯s crew members. Surrounded by people, it was actually quite easy to spot each other. Xia Siyu might have felt a bit hot, so when she passed by the market, she casually bought a hair tie, tied a high ponytail, and also bought headbands for herself and Wang Zisu. Tied with the two white headbands, they looked both youthful and energetic. It¡¯s strange, traffic fans usually dislike female stars, especially those who hype up CP (celebrity pairings) to gain popularity. When Xia Siyu teamed up with Wang Zisu, there were actually people cursing them in the bullet comments, but as they watched on, the two¡¯s interaction didn¡¯t look like a couple, more like siblings. Wang Zisu was very attached to her, and Xia Siyu took good care of him, but no matter how you looked at it, it had nothing to do with the words ¡°boyfriend and girlfriend.¡± The Prince¡¯s fans didn¡¯t like their idol having an extra girlfriend, but they didn¡¯t mind him having an extra sister. Seeing that this team was about to take first place, the fans were quite happy. From a distance, Xia Siyu and Wang Zisu even made a provocative gesture toward Bo Yan and Wu Di, which made Bo Yan frown. It wasn¡¯t clear if he was annoyed by Xia Siyu and Wang Zisu¡¯s provocation, or by their matching headbands and challenge poses. Bo Yan didn¡¯t say anything, but Wu Di got irritated. Bo Yan and Wu Di were up on the steps, while Xia Siyu and Wang Zisu were below. In theory, Bo Yan¡¯s team ought to be looking down a bit more. But Xia Siyu just had this relentless momentum, and with Wang Zisu blindly supporting her beside her, it looked quite intimidating. Wu Di definitely wasn¡¯t happy, she not only disliked women who flocked around Bo Yan, but also disliked women who challenged her. She immediately said, ¡°Brother Yan, let¡¯s work harder and surpass them!¡± Just as if she was injected with a boost of adrenaline, ready to rush down, she missed a step and tumbled down the stairs. This turn of events shocked everyone, especially since Xia Siyu had fainted just two days prior, and they feared an accident, so the crew immediately gathered around. Luckily, the steps of the theater were not high, just a few, so when she fell, she didn¡¯t twist anything badly. Of course, she must have scraped her skin, and the way she fell was unsightly, face down, with her hair pulled into disarray. When Bo Yan went up to ask her, she was a bit dazed at first, but when she saw Bo Yan coming over and noticed the filming crew around, the tears she was about to cry were instantly held back. It was so embarrassing, unbearably embarrassing! Bo Yan did seriously look over her face to check: luckily nothing was hurt. Otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t do to have bruises when attending an event in Paris in a few days. Then he asked, ¡°Did you get hurt anywhere? Your hand, foot, anything like that, move them around.¡¯ Wu Di actually sat there and twisted around a bit. Her hands and feet moved freely, then she shook her head. At this moment, Wang Zisu and Xia Siyu also noticed the situation here, Wang Zisu asked, ¡°Brother Bo, is Wu Di alright? Should we get a doctor?¡± Bo Yan turned back, ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± He paused and then said, ¡°You two go ahead and complete the task, I¡¯ve got this handled here.¡¯ Upon hearing this, Xia Siyu looked at Wang Zisu, who called out, ¡°Contact us if you need anything.¡± Then the two left without looking back. Once the third wheel was gone, Wu Di displayed her grievances in a second, ¡°Brother Yan, it hurts a lot.¡¯ She then reached out her hand, extending it towards him in the air, hoping he would pull her up and hold her in his arms. Bo Yan ignored her hand and simply stated, ¡°I¡¯ll call a doctor for you.¡± I¡¯m not a doctor, how could I be of any help to you? Chapter 150 - Chapter 150: Chapter 150 Co-stars Contrast (4) Chapter 150: Chapter 150 Co-stars Contrast (4) Translator: 549690339 Wu Di was momentarily stunned. Normally at this juncture, a guy would lend a hand to help her up; even if not offering a princess carry, at least he¡¯d provide some support. But he couldn¡¯t even be bothered to stretch out a hand, let alone anything else. It was Wu Di whose eyes reddened again, looking pitifully at Bo Yan, ¡°Bro Yan, help me up.¡± Only then did Bo Yan reach out his hand, pulled her up, and called over to the production crew, ¡°Should she head back first, or have a doctor look at her?¡± A doctor really did come. As usual, he had her move her limbs around. Wu Di only had some scratches, her hands, and knees were skinned, but there was no damage to her muscles or bones. However, during the examination, Wu Di clung tightly to Bo Yan¡¯s hand, leaning her entire weight against him. If she could have had her way, she would have wished for him to hold her during the checkup, but unfortunately that wasn¡¯t possible. The doctor shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s nothing serious, but the wounds still need to be treated. Do you want to go back to get them bandaged?¡± Wu Di glanced at Bo Yan, hoping he would escort her back, which would allow them some alone time together on the way back. But Bo Yan clearly wasn¡¯t thinking along the same lines, ¡°How about I help you to the car, and you head back first, while I go to submit the Task Card? Once I¡¯ve handed in the Task Card, I¡¯ll come back to check on you.¡± After all, Wu Di wasn¡¯t seriously hurt; there was no need to make a fuss as though it was a matter of life and death. Just a few days ago Xia Siyu had passed out, yet she had still completed her task and collected her pay before going back. Wu Di bit her lip, then nodded, ¡°It¡¯s okay, Bro Yan, let¡¯s submit the Task Card together first.¡± And she continued to hug Bo Yan, jealous to death of all the female guests! Bo Yan frowned, not wanting to support her, ¡°Can¡¯t you walk?¡± He had no idea if the female guests were jealous or not, but Bo Yan¡¯s fans in the live comments were going crazy, all beginning to chime in: ¡°It¡¯s just a fall, not even a sprain, why make such a fuss as if it¡¯s a matter of life and death?¡± ¡°And she¡¯s always dragging Yan Bao back. If it were any other female guest, Yan Bao would have taken first place long ago.¡± ¡°Thanks to the contrast provided by others, I¡¯m actually starting to like Xia Siyu. ¡± ¡°To be honest, Xia Siyu is doing pretty well this time, no affectation, diligent, and not delicate at all.¡¯ Xia Siyu had no idea that her negative image in the eyes of Bo Yan¡¯s fans had been completely washed away by Li Yiru and Wu Di. She and Wang Zisu quickly reached the finish line, indeed scoring first place. Following them were Hu Juyue and Zhou Weiwei. Although their celebrity status among the guests was relatively low, they made up for it with their diligence, and this time they just put their heads down and powered on. Next came Li Yiru and Shang Feifei. These two had been wearing expressions of ¡°agreeable on the surface but not at heart¡± for the past few days, but the veneer of amiability was deceiving, so they seemed to be on fairly good terms. Last of all was Bo Yan and Wu Di. Especially seeing Wu Di clinging to Bo Yan, Li Yiru¡¯s expression was wonderfully vivid. Shang Feifei glanced at Wu Di and Bo Yan and then at Xia Siyu nearby, her eyes showing a trace of confusion, but she left it at that, without inquiring further. Xia Siyu paid no mind to any of the drama, still holding her ¡®Number One¡¯ sign, chatting and laughing with Wang Zisu. Bo Yan looked speechless at Wu Di by his side, and then at the far off Xia Siyu laughing happily, his expression darkening even further. Upon returning to the villa, luckily Wu Di wasn¡¯t staying in the same building as them. As soon as Bo Yan got out of the car, he handed Wu Di off to a staff member, bluntly interrupting her so that she couldn¡¯t protest, and immediately followed Xia Siyu back to their room.. Chapter 151 - Chapter 151: Chapter 151: Like or Dislike (1) Chapter 151: Chapter 151: Like or Dislike (1) Translator: 549690339 She hadn¡¯t expected that no sooner had she and Bo Yan stepped inside, slamming the door shut, than a loud ¡°bang¡± echoed behind them, followed by a cry of ¡°ouch.¡± They both turned to see Wu Di had followed them. Xia Siyu kept her composure, while Bo Yan¡¯s expression instantly turned grim. However, his stern look could also be interpreted as protective concern, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say your arms and legs were aching? Why aren¡¯t you resting, instead of running around?¡± Wu Di indeed took it as concern. Her usual arrogance around other girls vanished, and in a second she transformed into a pitiful little thing scolded by him, ¡°Bo, I just wanted to ask what time we¡¯re leaving tomorrow.¡± Bo Yan frowned slightly, although Wu Di had just come in, he was merely annoyed, rather than unhappy. But he was still in the middle of filming the show, a live broadcast at that. Wu Di was asking about another job on the side ¨C what would the staff and audience here think? His expression became serious, ¡°We have tasks to complete here, and only after we finish can we head over there.¡± Then he added, ¡°And after I¡¯ve finished my part there, I¡¯ll come back as soon as possible.¡± He had intended to speak with Xia Siyu about this very matter upon entering. Even if they couldn¡¯t show a married couple¡¯s relationship, they were still colleagues on the same program, roommates sharing a room. This was a perfect opportunity to set things straight in front of her and the show¡¯s audience. While he was talking, Xia Siyu drank water on the side, busying herself with her own things. When the other two stopped talking and looked at her, she was a bit puzzled, and directly asked Bo Yan, ¡°Do I have lettuce on my face?¡± Bo Yan shook his head. She then asked, ¡°So, do you hate me?¡± Bo Yan frowned again and shook his head. Xia Siyu continued, ¡°I¡¯m going to take a shower. Can you both continue your conversation outside?¡± Having said that, Bo Yan felt awkward about staying any longer. He nodded and glanced at Wu Di, who swept Xia Siyu a look and peered at Bo Yan before both left together. Xia Siyu indifferently went about her business, preparing her clean clothes for a shower. Just as she closed the bathroom door, she looked at herself in the mirror and suddenly remembered what Zhou Weiwei said the night before, ¡°If you keep staring at someone, it¡¯s either because there¡¯s lettuce on their teeth, you dislike them, or you like them.¡± Bo Yan had been staring at her, there was no lettuce on her face, and he didn¡¯t hate her, so that must mean¡­ Impossible. Back in college, it was she who pursued him. To him, she had always been nothing more than an afterthought, as he seemed indifferent to her advances. Even before and after they dated, there were many girls around him, Wu Di being just one of them. After they broke up, when back at school, he¡¯d pass her by as if he didn¡¯t recognize her. And then at their wedding, his tone was so perfunctorily businesslike¡­ In other words, even if he now harbored some feelings for her, what of it? If he has feelings for her, is she supposed to reciprocate his affection? The queue of boys who had pursued her back in the day could stretch from her girls¡¯ dorm to his boys¡¯ dorm. Now as a big star, though many reviled her, even more were after her. Why should she come wagging her tail at the crook of his little finger? Humph, even if you wanted to chase me, you¡¯d have to take a number for love and get in line! Fresh from a soothing bath, Xia Siyu stepped out only to find Bo Yan was gone, but Wu Di was waiting. Upon seeing her, Wu Di called out, ¡°Xia Siyu.¡± Chapter 152 - Chapter 152: Chapter 152: Like or Dislike (2) Chapter 152: Chapter 152: Like or Dislike (2) Translator: 549690339 Xia Siyu didn¡¯t even bother to acknowledge, she just turned around and walked two steps away. ¡°I¡¯ve seen you before.¡± This time, it was a decisive statement. If Wu Di hadn¡¯t intentionally quickened his pace to intercept her and block her path, Xia Siyu wouldn¡¯t even want to give him a glance. Xia Siyu looked up at the sky. Was it because she had been more restrained lately that everyone seemed to think she was more emotive? And this Wu Di guy, he had turned off his own microphone. Did he not want outsiders to hear what she said? She smiled directly, ¡°I¡¯m not like you, I¡¯m very famous. And I¡¯ve been famous for six years. As long as you¡¯ve been in the Chinese-speaking circle for these six years, you must have seen me.¡± Wu Di r s face stiffened. Indeed, as a rich second-generation, he certainly had a background, but Xia Siyu relied on her own strength. So what if you¡¯re a tycoon¡¯s son? The wealth that falls from the sky isn¡¯t earned by you. But Xia Siyu is on fire, she is famous, all on her own confidence! ¡°I¡¯m talking about the time in college.¡± Xia Siyu asked, ¡°Which college did you go to?¡± ¡°Dance Academy.¡± Xia Siyu made an ¡°oh¡± sound, ¡°Then we probably haven¡¯t met.¡± Wu Di added another sentence, ¡°But I¡¯ve been to N University. Bo Yan studied there and also taught there.¡± Xia Siyu made another ¡°oh¡± sound, very naturally flaunting her own beauty, ¡°I¡¯ve been the campus belle since I was young. It¡¯s not strange that you know about me.¡± ¡°But your name and your face remind me of someone familiar, Xia Family¡¯s young lady Xia Sicai¡­¡± Wu Di caught up again, wanting to ask something else, just as the door to another bedroom opened and out came Li Yiru. As she stepped out, her eyes rolled around Xia Siyu and Wu Di for a second, then with a laugh, she said, ¡°Yo, how come you two are hitting it off in the corridor?¡± The phrase ¡°hitting it off¡± was indeed quite useful, especially appropriate in this scenario. Xia Siyu definitely didn¡¯t want to hit it off with Wu Di. She immediately distanced herself, ¡°l don¡¯t know any friends from the Dance Academy.¡± Speaking of the Dance Academy, it had to be Fei¡¯er. Li Yiru dragged Shang Feifei into it too. Naturally aware of the tricky waters here, Shang Feifei didn¡¯t continue the topic, ¡°Is that so? I¡¯m from the Dance Academys affiliated high school. I went to the Film Academy in college, were you also from the affiliated high school?¡± Clearly Wu Di was not, she and Shang Feifei were only a year apart. They both lived in the same dormitory building; if she were, Shang Feifei would definitely know. While a few of them chatted, Xia Siyu quickly took the opportunity to leave, and just as Zhou Weiwei also came out, they went downstairs together. Downstairs, as usual, it was Bo Yan who was taking ca_re of the kitchen. Xia Siyu had bought a dozen pounds of chicken feet yesterday, and he had braised them all at once. The delicious aroma filled the air downstairs, and not just for them, even the Samoyed next door drooled at the door. Wang Zisu said with a worried face, ¡°Bro Bo, I heard you¡¯re leaving for a while tomorrow. How many days will you be gone? Even though you¡¯ve cooked all these chicken feet for us, we still have to cook the other dishes ourselves. Once you leave, who will feed us? Everyone knows that the food the rest of us makes is inedible, it¡¯s toxic.¡¯ Xia Siyu tugged at Wang Zisu¡¯s sleeve and turned off both their microphones to quietly ask, ¡°Tell me, if you¡¯re always staring at a woman, and there¡¯s no food stuck in her teeth, you don¡¯t like her, but you don¡¯t hate her either, what kind of situation is that?¡± What kind of situation? Wang Zisu thought about it for a long time, ¡°Then she must be my mom.¡± Xia Siyu: Chapter 159 - Chapter 159: Chapter 159: Unwilling to Take Responsibility (1) Chapter 159: Chapter 159: Unwilling to Take Responsibility (1) Translator: 549690339 Wei Jingjing had been having a rather comfortable time these past few days. She indeed possessed abilities that far surpassed those of an assistant and was fully capable of working independently as an agent. However, Xia Siyu was a key client at their company, and although Qin Baizhou was Xia Siyu!s agent, he was too busy to handle everything and only focused on the overall direction, leaving all other operations to Wei Jingjing. Originally, they were worried that this person would stir up trouble here. Every time Xia Siyu joined a reality show, she¡¯d lose fans. With a hard-to-please temperament, high-maintenance, and prone to falling victim to ¡°devilish¡± editing, variety shows were always her shipwreck event. Wei Jingjing had prepared herself to be on a suicide squad, ready to live at the company to help her undo hot searches, buy hot searches, shift the focus, blur the topic, and had even prepared several bottles of quick-acting heart-saving pills. But this time, Xia Siyu was trending daily, and ninety percent of it was positive. She even gained a significant number of casual fans; her Weibo followers increased by two million, and the likes, shares, and comments were visibly from more active users. Wei Jingjing was so touched she was nearly moved to tears; she hadn¡¯t expected Xia Siyu to pull off such a stunt! She was so scared that she didn¡¯t even swallow her coffee before it all sprayed out. Wei Jingjing quickly checked Weibo¡ªno, the trending topics were still normal with no scandalous news. She opened the live stream; huh, it seemed that Xia Siyu was somewhat intelligent, knowing to tend to matters only after turning off the camera and microphone! So, what was the situation now? Did the two of them really do this and that? And was it actually Xia Siyu who initiated it? Did anyone from the production team find out? She still had to keep it from Qin Baizhou, otherwise, if the boss found out, he wouldn¡¯t dare touch Xia Siyu, but he would definitely tear her to pieces! ¡°You and Bo Yan, you guys¡­ *cough cough cough*. ¡®t Wei Jingjing couldn¡¯t hold it in. As she looked up, Qin Baizhou happened to be passing by, so she quickly lowered her voice and hid under the table to answer Xia Siyu¡¯s call. ¡°Actually, there should be nothing,¡± Xia Siyu calmed down and checked herself. Her clothes were intact, and there were no signs on her body from any post-activity strain. Moving around, she didn¡¯t feel any discomfort. She wasn¡¯t a child; could she really not feel anything at all? Although she was a heavy sleeper, she couldn¡¯t possibly be that oblivious, right? Thinking about Bo Yan, his sleepwear did suffer at her hands, nearly being pulled off, but not quite! And he was lying down neatly, eyes shut, squeezed to the edge of the bed by her, while she occupied two-thirds of the bed space. But that wasn¡¯t right, hadn¡¯t Bo Yan said he would rejoin the group tomorrow afternoon? Why had he returned so early? And why didn¡¯t he make a sound when he came back? ¡°What exactly is the situation?¡± On the other end, Wei Jingjing was still completely clueless. ¡°He came back early, then lay down beside me. Nothing happened between us; we just slept,¡± Xia Siyu responded. ¡°Then why do you say it was you who slept with him, not him with you?¡± ¡°My clothes are intact! There¡¯s nothing wrong with my body. I made a mess of his clothes, nearly stripped his pants off!¡± Xia Siyu spoke with increasing unease. Could it be that now, approaching twenty-seven, she was maturing and starting to desire men? Or was it because, after living together for a while, she had gradually developed some feelings for him? That¡¯s why she had cared so much about what he thought of her last time. While she was pondering, there was a knock at the bathroom door; Xia Siyu jumped, it was Bo Yan.. Chapter 160 - Chapter 160: Chapter 160: Unwilling to Take Responsibility (2) Chapter 160: Chapter 160: Unwilling to Take Responsibility (2) Translator: 549690339 He spoke coldly from outside, ¡°Are you in there?¡± She was doomed, probably Bo Yan had felt something amiss about him and was here to settle accounts! Xia Siyu was so startled inside that she dared not answer, but Bo Yan spoke again from outside, ¡°Come out, 1 need to use the bathroom.¡± Xia Siyu dilly-dallied for a long time, even deliberately pressed the flush button on the toilet and turned on the tap, to show that she had indeed used the facilities. Then she came out, looking down guiltily, not daring to glance at him. Bo Yan didn¡¯t pay her any attention, striding into the bathroom and then immediately shutting the door. Xia Siyu was left outside, and over there, Wei Jingjing was whispering, ¡°Is that Bo Yan?¡± Xia Siyu uttered a sound of acknowledgment. ¡°Did he hear everything we just said?¡± Xia Siyu shook her head in bewilderment, ¡°l don¡¯t know.¡± Wei Jingjing wanted to say more, but then someone called her from above, ¡°Jingjing, what are you hiding here for?¡± It was Qin Baizhou¡¯s voice, and then Wei Jingjing quickly hung up the call, probably not wanting him to know about Xia Siyu¡¯s matter. Xia Siyu sat disconsolately on the edge of the bed, looking at the disheveled sheets, her head aching a bit. Well, it actually wasn¡¯t her fault. Who asked him to come back early? Who asked him to sleep beside her without a word after coming back? She didn¡¯t mean to pull off his clothes. After all, he was a man and she was a woman, and as adults, they shouldn¡¯t accuse each other of taking advantage. Thinking back to the last encounter, which was also with him, it had to be traced back to the distant seven years ago. Back then, he was younger, more driven, and more¡­ While she was lost in her thoughts, the sound of the toilet flushing came from the bathroom, and then Bo Yan opened the door. Their eyes met. In the air, an unspeakable undercurrent filled the space between them as they each had something to say but didn¡¯t know how to start. After a short pause, Bo Yan was the first to speak, ¡°About last night, we¡­¡± But before he could finish, Xia Siyu interrupted him, ¡°Let¡¯s just pretend nothing happened last night. No, actually, nothing did happen. I didn¡¯t do anything to you, and you¡­ um, you probably didn¡¯t do anything to me either. We are both adults, it was merely a sleepover, although I accidentally tore your clothes, I swear I was completely asleep at that time. You know I¡¯m a troubled sleeper, I had no malicious intent! And since I¡¯m a woman and you¡¯re a man, if anyone was at a disadvantage, it would be me. But I¡¯m generous enough not to make a big deal out of it. After all, you came back secretly, without even telling me, you should have woken me up and split the bed into two, so we could sleep separately, without disturbing each other.¡± She explained at length, with two central points: one, nothing happened between us. Two, there was a reason for the event, and it wasn¡¯t her fault. It sounded like a cad who did not want to take responsibility after having his way. Having said that, she looked up with hope in her eyes, ¡°What do you think?¡± On the other side, Bo Yan had maintained a calm expression, but upon hearing her version of events, his brows gradually furrowed when she wasn¡¯t looking. In the end, he actually smiled. His lips curled into a smirk, the corners of his almond-shaped eyes slightly lifting as he gave her a light yet forceful glance. That look made her feel a little guilty and somewhat panicked. Afterward, he lowered his eyelids slightly, with a hint of mockery on his face, ¡°l don¡¯t want such a thing to happen a second time..¡± Chapter 161 - Chapter 161: Chapter 161: Unwilling to Take Responsibility(3) Chapter 161: Chapter 161: Unwilling to Take Responsibility(3) Translator: 549690339 Xia Siyu nodded hastily, immediately admitting, ¡°There definitely won¡¯t be a second time! Even if you want a second time, I won¡¯t agree!¡± As she spoke, Bo Yan¡¯s face took on an indecipherable expression; it was like he wanted to laugh, yet appeared disdainful, or perhaps the anger from before was still there. He dropped a line, ¡°Do whatever you want.¡± Then he turned his back to change clothes and didn¡¯t pay her any more attention. The awkward atmosphere between the two persisted until they both had tidied themselves up and even drawn the bed curtains. After that, they turned on the camera, switched on the microphone, opened the door, and acted as if nothing had happened. Bo Yan re-joined the team a day and a half early, and both the other guests and the directorial team were a bit surprised. But after their surprise, the director smoothly suggested that he join the trip to the church square in Syracuse. Bo Yan, however, said, ¡°That doesn¡¯t seem quite right. I know everyone has been working hard and competing fiercely for this spot. I missed two days with the group and even came last on the first day. By all accounts, I should be the one working.¡± Xia Siyu was somewhat reluctant; she had fought hard for this opportunity and had no intention of giving it up. Bo Yan added, ¡°Whoever wants to go to Taormina, I¡¯ll accompany her. If two people work together, the money should be double, right?¡± Accompanying her was okay; it was better than him stealing her opportunity. Moreover, she didn¡¯t want to seem too eager to go to Taormina in front of the camera, so she had no choice but to accept, ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Since Bo Yan wanted to show his high principles, the directorial team couldn¡¯t force him and had to agree. So the group was split in two, with Bo Yan and Xia Siyu heading to Taormina, and the others going to Syracuse. These were two different cities, so they simply stayed separately and planned to meet up the next day to head to Heidelberg, Germany. They were traveling together initially until they reached the fork in the road on the east coast. Wang Zisu waved goodbye, nostalgia lingering in her gesture, ¡°Sister Siyu, see you tomorrow!¡± Before her words had faded, Bo Yan next to her stood up and yanked the car window¡¯s curtain, pulling it down with force. When Xia Siyu looked at him, his expression was calm, ¡°The sunlight is too glaring. ¡± After speaking, he returned to his seat, maintaining a proper distance from her. The atmosphere grew especially stagnant, especially being in a relatively confined space with him. Xia Siyu and Bo Yan were both sitting in the back row, one by this window, the other by that one, with enough empty space between them to fit another person; neither was willing to make contact. Xia Siyu stole glances at him with the corner of her eye. Bo Yan was resting with his eyes closed, his expression serene, leaving her wondering what he was thinking. After a look, she turned her head and shook it. She hadn¡¯t had much of a love life these past few years, partly because she was busy with work and, as a celebrity, scrutinized by countless eyes. On the other hand, having had an ex-boyfriend like Bo Yan set her standards high. Even if someone pursued her, she would unconsciously measure them against Bo Yan. She wasn¡¯t short on money, so she wouldn¡¯t marry for wealth. Having become a star right from the start, she wasn¡¯t lacking in resources either. She wasn¡¯t adamant about finding the most handsome man, but couldn¡¯t settle for someone with just an average appearance. In terms of education, Bo Yan, a PhD graduate and a university lecturer, was hard to surpass. As for men who already had families and girlfriends, they were entirely out of the question. That instantly eliminated ninety-nine percent of the men. Just then, Wei Jingjing distracted her with a message, ¡°So what¡¯s the actual situation between you and Bo Yan now?¡± Chapter 162 - Chapter 162: Chapter 162: Unwilling to Take Responsibility (4) Chapter 162: Chapter 162: Unwilling to Take Responsibility (4) Translator: 549690339 Fortunately, the drive went smoothly. There were only two of them, and Bo Yan kept his eyes closed, resting as if the overnight travel from yesterday had tired him out. Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t get excited alone and didn¡¯t dare to speak loudly, for fear of disturbing him. On the other hand, Li Yiru and Wang Zisu were very capable of stirring things up, plus there was the articulate host Hu Juyue, so the live broadcast camera didn¡¯t even switch to their group¡ªit stayed with the group on the bus. Although their group wasn¡¯t being featured in the live broadcast, there was still a camera and a microphone around, so Xia Siyu dared not make phone calls. Hiding from the camera, she texted Wei Jingjing, ¡°Nothings up.¡± ¡°But, how are you guys¡­ if you¡¯re still shooting the show, how do you plan to get along?¡± Wei Jingjing vaguely felt something was amiss. After all, they had once been a couple and were now living together. Yet, it was clear she and Bo Yan didn¡¯t mesh well, and being near each other would be awkward. ¡°Just pretend nothing happened. No, actually, nothing did happen.¡± After the mornings frantic events, she had calmed down a lot by now. She didn¡¯t really think there was anything wrong with adults having needs; it was just that the person she needed was him, which made things quite delicate. Guess she hadn¡¯t experienced much; from beginning to end, he¡¯d been her only boyfriend and had always been by her side. So, whenever she felt the need, he would be the first one she turned to. Although Bo Yan was arrogant, prideful, indifferent, and often said annoying things, he was indeed good-looking and tall. Today, when she pulled down his pants, she had glanced and noticed his abs were still there. She had used them before, and he wasn¡¯t lacking in that department either¡­ ¡°But this is just too¡­¡± Thousands of ¡°grass mud horses¡± galloped through Wei Jingjings mind. Xia Siyu had called her around two-thirty in the afternoon in China, right during work hours. The key issue was that there was a meeting in the afternoon at the company to discuss each artist¡¯s career plan and contract situation. When it was her turn, she stuttered, her gaze flickering, terrified Qin Baizhou might notice something amiss. After what seemed like an eternity, the meeting finally ended, and she hurriedly hid in the restroom to send messages. ¡°Shooting a show, what else could he do? The crew will probably reassign the rooms later. I shouldn¡¯t be rooming with him anymore.¡± ¡°What about when you come back? Aren¡¯t you still living in the Qingcheng Apartments? And about future collaborations¡­ Oh right, speaking of collaborations, Qin Ge doesn¡¯t seem very optimistic about you acting in the movie ¡®Spring Light.¡¯ He mentioned it in the meeting just now¡ªfirstly, the pay is really too low, with a fee of only fifteen million, which is honestly not enough for your status. Secondly, the director is new and in charge for the first time; who knows how it¡¯ll turn out? And the biggest problem is the shooting schedule¡ªit¡¯s too long; three months of filming, plus they¡¯re asking for one or two months of local experience beforehand, five months total. An actress¡¯s time is precious, and this is a critical moment in your career transition. Spending so much time for no money and uncertain rewards¡ªhe doesn¡¯t want you to accept it.¡± Although Xia Siyu might be naive, she was confident in the script and insisted, ¡°I want to do it. You fight for it.¡± Wei Jingjing had no choice but to reply, ¡°Then I¡¯ll try again.¡± While they were chatting, there was a sudden brake on the other side, and Xia Siyu, not paying close attention, lurched forward, almost dropping her phone. As she tried to maintain her balance, Bo Yan suddenly leaned over, and his knee brushed against her thigh. Her hand completely lost its hold, and the phone slid straight to the floor.. Chapter 163 - Chapter 163: Chapter 163: Mom-and-Pop Store (1) Chapter 163: Chapter 163: Mom-and-Pop Store (1) Translator: 549690339 Although she had thought things through very rationally during her chat with Wei Jingjing, she still found it slightly disconcerting to actually confront Bo Yan¡¯s proximity¡ªher emotions fluctuated just a bit. But Xia Siyu was not one to shy away from confrontation. Even if she felt uneasy, she would bluff her way through. Thus, she lifted her head and narrowed her eyes at him, feigning annoyance as she asked, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Bo Yan glanced at her calmly and said, ¡°We¡¯re here, get off.¡± Xia Siyu looked outside and indeed the car had stopped, right outside a caf¨¦. She could see several cameras set up inside the caf¨¦, a clear sign that it was a filming location even without crew members bustling in and out. At the same time, the microphone and camera inside the car were also switched off. The driver in front and the follow-up director in the middle row both got out of the car, which was a seven-seater business vehicle. They were in the last row, which meant they had to exit by making their way through the front seats. Bo Yan gently nudged her leg¡ªas the car had braked just before, her seat was situated towards the middle, and she needed to move to let him pass. Xia Siyu, of course, did not move aside. Instead, she asked Bo Yan to move back a little, ¡°Move back.¡± Bo Yan¡¯s expression remained neutral as if he hadn¡¯t heard her at all, not budging an inch. Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t be bothered with him. If he didn¡¯t move, fine. She wouldn¡¯t either. Then she bent down¡ª With them so close and both seated, Xia Siyu bending over meant her body was practically diving into Bo Yan¡¯s embrace. As she leaned forward, pressing down, her hair cascaded down slowly following her movements. Bo Yan was right there, able to smell the fragrance of her shampoo on her hair strands. If he looked down, he could see the crown of her head. Bo Yan felt a touch of regret; he was wearing jeans today. Had he been wearing shorts, even though Xia Siyu tried to avoid any contact, her hair would probably still have brushed against his legs, stirring his heart as if countless tiny hands were teasing it. Xia Siyu had bent over to look for her phone, but since Bo Yan didn¡¯t move, she could only prop herself up awkwardly while fumbling around with her hand. Accidentally, her fingertips brushed against his ankle, causing Bo Yan to shiver slightly and shift to the side. That shift made his knee bump into something soft and resilient which, if he wasn¡¯t mistaken, was probably¡ª Clearly, Xia Siyu was also startled by Bo Yan¡¯s subtle movements. She hadn¡¯t expected that movement from him would lead to his knee colliding with her chest. She froze momentarily before shifting back, only to slip and uncontrollably fall down, planting her face firmly onto his leg. Not only was her face buried in his leg, but her hands also grasped his arm in an attempt to steady herself. She had slept soundly the night before, unaware of the small antics Bo Yan had gotten up to. But at this moment, she was fully awake, so close to him. In the air, there lingered an odd silence. Xia Siyu thought to herself it was a good thing the car¡¯s camera and microphone were off, and there was no one else around. If by chance someone saw them, they might assume that these two were up to some indecent antics inside the car¡­ However, the very next second, the car door was pulled open, and the cameraperson, finding that the two guests hadn¡¯t emerged yet, immediately entered to look for them: ¡°Mr. Bo, Ms.. Xia?¡± Chapter 164 - Chapter 164: Chapter 164: Mom-and-Pop Store (2) Chapter 164: Chapter 164: Mom-and-Pop Store (2) Translator: 549690339 The camera operator peeked into the back seat, and the next second, there was Xia Siyu¡¯s angry roar, ¡°Bo Yan, you stepped on my phone!¡± Fortunately, as Xia Siyu fell, her other hand touched the phone that was under the seat. Right when the camera operator opened the door and leaned in, Xia Siyu got up and saw her phone covered in dirt from Bo Yan¡¯s step; she instantly flew into a rage. Her anger fortunately diffused the atmosphere that had been a bit too intimate just now. The camera operator following them didn¡¯t catch any closeness between the two and thought they were arguing again. Bo Yan ignored her and, once she got up, took the opportunity to slip by her, bent down, and quickly exited through the other door. Xia Siyu followed suit and managed to give his calf a kick. Bo Yan, after being kicked, turned around, saw that Xia Siyu had let off steam, and then raised his head high, stuffed the phone in his pocket, and strode forward decisively. The camera operator who was following captured Bo Yan getting kicked, but luckily the camera angle wasn¡¯t focused at that moment, so the scene wasn¡¯t filmed. He stepped forward as if to comfort Bo Yan, but Bo Yan just shook his head with a helpless expression on his face. However, after the camera operator left, Bo Yan cast another glance at Xia Siyu¡¯s retreating figure. Putting aside their episode from last night and earlier, Xia Siyu deliberately swapping tasks with Zhou Weiwei for today was something that caught his attention even more. Even though Xia Siyu was friendly towards Zhou Weiwei, covering for her last scandal when Zhou Weiwei couldn¡¯t date due to contractual obligations, Xia Siyu was quite loyal and helped out. She even helped expose a scumbag, almost getting herself in trouble with business affairs. But this was just a minor punitive measure; there was no need for her to stand up for Zhou Weiwei. Unless, this was her real purpose for the trip. However, Xia Siyu and Bo Yan didn¡¯t have much time to dwell on this, as they quickly changed into their uniforms. After the shop owner explained how to greet customers and make coffee, they got right to work. Bo Yan used to make coffee at home, so he wasn¡¯t unfamiliar with the use of a coffee machine, and he knew quite a bit about the varieties of coffee beans. Making latte art was more of a specialized skill that was left to professional baristas. The shop had many desserts that didn¡¯t require their preparation as they were already displayed on the counter. All they needed to do was to carefully place the orders on a tray and deliver them to the customers. Everything was ready, and the caf¨¦ opened. The coffee shop was located in the center of Taormina Town, with a constant stream of people passing by. It wasn¡¯t as famous as Syracuse, but the tranquil environment and scenic views still attracted many people for leisure and vacation. Bo Yan had noticed upon arrival that the area seemed to have more locals. He asked the director and learned that the Chinese District was about ten to twenty kilometers away. Now, in the midst of summer, Italy was in its peak tourist season. Numerous visitors from Northern Europe loved to rent houses here, spend their days lounging in sun chairs, and when tired, drop by a caf¨¦ for a drink. Therefore, their business was doing quite well. He made coffee while Xia Siyu played to her strengths, taking orders in fluent Italian. Switching to English was no issue for her either, as she spoke it quite smoothly. He was busy inside while Xia Siyu attracted customers outside, occasionally relaying messages from patrons. Both wearing the same uniform, they somewhat gave off the impression of a mom-and-pop shop.. Chapter 165 - Chapter 165: Chapter 165: Mom-and-Pop Store (3) Chapter 165: Chapter 165: Mom-and-Pop Store (3) Translator: 549690339 With work so busy, Xia Siyu had long since pushed aside any private flirtation or anger between them from her mind. These two were professional actors, accustomed to not bringing personal emotions into their work. One second they could be sarcastically mocking each other as if in a life-or-death struggle, and the next, once the camera was on them, they could immediately become intimately entwined as if lost together at the ends of the earth. They were currently at work, and regardless of what was going on privately, at least since the start of the job, they had appeared to be in perfect harmony, demonstrating a tacit understanding. The following cameras had gotten used to their squabbling off- screen, just now Xia Siyu had even kicked someone when she got out of the car. But when they teamed up, they were amiable, showing no sign of any issues. Even Bo Yan often looked in Xia Siyu¡¯s direction¡ªthose who didn¡¯t know better might think he was harboring a crush on her. After so many days of shooting, the production crew had come to understand the temperament and mettle of the cast. Xia Siyu was known for her fiery temper, which could only be soothed if approached the right way. When angry, she had to vent before things could progress smoothly. Even with cameras around, she would only restrain her emotions a bit¡ªwhen she wanted to make a scene, she would still go ahead. But her personality, wearing her emotions openly on her face, actually endeared her to a lot of passersby, and her fanbase had grown significantly. In this day and age, where everyone is insincere, a bit of genuine emotion is indeed precious. As for Bo Yan, he was the perfect idol from the inside out, with no faults to pick at. Hardworking, full of fighting spirit, can cook, knowledgeable, and able to shoulder responsibility. Most reassuring for his fans was his attitude towards the female guests. Strictly professional, a gentleman and fair. He didn¡¯t engage in creating romantic pairings or disparaging one person to promote another. Whether it was Shang Feifei, Li Yiru, the eagerly assertive Wu Di, or Hu Juyue and Zhou Weiwei, he treated them all equally. And there was no need to worry about him stirring up same- sex pairings; he treated Wang Zisu more like an annoying little brother, even displaying a perfectly measured amount of disdain at times. He and Xia Siyu shared a room, and at the beginning, fans were terribly worried. But as they watched the two work seamlessly together, maintaining a surface-level peace despite their private disagreements, they became the pair fans worried about the least. If only all male-female pairings could follow Xia Siyu¡¯s example! Even if it looked like the two were kissing, fans would believe it was absolutely nothing more than malicious editing by the directors! That was the situation at the moment; the cafe was bustling with activity, and the tedious and complex work kept even Bo Yan from being able to monitor Xia Siyu¡¯s condition constantly, let alone the audience. Meanwhile, the other group of five had reached the square and, following the scenes shown in ¡°The Beautiful Legends of Sicily¡±, they made their way along the street toward the church, taking photos where the heroine sat down for a smoke, and heading towards the seaside following the path¡­ After walking through the streets, they also visited a famous restaurant en route. The production team thought the seventy euros given to the guests each day would be torturously insufficient. Little did they know that Xia Siyu was good at saving money, and Bo Yan could cook; combined, they had somehow saved a total of four hundred euros over nine days. This amount was more than enough for five guests to dine out and enjoy a good meal. Therefore, the show deliberately directed them to a restaurant to order a table full of dishes, even tagging the two staff members who had been busy working. But Xia Siyu and Bo Yan were not swayed at all, and moreover, Bo Yan finally noticed something different about Xia Siyu: Chapter 166 - Chapter 166: Chapter 166: Mom-and-Pop Store (4) Chapter 166: Chapter 166: Mom-and-Pop Store (4) Translator: 549690339 She liked to look towards the direction of the Heart-shaped beach in her leisure time. Was there something special about this Heart-shaped beach? Was there a myth that lovers would receive a blessing if they visited, or was there some other situation? He took the opportunity when no one was around to pull out his phone and search on Baidu. There indeed was a story: it was said that the small island, named Bella Island, was once a gift from the Duke of Milan to his lady to win her favor. The island was home to many precious animals and plants, and later on, it was designated as a natural reserve by the World Wildlife Fund, and it is still open to the public now. Today the weather was clear, and there were quite a few people sunbathing on the beach. But the question was, why did Xia Siyu stare at this island? There certainly were houses on the island, but she couldn¡¯t have lived there. And it¡¯s unlikely that she had any connection with those foreigners lying in the sun below. Today was her last day in Sicily; she would be leaving tomorrow morning. Why did she keep staring at that little island? If, according to Pietro, Xia Siyu lived in Sicily, then she should have some acquaintances here. Moreover, Pietro had said that Xia Siyu lived in the Chinese District. She had also requested to swap tasks with Zhou Weiwei, so she probably lived nearby. Two more customers arrived, and Xia Siyu skillfully went to greet them. Bo Yan listened carefully and realized that Xia Siyu was speaking the Sicilian language. A local. After the customers sat down, she placed their order with Bo Yan, ¡°One cappuccino, one espresso, double for the espresso.¡± Bo Yan nodded, expertly selecting the coffee beans as per the coffee house blend ratio, made the coffee, left the latte art part to the barista, and then quickly had Xia Siyu take it away. When more customers came, Xia Siyu went out to serve them at the outdoor seating area. Bo Yan, seizing the moment, came out and started with a smile, speaking in English, ¡°How¡¯s the coffee? Anything that needs improvement? Sicily is really a nice place, isn¡¯t it?¡± After casually asking a few questions, he got straight to the point, ¡°I haven¡¯t been in Sicily long and I want to buy some things in the Chinese District. Do you know where it is?¡± One of them was quite enthusiastic and stood up, waving an arm, ¡°Over there.¡± Bo Yan followed the direction of his gesture and saw that it was in the same direction as Bella Island. As he was puzzling over it, he looked beyond Bella Island to the coastline in the distance¡ªso it turned out that Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t looking at Bella Island, but at the coastline behind it. There was a row of sea-facing houses along the coastline, probably ten or so kilometers away, likely the location of the Chinese District! Last time they met, Pietro had made a point to say that Xia Siyu lived with her mother, and her mother was also very beautiful. Indeed, he knew Xia Siyu¡¯s brother and sister, Xia Ju¡¯an and Xia Sicai, who had delicate features and belonged to the better-looking crowd among the rich second generation. But not like her, undisputedly beautiful, stunningly breathtaking. And moreover. Doctor Bo Yan had studied film culture and art and had watched countless movies. He always felt that Xia Siyu¡¯s appearance resembled that of a certain star. However, for the moment, he couldn¡¯t recall whom she looked like. No matter what, Xia Siyu¡¯s mother was an enigma; he had never heard of this person from her, her father, or her brother and sister. Initially, he suspected Xia Siyu might be illegitimate, but his father-in-law, Xia Youbiao, had seriously stated that her mother was not a mistress or a ¡®small three¡¯; Xia Siyu was a legitimate child born in wedlock. Chapter 167 - Chapter 167: Chapter 167: Fragrant Kiss (1) Chapter 167: Chapter 167: Fragrant Kiss (1) Translator: 549690339 But in the Xia Family, Xia Siyu¡¯s mother seemed to be a taboo, nobody was willing to mention her, as if doing so would offend something. Xia Siyu never brought it up either, but unlike the Xia Family¡¯s deeply ingratiating attitude, her silence appeared more like a form of benevolent protection. However, according to Xia Youbiao¡¯s claim, they had a normal love and marriage, then why later did one travel far to Sicily, and the other desperately tried to conceal her traces in the Xia family, even raising Xia Siyu, her own daughter, as if she were a weed? But to say that Xia Youbiao didn¡¯t like this younger daughter was also impossible. From time to time, he would call her, inquiring about this daughter¡¯s whereabouts. When Xia Siyu argued with him, and even blocked his calls, he dared not say any unpleasant words. He was quite attentive to his son-in-law as well. When he decided to marry Xia Siyu, Xia Youbiao even had a solemn heart-to-heart with him, expressing respect for the young couple¡¯s choice and hoping he wouldn¡¯t let her down. Bo Yan vaguely felt that Xia Siyu¡¯s mother must be the key node in these events, but she was reluctant to talk, and the Xia Family also kept silent, so they were stuck here, in suspense. In Italy, cafes generally operate from eight in the morning until eight in the evening, in two shifts. Xia Siyu and Bo Yan covered the afternoon shift, starting at two and finishing at eight. After they arrived, the manager gave them a brief pre-job training, and then they started working non-stop, barely taking any breaks. This caf¨¦ was on the edge of the town, built against the hills, boasting a beautiful terrace which allowed for a distant view of the sea, presenting a very beautiful scene. Although the caf¨¦ was near the coast, and it was summer, sunset came later than in other places. However, after seven-thirty, the sun gradually sank into the sea, and the sky began to darken. Chinese tour groups rarely came to Taormina Town, and it was mostly individuals traveling on their own. This caf¨¦ wasn¡¯t famous on social media, so very few young Chinese people came here to check in. After working several hours, Xia Siyu and Bo Yan finally encountered a Chinese couple. Just then, Xia Siyu had gone to the restroom, and Bo Yan came out to greet the customers, first in English, ¡°Welcome.¡± The woman looked up and immediately screamed, ¡°Bo Bo Bo Yan?¡± Bo Yan nodded with a smile, this time greeting them in Mandarin, ¡°Hello, just the two of you?¡± The girl¡¯s face flushed, she nodded shyly. Bo Yan took their order first, and the girl watched him with a fan¡¯s adoration throughout. On inquiry, it turned out the couple had just gotten married and were here on their honeymoon. The girl seemed to be a big fan of Bo Yan, as she recited details about the movies he¡¯d acted in with sparkles in her eyes. Seeing that other customers were coming, and wanting to monopolize Bo Yan¡¯s attention, the girl immediately made a showy gesture, ¡°How many cakes do you have left? I¡¯ll take them all.¡± In foreign coffee shops, desserts are not made again once they sell out for the day. The man seemed a bit angry, but given the cameras pointed in their direction, he was embarrassed to make it too obvious and could only tug at the girl¡¯s sleeve. But the girl paid him no attention, her eyes fixated solely on Bo Yan. Bo Yan had to say, ¡°Let me check the quantity, please wait a moment.¡± He quickly figured out the remaining stock and reported back to them. Luckily, it was nearly closing time, and there weren¡¯t many cakes left, just seven or eight pieces. The girl spiritedly packed them up and had her husband pay with a card. After buying the cakes, the girl bashfully asked, ¡°I heard that if you buy out the cakes, you get a kiss, is that right?¡± Chapter 168 - Chapter 168: Chapter 168: Fragrant Kiss (2) Chapter 168: Chapter 168: Fragrant Kiss (2) Translator: 549690339 Which idol drama¡¯s silly plot is this? Bo Yan was a bit speechless. Before he could refuse, the girl¡¯s husband¡¯s face turned dark first. What¡¯s the deal, what¡¯s happening, I paid the bill, and now I get a fresh, hot green hat delivered to myself? Is this what it means to support my wife¡¯s idol-chasing? The man slammed the table and stood up, about to roar in anger, but it seemed he saw something, his face turned red in an instant, and he shyly nodded his head, stammering, ¡°Can I also have a kiss?¡± What he saw was Xia Siyu entering the room. Now, it was Bo Yan¡¯s turn to have a sinking expression. Xia Siyu had just returned from the restroom and didn¡¯t quite understand the situation. Seeing the couple nearly come to blows, she asked Bo Yan, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± With a dark face, Bo Yan turned off the microphone and lowered his voice, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just ran into a sasaeng fan. Just ignore their requests.¡± In a sudden turn of style, no one expected that the woman was a Bo Yan fan, while the man was a Xia Siyu fan. Normally, when they¡¯re not on opposing sides, they are a couple sweet and tender with each other. But when it comes to star-chasing, they are mortal enemies! Especially, Bo Yan fans and Xia Siyu fans, they are archenemies! A newlywed couple, still in their honeymoon phase, but because they stan different stars, they almost tore into each other on the spot. It wasn¡¯t just a fight at the venue, the live chat was also buzzing: ¡°Damn, damn, damn, I also want a kiss from Teacher Bo!¡± ¡°Teacher Bo spoils his fans too much; just tell me which coffee shop it is, I¡¯m going to buy up all their inventory so that Teacher Bo can kiss me every day!¡± ¡°Knife in hand, slay the dog, Siyu baby is mine!¡± ¡°To hell with that, the man is too shameless; I want a kiss too.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the point of getting married, just get a divorce, isn¡¯t chasing stars more appealing?¡± The woman was clinging to Bo Yan, and she felt too embarrassed to ask for a kiss anymore: ¡°At least can we take a photo with Bo Yan?¡± It was just a photo, and Bo Yan felt too embarrassed to refuse. He nodded his head, and the woman happily rushed over, hugging his arm, leaning her head on his shoulder, smiling like a flower as she took out her phone, made a ¡°V¡± sign, and directed Bo Yan, ¡°Smile for the camera.¡± The man was even more extreme; he felt too embarrassed to approach Xia Siyu for such an intimate photo. Instead, he turned to ask the staff for a Xia Siyu poster, and with a shy face, he went forward: ¡°Siyu, I¡¯m your fan, could you sign for me?¡± Xia Siyu nodded, took out the pen she used to order with, and just as she had written the man¡¯s name, the pen ran out of ink. The anxious fan asked the director¡¯s team, ¡°Do you have a pen? Lend me one, please.¡± As it happened, no one from the director¡¯s team had brought a pen that day, causing a deadlock in the moment. The male fan¡¯s face was almost turning grey, but Xia Siyu was quite calm: ¡°You just said, you wanted a kiss, right?¡± Happiness came too suddenly! The man couldn¡¯t believe it! Even the woman, who had just managed to get a successful photo, turned her head to look over here. Not to mention Bo Yan, although he didn¡¯t go up to tear the two apart directly, his gaze was closely following the situation. It¡¯s tough marrying a celebrity wife, too many fans, too many rivals! Xia Siyu then pulled out a lipstick: ¡°Which color do you like? Is this one okay?¡± The man laughed with a red face, and Xia Siyu actually twisted the cap off the lipstick and traced it on her own lips for a moment. Then, the next second¡ªshe didn¡¯t kiss the man; instead, she pressed a clear, distinct lip print below the man¡¯s name on her own poster! Chapter 169 - Chapter 169: Chapter 169: Fragrant Kiss (3) Chapter 169: Chapter 169: Fragrant Kiss (3) Translator: 549690339 After the kiss, not only the barrage on the screen but also the several people on site including the production crew, except for Bo Yan, were all in an uproar of astonishment. She even took down the poster, ¡°How about this?¡± The man¡¯s face turned bright red in an instant as he nodded hesitantly. Xia Siyu also placed a ¡°TIP¡± sign in front of the man. He opened his wallet and stuffed ten Euros into her plate. The smile on Xia Siyu¡¯s face grew even broader, ¡°Thank you for your patronage. Any other requests? If there are, feel free to mention them.¡± When she finished speaking, she pushed the ¡°TIP¡± sign forward a bit more. Bo Yan¡¯s brow furrowed slightly, and just as he was about to say something, he suddenly saw Xia Siyu next to him, pouting in the direction of another woman, her face full of a greedy look that seemed to say ¡°sell yourself.¡± Regardless, the work that Bo Yan and Xia Siyu did today could be considered perfectly accomplished. Not only did they complete the task beyond expectations, but they also received a good amount of tips. Especially the last Chinese couple, who, in addition to taking away all the cakes, left a fifty Euro tip. After finishing work, they had not yet eaten and were reluctant to spend the hard-earned money from their jobs, so they used the tip money to go to a family-style restaurant. This restaurant was tucked away in a corner of the small town, difficult to find without someone to lead the way. Xia Siyu navigated the streets and alleys with Bo Yan, going up the stairs behind a building, and quickly arrived at the restaurant. It was nearly nine o¡¯clock, close to closing time, and the restaurant was small but crowded with people. It was inconvenient for the cameramen to come in, so they had to wait at the entrance. Xia Siyu and Bo Yan were the last patrons of the evening. The owner was in his sixties or seventies with a full beard and a no-nonsense demeanor. As soon as the menu came, Xia Siyu glanced over it and casually ordered several dishes. When she asked Bo Yan, he said, ¡°You order for me, I haven¡¯t been here, I don¡¯t really know. Just get something different, we can share.¡± Thus, Xia Siyu ordered several more dishes. While waiting, Bo Yan pretended to play with his phone but was actually watching her. She seemed quite relaxed, evidently not just because the camera crew and production team weren¡¯t following them. Perhaps this had something to do with Sicily, with places she once lived. When they were dating in college, he had a heavy workload and also had to work as a teaching assistant for his advisor, handling miscellaneous matters and sometimes even covering classes. They spent very little time together and now that he thought about it, they had never even had a proper candlelit dinner. The food arrived quickly. There was pasta, seafood soup, a seafood platter and the everyday Sicilian snack of Sicilian rice balls. These so-called Sicilian rice balls were fried rice formed into balls, with the addition of ham, bacon, and tomato sauce inside. Bo Yan noticed that she didn¡¯t eat much of the pasta or seafood but kept eating the Sicilian rice balls with gusto despite their high calories. Three to an order. Quickly, Xia Siyu finished her share and was eyeing his. Bo Yan gave her a glance, finished his other dishes first, and then without hesitation swallowed one of the rice balls, then another. Only one was left. He took a sip of his soup and then put down the spoon, elegantly wiping his mouth with a napkin. When he looked up again, the cheeks of the person across from him were puffed up, and the remaining rice ball had vanished. Chapter 170 - Chapter 170: Chapter 170: Fragrant Kiss (4) Chapter 170: Chapter 170: Fragrant Kiss (4) Translator: 549690339 After they had their fill and rested for a little while, they finally pushed open the door and walked out. It was already past nine in the evening, and they planned to stay overnight in this small town, meeting up with the other five people tomorrow morning. Xia Siyu showed no complaints about the arrangements by the program team, appearing as calm as if she had no interest in the small town whatsoever. But it was precisely because of this that she seemed suspicious. Xia Siyu was someone who could become lively when around people; even without others to join her, she could entertain herself. Words like low-key, calm, tolerant, and submissive had never been in her vocabulary. Therefore, her behavior now seemed even more questionable. So he took the initiative to suggest, ¡°I ate too much for dinner, and it was a bit greasy. Can we go out for a walk? I¡¯d like to digest the food.¡± His reason was plausible, leaving nothing to refute, and the director¡¯s team nodded in agreement. Bo Yan still looked seriously at Xia Siyu, ¡°I¡¯m not familiar with this area, so you lead the way. I¡¯ll follow you.¡± Xia Siyu was taken aback for a moment but didn¡¯t oppose his suggestion and quickly nodded her head. The night had deepened, with a full moon hanging in the sky. Xia Siyu led the way with Bo Yan following behind, both of them silent as they threaded through the small town. Taormina is a mountainous city by the sea, with the vast ocean on one side and magnificent volcanoes on the other. It has a long history, once a colony of Ancient Greece and later occupied by the Rome Empire. Along the road were rows of palm trees and citrus fruit trees, and the balconies of the medieval houses were all adorned with bright flowers. Compared to Palermo and Syracuse, there weren¡¯t many grand buildings here, but the place was leisurely and relaxed, as if time itself had slowed down a notch. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t head to the seaside; instead, she went up in circles. On the top of Mt. Taormina, there was a castle, and from the terrace above, one could see the entire view of the town. Bo Yan knew she was doing it deliberately. She couldn¡¯t visit the Chinese District, where she once lived, as part of the program¡¯s schedule. Nevertheless, she wanted to say a distant farewell to her past in this way. But halfway there, the accompanying cameramen apologized, ¡°The camera¡¯s out of battery.¡± Another shook his head, ¡°The memory card is full.¡± Mainly because they didn¡¯t expect Xia Siyu and Bo Yan to come out for a stroll late at night, they hadn¡¯t brought the full gear, nor had the program team prepared for it. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t want to give up now that she had finally made it here, but before she could speak, Bo Yan said, ¡°No worries, you guys go back first. We¡¯ll just walk around and come back, not delaying anything. She knows Italian, I know English, and we have mobile navigation. We won¡¯t get lost.¡± The cameramen looked at each other, nodded, and left. And then on the quiet mountain path, it was just the two of them. The three-hundred-plus-meter hill wasn¡¯t very tall and was quickly scaled. Indeed, Bo Yan noticed that she had been standing at the terrace looking towards the Chinese District all this time. They didn¡¯t start heading down until the director called them, reluctantly beginning their descent. On the way through the town and around a corner, several youths on rollerblades sped past them, coming so fast that they were about to collide. ¡°Watch out.¡± It was Bo Yan who grabbed Xia Siyu¡¯s arm and pulled her close to him. The group of youths whisked by them one after the other with whooping and hollering, quickly disappearing at the end of the street. Bo Yan was just about to breathe a sigh of relief when he suddenly realized that Xia Siyu was in his arms. Chapter 171 - Chapter 171: Chapter 171: Approaching (1) Chapter 171: Chapter 171: Approaching (1) Translator: 549690339 Although Bo Yan felt a slight reluctance, he quickly let go of her hand. Then, after a moment of thought, he stepped back, ¡°Sorry, I just didn¡¯t mean to¡­¡± Before he could finish, he saw a straggling roller-skater, seemingly trying to catch up, hurtling towards them at high speed. It looked like he was about to crash into Xia Siyu. Bo Yan quickly reached out, this time pulling her forcefully towards him. Xia Siyu staggered a couple of steps, not expecting Bo Yan to act so swiftly, she uncontrollably crashed into his embrace. After that, it was the boy whisking past close enough to ruffle her fluttering hair, along with a Sicilian ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± If Bo Yan hadn¡¯t pulled Xia Siyu back, she would have definitely collided with the boy. However, neither Xia Siyu nor Bo Yan paid any attention to the departing youngster. The summer seaside breeze brought waves of coolness. Above them was a melting pool of moonlight. The Baroque-style buildings, some passed down from the medieval age, were covered with mottled walls. The street lamps resembled those of oil lamps, balconies were adorned with flowers, and the nearby citrus trees carried a drifting fragrance. Beneath their feet was a cobblestone path. Although there were voices, the place was not noisy; the unfamiliar tonal languages sounded especially warm and intimate. They found themselves in the midst of a small town, alone, just the two of them. Because the filming crew had left, there were no microphones, no cameras, no crowds of onlookers that are so common back home. In this moment, in this foreign land, on this deserted street, they were without their celebrity status, without fans, without a team, without a director ¨C just two ordinary people. Two ordinary young men and women embracing in the street. Bo Yan was fine with this; his parents had passed away early, and he was raised by his grandparents. He was accustomed to not showing his emotions; whatever he felt was buried deep in his heart to prevent others from snatching it away. But Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t someone to dilly-dally or drag her feet. If she liked him, she would pursue him; if she decided to leave, she would do so directly, cool and clear-cut. During the film shooting, she and Bo Yan had to play a loving couple, and she had to cast aside her personal feelings, forcing herself into the role. Entwined in love and hatred with him, advancing and retreating in their closeness. This wasn¡¯t love; it was work, just like in her past films depicting romantic entanglements with other male actors, where after the director yelled ¡°Cut!¡± the co-actor might not even dare to look into her eyes. But Bo Yan was different. He was her ex-boyfriend, her husband, and the only man she had. Although she didn¡¯t particularly treasure this, it was undeniable that Bo Yan had indeed left a vibrant mark in her life, a part of her growth that couldn¡¯t be ignored. During the day, her focus was on how to do her job well. The little time that was left, she spent reminiscing about the past. Even the remaining corners were dedicated to trying to earn tips. But now, there was no one else, no other work scene, just the two of them present. Especially since last night, the two of them had a mix-up; he almost compromised his integrity, nearly getting into trouble because of her¡­ Xia Siyu seriously considered whether she should get a boyfriend. Not the kind she had been rumored to have over the years, but a real boyfriend. Otherwise, why would she feel a bit wild and distracted the moment Bo Yan embraced her? Chapter 172 - Chapter 172: Chapter 172: Approaching (2) Chapter 172: Chapter 172: Approaching (2) Translator: 549690339 They had agreed upon marriage that they would not interfere in each other¡¯s affairs and would do their own thing. Even though it was he whom she married, which surprised her a bit, having Bo Yan as her partner was quite nice. Although she didn¡¯t want to admit it, she knew it was the truth¡ªBo Yan was the only man who could resist her charm up close. Back then, it was she who took a liking to him first, she was the one who pursued him. After much relentless chasing and deceiving, she finally managed to tag Bo Yan with a ¡°Property of Xia Siyu¡± dog tag. But even with the tag stamped on his forehead, there were still plenty of flowers and grasses around Bo Yan. And during their relationship, Bo Yan was very low-key, never making public appearances with her. Apart from Zhou Weiwei and one or two of his close friends, no one else even knew they had been in a relationship. And in love, he still maintained that same nonchalant, lofty demeanor, as if it were she who was more attached. He didn¡¯t seem to value or cherish her as much as she would expect from a boyfriend who should hold her in the palm of his hand. It was like she was the only one hot-headed, making fervent efforts, while he assumed a superior air, aloof and distant, watching from a high vantage point. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that they had once shared an intense physical encounter, she would have suspected that he preferred men and was only using her as a shield. Marrying Bo Yan, she could be certain that he would abide by the standards he set. He had said he wouldn¡¯t touch her, and he definitely didn¡¯t. He promised freedom and non-interference, and he had indeed kept to that over the past three years. Both being celebrities, they pursued their careers separately; he never meddled in her work or personal life, and did not bat an eyelid at her numerous scandals. In front of their parents, they acted as a couple, but once they left the family home, they would go their separate ways. Over the years, she was so busy with work that sometimes she barely had a moment of personal space. The scandals and men who chased after her were either pudgy developers or playboys, none of whom she found appealing. Time slipped away until now, she was nearly twenty-seven, indeed it was time to find a man to love and marry. After all, their marriage was just a union of convenience, and they had agreed from the beginning that if a better option arose, they would divorce and remarry. Now, the most important thing was to find a man who was handsome, had a good body, would be happy with her when she was and cheer her up when she wasn¡¯t. Of course, for the sake of her sexual happiness, he absolutely needed to be exceptional in that department too¡ªno thank you to any mini mushrooms! Now that it was the new millennium, she certainly wanted to enjoy life! Indeed, just as she had looked up from Bo Yan¡¯s embrace, showing a hint of dissatisfaction, he quickly and gently let her go. He frowned slightly and then took a step back, ¡°Sorry, it was a matter of necessity just now.¡± Xia Siyu was magnanimous and wouldn¡¯t make an issue of it in this place. She shook her head, ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Then she looked up, staring at the unfamiliar streets with a slight sense of bewilderment. Although she had lived in Sicily for over a decade, she was sent back to China during her junior year of high school. Moreover, she lived in the Chinese District, about ten kilometers from here. Xia Siyu turned to Bo Yan, ¡°Is there still power in your phone?¡± Bo Yan took out his phone, which, after being used all day, displayed a low battery warning. He frowned, as if sensing some form of danger, ¡°You¡¯re not saying¡­¡± Xia Siyu nodded straightforwardly, ¡°I¡¯m lost!¡± Chapter 173 - Chapter 173: Chapter 173: Approaching (3) Chapter 173: Chapter 173: Approaching (3) Translator: 549690339 Bo Yan looked at the self-righteous person before him and sighed leisurely. ¡°What about your phone?¡± ¡°It ran out of battery and turned off when the director¡¯s team called me just now, didn¡¯t you see?¡± Xia Siyu gave him a disdainful glance, thinking this guy must have a poor memory, right? Bo Yan asked again, ¡°Then do you remember which hotel it is?¡± Xia Siyu shook her head with a ¡°trivial matters are not worth mentioning¡± expression, ¡°Who would remember that?¡± Bo Yan was even more speechless. Seizing the last five percent of his phone battery, he hurriedly sent a location message on WeChat. He had just sent it but hadn¡¯t had the chance to get a reply when the phone shut down due to low battery. Well, that¡¯s it. Completely out of contact now. Unfortunately, this place is not like back home, where there are power banks and chargers everywhere on the streets; life here resembles that of a decade ago. Mobile payments are still not widespread, and people live leisurely and lazily, but there is also a trace of returning to simplicity and dull indifference. ¡°I¡¯ve sent the location. The director¡¯s team will definitely find us when they see it,¡± he said. Xia Siyu nodded, slightly upset, ¡°I can¡¯t recognize the roads at night. If it were daytime, I would definitely know.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Not being able to find the way doesn¡¯t matter, as every second with her here is extravagant. Fortunately, the two of them found a chair by the roadside and silently sat down. Next to the chair was a citrus tree, and the scent wafted in the breeze. This was a small square in the town, but unfortunately, towns abroad rarely have nightlife. Now at half-past nine, shops had mostly closed. The streets were not bustling with people even during the day and now were completely deserted. The good thing is that the area is mostly locals, so it¡¯s quite safe here. Since arriving in Sicily, Xia Siyu was followed by cameras and had to work with the program. Now, in the absence of control, her emotions finally relaxed. Bo Yan turned to look at her, and Xia Siyu¡¯s gaze was distant, but not in a melancholic way. Her nature has always been relentlessly positive, so in her gaze, there was no sorrow, just nostalgia. Bo Yan wasn¡¯t discovering for the first time that he didn¡¯t really understand her. They met seven years ago and also broke up seven years ago. The time they spent together was too short, not enough to truly understand each other before she walked away. When they met again, she had already starred in a movie and had become an overnight sensation. Even when face-to-face, there was a chasm between them. Latterly, the Bo Family and the Xia Family had intended an arranged marriage. Xia Sicai was unwilling to marry him, which resulted in pushing this lesser-known sister to the forefront. Bo Yan was not one to be easily manipulated, and he wouldn¡¯t agree to a marriage without feelings, political or otherwise, until he saw the prospective bride was her. But before and after the marriage, they both agreed not to interfere with each other¡¯s lives. Xia Siyu is very direct; whether she likes or dislikes something, she shows it openly. Or to put it another way, if there is something she doesn¡¯t want to tell you, she really doesn¡¯t want to, and no amount of asking will help. But now, he was no longer satisfied with just being her husband on paper. He desperately wanted to change the state of their relationship, to possess her, and also to have her open her heart to him. Bo Yan tentatively asked, ¡°Are you¡­ very familiar with this place?¡± Xia Siyu actually nodded, ¡°I lived here for a while when I was a child.¡± Chapter 174 - Chapter 174: Chapter 174: Approaching (4) Chapter 174: Chapter 174: Approaching (4) Translator: 549690339 Xia Siyu had a good quality, which was that once someone struck up a conversation, she would automatically start recounting stories, like now: ¡°Back then, Taormina was not an internet sensation, and there weren¡¯t so many tourists checking in. The Chinese District was especially serene. School was close to home, and I¡¯d go to class with my little backpack. In addition to the regular courses, our Chinese school also taught Chinese and classical Chinese. Most of our teachers were of Chinese descent, all with yellow skin and black eyes. You¡¯d occasionally see a few white people, no different from back in our home country. But the moment you stepped out of the neighborhood, you¡¯d be surrounded by towering white people. The contrast was quite a shock.¡± Bo Yan nodded. Although he had always studied in his home country, he had also participated in North American summer camps as a child, immersed in an entirely unfamiliar environment, with completely unfamiliar languages and companions, all of whom were white. He indeed felt that sense of impact. Seeing that she was chatting away, he tentatively asked, ¡°Last time, that Pietro said, his grandmother lives next door to your house, and he said your mother is very beautiful.¡± Xia Siyu made no attempt to hide her pride and puffed out her little chest: ¡°Isn¡¯t that obvious?¡± She was so beautiful, and Xia Sicai was so unattractive, from the perspective of genetics, it was clear that her mother was the more beautiful one! ¡°You rarely talk about your mother.¡± Xia Siyu nodded with an open expression: ¡°She doesn¡¯t like being the topic of discussion.¡± ¡°But she loves you a lot.¡± Xia Siyu remained proudly: ¡°Of course.¡± Bo Yan nodded, feeling a certain regret, but seeing Xia Siyu¡¯s demeanor, he guessed it wouldn¡¯t be wise to press further. Some things, if she didn¡¯t want to talk about them, he¡¯d have to find the answers himself. However, no matter what kind of person her mother was, she must have lavished her with a great deal of affection. Her personality is so brash yet so bright, someone must be infinitely supporting her from behind, loving her unreservedly, caring for her, which is why she can remain so pure in an entertainment industry as murky as this one. Bo Yan seldom had such an opportunity to sit peacefully here with Xia Siyu, chatting about all manner of things. When they were in love, they were too young and didn¡¯t quite understand the meaning of listening and understanding. He had failed to see the shadows behind her sunshine. Now, wanting to dispel the shadows in her heart, they were separated by vast distances, and it would take a lot of effort for him to be by her side. Bo Yan didn¡¯t continue to ask about her mother, but instead casually inquired about the childhood stories from her life in Sicily. As long as it didn¡¯t touch on her mother, Xia Siyu was quite talkative. Sometimes Bo Yan would ask her a question not exceeding ten words, but Xia Siyu could give an unbroken monologue for five minutes straight without pause. The night deepened gradually. Xia Siyu had been talking non-stop for quite some time, and finally, her voice grew softer and softer, her head heavier and heavier, continuously nodding off. Bo Yan gently extended his hand, allowing her head to rest on his shoulder. She fell asleep. The moonlight, like flowing water, silently cascaded over them. The leaves of the orange trees overhead rustled and fell, their scent a blend of tartness and sweetness. Bo Yan turned to look at her sleeping face, serene, profound, elegant. When the wind blew, her hair gently spread across his shoulder, breathtakingly beautiful. He turned his head, softly capturing her earlobe with his lips, and felt the urge to kiss her again. Just as he was about to lean in for the kiss¡­ Chapter 175 - Chapter 175: Chapter 175: Find a Boyfriend (1) Chapter 175: Chapter 175: Find a Boyfriend (1) Translator: 549690339 Behind them, a faint calling voice could be heard: ¡°Teacher Bo, Teacher Xia¡­¡± It was in Chinese, and they could tell right away it was someone looking for them. But the voice was still a bit far, probably two blocks away. Bo Yan immediately moved away from her lips and looked at Xia Siyu once more. She was too tired yesterday, and she got up too early this morning. After getting up early, they drove for two and a half hours to Taormina, and upon arrival, they started working non-stop. From two o¡¯clock in the afternoon until eight in the evening, and without rest after dinner, she came to climb the mountain. After going non-stop for two days, at this moment, she finally couldn¡¯t keep herself up anymore and completely collapsed. Bo Yan called her gently: ¡°Xia Siyu, Siyu?¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s elegant little nose twitched, clearly not too pleased with his calling. The corners of Bo Yan¡¯s lips curved slightly, and he turned his head again to confirm the position of the people looking for them. Once he was sure they couldn¡¯t see, he finally couldn¡¯t resist leaning in to smell her gently, to kiss her lightly. He didn¡¯t dare to be too forceful, afraid of waking her up, only daring to use the tip of his tongue to lightly trace the outline of her lips. Strangely enough, in the seven years since they broke up, countless women had approached him. Especially after he became famous, the number of enthusiastic female fans increased like a volcanic eruption. Sometimes when he went on roadshows out of town, there were female fans waiting at the hotel, crying and begging him to sleep with them. In the three years since their marriage license, he paid her a lot of attention, but she was very resistant, and he had no intention of forcing her. He was a normal man, and occasionally he, too, would get hot-headed. But the difference between humans and animals is that humans can control their emotions, suppress their impulses. Not seeing Xia Siyu was bearable, but the moment he saw her, he couldn¡¯t help it¡­ he wanted to be close to her. Just like now, despite knowing she might wake up, despite knowing there were people behind them, he just couldn¡¯t resist the urge to kiss her. He wanted to hold her in his arms, hide her away, mark her entire body with his traces, he wanted her to have a child with him. When the director¡¯s crew came over, the cameraman wanted to shout, but from a distance, they saw Bo Yan standing in the middle of the street, his index finger outstretched, placed in front of his lips, softly gesturing a ¡°shush.¡± He then pointed behind him, revealing that Xia Siyu was sitting askew on the bench, sound asleep. When the director¡¯s crew hurried over, Bo Yan smiled faintly and tried to keep his voice as low as possible: ¡°Sorry about that. Both our phones are out of battery, and since the layout here looks quite similar, we got lost.¡± Of course, the director wouldn¡¯t say anything, but the cameraman added: ¡°Sorry, Teacher Bo, it was us who left first.¡± Bo Yan smiled: ¡°No, it¡¯s mainly me, I wanted to see the scenery in Italy. A place like this, who knows when we¡¯ll have the chance to come back. The scenery is very beautiful.¡± While speaking, Bo Yan noticed one of the cameramen still carrying his equipment, he immediately spoke up: ¡°You guys, you didn¡¯t film anything, did you? She¡¯s an actress, and this kind of scene shouldn¡¯t be filmed.¡± In the agreement they had signed beforehand, there was a clause that, unless necessary, scenes of sleeping were not allowed to be filmed, as they weren¡¯t very elegant. The cameraman was aware of this and nodded, putting down his equipment. ¡°Let¡¯s head back then.¡± Speaking of going back, there was a dilemma. Xia Siyu was asleep and seemed to be sleeping particularly soundly. From here to the hotel, there was still a distance. Should they wake her up, or carry her back? Chapter 176 - Chapter 176: Chapter 176: Find a Boyfriend (2) Chapter 176: Chapter 176: Find a Boyfriend (2) Translator: 549690339 The other members of the production team exchanged glances. Although there were quite a few people who had come out, including female assistants, Xia Siyu was a celebrity, after all. Just now, Bo Yan had said that she was sleeping soundly and should not be disturbed. Since they couldn¡¯t wake her up, and she couldn¡¯t walk back by herself, that meant they had to carry her back, right? But who would carry her, and how? Would it be a man or a woman? Should they use a princess carry, piggyback her, or lift her by her limbs? It¡¯s a pity they hadn¡¯t brought a stretcher over; that would have solved the problem perfectly. Even if a woman were to carry her, it would take a lot of strength to do so all the way back. So, it had to be one of the men. As a consequence, the gazes of the people from the production team involuntarily settled on the only guest present, Bo Yan. It was Bo Yan who stepped forward, and though his expression showed a hint of reluctance, he still said with some difficulty, ¡°I¡¯ll carry her back.¡± In many idol dramas, the male lead romantically carries the female lead all the way, but in reality, while the princess carry is romantic, it¡¯s heavy! Generally, the male lead has slender arms and legs, and appears frailer than the female lead, yet he still manages to carry her all the way back home. How fake. Carrying her on his back would save both time and effort, and isn¡¯t as intimate, which indeed makes it a lot more gentlemanly. When Bo Yan made this suggestion, no one objected. People from the directorial team even praised him, ¡°Teacher Bo is such a good person. He rushed back yesterday and was busy all day today, and now he even has to carry someone back.¡± Bo Yan just gave a faint smile, his facial expression slightly reluctant, but on the whole, still gentle. He even specifically called over two female assistants from the production team to help lift her onto his back. When he was carrying her, his arms went through the bend of her legs, and he was very gentlemanly about it, making fists with both hands to show that they would not wander inappropriately. Although the cameras were off, such behavior still won the favor of others. Bo Yan carried her on his back, walking upwards all the way, with Xia Siyu leaning against his spine, her head resting on his shoulder. They say ¡°a good woman never weighs over a hundred,¡± but Xia Siyu, who practiced boxing, was all muscle, not one of those flabby types. Plus, she loved to eat, so her weight was definitely over a hundred. But Bo Yan, who worked out regularly with well-defined abs, had no trouble carrying Xia Siyu. As they walked, sometimes when he felt his strength waning and Xia Siyu began to slide down, he would make an effort to bump her up. And so, as Bo Yan walked, he kept bumping her up periodically¡­ Because his movements were gentle, Xia Siyu didn¡¯t wake up. And since he maintained the ¡°gentleman¡¯s hands,¡± the directorial team had no objections to his actions. Since Xia Siyu was asleep, the directors walking alongside didn¡¯t dare to speak loudly for fear of waking her up. As the group made their way back, no one dared to speak. Aside from the sound of footsteps, no other sounds were heard. Perhaps Xia Siyu felt uncomfortable sleeping, she slightly tilted her head, leaning towards Bo Yan¡¯s side, with her lips just beside his ear. Bo Yan didn¡¯t need to turn his head, he just felt her soft breathing at his ear, stirring his fine hair. The streetlight stretched their shadows long. Their silhouettes, nestled together, looked as though there was no gap between them, intimate and inseparable. From here to the hotel was about a kilometer. Though it wasn¡¯t a long journey, he found himself wishing that this road had no end, that he could just keep walking on forever. Chapter 177 - Chapter 177: Chapter 177: Find a Boyfriend (3) Chapter 177: Chapter 177: Find a Boyfriend (3) Translator: 549690339 The one-kilometer journey took Bo Yan half an hour, three times slower than average walking speed. Since he was carrying Xia Siyu, a considerable weight, the rest of the directorial team found nothing unusual about his pace and even praised his hard work. Back at the hotel, they finally had separate rooms to sleep in. Bo Yan carried her to her room, set her down on the edge of the bed. He took off her shoes, covered her with a blanket, and even made sure to turn off the microphone and camera. Having arranged everything, he closed the door behind him as he left, but not before looking back at her one last time. Xia Siyu indeed slept peacefully. Perhaps knowing that she was back in Taormina, she relaxed completely. Although she couldn¡¯t visit the Chinese District, she could still glimpse her former home from the mountaintop. The air smelled of old days; the buildings were strange yet familiar, as if she had suddenly returned to the past. Her mother was not very sociable and often kept to herself. She had strict demands for Siyu, training her daily in dance and piano. If she didn¡¯t practice well, her mother wouldn¡¯t scold her but would simply send her out the door and close it behind her. Taormina was a safe place, with no fears of abduction. The entire Chinese District was like one big community where neighbors knew each other well, akin to the large compounds in China during the ¡¯80s and ¡¯90s. It was common for kids to visit each other¡¯s homes, playing games like drop the handkerchief, and so on. For instance, she would often dream that the grandmother of Pietro, the boy next door, had a dog that loved to lick her face¡­ If she fell asleep from exhaustion in someone¡¯s house, the parents would call her mother. Then her mother would bring a small gift, usually a piece of cake or some baked cookies, to pick her up from the neighbors¡¯ home. Sometimes she was genuinely tired from playing with her friends, her eyelids fighting against each other until she would fall asleep as soon as they closed. Other times, she wasn¡¯t actually that weary and would just pretend in hopes of her mother carrying her back home. The small tricks of a child were transparent to her mother. With just a glance Wen Qunxiao could tell whether her daughter was truly asleep or just pretending, yet she always acted as if Siyu was sleeping and would carry her home. Once home, there were sweet treats waiting for her, like the almond tofu and tiramisu she loved. Sometimes, her mother would join her in building Legos or playing with toy guns. So, when Bo Yan was carrying her, she comfortably rested her head on his shoulder, her body automatically adjusting to his carry. Even if she sometimes slipped, and he hoisted her back up, she wouldn¡¯t find it uncomfortable. Instead, she would instinctively cling tighter, fearing he¡¯d let go and she¡¯d fall to the ground, waking from her dream. She was indeed asleep, but not deeply. She even knew she was dreaming, but she didn¡¯t want to wake up. Life as a celebrity, though glamorous, involved more criticism than praise. Sasaeng fans and hackers would tirelessly pursue her. Her rare visit to Sicily allowed her to escape the throngs of fans, but with the crew constantly around, perhaps only in dreams could she find such relaxation. Wait, wait a minute, why did she feel like she was with Bo Yan? So the dream where she was being carried might not have been her mother after all, but¡­ Bo Yan? And the one licking her face, could it really be¡­ also Bo Yan? Chapter 178 - Chapter 178: Chapter 178: Find a Boyfriend (4) Chapter 178: Chapter 178: Find a Boyfriend (4) Translator: 549690339 Xia Siyu was scared awake. Once she was awake, she realized she was indeed in a strange hotel room, still wearing the clothes from yesterday, and even her makeup hadn¡¯t been removed! This was too much! Sleeping with makeup on is very harmful to the skin, doesn¡¯t Bo Yan know that? Even if he didn¡¯t want to help her remove her makeup, he could at least get a female assistant to help! Luckily, the cameras and microphones in the room were off, otherwise her sprawled-out, embarrassing sleeping posture would have been broadcast live¡ªshe would¡¯ve definitely torn Bo Yan¡¯s handsome face apart! She pushed open the window to a sky clear and blue. And today was their last day in Sicily. After washing up and having breakfast, it was time to drive away from Taormina and meet up with the crew to fly to Germany. Heidelberg, located by the Neckar River, is the cultural heart, home to the renowned Heidelberg University, and the city with the youngest population in Germany. The city features Heidelberg Castle and a famous ¡°Philosopher¡¯s Walk,¡± where Germany¡¯s well-known poets and philosophers like Hegel and Goethe enjoyed strolling. The environment is beautiful, and the climate is pleasant. Especially since the schedule of the crew happened to be quite fortunate, they could catch the famous ¡°Fire-burning Heidelberg¡± event right before leaving Heidelberg. ¡°Fire-burning Heidelberg¡± is held three times a year, in June, July, and September, to commemorate the wartime devastation that Heidelberg Castle has undergone since the 13th century. Of course, ¡°Fire-burning Heidelberg¡± isn¡¯t actual warfare but is mainly depicted through lighting and fireworks effects. Xia Siyu washed up, removed her makeup, and reapplied it, then packed up her luggage and was ready to leave. All the nostalgia, regret, and longing were left behind in Sicily. The Xia Siyu who walked out of the door had once again become the heartless, silly, and overly happy Xia Siyu of the past. The change in Xia Siyu¡¯s attitude might not have been noticeable to others, but Bo Yan could clearly feel it¡ªthe Xia Siyu from yesterday and today were obviously a bit different. She wasn¡¯t willing to speak, and he didn¡¯t feel it was right to ask. The two of them tacitly had breakfast, packed their bags, got in the car, and joined the others. Bo Yan had specifically observed that when people are reluctant to leave a certain place, they would often look back three steps at a time. But Xia Siyu was clearly not most people; she had become very used to hiding her feelings, especially in front of cameras. Throughout the journey, she never looked back, only resting one hand on the car door, gazing at the passing scenery outside the window, while the other hand seemed to be over her heart. Soon, at the airport, the two groups met. Having spent nine days together, they were now acquaintances, and everyone greeted each other warmly. Especially Wang Zisu, who immediately bounded over with a smile when he saw Xia Siyu getting out of the car. Bo Yan got out of the car from the other side, giving Wang Zisu a faint glance as a reminder, ¡°Camera.¡± Wang Zisu uttered an ¡°Oh¡± and then cheerfully said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll help you with your luggage.¡± ¡°Prince is so nice,¡± Xia Siyu remarked, directing Wang Zisu to the trunk to fetch the luggage, only to find that Bo Yan had already taken her luggage out first. What remained in the car was only his, so he unceremoniously instructed, ¡°You want to help with the luggage, right? Help me with mine.¡± Wang Zisu: After a bustling boarding process, Xia Siyu, Bo Yan, and Wang Zisu took their seats in one row, with Bo Yan in the middle. Wang Zisu asked, ¡°Sister Siyu, after a busy day yesterday, do you have any thoughts?¡± Xia Siyu thought for a moment and seriously suggested, ¡°I think I should find a boyfriend.¡± Chapter 179 - Chapter 179: Chapter 179 Racing Ahead (1) Chapter 179: Chapter 179 Racing Ahead (1) Translator: 549690339 She wasn¡¯t young anymore and it was time to consider her personal life. Her marriage with Bo Yan was never a serious one anyway. Plus, they had agreed early on that if either of them found someone they liked, the other would bless them with a smile and step out of the battle. She didn¡¯t used to know much about Bo Yan¡¯s situation, but from their few months of interaction, it was clear he had no shortage of women around him. In the entertainment industry, there were the likes of Shang Feifei and Li Yiru eyeing him like prey, not to mention Wu Di, who managed to get into the circle just for him. If he wanted, plenty of young and beautiful women were ready to throw themselves at him. Unlike her, plagued by scandals over the years, all she attracted were sleazy admirers. And being a woman in the entertainment industry was inherently more dangerous than being a man. Some approached her with conditions, while others sought to use power to force her into submission. Thankfully, she became famous as soon as she debuted, or these people would be even more brazen. Furthermore, although she didn¡¯t care about her reputation and couldn¡¯t be bothered to explain the rumors, society and others did care. Even if she finally took a liking to a man, he might back out because of her ¡°bad name.¡± Wouldn¡¯t she be at a loss then? It¡¯s just the way society is, harshly critical of women, outrageously lenient towards men. When a woman has a few scandals, she¡¯s labeled ¡°shameless.¡± When a man has a few, he¡¯s considered ¡°charming.¡± If a woman is a bit assertive, she¡¯s called ¡°fierce.¡± But if it¡¯s a man, it¡¯s ¡°masculinity.¡± Of course, Xia Siyu would look for someone who doesn¡¯t listen to idle talk, who believes in her and cherishes her. If even this basic trust is lacking in a marriage, it¡¯s better to divorce early. Without love, there can be no wonderful union. While they were talking, Bo Yan was right in the middle; he had just taken out a magazine and hadn¡¯t even opened it when he heard the news that Xia Siyu was looking for a boyfriend. His hand loosened, and the magazine almost dropped to the floor. And those two, completely oblivious, Wang Zisu leaned over Bo Yan and asked, ¡°What sort of boyfriend are you looking for?¡± Xia Siyu pondered seriously for a moment, ¡°Handsome, tall, good physique, someone who can cheer me up. Most importantly, I don¡¯t want someone who is taciturn and pretends to be profound.¡± Pretending to be profound¡­ Bo Yan flipped the magazine page irritably, feeling as if an arrow had struck his chest. Wang Zisu immediately nodded enthusiastically, ¡°I know a guy like that.¡± Xia Siyu had been reclined in her chair but immediately stood up, ¡°Who? Do I know him? Give me his WeChat.¡± Wang Zisu blushed a bit, his voice dropping, ¡°Well, that¡¯d be me¡­¡± Xia Siyu didn¡¯t take his words to heart, merely adding, ¡°¡­just don¡¯t be too much younger than me. And not much older either. Within two years is best; that way, there¡¯s no generation gap.¡± Within two years¡­ Bo Yan was almost twenty-nine this year, nearly three years older than her. He turned another page of the magazine, feeling another arrow pierce his chest. ¡°Sister Siyu,¡± Wang Zisu was not pleased now, ¡°I¡¯m twenty-two, and you¡¯re twenty-six; I¡¯m only four years younger.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be twenty-seven soon!¡± ¡°That¡¯s four and a half years, which rounds off to no difference,¡± Wang Zisu said earnestly. ¡°Sister Siyu, don¡¯t be so rigid about age. These days, gender isn¡¯t a problem, so age certainly isn¡¯t either. I think I¡¯m a great match¡ªhandsome, tall, good physique. And I can say lots of sweet things to make you happy. Really, you won¡¯t find this deal anywhere else¡­¡± Chapter 180 - Chapter 180: Chapter 180 Racing Ahead (2) Chapter 180: Chapter 180 Racing Ahead (2) Translator: 549690339 ¡°Cough, cough,¡± Bo Yan coughed, flipping through the magazine with a rustle. He had just realized he¡¯d been holding the magazine upside down and quickly closed it when no one was paying attention. It was only then that the two people who were having a pleasant conversation noticed the obstacle between them¡ªBo Yan. He nonchalantly pointed at the sign: ¡°We¡¯re about to take off, switch your phones to airplane mode.¡± Ignoring him, the two continued to whisper to each other, bent over. First was Xia Siyu: ¡°That won¡¯t do, it¡¯s too small for me to accept. Even if I were to accept, it¡¯d be one that¡¯s mature for their age. I¡¯m already not that smart, and then to choose someone younger and even less mature than me, what would I do later?¡± Bo Yan was sitting above them, watching as they spoke on either side of his knees. Xia Siyu¡¯s words couldn¡¯t help but bring a smile to his face. At least this woman had some self-awareness and knew what she was like. Wang Zisu said, ¡°I might look young, but I¡¯m actually very clever.¡± ¡°Oh, come on, you went to become a trainee right after finishing nine years of mandatory education, while I, at least, dropped out of university. Together, wouldn¡¯t we make the pair with the lowest quality in the nation?¡± ¡°I can do it, I can learn! I¡¯m still young,¡± Wang Zisu quickly patted her chest. No sooner had she finished speaking than there was a ¡°snap¡±¡ªthe magazine fell out of Bo Yan¡¯s hands onto the floor. With a calm and indifferent expression, he said, ¡°Sorry, my hand slipped.¡± Then he calmly unbuckled his seatbelt and bent over swiftly, his face right in front of Xia Siyu¡¯s. Xia Siyu was startled. Bo Yan¡¯s face was calm as his slender fingers deftly picked up the magazine and then he sat up straight, patting the dust off the pages, making them rustle. As Xia Siyu and Wang Zisu looked up at him, he maintained a peaceful demeanor, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Do you have any questions?¡± Just then, the plane hit some turbulence, and Xia Siyu and Wang Zisu nearly lost their balance in their positions. Bo Yan grabbed Xia Siyu¡¯s arm, steadying her, his voice ethereal, ¡°Turbulence can be rough, be careful.¡± Xia Siyu felt like there was a hidden meaning in his words. The flight to Frankfurt, Germany, lasted just over an hour. Heidelberg doesn¡¯t have an airport, so when departing from Sicily, one has to fly to Frankfurt and then take a train or a bus. No sooner had they left the airport and stepped out of the departure hall to gather on a nearby lawn, Bo Yan keenly felt that the production team seemed to be up to something. Indeed, the production team announced, ¡°Welcome to the ¡®Flowers and Grass¡¯ crew. This time, we¡¯re in Heidelberg on the banks of the Neckar River. The travel expenses that Bo Yan and Xia Siyu earned for everyone yesterday are only enough to get us from Sicily to Frankfurt. From Frankfurt to Heidelberg, there¡¯s still an eighty-kilometer journey. The production budget is tight, and we can¡¯t charter a bus, so everyone must make their own way.¡± No sooner had the production team finished speaking than Li Yiru was the first to express her discontent: ¡°Director, that¡¯s too much, we¡¯ve got all this luggage.¡± Shang Feifei, on the other hand, was quite smart: ¡°Director, are we going on our own, or can you take care of our luggage for us? I¡¯ve got three or four suitcases, and I really can¡¯t carry them all by myself.¡± Even though the director¡¯s team wanted to challenge the guests, they weren¡¯t heartless. They responded, ¡°You must each take one piece of luggage.¡± Bo Yan said nothing, just glanced at Xia Siyu, who looked calm. The director continued, ¡°Next is dividing into groups. Today we¡¯ll split into two groups, based on the order we were seated in on the plane.¡± Chapter 181 - Chapter 181: Chapter 181 Racing Ahead (3) Chapter 181: Chapter 181 Racing Ahead (3) Translator: 549690339 So that means it¡¯s Bo Yan, Xia Siyu, and Wang Zisu as one team? Right, now the show has seven celebrities, unless a guest flies in or someone gets a bye, it¡¯s not easy to divide them. Besides, having a male guest in the group isn¡¯t quite fair to the others who don¡¯t have one. This way, a group consisting of two men and one woman to compete against four women, at least they don¡¯t have a numerical advantage. Bo Yan was both happy and not happy, happy because he was in the same group as Xia Siyu, but not happy because there was a third wheel. Xia Siyu was happy and also not, happy because Wang Zisu had a tacit understanding with her in the game, but not happy because there was Bo Yan. Only Wang Zisu was genuinely overjoyed, ¡°Wow, I¡¯ve worked with both Brother Bo and Sister Siyu before, we have a team spirit! We¡¯re definitely going to be number one!¡± Bo Yan and Xia Siyu turned around at the same time, looking at this silly kid speechless. What kind of team spirit was he talking about? Couldn¡¯t he see that the two of them were on the verge of clashing? The directors also announced, ¡°Let¡¯s start drawing lots now. There are two teams, one will take the bus, and from where the bus stops, it¡¯s only a ten-minute distance to our accommodation. The other team¡­ will have to figure it out for themselves.¡± Do you even have to say it? Fight for the bus, of course! Ladies first, so they sent Shang Feifei from their side to draw. Shang Feifei was also incredibly lucky, drawing the ¡°bus¡± lot right away! The four girls on the other side were overjoyed, especially Hu Juyue, the host, whose job was to stir up excitement. She was now showing off the good lot she had drawn with all sorts of playful antics. Zhou Weiwei glanced at Xia Siyu, she actually wanted to exchange with her, since Xia Siyu had helped her quite a bit before. But after hesitating for a moment, she still didn¡¯t step forward. While one side rejoiced, aside from Wang Zisu who was a bit anxious, the other two wore an ¡°Is that all? That¡¯s it?¡± expression. Bo Yan wasn¡¯t discouraged, though. He carefully asked, ¡°Director, when you say we have to figure it out, you mean any mode of transport is fine, right?¡± The directors, having been tricked by him once, were cautious. They even counter-asked, ¡°What do you have in mind?¡± Bo Yan, with a look of cunning, said, ¡°Then it¡¯s none of your business. As long as we can get there first, there¡¯s no punishment, right?¡± Xia Siyu nodded along, and tried to hail a taxi, waving her hand, ¡°Taxi!¡± She shamelessly told Bo Yan and Wang Zisu, ¡°German taxis are all Mercedes.¡± The directors yelled desperately, ¡°No taxis, you can only use public transport!¡± They added, ¡°There¡¯s a punishment for being late. Besides completing the competitive tasks tomorrow, you¡¯ll also be responsible for cleaning the rooms. Go!¡± With that said, the group of four followed the crew¡¯s direction, while the team of three went to pick up their luggage. As Bo Yan was about to help with Xia Siyu¡¯s suitcase, Wang Zisu was already one step ahead, ¡°Sister Siyu, this is yours, right? I¡¯ll carry it for you!¡± Bo Yan¡¯s face instantly chilled, while Xia Siyu snatched the suitcase away, ¡°Why would you carry it? I have hands, I can do it.¡± Bo Yan¡¯s expression became significantly more relaxed, and it was a good thing he usually had a cold face, otherwise one wouldn¡¯t notice any difference unless they looked closely. In response to the provocation of the other four, Bo Yan wasn¡¯t in a hurry. He simply went to the service counter and asked about the situation in fluent English, then gestured, ¡°Come here, there¡¯s a train to Heidelberg in twenty-five minutes, an express one, we need to hurry.¡± Twenty-five minutes, and the crew had to wait forty minutes for the bus. Their twenty-five minutes should be sufficient, right? Chapter 182 - Chapter 182: Chapter 182 Racing Ahead (4) Chapter 182: Chapter 182 Racing Ahead (4) Translator: 549690339 Xia Siyu and Wang Zisu immediately excitedly picked up their luggage and followed Bo Yan, not forgetting to mock the production team and the group of four on their way out. ¡°The tickets are bought, but getting there is another issue. However, with Bo Yan here, it¡¯s not a problem. He directly said, ¡°I¡¯ve asked around, the airport and train station are directly connected; just head to T1 and follow the signs. We need to hurry.¡± The production team didn¡¯t even have time to follow them to buy tickets and board the train. Carrying their luggage, they dashed downstairs like the wind, and fortunately, several cameramen managed to buy tickets. They were originally supposed to take the next slow train to Heidelberg, but to their surprise, Bo Yan and his team had reacted so quickly that they already purchased fast train tickets. It takes about an hour and a half to get from Frankfurt to Heidelberg by slow train, almost the same time, but the fast train only takes fifty minutes. That saved half hour is a lead in capital! It all boils down to the production team underestimating Bo Yan¡¯s ability to survive. He wasn¡¯t an idol trained specifically for the entertainment industry since his teenage years. He pursued a doctorate and spent half a year abroad during his postgraduate studies, right here in Europe. He had a thorough understanding of other countries and was fluent in English. He wasn¡¯t like those delicate idols who could only ride in private cars and found taxis too dirty to bear. It wasn¡¯t until they rushed onto the train that they remembered to ask for the exact location of their accommodations. After figuring it out, Bo Yan immediately took out his phone to check. The train station was still some distance from where they were staying, and Wang Zisu immediately said, ¡°Then let¡¯s take a taxi.¡± Wang Zisu thought of something and turned to ask the cameraman, ¡°We¡¯ve made it to Heidelberg, so we can take a taxi now, right? They can¡¯t expect us to walk there; it¡¯s several kilometers away.¡± The cameraman hesitated, actually consulting the production team. This point they didn¡¯t oppose, since they couldn¡¯t really let them drag their luggage all the way there; it would be too inhumane. Abroad, the price of a taxi is rather high, but this is relative to ordinary people. For celebrities, even if the taxi fare is five times higher than in their home country, they can easily afford it. But Bo Yan didn¡¯t see it that way. He said, ¡°If the production team decides to deduct our funds next, like before, if we spend it all together, we¡¯re done for.¡± No sooner had the words left his mouth than the faces of the cameramen following them showed embarrassment; he had guessed right in a second. Xia Siyu immediately suggested, ¡°Then let¡¯s take the bus.¡± Taking the bus was no issue, but Bo Yan even took out his phone to search, ¡°In Europe, there are often those city transit cards, let me see if Heidelberg has one. If so, buying one would be more economical.¡± Seeing this, compared to the production team who were still waiting miserably, the progress here was flying at breakneck speed, and they had even planned their post-arrival transportation in Heidelberg. The comments were filled with mirthful sentiments: ¡°Bustling and bustling¡± ¡°233333¡± ¡°Although it¡¯s rough for the production crew, why do I feel like laughing?¡± ¡°The production team hasn¡¯t even gotten on the bus, and they¡¯re already planning to buy transit cards haha.¡± Upon searching, they indeed found it: Heidelberg¡¯s all-in-one card, with options for one day, two days, and four days. They all huddled around the phone, and Wang Zisu was interested in the family card: ¡°This one is cheap and cost-effective, the three of us fit the bill perfectly. One ticket for three people is cheaper than buying individually.¡± Bo Yan gave him a glance, then looked at Xia Siyu, his face showing disdainful rejection: ¡°She and I could not have given birth to a son as big as you.¡± Chapter 183 - Chapter 183: Chapter 183 Drunk and Speaking Truths (1) Chapter 183: Chapter 183 Drunk and Speaking Truths (1) Translator: 549690339 Family cards are always for parents with their children, never heard of one with a little brother included. Wang Zisu still smiled and said, ¡°No problem, then it will just be me and Sister Siyu¡­¡± Xia Siyu gave him a glare and said stingily, ¡°This card includes tourist attractions which we don¡¯t need for now, so let¡¯s just buy one-way tickets. The crew won¡¯t arrange for us to go sightseeing today anyway, otherwise, it¡¯d be a waste.¡± In the show, every penny had to be spent carefully! Meanwhile, the production team was still struggling to catch a bus, having encountered a traffic jam on the way out of the city, which delayed them further. By the time the team smoothly left Frankfurt, Xia Siyu and her group had already arrived at their destination by train. After exiting the train station, Bo Yan asked about the bus stop and, half an hour later, they arrived at their accommodation, which indeed turned out to be another rented villa. The only pity was that the rooms in the villa weren¡¯t on a first-come, first-served basis; they had to be assigned. Otherwise, their early arrival would have allowed them to snatch up the best rooms. Initially, the schedule planned by the production team was just fine; although the bus left on time, it hit a traffic jam. The slow train took longer time but didn¡¯t face any traffic. The idea was for both parties to arrive in Heidelberg at roughly the same time and compete for the rooms¡ªnow that would have been an interesting sight. But due to the traffic delay, when the production team trudged in much later, the three of them had already changed into casual wear, slipped into flip-flops, and even bought afternoon tea nearby. Seeing the crew arrive disheveled, Xia Siyu was eating tiramisu, Bo Yan was sipping Earl Grey tea, and Wang Zisu spooned some mousse. The trio were completely at ease, having even had time for a round of fighting the landlord. Annoyed that the early arrivals at the villa got to pick the best rooms, the production crew declared with a wave of their hand: ¡°Stay as they do in Italy.¡± That meant Xia Siyu and Bo Yan would be sharing a room again. In fact, Xia Siyu didn¡¯t mind sharing a room with Bo Yan. So far, Bo Yan had always been gentle and polite with her, never taking advantage of her. After sleeping in the same room for a few days, they were separated in their beds, all quiet and respectful; he never crossed the line with her. Even on the last day when Xia Siyu took initiative, though he ended up disheveled, he didn¡¯t say a word of complaint against her. He was truly a Junzi, a gentleman through and through. Besides, they were technically married, and each knew the other¡¯s secrets. If she were to share with someone else, she might accidentally reveal something. Should she end up sharing a room with Li Yiru, they might even end up fighting. Her sleeping habits weren¡¯t great either; she liked to sleep diagonally and often kicked off her covers. Except for possibly having to leave one camera on, sharing with Bo Yan was otherwise normal. With the two of them arranged together, not only were the concerned parties content, even Bo Yan¡¯s fans in the comments had nothing to complain about: ¡°If we let Teacher Bo stay with someone else, I¡¯d worry he¡¯d be snatched away.¡± ¡°Yan Bao and Xia Siyu lack chemistry, I¡¯m afraid she¡¯d beat him up if they stayed together.¡± ¡°The one above, Xia Siyu can¡¯t beat Brother Yan. Brother Yan might look refined, but he has trained in martial arts!¡± ¡°Pfft, Xia Siyu has practiced boxing too, don¡¯t underestimate her.¡± Thankfully, the production team, sympathizing with their exhausting journey, not only spared them from any activities that day but also called in a sumptuous dinner. However, with German cuisine, no matter what you eat, it must be accompanied by alcohol. Sometimes, the appetizers, starters, main course, and desserts all come with different wines to pair with. Most people in the entertainment industry are adept at clinking glasses and eating well; they thoroughly enjoyed themselves. After the meal, Xia Siyu got drunk, and that night, she had to share a room with Bo Yan. Chapter 184 - Chapter 184: Chapter 184: Truth Comes Out After Drinking (2) Chapter 184: Chapter 184: Truth Comes Out After Drinking (2) Translator: 549690339 Xia Siyu had two modes when drunk. When she was utterly intoxicated, she would talk nonsense and uncontrollably send a barrage of texts and call someone persistently to bother them. If you paid attention to her, that was fine. But if you ignored her, she¡¯d just keep sending messages nonstop until the other person broke down. However, when she had just started drinking, from being slightly tipsy to drunken, she¡¯d become very quiet. She was not someone who easily got drunk, and even if she drank a lot her face wouldn¡¯t turn very red. From her appearance, you couldn¡¯t even tell she was drunk. She would just sit there quietly, listening to your jokes, occasionally letting out a silly laugh but never for too long. To the unaware, she seemed like she was just listening quietly to the conversation, displaying a very sophisticated and mild temperament. But only those who were very close and familiar with her knew that she was actually pretty high. But this second mode rarely appeared. Xia Siyu either avoided alcohol entirely or drank herself into a stupor. Moreover, in recent years, it was rare for her to be seen in a drunken state. The entertainment industry is too complex, and for a beautiful woman to get too drunk, it was inevitable for others to have wandering thoughts. Even if she didn¡¯t suffer any physical harm, getting captured by paparazzi in a few indecent photos would still subject her to days of mockery from netizens. Even Zhou Weiwei, who was on good terms with her, seldom saw her just as the alcohol was starting to affect her. Bo Yan hadn¡¯t expected that Xia Siyu would get drunk after several rounds of wine with dinner. Everyone else was still laughing and making noise at the dining table. Sometimes when they cued her, she would still smile. No matter how you looked at it, it all seemed perfectly normal. Everyone knew that Xia Siyu¡¯s alcohol tolerance was only half a bottle of red wine. Bo Yan watched from the sidelines, scrutinizing her drink and only when he saw the waiter pour just a little bit into her tall glass did he feel relieved. However, when it was time to go back to their rooms and she had just said ¡°let¡¯s go back¡± in two words, Xia Siyu immediately stood up briskly, standing straight as a rod, then turned around as stiff and robotic as an android. Bo Yan, who had been observing her, finally felt that something was off. He tried calling her, ¡°Xia Siyu.¡± As expected, Xia Siyu stopped, standing there with good temperament, with neither anger nor words, even carrying a smile on her face. Seeing how quiet she was, Bo Yan instantly knew she had drunk too much. Bo Yan didn¡¯t expose her; he just calmly got up and then walked in front of her. In front of everyone, even the cameras, he said, ¡°There¡¯s a bit of dirt on you, let me help you get it off.¡± Xia Siyu, as expected, didn¡¯t move a muscle. His expression was too composed, his movements very steady, and throughout it all, there was no physical contact with her at all, just a gentle brush at the collar of her clothes¡ªturning off her microphone. But the venue was noisy, and the other microphones were still picking up sound, so neither the director team nor the live-stream audience realized he had secretly turned off Xia Siyu¡¯s microphone. Then, in pairs and small groups, everyone continued to return to their rooms. Bo Yan purposefully lingered behind, and Wang Zisu hurried a few steps to catch up with Xia Siyu, ¡°Sister Siyu, I have something¡­¡± Before he could finish, Bo Yan pulled his arm from behind, ¡°It¡¯s too late, whatever it is, say it tomorrow morning. You should rest well too. We still don¡¯t know what tricks the production team will play tomorrow.¡± He watched Xia Siyu enter her room smoothly before following her in. And then he closed the door. Chapter 185 - Chapter 185: Chapter 185: Truth Comes Out After Drinking (3) Chapter 185: Chapter 185: Truth Comes Out After Drinking (3) Translator: 549690339 The night was now deep, and Bo Yan watched Xia Siyu sitting on the edge of the bed with her back to the camera, sitting up straight, her expression as if her soul had been captured by a soul-snatching creature, totally wooden and dazed. Fortunately, no matter how one looked at her, her appearance didn¡¯t give away that she was drunk. The production team hadn¡¯t noticed, the guests hadn¡¯t noticed, and the netizens following the live stream hadn¡¯t noticed either. In the room, he even stretched deliberately without looking in Xia Siyu¡¯s direction. Then he purposely said to the camera, ¡°I¡¯m going to take a shower, you rest for a bit.¡± The comments went crazy immediately. It wasn¡¯t even summer vacation, and though it was eleven o¡¯clock at night over here, it was about five in the morning over there in Germany. At this time, his words exploded with life among the viewers: ¡°Oh my God, Teacher Bo is flirting with me!¡± ¡°Ahhh, Yan Bao¡¯s eight pack abs!¡± ¡°Immediately, right now, I need to know where Yan Bao lives, I¡¯m taking a rocket to watch!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve fallen, and I need Teacher Bo to kiss me before I can get up!¡± Even though Bo Yan didn¡¯t look at his phone, he could guess what the live comments probably looked like. He usually carried himself with dignity and restraint, rarely showing that bewitchingly charming expression that could lead someone astray, as seen in movies. So this casual tease was especially lethal. He even purposely raised his eyebrows at the camera and said, ¡°Want to see? If you want, nod your head.¡± There was a person operating the camera behind it, and, faced with his tease, they actually bobbed the camera up and down to indicate a nod. ¡°You want to see, huh? Well, I¡¯m not going to show you.¡± After Bo Yan spoke, he covered one camera after another, leaving none uncovered. He did it on purpose, to shut off all the cameras, so he could justifiably turn off all the devices without the other side complaining about him and Xia Siyu being up to something. Then he turned off the microphone and drew the curtains. After some thought, he also locked the door. With everything in place, he finally turned around. Xia Siyu was sitting quietly at the head of the bed. But even seated at the head of the bed, she didn¡¯t rest. Her body, although sitting up straight, was tilted rigidly to one side, her head resting on the nightstand, her face confused. Bo Yan took a deep breath, approached her slowly, crouched in front of her, and then asked in a low voice, ¡°Xia Siyu, Siyu?¡± Xia Siyu hummed through her nose, her eyes not even opening. Between breaths, there was a strong smell of alcohol. He was right; Xia Siyu really was drunk. The alcohol provided in Germany was mostly wine or champagne, none of which was very high in alcohol content. Germany produces a lot of white wine, especially sweet white wine, which tastes sweet like a drink but has an alcohol content of around thirteen degrees; it¡¯s easy to overindulge by mistake. The last time he saw Xia Siyu drunk, he thought she must have downed at least a big bottle of red or a bottle of white, but this time she had fallen over after barely a quarter of a bottle of red. ¡°Siyu, Siyu, can you hear me talking?¡± Xia Siyu wrinkled her little nose, and while she still didn¡¯t open her eyes, her face was full of impatience. She really was drunk, and Bo Yan found it hard to do anything to her. He didn¡¯t want to take advantage of her in such a state and do anything unbecoming. But collecting a little bit of interest was still possible. ¡°So, I¡¯ll ask you a question, and you have to answer honestly. Otherwise, I¡¯ll kiss you. If you don¡¯t speak, I¡¯ll take it as consent.¡± They say that in vino veritas. He really wanted to ask, just what kind of feelings did Xia Siyu have for him? Chapter 186 - Chapter 186: Chapter 186: Truth Comes Out After Drinking (4) Chapter 186: Chapter 186: Truth Comes Out After Drinking (4) Translator: 549690339 He hurriedly spoke up, ¡°Siyu¡­ do you have feelings for me?¡± Xia Siyu didn¡¯t move an inch for a long while, not only failing to respond but not even opening her eyes. What did this mean, she drank too much and fell straight to sleep? Bo Yan thought for a moment, then sat beside her. He hesitated for a bit and asked again, ¡°Siyu, do you still like me?¡± This time, Xia Siyu reacted¡ªBo Yan was leaning too close, squeezing her, and Xia Siyu shifted her body, clearly indicating displeasure. In that instant, Bo Yan nearly fell apart, threatening through gritted teeth, ¡°If you don¡¯t answer, I¡¯ll kiss¡­¡± Before he could finish his sentence, Xia Siyu suddenly sat up, clearly having woken up, ¡°What¡¯s all the noise, is there a mosquito?¡± She had clearly been sleeping soundly and was annoyed by something buzzing incessantly by her ear. She sat up feeling irritated, her head still slightly spinning. It took her a very long time to notice that there seemed to be a person-shaped object standing beside her, which appeared to be Bo Yan. Xia Siyu really squinted to take a look, and it was indeed Bo Yan. He was standing by the side of her bed, with a look of disdain on his face, as if her appearance was an eyesore. Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t be bothered with him, still feeling groggy. She casually scratched an itch and got up unsteadily. After walking a few steps, she remembered to look back at the camera. At least she still had the self-awareness of a female celebrity, knowing that with her less-than-ideal appearance, she shouldn¡¯t show up on camera. Only after confirming that the camera was turned off, did she walk to the bathroom and close the door. However, Bo Yan waited outside for a long time without hearing a sound from inside. Worried, he walked up to the bathroom door. After thinking for a moment, he didn¡¯t push the door open outright but knocked first, then asked in a cold voice, ¡°Are you dead or alive?¡± There was no response from inside. Bo Yan stood at the door and listened for a while, confirming there was no movement inside. He knocked on the door again, ¡°I need to use the bathroom now.¡± After saying that, he pushed open the bathroom door. Upon opening it, he saw the scene inside and couldn¡¯t help but laugh silently to himself. Xia Siyu had put the toilet lid down, sat on it herself, and with her head against the sink, had fallen asleep like that. Given what had just happened, Bo Yan didn¡¯t get very close. He stood half a meter away, looking down at her from above, his voice cold, ¡°Are you still alive?¡± Xia Siyu didn¡¯t move, only her breathing was even. Bo Yan was speechless, this time carefully approaching and gently shaking her shoulder. She was truly asleep this time. Bo Yan sighed. He could only bend down and carefully lift her. In her sleep, Xia Siyu was completely unaware, her head comfortably resting against his shoulder as he carried her to the bed. Bo Yan took her shoes off, hesitated over whether to remove her makeup, or to unfasten the hooks of her bra. His hand had just grazed the edge of her clothes when the surprising elasticity made him feel as if he¡¯d been burned, and he quickly retracted it, then rushed to the bathroom to close the door. He took another shower, a cold one this time. He even took a selfie showing his eight-pack abs in the mirror and posted it on his Weibo. It served as a treat for the fans and also as interaction. What he didn¡¯t know was that while he was taking a shower and snapping pictures, the Xia Siyu outside turned over, sleep talking a sentence, ¡°Bo Yan, you big jerk.¡± Chapter 187 - Chapter 187: Chapter 187: Everlasting (1) Chapter 187: Chapter 187: Everlasting (1) Translator: 549690339 In the following days, the production team certainly didn¡¯t just let them enjoy the leisurely German lifestyle so easily. Since the groups had been formed, there naturally was competition between them. From simple activities like running on a pressure pad, weight-bearing marching, and pull-ups, to cleaning the house, cooking, leveling up in challenges, dance-offs and battling for the microphone¡ªthe variety was endless. Of course, the production crew wasn¡¯t running a sports competition, and the activities were more about participation, which the guests were aware of. Of course, they still had to act as if they were very competitive in front of the camera, outdoing each other. There were trips and misdirections. Although everyone was a celebrity and very used to posturing in front of the camera, it was feasible to fake it for a one or two-hour show with post-editing. But overseas, unfamiliar with the surroundings and without assistants or managers to oversee them, every aspect of their daily lives, including eating and going to the bathroom, had to be exposed to the camera. Even if one could pretend for a day, it was impossible over the twenty days. Especially, since this was a live broadcast program. All those viewers watching the live streams every day had nothing better to do but to nitpick. Everyone wished they had an 8x scope to scrutinize any subtle expressions they might show. It could be a single sentence, an eye roll, or a disdainful sneer¡ªthe audience would pounce on it in an instant. For instance, Li Yiru, who started by flattering Bo Yan and later constantly tried to steal the spotlight, was the least favorite among viewers, who criticized her from start to finish. For instance, Hu Juyue, whose control over the scene was alright, but talked too much, sometimes preventing others from getting a word in edgeways when they tried to interject. If the talkative were criticized, what about the quiet ones? Shang Feifei and Zhou Weiwei, one was accused by viewers of ¡°standing by idly,¡± while the other was called ¡°scheming.¡± Xia Siyu had swapped her Taormina working spot with her, but she was unwilling to exchange it for a bus shift in Heidelberg. However, Zhou Weiwei was ultimately transparent, and even Xia Siyu didn¡¯t care, so after a few critical posts, no one criticized her anymore and shifted their attention to others. And flying guests were inevitably caught in the crossfire. There was Wu Di previously, and others in Germany. Those who diligently worked were criticized for being stale, while those who talked too much were accused of hogging the spotlight. The audience these days was indeed hard to please. Even Xia Siyu, who had gained the most followers, was criticized. They said she was domineering, with a loud voice and no consideration for others, and lacked intelligence¡­ Apart from the last point being a matter of fact, the rest were just idle netizens nitpicking, scrutinizing the footage with a microscope and always finding faults one way or another. Of course, Bo Yan¡¯s fans and Xia Siyu¡¯s fans were still at each other¡¯s throats, just not as fervently as at the beginning. But whether it was Bo Yan¡¯s fans or Xia Siyu¡¯s fans, they agreed on one point: Bo Yan and Xia Siyu, the two main characters, had no romantic tension and could not possibly be a couple. However, as heated as the fan battles were, no one considered another possibility: their discord might stem from a deeper grudge. Anyway, amid the bickering and clamor, today was their last day in Heidelberg, and the penultimate day of this live broadcast program. It also meant that Xia Siyu and Bo Yan¡¯s cohabitation for over a dozen days was coming to an end tonight. Waking up early, Xia Siyu was especially happy, ¡°Tomorrow I won¡¯t have to share a room with you anymore.¡± Bo Yan gave her a faint look and chuckled. Chapter 188 - Chapter 188: Chapter 188: Everlasting (2) Chapter 188: Chapter 188: Everlasting (2) Translator: 549690339 At noon, after a simple lunch, the crew gathered together. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to our show ¡®Flowers and Grass.¡¯ Today is our last day in Heidelberg.¡± The other guests immediately displayed a reluctance to part, whether sincere or not, it seemed quite harmonious nonetheless. Only Xia Siyu was clapping joyfully off to the side. Bo Yan glanced at her coldly but said nothing. Wang Zisu looked utterly mournful: ¡°Sister Siyu, we¡¯re about to part ways, how can you still be so happy?¡± Xia Siyu smiled broadly: ¡°After all, we¡¯re bound to meet again.¡± ¡°Add me on WeChat. Quick, scan me.¡± Wang Zisu eagerly brought up his WeChat QR code, just as Xia Siyu was pulling out her phone to do the same, Bo Yan intercepted her mobile: ¡°Add it back in the room, this is the show.¡± Wang Zisu also hurriedly retracted his phone, indeed, it contained a lot of private information, which would be disastrous if captured by the cameras. The production team coughed: ¡°Next up, the crew will arrange for everyone to visit the castle in the old town of Heidelberg, and we have a sumptuous BBQ planned for the evening, concluding our journey in Heidelberg under a sky full of fireworks.¡± Li Yiru was quick to retort: ¡°Who are you trying to fool, are you really that kind? ¡± Hu Juyue also joined in: ¡°Monster, release my grandfather. Bring out whatever tricks you have.¡± As expected, the production team said: ¡°Even though we¡¯ve arranged a visit, everyone must make their own way there, but you must check in at the Heidelberg Castle Banquet Hall. Otherwise, you won¡¯t receive an invitation to tonight¡¯s banquet. By the way, visiting Heidelberg Castle requires an admission fee.¡± They were staying in Heidelberg New Town, which is in the countryside on this side of the new city. Heidelberg Castle is located in the old town, about an hour¡¯s walk from here. The money now remaining in everyone¡¯s hands, if used to visit the castle, wouldn¡¯t be enough for a taxi ride. And if they took a taxi, they definitely wouldn¡¯t have enough to visit the castle. Moreover, the show was still split into two groups, four people in one group, and the three-person group was still the same three. Wang Zisu enthusiastically introduced: ¡°You can take the bus, just buy a city card.¡± Bo Yan actually checked: ¡°It¡¯s reachable, with two transfers.¡± The four-person group all looked troubled; they didn¡¯t speak German, and their English wasn¡¯t great either. Shang Feifei had no choice but to say: ¡°Let¡¯s just walk over, consider it exercise.¡± So they split into two groups, Bo Yan and Xia Siyu¡¯s group went to buy a city card, while the other group followed the navigation on foot. While the others struggled forward, Xia Siyu and her group had already boarded the bus toward the city, switched once, and got off at the old town bridgehead. There¡¯s a Nine-hole Old Bridge in Heidelberg, on which there is a bronze monkey. It¡¯s said that the monkey¡¯s left paw with a mirror brings wealth, and those who touch the right paw will return. Bo Yan and Wang Zisu both touched the right paw, but Xia Siyu was vigorously rubbing the left paw: Money! Who doesn¡¯t want money! After rubbing for a long time, with people lining up behind her, Xia Siyu reluctantly left. Bo Yan watched her with a cold eye and then brushed over the spot Xia Siyu had touched himself. Taking the cable car up the hill, the magnificent architecture of the ancient castle appeared before them. At the entrance of the castle, there stood a striking structure¡ªthe Elizabeth¡¯s Gate. It¡¯s said to be a birthday gift from the King to his wife. That¡¯s not the point, the point is, it¡¯s said that couples or spouses who take photos under the Elizabeth¡¯s Gate will be blessed and love each other for a lifetime. Chapter 189 - Chapter 189: Chapter 189: Everlasting (3) Chapter 189: Chapter 189: Everlasting (3) Translator: 549690339 This wasn¡¯t what they said, it was said by a tour guide from an Australian tour group in English. Wang Zisu¡¯s English was mediocre, and the other party spoke so quickly that he could only grasp the general idea, ¡°What does this mean? Is this a famous tourist check-in spot? Should we check in too?¡± Regardless, there were quite a few people queuing up to check in at the door, and most of them were couples, one male and one female. He immediately got excited, ¡°Bo Yan, Sister Siyu, shall we take a picture together?¡± Bo Yan looked at him with a puzzled face and strategically took a half step back. Seeing that he was reluctant to take a photo, Wang Zisu cheerfully tugged at Xia Siyu¡¯s arm, ¡°Sister Siyu, let¡¯s take a picture just the two of us?¡± Xia Siyu definitely understood English. In fact, she didn¡¯t really care whether they took photos or not; after all, she didn¡¯t believe in superstitions and had never believed in so-called metaphysical beliefs. She just kindly reminded them, ¡°This gate was a gift from a king to his wife, and it¡¯s said that couples who take photos here will love each other for a lifetime. Of course, it¡¯s just a legend, so believe it or not.¡± Wang Zisu immediately nodded, ¡°Isn¡¯t that perfect for us?¡± As a celebrity with a fanbase, he lacked any self-awareness about his influence. Originally, Wang Zisu¡¯s fans were very averse to him being linked with other female guests or being overly intimate. However, it was clear to everyone that his affection for Xia Siyu was like that of a younger brother for his older sister, and Xia Siyu¡¯s relationship with him, although close, was only that of friends and siblings. Especially since they were intimate in the show, they never released official statements together, engaged in marketing antics, or banded together for publicity stunts. So Wang Zisu¡¯s fans didn¡¯t have much of an aversion to her. ¡ªThe most important thing was that Bo Yan¡¯s fans became the strongest force against shipping couples, with ¡°Fable CP¡± monopolizing the biggest ¡®imperial¡¯ couple (hottest couple) on the show. With Wang Zisu and Xia Siyu emanating strong sibling vibes, no one believed that these two could be a pair. ¡°Sister Siyu, let¡¯s take the photo, take a photo with me,¡± Wang Zisu pled, tugging at her sleeve and swaying from side to side. Xia Siyu could be swayed by a gentle approach, but she would stand firm if faced with a hard stance. If you spoke kindly to her, she was mostly unable to refuse. As Wang Zisu pleaded, she could only helplessly rub his hair, ¡°If you want to take a photo, let¡¯s take a photo.¡± Then she handed her phone to the cameraman, ¡°Please take one for us.¡± Bo Yan was on the side, initially watching with a cold eye. He even snorted softly, childish. If a couple could really be together forever just by taking a photo here, the divorce rate in Germany wouldn¡¯t be so high. But when Xia Siyu nodded and agreed to take a photo with Wang Zisu, he got annoyed. Especially since Xia Siyu hadn¡¯t even glanced his way when she agreed to take the photo. Although their marriage was merely for show and they had never fulfilled marital duties over the years, having explicitly agreed from the beginning that they didn¡¯t need to worry about fidelity. But there he was, standing right beside her, and she was going to take this ¡®eternal love¡¯ couple photo with the young idol? Wasn¡¯t that going a bit too far? As the two of them got into position and started chanting ¡°one, two, three, cheese,¡± Bo Yan swiftly stepped aside, entering the frame perfectly with his long stride. When it was time to leave, even the following photographer was walking ahead, Bo Yan suddenly quickened his pace and called out, ¡°Xia Siyu.¡± As Xia Siyu turned to look at him, Bo Yan stretched out his arm and ¡°click,¡± he captured both of them with Elizabeth¡¯s Gate perfectly framed behind. Chapter 190 - Chapter 190: Chapter 190: Everlasting (4) Chapter 190: Chapter 190: Everlasting (4) Translator: 549690339 After taking pictures, he turned to Xia Siyu, who was looking on in surprise, and said expressionlessly, ¡°I didn¡¯t take enough photos on this trip. I have to show them to my grandfather when I get home.¡± He even complained, ¡°They¡¯re so ugly.¡± Then, he stuffed his phone into his pocket, took a few big steps to pass her, and left her behind. The abandoned Xia Siyu looked bewildered, then shook her head and muttered softly, ¡°What a person.¡± Unquestionably, Xia Siyu¡¯s group was the fastest. After passing through Elizabeth¡¯s Gate, they headed straight to the banquet hall to pick up their tickets for the evening BBQ party. Then they had time to stroll leisurely. Heidelberg Castle was built in the 13th century and had been expanded several times, featuring Gothic, Baroque, and Renaissance styles. The castle houses what is claimed to be the world¡¯s largest wine barrel, capable of storing two hundred and twenty thousand tonnes of wine. At the entrance stood a row of knight armors, there was a fountain in the central courtyard, as well as a hall of mirrors and a music hall. From the terrace, one could overlook the entire city of Heidelberg. The Neckar River ran through the city, and the European-style buildings with their white walls and red tiles were interspersed among the green trees. The weather was nice that day, with sunshine spilling onto the river surface and the old bridges, while in the distance lay vast vineyards. Xia Siyu and her companions had arrived early, so they breezed through the castle¡¯s pharmacy museum and even had time to take a stroll along the nearby ¡°Philosopher¡¯s Walk.¡± By the time they finished sightseeing, the others had almost completed their entire itinerary. It was now time for afternoon tea; all the guests gathered together, and with some leftover Euros, they found a cafe to wait in while drinking. Since everyone was a celebrity, they dared not drink mochas with too many calories, nor indulge in desserts. Even lattes had to be sugar-free, and Li Yiru even drank two cups of Americano. In the group, only Xia Siyu ordered a caramel mocha and even took a tiramisu, eating merrily on her own. As evening approached, the group made their way to the Neckar Riverbank. The so-called banquet was essentially an open-air BBQ set up by the river, with tables and white tablecloths. Germany is famous for its beer and sausages, as well as grilled meats. Although female celebrities needed to maintain their figures, being too ostentatious on the last night would be ungraceful. So, everyone let loose, asking for grilled meats or sausages, each with a beer in hand. During the event, Bo Yan kept an eye on Xia Siyu¡¯s alcohol tolerance. Fortunately, she could drink at least two bottles of beer before getting drunk. The beer mug in Xia Siyu¡¯s hand held five hundred milliliters, enough for her to have three servings. After a good meal and drinks, and cleaning up the utensils, they waited for the night to fall. The entire castle lit up, and the ¡°Fire-burning Heidelberg¡± celebration began. Bunches of fireworks ignited into the sky from the old bridge, turning the city into a fairy-tale world. It was ancient yet modern, solemn yet romantic, a perfect combination of completely contradictory elements. Bo Yan turned to look at Xia Siyu, who was beside him. She was excited, laughing and chatting with others as she watched the fireworks. The fireworks lit up her face, making her look exceptionally beautiful, and her smile even brighter. She was watching the fireworks; he was watching her. She laughed as she watched the fireworks; he laughed as he watched her. Today¡¯s live broadcast ended after the fireworks were over. But after returning to the villa, the crew had prepared one final game. The activity was truth or dare, and the questions were all about personal relationships. The dares might even involve¡ªkissing in front of everyone. Chapter 191 - Chapter 191: Chapter 191: Truth or Dare (1) Chapter 191: Chapter 191: Truth or Dare (1) Translator: 549690339 The live show only lasts for twenty days. However, a variety show usually needs to air for three months. Twenty days is hardly enough to create lasting value before being abruptly cut off, which is an unprofitable deal for a variety show. Luckily, they had invited seven guests. Including the special guests, there were ten in total. The live broadcast couldn¡¯t possibly be on all the time. Even if it was broadcast, with so many guests, the camera could only focus on one group at most. No matter how evenly you try to distribute it, there¡¯s just not enough screen time to go around. So, the overall show still lasts three months, but the later two months rely on video editing by the production team. For example, during the bed rest segment, the production team knew the biggest highlight was in Xia Siyu and Bo Yan¡¯s room, so they focused the ten-hour live broadcast on their room. But the production team couldn¡¯t only give them camera time, and since they knew the main attraction was with their group, they gave them plenty of camera coverage while sleeping. Naturally, they would give more screen time to the other groups during the day. The content without footage would naturally be the material for later editing. Even if they knew another group might be more interesting, they¡¯d deliberately not broadcast it, waiting instead to edit and release it later. Moreover, some of the mini-games set up by the production crew were generally played in the evening, late at night, or early in the morning. At that hour, there weren¡¯t many people watching live anyway, so the production team would just cut it off, starting the broadcast around the time when the guests were getting ready to sleep, which was around 11 p.m. Europe time, or 5 a.m. China time. The four or five hours in between were perfect for post-production mini-games. The group watched the fireworks, and by the time it was over, it was already 9 p.m., equivalent to 3 a.m. in China. This time, the production team finally wasn¡¯t stingy and actually provided a bus to bring them back together. But it wasn¡¯t out of pure kindness¡ªthey started playing a game as soon as they got back to the villa, Truth or Dare. This was a clich¨¦ that had been overdone, but it had explosive appeal and juicy content, so the audience was always willing to watch; thus, it never failed. However, Bo Yan was the first to express opposition¡ªand strongly at that, ¡°Truth is fine, but Dare is too much, isn¡¯t it? Kissing too?¡± Actually, the others also felt a bit uncomfortable, but none confronted the issue as directly as Bo Yan. Xia Siyu, however, was completely unfazed, ¡°Just kiss then.¡± They were all working after all. Most here were actors, and if not actors, then at least they were from the entertainment industry. If they hadn¡¯t acted in films, hadn¡¯t they at least seen a pig run? In the show, they probably wouldn¡¯t kiss with much real passion anyway; it¡¯d probably just be a face touch or a brush, like the Italian cheek kissing greeting. Anyway, she had already kissed Bo Yan, so kissing others wouldn¡¯t make much difference. When they heard her say this, everyone else instantly became more solemn. Wang Zisu¡¯s face suddenly turned red, and he became a bit bashful, ¡°Sister Siyu, I haven¡¯t done a kissing scene before¡­¡± As he spoke, his eyes darted quickly to Xia Siyu, then immediately lowered his head, his face growing even redder. He wasn¡¯t pretending to be innocent; Xia Siyu was truly his goddess. The opportunity to kiss his goddess, even if it was just a touch of the cheeks, would be blissful! On the inside, Bo Yan was seething with irritation, but he had to suppress it on the surface, ¡°Have you not considered what would happen if you ended up having to kiss someone of the same sex? For example, Xia Siyu and Zhou Weiwei, or me and you¡­¡± Chapter 192 - Chapter 192: Chapter 192: Truth or Dare (2) Chapter 192: Chapter 192: Truth or Dare (2) Translator: 549690339 As soon as this was mentioned, Wang Zisu looked up at Bo Yan, and his face instantly turned pale. Zhou Weiwei and Xia Siyu, although best friends, weren¡¯t in a state to casually kiss each other. After all, what kind of pairing hadn¡¯t they seen in the entertainment industry? Rumors about same-sex relationships were also not uncommon, so they really should avoid any impropriety. The production team hurriedly explained, ¡°Just fake it, fake it, a kiss on the cheek is fine, no need for so much real emotion. Plus, if you choose Truth, then there¡¯s no need to take the Dare.¡± A kiss on the cheek, huh? That¡¯s still manageable, Wang Zisu calmed down. But over there, Bo Yan¡¯s face was still looking foul. No matter who kissed Xia Siyu or how they did it, even if it was just a peck on the cheek, he wasn¡¯t pleased. If it were part of a serious movie that would be one thing, but why sacrifice so much for a variety show? But the script wasn¡¯t going to change just because of what he thought, and soon everyone gathered around the table and sat down. The director spoke, ¡°Today is the last day of the program, so there¡¯s no need for anyone to hold back. After spending so much time together, you must have a lot to say to each other, so let¡¯s take this opportunity to speak our minds. I assume I don¡¯t need to explain the rules of Truth or Dare. Although there¡¯s no competition today, the winning team still has a slight advantage. We¡¯ll draw one person from the winning team, and that person can ask any member of the losing team three questions. Once asked, you must tell the whole truth. If you don¡¯t want to answer, you have to take a Dare. Then, the person who was asked becomes the next ¡®banker¡¯ for the second round, and they roll the dice to determine the number of questions they have to answer.¡± In other words, everyone would get a turn to be questioned. As long as you answer honestly, you wouldn¡¯t have to take the Dare. The only thing is, it seemed like everyone at the table was going to drink, so the director provided a drink for everyone¡ªa big cup of dark beer, about 500 milliliters each. Unless Xia Siyu drank three cups in a row, she probably wouldn¡¯t get drunk. Therefore, Bo Yan didn¡¯t have anything better to say, and everybody settled down. Firstly, it was their winning team¡¯s turn to speak, and the two gentlemen graciously allowed the only lady, Xia Siyu, to ask the questions. She was very down-to-earth and knew that Zhou Weiwei, being quiet and gentle, had no edges and was the most transparent person since the start of the show, so she started with cueing her. The questions she asked were quite silly, like: ¡°What kind of barbecue did you just eat?¡± ¡°What time did you get up today?¡± and ¡°What time is your flight tomorrow?¡±. The production team was speechless. What kind of Truth or Dare is this? Who would be entertained by watching this? But when the production team told Xia Siyu ¡°This won¡¯t do¡±, she quickly retorted, ¡°You only said to ask personal questions, and aren¡¯t these personal questions too? No problem with that.¡± Zhou Weiwei took her turn quickly, not daring to offend anyone. Although she rolled the dice, it luckily landed on Hu Juyue. Hu Juyue, being a host, was quite shrewd and answered playfully, instantly livening up the atmosphere. Her turn led her to Wang Zisu, who also had a quirky thought process, but it was quite interesting because of her youth. After Wang Zisu, it was Li Yiru¡¯s turn. Li Yiru could also speak eloquently, answering without lacking bold topics, such as her kissing scenes, her ideal type, her views on choosing a partner, and so on. Of course, when it came to the ideal type, her gaze instantly turned to Bo Yan, somewhat shyly. Then it was her turn to ask the questions, and this time she drew Xia Siyu. Chapter 193 - Chapter 193: Chapter 193: Truth or Dare (3) Chapter 193: Chapter 193: Truth or Dare (3) Translator: 549690339 Actually, the director¡¯s team was aware of the conflict between these two from the start, and they originally wanted to use this to stir up publicity. Later, they discovered that Xia Siyu was assertive, but her assertiveness wasn¡¯t unreasonable; she was straightforward and spoke her mind. She never instigated trouble, but if it came her way, she faced it unhesitatingly. Since the two weren¡¯t in the same team, although there was competition, there were no direct conflicts, so they coexisted peacefully. Now, the opportunity had finally arrived. It was time to settle scores and grievances! Li Yiru watched Xia Siyu with a smile on her face. Even though she was smiling, her mood wasn¡¯t wonderful. She was three years older than Xia Siyu but had made her debut later and even stepped on Xia Siyu¡¯s back to climb up. Yet, facing Xia Siyu in person always left her feeling a bit guilty. After some difficulty, Xia Siyu, who had been entangled in scandals for years¡ªthough still more popular than her¡ªallowed Li Yiru to gradually gain some ground. Especially recently, she had started dating a powerful businessman and was gaining momentum. She thought she would clinch Wang Ju¡¯s ¡°Storm,¡± but Xia Siyu swooped in and grabbed it from her. Li Yiru had been holding back, and now that they ran into each other on a reality show, it was unfortunate they didn¡¯t directly confront each other. But now she had Xia Siyu right where she wanted her. She spun the dice with a laugh and started with a fairly normal question, ¡°How old were you when you had your first love?¡± When this question came up, Bo Yan was also a bit interested. He only knew that Xia Siyu¡¯s scandal-ridden past few years were all fabrications, for publicity stunts or concocted by others. But what about before he knew her? After all, Italy is the land of romance. She had returned from Sicily to China only in her junior year of high school, by which time she was already sixteen. At sixteen, in Italy, she would have had enough time to go through several heartbreaks, not to mention once back in China, at N University, where she was a well-known figure for her beauty, with many boys pursuing her. Xia Siyu answered calmly, ¡°Eighteen.¡± Eighteen! As soon as she mentioned this, both Bo Yan and Zhou Weiwei turned their eyes toward her. Especially Bo Yan, his hand clenched into a fist under the unseen table. His heart felt as if it had been fiercely struck, pounding wildly. Men often have a strong desire for exclusivity. Xia Siyu¡¯s first time was with him, and now she was his wife. But if her first love and first kiss were also him, that would be beyond perfect! They met when she was eighteen, and they officially started dating when she was nineteen. The relationship lasted only a few months before they broke up. But if Xia Siyu really had her first love at eighteen, it meant¡ªher first love was indeed him! Every first experience in her life was with him. As a child in Sicily, her mother was very strict with her upbringing, constantly reminding her against early romance and staying too close to boys. Additionally, her mother¡¯s reclusive nature meant they seldom socialized with people in the Chinese District, reducing her chances of interaction with boys even more. After returning to China, she was already in her sophomore year of high school, with a heavy academic load. Although she was following the overseas Chinese examination model, Xia Sicai was somewhat hostile towards her, and she didn¡¯t want to perform too poorly, so she always worked hard at her studies. Being a poor student, even with the lower overseas Chinese exam scores, her intellect couldn¡¯t have gotten her into a renowned university like N University. It was only by taking the art student route and entering the school of arts that she made it into N University. And after entering the university¡­ she met Bo Yan. With shallow self-control, she was enchanted by his looks, chasing after him every day. Chapter 194 - Chapter 194: Chapter 194: Truth or Dare (4) Chapter 194: Chapter 194: Truth or Dare (4) Translator: 549690339 Bo Yan still remembered that they met about eight and a half years ago. She was a freshman, and he was a senior. After being recommended for graduate school in his senior year, he started to help his mentor with some teaching assistant tasks. In university classrooms, there¡¯s always that one subject known as an ¡°easy pass,¡± referred to as ¡°College Aesthetic Education.¡± It¡¯s the king of elective courses¡ªthe ones where you just need to be present when the professor calls attendance, and as long as you don¡¯t hand in a blank paper at the end, you can effortlessly earn a ninety percent. Plus, such classes are in high demand, with many students eager to boost their GPAs, bursting with speed to sign up for them during course selection week. Coincidentally, Bo Yan¡¯s mentor¡¯s public course was on College Aesthetic Education. His mentor wasn¡¯t very keen on taking attendance, so throughout the semester, Bo Yan didn¡¯t have much opportunity to use the roster. The number of students attending dwindled visibly as the semester went on. By the time finals were approaching, with the course workload accumulating, even fewer people bothered to show up for such a trivial class. Those who did would just sleep through it, wipe their drool, pat their butts, and leave. Originally, the lecture hall could accommodate over a hundred people, but only about twenty or so turned up for this session, not even hitting thirty percent. Even his mentor, usually mild-tempered, couldn¡¯t take it anymore and asked Bo Yan to call the roll. Bo Yan always sat in the first row, a place no one occupied during such public courses¡ªsleeping there, you¡¯d be easily spotted. But when he stood up to take attendance, all the girls in the class went wild: Wow, that guy is so handsome! Bo Yan, expression unmoved, went down the list calling names in order. The colleges and names were sorted alphabetically, with the Art College last. So Xia Siyu and Zhou Weiwei were the final two. When Bo Yan came across the name ¡°Xia Siyu,¡± he thought she must be a girl. But if she was a girl, how big was her temper? Her surname was Xia, and she even had the name ¡°Siyu,¡± which pretty much screamed a fiery personality. Of course, after getting to know her later, Xia Siyu herself admitted that her fate was ¡°pure Yang,¡± with strong fiery energy. She was born in the summer, surnamed Xia, and the three months prior to her birth hadn¡¯t seen a single drop of rain¡ªhence the name ¡°Siyu.¡± But when he called her name at that moment, ¡°Xia Siyu.¡± There was no response in the classroom. Bo Yan, still with a calm expression, raised his voice and called out again, ¡°Xia Siyu.¡± With only around twenty individuals present, coming from different colleges and unfamiliar with each other, hearing the name only made them glance around at one another, with no one bothering to respond. Three strikes rule; Bo Yan would call each name three times. If there was no response after three times, he would mark an ¡®X¡¯ next to the name, deducting points from their final exam. He spoke up again: ¡°Xia Siyu.¡± ¡°Here, here,¡± came a feeble voice from Zhou Weiwei, who sat in the last row. Then, giving a shove to the person next to her who was sound asleep, she whispered, ¡°Wake up, the teacher¡¯s calling the roll.¡± Following that, Xia Siyu blinked open her sleepy eyes and slowly lifted her head. When she first woke up, her hair was still a mess in front of her face. Bo Yan glanced at her, uninterested, and asked again, ¡°Are you Xia Siyu?¡± Xia Siyu tidied up her hair and asked with confidence, ¡°And who are you?¡± Bo Yan couldn¡¯t help but almost laugh as he looked up. Xia Siyu was fully awake by now, her gaze fixing on him. Eyes met. How to describe that instant? It was like tonight¡¯s Fire-burning Heidelberg; amid the pitch-dark night, suddenly a firework shoots into the sky and bursts open, illuminating the whole world. After the first question, Li Yiru continued without a pause, smilingly asking, ¡°And when was your first kiss?¡± Chapter 195 - Chapter 195: Chapter 195 First Love (1) Chapter 195: Chapter 195 First Love (1) Translator: 549690339 Xia Siyu answered without any hesitation, ¡°Nineteen.¡± Bo Yan looked at her, or more precisely, their first kiss had been on her nineteenth birthday. That kiss was also their pledge of love. Although their first meeting took place at the end of the first year¡¯s final term in college, in reality, both of them had heard of each other long before. Bo Yan, the top student of N University, represented the students in speeches every year when the freshmen arrived. With outstanding grades, handsome appearance, and a good family background, he was liked by both teachers and peers. Excelling in every subject, he represented N University in the international chess tournament for college students and won first place in the amateur group. He was also an all-rounder in sports. Except for not being your boyfriend, he was perfect in every other aspect. As for Xia Siyu, well, from her very first day at the school, she became famous throughout the campus just with her face. Even though N University was a comprehensive university with a tilt towards science and engineering, there were more male than female students. Naturally, when a breathtakingly beautiful woman with a no-makeup look suddenly appeared in such a ¡°monastery,¡± it caused an uproar among the entire student body. Bo Yan¡¯s roommates, some securing their postgraduate recommendations, others going abroad or seeking jobs, and a few preparing for graduate school, spent their leisure time discussing games or girls. It was only natural that they talked about the beautiful girl who had arrived at the school of arts. Since Bo Yan would transfer to the school of arts after securing his recommendation, his roommate Han Yifan even advised him to ¡°seize the opportunity¡± and exert his charm to ¡°conquer the beauty.¡± Bo Yan just smiled and ignored the suggestion. He was aloof by nature and indifferent to the countless girls who had chased after him since childhood. Xia Siyu¡¯s situation was similar. Due to her good looks, she had little boys wanting to hold her hand since kindergarten, and the list of her admirers was endless. Readers of novels often think that extremely attractive men and women get pursued so much that if someone doesn¡¯t show interest in them, they become intrigued and decide to pursue that person in return. Many domineering CEO stories are conceived this way. In reality, that¡¯s nonsense. Those born with exceptional advantages are used to being pursued and have plenty of self-confidence. If some fool doesn¡¯t like them and even causes trouble every day, they don¡¯t think that person is special; they just feel that the person has poor taste for not appreciating someone as handsome as them. Xia Siyu was the same. She wasn¡¯t interested in just any guy. Although the school of arts had more handsome men, that was only relative to other schools. For someone of her level of beauty, only a top-tier handsome man would catch her eye. And then she met Bo Yan. The moment she saw Bo Yan, her heart beat like the pounding of drums. Bo Yan really was the most handsome man she had ever encountered in real life. It wasn¡¯t just his looks; it was his clean and unassuming air, a mix of cool detachment and asceticism. Xia Siyu was straightforward when it came to liking someone. After class, she tidied up her hair and clothes, stood in front of Bo Yan, and blocked his way. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Bo Yan frowned slightly, not liking this directness. If it were anyone else, he might not have responded at all and simply walked away. But upon seeing the stunningly beautiful and confident face before him, he paused. ¡°You already know my name, it¡¯s only fair you tell me yours.¡± Bo Yan hesitated for a moment, then spoke up, ¡°Bo Yan.¡± The next second, Xia Siyu lifted a smile, ¡°Bo Yan, be my boyfriend.¡± Chapter 196 - Chapter 196: Chapter 196 First Love (2) Chapter 196: Chapter 196 First Love (2) Translator: 549690339 This direct and unsophisticated confession was the first Bo Yan had ever encountered. Being a rather reserved person, he wasn¡¯t quite accustomed to such straightforward interactions. Although Xia Siyu¡¯s appearance dazzled him, and her personality left an impression, everything seemed to be moving too quickly. They had just met and he had just learned her name; he felt caught off guard. If Bo Yan had rejected her on the spot, it would have been a different story altogether. Siyu, despite being direct, was also very proud. If Bo Yan had refused her right from the start, she definitely wouldn¡¯t have persisted. But right at that moment, Bo Yan¡¯s mentor called out to him, ¡°Bo Yan, what are you doing? Come here quickly.¡± Bo Yan immediately nodded, ¡°Understood, Teacher.¡± With that interruption, he managed to recover from his initial surprise. He looked back at Xia Siyu, ¡°Sorry, my teacher needs me for something urgent.¡± As he was about to leave, Xia Siyu called out to him again, ¡°Bo Yan, what¡¯s your phone number?¡± Perhaps it was because the sound of her calling his name was too pleasant, or perhaps it was because of her face, Bo Yan usually wouldn¡¯t have lingered, but this time, almost as if possessed, he said, ¡°It¡¯s on the course selection system, I¡¯m a teaching assistant.¡± After these words, he left hastily. It¡¯s now the end of the semester. For Xia Siyu and the other freshmen, their college life was just beginning. But for Bo Yan and his fellow seniors, their college days were drawing to a close. The five guys in their dormitory at N University, two were going abroad, two had secured graduate school placements, and the last one had also found a job¡ªthe countdown was truly underway. What can graduating students do? Eating, drinking, going on graduation trips, boys singing love songs under girls¡¯ dorm windows, continuing on or parting ways as they must. Bo Yan was busy; standardly, a master¡¯s degree took three years, a doctoral degree four years, but he had to complete seven years¡¯ worth of coursework in just four, on top of assisting his mentor with miscellaneous tasks. He did feel a sense of nostalgia, but there was also a bit of anticipation. For example, that day he told that girl his contact information. Before meeting Xia Siyu, Bo Yan never considered himself a person swayed by looks. Having lost his parents early on, he grew up under the care of others and never felt much warmth within his family. The girls who showed interest in him were either attracted by his looks or his background¡ªnone of which he really liked. But he later discovered it was just that those girls¡¯ faces weren¡¯t enough to captivate him at first sight. Yet after he gave Xia Siyu his contact information, that girl never got in touch with him again. Maybe she forgot, maybe she didn¡¯t hear him clearly, but following that class, everything vanished without a trace. Another week and it was time for the university art education class again. This time, when Bo Yan arrived, he found the class unexpectedly full. Perhaps those who hadn¡¯t attended the last roll call were afraid of missing it again and hurried over hoping for a reprieve. Or maybe it was because they discovered the teaching assistant was particularly handsome. In any case, it was visibly more crowded around him, and the majority were girls. Bo Yan glanced back and saw that Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t in the last row. What¡¯s the situation? Is she skipping class too? Could she have changed seats? He even used an activity as an excuse to look around, but genuinely couldn¡¯t spot her. Bo Yan was indeed a bit disappointed, but he didn¡¯t think too much of it and stayed until the class ended. Right as the bell signaling the end of the class rang, he finished packing up his things and was ready to leave. Just as he opened the door, outside stood Xia Siyu, her eyes sparkling. Chapter 197 - Chapter 197: Chapter 197 First Love (3) Chapter 197: Chapter 197 First Love (3) Translator: 549690339 ¡°Are you looking for me?¡± Xia Siyu asked with a tilted head and a smile. Bo Yan simply said, ¡°You didn¡¯t come to class. You¡¯ll lose points on the final exam.¡± Xia Siyu responded with an ¡°Oh¡± and then asked directly, ¡°I¡¯m hungry. Do you want to go have a meal together?¡± Bo Yan should have declined, but his body reacted more quickly than his mind. He heard himself agreeing with a nod, ¡°Sure.¡± Xia Siyu had never been in a relationship, and Bo Yan had never chased after a girl. The two walked side by side comfortably, and when they ran into Bo Yan¡¯s friend Han Yifan, he teased with a suggestive wiggle of his eyebrows, ¡°Your girlfriend is very pretty.¡± Just as Bo Yan was about to deny it, Xia Siyu introduced herself with a smile, ¡°Are you Bo Yan¡¯s friend? My name is Xia Siyu. I¡¯m pleased to meet you.¡± Bo Yan wanted to deny it but feared it would embarrass her. This silence seemed like tacit consent, silently proclaiming the nature of their relationship without a word. At that time, they were both students. Bo Yan was always low-key, and Xia Siyu did not want her identity as the Xia family¡¯s daughter to be known, so it was natural for them to head to the cafeteria. Fortunately, class had ended early and the cafeteria wasn¡¯t crowded. Bo Yan ordered a table full of dishes and watched as Xia Siyu ate joyfully, his eyes softening involuntarily. Later on, Bo Yan was busy writing his thesis, doing defenses, and helping his advisor with work, immersed in a whirlwind of tasks. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t cling to him every day, she didn¡¯t even call him. The two tacitly only met on the day of their mutual class, then would have a meal together before separating again. Summer vacation had arrived. Bo Yan had graduated, and though he felt a pinch of sorrow, there was also a sliver of relief. After all, his good buddy Han Yifan had secured a research position along with him, and he could continue to see Xia Siyu. Unfortunately, Xia Siyu had never called him. Although they would be at the same school in the future, seeking her out would be an ordeal. How should he contact her? But soon enough, Xia Siyu called him on her own initiative. Students at N University had to move dorms once from freshman to sophomore year, and most students from out of town would move in September. Since she was from Yancheng and arrived early, she decided to move during the vacation. After receiving her call, Bo Yan took a bus from home and arrived at her dormitory within an hour. When he got there, he realized that Xia Siyu was the only one in her dormitory; she hadn¡¯t asked anyone else for help, only him. Knowing this, Bo Yan felt somewhat reassured. He rolled up his sleeves and helped her move her items one by one to the new dorm, then accompanied her to clean the room, choose a good bed spot, and arrange her luggage. By the time they finished, it was already evening, and Xia Siyu insisted on treating him to a meal as a gesture of gratitude. Bo Yan didn¡¯t refuse. He went with her to a small restaurant near the school, where Xia Siyu, as usual, ordered a table full of dishes. They ate until they were stuffed and had no choice but to walk it off on the school campus. Since it was the summer break, the campus was sparsely populated. They strolled beside Jade Lake, where the water was clear and the willows swayed gracefully. As the night descended, the lakeside path lights illuminated the area. The dim path lights seemed to cast a classical filter on her, making her appear even more beautiful. Xia Siyu remarked wistfully, ¡°Actually, today I just turned nineteen years old.¡± The Xia family followed the lunar calendar, but today was her solar birthday. Bo Yan was taken aback, then felt a bit embarrassed, ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t know. Happy Birthday.¡± Xia Siyu teased with a giggly smile, ¡°I want to ask you for a birthday present.¡± Bo Yan nodded, ¡°Tell me. As long as I can afford it, I will give it to you.¡± The next second, Xia Siyu pressed her lips against his, ¡°Bo Yan, when do you plan to tell me that you like me?¡± Chapter 198 - Chapter 198: Chapter 198 First Love (4) Chapter 198: Chapter 198 First Love (4) Translator: 549690339 When Xia Siyu kissed him, Bo Yan¡¯s mind exploded with a ¡°bang,¡± and he looked at the face before him, smiling like a blooming flower, and her red, luscious lips. ¡°You want to know?¡± Bo Yan¡¯s eyes deepened. Xia Siyu nodded. Then, Bo Yan forcefully wrapped his arms around her slender waist, pulled her aggressively towards him, tilted his head, and kissed her deeply, as if trying to suck out her very soul. Just at that moment, the school bell rang out ¡°dong dong dong dong¡± eight times, and with each strike, his world grew more brilliant. ¡°Wow, is it really true?¡± the others muttered in a commotion, Hu Juyue¡¯s face full of disbelief. These days, the pure innocent persona is out of style. Xia Siyu has been embroiled in scandals over the last few years, and her innocent persona has long since collapsed, so there was no need to keep up the facade. Even Wang Zisu teased, ¡°Sister Siyu, with your good looks, you should have had suitors even back in kindergarten. Like me ¨C I had girls wanting to steal a kiss from me when I was in kindergarten!¡± Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t one who blossomed overnight; she had been beautiful from a young age, and the occasional changes were due to weight fluctuations, not because of recovery periods from plastic surgery or injections. ¡°I just hadn¡¯t met someone to make me deaf and blind until you,¡± she said. Bo Yan, listening by the side, felt a ¡°thump¡± in his heart. What did she mean by that? Was she praising him or cursing him? Did that mean her first love with him was when she was blind and deaf, fooled by his good looks? Zhou Weiwei, the only one in the know, cautiously shifted her gaze to Bo Yan. Hu Juyue spoke first, ¡°No lying, okay? If you lie, you¡¯ll have to do a dare!¡± Xia Siyu nodded immediately, ¡°It¡¯s true.¡± Bo Yan¡¯s gaze was distant, silent. ¡°That¡¯s two questions now, two questions,¡± Wang Zisu hurriedly pointed out. Li Yiru hesitated slightly. Actually, after asking about first love and first kiss, the next ¡®first¡¯ would naturally be the first time. But how could she ask such a question? Forget that they were filming a show; even if they weren¡¯t, it was inappropriate to ask such personal questions in private. And even if one did ask, the other person wouldn¡¯t answer. Caught in her hesitation, she had no choice but to ask a somewhat silly question, ¡°Was your first love from a wealthy family?¡± As soon as she asked, she almost wished she could slap her own face. Wasn¡¯t this a blatant mockery, suggesting that Xia Siyu was clinging to a wealthy man? As expected, as soon as she finished asking, the expressions of the other guests clearly shifted awkwardly. To everyone¡¯s surprise, Xia Siyu actually nodded her head, ¡°Yes.¡± The Bo family was indeed wealthy. Seeing her nod so innocently, Li Yiru breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, Xia Siyu¡¯s reputation for chasing after rich men wasn¡¯t a big deal; she chose wealthy men whether she was famous or not. The next to draw was Shang Feifei. Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t particularly interested in Shang Feifei, and after asking a few random questions, they moved on. Then, it was Shang Feifei¡¯s turn again, and after a roll of the dice, it landed on Xia Siyu once more. The others had also heard rumors about Shang Feifei and Xia Siyu¡¯s discord, and how during filming, Shang Feifei had given someone a fierce slap. With Li Yiru having asked such tricky questions before, who knew what Shang Feifei might ask this time? Unexpectedly, Shang Feifei smiled lightly and said, ¡°Your first love, are they a person from the industry?¡± As soon as Xia Siyu¡¯s private life was brought up, Bo Yan, though appearing calm, had slight fluctuations, and Shang Feifei, who had worked with him on two projects, had closely observed him. Without knowing the past between Xia Siyu and Bo Yan, Shang Feifei asked about her first love merely as a way to bring up her current relationship. And Xia Siyu nodded in confirmation, ¡°Yes.¡± Chapter 199 - Chapter 199: Chapter 199 Multiple Choice Questions (1) Chapter 199: Chapter 199 Multiple Choice Questions (1) Translator: 549690339 Actually, Shang Feifei hadn¡¯t expected her to answer so readily. She had initially dated someone within the circle! However, the scope of ¡°inside the circle¡± is quite broad. It includes stars, agents, assistants, and even staff members from television stations and video websites, investors, and film and television producers¡ªall broadly considered insiders. According to Xia Siyu, her first love was a wealthy man¡ªcould it be an investor¡¯s father? Or perhaps it was the boss of her previous agency, which was also rumored. There was speculation that she was the former boss¡¯s mistress and had a falling out, which led to her moving to Qin Baizhou. Although Xia Siyu was beautiful, the entertainment industry is never short of beautiful women. She had no power, no influence, and no connections, yet her very first film was a big production that made her an overnight success. Without some sugar daddy backing her, it would have been very difficult to achieve. She asked again, ¡°Have you worked with him?¡± The circle of entertainment industry personnel is immense, but the list narrows down significantly when considering only those she¡¯s worked with. Xia Siyu nodded again: ¡°Yes.¡± At this point, not only Shang Feifei but also other guests present were somewhat shaken. Over the six years since Xia Siyu¡¯s debut, including ¡°Storm,¡± she had filmed nine movies and participated in five or six variety shows. If interviews, promotional tours, and advertising collaborations were included, that would still be a few hundred people. However, that number was far less than the vague initial mention of someone in the entertainment industry. At least, comparing each of her collaborators one by one, gossip might reveal the truth. Among them, Li Yiru looked particularly excited, perhaps from drinking an extra glass of dark beer, her entire face flushed. Hu Juyue had the expression of someone enjoying the drama; Wang Zisu showed slight surprise along with curiosity. Zhou Weiwei, however, looked worried, quickly glanced at her, and then her gaze swiftly swept over Bo Yan, as if she had something to say but dared not. Bo Yan alone remained calm, still looking down, gently sipping his drink, his eyelashes casting a shadow. Suddenly, Shang Feifei seemed to remember something. Now, Xia Siyu was equated with labels such as ¡°little ruffian,¡± ¡°lacking common knowledge,¡± and ¡°college dropout.¡± But Xia Siyu had attended college, though she never bragged about it in press releases, and few were aware that the university she dropped out from was the well-known N University. She had attended the same school as Zhou Weiwei and Bo Yan. Bo Yan had become a teaching assistant in his senior year. During his master¡¯s studies, he even lectured on several occasions, filling in for his advisor to teach a few public courses. Since they were all from the art college, Zhou Weiwei had also attended his classes, technically making her Bo Yan¡¯s student. Xia Siyu and Zhou Weiwei were classmates too, so it was very likely that they knew each other! Shang Feifei felt a storm brewing inside, but on the surface, her smile was sweeter than ever. She pondered for a moment and then asked a third question, ¡°The one you had your first romance with, is he over thirty, or under thirty?¡± This question may seem tricky, but there is a logical thread to it. Before her debut, Xia Siyu was an ordinary college student, and her first love was someone from within the industry. If she truly had a sugar daddy behind her, he would certainly be over thirty. If it was a fellow artist, then under thirty. The atmosphere suddenly became very tense, as the attitudes of those in the room shifted from casual curiosity and concern to intense focus on Xia Siyu. Under everyone¡¯s gaze, Xia Siyu spoke: Chapter 200 - Chapter 200: Chapter 200 Multiple Choice Questions (2) Chapter 200: Chapter 200 Multiple Choice Questions (2) Translator: 549690339 Her expression remained calm, ¡°Under thirty.¡± As soon as she finished answering, the expressions on the others¡¯ faces were a mixture of surprise and disbelief. The first to object was Li Yiru, ¡°You must tell the truth, or face a big dare.¡± She didn¡¯t quite believe Xia Siyu¡¯s response. Judging by herself, Xia Siyu might have intentionally said so to wash away her ¡°gold digger¡± label! Xia Siyu hadn¡¯t spoken yet when Wang Zisu helped her out, ¡°Sister Siyu said her ideal type should not be too much older or younger than her. The best age gap is within three years. She¡¯s twenty-six this year, so looking for someone under thirty is normal. Are you saying you like men who are much older than you?¡± With that remark, Wang Zisu left Li Yiru speechless. The sugar daddy behind her was indeed in his forties or fifties, and there was no talk of feelings between them, just mutual needs. He liked her sultry and spicy demeanor, and she liked his money and resources. Even the usually timid Zhou Weiwei spoke up, ¡°She was still a student back then, so of course, she would have been around other students.¡± Having this pointed out, Wang Zisu nodded in agreement, and as the host, Hu Juyue naturally took control of the situation right away, ¡°Hahaha, Yiru, are you getting bored with just answering questions? Do you want to spice things up with a big dare?¡± Li Yiru, realizing her slip-up, played along. In the entertainment industry, where everyone was savvy, if someone offered you a ladder, you¡¯d better climb down it fast. She immediately picked up her wine glass, ¡°I misspoke. I¡¯ll punish myself with a drink.¡± With that, she picked up her wine glass and gulped down the entire drink. Her quick drinking, especially on a show, made it hard for the others to hold the initial comment against her. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t bother with it either. She always spoke her mind straightforwardly and never wasted words. If her first love was still under thirty, then he couldn¡¯t possibly be one of the older, wealthier backers or the like. He had to be someone her own age. And under thirty, very wealthy, someone from the industry, and having worked with her before¡­ The circle was getting very small. Shang Feifei even felt that the name seemed to be on the tip of her tongue, swirling around her, but she just couldn¡¯t remember it. Unfortunately for her, she had already asked her three questions, and she didn¡¯t know when her turn would come again. After a few more rounds, there were indeed those who chose to take a dare rather than answer a question they didn¡¯t like. For example, Wang Zisu had to call a former teammate from the Han Group from his phone contacts. As for Hu Juyue, he had to stand on the table and oink like a pig. Two hours passed in a flash, and seeing everyone getting a bit sleepy, the director said, ¡°Now for the last round. As it¡¯s the final round, we¡¯re upping the stakes of the dare, so watch out everyone. This time the big dare is a choice between two options. If you draw a kiss, there can be no cheating; it has to be a real kiss, though it can be on the face or anywhere you like! If you don¡¯t want the dare, the punishment is drinking¡ªa specially mixed cocktail with a forty-degree kick!¡± This time the dice was still in Shang Feifei¡¯s hands; she casually threw it onto the table. The dice rolled around several times before quickly coming to a stop on ¡°2.¡± Counting clockwise, two seats away from Shang Feifei was Xia Siyu again. Shang Feifei felt confident this time as she narrowed the field, ¡°Your first love, do I know him?¡± Chapter 201 - Chapter 201: Chapter 201 Multiple Choice Questions (3) Chapter 201: Chapter 201 Multiple Choice Questions (3) Translator: 549690339 Xia Siyu was always a person who spoke one for one, two for two. No matter whether it was towards family or enemies, this trait never changed. If she could answer a question without compromising her principles, she would. Even if she knew the other person was deliberately setting a trap, she¡¯d still charge forward with her characteristic directness. But this time, Xia Siyu smiled lightly, and for the first time that evening, she raised her hand: ¡°Director, I choose to drink.¡± The big dare was for her to kiss someone else. It didn¡¯t matter who that person was, whether male or female, whether it was Bo Yan or someone else. Even though a kiss didn¡¯t have to be on the lips, she didn¡¯t want to go around kissing others. If it were for a movie, that would be one thing, but was it necessary to make such a sacrifice for a variety show? If she drew someone else, it wouldn¡¯t be too bad, but if it were Shang Feifei or Li Yiru, wouldn¡¯t she have lost out? She chose to drink, and the director didn¡¯t object. It was a form of punishment, not against the rules, and no one else raised any objections. But prior to this, Xia Siyu had always been forthcoming with her answers, so her choice to evade the question like Shang Feifei¡ªwhat did that mean? Did it mean Shang Feifei really knew her first love? ¡ªHowever, it could also be a reverse choice, implying that Shang Feifei didn¡¯t know her first love, and she was deliberately laying a smokescreen. Only Bo Yan and Zhou Weiwei were slightly concerned because they knew Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t hold her liquor well. However, when the drink was served, it was a Monkey47 gin mix that exuded a strong aroma. There really wasn¡¯t much alcohol; poured into a cocktail glass, it looked to be just a hundred milliliters. Xia Siyu unceremoniously picked up the glass, tilted her head back, and drank it down in one go. Bo Yan was right beside her. Although his expression was calm, his eyes followed her every move. After downing it in one breath, both Bo Yan and Zhou Weiwei were watching closely. Xia Siyu had a low tolerance for alcohol. She even smacked her lips and commented, ¡°It tastes a bit strange, too fragrant.¡± Cocktails are usually sweet and sour, with added lemon, citrus, and sugar, making them easy to drink. This Monkey47 had many spices used in its mix, creating an aroma similar to incense. Seeing her composed, even wanting another round, Bo Yan finally relaxed. ¡°Next question.¡± Shang Feifei asked again, ¡°Did your first love ever collaborate with me?¡± Xia Siyu smiled and raised her hand again: ¡°Director, I¡¯d like another drink.¡± She was dodging the question again! The production team interjected urgently: ¡°You can drink, but as a punishment, you drink one the first time, the second time you¡¯re required to have two! You can only drink twice, there is no third time. On the third, you must choose to answer the question or take a big dare!¡± ¡°This drink is really good. You all should try it.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Hu Juyue also picked up on the subtle atmosphere and quickly jumped in to take control. She even ostentatiously instructed the production team: ¡°I want a glass too.¡± The show¡¯s team was quite generous, promptly asking the bartender to prepare three more drinks, two for Xia Siyu and one for Hu Juyue to hold. Hu Juyue tasted hers, squinting her eyes to savor it, then nodded, ¡°It really is quite special, not bad.¡± ¡°Really? I want one too!¡± Wang Zisu couldn¡¯t resist the temptation and quickly raised her hand. Zhou Weiwei joined in right after her, and in no time, almost every guest had a glass of the drink in hand. Amidst the chaotic flurry, the production team took a while to catch up, and by the time they did, Xia Siyu¡¯s two drinks were already finished without anyone noticing. Then, it was time for the final question. Chapter 202 - Chapter 202: Chapter 202 Multiple Choice Questions (4) Chapter 202: Chapter 202 Multiple Choice Questions (4) Translator: 549690339 Shang Feifei¡¯s fingers pinched the die, flipping it at her fingertips, constantly changing the numbers. She was very calm, the fact that Xia Siyu had twice refused to answer her questions was also a revelation. Actually, these two questions were a set, with only two possibilities. One, she knew this man and had worked with him. Two, she didn¡¯t know him, and it was Xia Siyu deliberately avoiding the topic because she sensed it was getting close to a sensitive issue. Originally, Shang Feifei thought Xia Siyu was a fool, never giving opinions during script read-throughs, and acting recklessly on instinct. With the reputation she had when she debuted, if she managed it well, she could have won several best actress awards by now, but instead she played a good hand poorly. But this person, even if not too bright, had a sharp intuition for situations. There are no real fools in the entertainment industry; a true fool wouldn¡¯t stay popular for six years. Moreover, she always felt that her first love, Bo Yan, should know him. She had looked up Bo Yan¡¯s information. During his time at N University, he had no girlfriend. If he and Xia Siyu had any intersection, it would only be during a short one and a half years when he was a senior and she was in her first year of graduate studies. But, he wasn¡¯t even a student of the arts at that time, initially studying Chinese. When he transferred to the arts faculty in his first year of graduate studies, he didn¡¯t have contemporary classes, so he shouldn¡¯t have had much chance to interact with her. In the second semester of Bo Yan¡¯s first year in graduate school, Xia Siyu took a leave of absence and later went on to formally withdraw from the university. Perhaps Xia Siyu¡¯s first love was their alumnus from N University. Considering that her first love was under thirty, maybe he was a student in the same cohort as Bo Yan, possibly his roommate, his friend. At the very least, Bo Yan must have known him. Men, no matter how indifferent and aloof they appear, always have possessiveness towards their women, and Bo Yan would be no exception. She gripped the die tightly and made a bold decision. She planned to ask a very tough question head-on: ¡°Was your first love also your classmate from N University?¡± This question set off a massive ripple! As everyone knows, there were three alumni of N University present: Bo Yan, Xia Siyu, and Zhou Weiwei. In the past, because Xia Siyu herself was a poor student and a university dropout, no one ever associated her with Bo Yan as fellow alumni from N University. But now, spurred by Shang Feifei¡¯s remark, the expressions of several people at the scene began to change strangely. They glanced at Xia Siyu, then at Bo Yan. Bo Yan looked calm, even took a sip of his cocktail, lifted his head as if nothing had happened, and faced everyone¡¯s gaze with a slight frown, a puzzled look on his face: ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°No, nothing.¡± It must be their own overthinking. It¡¯s not easy to say about others, but Bo Yan and Xia Siyu clearly have a poor relationship. Plus, during his time at N University, there was no mention of Bo Yan having a girlfriend. If he really had one, wouldn¡¯t his childhood friend Wu Di have known about it last time? Then, Xia Siyu also appeared very composed, smiling: ¡°I choose dare.¡± Dares weren¡¯t only about kissing, they were left to chance for those unwilling to answer. Now, there were only two sticks left in the tube, with one being a kiss, a fifty-fifty chance. Xia Siyu randomly pulled one and indeed it was: ¡°Choose someone to your left or right, and kiss them passionately.¡± And to Xia Siyu¡¯s left and right were Bo Yan and Wang Zisu, whom would she choose? Chapter 203 - Chapter 203: Chapter 203 Multiple Choice Questions (5) Chapter 203: Chapter 203 Multiple Choice Questions (5) Translator: 549690339 Many fans fantasize about this sort of left-hugged, right-held scenario. On one side is the aloof movie star with both looks and talent, and on the other side is the cute and spirited little puppy idol. You even get to choose one to kiss, and the other party can¡¯t have any objections! Even if it¡¯s not a kiss on the lips, it¡¯s still a scene to dream of. But for the guests, this scenario is nothing short of a battlefield. The production team deliberately stirs things up, making them choose between two, which is bound to offend someone. Choosing either seems wrong and inappropriate. Moreover, male artists¡¯ fans typically harbor a kind of ¡°girlfriend¡± mentality. Unless you, a female artist, look like an angel, are popular, have no scandals, and have a status much higher than theirs, the male¡¯s fans always feel like it¡¯s the other party taking advantage. Between these two people, Bo Yan sat with proper posture, intently drinking with an expression hard to describe, showing no apparent emotional fluctuations. On the other hand, Wang Zisu seemed restless, occasionally glancing at Xia Siyu before quickly averting his gaze. It was evident that he was somewhat excited yet nervous. When Wang Zisu said Xia Siyu was his goddess, he wasn¡¯t just being polite; he meant it. In one¡¯s youth, there¡¯s always that one person who brightens the moment and softens the years. Although the distance between idol and fan disappeared after becoming familiar with each other, he still really liked Xia Siyu. This liking wasn¡¯t romantic but purely a fondness and closeness. So, when he heard he could kiss his goddess, even if it was just a peck on the cheek, he felt nervous. Wang Zisu went to Korea in high school to train as an apprentice, and life in the Han Group was exhausting. After returning to his country, he was too busy to even think about finding a girlfriend, nor did he have the time or energy to sleep with female fans, so he remained single. But Xia Siyu didn¡¯t need to hesitate at all. The moment she got the stick, she scarcely thought before pinpointing her target, ¡°Little brother, I can kiss you, right?¡± Just as her words fell, Wang Zisu, out of nervousness, took a sip of alcohol and choked so badly that it shook the heavens, quickly turning to cough, with tears streaming out. Perhaps because Wang Zisu¡¯s coughing was too violent, nearly all the guests and production team focused on him, and no one noticed that Bo Yan, upon hearing these words, paused slightly with the glass in his hand. Then, as if nothing had happened, he finished his drink and asked for another. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t bother with him either, turning her head towards Wang Zisu, leaving only the back of her head to Bo Yan. She even patted his back to help him catch his breath; after a bit of effort, he calmed down. Turning back, with red teary eyes and his baby face topped with little curls, he looked even more like a puppy. ¡°So, I can¡¯t cheat the shot, right?¡± ¡°Right,¡± the director from the production team continued, ¡°It must be a real kiss, it has to touch.¡± Wang Zisu then asked, ¡°It can be a kiss on the cheek, forehead, hand¡ªnot necessarily on the lips, right?¡± The production team reiterated, ¡°It must be on the face.¡± The area of the face is large; it could be anywhere. Wang Zisu quickly ¡°oh¡±ed a response, a hint of disappointment in his voice. He turned to glance at Xia Siyu, his face flushing red again. Xia Siyu, always bold, perhaps also slightly buzzed from a few drinks, reached out decisively to pull Wang Zisu¡¯s neck forward, assertively bringing him closer, and even said to the camera, ¡°Just touching faces. Female fans, please don¡¯t mind.¡± Just as she was about to kiss him¡­ Chapter 204 - Chapter 204: Chapter 204 Multiple Choice Questions (6) Chapter 204: Chapter 204 Multiple Choice Questions (6) Translator: 549690339 The director called out, ¡°Wait a moment.¡± It was the cameraman, who hadn¡¯t found the right angle. Since it was a recorded broadcast, there would be editing afterwards, so being interrupted wasn¡¯t much of an issue. Such a spectacular scene, of course, had to be displayed in 360 degrees without a dead angle, and at the end, it could be accompanied by some fancy fonts. Lately, the CP (couple pairing) between Xia Siyu and Wang Zisu had been very popular; naturally, it wasn¡¯t a romantic couple but rather a sibling-like relationship. Moreover, it wasn¡¯t the two artists or their agencies initiating the hype¡ªit was spontaneously shipped by the audience. It was clear that Wang Zisu was very fond of Xia Siyu, and Xia Siyu was also very friendly towards this ¡°younger brother.¡± The two of them played and laughed together, and although they were close, there was not a hint of romantic ambiguity between them. When Xia Siyu and Wang Zisu first became associated, Prince¡¯s fans were very worried, afraid that this woman would bring disaster to their beloved brother. But after twenty days together, some of Prince¡¯s fans began to ship the sibling-like relationship instead. In contrast to Bo Yan¡¯s cold and noble fans, it was like night and day. Fans follow the lead of their idol, no mistake about it! Once the crew was ready, this time it was Wang Zisu who showed reluctance. He said earnestly, ¡°Sister Siyu, I¡¯m a boy, boys should take the initiative.¡± What he was referring to was being embraced by Xia Siyu around the neck, making it look as if he was the one being kissed. Even if it was just a peck on the cheek, shouldn¡¯t the boy take the lead? His current posture made him look like a bullied little wife dominated by a hefty CEO, which damaged his image. ¡°I¡¯m the older sister. Of course, you listen to me,¡± Xia Siyu wouldn¡¯t yield the initiative. ¡°I¡¯m a boy, it should be me,¡± Wang Zisu also refused to give in, his cheeks red. The production team hoped they would pull off a stunt but didn¡¯t want it to be too intimately ambiguous¡ªthis kind of minor dispute was perfect. As the two were tugging at each other, neither willing to relent, Bo Yan suddenly asked, ¡°Does that mean we can rest after the kiss is done?¡± The cameraman beside them nodded. Bo Yan¡¯s brow furrowed slightly, his complexion unnaturally red, as if he were drunk. Then, with an annoyed look, he turned around and called, ¡°Xia Siyu.¡± As his voice came from behind, Xia Siyu was startled for a moment, released her pulling hand, turning back and asking, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± No sooner had the words left her mouth than a kiss, quite naturally, landed on her cheek. It was Bo Yan. Bo Yan¡¯s kiss took the entire crew by surprise, especially Shang Feifei and Li Yiru across from them, who were watching the show, their eyes wide open. After kissing, Bo Yan was still frowning, his expression without a hint of enjoyment, but rather a touch of impatience, ¡°Can I go back and rest now?¡± Having said that, he even got up, still dignified in posture but staggering slightly in step. It was then that everyone noticed he had finished two glasses of alcohol, his face frighteningly red, his eyes blurred, clearly having drunk too much. If he hadn¡¯t, he probably wouldn¡¯t have given in to giving Xia Siyu a reluctant kiss in front of everyone. With the process completed, the other guests also needed to go back and rest, marking the end of the recording. The production team was even considerate, saying, ¡°Everyone can rest assured and go back to sleep, the microphones and cameras have been turned off for you, have a good night¡¯s rest.¡± Bo Yan walked ahead, entering the door one second before the loud closing sound. Xia Siyu was still outside, chatting with Zhou Weiwei, Wang Zisu, and Hu Juyue. It wasn¡¯t until the moon was high in the sky and the night dew became denser that everyone, tired and perhaps a little drunk, said their reluctant goodbyes and left. As soon as she entered the door, she was grabbed by the arm by someone! Chapter 205 - Chapter 205: Chapter 205: Forced to Disclose (1) Chapter 205: Chapter 205: Forced to Disclose (1) Translator: 549690339 Xia Siyu had just been penalized with three cocktails for losing in Truth or Dare. These drinks were sweet and fragrant, not very strong, so she didn¡¯t feel much when she drank them. The show had arranged a dare, and although she chose Wang Zisu, it didn¡¯t really upset her when Bo Yan kissed her cheek afterwards. After all, cheek kissing is a common social gesture in Italy, so it was quite normal. Although it was a bit unexpected, she and Bo Yan had experienced more intense encounters before. This minor incident was nothing to her; she didn¡¯t take it to heart at all. But these cocktails, which didn¡¯t seem to have much effect when she drank them, were after all forty percent alcohol. As they chatted, it wasn¡¯t long before Xia Siyu clearly felt the alcohol go to her head. She was getting tipsy. The program was still filming, and since she was outside, it didn¡¯t seem appropriate to speak too much. It was only when everyone got tired and went back to rest that she headed back as well. When she pushed open the door, the room was pitch black. The lights were off, and even the curtains were drawn. Had Bo Yan really drunk too much and gone to rest? As she puzzled over this, a man¡¯s hand reached out from behind the door and grasped her arm. Immediately after, the man forcefully pulled her behind the door with a ¡°bang,¡± quite vigorously. Xia Siyu was startled and, just as she was about to speak, the man forcefully leaned in and kissed her lips. ¡°Mmm¡­¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s mind was a bit fuzzy, perhaps because she had drunk too much, and the alcohol numbed her brain. Her first thought was that this man¡¯s scent was somewhat familiar; it was Bo Yan. Her second thought was to quickly look up at the cameras. Thankfully, they were all turned off. These cameras were infrared and could operate even with the lights off. They had to be successfully switched off to be truly inactive. And the microphones seemed to be all turned off as well. She breathed a sigh of relief. As a female celebrity, her biggest fear was having her actions caught on camera by the show¡¯s crew or anyone else. She had suffered from such invasions of privacy before, and though she didn¡¯t care about the opinions of strangers, being cautious was still best. She and Bo Yan had an agreement: they didn¡¯t want their activities made public. Once again, as her senses returned, she flew into a rage! Had Bo Yan gone mad, weren¡¯t he supposed to rest after drinking too much? Why did he come and kiss her? Besides, he despised her, and she didn¡¯t particularly care for him either. If they were acting for a scene or couldn¡¯t avoid it due to work, that would be one thing, but why was he pulling this stunt in private? Moreover, even if the cameras in the room were off and the microphones were disconnected, they were still filming a show! She had just separated from the other guests at the door, and the crew members were all outside; any noise could give them away. Had he lost his mind? Xia Siyu was not the fragile heroine of a romance story, who, bullied by the dominant male lead, could only cry with red eyes. If Bo Yan bullied her, she would definitely resist fiercely! Instinctively, Xia Siyu reached out to push him away. But Bo Yan was quicker, pinning her against the door, pressing his body dominantly against hers. First, he pinned her torso. When she reached out her hand, he immediately grabbed her wrist and pressed her hand beside her head. Xia Siyu tried to kick, but he swiftly used his leg to strongly separate hers. Even restrained, Xia Siyu continued to struggle fiercely. Even if she couldn¡¯t escape, she was determined to create obstacles for him! As they fought fiercely, someone knocked on the door: Chapter 206 - Chapter 206: Chapter 206 Forced to Go Public (2) Chapter 206: Chapter 206 Forced to Go Public (2) Translator: 549690339 ¡°Sister Siyu, what¡¯s wrong?¡± It was Wang Zisu. He had just heard some strange noises inside and thought something had happened to Xia Siyu, so he asked out of concern. Xia Siyu¡¯s mouth was covered, sealed tightly, not even a muffled ¡°mmph¡± could escape. Her hands were also firmly grasped by Bo Yan, pressed against the door panel, immobile, and the same went for her legs. Although she had trained in boxing before, and her strength was much more significant than that of the average frail female star, that was only in comparison with women. If a man wanted to overpower, it was very difficult for a woman to break free relying solely on her strength, especially since Bo Yan had also trained and was very strong. But just because she couldn¡¯t break free didn¡¯t mean she couldn¡¯t seek help! Her hands and feet might have been restrained by Bo Yan, yet knocking on the door panel to make some noise was still possible. Indeed, she knocked on the door panel with her elbow. Through the door, Wang Zisu outside heard the noise and felt that something wasn¡¯t quite right, ¡°Sister Siyu, what¡¯s happening? Are you alright?¡± Moreover, with Wang Zisu¡¯s shout, the recently dismissed Zhou Weiwei and Hu Juyue were also drawn over, ¡°What¡¯s going on? Has something happened?¡± Even Li Yiru, who wasn¡¯t far from them, hurriedly opened her door, afraid of missing any footage. If it weren¡¯t for her lack of anything substantial to talk about with Wang Zisu and Xia Siyu, she would have definitely joined them in the conversation outside earlier. Xia Siyu heard Wang Zisu¡¯s response and the gathering of so many guests at the door, and she thought this time Bo Yan would definitely let go, right? With a bit of smugness, she didn¡¯t expect that at this moment, Bo Yan would still not let go! Moreover, this encounter with him wasn¡¯t like last time when they were filming ¡°Storm¡± and got trapped in the restroom. During that time, she dared not make a sound because of the people talking outside, which led him to take advantage of the situation. It was deeply immersive. But the last time was accidental, even though they ended up entangled with each other later on. However, because it was accidental, he didn¡¯t dare to be too presumptuous. Even if they were intertwined, he didn¡¯t dare to make waves. Unlike now, deeply immersive, he was calling the shots. She, on the other hand, due to the intoxication, had lost her strength. There were people outside, so she daren¡¯t resist too much. This intensity transported her back to seven years ago when they were still dating. Although their interactions were limited and both were low-key, in the few kisses they had, he was so dominant that he enveloped her entirely. After each kiss, she would feel drained, powerless, collapsing into his arms. He had drunk alcohol earlier, and his body, his breath, was filled with the strong scent of alcohol. The sweet fragrance of Monkey47 and the bitter malt flavor of dark beer subtly blended, interlacing with their tangle, lingering. Outside the door, Wang Zisu and the others could also hear the odd noises from within, growing worried. This time even Shang Feifei came out. A group of them gathered at the door, and Li Yiru even said, ¡°Could there be a stalker, someone sneaking in?¡± Once she said this, the others grew a bit fearful and hurriedly called them. Xia Siyu¡¯s phone was set to silent, so they couldn¡¯t hear it ringing. But pressed against the door panel, they could vaguely feel the vibration. However, no one answered. Wang Zisu became anxious, and Zhou Weiwei was even more so. Among those present, only she and Shang Feifei knew about Xia Siyu and Bo Yan¡¯s situation. Just as she thought to step in to rescue, Shang Feifei seemed to have a sharp intuition about something and stepped forward to the door to knock: Chapter 207 - Chapter 207: Chapter 207: Forced to Disclose (3) Chapter 207: Chapter 207: Forced to Disclose (3) Translator: 549690339 ¡°Mr. Bo, did you hear that? If you don¡¯t open the door, we¡¯re going to break in!¡± Inside, Xia Siyu had only one feeling: Bo Yan had gone mad, he had truly gone mad. Could he be drunk, mistaking this for seven years ago? He always disliked her so much, even looking at her one more time seemed to hurt his eyes. He mocked her coldly and heatedly, never showing any closeness. It was already reluctant for him to give her a helping hand in the team, not to mention a gentlemanly touch¡­ Of course, she wasn¡¯t keen on his closeness either. Couldn¡¯t the two of them just pretend not to know each other, and that would be fine? What was he doing now? Could it be that spring had arrived, when all things revived, and it was the season when animals mated? Outside, Shang Feifei, who hadn¡¯t received a response, directly gripped the doorknob: ¡°I¡¯m opening the door.¡± She hadn¡¯t finished speaking when she began to act, but although the doorknob could turn, the door wouldn¡¯t open: ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Is the door broken?¡± She knocked on the door harder twice: ¡°Mr. Bo, Mr. Bo, are you there? We¡¯re opening the door.¡± Wang Zisu stepped forward: ¡°Fei¡¯er, step aside, let me try.¡± He gripped the doorknob, twisting it while ramming the door with his body, but after pushing hard twice, the door remained immovable. Wang Zisu was getting anxious. It was one thing that no one answered the door just now, but now they were trying to break in, and there was still no movement inside. Xia Siyu had just entered the door not long before him; how could there be no sound at all after such a short time? She looked very sleepy and a bit intoxicated, but she couldn¡¯t be sleeping that deep, could she? ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Although the recording of the show had ended, these guests had not rested and had gathered in the corridor, which had drawn the attention of the show¡¯s crew. ¡°Don¡¯t know, Sister Siyu just went in, and she¡¯s not responding to our knocking.¡± Wang Zisu was really in a rush, wanting to force his way in. Zhou Weiwei intervened: ¡°Actually, it¡¯s not a big deal, really. Siyu can¡¯t hold her liquor, a few drinks and she easily collapses. She and Mr. Bo were both drunk, maybe as soon as they went in, they passed out. Isn¡¯t it impolite for us to barge in like this?¡± But Zhou Weiwei¡¯s explanation could only fool the naive. Each person on the show¡¯s team and among these guests was shrewd. Even though Xia Siyu and Bo Yan had shown mutual disdain in their usual interactions, still sniping at each other even when they had to work together, Shang Feifei¡¯s recent pointed questions had indeed raised some doubts. No one had evidence, but there was a feeling that these two¡­ might there be some connection between them that they didn¡¯t know about? Even animosity would suffice; otherwise, why would they argue every time they met? The director also moved forward, knocking a couple of times: ¡°Mr. Bo, Ms. Xia, have you rested? What happened, may we come in?¡± Inside, Xia Siyu heard the noise outside, where more and more people were gathering. She was very anxious, not wanting to make it public and not wanting to be bullied by him any longer. In her frantic desperation, Bo Yan seemed to have heard the noise from outside and slightly loosened his grip. She struggled, lifting her knee and slamming it hard into his vulnerable spot, the blow causing Bo Yan to reel in pain, pulling her down with him as they both fell to the ground. As their struggle subsided, the director knocking at the door swiftly took out a key, turned the lock, and opened the door. The moment the door opened, Xia Siyu¡¯s composure shattered: it was over, completely over, she and Bo Yan were going to be forced into the open! Chapter 208 - Chapter 208: Chapter 208: Forced to Disclose (4) Chapter 208: Chapter 208: Forced to Disclose (4) Translator: 549690339 If anyone really found out about their marriage, she would strangle him! The director opened the door first, and when it swung open, it was pitch black inside. Shang Feifei quickly followed, reaching for the light switch and turning it on. With the light on, they discovered Bo Yan slumped against the bed on the floor, with one arm grabbing the bedsheet and his head askew on the bed¡¯s edge, appearing to have completely passed out drunk. Xia Siyu was sprawled at his feet, as if trying to pull at him. The position of the two, if not for the fact that they were filming a show, and if they didn¡¯t normally disdain each other, really did look like they were up to no good. Wang Zisu, the third person to rush in, blurted out, ¡°Sister Siyu, what happened to you? I was scared to death just now; you didn¡¯t even hear me knocking.¡± Then he saw the obstacle that was Bo Yan, pointing at him and asking, ¡°Did Brother Bo drink too much and take your bed? You should¡¯ve pulled him up.¡± With Wang Zisu, this cute little guy, providing a plausible excuse, even though Xia Siyu was a bit dense, she quickly seized the opportunity: ¡°Yeah, this lunatic is on my bed; I tried to pull him up, but he won¡¯t budge. If you can¡¯t hold your liquor, don¡¯t drink; aren¡¯t you embarrassed?¡± Wang Zisu hurried over, and Zhou Weiwei also dashed in to help, along with a few from the crew, they pulled Xia Siyu up. The scare had sobered Xia Siyu up; she got to her feet and angrily kicked at the person on the ground. Unfortunately, she wasn¡¯t wearing high heels but just flat slippers; otherwise, she would have aimed precisely and fiercely at his groin, teaching him a lesson for taking advantage while drunk! Behind her, Shang Feifei, Li Yiru, and others from the crew, watched her put some real force into that kick at Bo Yan. There wasn¡¯t a trace of guilt on her face, rather, it seemed tinged with gritted teeth and anger. Even Shang Feifei was a bit puzzled. If these two had a secret affair, Xia Siyu wouldn¡¯t likely act so openly and angrily. Unless, of course, her acting skills were good enough to win an Oscar. And besides, even though they had fallen together, their clothes were still reasonably tidy, which suggested that even if they were up to something, they wouldn¡¯t dare do it during the show, right? It was fortunate that Xia Siyu had already removed her heavy makeup after coming back. She had only a light lip balm on her lips, which would have only slightly swollen up if kissed, without the smudged mess of lipstick. You wouldn¡¯t notice it unless you were really looking closely. Although they were still a bit suspicious, they accepted Xia Siyu¡¯s explanation that Bo Yan had drunk too much, she wanted to pull him up, but had also had a bit too much to drink herself, so her strength fell short, and she ended up being pulled down by him instead. A few of the crew assistants helped Bo Yan to the adjacent bed to lie down, and Xia Siyu, still feeling angry, took the opportunity when no one was looking to twist his arm viciously. Of course, a few observant people did catch this small act of hers. It seemed that Xia Siyu¡¯s disdain for Bo Yan was real; they were not a couple. Thus, the farce came to an end. Bo Yan lay with his head on the bed, while a few people said their remorseful goodbyes. Especially Wang Zisu, who added Xia Siyu¡¯s WeChat and was reluctant to let go. He was heading to Shangcheng tomorrow, and it wasn¡¯t on the way for Xia Siyu; leaving tonight, it would likely be a while before they saw each other again. The group chatted for a good while longer before they parted with reluctance. After the door closed, Bo Yan still lay with his head on the edge of the bed, without changing position. Once Xia Siyu had finished washing up and removing her makeup, she came back still feeling annoyed, fiercely kicking his behind once more before heading back to rest, grumpily. Chapter 209 - Chapter 209: Chapter 209: Forced to Disclose (5) Chapter 209: Chapter 209: Forced to Disclose (5) Translator: 549690339 Although she had just experienced some unpleasantness, Xia Siyu had also consumed quite a bit of alcohol. Her tolerance for alcohol was poor, and as the alcohol¡¯s effects increased and she was someone who could fall asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow, she quickly drifted into dreamland after lying down. After she rested, the entire villa slept soundly, and everything quieted down. Then, Bo Yan, who had remained lying motionless, slowly opened his eyes. Today, he certainly had not been drunk. He was not someone who could drink a thousand cups without falling, but a mere two cocktails were not enough to confuse him. It was intentional. He just wanted to kiss her. He and Xia Siyu had known each other for eight years and had been separated for seven, with their marriage occurring three years ago. In those three years, they had agreed to live their own lives and not interfere with each other¡¯s work or personal lives. Yet, he still paid close attention to her affairs. He always had to inquire first whenever there was a scandal. But they were both too busy, and the life of a celebrity is one of constant travel and uncertainty. Even loving spouses can go several months without seeing each other to visit on set, let alone them. Feelings, although sometimes long periods without seeing each other can foster a profound longing, it must be said that only accompaniment is the most enduring declaration of love. They had many misunderstandings, and normally being apart meant just missing each other. But recently, after spending more time together, his thoughts towards her began to stir. He wanted to see her. He wanted to stay by her side. He wanted to be in her eyes too. He feared her departure and felt her indifference towards him. But he didn¡¯t know how to approach or win her back. Although over the years, if one must consider having a relationship, it had only been with her. However, she embraced both Eastern and Western thoughts on love, being passionate yet reserved, rational yet romantic. She could both claim and let go. She pursued him hotly when she did, but when she decided to leave, she did so more carefreely than anyone else. He had never met a girl like her. The girls around him were either the sophisticated and versatile Xia Sicai or the spoiled and pretentious rich second-generation Wu Di. After entering the entertainment industry, there were also numerous female stars like Shang Feifei and Li Yiru who had overt and covert designs on him. People are probably somewhat masochistic; he didn¡¯t like the ones who eagerly pursued him, but someone who dumped him and left nonchalantly stayed in his heart. In their recent interactions, he could clearly sense that Xia Siyu didn¡¯t need him. She was independent, albeit a bit foolish at times; yet she was serious about her work and had her own ideas. Despite being criticized along the way, she was undeniably popular. Just one Weibo post would automatically trend in two hours. She didn¡¯t need to rely on him, nor on the Xia Family; she could live happily on her own strength. Moreover, there were suitors around her. After all, as a celebrity, there were no shortage of men attracted to her beauty. She was so naive that if some man managed to please her, she might really divorce him and run off with someone else. After parting ways tomorrow, she might quickly move out of Qingcheng Apartment according to her agent¡¯s advice. Then, even if they were to continue working together on ¡°Spring Light,¡± it would only be for a brief few months. Especially today, when she had to choose someone to kiss between him and Wang Zisu, she didn¡¯t hesitate to choose Wang Zisu. Even though it was just a kiss on the cheek, it still ignited a fiery rage in his heart. Chapter 210 - Chapter 210: Chapter 210 Unfinished Love (1) Chapter 210: Chapter 210 Unfinished Love (1) Translator: 549690339 Wang Zisu was just a kid, and it wasn¡¯t likely they were a couple. But this meant that, in her eyes, even such a kid was far more important than he was. He knew his passionate kiss just now was a bit impulsive, but he really couldn¡¯t sit still anymore. He realized that if he didn¡¯t make some kind of move, she would leave his side with drumbeats and gongs. But clearly, that move had the complete opposite effect. Not only had she pushed him away and rejected him, but she had also kicked him several times. When she fled, her knee hit his vital area, and even now, it still hurt¡­ ¡°Hiss¡± Bo Yan shifted his position slightly and sure enough, this light movement pulled at his injury, and his normally stoic expression instantly cracked. If she had injured his body, wouldn¡¯t she be the one at a loss in the future? This woman, she struck so ruthlessly. Her personality was too wild. But a little wildness had a unique appeal, and he liked that. The biggest problem now was that he had angered her, so how could he ensure she wouldn¡¯t immediately leave his sight or instantly exclude him from her world? Also, Xia Siyu was stubborn by nature. If she had already shut him out of her heart, using force would not bring her back and would only push her further away. Those domineering CEOs in romance novels, sorry, she was no delicate wife. If he really tried to imprison, torture, or tie her up, she would directly call the police, okay? Not only could he not use force, even if he seriously tried to pursue her, she might just consider him a lunatic. She had been beautiful since she was young, and the last thing she lacked was suitors. After entering the entertainment industry, even more kinds of men orbited around her. Even now, amid scandals, there was no shortage of men pursuing her. Moreover, Xia Siyu might seem carefree, but if she wasn¡¯t the least bit attracted, even if you jumped in front of her, she wouldn¡¯t blink an eye. He had to think of some way to attract her attention. He needed to make her interested in him, even if it was just the slightest wavering, then he could be confident in pulling her to his side¡­ Bo Yan slowly got up; he actually really wanted to get close to Xia Siyu. At dinner tonight, she downed a large glass of dark beer, and during truth or dare, she drank three glasses of forty-degree cocktails. Knowing her tolerance, if he hadn¡¯t suddenly attacked, he could have taken advantage of her after she passed out. But he was indeed angry at the time, especially when his status seemed even lower than Wang Zisu¡¯s. Now that his rationality had returned, he knew he had to be as low-profile and humble as possible, and also, he mustn¡¯t let her see his intent. Xia Siyu was different; the more she knew he liked her, she wouldn¡¯t be happy and might even mock him. Taking a deep breath, Bo Yan shook his head a little, pretending he still hadn¡¯t sobered up from the alcohol, and staggered toward the bathroom. After washing up, removing makeup, and taking a bath, he returned with a calm face, didn¡¯t glance at her, got into his own bed, and lay down with his back to her. A night of good sleep. Both he and Xia Siyu were returning to Yancheng on a six-o¡¯clock flight. The others heading to Shangcheng had left earlier in the morning. Although Bo Yan was filled with concerns, he still woke up very early in the morning. As soon as he returned from his morning exercise, he found Xia Siyu already packed up, wearing delicate makeup and sitting upright on the bed waiting for him, ready to interrogate him! Chapter 211 - Chapter 211: Chapter 211: Lingering Feelings (2) Chapter 211: Chapter 211: Lingering Feelings (2) Translator: 549690339 Bo Yan didn¡¯t pay attention; he was still wearing a tracksuit. After entering, he glanced around casually, pretending not to see, and headed straight for the bathroom. But after just a few steps, he stopped abruptly. It was Xia Siyu; she stretched out her leg, blocking his path. There were no cameras or microphones now, no recording of the show; the door was closed. She was ready for a thorough interrogation! Don¡¯t think that just because he bullied her last night and blamed it on the alcohol, everything was okay. She wasn¡¯t that easy to talk to! If he didn¡¯t explain himself clearly, this matter between them wasn¡¯t over! Bo Yan gave her a faint glance, and Xia Siyu looked back at him, her gaze fierce. She could clearly see that although Bo Yan appeared calm on the surface, his eyes¡ªthere was a hint of evasiveness, like he was feeling guilty. He was panicking; he was definitely panicking! Xia Siyu snorted coldly, her aura raging, ¡°Don¡¯t you have anything you want to say to me?¡± Bo Yan glanced at her quickly, then immediately shifted his gaze away. After a tense little stand-off, he finally sat down, positioning his body to the side, as if he dared not look at her, his expression somewhat restrained, ¡°Yesterday¡­ Did I do something?¡± He knew that simply blaming it all on alcohol wouldn¡¯t be acceptable to her. But outright denial would only make her animosity grow. Better to admit it boldly and then lower his stance a bit. Xia Siyu was the type to yield to soft approaches but not to forceful ones. Confronting her head-on would do no good and would only make her loathe him. Indeed, Xia Siyu huffed heavily, ¡°You still remember you drank too much and what you did. So tell me, what did you do?¡± While they were speaking, someone knocked on the door. Xia Siyu kept her eyes fixed seriously on Bo Yan, arms crossed as she called out, ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°Ms. Xia, Mr. Bo, lunch is at twelve. Will you join us together?¡± It was one of the staff members. This was intentionally scheduled by Bo Yan after his morning exercise. It was only eleven thirty now; lunch at twelve would give plenty of time to get ready afterward and leave for Frankfurt by one. Xia Siyu would never refuse food, she majestically said, ¡°Yes, we¡¯ll eat!¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll tell the kitchen to get ready. Also.¡± ¡°Also what? Spit it out.¡± Xia Siyu was still glaring at Bo Yan, her expression saying, ¡°Spill it, I¡¯m waiting.¡± ¡°The car will be outside of the villa at one-ten. Ms. Xia and Mr. Bo, you can just head out at that time.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Finally, the footsteps outside faded away, and Xia Siyu turned her gaze back to Bo Yan. As expected, the interruption had taken the edge off her mood from before. Bo Yan quickly glanced at her again and then lowered his head, ¡°I have a vague recollection of doing something.¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s brows were twisted in confusion, ¡°Say what you did!¡± Bo Yan looked up, ¡°Last night, I drank too much¡­¡± She uttered a derisive snort before he could continue. Descriptively, Bo Yan recounted, ¡°When I came back, feeling the strong scent of alcohol, a woman appeared. I don¡¯t know whether it was because of the alcohol, the moonlight, the fireworks today, or maybe, because after all these years since we broke up, I haven¡¯t been with another woman. In a moment of impulse, I grabbed her arm, I pressed her against the door, my body leaning forward to block her resistance. She was fragrant and soft; I couldn¡¯t resist, and then¡­ I kissed her¡­¡± He said this, his eyes slightly downcast, beneath the long eyelashes his gaze was deep and fathomless. His tongue peeked out, lightly licking the corner of his mouth. As if savoring the memory. Chapter 212 - Chapter 212: Chapter 212 Lingering Feelings (3) Chapter 212: Chapter 212 Lingering Feelings (3) Translator: 549690339 Bo Yan¡¯s lips were beautifully shaped. His upper lip was slightly thinner and his lower lip was plump. Because of the lines in the middle of his upper lip, sometimes they appeared a bit dry. But with just a soft lick, his lips immediately became bright red and moist, looking even more enticing. Especially when he gently licked the corner of his mouth and raised his eyes, he looked at her seriously yet fleetingly. Silently conveying that last night¡¯s dalliance¡­ Bo Yan seldom seduced others. He was usually distant and reserved, sparing with his words and smiles. It was only when filming a movie, when the role required him to transform into another persona, that he would seem to unleash the wild beast within, letting the finely-dressed fiend run rampant. Xia Siyu had seen plenty of handsome men in the entertainment industry, tough guys, puppy-like youths, and stunning handsome young men. She could barely withstand Bo Yan¡¯s usual abstemious and aloof demeanor. But now, as he shed his aloof exterior, that masculine charm stormed toward her. He seemed to be blatantly telling her that he had indeed sought pleasure in drink last night, and that he had taken a liking to her¡ªher body. He wanted a woman, and that was why he kissed her. That¡¯s what humanity is like. Many fans hoped that their idol would be both handsome and aloof, passionate yet chaste, highly capable in that regard, yet not wanting women around. They wished for him to remain youthful at over thirty, with all the eligible young women around him seen as demons and devils. Such a perfect image was impossible unless one had read too many third-rate romance novels. Just think about it, a good-looking male star at thirty without a woman either doesn¡¯t like women, or his sexual function isn¡¯t working. With so many temptations and opportunities in the entertainment industry, and not being made of wood, how could one not have desires? Even her, embraced by Bo Yan, could entertain the thought of finding a boyfriend. Bo Yan having desires was far too normal. This desire had nothing to do with love, at the very most, Bo Yan was not a man who liked to randomly seek out women. He himself had just said that he hadn¡¯t been with any other women since they broke up years ago. He approached her for two reasons: first, she was right there, and second, they had a past together. But having once possessed doesn¡¯t mean forever. Her desire and love for Bo Yan had gradually faded with the passage of time, and it was the same for Bo Yan toward her. Moreover, back then, he didn¡¯t like her all that much either. Perhaps because they were now husband and wife, there was something a bit special about it. But their daily interaction was just dissing each other, finding fault, neither one impressed by the other. ¡°¡­I remember now, the woman should be you. It seems that I, under the influence of alcohol, did something very bad to you. I¡¯m sorry, I did wrong. I¡¯m not asking for your forgiveness, I just hope you understand my thoughts,¡± Bo Yan said, truly lowering his proud head, earnestly apologizing to her. His acknowledgement was so straightforward, and he analyzed his inner journey for her, making it sound so engrossing and vivid. This made her inevitably recall last night¡¯s absurdity. Although she was angry, the guy, perhaps due to some innate talent or maybe because of acting, had improved his kissing skills tremendously over the years. When he pinned her down, his strength was great, but he left no bruises or pain. And he kissed rather¡ªintensely. If it hadn¡¯t been part of the show, if there hadn¡¯t been people outside, maybe, she wouldn¡¯t have felt so repulsed. Chapter 213 - Chapter 213: Chapter 213 Lingering Feelings (4) Chapter 213: Chapter 213 Lingering Feelings (4) Translator: 549690339 Although they were husband and wife, even if you called the police, they might not necessarily support your claims. But no matter what, there were people at the door. They were all artists, and even if they weren¡¯t artists but company colleagues, you shouldn¡¯t be making these little moves inside when people were blocking the door¡ªit was just too inappropriate! ¡°Do you know what would have happened if someone had discovered what you did last night? I don¡¯t want to explain my relationship with you to outsiders, and I don¡¯t want to make us public!¡± Bo Yan seemed to know she was angry and continued to promise, ¡°Such an incident will absolutely not happen a second time. Even if you want it to, I wouldn¡¯t agree.¡± ¡°What ¡®want to¡¯ do I have!¡± Xia Siyu had just said this when she seemed to find the phrase oddly familiar, as if she had heard it somewhere before. That¡¯s right, she remembered. That day in Sicily, when she had stripped Bo Yan¡¯s clothes, he had said something similar. Thinking about it, the two of them had a back-and-forth, with neither owing the other anything. Anyway, after returning, they would each have their own room. Qin Baizhou would probably help her find a new place to live very soon. After moving out of Qingcheng Apartment, everything would return to normal, with the two of them continuing to ignore each other, except for brief encounters at family gatherings¡ªit sounded good. After Bo Yan finished apologizing, the atmosphere turned awkward again. Xia Siyu remembered something else and asked dubiously, ¡°Over these years, have you really not been with any other women?¡± She wasn¡¯t expecting anything from Bo Yan; she was purely curious. Men and women are different after all. Women generally aren¡¯t as enthusiastic about such things as men are. They can take it or leave it. Moreover, women face more constraints and moral pressure in society. Men love to sow their wild oats, having a beautiful girlfriend or wife at home yet still seeking affairs. In the seven years, she had been so busy after entering the entertainment industry, that the majority of those who pursued her were undesirable, and she avoided them at all costs, let alone tried anything. But Bo Yan had plenty of women chasing after him, some of whom were talented, beautiful, and from wealthy families. Didn¡¯t he feel moved by any of them? Or even if he didn¡¯t feel moved, hadn¡¯t he gone out with any of them? Bo Yan looked at her calmly and shook his head firmly: ¡°No.¡± Xia Siyu still had a look of eating melon on her face: ¡°Just be honest, I won¡¯t get mad. We broke up a long time ago, and even when we got married, we agreed to live our own lives. I¡¯m just curious.¡± Bo Yan gave her a glance, then slightly lowered his lashes, the long eyelashes partially veiling the sparkle in his eyes: ¡°Do you want to hear the truth?¡± Xia Siyu nodded. ¡°Although it wasn¡¯t my intention, over these seven years, I truly haven¡¯t been with other women. The last time I had intimate contact was with you that time. Not only that¡­¡± As Bo Yan spoke, his eyes suddenly deepened with intensity, ¡°Aside from work, I haven¡¯t even kissed another woman. The last time in the restroom, and last night¡­ were also the first time since we broke up that I kissed a woman privately.¡± Xia Siyu was pierced by his gaze; his eyes were like a deep, bottomless lake that could easily absorb all of your thoughts. She paused for a moment, and a possibility suddenly flashed in her mind: Could it be that Bo Yan still harbored lingering feelings for her, even to this day? Chapter 214 - Chapter 214: Chapter 214 Lingering Feelings (5) Chapter 214: Chapter 214 Lingering Feelings (5) Translator: 549690339 But that¡¯s not right, he clearly hates her, filled with disgust. Although after they got in touch, he did occasionally show a very slight interest in her body. But his rationality quickly returned, and he became as cold and indifferent as ever. She would rather believe that his interest in her was due to male instinct, not love. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t¡­ still have feelings for me¡­¡± Bo Yan looked up, his gaze growing increasingly complex as he watched Xia Siyu. For an instant, he wanted to nod immediately and admit his feelings for her. After all, they were husband and wife, and had once been lovers. Wasn¡¯t it only natural for them to be together? If¡­ if I said yes, what would you do? Would you accept me, and then we live happily ever after having children, or¡­ The more he hoped, the less he dared to admit it easily. His heart was racing, but he had to maintain a calm facade. Yet, he couldn¡¯t bear to miss out so easily, so he probed indirectly, ¡°Why would you ask that?¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s expression twisted slightly. She still couldn¡¯t believe her own guess, as if trying to rationalize to herself: ¡°No, it can¡¯t be, it¡¯s not possible.¡± If he truly liked her, he should have made a move when they got married three years ago, right? If he had any thoughts about her, he wouldn¡¯t have dragged it out for three years either. Most importantly, she was thriving outside, and although the scandals were all fake, she never explained them to her family or him, and he never inquired. Isn¡¯t it said that when a man likes a woman, he would at least demand that she clears up the messy rumors outside, would be jealous? He never did. She must be overthinking it, she¡¯s been too tired recently with back-to-back work schedules, moving straight from filming movies to variety shows, and then more films afterward. People in the entertainment industry live by the motto ¡®when there¡¯s wine today, let¡¯s drink today¡¯, no one knows if you¡¯ll continue to be popular tomorrow. The entertainment industry is also a place where youth is consumed; your twenties are your prime. That¡¯s why everyone is working so hard, wishing they could cram seven or eight appearances into one day, with schedules booked years in advance. It must be that she was overthinking because of exhaustion, and because he drank too much and kissed her yesterday, which led her to whimsically think that he might still like her. ¡°You definitely don¡¯t like me, but that¡¯s okay, I don¡¯t like you either. Right now, our families don¡¯t approve of us separating, and I haven¡¯t found someone I like. If you promise not to behave like last night again, continuing our marriage wouldn¡¯t be a problem. Once I find a boyfriend, or you find a girlfriend, we can divorce. It¡¯s better for both of us.¡± After Xia Siyu said all that, especially the lines ¡°I don¡¯t like you either¡± and ¡°when I find a boyfriend,¡± Bo Yan couldn¡¯t help but laugh in exasperation. He chuckled, ¡°Me, finding a girlfriend?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Xia Siyu nodded, ¡°I¡¯m very open-minded. Nowadays, it¡¯s all about amicable breakups. Even though we can¡¯t stand each other, we don¡¯t have a deep-seated hatred, and after all, we have been in a relationship before. Naturally, I hope ¡­¡± Before she could finish her sentence, she suddenly realized that Bo Yan, seated across from her, had slowly stood up. He was tall, and when he didn¡¯t smile, his peach blossom eyes narrowed slightly, exuding a sharpness. He approached her step by step, and she could only tilt her head back to look up at him. He came close, his gaze fleetingly and coolly sweeping over her, and then a faint smile played at the corners of his lips: Chapter 215 - Chapter 215: Chapter 215 Lingering Feelings (6) Chapter 215: Chapter 215 Lingering Feelings (6) Translator: 549690339 ¡°¡­So it¡¯s settled then.¡± ¡°Mhm¡­ Ah. Okay.¡± Right after Xia Siyu nodded, she saw Bo Yan on this side smiling as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders, nonchalantly turning around and reverting back to his distant demeanor. He headed straight for the restroom, his steps becoming lighter, leaving her behind outside. It gave her the impression of being callously discarded after being used. Xia Siyu stood dumbfounded for a few seconds, and finally, as he closed the door, she felt like she had been played. This guy just wanted to sever ties, to take advantage of her and then shirk responsibility. That must be why he pretended to be so humble, and even made her think he liked her¡ªjust so she would say, ¡°No need to take responsibility,¡± right? Her temper flaring, she marched up and knocked on the door with an impressive force. The door opened after a little while. Bo Yan must have just finished working out and was getting ready for a shower. He had removed his shirt and pants, wrapping only a towel around his waist, his expression indifferent, ¡°What is it?¡± The more Xia Siyu looked at his stern appearance right then, the more convinced she became of her initial guess! She was somewhat angry, ¡°Bo Yan, did you do that on purpose?¡± ¡°What did I do on purpose?¡± Bo Yan¡¯s expression was unchanging, still that irritatingly smug face. ¡°You apologized on purpose and then tried to clear things up so I couldn¡¯t hold you accountable.¡± Xia Siyu grew more certain as she spoke. So that¡¯s how you are, Bo Yan, a sly dog! How could I have been so blind back then, thinking you were cold and uninterested in women, when you¡¯re actually the type who denies everything after putting on pants! Bo Yan glanced at her indifferently, his eyebrows slightly furrowed, ¡°So, you mean to say, I didn¡¯t need to apologize for last night¡¯s incident?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± That wasn¡¯t what she meant. Her point was that Bo Yan apologized too quickly, and his attitude was too agreeable, leaving her with no room to vent her anger. As soon as she said ¡°I forgive you,¡± he immediately acted as if he had done nothing wrong, which was infuriating to watch. However, Bo Yan obviously didn¡¯t see it that way. He reached out¡ªdirectly grabbed her wrist, and pulled her inside. Xia Siyu, caught off guard, stumbled and was pulled in by him. The bathroom floor was slippery, and she lost her balance, falling directly into his arms. The sound of water still echoed in the bathroom, shrouded in mist. These two people had embraced each other numerous times, at least during filming. But now, with Bo Yan only wrapped in a towel, his body nearly bare, they hadn¡¯t been this close since their breakup. Bo Yan had always exercised, initially for fitness, and after becoming famous, to maintain a good image, he trained even more diligently. He wasn¡¯t like many male celebrities who were just skinny, lacking any muscle. Nor was he like some bulked-up Westerners with overly developed muscles. Bo Yan¡¯s physique was lean but not skinny, muscular without being bulky, his chest and abs defined but not intimidating. When Xia Siyu bumped into him, she felt like she had collided with a hard yet soft cushion. He had just finished exercising and wasn¡¯t sweating much, emanating a strong masculine scent. Yet, due to the frequent showers typical for celebrities, he didn¡¯t have any strange odors and wasn¡¯t unpleasant to be around, actually possessing a different kind of allure. The man¡¯s voice floated down to her from above, casual and unhurried, ¡°Are you suggesting that I should¡¯ve continued kissing you last night, and then¡­ proceeded further¡­ is that it?¡± Chapter 216 - Chapter 216: Chapter 216: Family Suite (1) Chapter 216: Chapter 216: Family Suite (1) Translator: 549690339 The last two words, he whispered them almost into her ear. It was as if a gentle breeze brushed against her earlobe, causing her entire body to shiver. Especially since Bo Yan didn¡¯t know if he was lowering his voice to avoid being overheard or for some other reason, his deliberately hushed tone was richer and deeper than his usual cool and composed speech, lingering by her ear and refusing to dissipate for a long time. Combined with the slow and steady flow of his breath, it seemed like a vast net, ensnaring her within, spreading silently and pervasively. No, this wasn¡¯t right. She came to confront him, not to be bullied by him. But for some reason, perhaps because she had also thought about finding a boyfriend before, after being held so intimately and tenderly by him, her legs felt a little weak. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t have the courage to look up at him but kept her head down, eyes closed, and with a hand braced against his chest, she pushed him away with all her might, her face set in a resolute expression of defiance: ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant.¡± Bo Yan overlooked her from his height, taking in every aspect of her rejecting demeanor. He had just been going along with the flow of her words on a whim. Of course, he knew that now was not the time for intimacy, even if their relationship really had progressed to a point where such actions were possible, which was not the case. There was still the matter of the show, which required a modicum of respect for the production crew. Even though Xia Siyu pushed him away, Bo Yan acutely sensed that she seemed to be¡ªa little moved. After all, she was a woman, and being flirted with by a man would stir some feelings unless she was extremely averse to him. Bo Yan had been in the film industry for three years. Three years ago, he might have remained cold and bothered by it. But being a performer had its advantages. He had learned the art of flirting, subtle yet alluring, without even realizing it. However, he couldn¡¯t let her see that he was interested in her. Remembering her sarcastic remarks just now, if she found out all of this was intentional, she¡¯d bolt faster than anyone! For instance, right now, even though he was reluctant to let go, he quickly released his hold and then, with an even tone, said to her, ¡°Then please step out, unless, you want to join me for a shower.¡± And would you believe it, Xia Siyu actually fell for it. She quickly took a step back, just stepping out of the bathroom when the door snapped shut in front of her¡ªdecisive and merciless. Standing outside the door, Xia Siyu felt an inexplicable rush of anger, but just as she was about to argue further, hearing the sound of water inside, she quickly retracted her fist that was ready to knock. And moreover. When she bumped into him just now, it wasn¡¯t intentional, but she did indeed get a feel of his body¡ªmuscular, solid yet elastic, full of strength. Broad shoulders, long legs, and a narrow, ¡°adonis¡± waist. It¡¯s a shame the towel was in the way, otherwise, she might have seen if this guy had the so-called ¡°V-line¡±¡­ Just going by appearances, Bo Yan indeed belonged to that small elite class in the entertainment industry. With just his mere presence, countless women were willing to throw themselves at him. Xia Siyu felt she really had grown up¡ªfinding a boyfriend should be pushed up the agenda. What if she couldn¡¯t control herself and did something to Bo Yan? What would she do afterward? Like now, Wang Zisu has left first, and unfortunately, she didn¡¯t get the chance to lift his shirt and check out his abs¡­ The thought of Bo Yan¡¯s physique¡ªthe firm muscles, long arms, and legs¡ªbrought tears of frustration to the corners of her eyes. Chapter 217 - Chapter 217: Chapter 217: Family Suite (2) Chapter 217: Chapter 217: Family Suite (2) Translator: 549690339 After finishing lunch and a bit of tidying up, they finally embarked on their journey back to the country. The main force of the film crew was heading to Shangcheng. Among the guests, some were bound for Shangcheng, while others were heading to different cities. Even Zhou Weiwei couldn¡¯t return with them due to an engagement and instead went her separate way. The only ones returning to Yancheng were the two of them and a small portion of the Yancheng branch¡¯s crew members. As for Xia Siyu¡¯s assistant, Wei Jingjing, and driver Xiaotang, as well as Bo Yan¡¯s assistant, Song Fengzhi, they all had to pick them up at Yancheng Airport. Since the crew was still filming, both Xia Siyu and Bo Yan got into the car, where cameras and microphones were installed. The entire recording session would only end upon their arrival at the airport. Luckily, the pair had quickly cleared things up the day before, and the crew really had no misconceptions about their relationship. Once on the car, the two sat in the back row, looking out of opposite windows in silence, with a clear division between them. Since they were still filming, the director and cameraman were seated in front, and seeing the two ignoring each other gave them a bit of a headache. Trying to engage them, they asked a few questions, ¡°Sister Siyu, after sharing a space with Teacher Bo for a while, what is your impression of him?¡± Impression? Xia Siyu turned her head to glance at Bo Yan, who also turned around upon hearing a question about himself. After a brief eye contact, Xia Siyu inexplicably thought of his well-built muscles, strong arms, and legs, causing her to swallow her saliva unconsciously. With a look that seemed disdainful for the cameras, she said, ¡°His drinking tolerance is poor.¡± Bo Yan chuckled. Being deemed a poor drinker by someone who gets drunk after three cups was quite amusing. He wondered where her confidence came from. Sure enough, the director quickly asked him, ¡°And what about you, Teacher Bo? What is your impression of Sister Siyu?¡± Bo Yan replied with a calm demeanor, ¡°I don¡¯t have any impressions.¡± What did that mean? After spending so many days together, he still looked down on her? Although it wasn¡¯t a live broadcast and there would be post-production editing, this approach didn¡¯t seem too kind. Xia Siyu bristled upon hearing this, but Bo Yan quickly continued, ¡°There¡¯s another thing, hearing is believing, but seeing is the truth. I had heard that Xia Siyu was delicate, arrogant, liked to fabricate love interests, clung to her own clique, and bullied others. Most of that probably isn¡¯t true. Although she really does have a hot temper, can be somewhat willful, and sometimes doesn¡¯t consider others, speaking without thinking, both her IQ and EQ aren¡¯t quite there¡ªbut overall, she¡¯s a good person.¡± Was this supposed to be a compliment? It sounded more like mockery. Xia Siyu was infuriated and, even though they were on set, she couldn¡¯t help herself and rushed over to grab a handful of his hair. Bo Yan just sat there calmly, letting her vent, and after she finished, he spread his hands with an expression of helplessness, as if to say, ¡°You see, I¡¯m not wrong, am I?¡± Xia Siyu retorted angrily, ¡°I really don¡¯t like you.¡± Bo Yan responded leisurely, ¡°Likewise.¡± Upon reaching the airport, both Bo Yan and Xia Siyu had business class tickets, while the rest of the crew had economy class tickets. They split up at the boarding gate, but before taking two steps, they heard the two start arguing again. It was Xia Siyu¡¯s voice, ¡°I want this, upgrade me to first class.¡± Bo Yan was indifferent and deliberately ignored her, handing over his passport and preparing to get his boarding pass first. The behavior of the two at this point completely dispelled the film crew¡¯s last lingering doubts. Right up until the final moment, they still quarreled like this, even off-camera. It seemed these two really had nothing between them. Chapter 218 - Chapter 218: Chapter 218: Family Suite (3) Chapter 218: Chapter 218: Family Suite (3) The focal point of their argument was that there was still one seat available in first class on the flight. Both Xia Siyu and Bo Yan were not short on money, and with the better privacy and larger beds of first class, of course she wanted it. For celebrities, privacy and comfort are their top priorities, so naturally she would compete for it. Especially since they were flying with Emirates Airlines, one of the most luxurious airlines in the world. Due to a change in aircraft, the first-class cabins had very large beds, completely separated from business and economy class, suitable for two people, as part of a family ticket series. Upon learning this news, Xia Siyu immediately requested to upgrade, but Bo Yan was quicker in taking action and handed his request in first. Moreover, he was a platinum cardholder with Emirates Airlines, so naturally, he had priority. Xia Siyu was dissatisfied at this, ¡°Bo Yan, aren¡¯t you being too much? I asked first.¡± Bo Yan¡¯s expression was indifferent, ¡°You only asked, you didn¡¯t finalize anything. I was the one who secured the upgrade first, the ticket is also mine.¡± As the boarding passes were nearly issued, there was no use for Xia Siyu to argue further. Xia Siyu was livid, ¡°You, as a grown man, have you no shame? Have you no face?¡± The flight attendant, seeing that the two seemed to know each other, said, ¡°This first-class ticket is a family ticket. If the lady doesn¡¯t mind, you can purchase it together and sit together.¡± Bo Yan at that moment, unhelpfully added fuel to the fire, ¡°She minds.¡± ¡°Who says I mind, I don¡¯t mind.¡± She just wanted first class, she had barely slept well these days. Although she had drunk alcohol last night, she was kissed by him and then startled by other guests barging in, which kept her anxious for half the night. Bo Yan also said, ¡°You don¡¯t mind, but I do, is that okay?¡± ¡°Your minding doesn¡¯t matter, print my boarding pass too.¡± Xia Siyu quickly handed over her passport and received the first-class boarding pass, throwing a triumphant and scheming little smirk at Bo Yan. Luckily, the first-class check-in counter was far from economy class, and the two communicated with the flight attendant in English, so the production crew did not hear them. After checking in their luggage and passing through security into the lounge, Xia Siyu remembered something, ¡°If you try anything tonight¡­ I will scream for help!¡± Bo Yan¡¯s expression remained indifferent, ¡°I also hope you don¡¯t drink alcohol, as when you drink¡­¡± The two of them should not point fingers at each other, as neither was better than the other. Upon boarding the plane, they were the first to board first class, and after settling in, they ignored each other. The first class on Emirates Airlines resembled hotel suites, complete with a bar, sofa, TV, internet, a shower room, and of course, a bedroom dedicated for rest at night. However, the first-class was family-styled, so there was only one double bed of one meter and twenty centimeters. And just one blanket. After boarding the plane, it turned out that there were no flight attendants who could speak Chinese on the flight, so communication was all in English. This was a good thing; as both of them were celebrities, flight attendants who spoke Chinese would likely recognize them. This way, with no one recognizing them, there would be no hindrance, and they could be more relaxed. Not long after they boarded, meals were served. Considering both of them were ¡°not going to drink alcohol,¡± they kept a close watch on each other. If Bo Yan took a drink, Xia Siyu would too. When Xia Siyu put down her wine glass, Bo Yan also stopped immediately. The first-class cabin had a shower room and provided a set of pajamas for each passenger. Xia Siyu went first, followed by Bo Yan. When he came out, he was wearing a bathrobe and pushed open the bedroom door. Chapter 219 - Chapter 219: Chapter 219: Family Suite (Extra) Chapter 219: Chapter 219: Family Suite (Extra) In the bedroom, Xia Siyu was sitting, taking care of her skin. Hearing some noise, she turned her head and saw him enter. Bo Yan¡¯s hair was dripping with droplets, hanging in strands before his forehead. He was clad in a bathrobe, the belt not tied tightly, exposing a swathe of solid muscle on his chest. Xia Siyu had meant to glance and look away, but upon seeing his puffed chest muscles, her gaze lingered a bit longer. Even though this was first class, it was still an airplane, and with a bed in the room, there was only a tiny passageway left. Xia Siyu, sitting in front of the bed doing her skincare, left him no room to step past and get his pajamas from the bedside cabinet. Bo Yan watched for a while; Xia Siyu didn¡¯t move an inch. Perhaps because she saw him standing there dumbfounded, her skincare routine slowed down even more, intentionally dragging it out. Bo Yan spoke up, ¡°There are two options. One, you move aside, so I can get my pajamas. Two, you get my pajamas for me, they¡¯re in the bedside cabinet.¡± Xia Siyu paid him no attention, ¡°I choose a third option, you wait beside me until I finish my skincare and clean up, then you can go and get them.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Bo Yan replied indifferently, then¡ªstraightaway shed his bathrobe, his body clad only in a pair of briefs. Xia Siyu turned her head abruptly in shock, ¡°Bo Yan, what are you doing?¡± Although her words were reproachful, her gaze still fixated on his physique. Especially since this scoundrel was wearing low-rise, tight briefs, it was evident he had an Adonis belt! The line of his Adonis belt extended downward from his waist, cutting off just above his briefs. Xia Siyu was sitting, putting her gaze right in line with his shorts. Without having to stare too closely, a mere glance revealed the contours of his briefs¡­ Um, it seemed quite full. Then, Bo Yan approached her step by step in his briefs. By the time he reached in front of her, Xia Siyu finally felt something was off, ¡°Bo Yan, have you lost your mind?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you ask what I was doing?¡± Bo Yan said, halting in front of her, leaning down perilously close to her face, ¡°If you won¡¯t move, then I¡¯ll just have to go without pajamas. I¡¯m a man after all, not embarrassed to be seen by a woman. If you want to look, take a good look.¡± ¡°Who, who wants to look at you,¡± Xia Siyu refused adamantly, yet her eyes still greedily roved over Bo Yan¡¯s abdominal muscles. Many male celebrities have no abs during photo shoots, or just a faint suggestion of them, relying on makeup artists and photo editors to bring out those barely-there muscles, even applying oil and highlights to draw female fans¡¯ screams. But Bo Yan needed none of that, his waist was both strong and slender, his abs clear yet not too pronounced, making her want to reach out and touch, but not quite daring to. Bo Yan leaned even closer, the distance shrinking, his face nearly about to kiss her lips, and even his body almost touching hers. As Xia Siyu was forced to lean back, wondering if this guy was really going to kiss her, he suddenly stood up. It turned out that she had been sitting on the edge of the bed, blocking the path, and by lying back, hadn¡¯t she just made room? He chuckled, ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it have been easier to do this from the start?¡± Then he strolled leisurely to the bedside cabinet, took out his pajama top and bottoms, and dressed himself unhurriedly. Xia Siyu felt a mix of embarrassment and annoyance, with a touch of awkwardness that was neither here nor there. After that, came the time for them both to rest. Chapter 220 - Chapter 220: Chapter 220: Die-Hard Fan (1) Chapter 220: Chapter 220: Die-Hard Fan (1) When Bo Yan just leaned in so close, Xia Siyu was angry, but she could still hold on. After all, she could tell that Bo Yan¡¯s approach was clearly meant to be teasing. Both of them knew for certain that in a sober state, it was absolutely impossible for them to fancy each other. Although Xia Siyu was still a bit amazed by his physique, she felt somewhat regretful. If those abs and long legs weren¡¯t on Bo Yan, she might have had the chance to reach out and touch them, but since they were on him, she could only look to satisfy her craving. As for Bo Yan, he seemed to be interested in her body as well. She, of course, had the confidence. Xia Siyu was indeed the most beautiful woman in the entire Chinese-speaking entertainment industry. From head to toe, there wasn¡¯t a single part of her that wasn¡¯t good-looking. It was normal for Bo Yan to enjoy looking; it would be abnormal if he didn¡¯t. Both of them were rational enough to stop at the stage of trading verbal jabs without taking action. Even though his approach made her feel a bit shy and embarrassed, it was a normal stress response for a woman, without any real emotion involved. The love of beauty is something everyone possesses. The guy might be annoying, but he indeed had a good appearance. They were all artists who had done swimsuit shoots; why would they be afraid of being seen by others or of seeing someone else? But sleeping later on was different. During dinner just now, she and Bo Yan monitored each other, and neither drank too much. However, she could handle at least three drinks, while Bo Yan could be floored by two, which he had just done. Although normally neither of them would overstep their bounds, the problem was, what if he drank too much and did something while drunk? She was quite satisfied with the current situation and didn¡¯t want to get entangled with him any further. Besides, he didn¡¯t have any feelings for her either. Xia Siyu had it all planned out. Although there were two pillows in first class, there was only one blanket. When it was time to rest at night, she would make sure to grab the spot on the inside. She intended to sleep with her back to him, occupying two-thirds of the bed space and rolling up most of the blanket. She would make sure he couldn¡¯t settle in and would have to sleep on the sofa! She had beautiful thoughts, but in reality, as she was imagining all this, Bo Yan had already finished washing up¡ªand then he took the spot on the inside of the bed, comfortably lying down with his back to her. This was not according to her plan! Xia Siyu hurried up to him, tugging at his sleeve, ¡°I want to sleep on the inside.¡± Bo Yan didn¡¯t give in, ¡°First come, first served.¡± Xia Siyu was infuriated. She had always been fierce and never leveraged her identity as a woman to have others do things for her¡ªnot that she needed to. Usually, all she had to do was ask, and even if the person was a hater of hers, they would be won over by her looks in real life and willingly help her. But now she had encountered Bo Yan. From the very beginning of their acquaintance, it was she who was proactive and he who was passive. The first confession of love, the first kiss, it was all initiated by her. Although Bo Yan did respond, he was always a beat slow. Later, when they got married and she found out it was him, she was surprised but also a bit relieved. Then she was the one to suggest a relationship where they would not interfere with each other¡¯s lives, independent as husband and wife, and he agreed. Over these three years, they really did not meddle in each other¡¯s affairs, never crossing the line. But not crossing the line also meant that he would not treat her as his wife, nor would he give in to her. She didn¡¯t need him to, but his presumptuous tone really irked her. So you won¡¯t give in, huh, fine. Xia Siyu simply flipped open the blanket and lay down, right beside him. Chapter 221 - Chapter 221: Chapter 221: Die-Hard Fans (2) Chapter 221: Chapter 221: Die-Hard Fans (2) The lights in the first-class cabin were sensor-triggered; five minutes after closing the door latch, if there was no movement, the main light in the bedroom would automatically go out. Of course, although the main light was off, a small light was still on, barely illuminating the room. Bo Yan hadn¡¯t closed the blackout shades either, so if you looked out the airplane window, you could still see the vast river of stars outside. Xia Siyu used to be the kind of person who could fall into a deep slumber as soon as her head hit the pillow, but tonight, she just couldn¡¯t fall asleep. Lately, she and Bo Yan shared a room, but at least they still slept in separate beds. Even on that day of the mix-up, there were cameras and microphones; everything was shut off, but still, it was part of a program, where everyone would be restrained in their actions. Even when they were dating, they had never shared a bed for a whole night, under the same blanket. This sensation of intermingling breaths, the blend of each other¡¯s presence, felt very strange to her¡ªit was an experience she had never had in her twenty-six years of life. Bo Yan still lay with his back to her, lying very neatly, breathing steadily, never tossing and turning, and without tangling the blanket. If it weren¡¯t for hearing his even breathing and feeling the warmth and presence of his body, she might not even notice that there was someone lying beside her. The air conditioning gently circulated the air, and any slight sound could capture her attention. As time slowly passed, Xia Siyu began to feel slightly drowsy. It had been so long without any movement; he must have been asleep by now. And just at that moment, Bo Yan moved slightly. Xia Siyu¡¯s nerves immediately tensed up. Well, this guy, after almost an hour of waiting, he must have lost his patience, right? He was finally ready to make his move, wasn¡¯t he? She wanted to see what he was up to! If he dared to take advantage of her, to take liberties with her, she would serve him the Extinguishing Family Kick! Then, as soon as they landed, she would make an appointment with the civil affairs office at once and bid him farewell in a swift divorce! Bo Yan indeed moved, and it wasn¡¯t just a simple change of position; he was getting up, flipping the blanket over. Xia Siyu closed her eyes, lurking to see what this guy was going to do, deliberately not moving a muscle. In the darkness, Bo Yan didn¡¯t hesitate. He got up very quietly and gradually moved closer to her. Xia Siyu¡¯s expression remained calm, but inside, she was reeling with mockery: This bastard, he¡¯s coming closer, he really is! She had caught him red-handed, and now he had nothing to say, did he? Bo Yan indeed pressed towards her side, his arms braced on either side of her head, and one leg even crossed over, looking as if he was going to straddle her, giving off the vibe of someone about to do something bad! Xia Siyu hesitated for a moment, questioning whether to unleash her Extinguishing Family Kick immediately. What if he really pressed down on her? Although she would boast of her boxing skills, she wouldn¡¯t stand a chance against a strong, healthy man. Like last night, he had pinned her against the door, and no matter how much she struggled, she couldn¡¯t escape his grasp. Luckily that was filmed for a show, but if it was in private, in Qingcheng Apartment, and he pressed on her like that to do something bad, wouldn¡¯t her cries be unheard, ignored by both heaven and earth? Even if she castrated him later, he would have taken full advantage of her, and it would still be a catastrophe that had befallen her, wouldn¡¯t it? So she should strike first. Even if she kicked him by mistake, it served him right for scaring her like this in the middle of the night, he deserved it! While she was hesitating, Bo Yan made a move¡­ Chapter 222 - Chapter 222: Chapter 222: Die-Hard Fan (3) Chapter 222: Chapter 222: Die-Hard Fan (3) But his other leg also crossed over, and his hand moved lightly. Because he slept on the inside, he had to move around her, the obstacle, without waking her up, so he could only maneuver delicately with one hand. After he got around her, he got straight out of bed and gently closed the door. The sound of footsteps indicated that he probably went to the restroom. Xia Siyu finally relaxed. She considered her acting skills to be quite good. Once, in a play, she played a corpse, and the camera was on her face for more than a minute; she didn¡¯t even dare to breathe, and there was no movement in her chest. Pretending to sleep was nothing for her. So far, Bo Yan seemed quite well-behaved, sleeping properly and being a decent person. But who knew if he would suddenly do something to her while she was asleep? Although rationally he might not be interested in her, his body might have some ideas about her. With no one else around, just the two of them sharing a bed and a blanket, it was all too convenient for him to make a move. Xia Siyu waited for a good while, but Bo Yan didn¡¯t come back. Getting bored with waiting, she simply took out her phone and turned it on to play. These days, having internet in the first-class cabin of international flights was almost a given. Of course, at ten thousand feet, the signal was weak, but it was still manageable for her to scroll through Weibo. Although she had grown used to being scolded over the years, Xia Siyu didn¡¯t care what others said about her. For a celebrity, it¡¯s not the insults one fears, but the lack of them. She wasn¡¯t like RMB, loved by everyone. If some people liked her, there would definitely be others who didn¡¯t, like Bo Yan for instance. Of course, when celebrities browse Weibo, they typically wear a ¡°little vest¡±. She also had a special ¡°vest¡± account for chasing news, a side account that didn¡¯t even follow her own Weibo and super-topic; it was strictly for following gossip. With Bo Yan not returning, she simply lay in bed and logged into her alternate account, as usual, searching for her celebrity identity first. Lately, due to the airing of this live variety show, she had indeed gained a more positive image. The audience liked her straightforwardness, her tendency to call a spade a spade, and her quirky personality. The show was intended to be carried by Bo Yan, with Shang Feifei, her, and Li Yiru bringing in the heat, and Wang Zisu bringing in the younger fans. But Shang Feifei was too quiet, Li Yiru too noisy, so she ended up getting most of the attention. Moreover, through the show, she had improved her relationship with Bo Yan and incidentally gained favor from Wang Zisu¡¯s fans. She wasn¡¯t sure about the rest, but the business deals she lost due to fighting with a scumbag were now shamelessly coming back, seeking collaboration. Reading through the comments, she found that many of her expressions had been made into memes. Like when she was ¡°fainting¡± while moving bricks, ¡°I want to earn money¡± at the Heidelberg Bridge posing with the monkey paw, or with Wang Zisu and even¡­ the ¡°Fable CP¡± with Bo Yan. Wait, what the hell was this ¡°Fable CP¡±? Xia Siyu actually looked up the super-topic rankings, and the avatar for Fable CP was a cartoon couple picture of her with Bo Yan, which was ranked among the top three amidst a bunch of Boys¡¯ Love CPs. Upon clicking in, she found all sorts of edits, photos, videos of her and Bo Yan, along with a variety of comics and fanfiction written about them. And, the host of this ¡°Fable CP¡± seemed familiar to her. Upon checking, it turned out to be one of her major fans, someone who had followed her since her debut. The name was ¡°Shengxia Yanyu¡±. Chapter 223 - Chapter 223: Chapter 223: Die-Hard Fan (4) Chapter 223: Chapter 223: Die-Hard Fan (4) Xia Siyu had never paid attention to the online abuse, but she did have some impression of the dedicated fans who had followed her for five or six years. Especially when things were going well, it was normal to be surrounded by flowers and applause, but when she was down and out, the fact that there were still people who supported her, understood her, and trusted her, meant their affection was different. Three years ago, when her public image collapsed and she was vilified online as a homewrecker, it just so happened that her new movie was released. She had changed three apartments in one month, and her roadshow was sabotaged with eggs thrown at her. A massive number of fans unfollowed her, with some even turning from fans to haters, constantly disparaging her. She was in the middle of a dispute with her former agency, having just joined Qin Baizhou¡¯s team, and everything was a mess. This Shengxia Yanyu whenever she went to a roadshow, to make sure the cinema would not cut her screening schedules, spent a lot of money in the cities she visited to buy movie tickets and give them to her fan club to ensure the supply for the cinema theatres, probably spending close to a million yuan. And it wasn¡¯t just this one time, for all her movies that followed, he quietly paid to book entire theaters. All in all, he spent about three million yuan. In the entertainment industry, having such a super fan was like having a god of wealth, a financial backer. Xia Siyu would even joke with Wei Jingjing that if she couldn¡¯t make it anymore, she would just follow this Shengxia Yanyu classmate. Someone who could casually spend several million to be a fan, what kind of family must they come from? Moreover, the big fans in the entertainment circle are either professional fans fostered by the agency themselves or some delusional fans willing to rush to the front lines for fights and swear, manipulating data. Of course, there are also rich second generations who might use aliases to chase stars, but even they, having spent the money, would at least want to meet the person in question, right? Not to mention some sugar daddies spend money with the hopes of sleeping with her. But this Shengxia Yanyu, aside from spending money, rarely showed his face and joined her fan club, mostly remaining silent. When he did act, it was with money. Even after sending Wei Jingjing to contact him and after countless private messages, he never replied and kept a low profile like a phantom. Unexpectedly, he had now become the host of a ¡°Fable CP¡± trending topic. And just so it happened, Shengxia Yanyu was online. Even more coincidental, a minute ago, Shengxia Yanyu had liked a video, a CP fan video of her and Bo Yan. It takes eleven hours to fly from Europe to China, with about a six-hour time difference. If you take off at six in the evening, having been in the air for three hours, it would be three o¡¯clock in the morning in China time. And at this time, Shengxia Yanyu was actually online. After some hesitation, Xia Siyu didn¡¯t log in with her main account as she hadn¡¯t set up an invisible status, and as soon as she came online, everyone who followed her would see. Although Bo Yan might not know, what if he happened to be surfing the internet right now, and happened to be on Weibo, and happened to carelessly search for her? Using her alias account, she sent a private message to Shengxia Yanyu, ¡°I am Xia Siyu¡¯s alias account. I have no relationship with Bo Yan, and I don¡¯t like being paired with him as a CP.¡± The message was sent, and as expected¡­ it sank like a stone in the sea. That made sense, if she were in the same position and received a private message claiming the sender was some kind of national leader, she would likely consider it spam as well. But Shengxia Yanyu was clearly still online. Three minutes later, Xia Siyu saw her liking another vote post, the content of the vote was, ¡°Who do you think Xia Siyu is more compatible with? A. Bo Yan, B. Wang Zisu.¡± Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t stand it anymore and switched to her main account to log in. She was just about to send a message to Shengxia Yanyu when suddenly¡­ Chapter 224 - Chapter 224: Chapter 224: Die-Hard Fan (5) Chapter 224: Chapter 224: Die-Hard Fan (5) She was just about to message Shengxia Yanyu when she suddenly heard a noise. It wasn¡¯t Shengxia Yanyu, it was Bo Yan outside making a sound. Judging from the noise, he seemed to have put down a glass cup heavily. Could it be? She had just logged in with her main account. How could Bo Yan outside know about it? Weibo allows users to set their account to invisible, so she hurriedly dashed to the settings at the speed of an 800-meter sprinter and set herself to invisible. Then she sneakily searched for Bo Yan, and found he wasn¡¯t online. Xia Siyu breathed a sigh of relief. That¡¯s what she thought. After appearing on the variety show, apart from Zhou Weiwei, she had only mutually followed Wang Zisu and Hu Juyue. She hadn¡¯t even followed Bo Yan, so how could he know she was online? It must have been her overthinking just now. Even though she was on her main account, she didn¡¯t dare contact Shengxia Yanyu about anything. Weibo wasn¡¯t what it used to be; every move a celebrity made there was highly scrutinized. Sometimes celebrities themselves would get involved in the gossip. She knew of a female celebrity who accidentally liked a post about another popular singer¡¯s love life, which led to rumors of a feud between them. The female celebrity was an acquaintance from her former agency. She really didn¡¯t know the singer and had no issues with him. But from there on, they became enemies. If a show or gala invited both of them, it would be a case of ¡°if she¡¯s in, I¡¯m out,¡± forcing them to choose one over the other. But without contacting him, it was Shengxia Yanyu who took the initiative to reach out to her. Her private messages were set so that only people she followed could send her messages, and Shengxia Yanyu was one of them, ¡°Was that minor account really you?¡± Xia Siyu hummed in affirmation. This loyal fan had been following her for so long. Although she didn¡¯t care for his money, she truly appreciated his sincere support, even if she didn¡¯t show it outwardly. There was a long pause on Shengxia Yanyu¡¯s end, as if digesting this information. After a moment, he replied again, ¡°You don¡¯t like Fable CP?¡± Xia Siyu hummed again. Shengxia Yanyu asked again, ¡°Is it because you dislike the CP hype, the blood-sucking, the trampling, or is it because you dislike¡ªBo Yan?¡± If it had been anyone else asking, Xia Siyu probably wouldn¡¯t have answered, but since it was her longtime loyal fan, who had always been low-profile, she nodded, ¡°All of it.¡± After she responded, there was no reply from Shengxia Yanyu for a long time; he probably went to rest. Feeling bored anyway, she went ahead and searched Bo Yan¡¯s Weibo. Bo Yan¡¯s account was clearly created only after he entered the entertainment industry three years ago. His last Weibo post was still from Sicily, the selfie he took last night showing off his abs. The reposts were already close to a million, with likes in the millions as well. She randomly opened the comments, where everyone was howling, ¡°Husband, you can¡¯t show this to anyone else,¡± ¡°Husband, you only come home to show me at night.¡± Xia Siyu scoffed. It wasn¡¯t that she was jealous or anything; she just genuinely felt it was too exaggerated. Isn¡¯t it just a pair of chest muscles and eight-pack abs? He swagged around her every day and she didn¡¯t think it was all that special¡­ Wait a second, looking at his photo, she remembered how he had taken off his bathrobe earlier, revealing his lean and muscular body, wearing nothing but shorts. That morning when she had been in his arms, his muscles were firm but not overly bulky, strong without losing softness. Especially, the shorts-wrapped part was quite¡­bulging. Chapter 225 - Chapter 225: Chapter 225: Die-Hard Fan (6) Chapter 225: Chapter 225: Die-Hard Fan (6) She had tried it before, and it absolutely wasn¡¯t just impressive to look at¡ªit was also quite formidable in use¡­ Maybe she was looking too intently and did not notice that Bo Yan had already walked to the door. The footsteps halted at the entrance, and it was only then that Xia Siyu remembered she was still pretending to sleep. She quickly turned off her phone and lay back at the head of the bed. Just as she lay down, before she could cover herself with the blanket, Bo Yan ¡°whooshed¡± open the door. She thought to herself, since she normally slept in an ungraceful position, it should be okay even if the blanket was off. Bo Yan entered and quickly shut the door behind him. The light dimmed again to a faint glow, and she lay at the head of the bed, clutching her phone with one hand, eyes tightly shut. Bo Yan cast a casual glance at the person sprawled out on the bed, then at the phone in her hand. Although the phone was off now, it had been on the nightstand before, and now it was grasped in her hand. It was obvious, she was feigning sleep. You can never wake someone who¡¯s pretending to sleep. As long as she wished, not even the world coming to an end would rouse her. But actually, on one hand, Bo Yan hoped she was awake, yet he feared her being awake. When fully conscious, Xia Siyu was disdainful and repulsed by him. Even if they shared a bed and the same blanket, it wouldn¡¯t change a thing between them. But wait, it wasn¡¯t exactly so. Today he distinctly felt that when he took off his clothes, although Xia Siyu pushed him away firmly, her little hand couldn¡¯t help but press against him, and her gaze lingered on his abs for a long while. Just as Xia Siyu was very confident about her looks and figure, so was he. Since childhood, there had been plenty of girls sidling up to him. On Valentine¡¯s Day, the stream of love letters, chocolates, and roses for him was never-ending. But since he was aloof, he never cared to pay attention to those girls surrounding him¡ªof course, one could also say that those girls were not stunning enough nor exceptionally talented to catch his interest. He never needed to rely on his appearance or physique. He made his way all through to a doctorate and effortlessly stayed on at the university. After entering the entertainment industry, he didn¡¯t need to flaunt his body or sell scandal, just perform well in the movies. Moreover, as a man, he actually disliked it when men used their physique and looks to attract attention. It seemed to lower the taste instantly. But if it was for his own wife, it didn¡¯t matter. All of a sudden, it clicked for him, he finally had a way to attract her attention: With his male charm. Xia Siyu was human too, naturally subject to human desires. They both were adults; there was nothing shameful. Of course, he couldn¡¯t flirt too aggressively, as that might come off as sleazy. It needed to be the kind of subtle coaxing, that sporadically tugged at her heartstrings, caused her cheeks to blush and her heart to race, left her gaze unsettled. And then, he could swoop in and have her! Bo Yan moved back stealthily to his original position without making a sound. Xia Siyu exhaled in relief, ready to silently put her phone away and rest peacefully. But it seemed Bo Yan had no intention of resting; she could continually hear the sound of swiping on a smartphone from behind her. Xia Siyu became a bit irritated, and just at that moment, her finger accidentally brushed against the phone, turning it on. Hearing the sound, Bo Yan behind her also sat up. He and Xia Siyu, at the same time, saw the last image on her phone¡¯s screen before it went into sleep mode: a selfie of his eight-pack abs. Chapter 226 - Chapter 226: Chapter 226: Die-Hard Fan (Monthly Ticket Bonus 1) Chapter 226: Chapter 226: Die-Hard Fan (Monthly Ticket Bonus 1) Moreover, in her panic, Xia Siyu accidentally liked a post from Bo Yan with her real account. Too flustered to notice at first. Bo Yan: Xia Siyu: In the air was an atmosphere filled with awkwardness. Holding her phone with his selfie on it, Xia Siyu and Bo Yan looked at each other, neither speaking a word. Unexpectedly, it was Wei Jingjing who broke the silence. In the middle of the night, she made a WeChat call to her. Due to the poor signal during the flight, Wei Jingjing¡¯s voice was choppy: ¡°Xia Sister, do you think my heart has been too strong lately and you¡¯re worried my emergency heart pills are going to waste, needing a little stimulation?¡± Xia Siyu was stupefied for a moment: ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Did you log into your Weibo main account? Go look at what you¡¯ve done!¡± Only then did Xia Siyu lower her head and see the like she had just accidentally given. Remembering an incident with a female artist from her former company, she hastily explained: ¡°It¡¯s a misunderstanding! Really, I just slipped.¡± She quickly unliked the post. At this time of night¡ªfour in the morning¡ªa time meant for the deepest sleep, there would always be some oddballs stalking Weibo. She was delayed for a moment in unliking the post, and now it had already been screenshotted and not only posted in her super topic but also in Bo Yan¡¯s and Fable CP¡¯s, creating quite the commotion. Without a doubt, this message, if not suppressed, would definitely hit the trending searches in half an hour. A top-tier female celebrity, instead of sleeping late at night, goes on to like another top idol¡¯s selfie of his eight-pack abs, especially when there were rumors about them having a flirtatious vibe and conflicts¡­ ¡°Misunderstanding, it really is a misunderstanding. I just slipped, I really did!¡± This was now beyond explanation. Finally, Xia Siyu understood that feeling of unspeakable suffering of the female artist from her previous company. At least she liked Bo Yan¡¯s photo, and fortunately, this wasn¡¯t considered a scandal. Otherwise, when she woke up the next morning, her fans and the fans of the person she liked would likely be tearing each other apart! ¡°Xia Sister, your plane will land in a few hours, and I was preparing to pick you up. Couldn¡¯t you let me rest well tonight? At this rate, you¡¯re really going to give me a heart attack!¡± Wei Jingjing said helplessly, ¡°You should be thankful, thankful that Qin Ge doesn¡¯t know about this yet. An assistant told me, I am rushing to suppress the trending heat, and it should still be manageable.¡± After making a mistake, Xia Siyu was especially receptive to advice; Wei Jingjing said something, and she would respond obediently with a ¡°Hmm¡± from this end. Wei Jingjing added another line: ¡°You and Bo Yan¡­¡± ¡°Really, there¡¯s nothing! I just purely slipped, that¡¯s all.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good¡­¡± Wei Jingjing had just let out a sigh of relief when suddenly, from the phone, came a man¡¯s faint sneer: ¡°Sharing the same bed, under the same blanket also counts as ¡®nothing¡¯?¡± Wait, that voice, if she wasn¡¯t mistaken¡ªBo Yan?! Wei Jingjing wanted to ask, but the signal was bad and the call got cut off. She couldn¡¯t get through despite trying to call back. Holding her phone and clutching her chest, Wei Jingjing¡¯s face was a picture of tumultuous confusion. On this end, after Xia Siyu¡¯s call got disconnected, she turned around. Bo Yan was sitting right beside her, a mocking expression on his face: ¡°So someone sneaks a peek at my selfies late at night and gives me a like. Do you find my selfies good-looking? Would you like a live demonstration?¡± Chapter 227 - Chapter 227: Chapter 227: Die-Hard Fan (Monthly Ticket Bonus 2) Chapter 227: Chapter 227: Die-Hard Fan (Monthly Ticket Bonus 2) Xia Siyu was an honest person, used to being straightforward and never telling lies. Just like when she played truth or dare, despite knowing that Shang Feifei and Li Yiru bore ill will towards her, she would still answer questions she deemed insignificant. Of course, her straightforwardness had limits. So whenever she didn¡¯t want to answer, she would choose to drink or take a dare instead. The same was true at that moment. Objectively speaking, Bo Yan¡¯s handsomeness was an undeniable truth, just like her beauty. Even if some people couldn¡¯t appreciate their type, they would objectively admit they both looked good. From the outside, he really had no flaws. Tall and lean, with piercing eyes, and muscles that were defined but not excessively bulging, even she couldn¡¯t help but take a few extra glances. But she really didn¡¯t like him as a person. How to put it¡ªwhen you liked him, you¡¯d think he was cool, reserved, and commanding. When you didn¡¯t like him, you¡¯d think he was just putting on airs. If she admitted he was handsome, knowing Bo Yan¡¯s personality, he would surely become too arrogant. But denying his good looks wasn¡¯t something Xia Siyu could bring herself to do either. She could only say, ¡°What¡¯s the use of being good-looking if you¡¯re no good as a person?¡± Bo Yan, of course, refused to accept that: ¡°You¡¯re not saying you haven¡¯t tried it with me, where did I fall short?¡± Upon hearing this, Xia Siyu really did let her eyes sweep over his groin area. He was wearing loose pajamas, so naturally, she couldn¡¯t see anything at that moment. Then she started to recall how he looked just in shorts before, and seven years ago¡­ Bo Yan was beside her, watching her gaze shift from inquisitive to contemplative to seemingly comparing, her fingers following suit, and her eyebrows furrowed in what appeared to be a slightly dissatisfied expression, finally, he couldn¡¯t take it anymore. But pinning her down there and then wasn¡¯t realistic¡ªnot only would it provoke her disgust, but they were also on an airplane, a public area after all, and he wasn¡¯t interested in playing any kinky games there. If he wanted her, he wanted her completely, to have all of her. Haste makes waste, he had all the time and opportunities to take her body and soul, there was no need to hurry the matter. Bo Yan took off his loose pajama top, cocking his head to the side, ¡°Do you see it now? Does it look good?¡± Xia Siyu initially jumped when she saw him taking off his clothes, thinking this guy suddenly snapped and intended to transgress upon her. But he only took off his outerwear, revealing a solid chest and eight-pack abs, still sitting properly without moving an inch, not even shifting his buttocks. Bo Yan then taunted her, ¡°You were peeking at me taking selfies just now, and even liked my post. So, now that you¡¯ve encountered reality, you dare not look? It turns out Xia Siyu with a fierce reputation is all for show, just another pretty face with no substance. Too afraid even to look.¡± Xia Siyu was instantly irked, lifting her chin in defiance, ¡°Who says I don¡¯t dare!¡± This was his own request; she wasn¡¯t going to miss out on a good show! Moreover, Bo Yan rarely showed his skin like this, even in swimsuit photos on magazine covers, he rarely stripped so clean and carefree. Thinking about it, she had indeed been too embarrassed to look closely when they were dating seven years ago, and it was only today that she got a brief glimpse. What was there for Xia Siyu to fear? She wasn¡¯t the one exposing anything, and looking at him once wouldn¡¯t harm her. Since he demanded it, she would, of course, look very carefully, thoroughly even, as not to shortchange herself! Chapter 228 - Chapter 228: Chapter 228 Turbulence (1) Chapter 228: Chapter 228 Turbulence (1) So, Xia Siyu boldly stepped forward and really just stood in front of him, closely examining his chest and abdominal muscles¡­ Bo Yan¡¯s body was as superior as his face. Some artists look handsome, but sadly they¡¯re not tall enough. Or they might be tall enough, but then their legs are too short, their torsos too long, without muscles¡ªit¡¯s all just pale and thin when they strip. There were also those obsessed with muscle training, making themselves look like King Kong, appearing too bulky and not fitting East Asian aesthetic standards. But everything about Bo Yan was just right. With a height of 183 centimeters, he was tall enough, and he also had long legs. Broad shoulders, strong and sturdy arms. Even though he exercised regularly and had beautiful muscles, because he hadn¡¯t overly pursued a bodybuilding effect, nothing about them felt out of place. This chest along with an eight-pack, smooth and undulating like chocolate. But not as dark as black chocolate. Bo Yan wasn¡¯t dark-skinned; his complexion was quite fair. He hadn¡¯t tanned on purpose, nor had he deliberately maintained this fairness¡ªjust sunscreen when he went out. Over the years, his skin tone stayed between pale and wheatish, a very healthy and sunny color. His body matched his face, and even in such a dimly lit room, the curves of his muscles were visible. He really was flawless in appearance. Unless you didn¡¯t like this type of man, with him standing so brightly undressed before you, no one could remain unmoved. Xia Siyu¡¯s upbringing was a blend of Eastern and Western philosophies. On one hand, her mother was very strict with her, especially when it came to educating her about the opposite sex. Thus, although many boys had pursued her since she was young, Bo Yan was her only boyfriend. However, she also embraced the warm, straightforward openness of Westerners, believing that sex was a normal need for adults, and as long as it was legal and moral, there was nothing evil or ugly about it. She took the initiative in her relationship with Bo Yan, being the first to confess, the first to kiss. Bo Yan was indeed good-looking, and she truly wanted to see. Although she had felt embarrassed previously due to their strained relationship, now that he was being so proactive, she had no reason to be coy. And she didn¡¯t just want to look¡ªshe wanted to touch. Bo Yan was quite generous, watching her little head move closer and calmly said, ¡°Looks good, doesn¡¯t it.¡± Xia Siyu just moments ago had been talking back, but now she nodded honestly, ¡°It does look good.¡± Still, she had to put up a little fight, ¡°Who knows if your muscles are trained or if they¡¯re just from protein powder. Unless¡­¡± She was about to say ¡°Unless you let me touch and I test them for your fans.¡± Bo Yan immediately interjected, ¡°Protein powder? That¡¯s laughable. Of course, they¡¯re from my daily workouts. Don¡¯t believe me, try it out.¡± ¡°Well, then I won¡¯t hold back.¡± Xia Siyu had been waiting for this invitation and then immediately reached out to touch. Bo Yan¡¯s skin was smooth, after all, he was an East Asian man, not looking as burly as Caucasians. Being an actor and coming from a good family, his skin was both soft and firm to the touch, like a cushion with a velvety cover. His muscles were solid, with the gentle hint of curves when relaxed, like a beautiful cheetah waiting for its prey to come along. As she looked on, Xia Siyu¡¯s throat made a gurgling noise, her touch spreading from his chest down to his lower abdomen. She couldn¡¯t go any lower, although she regretted not being able to see his V-lines, but she had her limits. Going any further¡­ Chapter 229 - Chapter 229: Chapter 229 Turbulence (2) Chapter 229: Chapter 229 Turbulence (2) But the moment her hand paused, her wrist was suddenly seized by someone. Bo Yan had been watching her antics calmly and with restraint. She treated his body like a plot of land awaiting cultivation, touching here, looking there, lingering and setting fires all around. It would take a great deal of patience and determination to hold back and prevent her from acting so willfully. However, when her hand stopped just above his lower abdomen, his patience ran thin. He should also count himself lucky that the pajama pants he wore that day were quite loose, and the room¡¯s lighting dim enough. Otherwise, with her so close and so brazen, his urge would have been entirely exposed to her scrutiny. ¡°Enough!¡± Bo Yan was grateful he was an actor, and not just any actor, but a leading one. If a director were filming his actions at that moment, with his talent, his performance would be enough to earn him a leading actor trophy. He perfectly portrayed anger, rejection, and a bit of annoyance, and even from his slightly furrowed brows and unsteady voice, one could tell he was a little annoyed by her little hand. She felt it was enough too, although she was a bit regretful not having seen the Adonis belt. But if she had seen it, she would likely have had to see much more than just the Adonis belt¡­ ¡°So, did you check thoroughly? Was it from protein powder?¡± Xia Siyu did not expect Bo Yan to still be concerned about this issue; however, the fact that he was still fixated on the protein powder meant that he really had no ill intentions towards her. Rather, it was she who was letting her mind wander. Instead, she felt as if she had done something bad. After all, it was he who had been looked at and touched by her. But Bo Yan¡¯s tone was a bit too smug, which she disliked: ¡°Who knows? Just by looking or touching casually, how could one tell if it¡¯s real or not?¡± Bo Yan¡¯s tone was clearly annoyed, his voice rising with a hint of irritation: ¡°What if you can¡¯t tell? Are you going to have to try it personally to find out if this is really from eating protein powder?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± If Bo Yan hadn¡¯t been harping on the protein powder, perhaps Xia Siyu would have thought his remark was flirtatious. But given the context, even though she was slightly disconcerted, she didn¡¯t feel at all like he was seducing or teasing her. How to try? Did that even need to be asked? Surely it would be like this and that, this way and that way. Xia Siyu could look and touch, but to actually try was out of the question. It was one thing to satisfy her curiosity and banter, but actual engagement was no longer a matter of mere experimentation¡­ ¡°Then, let¡¯s not, shall we?¡± She felt a bit awkward and wanted to withdraw her hand, but his grip was tight, making it difficult for her to pull away. ¡°What, you don¡¯t dare to look at me?¡± Bo Yan¡¯s voice carried a tinge of danger. He held her hand firmly without letting go. ¡°Just now you had the bravery to both look and touch, now you don¡¯t even dare to glance at me? Look at me!¡± Upon hearing this, Xia Siyu lifted her head, only to meet his gaze. In the dim room, Bo Yan¡¯s features were blurred, but his eyes shone brightly. Bo Yan had the eyes of a flirt, said to belong to men who are passionate yet heartless. He fixed her with that gaze, steady and deep like the waters of Peach Blossom Pool, filled with emotions she could not understand, perhaps even affection. In her panic, she tried to shake off his hand, accidentally fumbling at the wall. Just as Bo Yan was about to step forward¡­ Chapter 230 - Chapter 230: Chapter 230 Turbulence (3) Chapter 230: Chapter 230 Turbulence (3) Hurried footsteps came from outside, startling them both. As they tussled, Bo Yan fell on top of Xia Siyu. However, as the footsteps at the door drew closer, Xia Siyu, pinned underneath him with a face full of terror, felt like dying. She quickly grabbed the pillowcase to cover her face, ¡°There¡¯s no escaping now, but at least I can cover my face and save some embarrassment!¡± ¡°Who is it?¡± If it turned out to be some paparazzi or entertainment journalist and they saw her and him in this state, she¡¯d never be able to explain it away, even with a hundred mouths! Or if someone from the crew came by, she¡¯d be doomed. Especially since she had just accidentally liked a photo of his abs¡­ The door was ¡°swooshed¡± open, and a Caucasian stewardess stood at the doorway, asking in English, ¡°Do you need anything?¡± It was a stewardess, and moreover, one who didn¡¯t recognize either of them, allowing Xia Siyu to breathe a sigh of relief. ¡°No, we don¡¯t need anything,¡± Xia Siyu quickly shook her head. But Bo Yan¡¯s pajama top had come off, and he was still pressing down on her. Their position was anything but child-friendly, somewhat resembling a couple caught during a vice raid. Bo Yan also asked, ¡°Why did you come over?¡± ¡°You just pressed the call button.¡± Bo Yan cast a puzzled look at Xia Siyu, who was also confused, and then they both looked up: Her finger was indeed near the call button, perhaps having touched it by accident just now. ¡°There¡¯s nothing else; you may go now.¡± The stewardess nodded and before leaving, kindly asked, ¡°Do you need a Durex? We have various sizes available.¡± That question thoroughly embarrassed Bo Yan and Xia Siyu. Even though Xia Siyu was usually bold and never hid her appreciation for handsome men, when confronted directly with the topic, she still felt a little shy, burying her head in his shoulder without making a sound. Bo Yan, on the other hand, still had the interest to discuss this with her, implying he was considering it: ¡°They provide these kinds of things on a plane?¡± The stewardess, with a cordial attitude, said, ¡°If you have a need, we can provide them. Moreover, it¡¯s quite common for guests in these family suites to have such needs. Just be careful in case of turbulence. But usually at such high altitudes, air currents aren¡¯t likely to cause much disturbance.¡± Bo Yan further inquired, ¡°What if we encounter turbulence?¡± The stewardess indicated, ¡°There are seat belts on the side here; in case of strong air currents, please make sure to fasten your seat belts.¡± Bo Yan nodded and sent her away, ¡°I¡¯ll call you if we need anything.¡± The stewardess nodded and pulled the door closed. The room returned to its initial calm, but the one difference was that now Xia Siyu¡¯s head was buried beneath his shoulder, with him lying on top of her, their bodies fitting tightly together. No one moved, nor spoke. Bo Yan remained on top of her, and Xia Siyu kept her head down, both motionless for quite some time. After a long while, when everything had settled down again, Xia Siyu popped her head out from under his shoulder, ¡°I remember now.¡± Her voice was very soft, a whisper close to the ear, which Bo Yan clearly heard. He grunted an ¡°Mm¡± from his throat. ¡°Move out of the way,¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s voice was slightly tender, and upon close listening, there was also a faint quiver of vulnerability. Bo Yan grunted ¡°Mm¡± once more, but he still didn¡¯t speak or move. After a good while longer, Bo Yan finally got up. Just as Xia Siyu let out a breath of relief, the plane hit severe turbulence, and Bo Yan fell on her once more. This time, he landed right on her lips. Chapter 231 - Chapter 231: Chapter 231 Turbulence (4) Chapter 231: Chapter 231 Turbulence (4) In dramas, there¡¯s often a clich¨¦ where the male and female leads accidentally fall on each other due to unavoidable forces, and the man always has to land on top of the woman, precisely aiming for the lips. Maybe such a scene could be a new beginning, two people quarreling might start liking each other because of this serendipitous encounter. This is particularly true for some ancient texts, where interactions between men and women were strictly regulated. A kiss had the impact of a magnitude-seven earthquake, forever securing a silent promise in the hearts of the protagonists. It¡¯s best to have a 360-degree rotational shot, showcasing the emotions of the male and female leads from all angles, and the scenes should be as aesthetically pleasing and romantic as possible. In reality, when Bo Yan fell, both of them only had one feeling: they knocked their teeth, and it hurt. But before they had time to separate, suddenly, the plane began to shake violently. Then, the in-flight announcement started playing, first in Chinese, then in English: ¡°The plane has encountered turbulence during the flight. Please return to your seats, close the window shades, fasten your seat belts, and do not use the lavatories.¡± That was for economy and business class. But they were in first class, and Bo Yan had just asked the flight attendant, promptly pulling out the seat belt, wrapping it behind him, and strapping both of them in together, binding themselves as one. The plane shook intensely; even with the first class¡¯s impressive shock absorption, it was still quite terrifying. Taking off from Frankfurt to China, the flight crosses the entire Eurasian continent. With ever-changing conditions and a myriad of weather patterns, it¡¯s common for such incidents to occur. It¡¯s just that, this time, the turbulence was a bit more severe. Bo Yan held Xia Siyu tightly, and neither of them could move. On one hand, because he fell on top of her, and on the other, because of the seat belts¡¯ restraint. He and she were tightly bound together by the seat belts, intimately close, unable to separate. ¡ª¡ªIn fact, Bo Yan had just seen that there were two seat belts by the headboard. If he lay on the other side, he could buckle up himself. Of course, he would not tell Xia Siyu about such a trivial matter, and Siyu was unaware. Their embrace at this moment was slightly different from the position when Bo Yan had just fallen. One of his hands wrapped around from the back of her head, his fingers threading through her black hair, protecting her head. His other hand encircled her body, grasping her slender waist in a decidedly protective stance. Although he was pressing tightly against her, almost merging into one, his posture held no vulgar intent, nor was he taking advantage of the situation; he was protecting her. The rocking continued, and all the cabin lights were out. In the darkness, she could hear the sound of a glass cup shattering on the floor. Beyond that, there were only the sounds of their breathing. Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t afraid of heights, nor was she concerned about the turbulence; after all, as a celebrity, she was used to coming and going. Sometimes, she had to fly twice a day, arriving in the morning and leaving at dawn. The number of flights and the distance flown in a year had earned her a platinum card from several major domestic airlines. And experiencing turbulence on a flight is quite common. In her first year of her career, she had many gigs to attend. Once, she encountered turbulence so bad she regretted not having written a will in advance. But in reality, over ninety percent of air accidents occur during takeoff or landing, and the likelihood of a crash due to turbulence is minuscule. However, the feeling of being protected was truly wonderful. Chapter 232 - Chapter 232: Chapter 232 Turbulence (5) Chapter 232: Chapter 232 Turbulence (5) Even though she knew that Bo Yan might have just been acting out of gentlemanly decorum, protecting any woman close enough to him, rather than safeguarding her specifically. She didn¡¯t have such a high opinion of herself to think that after arguing and bickering one second, a small peck and a hug could reverse his feelings for her and make him fall for her. Of course she wouldn¡¯t change her view that quickly either. But this feeling of being unconditionally protected, she hadn¡¯t experienced it since her mother left. The turbulence didn¡¯t last too long. Soon, the plane was flying smoothly again, the alarm was turned off, and it was safe to unbuckle the seat belts and move around freely. But Bo Yan didn¡¯t move, and Xia Siyu didn¡¯t urge him. They continued to embrace, seemingly waiting for complete calm before separating. Before long, there were footsteps outside, but they didn¡¯t come to their room. Instead, they went to the bar to clean up the shattered glass pieces from earlier. Separated by a door, the pair could hear the clear sounds of movement and cleaning outside. Luckily, during this process, no one came to disturb them, whether it was the flight attendants or the crew members. Even Wei Jingjing hadn¡¯t called or sent a message again. It wasn¡¯t until the flight attendants came and went, even considerately closing their door, that everything returned to silence, and the two of them breathed a sigh of relief. But after that sigh of relief came the realization that they had to face each other. Especially in such an awkward position, such a private space, such a close distance¡­ After a moment, Xia Siyu made the first move. She had been pinned down by Bo Yan, and the seat belts had been fastened too tightly. With her underneath, it was somewhat difficult to breathe. She lifted her head from his chest, ¡°Can we unbuckle now?¡± Bo Yan responded with a light ¡°Mm,¡± a sound so faint that it would have been inaudible had they not been so close together in the silence. ¡°Then you get up first.¡± Bo Yan made another sound of agreement, but this time, he didn¡¯t stay put as he had before, waiting until the next bout of turbulence. He hesitated for a moment, then turned his head first to reach for the seat belt buckle. However, the buckle was on the edge of the bed, and his prone position made it difficult to undo. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t know where the buckle of the seat belt was either, so she patiently waited for him. Unfortunately, the buckle was on the side of the bed, easy to fasten but difficult to release. Bo Yan had to move back and forth because of his position, meaning he could only work the buckle awkwardly with his hands. Both were in a sober state, and it wasn¡¯t appropriate for him to take advantage, so he turned his back to her to work on it. Xia Siyu understood, so she didn¡¯t rush him. But the longer situations like these drag on, the harder they become to manage. Bo Yan swore he hadn¡¯t thought of taking advantage at such a time, yet the buckle was stuck, refusing to open. The plane was temperature-controlled, and though it was summer, the air conditioning was set quite low, cold enough to need at least a thin blanket if one were to sleep. Bo Yan had taken off his pajama top and was only wearing sleep pants. The emergency hadn¡¯t allowed him time to cover up, so he had been lying on top of Xia Siyu. The air conditioning was blowing on his back, and theoretically, he should have felt a bit cool. But instead, he felt unbearably hot all over, as if he were about to burn up. Finally having managed to undo the buckle, Bo Yan had just breathed a sigh of relief when he turned back and his lips brushed against something soft and plump, which seemed to be her lips. Chapter 233 - Chapter 233: Chapter 233 Turbulence (6) Chapter 233: Chapter 233 Turbulence (6) To be honest, Bo Yan and Xia Siyu had kissed quite a few times recently. During filming, the two of them would roll around together for hours, kissing for just as long. That was their first contact after breaking up seven years ago, and although both were professional actors who could convince themselves that acting was different and quickly detach their emotions, the fact remained that the acting partner was not quite the same, and even though Xia Siyu could brainwash herself into thinking it was just work, there was still that tiny ripple of emotion. Then, as the two continued to interact, their work and lives became intertwined. Whether intentional or not, they bumped into each other quite a lot, including just now, when he fell down due to the turbulence and caught her in a firm embrace, and also ended up kissing her. However, it was mostly accidental. Moreover, in Xia Siyu¡¯s memory, their first private kiss seven years later occurred in the restroom stall during a break from shooting ¡°Storm,¡± and the memory wasn¡¯t exactly pleasant. Adding to that, there was Bo Yan¡¯s drunken antics after the truth or dare game last night. The recent incident, despite banging teeth and pain, was at least not as emotionally suffocating. But this latest accident was different. Although it was truly an accident, the kiss was too gentle, like a breeze brushing against the face, with no negative emotions at all, but rather a hint of surprise and fluctuation that one might see in a drama when the male and female leads suddenly kiss. Maybe it was because she did indeed salivate over his good figure. His body was fit and muscular without any excess fat. Or perhaps, it was his protective stance when the turbulence hit, guarding her with absolute certainty. Even though it was a burst of gentlemanly behavior and meant nothing else, it still scored him some extra points. In any case, Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t angry this time and took it as a pure accident. Bo Yan also froze for a moment, then very gentlemanly apologized, ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to just now¡­¡± For men, it didn¡¯t matter; going shirtless was no different, but for women, it was a different story. When Bo filmed before, he inevitably shot some intimate scenes. But, after all, it was just acting, and even if the picture showed the two actors very close, in reality, most of it was simulated. Even kisses were mostly fake, either pecking on the cheek, using a long shot, or even inserting a sheet of paper in between, and of course, there were no yellow sequences. It may look like the two are embracing and twisting together, but in reality, there¡¯s enough space between them to fit an egg. The most genuine and tight embrace he had was with Xia Siyu while filming ¡°Storm¡±. Apart from not kissing deeply or continuing further, he touched all that should be touched, embraced all that should be embraced. After all, it was acting; no matter how much the area was cleared, there were still people around. Both he and Xia Siyu were professional actors, and if, before acting, he personally considered it ¡°fake play that seems real,¡± the fake was fake, and even if he would incorporate his own thoughts, he couldn¡¯t let it show too obviously. Since it was acting, no matter how real it seemed, it was fake, and he wouldn¡¯t dare to let go completely. Acting in an even more intimate scene, the two had even less contact. At the very least, they would wear underwear during filming and sometimes even protective shorts to prevent any mishaps. But just now, he had taken off his pajama top and was bare-chested, and she was wearing only a thin nightgown. Chapter 234 - Chapter 234: Chapter 234 Turbulence (Monthly Ticket Extra 1) Chapter 234: Chapter 234 Turbulence (Monthly Ticket Extra 1) And somehow, she feels even more voluptuous than she did seven years ago, and her waist is even slimmer¡­ Seven years ago, she had just turned nineteen. At nineteen, one¡¯s body hasn¡¯t fully matured, with many girls even taking until the age of thirty to fully finish growing. Nineteen-year-old Xia Siyu, although already very attractive inheriting her mother¡¯s looks and good figure, was still a bit baby-faced due to her young age. Naturally, her body management wasn¡¯t as strict as it is now. What she ate and drank each day, how she exercised, were all strictly controlled by professionals. If she overate even a little, she¡¯d have to sweat it out on the treadmill for half an hour. Xia Siyu herself had the kind of body that would gain weight from drinking water, so she was slightly heavier back then than she is now, but after all, she hadn¡¯t yet fully developed. She was like the tender shoots on the willow trees in March, so fresh that you could seemingly wring out water with a squeeze. But now, she is at a woman¡¯s prime age, at her most perfect state. Like a blossoming flower, not only is her beauty at its peak, but she also exudes a charm that transitions from green to ripe, involuntarily attracting people¡¯s gazes. With every breath, the air was filled with her scent, warm, mixed with the fragrance of her shower gel and shampoo, slightly sweet. Now this aroma lingered in the cramped room, failing to dissipate for a long time. Perhaps because of the recent closeness and awkwardness, both of them were somewhat unsure of how to carry on with the conversation. Xia Siyu ¡°umm¡±ed, which counted as her generous acceptance of his apology. After all, who said only men can take advantage of women? When Bo Yan was protecting her just now, she also pinched his waist. It¡¯s just that he probably didn¡¯t pay much attention at that moment. Although Xia Siyu herself also exercised regularly, the beginnings of abdominal definition could be seen, strong yet flexible. But Bo Yan is a man, his waist slim and firm like a machine made of steel. When she pinched his waist, she couldn¡¯t help but recall that night seven years ago¡­ Each lost in their thoughts, it was Bo Yan who finally spoke after a while, ¡°Why don¡¯t you just rest properly. I¡¯ll go sleep on the chair.¡± He was afraid if he stayed any longer, he really wouldn¡¯t be able to control himself and would do something against her wishes. Since there was an available room, there naturally was a chair. The chair looked somewhat like the ones in the economy class outside; one could only sit and rest on it, and to prevent from swaying, one had to buckle up the seat belt, clearly not as comfortable as lying down to sleep. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t know if it was her conscience kicking in, or because she felt somewhat indebted for his protection earlier, or because she trusted him as a gentleman, thinking he wouldn¡¯t do anything improper to her, but she rarely nodded, ¡°You can just sleep here. As long as you don¡¯t move about, it¡¯s fine.¡± After all, it wasn¡¯t the first time they had slept together, and it seemed like every time he never got much of an advantage. Instead, she had gotten her hands on him quite smoothly. Bo Yan looked up at her, with not much joy in his eyes, more like a hint of difficulty. Seeing his difficulty, Xia Siyu felt even more at ease: ¡°Sleep if you want, I¡¯m going to rest.¡± She didn¡¯t pay him any more attention after that and lay down directly, rightfully rolling most of the quilt towards herself. Bo Yan watched her with a shadowed gaze for a while, then finally lay down too, sleeping a restless sleep. The two of them didn¡¯t speak again, sleeping peacefully through the night. Early the next morning, as soon as they disembarked from the plane, the person there to pick them up was Qin Baizhou. Chapter 235 - Chapter 235: Chapter 235 Picking Up From the Airport (1) Chapter 235: Chapter 235 Picking Up From the Airport (1) The plane had just landed, and Xia Siyu had not even collected her luggage when she received a call from Qin Baizhou. Qin Baizhou started by asking her, ¡°How was your trip this time? Happy or not? Tired or not? Were Italy and Germany interesting?¡± Xia Siyu wouldn¡¯t mention her stuff with Sicily and responded very officially, ¡°What¡¯s there to be happy or unhappy about? It¡¯s all for making money.¡± The country now has very strict rules on artist salaries, with a maximum of ten million for a variety show. To the average person, this is a sky-high salary, but in the entertainment industry, this is already a reduced rate. And even with such rates, it¡¯s rare to sign top-tier stars like Xia Siyu and Bo Yan, unless the platforms offer them additional benefits to agree. Moreover, as frightening as this price seems, after taxes, splits with the agency and the team, they might only see two or three out of ten. Some artists with lower cuts might not even get a tenth of what¡¯s stipulated in the contract. Xia Siyu doesn¡¯t have much concept of money. She lived in Sicily with her mother as a child, but her mother was a film queen, and her father was an entrepreneur. Although her mother didn¡¯t raise her to be a high-society lady, she never lacked money. Once she became an artist, she was always at the top, and both her film salary and appearance fees were first-rate, so she never worried about these things. Once Qin Baizhou heard her reply, he knew she was joking and didn¡¯t burst her bubble. He chuckled, ¡°Then how did you get along with the other guests this time, like Shang Feifei and Li Yiru, with whom you¡¯ve had conflicts before?¡± Xia Siyu was indifferent and pursed her lips, ¡°Just so-so.¡± She truly was indifferent. Her attitude towards Shang Feifei and Li Yiru was the same as her attitude towards the overwhelming insults. After all, those two were neither her friends nor her relatives. Except for the occasional work intersection, they didn¡¯t spend any other time together. Why should she bother with what they think or how they badmouth her? It was right for them not to like her, given that she looks so good. From her debut, she has been referred to as the ¡°female public enemy.¡± Countless boyfriends and husbands drooled over her face and figure, causing domestic disarray. Of course, for ordinary people, such reports are exaggerated. But for female stars in the entertainment circle, her appearance is nothing short of a disaster. As long as she is there, all the spotlights are on her. As long as she is on the show, whether sitting in the front row or the last, cameras will capture her. Even if she doesn¡¯t wear a gown on the red carpet and comes out in a sack, some will see it as an international fashion trend, unusual and unique, and it will make other female stars look tragic by comparison. Shang Feifei had been eclipsed by her for many years until she recently won the Best Actress award and gained the status to sit on an equal footing with her. As for Li Yiru? To use a fan circle term, comparing her with Xia Siyu is ¡°punching above her weight.¡± In terms of star power, compared to Xia Siyu, she¡¯s just a ¡°foot-washing maid.¡± Why should she bother giving attention to someone filled with jealousy, who can¡¯t even reach her level? That would just be raising Li Yiru¡¯s profile, wouldn¡¯t it? Qin Baizhou chuckled again; he had known Xia Siyu for many years and naturally understood her personality. He brought up Shang Feifei and Li Yiru only to lead to the next question, ¡°So how did you get along with Bo Yan? Give me an honest answer, because outside the airport, there are a lot of reporters, all here for the two of you.¡± Chapter 236 - Chapter 236: Chapter 236: Picking Up from the Airport (2) Chapter 236: Chapter 236: Picking Up from the Airport (2) Xia Siyu was on her way to customs when she answered the phone. She and Bo Yan were in first class, and thus they were among the first to disembark from the plane. Although they would not run into the crew members, Yancheng Airport was not limited to their flight alone, and therefore there were still many passengers on the move. The only stroke of luck was that, during the pandemic, everyone was wearing masks. Xia Siyu and Bo Yan were naturally part of the masked crowd, which didn¡¯t make them stand out. The way was crowded and noisy. After getting off the plane, they had to take a shuttle bus to reach customs. Xia Siyu stood in the shuttle bus holding her phone in one hand and her bag in the other. It was okay before the bus started moving, but just as Qin Baizhou reached the topic of her relationship with Bo Yan, the shuttle bus began to move. Xia Siyu hadn¡¯t grabbed onto the handrail and there was nowhere to sit with so many people around. Caught off guard, she lost her balance and swayed, uttering an ¡°Oh!¡± Bo Yan was right beside her, reaching out and gently steadying her shoulder. Xia Siyu was taken aback for a moment and looked up to say, ¡°Thank you.¡± Bo Yan just nodded, withdrawing his hand quickly without any trace of smugness. Moreover, his gesture was quite gentlemanly, devoid of any indecent intent. From the other end, Qin Baizhou asked with concern, ¡°Siyu, what happened?¡± Xia Siyu replied, ¡°Oh, nothing much, I just almost fell while sitting on the shuttle back. What were you saying?¡± Qin Baizhou did not go back to his previous topic, instead offering comfort, ¡°Be careful.¡± Xia Siyu was about to respond when suddenly a child behind her bumped into her, and she almost lost her footing again, looking like she was about to fall over. But Bo Yan, standing beside her, opened his arms and enclosed her from behind in his embrace. Bo Yan was half a head taller than she was, so at that moment, the top of her head could just touch the tip of his nose. As she turned her head, she could see although Bo Yan was wearing a mask, his expression was calm, as if his recent action was simply out of gentlemanly instinct, nothing more. And his arm around her wasn¡¯t tight; he just loosely supported her without pressing close, not taking any liberties. This was, after all, in public. Although both of them were wearing masks and had both donned hats and glasses as a disguise, her accessory was a beret, large black-framed glasses, and a black dress. Bo Yan wore a bowler hat, rimless glasses, and a camel-colored casual outfit. Without their masks, they would be the very image of scholarly ruffians, or well-dressed beasts. They had neither bodyguards nor assistants by their side. If they were recognized, the consequences would be unimaginable. It took a long time for Xia Siyu to reply to the other end, ¡°What were you just saying?¡± Qin Baizhou¡¯s voice was consistently gentle as he said, ¡°I was asking, what exactly is the situation between you and Bo Yan? Are you two dating? I¡¯m not trying to probe, but right now, there is a throng of reporters and fans waiting outside the airport. Because of the like you gave last night, countless people think you are secretly in love. Keep in mind that you are participating in a live show, and even if people don¡¯t know your itinerary after the flight from Frankfurt to Yancheng, anyone who pays a bit of attention can figure it out.¡± The shuttle bus was originally noisy, but with Bo Yan standing behind her enclosing her in his arms, he naturally heard Qin Baizhou¡¯s words and slightly furrowed his brow. Xia Siyu also turned around, and the two parties involved looked at each other. Chapter 237 - Chapter 237: Chapter 237: Picking Up from the Airport (3) Chapter 237: Chapter 237: Picking Up from the Airport (3) On the other side, Qin Baizhou continued, ¡°As a manager, I actually don¡¯t oppose my artists dating. After all, everyone has emotional needs, and suppressing them too much might cause problems. And now you¡¯re also in your mid-twenties, with many admirers. However, if you have emotional needs, you must report to me, report to the management company. After all, you¡¯re not an ordinary person; you¡¯re an artist. You¡¯ve signed a contract with the company, and although the company doesn¡¯t impose many restrictions, you still need to be more careful about matters of love¡­ Even if you really plan to date, you can¡¯t publicly disclose it so impulsively. So, you need to tell me the truth, are you and Bo Yan in a relationship?¡± Before Xia Siyu could answer, she felt Bo Yan behind her, tilting his head to the side where she wasn¡¯t on the phone, and whispering softly, ¡°Your manager really cares about you.¡± Perhaps because he deliberately lowered his voice, his speech sounded even richer. Perhaps it was because he whispered right next to her ear. Although the mask blocked much of the breath from his speech, his voice was still deep and mellow, like a well-aged wine that lingered on and on. Caught off guard by Bo Yan¡¯s words, Xia Siyu was stunned for a good while until Qin Baizhou called out ¡°Siyu¡± several times on the other end of the line, prompting her to snap back to reality, ¡°I really did it by accident yesterday. Maybe because I was too tired, I carelessly liked a post while scrolling. I¡¯m not dating him. I swear on my honor.¡± Qin Baizhou breathed a sigh of relief, laughing as he said, ¡°I was indeed shocked when I heard the news yesterday. If it wasn¡¯t for the fact that you needed to rest, I might have called you right away. If it¡¯s just an accidental like, there¡¯s still a chance to salvage the situation. We could even collaborate with Bo Yan¡¯s side, no need for him to cooperate with the hype, just as long as he avoids saying anything too harsh or directly rejecting. Let the onlookers think it¡¯s just us trying to generate buzz, or attribute it to the show crew, thinking they¡¯re making us create the hype. Once everyone believes it¡¯s a marketing ploy, the interest will naturally dissipate. A free surge of popularity, I believe, won¡¯t be rejected by Bo Yan¡¯s side. This is also generating buzz for the show, and the show¡¯s crew won¡¯t spoil it. Besides, he was the one who got the like, and the liked post was a rather positive one, so he should have no reason to refuse.¡± Bo Yan, standing behind her, heard the entire conversation between Qin Baizhou and her. He slightly narrowed his eyes, thinking back to the last time he saw Qin Baizhou at the ¡°Storm¡± audition. Qin Baizhou was indeed very impressive; he was always beaming with smiles. His strength lay in the fact that he was clearly very scheming, he never hid his scheming, but his schemes weren¡¯t just for his own benefit. He also considered others. The words he just exchanged with Xia Siyu had two purposes: he wanted to know the nature of Xia Siyu¡¯s relationship with him and he was planning for Xia Siyu. While scheming, he also took him and the show crew into account, killing four birds with one stone. Putting himself in their shoes, if it were not for Xia Siyu, if another manager came to him requesting cooperation, he probably wouldn¡¯t have refused. Unfortunately for Qin Baizhou, he had set his sights on him, especially on Xia Siyu, so it was unlikely that his wishes would be fulfilled. Before he could speak, a sudden brake brought Bo Yan¡¯s hand reeling in behind her, pulling her into a tight embrace. Chapter 238 - Chapter 238: Chapter 238: Picking Up from the Airport (4) Chapter 238: Chapter 238: Picking Up from the Airport (4) Previously, when Bo Yan had held her in his arms, his arm only touched her body at the beginning when he was helping her, and didn¡¯t even come into contact with her afterwards. His back was the same, not pressing against hers at all, being particularly proper. But this time, he really embraced her from behind, the two of them pressed together. Xia Siyu was taken aback, just about to retort, when the shuttle bus stopped at an intermediate terminal. Some people got off, but more got on. A crowd surged in, instantly filling the cramped little train to capacity. Even if Bo Yan hadn¡¯t embraced her, with such a large group of people entering, the carriage squished into a sardine can, she would have been forced to embrace Bo Yan anyway. Once people settled and moved slightly away, Xia Siyu tried to struggle out of Bo Yan¡¯s arms, but the shuttle bus lurched again, causing some of the unsteady passengers to topple over. Xia Siyu herself swayed unsteadily from side to side, fortunately she had Bo Yan behind her. Bo Yan¡¯s arms were around her, and although he wasn¡¯t holding onto any handrail, he was steady as a rock. The jolt from just before didn¡¯t shake him in the least, like a mountain. Bo Yan even leaned in closer, whispering in her ear on the other side, away from Qin Baizhou¡¯s hearing, ¡°Be careful.¡± Xia Siyu nodded, noticing the crowd was too thick for a phone call, so she hung up and texted Qin Baizhou instead, ¡°There are too many people around here, it¡¯s not convenient to talk on the phone.¡± Qin Baizhou readily agreed, ¡°Okay. Siyu, I still need to remind you to be cautious. Since your affair with Bo Yan isn¡¯t real, I¡¯ll try to get in touch with his agent. The problem now is, there are a lot of reporters and fans outside the airport. From the information I¡¯ve received, they are all waiting to see what¡¯s going on with you two.¡± ¡°Oh, got it.¡± Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t concerned about reporters and fans at all. ¡°Don¡¯t be indifferent,¡± Qin Baizhou still understood her well, ¡°Siyu, after all, you¡¯re a top celebrity. Your every move, even if you don¡¯t care, can still cause a sensation among fans and onlookers. Be careful not to talk recklessly, and don¡¯t argue with them.¡± ¡°Oh, got it.¡± Xia Siyu nodded, her face the picture of calm. After responding, she slipped her phone into her pocket, ready to move away from Bo Yan¡¯s embrace, when Bo Yan¡¯s warning ¡°Be careful¡± made him hold her even tighter. Xia Siyu looked puzzled as Bo Yan whispered in her ear, ¡°Take a look over there. Someone is paying attention to us.¡± Xia Siyu was startled and indeed followed the direction indicated by his chin to look up, and sure enough, she saw people looking in their direction. Although Xia Siyu and Bo Yan were both in disguise, and Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t wearing any prominent brands, the two of them stood out with their good looks, fine figures, and decent sense of style. Such a pair would attract attention anywhere they went. Xia Siyu really didn¡¯t care much about the opinions of reporters and fans. That was because they were rather removed from her own life. Moreover, whenever reporters and fans were on scene, she usually had assistants and bodyguards by her side, so those people didn¡¯t have the chance to bother her. But being recognized in real life was a different story. In such a cramped carriage, if someone shouted out her and Bo Yan¡¯s names, especially while they were embracing, what kind of scene would that be? And it seemed like these people were indeed continuously watching them, as if trying to recognize her. Chapter 239 - Chapter 239: Chapter 239: Picking Up from the Airport (5) Chapter 239: Chapter 239: Picking Up from the Airport (5) ¡°What should we do?¡± Seeing more and more people looking their way, Xia Siyu frowned, realizing that the situation was far from simple. Especially since it wasn¡¯t just those few individuals who kept glancing in her direction. Moreover, she faintly heard some people discussing, ¡°Look over there, isn¡¯t that person looks a bit like someone?¡± Come on, she was wearing a mask, had disguised herself, and yet she could still be recognized? Although she hadn¡¯t undergone any plastic surgery, and a photo of her revealing just one eye could be recognized by fans, a photo is a photo, and reality is reality. She shouldn¡¯t be identified so quickly in real life, right? As a celebrity, she had long been accustomed to the spotlight and didn¡¯t feel uncomfortable with it. If she were alone, she might casually remove her mask and glasses, toss her hat aside, sweep her fingers through her hair with a flourish, and say arrogantly, ¡°Yes, I am Xia Siyu herself.¡± But after all, she was with Bo Yan, and in Bo Yan¡¯s arms. She said she had nothing to do with Bo Yan, but no one believed her. Then the spectators would take another photo and post it on social media. That¡¯s it, game over. She wouldn¡¯t even have to leave the airport before she was recognized by the eager crowd. The shuttle bus was only so big, and a small circle of people around her were continually casting glances her way. Xia Siyu felt tense all over, with so many people around, she couldn¡¯t just run away. Did they really have no other choice but to stand there and be recognized? Bo Yan spoke softly yet with gravity, ¡°I might do something that could offend you, please forgive me.¡± Xia Siyu looked at him in confusion. A sincere light reflected off Bo Yan¡¯s glasses. Perhaps because he had spoken with such seriousness, Xia Siyu found it hard to object. She nodded. Then the next second, Bo Yan steadied her shoulder with his hand and turned her around. Previously, they had been in an embrace from behind. Now, with this turn, Xia Siyu was directly facing him. Still somewhat puzzled, she felt Bo Yan¡¯s hands that were on her shoulders slide down along her spine to her waist and pull her forward slightly. Instinctively stepping forward, Xia Siyu bumped right into Bo Yan¡¯s chest. One of his hands wrapped around her waist and the other moved up, fingers weaving through her hair, cradling her head and burying her face in his shoulder as he too lowered his head to rest it against the top of her head, hiding his face in her hair. The two were intimately nestled together. To anyone observing, this pose would suggest nothing more than a pair of ordinary young lovers. Even in this position, the faces of the two were not visible, but it was clear that both had attractive figures. Though Bo Yan seemed to be holding her tightly, he was actually not using much strength. Xia Siyu thought to herself while nestled in his arms, ¡°Hmm, so he is a university professor, cultured people really are different, full of cunning ideas.¡± Moreover, this posture was somewhat similar to how he protected her the previous night when they encountered turbulence. Back then, he had also held her head and wrapped his arms around her waist, burying her head in his embrace. The same sense of protection, the same absence of any amorous sentiment. Regardless of whether he had feelings for her or not, at least in such moments, he was willing to show his gentlemanly manners. Alright, in light of this guy¡¯s help, she would be magnanimous and not hit him for two days. Chapter 240 - Chapter 240: Chapter 240: Picking Up from the Airport (6) Chapter 240: Chapter 240: Picking Up from the Airport (6) The shuttle bus arrived at the station quickly, and as soon as it did, Xia Siyu hurried off the bus, with Bo Yan following her. As is well-known, there are duty-free shops at the international exit. As they strolled along, Xia Siyu suddenly disappeared, and after wandering around for a while, Bo Yan realized that she had gone shopping. In Germany, besides cars, there aren¡¯t any particularly famous luxury or cosmetic brands, and tax refund is a hassle. She used to go there for work and couldn¡¯t leave the crew to shop on her own. Even at the airport, there wasn¡¯t much time left, so she had to make do with airport shopping. Actually, she didn¡¯t really care about the price when buying things for herself. Even if there was an expensive lady¡¯s cream available at an airport counter, she wouldn¡¯t necessarily use it in her everyday life. But in the past, it had always been her and a team of people following her; this time, she was on her own. It wasn¡¯t easy to shop in Germany, so before she left, she at least had to buy something for Qin Baizhou, Wei Jingjing, Little Tang, and a few makeup artists to take back. It was a matter of courtesy. When Bo Yan sauntered over, he only saw her heading straight for the cosmetics area, grabbing three sets of La Mer¡¯s caviar series, and tossing them into the cart. He knew the price of this stuff, but only because a female assistant under him had bought this set before and mentioned the price, around ten thousand for each set. Of course, it was much cheaper at the airport, about thirty percent off. But for the average worker, such a price was not something they could afford under normal circumstances. Yet buying three sets at once, was that necessary? Was she going into the reselling business? Bo Yan looked at her with suspicion as she finished browsing the cosmetics and even moved towards the men¡¯s accessories section. It seemed that she was choosing tie clips and ties. It was a blind spot for Xia Siyu to shop for men¡¯s items at the airport. There were cosmetics available, but without knowing the exact skin type, she wouldn¡¯t dare to buy them. As for clothes and trousers, she didn¡¯t know the size of the recipient, which made it even more difficult to purchase. After looking around, it appeared that ties and tie clips were the most appropriate choices. Bo Yan saw her wandering into the men¡¯s section and noticed her selecting ties, and suddenly his heart skipped a beat: could it be that she was buying one for me? After all, she wasn¡¯t close to her father. Her relationship with her brothers and sisters was even colder. She didn¡¯t have a boyfriend, nor did she have any close male colleagues. Although the image of Qin Baizhou flashed across Bo Yan¡¯s mind, he felt that a woman giving a man a tie or tie clip had a distinctly intimate meaning. It was hard to say what Qin Baizhou thought of Xia Siyu, but Siyu¡¯s feelings towards him were purely platonic, comrades-in-arms, with not a hint of romantic sentiment. She wouldn¡¯t be able to bring herself to buy a tie for a man, would she? In fact, Xia Siyu not only could but even asked for his opinion, ¡°Which one of these two patterns do you think looks nicer?¡± Xia Siyu asked, pointing at two of the ties. Bo Yan came over very seriously to discuss with her, ¡°If it were me, I¡¯d prefer something solid-colored. This checkered one looks nice, but it¡¯s too flashy, not as versatile as a solid color.¡± Xia Siyu nodded, a testament to her aesthetics education at the university. Solid colors did look better; she agreed, ¡°One grey and one black. Wrap them up for me.¡± Bo Yan found it strange, ¡°Why are you buying two? Just one would be enough.¡± Of course, if Xia Siyu was giving it to him, he would definitely accept! The sales assistant nodded, and Xia Siyu added, ¡°Wrap them separately.¡± Hearing this, Bo Yan felt that something wasn¡¯t quite right¡­ Chapter 241 - Chapter 241: Chapter 241: Picking Up from the Airport (Extra 1) Chapter 241: Chapter 241: Picking Up from the Airport (Extra 1) He felt embarrassed to point it out explicitly, still puzzled, he asked, ¡°What¡¯s with this tie?¡± Xia Siyu explained naturally, ¡°It¡¯s for Brother Qin and Little Tang. Brother Qin worries about me 365 days a year, every single day. And as for Little Tang, he¡¯s always there when I need a car, picking me up and dropping me off, and he doesn¡¯t rest even late into the night. I feel particularly embarrassed about it. Not just them, JingJing and the makeup artist have also been worrying over me. Especially Jingjing, who claims to always have nitroglycerin on hand. Whenever I cause trouble she pops one, so that¡¯s why.¡± After she finished speaking, she saw Bo Yan gripping those two tie boxes in his hand, seemingly squeezing them a little too hard, almost deforming them. She quickly snatched the boxes back from Bo Yan¡¯s hand, ¡°What are you doing? If you want one, just buy it yourself. It¡¯s not expensive, there are plenty here.¡± Bo Yan¡¯s fingertips were faintly white, and his complexion also seemed a bit off. Fortunately, he was wearing a mask, hiding any visible reaction, and he just said coldly, ¡°Since you say Brother Qin has been such a great help to you, are you really comfortable giving him just a few thousand yuan tie?¡± Xia Siyu paused, then realized he was right, ¡°Then what do you suggest I give?¡± Bo Yan replied calmly, ¡°Since it¡¯s a gift for a man, a man¡¯s calling card is a watch. Of course, you should buy him a watch.¡± Xia Siyu certainly knew the value of a watch. Nowadays, the function of a watch to tell time had gradually been replaced by mobile phones. For women, a watch is purely a piece of jewelry, its role equivalent to a diamond-studded bracelet. For men, the poor tinker with cars, the rich with watches. Of course, when it comes to the rich playing with watches, at the very least you¡¯re looking at a Rolex Submariner starting at eighty thousand yuan, with brands like Jaeger-LeCoultre and Patek Philippe beginning at three hundred thousand yuan. If it¡¯s less than three hundred thousand, you¡¯d hardly dare say you play with watches; that¡¯s merely for timekeeping. Bo Yan continued to entice, ¡°¡®Once and for all,¡¯ you understand? It means, buy him a Rolex to honor the hard work and worry he¡¯s put in for you. You¡¯re not unwilling to spend that money on him, are you?¡± ¡°Of course not!¡± Xia Siyu immediately set down the tie in her hand and headed over to the watch section. She even inquired if there was a Rolex Submariner in stock, but unfortunately, there were none. She settled for a mechanical watch with high aesthetic appeal, costing around a hundred thousand yuan, and paid with her card. But a Rolex was so expensive, giving one to Little Tang as well would be too extravagant, and furthermore, Jingjing and the makeup artist¡¯s gifts were only seven thousand yuan. After some thought, she went next door to Longines and bought a beginner-level mechanical watch priced similarly to the cosmetics she got for Jingjing and the makeup artist. There was no good way to make up for the price difference, so she decided to invite them for a meal later to make it up to them. After buying the watch, the Rolex saleswoman thoughtfully suggested, ¡°How about I mail the box and receipt back for you, and you keep the watch with you. If it¡¯s worn on the wrist without a box, it¡¯s considered for personal use, and you can take one out without incurring duty. But if you have the box, they will charge tax.¡± The saleswoman¡¯s advice reminded her that she had bought two watches and three sets of cosmetics¡­ In the past, when going through customs, she had also bought more than allowed, but back then the whole team was together¡ªassistants, agents, a whole bunch of people¡ªshe could simply get a few to share the load. If they really went over the limit, Jingjing could take care of the declaration. Therefore, Xia Siyu turned her gaze towards Bo Yan who was beside her, ¡°Bo¡­¡± She barely got out a single word before Bo Yan cast a faint glance at her, then without missing a beat, turned around and said, ¡°Not helping.¡± Chapter 242 - Chapter 242: Chapter 242: Picking Up from the Airport (Extra 2) Chapter 242: Chapter 242: Picking Up from the Airport (Extra 2) Xia Siyu turned her head and asked the sales associate again, ¡°I can take this watch, but I also bought other brands of watches and makeup.¡± The sales associate patiently explained, ¡°The state levies taxes on luxury watches worth more than ten thousand yuan. If your other watches are not worth more than ten thousand yuan, you can also take one. As for makeup, generally if it is over five thousand yuan you need to declare it, but personal use is okay. If you don¡¯t want to declare it, just remove the packaging and treat it as personal use. Two or three sets of makeup usually won¡¯t be an issue for customs. If you bring a suitcase full of branded watches and makeup, who else would they check if not you? Only thing is, having two watches might be a bit conspicuous, and in case customs catches it, just declare that Longines watch. Declaring is simple, when you go out, just fill in the declaration form, write down your name, address, ID number, bank card, and the like, and that will do.¡± She intended to give the makeup and watches as gifts. She could forget about the Rolex, but open the others from their boxes? Then what was the point of bringing gifts? Therefore, Xia Siyu once again set her sights on Bo Yan standing beside her. Bo Yan looked at her indifferently, and his glance swept over the watch on her wrist¡ªthinking about how this watch, still warm from her touch, would soon be on Qin Baizhou¡¯s wrist, his mood soured even more, ¡°I won¡¯t take it.¡± Xia Siyu hadn¡¯t even spoken yet when the sales associate chimed in to help, ¡°You are with this young lady, right? A single luxury watch can incur tens of thousands in taxes, why waste that money? This is lawful tax avoidance, not exploiting a loophole. Since you haven¡¯t bought anything anyway, why not use your passport? You¡¯re friends, after all, lending a hand can strengthen the bond, why not do it?¡± The sales associate¡¯s last remark slightly piqued Bo Yan¡¯s interest. He took another look at Xia Siyu. Actually, Xia Siyu was just trying to avoid hassle, and she was willing to spend over a hundred thousand on a watch; paying a little more in taxes was no big deal. Bo Yan had declined twice, and she¡¯d given up hope. Though completing the forms was a hassle, and besides, there were a whole bunch of reporters outside the airport. If people saw her with a men¡¯s watch and it got onto Weibo, who knew what kind of character they would make her out to be. But really, Bo Yan had no reason to help her, their relationship hadn¡¯t reached that point yet. She asked directly, ¡°So I just declare it when I pass through customs, right?¡± ¡°I could take it, it¡¯s not that I can¡¯t,¡± Bo Yan said, and Xia Siyu paused mid-step. Bo Yan¡¯s expression was calm as he lifted his hand and pointed at the watch on her wrist, ¡°This one, give it to me. Isn¡¯t it a men¡¯s watch? I¡¯ll take it out for you. Plus, I can take your personal makeup. Anything else, don¡¯t come to me.¡± ¡°Sure thing!¡± Xia Siyu quickly slid the watch off her wrist and stuffed it into his palm. Seeing her remove the watch so readily, Bo Yan¡¯s expression relaxed a bit, and he even took the set of makeup she held in her hand. Feeling jovial, Xia Siyu was also feeling generous, ¡°How about I buy you a gift too? I saw you liked that tie earlier, shall I get it for you? Do you prefer black, gray, or coffee-colored? Or something else is fine too, except for watches.¡± Bo Yan watched her, his expression cracking ever so slightly. Then he simply turned and walked away without another word. After collecting her luggage and passing through customs, Xia Siyu said, ¡°Thank you.¡± Bo Yan replied indifferently, ¡°You owe me a favor. It needs to be repaid.¡± Chapter 243 - Chapter 243: Chapter 243: Picking Up from the Airport (Extra 3) Chapter 243: Chapter 243: Picking Up from the Airport (Extra 3) She knew it! She knew that Bo Yan wasn¡¯t that kind-hearted! All of Bo Yan¡¯s actions, which seemed gentlemanly, were actually exquisite egoism. He wouldn¡¯t do anything that didn¡¯t benefit him! Even if he did, he had to get something in return! Although it appeared as if he protected her when they encountered turbulence, he also had to fasten his seatbelt. Fastening hers was just a matter of convenience. And just now, in the shuttle bus, even though she was afraid of being recognized, wasn¡¯t Bo Yan? It should be known, from the past, he has always had the habits of a wealthy heir: he never made his relationships public. During their relationship, other than the occasional encounter with Han Yifan, he never introduced her to his friends and classmates, nor to his relatives and close friends. It wasn¡¯t until marriage was on the table that she realized her partner in this arranged marriage, her future husband, was this scoundrel! From the beginning, he maintained an attitude of a scumbag: not taking the initiative, not rejecting, not promising, and not taking responsibility. His marriage to her wasn¡¯t because she was Xia Siyu, or because she was a female star. It was solely due to family reasons. She had been fooled by his so-called ¡°gentlemanly demeanor¡± last night and today, thinking he had maybe changed a bit, but it was still the same! Xia Siyu asked, ¡°How can you still?¡± As Bo Yan pushed the luggage cart and walked out, he pondered, ¡°¡­ I haven¡¯t thought of it yet, I¡¯ll tell you when I do.¡± Such a standard Bo Yan response! If he couldn¡¯t think of something that benefited him more, he simply wouldn¡¯t bother, waiting instead for a future opportunity. Xia Siyu said coldly, ¡°This watch is worth one hundred and fifty thousand. The tax would be sixty percent, so let¡¯s say one hundred thousand. Anything more than one hundred thousand, I¡¯d rather not, thank you!¡± Xia Siyu usually couldn¡¯t be bothered to calculate or haggle, but that didn¡¯t mean she was stupid. Bo Yan hoping to swindle her? No chance! Bo Yan was unperturbed, ¡°There¡¯s no need to exaggerate. Maybe what I ask you to return won¡¯t cost you any money.¡± ¡°Won¡¯t cost any money? What would that be?¡± If it were any other man speaking like that, Xia Siyu would have immediately thought of unfavorable arrangements (hookups). But with Bo Yan, there wasn¡¯t an issue of who was exploited between them, and besides, they couldn¡¯t stand each other. If he stripped naked yesterday and slept in the same bed under one quilt with her, they could both remain completely undisturbed. She might want something from Bo Yan like this or that, but Bo Yan would probably find her wanting in some way or another. Bo Yan turned to look at her, unsure whether he was happy or not. The good part was that she was finally letting down her guard around him. The bad part was, she was way too unguarded, not even seeing him as a man! While he had desire, he lacked the courage, only daring to talk big and make an occasional touch. It seemed no good, he had to take the initiative and put in more effort. Xia Siyu returned to the country with three or four suitcases. In the past, she had Wei Jingjing, but now she was alone. Alone, she didn¡¯t mention asking Bo Yan to help push the luggage; she found a cart herself and pushed it along quite merrily. She seemed to have always been like that, never relying on her status as a celebrity or as a woman to get others to help, if it was something she could do herself. Bo Yan watched as she pushed the cart quite laboriously on her own, wanting to help but not knowing how to offer. Hesitating, by the time they reached the entrance, he was about to grab her luggage when suddenly¡­ Chapter 244 - Chapter 244: Chapter 244 The Main Character’s Downfall (1) Chapter 244: Chapter 244 The Main Character¡¯s Downfall (1) Suddenly overwhelmed by a wave of tumultuous noise ahead, he and Xia Siyu had just walked past the exit when the cries from outside thundered: ¡°Bo Yan, we won¡¯t allow you to be with Xia Siyu!¡± Bo Yan and Xia Siyu exchanged glances, oh, they got it, they had run into his fans. The fans, holding their light sticks, were kept behind the barricades set up for receiving passengers. There were also airport security personnel maintaining order. Passengers in the shuttle bus might have only felt that the two of them looked somewhat familiar and had nice figures and good fashion sense. But the fans, they could identify their beloved idol and girl from a crowd just by their clothes, the bags they carried, and the hats they wore. Both Bo Yan and Xia Siyu knew too well how terrifying the fans of popular stars could be. Controlling comments, strategic voting¡ªall that (behaviors specifically for boosting popularity in the fan community) were basic operations, and having a three-day and night battle with rival fans over a disagreement was just part of the routine. The typical fans of popular celebrities would treat male stars as if they were boyfriends, willing to spend money on them, willing to do anything for them, with the sole exception being that they could not let them date. Being involved with a guy was one thing, but with a girl, it was absolutely forbidden! Even if the male celebrity was of a higher status than the girl, the fans would still scrutinize the girl¡¯s looks, popularity, amount of negative publicity, with more precision than they would in choosing their own boyfriends. As for Xia Siyu, who had a bad reputation, she was basically seen as a harmful tumor by all fan circles, despised on sight. Originally, Xia Siyu¡¯s name was tied to Bo Yan for publicity, one moment claiming they were unwilling to cooperate, the next signing up instantly for movies and variety shows together. One moment they said the two were a duo and even slept together, then another moment claimed they didn¡¯t get along and fought constantly. But just when the fans were relieved, a Weibo like was promptly arranged¡­ A Weibo like was never accidental; even if it was, it meant she had seen and followed it before for her to ¡®accidentally¡¯ like it! Although the fans all despised Xia Siyu, they had to admit that she was indeed beautiful, very beautiful, extremely beautiful. What if she really hooked up with their beloved idol? Then what would they do? Even if she wasn¡¯t the girlfriend, just a fling, the ¡°sleeping together without responsibilities¡± kind, that wouldn¡¯t be acceptable! How precious was their idol¡¯s body, and how dare this scandalous artist defile him? Even with Qin Baizhou and Wei Jingjing quickly pulling the topic from the trending searches, it still exploded like a bomb. Qin Baizhou could only suppress the news to the fifth spot at best, which was still a trending status. The main issue was that it was a live show, and the artists¡¯ schedules were relatively transparent. Any determined person could easily find out their airport departure times, and there you have it arranged. Fans of Bo Yan were once known as the most comfortable fandom in the entire entertainment industry. Whenever there was fan circle strife, there was no need to waste words with the other party; you could just flaunt real achievements: a Gold Oscar award for best actor that instantly eclipsed all male stars under thirty in the China entertainment industry. Bo Yan had the looks, the height, the education, and the family background¡ªhis fans always won arguments with more confidence than any others. And the best part was that he never flirted with scandals, keeping a clear distance from all female celebrities. And then out of nowhere came Xia Siyu! Facing the mountainous cries, Bo Yan frowned slightly, but he thought, she didn¡¯t even need to confirm; as long as she didn¡¯t deny, he would announce to the whole world right away: This was not his girlfriend; this was his wife¡ªlegitimate and legally-recognized, his bona fide spouse! Chapter 245 - Chapter 245: Chapter 245: The Main Character Takes the Stage (2) Chapter 245: Chapter 245: The Main Character Takes the Stage (2) He glanced over to Xia Siyu, and in that look, his expression instantly became stern. Xia Siyu looked indifferent, unblinking in the face of the roaring crowd around her. Most of those present were Bo Yan¡¯s fans. Male celebrities¡¯ fans tended to be a bit crazier and more numerous than those of female stars. Xia Siyu had even lost some followers due to a variety of messy scandals and bizarre rumors; it was already good enough that not everyone had left or turned against her. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have remembered a superfan like Shengxia Yanyu. When fans insult you online, if they only target your female relatives, consider it polite. It¡¯s low-key and quality if they don¡¯t curse out all your ancestors and scatter the ashes of your family¡¯s ancestral graves. Now, although Bo Yan¡¯s fans still looked down on Xia Siyu, they had to mind their language since they were in public with security and police officers present¡ªit wouldn¡¯t do to curse too atrociously. But there were still a few holding light sticks, dressed in T-shirts of Bo Yan¡¯s fan club, especially excited and standing in the front row¡ªclearly his diehard fans. Xia Siyu stood by and listened for a while, thinking to herself that the insults were rather euphemistic. But seeing their level of excitement, she couldn¡¯t imagine how much worse they would curse her in the anonymity of the internet. It was different from just now in the shuttle bus, where she had been worried about being recognized mainly because she was in Bo Yan¡¯s arms, unable to clear her name. But now, she was fearless! Bo Yan watched her, watched as Xia Siyu calmly took off her mask. Quickly, he also removed his disguise of oversized black-rimmed glasses and took off his hat. After taking off her hat, she also used her hands to pull out the hair tie that had been holding her ponytail high. As her black hair fell down, she ran her fingers through it, casually smoothing it before flipping her head. From her just-now indifferent attitude, in that instant, it was as if she burst forth with a powerful aura. Even if she was only wearing sneakers, and a modest black dress, that couldn¡¯t hide her radiance! What is presence? This is presence! Audiences, don¡¯t think that just because she plays the fool in variety shows and seems a bit dim, she¡¯s genuinely a dunce who only relies on her looks to muddle through the entertainment industry¡ªa dumb blonde. She might not be as clever as Bo Yan, as scheming as Shang Feifei, or as adept at handling matters as Li Yiru. Moreover, now caught up in scandals with her reputation in tatters, she¡¯s the kind people frown upon at the mere mention of her name. But she¡¯s gorgeous, she¡¯s stunning, and the movies she stars in are box office hits. She¡¯s been a sensation from the moment she debuted six years ago and has never stopped! All the slander, all the denigration, I genuinely don¡¯t give a damn! All this talk of superstars and influential figures, what¡¯s it to me! Bo Yan may be handsome, well-built, and a decent actor, but she¡¯s no less! These fans think she¡¯s not good enough for Bo Yan, telling her to get lost? Sorry, they¡¯re the ones who are deluded! She¡¯s just craving Bo Yan¡¯s great body, but she¡¯s not interested in him as a person. Even if Bo Yan were to kneel before her and beg for her love at this very moment, she¡¯d still have to think about whether to accept! Fans really do follow their idol¡¯s lead. Bo Yan can think himself above it all, but these fans, strutting around¡ªhow dare they come and insult her to her face? Have they no shame? She casually walked up to this excited fan while wearing her sneakers, ¡°A Bo Yan fan? Since you care about him so much, I¡¯ll tell you, ¡®I¡¯m NOT with Bo Yan, NOT his girlfriend, NOT in love with him!¡¯¡± Chapter 246 - Chapter 246: Chapter 246: The Protagonist Steps In (3) Chapter 246: Chapter 246: The Protagonist Steps In (3) After Xia Siyu finished her sentence, Bo Yan¡¯s face immediately darkened. At the venue, the few big fans in the front row who had just been reprimanding were silenced by her. But after all, she was only one person, and this was the noisy airport, many fans in the back row had not heard her. They only saw her standing at the front saying something, and some fans became anxious, ¡°Xia Siyu, what are you saying!¡± Xia Siyu raised her head and pointed directly at the Bo Yan fan she had just rebuked, ¡°You¡¯re a big fan from the support club, right? Tell them to quiet down! Do you still want to hear me explain my relationship with Bo Yan?¡± Her momentum was so strong, and her tone so confident, that when she said this, that big fan really discussed with the people beside him, asking them to keep their voices down. Originally, many people had gathered at the arrival gate. Apart from some normal pickups, most were fans and media. With the organization of the fan club¡¯s people, the area became quiet all at once. Xia Siyu cleared her throat, ready to pose with full grandeur, she had to look poised! Then she raised her head, facing the cameras of the fans and media, she lifted her small chin, brightened her voice, and with her loudest volume enunciated clearly, ¡°I don¡¯t like Bo Yan, don¡¯t like Bo Yan, don¡¯t like Bo Yan! He and I are not a couple, we aren¡¯t in love!¡± As soon as her words fell, there was an uproar among the crowd! There¡¯s a common saying online: the person involved comes forward to confront the issue face-to-face. This means the person involved expresses their own views on Weibo or in other interviews. But generally, even acknowledging with a like or a forwarded comment on Weibo is considered quite a bold move. However, unexpectedly, Xia Siyu¡¯s personal intervention was in the real world, facing Bo Yan¡¯s fans directly, as just one person against thousands! Many fans who can stir up storms online might just be meek introverts in real life, too timid to even breathe heavily. If they gather together, they might dare to shout loudly, but facing Xia Siyu alone, they had no guts at all! Especially since many of the attendees were not fans but professional fan club leaders or media. As soon as they heard her say these words, someone immediately opposed, ¡°Then why did you like Bo Teacher¡¯s selfie!¡± As she said this, the people beside her also came to their senses. They had just been intimidated by Xia Siyu¡¯s appearance and presence, silenced in an instant. But if she really had no particular thoughts about their Brother Bo, why did she like Bo Teacher¡¯s selfie! Some fans nearby started whispering, with someone even pulling up her past statements, ¡°Xia Siyu said she would never collaborate with Bo Teacher in this lifetime, but they ended up shooting a movie together and participating in a variety show. Can you still say you have no thoughts about him?¡± ¡°Yeah, even on the variety show, the two of you lived together. Did you use some sort of trick, specifically arranging it with the show¡¯s crew?¡± Xia Siyu snorted, finding it ridiculous! ¡°Having thoughts just because I liked a Weibo post? You even want to control my casual liking of nice pictures, why are you meddling so much? Even if you do meddle, Bo Yan would never marry you in this lifetime even if he stays unmarried! Your Brother is right here now, you can ask him directly, ask him if he and I are in a relationship!¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s words once again drew everyone¡¯s attention to Bo Yan. Chapter 247 - Chapter 247: Chapter 247 The Main Character’s Downfall (4) Chapter 247: Chapter 247 The Main Character¡¯s Downfall (4) In the eyes of everyone, Bo Yan¡¯s expression was indifferent. Unlike Xia Siyu, who was always in the spotlight, Bo Yan always wore a mask, hat, and glasses and never took off his disguise. At this moment, faced with Xia Siyu¡¯s words and the stares from the crowd, he remained silent. Xia Siyu frowned slightly, feeling a bit strange. Bo Yan¡¯s disgust towards her had never changed from the beginning to the end. Although he seemed to have a bit of interest in her body, they were adults, and she understood. It was not love or infatuation, just the natural desire to appreciate beauty. To put it more bluntly, it was all about the body, not the heart. Just as she liked to admire Bo Yan¡¯s good figure, and even wanted to touch it. But that was as far as it would go, and she would not delve any deeper. Nor would she harbor any feelings of admiration or attachment towards him. Bo Yan had always been very straightforward in responding to emotions, but this time, he was silent. Was it because he felt he couldn¡¯t speak up in good conscience due to their supposed marital status, or was it because of their past romance? But before Xia Siyu could ask, Bo Yan¡¯s fans were already in a flustered frenzy: ¡°Yan Bao, Yan Bao, please say something! Tell me you have nothing to do with this woman!¡± ¡°Brother Yan, you aren¡¯t in love, right?¡± ¡°Xia Siyu isn¡¯t worthy of you!¡± The voices of the fans grew louder, especially with the person in question present, Bo Yan was their confidence! During this exchange, Song Fengzhi arrived. He was there to pick someone up from the airport, but instead of finding the person, he found a large crowd of Bo Yan¡¯s fans, who had made the arrival hall impassable. The fan club had organized a pick-up event today, and with the program being broadcast live, all sorts of materials were flying around. Bo Yan and Xia Siyu were already the hottest two in the program, and even if not their die-hard fans, there were many passersby who became fans after watching the variety show. Picking someone up at the airport wasn¡¯t seen as a hassle, so no one paid it much mind. Who knew that just in the early hours of this morning, there would be the incident of Xia Siyu accidentally liking a post. Bo Yan¡¯s side had yet to give any direction, but the higher-ups in the company thought this was a good opportunity. As Bo Yan was the one being liked, as long as it wasn¡¯t hyping up his own romance, who wouldn¡¯t want the free publicity? Ideally, the public opinion should lean towards Xia Siyu¡¯s unrequited feelings, with Bo Yan remaining untainted, not having to pay the price for a female co-star¡¯s infatuation. Following Bo Yan¡¯s usual pattern, he wouldn¡¯t show a good face to any female artist trying to create a CP (couple pairing) with him, and this time was probably no exception. Xia Siyu was furious. Indeed, fans follow their idol¡¯s lead, the idol¡¯s demeanor is mirrored by the fans. From Bo Yan to his fans, all bore an air of arrogance. What about her, was she not good enough? There were so many people queuing up just for her to glance their way, and she couldn¡¯t be bothered. Did they really think their brother was such a catch that every woman was desperate for a bite? The media and the fans were all waiting for Bo Yan, and so was she. The fans were going crazy, but Xia Siyu was not a fan, and she couldn¡¯t be bothered to wait for Bo Yan to take a stance. He wouldn¡¯t speak, would he? She would! But just as she was about to continue disassociating herself, Bo Yan, looking at her impatient and angry face, finally spoke up, ¡°Xia Miss and I are just very good friends, colleagues, and partners.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± And the very next second, Qin Baizhou, followed by a group of bodyguards dressed in black suits, made his way through the crowd and walked out. Chapter 248 - Chapter 248: Chapter 248 The Main Character’s Downfall (5) Chapter 248: Chapter 248 The Main Character¡¯s Downfall (5) Qin Baizhou had hardly slept since the early hours of yesterday morning when he saw the accidental message from Xia Siyu. He stared at the screen for several minutes, and it wasn¡¯t until Wei Jingjing called him to consult about what should be done next that he snapped out of it. ¡°Just go with the accidental slip,¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal,¡± ¡°If it trends, just pull it down to avoid being exploited by someone with an agenda.¡± His instructions were very official and positive. However, after asking around, he finally said to Wei Jingjing, ¡°Have you called Siyu just now?¡± Wei Jingjing nodded, ¡°I did.¡± ¡°What did she say?¡± Wei Jingjing said, ¡°An accidental slip. Siyu said it was purely an accidental slip because she was sitting in first class with Bo Yan at the time, and they might have chatted about something, so she took a glance at his Weibo. She assured me that there is no intimate relationship between them, and they are not dating.¡± Even though Bo Yan had made the comment, ¡°Sleeping in the same bed, under the same quilt,¡± if Xia Siyu said it was okay, then it was really¡­ okay, right? Qin Baizhou gave an ¡°Oh,¡± but didn¡¯t feel any relief at all. Wei Jingjing cautiously explained, ¡°After all, we have a six-hour time difference from them. It¡¯s three in the morning for us, and nine in the evening for them. Who sleeps at that hour, so¡­¡± By the end of her explanation, Qin Baizhou didn¡¯t reply at all, and Wei Jingjing faintly felt that the boss seemed to be¡­ a little upset. Qin Baizhou might not have been listening. After Wei Jingjing finished speaking, he simply said, ¡°Keep an eye on the trending searches. If you can¡¯t pull it down, try to suppress its visibility, and keep the situation from escalating. For the cost of pulling it down, have Xia Siyu pay you directly, deduct double. The extra will be your hardship fee. Also, get the PR team to start working urgently, prepare a plan just in case someone turns the heat on her. We can play up her naive personality to divert the public¡¯s attention. We must make it clear that she is not dating Bo Yan. Insist it was an accidental slip, at most it¡¯s a publicity stunt.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Wei Jingjing couldn¡¯t tell if she was mistaken, but their always calm boss seemed to have a slight¡­ edge to his voice? ¡°You probably shouldn¡¯t sleep tonight, there might be more issues,¡± Wei Jingjing heard the sound of Qin Baizhou putting his glasses on the desk, followed by the noise of the swivel chair moving. Perhaps he had taken off his glasses, resting his elbows on the back of the chair, supporting his forehead and massaging his temples, his head slightly bowed, speechless for a long while, just sighing. Although Xia Siyu was the hottest celebrity in their company and could even be considered a top female star in the entertainment circle, she had a clear tendency to attract both fame and notoriety. Whatever she did seemed to cause trouble. The company was constantly in an uproar over trivial matters she provoked. It took him a while to speak again, ¡°During this time, has she talked to you about anything related to Bo Yan?¡± Wei Jingjing instantly thought of the day Xia Siyu had said she had slept with Bo Yan. Though she was sure Siyu ultimately hadn¡¯t gone through with it, that incident might have caused some change in the relationship between her and Bo Yan. But she wouldn¡¯t dare tell Qin Baizhou directly! If Qin Baizhou knew she was helping Xia Siyu keep secrets, he would be furious with her! ¡°No,¡± she answered firmly, ¡°I just called her, and she made it clear that she and Bo Yan are not a couple.¡± Chapter 249 - Chapter 249: Chapter 249 The Main Character’s Downfall (6) Chapter 249: Chapter 249 The Main Character¡¯s Downfall (6) ¡°Qin Baizhou, don¡¯t you already know what Siyu is like? She¡¯s always been one to speak her mind.¡± ¡°Even if they¡¯re not a couple, you also know there¡¯s another possibility. The entertainment industry is full of temptations, and they are both attractive men and women¡­¡± In fact, within the circle of agents or even most ordinary people, Qin Baizhou would be considered quite handsome. He¡¯s 182 cm tall and had a phase when he was overweight, but after starting work, he slimmed down, and now he is a dashing young man. Unlike Bo Yan, he came from a humble family and earned his way to Yancheng University. After graduating from the Chinese department, he first worked at a newspaper. But with the meager salary, he couldn¡¯t make ends meet and had to take on part-time work in new media during his free time. He started from the bottom, as an entertainment reporter, Star Scout, and artist assistant. Xia Siyu was the first star he discovered and the one he brought into his previous company by signing her up. Thanks to Xia Siyu, he rose through the ranks at that company. From an entertainment reporter and peripheral Star Scout to an artist assistant, then an executive agent, he also ventured into business. Qin Baizhou was quick-witted and capable, and after making money, he resigned to focus on being an agent. Much of his success was due to Xia Siyu¡¯s fame; for business and film engagements, they didn¡¯t even need to actively seek out opportunities, as many corporations and investors came Door-knocking for collaborations. Thus, he made numerous contacts, which later led to him securing investment and, leveraging that, establishing a new entertainment company and performing a series of maneuvers to sign Xia Siyu away. He is now one of the three partners in their new company and holds significant power. Qin Baizhou was a people person, generous when it was called for and politely cordial when appropriate. However, he was also unyielding when he needed to be. He always conversed with a smile, even when dealing with subordinates. He never let his emotions show or his thoughts be known to the other party. Therefore, even if some people felt he was a smiling tiger and his gentlemanly demeanor was a facade, it¡¯s hard to strike at a smiling face, and generally, people didn¡¯t end up falling out with him over public matters. Wei Jingjing started to feel uneasy with Qin Baizhou¡¯s sudden silence. To tell the truth, as a subordinate, she sometimes wished her boss would be more open about his emotions; otherwise, when she made a mistake, she would never know how she ¡°died,¡± left only to silently speculate about his thoughts. After a while, Qin Baizhou asked, ¡°What time is her flight?¡± Wei Jingjing replied, ¡°It arrives at eleven. Allowing for luggage retrieval and customs, let¡¯s say around twelve. Boss, are you planning to pick her up?¡± Qin Baizhou waited another moment before he quietly affirmed with a ¡°Hmm¡±: ¡°I¡¯ll go and see.¡± After Xia Siyu¡¯s slip-up in the wee hours, although Qin Baizhou was affected, he handled everything quite well. He took down the trending search and also kept an eye on Bo Yan¡¯s agency¡¯s actions. Waiting for eleven o¡¯clock, Xia Siyu¡¯s plane landed, and before she even passed through customs, Qin Baizhou was already at the airport. The reason he hadn¡¯t shown up earlier was first, to see what steps Bo Yan¡¯s company would take. From the early hours until now, he had been in touch with Bo Yan¡¯s company and had a hunch they were considering riding on Xia Siyu¡¯s slip-up for publicity, which irked him. Secondly, he wanted to gauge Xia Siyu¡¯s own attitude. Whether there was something between her and Bo Yan, whether they were romantically involved or not. But just now, after Xia Siyu repeatedly clarified the issue, he believed her. Chapter 250 - Chapter 250: Chapter 250 The Main Character’s Downfall (Monthly Ticket Bonus) Chapter 250: Chapter 250 The Main Character¡¯s Downfall (Monthly Ticket Bonus) Qin Baizhou made his entrance, and although the others didn¡¯t know who he was, Bo Yan definitely did. Speaking of which, even though he had encountered Qin Baizhou in the past few years, if you talked seriously about their direct interactions, about Xia Siyu, aside from now, it had only been one and a half times. One time was at the audition for ¡°Storm.¡± Bo Yan noticed his protective behavior toward Xia Siyu, and she listened to him. The half time was the last time Qin Baizhou came to Qingcheng Apartment. Although the two did not meet face-to-face, he could sense that Qin Baizhou¡¯s concern for her was extraordinary. It was normal for Xia Siyu to listen to Qin Baizhou. Despite being the hottest artist, Qin Baizhou was a master planner. He was gentle, elegant, mature, and stable, always greeting people with a smile. He had mentored her from the beginning of her entertainment career and invested a lot of effort. A good agent is a trustworthy friend, a family member, even a life mentor to an artist. That¡¯s why later on, many artists who were let down in love chose their agents or assistants who had been by their side and protected them all along; such cases were far from rare. To Xia Siyu, he was at least, for now, merely a friend. The way she blurted out ¡°not even able to be friends¡± the last time Qin Baizhou came, and how this time, although she bought him an expensive watch, she did not cherish it and let him wear it casually, was clear evidence. But, just because Xia Siyu didn¡¯t think much of Qin Baizhou, that didn¡¯t mean the feelings weren¡¯t reciprocated. Let¡¯s be honest, only someone as daft as Xia Siyu could be so oblivious in matters of affection not to notice Qin Baizhou¡¯s feelings. His constant care and attention, his ability to handle her entire support system, and how he had clearly called from the airport earlier to pick her up, yet waited until she took a stance in the face of fans and media before appearing. Sure enough, once Qin Baizhou arrived, he first apologized to Xia Siyu, ¡°Sorry, I was at the parking lot when I called you just now. I arrived a bit late. You weren¡¯t hurt, were you?¡± Xia Siyu said, ¡°If we don¡¯t leave quickly, we certainly will be.¡± She pursed her lips, looking at the airport security nearby. With so many fans and media present, the order at the airport was severely disrupted. The fans were unwilling to leave, each one more agitated than the last. They weren¡¯t her fans; she had no intention of taking the blame. Since her fans had long been at odds with Bo¡¯s, Xia Siyu didn¡¯t care about their opinions. In front of the media, she bluntly spoke up without disguise, ¡°Bringing so many people to make a fuss, disrupting the order at the airport, thinking that louder voices can win an argument¡ªis this childish behavior?¡± At her words, Bo¡¯s fans outside became even more worked up. Song Fengzhi came to control the situation, but Bo¡¯s fans, used to running wild, didn¡¯t listen to him. It was Bo Yan who came forward and said, ¡°Thank you, everyone. Go back and rest. You have worked hard.¡± Then, he took some photos with fans, signed autographs, shook hands, and organized them to leave. Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t be bothered to look at him. She tossed her head, handed over her luggage cart, and clad in black clothes with her long hair draped over her shoulders, she walked proudly at the forefront. Qin Baizhou walked beside her, followed by a large group of black-clad bodyguards, shielding her tightly in a manner befitting a boss making an appearance on the streets. After getting in the car and making a round, they ended up at a conference hall near the airport, where they met with Bo Yan again. Chapter 251 - Chapter 251: Chapter 251 Confrontation (1) Chapter 251: Chapter 251 Confrontation (1) This time, when Xia Siyu encountered Bo Yan, she felt a bit strange. She turned her head to glance at Qin Baizhou with a questioning look. Qin Baizhou just smiled and did not answer her question. When Xia Siyu looked over, she saw that it wasn¡¯t only Bo Yan over there; Assistant Song Fengzhi and Bo Yan¡¯s agent were also present. Bo Yan¡¯s entry into the entertainment circle had faced strong opposition from the Bo Family. The Bo Family couldn¡¯t afford to lose face, and they didn¡¯t want their descendants to sell laughs in the entertainment industry. Especially since Bo Yan himself was a university lecturer, someone who could become a professor in the future, becoming an entertainer was considered utterly rebellious and unorthodox. But Bo Yan insisted, and his cousin Bo Yi also supported him¡ªactually, it was because he hoped for Bo Yan to stay away from the Bo Family¡¯s business, tussle in the entertainment industry, and preferably ruin his own reputation. Moreover, at that time, the Xia Family and the Bo Family were preparing for an arranged marriage, with Bo Yi actively pursuing Xia Sicai. Naturally, he hoped Bo Yan would quickly become an artist and stay away from Xia Sicai. With Bo Yi¡¯s instigation, the Bo Family finally agreed to let Bo Yan enter the circle. However, the Bo Family had their demands. Ultimately, Bo Yan set up his own studio where he was the boss, and the agent was only there to assist on the side, unable to control him through the company. Fortunately, Bo Yan proved his worth. He won Best Newcomer with his first film and became Best Actor just a year later, firmly establishing his footing in the entertainment industry. His agent also had an easier time and even had the opportunity to manage other artists, like the recreational entertainer Wu Di. But now there was trouble, and the agent had to be present at the scene. On Xia Siyu¡¯s side, aside from Qin Baizhou, Wei Jingjing and Little Tang had also come. As soon as Xia Siyu entered, she did not consider herself an outsider, or rather, she did not take the people from Bo Yan¡¯s side seriously. She went right ahead and said to Wei Jingjing and Little Tang, ¡°I brought gifts for you two on my trip abroad. Where¡¯s my suitcase? Open it up and I¡¯ll give them to you right now.¡± She didn¡¯t care about the people with Bo Yan at all, called for her assistant to bring over the suitcase, and opened her luggage on the spot. In the small conference room, her large suitcase immediately blocked the aisle, and she handed over two sets of cosmetics and a Longines watch from inside, ¡°The makeup artist isn¡¯t here; you help me give these to them. It¡¯s not much money, just a thought. I hope you won¡¯t disdain them. Next time I¡¯ll bring better ones for you.¡± Wei Jingjing and Little Tang hurriedly accepted them: ¡°We won¡¯t disdain, won¡¯t disdain.¡± They were seven thousand yuan gifts, given for free¡ªwho wouldn¡¯t want them? Xia Siyu also said to Qin Baizhou, ¡°Brother Qin, I¡¯ll give you your gift later.¡± After all, Qin Baizhou¡¯s gift was more valuable, and it was quite different from the ones given to the others. Moreover, being right in front of Bo Yan¡¯s side, it really wasn¡¯t convenient. When Qin Baizhou heard he had a gift, a smile immediately bloomed on his face, ¡°You went to work; you shouldn¡¯t have bothered with gifts. You being well is the greatest gift to me.¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than Bo Yan over there coughed twice. Xia Siyu looked up and saw Bo Yan looking at her expressionlessly, seemingly somewhat dissatisfied with the way she had spread out her luggage. It wasn¡¯t just him; his agent and Song Fengzhi also seemed speechless. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t care. Qin Baizhou instructed Wei Jingjing, ¡°Close the suitcase.¡± Wei Jingjing nodded and went down with Little Tang to tidy up. Xia Siyu stepped over with her shoes, walked to the sofa, and comfortably sat down like a boss, leaning on the couch with a lift of her chin, ¡°Isn¡¯t there something to discuss? What is it? Wrap it up quickly; my time is very precious.¡± Chapter 252 - Chapter 252: Chapter 252 Confrontation (2) Chapter 252: Chapter 252 Confrontation (2) As soon as she finished speaking, Bo Yan remained indifferent, but Song Fengzhi was a bit agitated. Although the fans outside the airport today were a bit excessive, the cause was still because you accidentally liked a post, wasn¡¯t it? Why on earth would you use your main account to like Bo Yan¡¯s posts? Don¡¯t you know that Weibo is not the same as it was before? Every move of your main account can cause a stir among tens of millions of fans. Add to that Bo Yan¡¯s fans, who have already broken a hundred million. If even just one-tenth of a hundred million fans were to act up, it would be difficult to control them. Over the years, Bo Yan has had smooth sailing and never needed fans to feud over resources, rankings, or endorsements. He didn¡¯t even need fans to worry about him dating, as he has always refused to hype up CP (celebrity pairings). But likewise, the fans have been pampered too much. Any little disturbance, and their mentality can easily become unbalanced. Xia Siyu kept switching between detesting Bo Yan and seeming to like him, and with her arrogant attitude, things could easily get out of control if her agency didn¡¯t step in. Even if these two were really dating, they would still need to consider their endorsements and popularity, and keep it low-key. Nowadays, countless people¡¯s careers have tanked because they chose to publicly display their love as celebrities. If a celebrity doesn¡¯t have strong abilities, it¡¯s very difficult for them to make a comeback. And even if they do, reaching their former heights is unlikely. People are not emotionless plants, idols are human, they eat grains just like everyone else, and of course, they date too. But since you¡¯ve chosen the path of popularity, you really should leave some room for fans to fantasize. As everyone knows, although the fans call themselves ¡°mom fans,¡± ¡°sister fans,¡± or even ¡°diehard¡± or ¡°braindead¡± fans, in reality, there¡¯s only one type: the ¡°girlfriend fan.¡± Fans view male celebrities as their own boyfriends. They can¡¯t have them, but they can dream of having such a perfect man¡ªtall, handsome, good at singing and dancing, a superb actor, born of high status, and without a girlfriend! A girlfriend is the public enemy; it doesn¡¯t matter how outstanding she is, because the fans see her as a rival, naturally they would be critical no matter what. Bo Yan, though highly capable and able to make a name for himself without fans, through his acting skills alone, has indeed attracted a lot of fans with his perfect public image over the years. From the perspective of the agency, they would of course hope that he avoids dating if possible, or at the very least keeps it discreet, definitely not public. Who doesn¡¯t want free popularity and fans? Everyone is clear about this; it¡¯s just that it¡¯s generally not something that¡¯s brought up in public. But Xia Siyu¡¯s attitude is a bit too arrogant, isn¡¯t it? She¡¯s a top celeb, but their Bo Yan is even higher! Bo Yan didn¡¯t speak, and Song Fengzhi couldn¡¯t say much, but Bo Yan¡¯s agent coughed and started to speak, ¡°It¡¯s about the like early this morning.¡± Xia Siyu picked up a kiwi from the table, peeled it, and took a bite, then crinkled her brows, ¡°So sour.¡± Qin Baizhou, sitting next to her, said, ¡°Why bother with all these odd things? If you want to eat kiwi, I¡¯ll buy you gold kiwifruit; they¡¯re much sweeter than these dubious ones.¡± Bo Yan, sitting across from them, frowned slightly. Then Xia Siyu finally said, ¡°A slip of the hand.¡± It was just a simple accidental like, nothing more significant. But now, every single action of a celebrity is scrutinized under a magnifying glass, and not the slightest mistake can be afforded. ¡°It¡¯s not for publicity, not dating. Are you satisfied with this answer?¡± Chapter 253 - Chapter 253: Chapter 253 Confrontation (3) Chapter 253: Chapter 253 Confrontation (3) The agent across said, ¡°Although that¡¯s the case, it was ultimately Teacher Xia who started this incident. When it broke out, it also caused us quite some trouble.¡± Xia Siyu ruthlessly exposed them, ¡°What trouble did you have? So many fans came over, and the media were there too. Don¡¯t tell me you had no idea beforehand.¡± The agent was taken aback, and Qin Baizhou joined in to twist the knife, ¡°Even though the incident originated from our side, pulling the hot search and trying to minimize the impact, it was only us doing that. Your company didn¡¯t get involved at all. Moreover, I saw marketing accounts reposting things like ¡®Bo Yan¡¯s charm is irresistible to Xia Siyu,¡¯ ¡®From disgust to admiration, a high-and-mighty idol like Bo Yan is worth it,¡¯ kinds of soft articles. Don¡¯t tell me these marketing accounts are doing charity work, copying and reposting the same things in droves. And one of them even made it to the hot search.¡± This was the talent agency marketing at work. Proper marketing, placing soft articles, pushing them onto the hot search, and then having fans control the comments and share them, increasing the buzz. These were all basic moves, the unspoken rules of the entertainment industry. Sometimes, when both artists cooperated well, not only did the onlookers feel comfortable watching, but both sides¡¯ fans were also harmonious, the heat was on, and everyone was happy. Of course, there was also this kind of marketing that boosts one by stepping on another, secretly stepping on people to rise to the top. Truth be told, it wasn¡¯t the first time Xia Siyu had been used as a stepping stone in marketing. Li Yiru had risen to the top that way. Without being compared and stepped on, one wouldn¡¯t be considered a top star, and that was the confidence Xia Siyu and Qin Baizhou had. But if the other party took advantage and acted coy, especially in front of them, then they shouldn¡¯t blame Qin Baizhou for tearing them down. Don¡¯t be fooled by Qin Baizhou¡¯s constant smile and polite speech into thinking he¡¯s soft. He had a reputation in the industry known as ¡°the smiling tiger¡±! Bo Yan remained calm throughout, but when he saw Qin Baizhou casually pick up a banana, peel it, and hand it to Xia Siyu¡¯s mouth, and she didn¡¯t move an inch, followed by taking a bite, Do you know how ambiguous it is for a man to feed a woman a banana like that? Are you trying to make it erotic? Moreover, after she took a bite, Qin Baizhou immediately took the banana back, ¡°That¡¯s enough, this thing is high in calories, one bite is good enough.¡± Xia Siyu didn¡¯t mind, and the key was, Qin Baizhou still said with a smile, ¡°I won¡¯t waste it.¡± Although he found a reason for himself, he conveniently ate the rest of her banana! The entire process was smooth and natural, and although no one else at the scene felt anything was off because artists sometimes have to eat very little to maintain their figure, and the rest is usually shared by the assistants and agents, Bo Yan¡¯s expression was still very gloomy. Song Fengzhi, seeing that Bo Yan seemed unhappy, thought he was upset about the other agent feeding their artist, and handed him an orange, ¡°Brother Yan, want an orange?¡± Bo Yan took the orange and almost crushed it into orange juice. ¡°Let¡¯s leave it at that,¡± he stood up, slamming the wrinkled orange onto the table, ¡°I¡¯m not interested in hyping things up either. Let¡¯s both suppress it.¡± He also turned back to scold the agent, ¡°The fan club, how many times have I told you to take control? If something goes wrong in the future, will you be the one paying for it?¡± Before leaving, he also approached Qin Baizhou, ¡°Oh, I forgot, this is for you. A gift Xia Siyu bought for you.¡± Then he took off the Rolex watch from his wrist. Chapter 254 - Chapter 254: Chapter 254 Confrontation (4) Chapter 254: Chapter 254 Confrontation (4) He couldn¡¯t tell if it was because the mechanical watch was rather heavy or some other reason, but when Bo Yan placed the face of the watch down on the table, the sound was somewhat loud. Qin Baizhou sat on the sofa and looked up. Bo Yan also happened to have just set the watch down and looked down as well. For the first time, the gazes of the two men met. Qin Baizhou had that kind of demeanor where, even when he was scolding you, his face would still carry a gentle smile, and he usually chose his words with elegance. After all, he studied literature, so his rhetorical skills were formidable. Sometimes, even after he¡¯d scolded you, if you didn¡¯t listen carefully, you might even think he was praising you. Only later, upon closer reflection, would you sense his true intentions. Though he had made a name for himself over the years, he still carried the cautious and humble attitude he had developed while rising from the lower strata of society. But Bo Yan was different, for he exuded an air of scholarship too, but due to his wealthy upbringing and the early demise of his parents, his aloofness, sharpness, and disdain were all part of his armor. Yet, both men were equally incisive and cutting. Almost in an instant, Bo Yan and Qin Baizhou both realized that the man before them was their rival in love. After one piercing glance, Bo Yan slowly withdrew himself, as if all the sharpness and aggressiveness from just moments ago were merely an illusion. As Bo Yan left, Song Fengzhi, along with some other agents, assistants, and bodyguards, followed suit. Bo Yan led the way, and vaguely in the background, he could hear Xia Siyu complaining, ¡°I didn¡¯t sleep at all well on the plane. I need to find somewhere to get a massage, my bones feel like they¡¯re falling apart¡­¡± They arrived at the underground parking lot. With a car key in hand, Song Fengzhi remotely unlocked the car and asked, ¡°Brother Bo, are we heading to the company, or straight back to the villa?¡± He carefully skirted around the subject of the Qingcheng Apartments, as Bo Yan had just had a quarrel with Xia Siyu, and Bo Yan¡¯s fans had begun to viciously attack her online; he seemed to be in a poor mood. Bo Yan stood in front of the car and, after a long pause, gestured with his hand, ¡°The keys.¡± Sometimes when Bo Yan was in a bad mood, he would take off in his car by himself. He knew speeding was wrong, so he never went to city roads but would drive directly to the West Suburbs racing club. There were cars and tracks, and he had his own modified race car there, which he never drove on public roads but used to blow off steam whenever he felt like it. Song Fengzhi hesitated for a moment, knowing Bo Yan was angry. But about what? Because his fan club had caused a disturbance, and two hours later, the issue had already blown up online. Without a doubt, this had to be a trending topic purchased by Qin Baizhou: #BoYanFansBlockAirport#. Qin Baizhou had a way of doing things, always prepared with a contingency. On one hand, he would contact Bo Yan¡¯s side amiably; on the other hand, he would turn around and buy negative trending topics. Bo Yan¡¯s management allowed fans to confront Xia Siyu, and he countered with a trending topic, blaming Bo Yan¡¯s fans for being arrogant and disrupting the normal order of the airport. If they cooperated with his marketing strategy, Qin Baizhou would immediately withdraw the trending topic. If they were relentless, Qin Baizhou would be prepared to fight them to the end. The country had recently been administering stricter control over fan culture and fan circles; indeed, this was a sensitive time and they couldn¡¯t afford to be too high-profile. Song Fengzhi really handed over the keys. Bo Yan drove his Maybach alone, all the way to the racing club. He had just parked the car, passed through face recognition entry, and there he met his good cousin: Bo Yi. Chapter 255 - Chapter 255: Chapter 255 Confrontation (5) Chapter 255: Chapter 255 Confrontation (5) Bo Yi did not come alone this time; at the very least, he was followed by a large group of people. Although racing was the main attraction here, this area was actually part of a high-end club¡¯s property, complete with a golf course and tennis court nearby. If guests grew tired, they could enjoy a natural spring heated geothermally to mimic a hot spring and even indulge in an essential oil SPA. Other beauty services were also fully available, perfectly catering to guests who brought their female companions. While the men engaged in golfing and racing, exchanging conversations, their companions could simultaneously relax in hot springs and enjoy beauty treatments without any inconvenience. Bo Yi, too, had come to conduct business. Although he was Bo Yan¡¯s older cousin, he was not much older, being only thirty-three this year and had risen to the position of Vice President in charge of market development and project negotiation within the Bo Family¡¯s business. The Bo Family might be a bit traditional as a family enterprise, but they had been quite strict in cultivating Bo Yi. After returning to the country with a master¡¯s degree, he had worked his way up from the grassroots for several years, proving that he was no mere armchair strategist but someone who had hands-on experience with the machinery. His visit this time was not for leisure; it was for business. The party he was negotiating with was a middle-aged, balding boss with a strong accent from Southeast Asia, an overseas Chinese. Upon seeing Bo Yan, Bo Yi was momentarily stunned, but then immediately plastered a smile on his face, ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since we last met.¡± Bo Yan gave him a faint glance and nodded. In fact, there wasn¡¯t much conflict between Bo Yi and him. Bo Yi was focused on the Bo Family, while he had other aspirations. Having lost his parents at a young age and raised by his grandparents, Bo Yi had the care of both parents and was always groomed as the future head of the Bo Family. From an early age, Bo Yan had learned to avoid direct competition; whatever Bo Yi liked, as long as it wasn¡¯t closely related to his own interests, he couldn¡¯t be bothered to compete. Bo Yi aimed to enter the Bosch Corporation; meanwhile, Bo Yan pursued his studies and later attended university. If not for some changes along the way, he would probably have spent his life in academia, content with his scholarly pursuits. Another thing Bo Yi aspired to was Xia Siyu¡¯s elder sister, Xia Sicai. The Xia Family and the Bo Family had deep collaboration, closely intertwined, with each having a stake in the other. It was essential for the two families to enter into a strategic marriage. If not him, it would have been Bo Yi. From the Xia Family side, if not Xia Siyu, it would have been Xia Sicai. Initially, the Xia Family and the Bo Family had intentions of matching Bo Yan with Xia Sicai. Educated as a proper and reputable lady by the Xia Family, she was a master¡¯s graduate from New South Wales with graceful manners and the ability to charm everyone. Bo Yi, after graduating from Cambridge with his master¡¯s, was first assigned to a downstream company. Having made achievements at the grassroots level, it was only natural for him to be transferred back to the headquarters. Upon meeting her, he was smitten with Xia Sicai and began to pursue her. Between Bo Yan and Bo Yi, Xia Sicai actually preferred Bo Yan. Women tend to favor handsome men, and although Bo Yi wasn¡¯t bad, he just couldn¡¯t compare to Bo Yan, and this was true for their temperament as well. Bo Yan was aloof yet gentle, worldly wise and intellectually profound, only lacking in ambition. In contrast, Bo Yi was a bit more impetuous. But Bo Yan was really too indifferent. After Xia Sicai silently pursued him for a while without receiving any response, she decided to marry Bo Yi, judging the situation. She is now the young madam of the Bosch Group. At that moment, Bo Yi¡¯s face was all smiles, ¡°I heard Sicai mention you and Siyu just yesterday. Weren¡¯t you going out with Siyu? Why didn¡¯t I see you bring her here?¡± Chapter 256 - Chapter 256: Chapter 256 Confrontation (6) Chapter 256: Chapter 256 Confrontation (6) ¡°Siyu? Which Siyu? Xia Siyu?¡± While the two men were talking, the middle-aged overseas Chinese nearby suddenly spoke up. Bo Yan and Bo Yi turned around simultaneously; the overseas Chinese was wearing a smile with a knowing look that men understand, and said, ¡°Deserving of the title of Best Actor indeed, even Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t resist you! Though she is known for being entangled in scandals, in our circle, it¡¯s rare for someone to actually get close to her. I have a friend who met her at a cocktail party and was completely enchanted by her. He does business with entertainment tycoons in Hong Kong and has resources from there. The next day, at another party, he brought funds and projects, hoping to splurge on her. Guess what happened? He didn¡¯t even get to see her face; her agent kicked him out! My friend has lived for so long and never before has anyone disgraced him like that.¡± After Bo Yan became famous, the Bo Family was happy to use his fame for some publicity, and everyone in the external circles knew that he was the young master of the Bo Family from Yancheng. But Xia Siyu, from the very beginning, only a few insiders knew her true identity. The Xia Family never brought her into the limelight, and she never wanted to let others know her background. This had become an unspoken convention, from her debut to the present. Even he only learned that Xia Siyu was Xia Sicai¡¯s sister, the heiress of the Xia Family, when Bo Yan was about to get married. Bo Yan kept a neutral expression, while Bo Yi spent some time looking at his cousin before asking with a chuckle, ¡°When did this happen?¡± The overseas Chinese thought for a moment: ¡°About four years ago. Back then she was still the pure jade girl. Who would have known that after half a year, her dark secrets would be exposed, and her reputation plummeted. Later, scandals were everywhere, involving all sorts of playboys and rich second-generation youths. But even so, to get her to agree to meet, let alone any further developments, was as hard as a dining rendezvous.¡± Four years ago, or rather three years ago, really was the most tumultuous time for Xia Siyu. Moreover, she had a reputation collapse, escaping in disarray from one agency to the current one, and then marrying Bo Yan. The campaign that targeted Xia Siyu¡¯s character three years ago might not have been just the actress dating the male celebrity¡¯s girlfriend tearing her down, there might have been rival families involved, perhaps even some with financial interests. Who knows how many investors and rich second-generations she had rejected, who were working behind the scenes to further tarnish her reputation! Luckily it was Xia Siyu, she never cared about others¡¯ opinions of her, and when attacked viciously online she might even join the fray herself, boasting, ¡°I live for my own pleasure!¡± When she was bombarded by cyberbullying, her agency received millions of messages every day, all insulting her. She moved countless times, and Wei Jingjing and the others changed their numbers countless times too, all to avoid the cyber onslaught. If it were someone less resilient, more prone to overthinking, they might have sunk into depression and left the industry, maybe even harmed themselves out of despair. These people, simply because she was popular, successful, and refused to go with the flow or submit to casting couch demands, sought to ruin her completely! Bo Yan asked nonchalantly, ¡°What¡¯s your friend¡¯s name?¡± The overseas Chinese gave a name: ¡°Mr. Chen of Gold Mold Tires, the famous tire king of Malaysia.¡± Bo Yan nodded: ¡°Your friend is really unfortunate.¡± ¡°Not exactly unfortunate, since times have changed.¡± Bo Yan was indifferent, of course, he thought it a pity. Gold Mold Tires, that company would no longer exist in the future. Chapter 257 - Chapter 257: Chapter 257: The Struggle for Power (1) Chapter 257: Chapter 257: The Struggle for Power (1) This is a racing club where several people are chatting, and Bo Yi starts to organize, ¡°Bo Yan, it¡¯s been a long time since we brothers raced together, how about a race?¡± Bo Yan looked at the overseas Chinese businessman and then at Bo Yi, his face showing a smile that was not quite a smile, and he did not respond directly. However, Bo Yi¡¯s main purpose wasn¡¯t just to chat with Bo Yan, as he had arranged to meet a business partner here to discuss matters. Naturally, he had already prepared a racing car. The two were talking about how to modify last year¡¯s Aston Martin, how to match it with the new engine and other instruments for better performance. Bo Yan chuckled lightly, ¡°What¡¯s the fun in such simple car racing, why not motorcycle?¡± Motorcycle racing is more challenging than ordinary car racing. It is well known that cars are ¡®meat wrapped in metal¡¯, whereas motorcycles are ¡®metal wrapped in meat¡¯. In case of an accident, the rate of disability or death is much higher on a motorcycle. Cars have seat belts, air bags, and frames for protection, but motorcycles have little more than a helmet for safety. But riding a motorcycle is indeed thrilling, and most of the people who come here are in search for excitement. So, there¡¯s also a motorcycle racing track here. The boss himself also rides motorcycles and seemed intrigued upon hearing this, ¡°It¡¯s just my skills are quite average.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just racing, not a competition. It¡¯s just for fun. You can choose the simplest track.¡± The simplest track is similar to the kind of running track you¡¯d find at a school, with straight lines and curves, but no inclines or declines. The boss agreed cheerfully. When he asked Bo Yi, he laughed, ¡°I¡¯m not particularly good at riding motorcycles, so I¡¯ll pass. But my younger brother, even though he¡¯s an actor, he¡¯s got good driving skills. It will be very interesting to see him race with you.¡± Bo Yi wasn¡¯t incapable; he just wasn¡¯t skilled. Whenever he didn¡¯t foresee a win or couldn¡¯t control the situation with certainty, he would gracefully bow out. Sure enough, the overseas Chinese boss laughed heartily, ¡°Well then, I haven¡¯t yet experienced racing with a movie star. I hope you¡¯ll go easy on me later, Mr. Yan.¡± Bo Yan nodded calmly, ¡°Of course, Bo Yi is no good. His motorcycle skills are quite poor.¡± Bo Yi still had a smile on his face, but upon hearing Bo Yan¡¯s words, it darkened in a second. However, he quickly lifted his smile again, ¡°Since I¡¯ve made the trip here today, I¡¯ll make a fool of myself. But if I lose later, Mr. Chen, you can¡¯t complain about my poor skills.¡± Mr. Chen laughed heartily, ¡°It¡¯s generous of you, Mr. Bo. Shall we begin?¡± Since this is a racing club, besides supercars that everyone keeps here for maintenance, there are also other models available for guests to choose from, motorcycles included. Bo Yi and Mr. Chen each picked out a modified Harley motorcycle, with strong performance, quick acceleration, and good stability. Bo Yan casually picked an unmodified one, ¡°I¡¯ll take this one.¡± Bo Yi had been all set for a serious competition, but seeing Bo Yan pick a basic model, he thought Bo Yan was just talking big and laughed, ¡°Bo Yan, aren¡¯t you afraid that if you fall off the motorcycle, you won¡¯t be able to film for a while? Falling off a motorcycle is no joke, it could incapacitate you for a hundred days.¡± Bo Yan didn¡¯t argue, just asked, ¡°Since it¡¯s a race, there should be a wager, right?¡± Mr. Chen also smiled, ¡°Indeed, indeed. What does Movie Star Bo wish to bet?¡± Bo Yan looked at Bo Yi and smiled faintly, ¡°How about we bet ten percent of the shares in Bosch Corporation? How does that sound?¡± Chapter 258 - Chapter 258: Chapter 258: The Struggle for Power (2) Chapter 258: Chapter 258: The Struggle for Power (2) With just one sentence from Bo Yan, not only did Bo Yi¡¯s complexion change, but so did that of the group of executives following him. Over recent years, the running of Bosch Corporation had been in the hands of Bo Yi and his parents, and Bo Yi had steadily climbed his way up. He was now the vice president, demonstrating not only his respect for talented people but also his decisiveness. Therefore, the development of Bosch Corporation was quite impressive. However, even though he was outstanding, all the limelight was completely stolen by one person: Bo Yan. His fame, of course, was boosted by his good looks and family background, but most importantly, by his solid acting skills. Just like with this overseas Chinese Mr. Chen¡ªhis friends dared to make a move on Xia Siyu primarily because Siyu seemed to have no significant backing. The main reason was that, up until now, she was just a pretty face who hadn¡¯t won any mainstream awards. And even with mainstream awards, unless one has overwhelming talent, it¡¯s still possible that results can be manipulated. But Bo Yan was that overwhelming talent. His acting skills were unparalleled among the younger generation under thirty¡ªbeloved by fans, recognized by the general public, and highly accepted in mainstream circles. With family background on his side, he didn¡¯t have to worry about dirty money or unwritten rules to climb his way up. As long as he didn¡¯t break the law, he would probably never be associated with the word ¡®failure¡¯ in his life. Normally, stars can¡¯t compare with capital, which is why they call their investors ¡°daddy.¡± But it depends on the type of star. Having already reached the top in one industry, Bo Yan was certainly stronger than third-generation rich guy Bo Yi, who relied on his paternal family¡¯s shadow. There was even discussion within Bosch about the fact that the old master had preferred Bo Yan to take over the company, but Bo Yi, who was better at currying favor, managed to grab the position. Now, whenever Bo Yi went out to talk business, he still had to play the Bo Yan card, like at the recent trade dinner in Paris, and now. As soon as Bo Yan mentioned Bosch Corporation, it was a direct hit to Bo Yi¡¯s lifeblood. No matter how well-maintained his composure and facade were, they couldn¡¯t withstand it. And it wasn¡¯t just him, the executives behind him were buzzing with discussion, too. Bo Yan had no interest in Bosch. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have simply failed to fight for it, willingly ceding it to others. But that didn¡¯t mean he would take Bo Yi¡¯s seemingly friendly but actually undermining behavior with just a laugh. He just stood there, wearing his racing suit, casually watching Bo Yi¡¯s slightly twisted expression, and then said with a light smile, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I know you don¡¯t have the authority, just a little joke. If you lose, just buy me a pair of Patek Philippe New Era couple¡¯s watches. They¡¯re not expensive, just around 8 million.¡± Before putting on his safety helmet, he also made a point to say to Mr. Chen with all seriousness, ¡°Xia Siyu is not that kind of person. We have no improper relationship.¡± Mr. Chen was taken aback, about to say something, but Bo Yan had already put on his helmet. The race began, with Bo Yan on the outermost track. Both Bo Yi and Mr. Chen¡¯s Harley motorcycles had been modified. As the race started, both men revved their motorcycles, accelerating to full speed in just a few seconds. Bo Yan¡¯s motorcycle hadn¡¯t been modified, so its acceleration and speed were slower¡ªhe was left far behind at the outset. But when it came to the curve, Mr. Chen slowed down out of habit. Unexpectedly, Bo Yan didn¡¯t slow down but instead increased his speed. While taking the curve, he aggressively squeezed into the inside lane, executing a ground-skimming drift. His motorcycle roared tremendously, and with a beautiful fishtail maneuver, he flew past Mr. Chen, advancing to the front ranks! But ahead, Bo Yi firmly occupied the inside lane; he definitely wouldn¡¯t give up first place to Bo Yan! Chapter 259 - Chapter 259: Chapter 259: The Struggle for Power (3) Chapter 259: Chapter 259: The Struggle for Power (3) The engines roared. On the motorbike racetrack, apart from obstacle races that might purposely include gradients, dirt paths, and obstacles, the racetrack Bo Yan and his competitors used was pretty much identical to a car racing track, with a length of approximately 5 kilometers per lap. After the first turn, Bo Yan had already overtaken Boss Chen and was advancing toward Bo Yi. However, his bike had insufficient engine power, and although he could make up some time with his skills in the curves, he would easily be left behind by Bo Yi in the straights. In the midst of the whirlwind rush, Bo Yi still had one ten-thousandth of a second to spare, glancing at the rear-view mirror and seeing Bo Yan being thrown farther and farther behind. Fool, he thought. Dare to compete with him after choosing a basic model? Even though he knew that his motorbike skills were inferior to Bo Yan¡¯s, the gap wasn¡¯t wide enough to ignore the performance disparity of the bikes themselves. ¡ª¡ªJust like both of them were members of the Bo Family, maybe Bo Yan was a little smarter than him from childhood, but so what? Now, in the third generation of the Bo Family, he was the eldest brother! The one who would inherit Bosch in the future was him! Not this Bo Yan who was always praised by everyone! After another bend, Bo Yan, relying on his skill, once again closed the gap between them. Moreover, Bo Yi realized that after two bends, the gap between him and Bo Yan was getting smaller and smaller. What was going on? He was always speeding up on the straights, and even if his cornering technique was not as good as Bo Yan¡¯s, the discrepancy shouldn¡¯t be this huge. Compared to Bo Yi¡¯s confusion, Bo Yan remained as calm as ever. Although his basic model motorbike unquestionably performed worse compared to the modified one, with slower acceleration at the start and a lower top speed than Bo Yi¡¯s. But, Bo Yi didn¡¯t know the performance of the motorbike well, just blindly accelerating on the straightaways and then slowing down for the corners. In fact, he couldn¡¯t match Bo Yan, who was continuously going at full speed and didn¡¯t slow down for the bends. Bo Yi was too greedy, thinking that with the best bike and a winning hand, leading the race, he could disregard what was happening behind him. He wanted the best of everything, and in the end, he might end up with nothing! Another bend passed, and Bo Yan¡¯s bike moved closer again. The distance between the two bikes was now the length of just one bike. Bo Yi in front could almost hear the rumbling of Bo Yan¡¯s motorbike behind. He clenched his teeth; indeed, ever since childhood, whenever he and Bo Yan were in the same place, everyone would praise his younger brother and not notice him. Even Sicai from the Xia Family had initially been smitten with Bo Yan. But so what? Wasn¡¯t he the one who finally stood his ground with Bosch? Wasn¡¯t he the one who ended up marrying Siyu? As for Bo Yan, although he had married the more beautiful Xia Siyu, she was already an awkward presence in the Xia Family with a poor reputation. Moreover, she had a volatile temper, was high-maintenance like those kept outside, and had too many scandals; one moment of carelessness could leave him wearing a green hat. What was the point of marrying her? A man marries a wife, of course, hoping for a suitable match that brings him support. The last bend was coming up. Bo Yan was only half a vehicle¡¯s length behind him. Relying on his lead advantage, Bo Yi firmly held the inside track. It wasn¡¯t that he couldn¡¯t drift; he could, and he would show his drifting skills in the final bend. As long as he held the inside line, Bo Yan couldn¡¯t overtake, and he would certainly win! He wanted to tell Bo Yan that when it came to racing, he was more formidable! The two bikes almost simultaneously swept into the bend! Chapter 260 - Chapter 260: Chapter 260: The Struggle for Power (4) Chapter 260: Chapter 260: The Struggle for Power (4) Bo Yi entered the bend without slowing down much. He did as he had envisioned before, tightly gripping the seat, holding onto the motorcycle handlebars, lowering his form to make both the bike and himself hug the ground as much as possible. The motorcycle was moving too fast, unlike being in a car wrapped by an exterior frame; when he was close to the ground, even without touching, he could feel the dust and heat from the floor generated by the motorcycle¡¯s rapid movement. Despite the difficulty, he kept gritting his teeth, holding the handlebars tightly as if his life depended on it. He wasn¡¯t someone who liked taking risks, but once he committed to something, he would give it his all! As long as he stuck to the inner track, as long as he didn¡¯t slow down, as long as he kept moving forward like this, he would win! Both racers entered the bend simultaneously! Bo Yan was behind him! He held his breath, focused, keeping his body low and the handlebars firmly under control! This bend had a larger arc than the previous ones. Though there were only straightaways and bends, without the several consecutive hairpin U-turns that were typical of Qiunming Mountain, or any undulating twists, it would still be challenging for those unfamiliar with the track. Motorcycles were inherently harder to control compared to cars. Especially during turns, strength in the arms, core, and legs was required. Although Bo Yi had also maintained his physique and learned martial arts when he was younger, just like the two of them together, he surely didn¡¯t maintain continuous training to the present day with excellent physical fitness like Bo Yan. Bo Yan¡¯s biggest failure lay in his choice of a modified motorcycle. A modified motorbike required a larger engine, reinforced bodywork, and naturally, this increased the bike¡¯s weight. Especially during turns, apart from driving skills, the greatest resistance was centrifugal force. Centrifugal force is related to the weight. The heavier the object, the greater the centrifugal force. Moreover, in the previous laps¡¯ bends, Bo Yan had gradually become accustomed to drifting the bike, making his operations even more seamless! It was these three points, in the moments of almost divine precision in control, that the gap began to show, little by little! Bo Yi was indeed drifting, and he managed to perform it. But as he tried to dominate the inside line and prevent Bo Yan from overtaking, the more he squeezed toward the inside, the greater the centrifugal force became. He watched helplessly as he controlled the bike in a drift, but it uncontrollably moved farther away from the inner track. Meanwhile, Bo Yan, who had been half a bike length behind him, made a beautiful turn, smoothly squeezed into the inner track, inch by inch pushing him away, and when the bend straightened out, he powerfully pulled the bike upright without slowing down, shooting towards the finish line like an arrow! Bo Yi, in his haste as he was pushed away, became more panicked and failed to pull his bike up, crashing along the ground with his bike, and was thrown off the track! Seconds later, Boss Chen also zoomed past the finish line. The only one not crossing the line was Bo Yi, lying beside the track after his fall. After Bo Yi crashed, there were exclaims of shock from the onlookers, both Bo Yi¡¯s subordinates and Boss Chen¡¯s men. Although accidents were inevitable in racing, a crash was still quite severe; they rushed towards him while some called for the medical team at the venue. Fortunately, Bo Yi was thrown clear and wasn¡¯t crushed by the motorcycle, nor did it cause an explosion. However, his wrist was swollen, likely fractured. Bo Yan removed his helmet, walking over with an easy stride, even remarking sympathetically, ¡°Ah, that¡¯s really unfortunate.¡± Chapter 261 - Chapter 261: Chapter 261: The Struggle for Power (5) Chapter 261: Chapter 261: The Struggle for Power (5) Bo Yi lay on the ground, unable to get up because of the injury to his hand. It took a moment for those outside the arena to run over. He sat on the ground, struggling to lift himself up with his hand, but as soon as he moved it, a piercing pain shot through his arm. Besides his hand, it seemed like his leg was also injured. After all, being thrown to the ground at such speed, and with his tender skin, how could he endure such rough treatment? Bo Yan looked down at him from above, his expression indifferent, ¡°Does it hurt? Do you want a doctor? Shall I help you up?¡± Bo Yi looked up at Bo Yan¡¯s indifferent face. Perhaps because of the pain, his facial expression appeared even more twisted, and he was close to exploding with anger. Unfortunately for Bo Yi, both Chen, the boss, and the subordinates who had rushed over heard what Bo Yan said. No matter how indifferent Bo Yan was, he at least showed some concern for Bo Yi. Everyone else was busy helping him up in coordination with the doctor, who upon examination, preliminarily determined that Bo Yi probably had a fractured hand. Other potential injuries like internal bleeding couldn¡¯t be seen at the time and would require further examination at the hospital. Just as they were about to head to the hospital, Bo Yan approached to show some concern, ¡°Cousin, are you really okay? How about we get a stretcher instead?¡± Bo Yi¡¯s face was ashen, and he said nothing. Bo Yan went on, ¡°Grandfather¡¯s birthday is in half a month. Imagine how upset he would be to see you injured. Not just him, but your father and mother would be heartbroken too.¡± It was only then that Bo Yi spoke, ¡°Why don¡¯t you mention that Sicai would also be worried?¡± Before Sicai decided to marry Bo Yi, she and Bo Yan had always been presumed by both families to be the future husband and wife. Although Bo Yan had never agreed to date her, an alliance through marriage between the Bo Family and the Xia Family was inevitable. Since the Xia Family thought they only had one daughter, Sicai, who also liked Bo Yan, who else could it be if not them together? Bo Yi pursued Sicai not only because he was smitten at first sight but also due to these additional considerations. Even when Xia Siyu entered the picture, since she and her siblings Sicai and Xia Ju¡¯an had different mothers and the Xia Family didn¡¯t really recognize her, they wouldn¡¯t pass on the role of the family head to her, and there was no change in power dynamics. He didn¡¯t care. Bo Yan looked puzzled. Sicai was his wife, and it was normal for her to be worried about him. Was this even a question? But Bo Yan¡¯s silence somehow got under Bo Yi¡¯s skin. He had thought that there might still be some lingering feelings between the two. Bo Yi took a deep breath and adjusted his emotions. Even in his disheveled state, he couldn¡¯t show it, especially not his feelings. He patted his clothes with his uninjured hand, straightened out his outfit and hair, and even put on a smile for Boss Chen, ¡°Boss Chen, forgive me for the laughter, I didn¡¯t provide enough entertainment for you.¡± ¡°Not at all, no such thing.¡± Playing games was like urging someone to drink; you had to go until your opponent vomited blood and fell before considering it enough face given. Although Bo Yi had fallen, he had truly risked everything in the contest, which was clearly giving sufficient face. ¡°As for our business collaboration¡­¡± ¡°Since President Bo has put in so much effort, I must obviously give some face as well. But as for the share, we can¡¯t concede that.¡± Bo Yi smiled, ¡°We can continue to negotiate the share. In half a month is our old master¡¯s birthday, I wonder if Boss Chen has the time?¡± ¡°I definitely have to come and pay my respects for the old master¡¯s grand birthday.¡± ¡°Then it¡¯s settled.¡± As the two men talked and walked away, Bo Yan called out from behind him, ¡°Hold on a second.¡± Chapter 262 - Chapter 262: Chapter 262: The Struggle for Power (6) Chapter 262: Chapter 262: The Struggle for Power (6) Bo Yi furrowed his brows, already very impatient. He managed to suppress his emotions, but his smile had faded, ¡°Is there anything else you need?¡± Bo Yan put on a smile, ¡°Thanks for the couple¡¯s watches you sent, cousin. I hope we can wear them together for Grandfather¡¯s birthday.¡± Bo Yi was stunned, never having expected Bo Yan to bring this up at such a time, and felt his composure slipping. He gritted his teeth and said, ¡°Fine.¡± Bo Yan¡¯s smile at that moment was particularly sincere, ¡°It¡¯s the Patek Philippe New Era model, not expensive, just over eight million. Thank you.¡± When they participate in variety shows, after working themselves to death for twenty days, they could only earn ten million. After taxes and sharing the cut, getting three million in hand was considered good. By just casually racing once, they could earn eight million without the need to deduct taxes or split the earnings. He hoped his cousin would do this kind of foolish spending more often. ¡°The New Era, is it? Alright,¡± Bo Yi barely restrained his urge to hit him and left the racetrack with a dark expression. Bo Yan watched as Bo Yi and his entourage left the venue; only then did his face gradually darken. It wasn¡¯t enough. It still wasn¡¯t enough. His status still wasn¡¯t sufficient. Even though he was now a figurehead for the Bo Family, with a status even higher than Bo Yi¡¯s. But it was still far from enough. He must try harder, become stronger, at least to the point where no one would dare to insult Xia Siyu to her face, dare to take advantage of her behind closed doors, dare to smear her reputation behind her back! Even though she herself didn¡¯t care, why should she bear such unfounded reputations? She was indeed strong enough to face the storms, but he, always hoped that there could be fewer storms for her. After returning home, Bo Yan logged into his main Weibo account and wrote a blog post. The content read, ¡°I am grateful for the love and support of my fans, but I also hope that your affection and support can be extended to others as well. Xia Siyu and I do have conflicts, but more often, we are partners, friends. I admire Xia Siyu¡¯s attitude towards her work and enjoy our collaboration. The incident that happened early this morning was a misunderstanding, and I hope everyone will not speculate too much, especially refrain from insults and slander. I¡¯m sorry for having disturbed others and for any disruption caused to the airport¡¯s order. I hope everyone can chase stars rationally and live a healthy life.¡± After his post was published, it was tantamount to admitting that his fans had caused the commotion at the airport. But because his tone was so gracious and the wording sincere, it left a good impression on bystanders. The fans also felt they had let down their idol and, when reposting the comment, added their own sentiments: ¡°The best brother in the world¡± ¡°Wuwuwu, we let brother down¡± ¡°Brother is so capable, we don¡¯t deserve him¡± After posting the blog, he also contacted his agency, requesting a strict control over the fan club. Those who liked to cause trouble or set the tone could gradually be excluded from the core of the fan club. Afterward, his management team quickly purchased the hashtags #BoYanApologizesBecauseOfFans# and #BoYanRegulatesFans#, rounding off the matter neatly. Xia Siyu might be angry, and he could understand that. Were he in her shoes, being pointed at and cursed, he might not be able to stand it either. An idol has to pay for the fans¡¯ behavior. It was his fans who were cursing, so naturally, it was his problem. It couldn¡¯t go on like this; changes had to be made. After taking care of these things, he waited at home for Xia Siyu to return. However¡­ Chapter 263 - Chapter 263: Chapter 263 Sleep Together (1) Chapter 263: Chapter 263 Sleep Together (1) Bo Yan canceled all his plans after posting on his blog, telling the company he needed a day off, and just waited at Qingcheng Apartment. Thinking Siyu might be hungry, he made her favorite sandwich with a poached egg. He also brewed a big pot of coffee for himself, arranging two cups. Two sandwiches, two cups of coffee. Bo Yan sat on the sofa and waited. He waited from dawn till dusk and into the deep night, but Xia Siyu still hadn¡¯t returned. Later on, Bo Yan awoke with a start from his sleep, got up from the sofa, and checked the time on his phone¡ªit was one in the morning. Xia Siyu still hadn¡¯t come back. But that was normal, artists like them spinning like tops every day. If he hadn¡¯t canceled all his plans today, he would probably be at an event himself from nine in the evening until eleven, then driving back home, arriving around this time. Sometimes they were so busy that they would finish late at night, have events early the next day, and it was common for them to spend the night at a nearby hotel. Though artists have high salaries, their work hours are indeed incredibly erratic and exhausting. As a result, many accomplished artists had no choice but to cut down their workload, filming only one TV series and one film a year without appearing on any variety shows, so they could spend the rest of their time with family. Otherwise, joining a film crew means months without a break, then coming back to run around for various events; to say nothing of a normal family life, even sitting down together for a meal was a luxury. Bo Yan got up, from the big pot of coffee he¡¯d brewed earlier, he¡¯d especially saved half a cup for her. Thinking she wouldn¡¯t drink it at this time, he poured it into his own cup. Just as he finished pouring, a message came through on his phone. It was from Song Fengzhi: ¡°Bro Yan, are you really selling the house?¡± Bo Yan hesitated for a moment, then nodded, ¡°Yes.¡± He owned a villa in the suburbs, where he used to live. But now, having decided to be with Xia Siyu, he naturally had no need to stay there. Another important reason he wanted to sell the house was that he had already become a Best Actor. To climb any higher, he had to sweep the three major awards in China or the three Grand Awards of Europe (Cannes, Venice, Berlin Film Festival) for Best Actor, or win an Oscar. Otherwise, how could he rise further? The path of an actor might seem easy, but truly it¡¯s quite difficult. Even if he delivered a dazzling performance, with a poor script, team, or co-star, he might miss the award. And even if he performed splendidly, there was always the chance of coming head-to-head with outstanding films from other countries, ending up a failure. The quickest method was: to become a director. Bo Yan always dreamed of being a film director. He studied film culture and arts for his doctorate and took courses in photography and directing. In filmmaking, domestically or internationally, the director¡¯s authority was unquestionable. Even as a top-level actor, the director was still the one in charge on set. But as a director himself, rising to the top would be much easier. To direct, to shoot films, to pull in investments required money. Like the director of ¡°Spring Light,¡± though he had been an executive director for many years, when he led his first major project, people still didn¡¯t accept it. Bo Yan was unwilling to seek investments from the Bo Family, and his villa was luxurious, worth over a hundred million, selling it was the quickest option. If he made it as a director and gained influence, the Bo Family and Xia Family could no longer control them. As they were speaking, the door suddenly opened¡ªit was Xia Siyu. Chapter 264 - Chapter 264: Chapter 264 Sleep Together (2) Chapter 264: Chapter 264 Sleep Together (2) Bo Yan had just said, ¡°Let¡¯s talk later,¡± and put down his phone when he heard Xia Siyu also on a call: ¡°Hello, hello, I¡¯m out of the elevator. I think that apartment layout is quite nice. Building 1 is actually better. I want that one, isn¡¯t it listed by the owner? I¡¯ll go take a look in a few days.¡± She said this while dragging her high heels along. Bo Yan was startled. What did this mean? Was Xia Siyu buying a house? Was she going to move out? At that thought, Bo Yan almost spilled the coffee he was holding. Xia Siyu must have been very thirsty; seeing the coffee in his hand, she asked, ¡°Can I drink this?¡± Bo Yan nodded. Taking the coffee from his hand, Xia Siyu drank most of it in one go. Then, noticing food on the table, she asked, ¡°Is this your leftover? Can I eat it?¡± Actually, Bo Yan hadn¡¯t touched it at all; he had been waiting for her, but he didn¡¯t feel it was appropriate to say so at that moment, so he nodded. ¡°Wasting food, shameful!¡± Xia Siyu cast a disdainful glance at him before quickly grabbing the plate barefoot, taking a bite from the sandwich in her left hand and sipping coffee from her right to wash it down. Bo Yan stood by all the while, holding a napkin. When Xia Siyu put down her coffee, she grabbed the napkin from him: ¡°Thanks.¡± Without a word, Bo Yan just watched her as she finished the entire sandwich and drank the rest of the coffee before she seemed to come back to life. Feeling content, she let out a satisfied burp, then took a cup of water and sipped it slowly. Bo Yan asked again, his voice very soft, ¡°Are you moving out?¡± Xia Siyu nodded: ¡°Yes, my staying here is temporary. It¡¯s quite inconvenient to come in and out.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this place close to your company?¡± Bo Yan¡¯s voice became a bit anxious, but he dared not show too much excitement and had to beat around the bush. ¡°But aren¡¯t you here?¡± ¡°Even if you live here, I won¡¯t bother you.¡± But I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t control myself. Xia Siyu swallowed these words without saying them. She could take it or leave it, and after breaking up, she removed the feelings and was just friends. But occasionally, very occasionally, Bo Yan would still stir some thoughts within her. Sometimes joy, sometimes sorrow, sometimes nostalgia. She could bury those emotions deeply, but she found that aside from the emotional impact Bo Yan could have on her, what was even scarier was that his physical proximity could also make her heart flutter. A handsome man and a beautiful woman living together could easily develop an attraction. If the man stirring her emotions were someone else, she might not be so troubled. But it just had to be Bo Yan. She knew that Bo Yan and she had a past that wasn¡¯t very pleasant, and they now annoyed each other, yet she still wanted to see his abs. Wasn¡¯t that a bit too much? ¡°No worries, anyway, Brother Qin is helping me look for a place. I do have my eye on one, but the owner hasn¡¯t responded yet. I¡¯d like to go see it.¡± Bo Yan felt an urgency inside, but he had to keep calm on the outside. He made his case as rationally as possible: ¡°Are you looking to rent? If so, I wouldn¡¯t really recommend you to move out. For one, Qingcheng Apartments has excellent security; if you move out, it¡¯s not guaranteed that you¡¯ll find a place with such good security. Moreover, renting is very unstable; what if the landlord decides to sell? You would have to shamefully look for another place, right?¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m planning to buy. The villa I¡¯m interested in is in the ¡®Read Shu Yi Zhi¡¯ villa complex. It¡¯s one of the most secure complexes in Yancheng.¡± Bo Yan was taken aback; he hadn¡¯t misheard just now, she mentioned wanting to see Building 1. What a coincidence, that¡¯s the exact one he¡¯s trying to sell! Chapter 265 - Chapter 265: Chapter 265 Sleep Together (3) Chapter 265: Chapter 265 Sleep Together (3) Yancheng is so big, yet for the two of them to set their eyes on the same apartment, there was also a reason. Aside from political figures, the neighborhoods in Yancheng with the highest security level can be counted on one hand. The top recommended apartment complex within the city is Qingcheng Apartments, and for villas on the outskirts, it¡¯s the unique community of Dushu. Moreover, both locations are near major transport routes and have excellent geographical positions, especially convenient for getting to the airport. Bo Yan was somewhat speechless, ¡°Can you afford to buy it?¡± Xia Siyu looked as if angered by the underestimation, and said, ¡°Paying in full might be somewhat difficult, but a down payment is definitely not a problem. It¡¯s just that I don¡¯t know if the other party is willing to sell. If not, Building No. 2 is also an option.¡± Bo Yan continued to be speechless. Building No. 2, that was Han Yifan¡¯s home. He said, ¡°Even if you decide on it and buy it, you won¡¯t be able to move in right away, right? Aren¡¯t you going to shoot a film? ¡®Spring Light¡¯, that one, you¡¯ll be gone for several months.¡± Xia Siyu also nodded, ¡°Right, isn¡¯t it perfect that I buy the apartment here and then have Brother Qin and the others help me with the renovation? I¡¯ll be away for a few months, and after I come back and wait a bit more, I can move in with my bags.¡± At first, Bo Yan was quite excited, fearing that she would act on impulse and move away immediately. Now that his emotions had settled, he became much more rational. Putting aside whether Xia Siyu could buy his apartment, from the purchase to when she could move in, it would take at least a year. He still had time. Besides, even if she really moved to Dushu, they could continue to live together. He could feel that Xia Siyu, like him, both had an urgent desire to change the status quo. What Bo Yan was thinking about was to quickly grow up; although he was currently with an agency that provided him with his own studio, it was still not secure. The incident today at the airport, where the company organized fans without consulting him and even bought negative trending topics about Xia Siyu online. When his contract expired, he planned to become completely independent, set up his own film and television company, act and direct films. As for Xia Siyu, what she wanted was to act well. Although she usually seemed careless and was both proactive and slow when it came to emotions¡ªproactive in the sense that she would vigorously pursue whatever she liked, and her emotions of joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness were all written on her face. Slow in the sense that, for example with Qin Baizhou, she never considered him in the direction of a boyfriend. But she was very dedicated to her work, and her acting had a certain charm. With the right guidance, it might not be long before she could win a Best Actress award and leave her name in film history. Qin Baizhou was a qualified agent and a shrewd businessman. But he didn¡¯t know how to nurture an actor, only how to expand her commercial value. Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t stupid; she just couldn¡¯t be bothered to nitpick in many areas. But when it came to work, she only knew how to be serious and meticulous. ¡°In ¡®Spring Light¡¯ here, there are some parts I don¡¯t quite understand.¡± Although Xia Siyu had been busy with variety shows recently, she would also look at the script when she had time. There was a lot of historical foundation here, as well as the local customs and culture of a small town in the West, which she couldn¡¯t act out just by using her imagination. Perhaps because she had grown closer to Bo Yan during this period, she also asked him questions. ¡°Where, let me take a look.¡± Bo Yan took over her script and sure enough, he found that she had indeed been taking notes diligently. The two sat on the couch, one explaining, and the other listening. Their current way of getting along was a bit like during their college days. As they talked, Bo Yan turned his head and noticed that some strands of her hair near her ear were somewhat messy, and he reached out to smooth them for her. The instant his fingers brushed past her cheek, she turned her head, and their eyes met each other¡¯s. Chapter 266 - Chapter 266: Chapter 266 Sleep Together (4) Chapter 266: Chapter 266 Sleep Together (4) To tell the truth, the two of them had been in contact quite a bit lately. They had even shared a bed and a blanket just a few hours ago. But at that time, for both of them, even though she had the pleasure of seeing and even touching his abs, that kind of excitement was superficial. It¡¯s like fantasizing about a celebrity, claiming you want to sleep with them every day, but if you actually get the chance, you might not go through with it. The same held true for her with Bo Yan, even though they could still be friends after breaking up and had even become husband and wife. But since they had agreed not to invest feelings, even if their relationship warmed up, she could easily define him as an ¡°acquaintance¡±. She grew up influenced by Western thought. In the West, a certain level of physical affection and appreciation for the opposite sex is very openly and generously expressed, so looking at someone¡¯s body and touching abs wouldn¡¯t stir up too much emotion. However, these minor contacts like brushing fingertips or exchanging gazes, though not as direct as touching abs, were precisely the kind that would cast ripples in her heart. Women are like that, easily moved by the slightest unintentional touch. Even though Xia Siyu was not very sensitive, if the same thing happened with Qin Baizhou, she wouldn¡¯t think too much of it. But it was Bo Yan. Although she had rationally excluded him from her emotional sphere, in reality, he was the only man with whom she had ever been in love and had a substantive relationship. Plus, with their current interactions, when he was annoying, he truly annoyed her, but he could also be very gentlemanly. Even though she knew that his gentlemanly behavior was not special just for her, but rather due to his good upbringing, she couldn¡¯t help but be affected by his mood. But since he clearly didn¡¯t like her that way, what was the point of getting close? She had once tried to charm Bo Yan, believing that she could move him and that she held a place in his heart. In the end, it had been a gloomy finish. What she hadn¡¯t accomplished seven years ago, she didn¡¯t believe she could accomplish now. Indeed, her plan to buy a house and move out was the right decision. If Bo Yan managed to charm her and then treated her like he had in the past, wouldn¡¯t she be in a very sorry state of neither here nor there? And perhaps someone had turned off the air conditioning. She suddenly felt uncomfortably hot, and her heart seemed to be beating faster than usual. The same was true for Bo Yan, who had already been emotionally fluctuating today, especially after hearing that Xia Siyu intended to leave. He wanted to change, but throughout his nearly thirty years of life, excelling in every subject, sports, chess, even racing, everything came naturally to him¡ªexcept he didn¡¯t know how to chase after a girl. In Bo Yan¡¯s eyes, there were two types of women in the world: Xia Siyu and all others. With other women, even his grandmother, he just needed to showcase his excellency, and he didn¡¯t need to do anything else to win their favor. If Xia Siyu weren¡¯t so headstrong, perhaps just by getting a bit closer and doing something slightly flirtatious, she might blush and get her heart racing, all without a word being spoken. But it was Xia Siyu. If you¡¯re bad to her, she hates you; if you¡¯re good to her, she ignores you. Qin Baizhou was good enough to her, his face practically screamed ¡°I like you,¡± but she just couldn¡¯t see it. Even sharing a bed and letting her touch his abs, this girl could sleep soundly. If someone forced themselves on her, she would retaliate with a swift kick capable of ending one¡¯s lineage! Xia Siyu felt the urge to escape. She stood, ¡°I¡¯m going to pour myself a cup of coffee.¡± As she got up, Bo Yan reached out and grabbed her hand! Chapter 267 - Chapter 267: Chapter 267 Sleep Together (5) Chapter 267: Chapter 267 Sleep Together (5) Xia Siyu was always straightforward in her actions and words, not one for beating around the bush. She laughed when she was happy, made a fuss when she wasn¡¯t, and even when it came to her first love, her first kiss, and even their first time, it was she who initiated everything. She treated her friends and family in the same manner. However, over the years, she barely had any relatives or friends. She lived in the Chinese District during high school, where her mother¡¯s strict discipline kept her from getting too close with either the Chinese or the locals. She didn¡¯t return to her home country until her second year of high school, where she was a transfer student unfamiliar with the other students, and naturally, they weren¡¯t close. In college, she dropped out after two years to debut in the entertainment industry. Show business is a battleground for fame and fortune, where your best friend today might stab you in the back tomorrow. Over the years, the only person she grew somewhat close to was Zhou Weiwei. Zhou Weiwei was calculative, and Xia Siyu was aware of it. As long as Zhou didn¡¯t cross her boundaries, Xia was willing to help. Like that one time, she was actually just having dinner with Zhou Weiwei and her boyfriend, when some sneaky paparazzi ¡°thoughtfully¡± excluded Zhou in the photos and only featured her and the scumbag prominenently, with a caption ¡°Xia Siyu¡¯s new romance¡±. She denied it, stating it was just a friend¡¯s gathering, but no one believed her. Before she could retaliate, Zhou came crying to her about the scumbag cheating, and in a moment of impulse, Xia hit him, which the paparazzi caught on camera. Then came the shocking scene that rocked the industry: a man¡¯s face covered in blood from being hit with a high heel. The one who did wrong wasn¡¯t Zhou Weiwei, it was that scumbag, so she couldn¡¯t justify taking it out on Zhou. As for enemies, she had a lot, probably the arch-enemy of all female celebrities in the entertainment circle, with the likes of the notorious Li Yiru and the scheming Shang Feifei. There¡¯s no helping it, being beautiful always comes with many troubles, such as the hatred from other women. She treated everyone the same, but when it came to Bo Yan, her emotions became a little turbulent. But Xia Siyu was still Xia Siyu. Perhaps another woman, when grabbed by the wrist by Bo Yan, especially in such an environment, might already be dry-mouthed with weak knees. Although she felt nervous inside, she was confident. But perhaps because she felt a bit insecure inside, she had to act even more confident, which made her speak in a louder and harsher tone, ¡°What are you doing? Are you trying to play the rogue?¡± Bo Yan was stunned by her angry face and harsh words and didn¡¯t even know how to respond. After pondering for a long while, he finally muttered a single word, ¡°Play.¡± Xia Siyu was truly stunned for a good while before she associated the verb with his actions at the moment. My god, it¡¯s true; Bo Yan was really in heat! Just like yesterday, when she was on the plane, she also wanted to touch his abs, feeling restless after he held her in his arms, and he seemed to have taken an interest in her as well. Looking back, although she was always the initiator, when it was his turn to seek pleasures, the man¡¯s animal instincts showed up in full force. He never allowed himself to be on the losing end, be it kissing or anything else. Although they had gotten married before, they hadn¡¯t lived together. It had only been recently that they were always filming and performing on shows together, and perhaps due to intentional or unintentional contact, he had actually started to play the rogue! Xia Siyu was so perturbed by his words that she was both angry and amused, pointing to herself with the other hand, ¡°Do you think I¡¯m pretty?¡± Isn¡¯t that obvious? Bo Yan nodded. ¡°Then do you think I have a good figure?¡± Chapter 268 - Chapter 268: Chapter 268 Sleep Together (6) Chapter 268: Chapter 268 Sleep Together (6) Bo Yan¡¯s gaze hesitated for a moment before settling firmly on her proud chest, vigorously nodding his head. His undisguised, bold and fiery eyes suddenly ignited resentment in Xia Siyu. ¡°So, do you really want to sleep with me?¡± Bo Yan got a jolt. He couldn¡¯t let on too obviously. And although Xia Siyu was always blunt, this¡­ was perhaps a bit too forward. He thought for a moment and expressed himself more tactfully, ¡°Not really want to. But¡­¡± Before he could finish, his eyes swept over her body again, clearly conveying a sense of eager anticipation. It was precisely that look, that statement, that instantly enraged Xia Siyu beyond measure! What did that mean? A textbook playboy move. Not particularly wanting to, but not particularly not wanting to either. Since you¡¯re bringing it up, then naturally, I¡¯d have to consider it. Anyway, no initiation, no rejection, no responsibility! ¡°Playboy!¡± Xia Siyu instantly yanked her hand from his grip. Bo Yan tried to approach, but she lifted her leg and delivered a flying kick, hitting him square in the abdomen. Caught completely off guard by her kick, Bo Yan lost his balance and fell backward, crashing to the ground. ¡°Bo Yan, you big pervert, you complete jerk!¡± Xia Siyu spat out as she stormed off, not forgetting to stomp on his leg along the way. Having stormed off a few steps, she then turned back, snatched the script from his hand, and grabbed a throw pillow from the sofa to smash it onto his head. After the assault, she stormed back with gusto. Her actions were fluid and unhesitating, and by the time Bo Yan got up from the ground, she had already slammed the door shut with a ¡°bang,¡± returning to her room. Bo Yan was slightly annoyed with himself. It was his fault for being too emotional today. He sat back on the sofa, took the throw pillow in his hands, and bashed it against his own head. Xia Siyu had stormed off in anger, and he didn¡¯t know if she¡¯d forgive him. Last time he kissed her, it took him quite an effort to persuade her to come back. What should he do this time? Remembering her face just before, surely flushed with anger, kicking and stomping, it was evident that she was seriously furious. He had intended to properly build a good relationship with her, but he¡­ really didn¡¯t know how to chase a girl, and he messed things up. Now, reflecting on the words he had just said, the things he had done, they indeed seemed like acts of a playboy. No, he had to explain himself. Bo Yan quickly got up and took fast steps to her room door. But as he raised his hand to knock, he didn¡¯t know what would be best to say. An apology was definitely in order. He¡¯d been too rash. Not to mention their tense relationship, even if they were on great terms, such talk was inappropriate. Pursuing a girl should be a gradual process, yet there he was, bringing up her looks and body as reasons to ¡°want to sleep with¡± her! Even if Xia Siyu were as blunt as they come, or as much influenced by Western education, such an approach was simply unacceptable. Not just for a woman, but for a man too! But to say nothing was not an option either. Continuing this standoff would only worsen their relationship. After much thought, Bo Yan still decided to knock on the door. However, just as he raised his hand, the door suddenly swung open. Xia Siyu stood there with a cold face, glaring at him with dissatisfaction. Bo Yan was momentarily stunned, his hand hanging in mid-air, unsure whether to retract it or to go on, and after a long pause, he could only slowly lower it. Xia Siyu lifted her eyes to give him a quick glance and then spoke: Chapter 269 - Chapter 269: Chapter 269: Married Life (1) Chapter 269: Chapter 269: Married Life (1) ¡°What do you want?¡± she said with a bit of an edge to her voice. Bo Yan thought for a moment, reining in his emotions, and quickly apologized with sincerity, ¡°Sorry, I just¡­ was a little offensive. I didn¡¯t actually mean that. I was¡­¡± ¡°So you think I¡¯m not pretty and have a bad figure?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ no, that¡¯s not it.¡± Bo Yan shook his head. ¡°So, you just don¡¯t want to sleep with me?¡± She had just asked these three questions, after all. Since he agreed with the first two, it must be the third one that was the problem. It wasn¡¯t that, it must be that she had misunderstood him. ¡°I¡­¡± Bo Yan hadn¡¯t expected her to be so direct, and for a moment, he didn¡¯t know how to respond. He hesitated for quite a while before nodding, ¡°I indeed didn¡¯t mean that.¡± To compliment her looks and figure, to say he wanted to sleep with her one moment and then become cold the next. Because he didn¡¯t want to take responsibility. How is it that he seemed even worse now! ¡°Alright, I get it. You can get lost now!¡± Xia Siyu said, her expression darkening, as she slammed the door shut. With a loud ¡°bang,¡± Bo Yan, who was just stepping forward and had something else to say, was nearly hit in the nose by the door that Xia Siyu slammed. Locked out, Bo Yan wanted to explain, but he feared that the more he tried, the worse it would get, and he didn¡¯t know how to persist. He hesitated beside the door for a long time, but in the end, he turned around, withdrew, and sullenly returned to his own room. Xia Siyu was just by the door, and hearing him go back to his room made her even angrier. She walked two steps into the room, threw herself onto the big bed, buried her head in the pillow, and after a good while, she muttered, ¡°Bo Yan, you big pervert, you big jerk!¡± ** Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t sleep. She was a bit upset. It was she who had been teased by Bo Yan, and he didn¡¯t even acknowledge it afterwards, but why was she the one suffering from insomnia today? Especially since when Bo Yan said he wanted to sleep with her, she was very angry. Of course, what woman wouldn¡¯t be upset if she heard something like that out of the blue, and they weren¡¯t even in the throes of passionate love. But she was even more upset when Bo Yan denied it afterward. He didn¡¯t just deny it; he offered an explanation and said, ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant!¡± This felt much more infuriating than a rejected confession, okay? Moreover, Bo Yan had admitted that she was pretty and had a good figure, but after deep contemplation, he said he didn¡¯t want to be close to her. Wasn¡¯t he basically saying her head was empty, and despite a pretty face, she wasn¡¯t really that charming? Even if that were true, he shouldn¡¯t have said it out loud! Xia Siyu flipped over, her face toward the ceiling, staring at the crystal lamp above, so frustrated that she was metaphorically pedaling a bike furiously into the void. She wanted to go and argue with him, and with a swift move, jumped agilely out of bed, barefoot, and rushed to the door to open it. But then she thought of Bo Yan¡¯s smug face, guessing that if she hurried over, she might just be humiliated by a few of his nonchalant remarks. Although Bo Yan was no longer as aloof as he was at first, an offhand remark from him was still enough to make someone explode with rage. Damn it, how did she even fall for this guy. When they were planning to get married, she should¡¯ve outright refused. It was she who was blind, dazzled by his good looks, which led her to repeatedly misjudge him. Last night, when she touched his abs, she even got a little carried away. Bo Yan probably didn¡¯t know how to taunt her for that! She should have quickly found another man, a man a hundred times better than him, and proudly walked past him, just to infuriate him! After tossing and turning all night, it wasn¡¯t until early the next morning that she finally dozed off in a daze. When she woke up, Bo Yan was there too. Chapter 270 - Chapter 270: Chapter 270: Married Life (2) Chapter 270: Chapter 270: Married Life (2) Bo Yan actually hadn¡¯t slept well all night. From childhood to adulthood, his grades in every subject had been exemplary, the only thing he hadn¡¯t mastered was: how to coax a girl. With other girls, it might not matter, but when he was with Xia Siyu, she always had a lot of ideas. He hardly needed to make any decisions at all. He could just listen to her suggestions and follow along, doing this or that. He himself was a little bit emotionally delayed. Having lost his parents early on, he had quickly learned to observe and analyze others. Excluding his parents, his grandparents gave him limited affection, and his uncle¡¯s family was only superficially concerned with him. A child living in someone else¡¯s home always tends to be more suspicious, and he was no exception. He got used to staying on the sidelines at first, watching for a while until things almost reached a predetermined trajectory, before stepping in to take control of the whole situation. But what he hadn¡¯t anticipated was that just as he had started to invest his full emotions, Xia Siyu broke up with him. Without Xia Siyu, he guessed he probably would have married some well-bred lady and continued his academic pursuits at the university. Maybe even becoming some famous scholar or another a hundred years later. In short, he would have continued moving forward on the trajectory set by his grandparents. Xia Siyu was like a gust of wind, a tornado. She burst into his world abruptly, turned it upside down without so much as asking for permission, leaving chaos in the wake of the storm, even altering his state of mind. It was the same now. Xia Siyu was as direct as she had always been. When talking to her, one had to be direct; she could never pick up on any hints. But being too direct, as he had been the night before, could lead to social suicide, killing the conversation in one fell swoop. But Bo Yan and Xia Siyu were different. When Xia Siyu got anxious, just like last night, she would hang in limbo, wanting to ask more but fearing that asking would just make her angrier. Yet, by holding it in, she indeed became even more upset. When Bo Yan encountered a problem, he would first stabilize his emotions, then think carefully about how to resolve it. Moreover, to maintain his composure, he might behave even more properly than usual. During this process, he might not show any emotional fluctuation and could seem utterly unaffected. Anyway, when Xia Siyu, with her disheveled hair, came out, what she saw was Bo Yan, neatly dressed, even with his shirt buttons done up perfectly. His hair was combed without a strand out of place. The living room was filled with the aroma of food; Bo Yan had already prepared breakfast and brewed coffee, eating elegantly with knife and fork. He just glanced over faintly when he saw her come out, and then uninterestedly looked down again. And then there was herself, in wrinkled pajamas, disordered hair, and because she was angry, she didn¡¯t even remember to remove her makeup last night, only doing it first thing this morning. Since he wasn¡¯t interested in her anyway, she saw no need to get herself too spruced up just to deal with him. After a simple wash-up, she headed straight for the dining table. Not handling her cutlery with elegance like Bo Yan, she ate the sandwich with her hands. Who needed a knife and fork for a sandwich anyway? Bo Yan frowned slightly at the sight of her eating, but he said nothing. After finishing his meal, he didn¡¯t leave but just sat there beside her. As soon as Xia Siyu finished her last little piece and had just taken a sip of her coffee, Bo Yan spoke up, ¡°I may not have expressed myself very clearly last night. Let me say it again. Now that we are husband and wife, I want us to live a normal married life.¡± Chapter 271 - Chapter 271: Chapter 271: Married Life (3) Chapter 271: Chapter 271: Married Life (3) As soon as she finished that sentence, Xia Siyu sprayed all the coffee in her mouth out. Bo Yan calmly wiped the coffee stains off his face with a tissue, and even remembered to grab one for her. Xia Siyu was coughing so violently it was as if the sky was falling, and after Bo Yan had cleaned himself up, he moved a bit closer, taking the seat beside her. Frowning, he patted her back up and down, smoothing her breath, ¡°You could even choke on water, I really don¡¯t know what to say about you.¡± Tears blurring her vision, Xia Siyu looked up to see Bo Yan¡¯s expression filled with disgust and speechlessness. Feeling his hand moving on her back, she coughed even louder. Bo Yan also poured her a glass of water, and Xia Siyu finally managed to suppress her coughing. She drank the water and calmed her emotions a bit, ¡°What do you mean?¡± Bo Yan¡¯s expression was serene, ¡°I mean it in the literal sense. We¡¯re already husband and wife, that¡¯s a settled fact. Plus, given the current situation, it¡¯s not likely that either of us will find another half and get divorced to embrace a new life anytime soon, and our families wouldn¡¯t agree to it. I¡¯m twenty-nine years old, turning thirty in three months. I¡¯m 183 centimeters tall, weigh 140 pounds, I exercise regularly, have pecs and abs, and no bad habits. I can cook. You¡¯ve experienced my abilities in that department before, and I consider myself not bad. In the years since we broke up, I haven¡¯t had any other relationships, nor have I dated. I thought it through and wondered why look elsewhere when I can find someone close at hand. If I were to find another girlfriend, first, I fear she might not be clean, and second, if she¡¯s worse than you, what would be the point? Besides, both of us are celebrities in the same industry, and we both know how to dodge the paparazzi and how to cool down the media heat. If I were to date someone outside the circle and things went south, I could get dragged into a mess, which would be a loss not worth the gain. Of course, the same theories apply to you. If you can find a man who¡¯s taller and more handsome than me, with abilities surpassing mine, and who will absolutely not badmouth you or cheat on you, then naturally, I would wish you well. But if not, I suggest you might consider me.¡± Bo Yan had thought about it all night. He was afraid that being too direct would lead to Xia Siyu¡¯s refusal, too subtle and she wouldn¡¯t understand. Telling her he liked or loved her might invite her mockery, but to say he had no such feelings, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to lie. Better to lay out the situation for her methodically, but the ultimate conclusion was: he wanted to be her husband. Xia Siyu listened to him list everything, his voice steady, his expression indifferent. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that he was talking about something as personal as their relationship, she might have thought he was giving a lecture, perhaps even an analytical one. After all that talking, it boiled down to him not finding a woman prettier or with a better figure than her, and although she might be a bit dense and bothersome, she wouldn¡¯t stir up trouble for him. Plus, with a marriage certificate as a foundation, he could sleep with her without any qualms, feeling completely justified, so in his eyes, it was a deal! Bo Yan, observing the anger on her face, added, ¡°Of course, it¡¯s not like I have no feelings for you at all, after all, we did date before. If I had to choose a woman, I would definitely choose you.¡± ¡°So what you¡¯re saying is, we should concrete our marriage. We eat at the same table and sleep in the same bed?¡± Bo Yan glanced at her and nodded, ¡°Actually, we¡¯ve already achieved half of that. Didn¡¯t we just have breakfast together?¡± So what he meant was they were only missing the other half, and the part they were missing was ¡°sleeping in the same bed¡±? Chapter 272 - Chapter 272: Chapter 272: Married Life (4) Chapter 272: Chapter 272: Married Life (4) Damn, this pervert, this absolute asshole! So, this guy spent all of last night considering, and his final conclusion was: he wanted to sleep with her! ¡°Go choose your damn self! Who said I wanted you to choose!¡± Xia Siyu was furious, she suddenly burst out, turned her head, and threw a pillow at his head! Did he take her for a three-year-old kid, unable to discern such obvious flattery? Men say all the sweet nothings when coaxing you to bed. Once they¡¯ve pulled their pants up, who are you, big sister? Besides, she was the one who chose men, not some object on display for men to select a consort. If anyone was choosing, it was her! And all the crap Bo Yan was spouting, not once did he say ¡°I like you,¡± let alone ¡°I love you¡±! Of course, it¡¯s not like she¡¯d respond even if he said ¡®I love you.¡¯ But for him not to say it at all, wasn¡¯t that going too far? Was it the courage she gave him by chasing him in the past, or in these times, regardless of Wu Di, Xia Sicai, or his legion of fans, all crazily chasing after him, that inflated his ego so much? So bloated that he thinks if he deigns to open his golden mouth and be with her, she should kneel on the ground, overwhelmed with gratitude? Xia Siyu pummeled him with a pillow twice in quick succession, but Bo Yan began to fight back. He reached out, first snatching away her pillow. As Xia Siyu¡¯s pillow was taken, she turned around to grab another. But it was just as she turned that Bo Yan saw his chance and reached out from behind her. Xia Siyu was poorly positioned and her balance unsteady, not in a good position to compete with him, and they both fell onto the sofa. Xia Siyu still wouldn¡¯t stay put on the sofa, constantly trying to fight back. Bo Yan¡¯s hands were quick, he grabbed her wrists, and to prevent her from delivering an Extinguishing Family Kick, sat on her pelvis. Xia Siyu used all her strength to struggle but she couldn¡¯t get free, he had her pressed down tight. ¡°Bo Yan, you bastard, let go!¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t like it, just say so, there was no need to get physical,¡± Bo Yan said, gripping her wrists tightly, looking down at her from above. Up close, she was even more beautiful. Though seven years had passed, time had been kind to her and had not tainted her with any signs of wear. Instead, it nourished her, and as she grew into her features, every inch of her skin, every strand of her hair seemed perfect. He admitted that he was attracted by her beauty, and although her personality couldn¡¯t be described as particularly ¡®nice,¡¯ it was very distinctive. In the entertainment industry, or even in society nowadays, it¡¯s not about being too unusual, it¡¯s about not being unusual enough. Blend in with everyone else, and you are just another face in the crowd. The middle class perishes en masse, the middle layer goes bankrupt on a large scale, and if you don¡¯t ascend to the top, you¡¯re only sliding down to the bottom. Xia Siyu was hot-tempered, straightforward, and thick-skinned. But it was these traits that made her impervious to criticism in the entertainment industry. She was also emotionally obtuse; otherwise, with Qin Baizhou¡¯s subtle approach, if she were Xia Sicai, she would have long understood the graceful intentions and known he was pursuing her. Only this dimwit couldn¡¯t see it, unless someone pointed it out to her, she truly wouldn¡¯t have a clue. But when it came to acting, to serious matters, she was bright and full of spiritual energy, certainly not someone without a pursuit for acting talent. Clear on the big things, fuzzy on the small, where could you find such a simple and adorable wife? ¡°Aren¡¯t you getting physical now?¡± Xia Siyu still looked unconvinced. ¡°I¡¯m making a move on you,¡± he admitted his interest in her, which had its benefits. From now on, he could publicly and freely make his moves! No sooner had the words left his mouth than Bo Yan pressed down, aiming for her lips. However¡­ Chapter 273 - Chapter 273: Chapter 273: Married Life (5) Chapter 273: Chapter 273: Married Life (5) Just as he was about to kiss her, the door opened with a ¡°ding¡±. Their house was of the type with an elevator right into the apartment, where the elevator opens directly into their space. Bo Yan slightly frowned, his first reaction being whether he might have heard wrong. This apartment was bought when they got married. It could be unlocked with a key, but also with fingerprint and iris recognition. Only he and Xia Siyu had keys; he hadn¡¯t even given one to Song Fengzhi, nor to his own family. As for Xia Siyu, she already had a poor relationship with her father, and even worse with her half-siblings; they were practically enemies, so they surely wouldn¡¯t have keys either. It must be that she¡¯d set her phone¡¯s notification tone to sound like the elevator bell, right? Otherwise, how could the door have opened? No sooner had this thought crossed his mind than the elevator doors opened with a ¡°whoosh,¡± followed by Wei Jingjing¡¯s voice: ¡°Siyu, are you packed yet? ¡ª Holy shit!¡± Of course, that exclamation came because she saw the scene where Bo Yan and Xia Siyu seemed about to kiss on the sofa. Is everything moving this fast nowadays? Bo Yan swiftly rolled off her, and Xia Siyu quickly got up as well. Both of them started explaining at the same time, ¡°We¡­¡± Wei Jingjing, perhaps having been through several shocks already, seemed unfazed. She even turned her back, saying, ¡°Carry on¡­ wait, that¡¯s not right, Siyu you need to hurry up and get ready, you¡¯ve got a brand event to attend.¡± After that variety show, Xia Siyu¡¯s popularity had skyrocketed. Even though she was scolded by Bo Yan¡¯s fans at the airport yesterday, it was Bo Yan¡¯s fans who were in the wrong the previous day. Both principals stepped forward to say it was a slip of the hand, stating that their relationship hadn¡¯t progressed to that stage yet. Since it was all just a misunderstanding, naturally, it didn¡¯t count for much. On the contrary, it brought quite a bit of attention to both of them. Moreover, after reading the comments Xia Siyu left confronting Bo Yan¡¯s fans, many switched their support to her. The fandom has been suffering for a long time. Who knows since when, but on Weibo, a celebrity can¡¯t slip up on a single word, as a mistake will cause a backlash. And who knows since when, one can¡¯t speak freely on Weibo, even if what¡¯s said is fair and unbiased. For instance, you might give an objective review of a movie, rating an actor¡¯s performance as a six. But in the eyes of the fans, if you don¡¯t say their idol¡¯s acting was perfect, you¡¯ll have people teaming up to send hate messages. But the fact that Xia Siyu personally confronted those fans won over many people, with a crowd cheering her on. As her popularity rose, naturally, business partners started knocking on her door. The endorsements and business deals she had lost all came back, one after another. This time, a luxury brand had invited her to attend a fashion show. Usually, she would decline such invitations, but today marked the 180th anniversary of this luxury brand, and it was said that many social elites were invited, not just from the entertainment industry, but also business figures. Qin Baizhou had asked her to attend as well. ¡ª However, Bo Yan hadn¡¯t been invited for a simple reason: he endorsed a rival luxury brand. Xia Siyu quickly got up and dashed to the bathroom at the speed of a sprinter to shower and get ready. Fortunately, she had only given the key to Wei Jingjing and had repeatedly emphasized that Wei must not tell Qin Baizhou anything about her and Bo Yan. Wei Jingjing was indeed loyal! While Xia Siyu showered, Wei Jingjing and Bo Yan found themselves in an awkward situation in the living room. Bo Yan asked her to ¡°sit,¡± and then added, ¡°There¡¯s a water dispenser over there, help yourself if you¡¯re thirsty.¡± Once Wei Jingjing was seated, he inquired, ¡°What¡¯s Qin Baizhou¡¯s stance towards Xia Siyu?¡± Chapter 274 - Chapter 274: Chapter 274: Married Life (6) Chapter 274: Chapter 274: Married Life (6) Wei Jingjing¡¯s first reaction was that those two must have already become an item. Was she here to collect information, or to assert her authority over Qin Baizhou? She said, ¡°Qin treats Siyu very well. Siyu has a short temper and doesn¡¯t take advice from just anyone; only Qin can persuade her. Qin also puts in a lot of effort for her. All the messes Siyu gets herself into, Qin helps clean up behind the scenes. Siyu trusts Qin a great deal. After all, starting from her previous talent agency, it has been Qin leading her.¡± Bo Yan dismissed it, ¡°I know this, I just want to ask, what are his career plans for her?¡± Wei Jingjing hadn¡¯t expected Bo Yan to ask this question. After some thought, she said, ¡°Our Qin once said that the most important things for a talent agent are three types of planning: time management, content planning, and emotional management. An agent helps schedule and coordinate the artist¡¯s time, manages their film and business engagements, and controls their emotions. Ultimately, the goal is to achieve the maximum benefit in the shortest time. For female artists, this is particularly true, since their peak period is very brief; they might lose their looks by the age of thirty. That¡¯s the natural progression, not to mention the downtime if they choose to undergo cosmetic surgery. Also, female artists face the prospect of marriage and childbirth. Sometimes once they have a child, many acting opportunities disappear. Siyu especially needs this kind of planning. She is carefree and straight-forward, never planning ahead, acting on personal preference, and her emotions can easily spiral out of control. She¡¯s still young now, but in a few years, she might want to start dating, get married, and grow old. Of course, it¡¯s best to earn more profit during her peak popularity.¡± Bo Yan shook his head, ¡°I¡¯m not asking about this, I¡¯m asking, what does Qin Baizhou think about her acting career?¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Wei Jingjing was a bit puzzled. Although Xia Siyu had consistently been embroiled in messy scandals, in her six years since debut, she had never been short of film offers. Moreover, she had been specifically requested to work with top directors because she was beautiful, and she took her acting seriously, doing a decent job. ¡°She¡¯s always had good resources, hasn¡¯t she? There are plenty of film offers, she¡¯s got a pile of scripts at the company. Qin said that she¡¯s a film actress, she doesn¡¯t do TV series. Otherwise, if she got tied down to a TV series, film offers would drop like snowflakes.¡± ¡°Then regarding her film offers, how does he screen them for her? Your company surely does an initial filter, right?¡± ¡°Of course it¡¯s about selecting the team, the salary, the treatment, isn¡¯t that how it always is?¡± Bo Yan furrowed his brows slightly. He had no doubts about Qin Baizhou¡¯s care and favoritism towards Xia Siyu, the scripts he picked for her were definitely both comfortable and well-paid, with good teams as well. But the problem is, acting in movies isn¡¯t the same as working a government office job; how could someone choose films just based on high salaries and comfort, resulting in a selection of highly homogenous movies? Xia Siyu was known for her ing¨¦nue roles in movies, and it was still such roles she played now. They commanded high box-office returns, were easygoing, usually filmed in cities, and were stylish. After acting in them, it was easy to secure endorsements and attention from fashion brands. But Xia Siyu dreamt of making her mark on film history; she didn¡¯t lack money nor did she fear hardship, and in the future, their disagreements would only grow larger. For now, Xia Siyu still had some autonomy, and she also had aspirations. It seemed as though she had independence, but the scripts were specifically selected before even reaching her hands, which was detrimental to her development. Qin Baizhou¡¯s planned path suits an artist who wants to earn money lying down, but it doesn¡¯t suit her. Chapter 275 - Chapter 275: Chapter 275 Dinner (1) Chapter 275: Chapter 275 Dinner (1) Bo Yan wouldn¡¯t rashly make Xia Siyu change her management team. Besides drama engagements, Qin Baizhou is considered a very good agent. He can help maintain an artist¡¯s popularity, secure business deals, fight for better roles, and knows how to hype and market. For the average artist, being able to maintain popularity and continuously make money already makes for a very good agent. Moreover, Qin Baizhou wouldn¡¯t push away good opportunities. The only possible issue is that he may not have a deep appreciation for art. Or rather, in his eyes, the artistic value of some works can¡¯t compete with the paycheck, time investment, and exposure. ¡°Not exactly, for example, I run an independent studio, which gives me more autonomy, especially when it comes to choosing scripts.¡± As the two of them were talking, Xia Siyu had already hurriedly showered, washed her hair, and left her home at breakneck speed. She faintly overheard the conversation outside and felt a bit wary: Bo Yan wouldn¡¯t be prying into her private affairs, would he? She quickly asked, ¡°Are you talking about me?¡± Wei Jingjing didn¡¯t know how to respond and looked at Bo Yan. However, Bo Yan nodded, ¡°Yes, we¡¯re discussing ¡®Spring Light.¡¯ Director Sun Wujiu is indeed quite interested in you, and if you¡¯re really willing to take the role, it would be best if you could meet with him soon.¡± This was a serious matter, and although Xia Siyu was still somewhat annoyed with Bo Yan, she wouldn¡¯t reject what he said. ¡°Meeting is fine.¡± She was set on wanting the role of the female lead. Her acting resume was still missing a major work that could prove her acting skills. She was now the most popular in the entertainment circle; though her fame was controversial, it was a genuine popularity. Qin Baizhou was right¡ª the artistic life of a female actress is indeed short-lived. But what Qin Baizhou thought was to make as much money as possible while she was still young, beautiful, and popular. What she thought was, she¡¯s already so famous, how much more famous could she become? Since popularity is fleeting, she needed to think long-term and aim for bigger achievements. Moreover, her mother, who switched to acting from dancing, managed to win the Best Actress award. She had been a top star in the entertainment circle for six years with no significant achievements, and that was her own fault. Nevertheless, Xia Siyu murmured softly, ¡°If only the male lead could be replaced¡­¡± Replacing the male lead would mean Bo Yan being replaced. Bo Yan and Wei Jingjing clearly heard her, and his expression cracked slightly. After getting ready, Xia Siyu only applied skincare without makeup since the makeup artist would take care of it in the car. She didn¡¯t even dry her hair, leaving it damp as she went downstairs; after all, the hairstylist would style it anyway. When she reached the ground floor, she didn¡¯t expect to find Qin Baizhou there too. Qin Baizhou smiled and explained first, ¡°Considering you¡¯re a young woman living alone, it wouldn¡¯t be proper for me to come up.¡± He said this with a smile, first glancing at Xia Siyu, then turning to look at Wei Jingjing. Wei Jingjing, who had been on the job for three years, shrank a little at Qin Baizhou¡¯s smile. She couldn¡¯t help but feel there was a deeper meaning behind their boss¡¯s seemingly knowing smile, as if he knew about Bo Yan and Xia Siyu living together but didn¡¯t want to intervene, so he sent her to act as a third wheel instead. Xia Siyu was genuinely thick-skinned; she was only concerned with getting into the car and asked, ¡°Why are you here?¡± Typically, for events like this, agents don¡¯t need to make an appearance, especially partners like Qin Baizhou. He had enough company paperwork to keep him busy; accompanying her was already demanding enough, so why would he also attend the event? If the agent handled everything, what was the assistant for? Chapter 276 - Chapter 276: Chapter 276 Dinner (2) Chapter 276: Chapter 276 Dinner (2) ¡°No, I¡¯m just heading to a restaurant near Guojin to discuss some business, and it¡¯s on the way. You wouldn¡¯t mind giving me a lift, would you?¡± Xia Siyu responded with an ¡°Oh¡± without asking further. A group of people got into the car, including the makeup artist. As the car was moving, it was not convenient for the makeup artist to apply a detailed makeup look, so she only gave Xia a base with some foundation and applied a bit of blush. The eyebrows and lips were also hastily attended to. Because they were attending a high-end brand dinner, the makeup had to match the attire. The evening¡¯s clothing would naturally be provided by the brand, so she wore a simple T-shirt and denim skirt, with her long, straight black hair hanging loose as she followed them to the event. Along the way, Qin Baizhou was chatting with her in a soft voice, ¡°I just looked, and the owners of buildings one and two from the Du Shu Yi Zhi project we saw yesterday have both listed their properties for sale. In particular, the owner of building one mentioned that they are open for house viewing appointments recently. I wonder if you¡¯re interested?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Xia Siyu replied very briskly. Now that she knew Bo Yan had his sights set on her, and she didn¡¯t want to comply obediently, her plan was to stay as far away as possible. For now, the biggest reassurance was that Bo Yan would still arrogantly uphold his gentlemanly demeanor and not force her into anything. Of course, if he were to force her, she would kick him where it hurt, hard! Seeing her reply so smoothly, Qin Baizhou breathed a sigh of relief. He knew Bo Yan was pursuing her. Over these seven years, he had always been by Xia Siyu¡¯s side and was very clear about her actual state. All those rumors about Xia Siyu were handled by him, whether they were fabricated or forcibly attached to her, all were false. Her nature was simple and she was noble-hearted; what¡¯s rare is that in the dye vat that is the entertainment industry, her purity was astonishing. Those hidden rules, funding to join cast, and sleeping one¡¯s way to the top did not exist with her. Although she appeared simple and a bit foolish, she was very reliable when dealing with proper matters. It was all too normal for him to admire her, and on top of that, she was so beautiful. If he were to compare himself with other men, he felt he had advantages. Although he came from a modest background, he was now a partner at Huixing, worth several billion. He had fought for it with his own strength, punch by punch, kick by kick. He had numerous resources at his disposal, with many platforms having long-term business cooperations with their company, and last year¡¯s financial report was indeed impressive. Moreover, he wasn¡¯t bad-looking, and he had the height as well. By any standard, he was a promising prospect, one of the most sought-after types on the marriage market. But he had just happened to run into Bo Yan. Regardless of knowledge or background, there was one aspect where he simply couldn¡¯t compete with Bo Yan: looks. His appearance, just like Xia Siyu¡¯s beauty, was something given by their parents, natural-born. Add to that the Bo Family, and it seemed no amount of effort in several lifetimes would suffice. For someone like him, despite immense effort, just managing to have an almost comparable say in business affairs with Bo Yan was already a challenge¡ªand it was only just enough to reach the tips of his toes. Sometimes life is just that unfair. However, the one advantage he did have was that Xia Siyu currently trusted him. His relationship with her was much better than with Bo Yan. Although he didn¡¯t know exactly what kind of past Xia Siyu and Bo Yan had, his intuition told him that these two definitely had a history. But in the seven years that he had known Xia Siyu, she and Bo Yan were like fire and water¡ªincompatible¡ªand her aversion to Bo Yan was genuine. Love is not a competition of family background, and he might not lose. As he was thinking, a strand of Xia Siyu¡¯s hair floated over. Something stirred in his heart, and he found himself wanting to touch her. Chapter 277 - Chapter 277: Chapter 277 Dinner (3) Chapter 277: Chapter 277 Dinner (3) Just as he reached out, Xia Siyu suddenly turned around and saw his extended hand with a slightly odd expression, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Ah, it¡¯s nothing.¡± Qin Baizhou quickly recovered, smiled a bit, and brushed away the stray hair on her shoulder, ¡°Your hairstyle got a bit messy here.¡± Xia Siyu made an ¡°Oh¡± sound, not thinking much of it. As the car drove on, Qin Baizhou asked, ¡°The scripts that Jingjing gave you last time, have you taken a liking to any of them?¡± After thinking for a while, indeed, she had been given several scripts, including the sequel to her previous movie, ¡°Still Young 2.¡± ¡°Youth¡± was quite good actually, with modest investment but decent box office returns¡ªless than two billion invested for a ten billion box office yield. The production company was particularly satisfied with Xia Siyu¡¯s performance and hoped she would continue. The only issue might be that the salary wouldn¡¯t be very high. Besides, the scriptwriting team had changed, but for this kind of urban comedy, they didn¡¯t really need profoundly sophisticated writers; it was fine as long as there were no logical issues. Movies often emphasize a series, where popularity is sometimes a matter of accumulation. After the first movie¡¯s box office success, there would naturally be a group of fans, and even passersby might follow the new work because of the IP. Relatively speaking, this one was comparatively better, it was just that the filming schedule clashed slightly with ¡°Spring Light.¡± To be precise, this movie was supposed to start shooting in five months¡ªif it conflicted with the schedule of ¡°Spring Light,¡± she would have to choose ¡°Spring Light.¡± Overlapping filming schedules were impossible; she hadn¡¯t done it in many years. ¡°Let¡¯s see if ¡®Youth 2¡¯ can adjust the schedule a bit, or maybe I can join a month later. When the time comes, I¡¯ll focus on filming. I still prefer to shoot ¡®Spring Light¡¯¡± Qin Baizhou¡¯s smile disappeared for a moment but quickly returned, ¡°Why do you like ¡®Spring Light¡¯ so much?¡± ¡°The script is very solid. Although Sun Wujiu hasn¡¯t been in charge before, he has always followed Yu Fenfei. Many of Director Yu¡¯s films were actually shot by him. I¡¯ve seen the films directed by both Yu Fenfei and him, and I think they are pretty good. Besides, this time Director Yu isn¡¯t just a name; he will also assist with the shooting.¡± ¡°But I still think it is a bit risky, after all, the film also requires prior experiential learning. Add filming to that, and half a year will be gone.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that it requires prior experiential learning; it¡¯s that I want to experience it myself.¡± Although last night¡¯s script reading was abruptly interrupted due to Bo Yan¡¯s sudden hooliganism, the more she read the script, the more she felt the need to learn and experience. Even though, in the script, her character is a teacher sent to support the bounds, having a more favorable background as a university student from a big city. But she still needed to study more about many historical facts and life details. Her acting style was experiential, immersing herself into the characters and thinking from their perspective. If she didn¡¯t understand what the character was going through, she couldn¡¯t perform it well. ¡°But an actress¡¯s career is precious. And you¡¯re going to the Northwest, to a village to live through wind and rain, tumble in the dirt. To be honest, I¡¯m also afraid that you can¡¯t handle the hardship. Moreover, it¡¯s too long a time, the pay isn¡¯t much, the team looks alright but there¡¯s no guarantee. I don¡¯t recommend that you go.¡± Xia Siyu turned around, her expression more serious than ever before, ¡°I¡¯m twenty-six this year, twenty-seven in a month, and it has been six years since I entered the industry. Six years in the business, and I still don¡¯t have a work that represents me¡­¡± ¡°Who says you don¡¯t have a representative work? Every one of your films sells well. Your popularity is your greatest work.¡± Chapter 278 - Chapter 278: Chapter 278 Dinner (4) Chapter 278: Chapter 278 Dinner (4) ¡°Popularity, being in the spotlight, all these are fleeting. A hundred years from now, no, it doesn¡¯t even take a century, perhaps in ten or twenty years, will you still remember the idol you adored in your youth? You might remember, or you might laugh at how ¡®uncool¡¯ it was back then. Only the works are tangible, they are what live on.¡± Just like now, when she occasionally searches for her mother¡¯s name, she finds that there are still people silently following, still commenting. Even Shang Feifei, who had bad relations with her, could speak eloquently about her mother. Her mother had been out of the industry for so many years, yet people still remembered her. All the bad things from the past had vanished like smoke, what everyone remembered were the glowing moments from her movies, the scenes from her dances. She was not lacking in money, nor did she care for these superficial honors. What she wanted was to hone herself. In her youth, she might not have understood the significance behind these films, but now, after six years adrift in the entertainment industry, she understood. Maybe the hard work of the past six months on ¡°Spring Light¡± might end up in a box office flop, or she might not win any awards. But she had taken that step, refusing to stay always in her comfort zone. She wasn¡¯t a house cat, kept just for her owner¡¯s pleasure. She wanted to be the tiger roaming the forest, the lion sprinting across the savanna, the cheetah! Qin Baizhou watched her for a long time. Since he had known her, Xia Siyu had always been thick-skinned. If others praised her, she took it as her due. If they criticized her, she assumed they were jealous. In short, her confidence knew no bounds¡ªshe was unrivaled in her own eyes! Acting was easy for her, her very first role had made her a fan favorite, and she had had a steady stream of good roles and business deals since. She¡¯d had a slump because of scandals and messy rumors, but she had never fallen from the top tier. Having been an agent for so many years, he knew that in this industry, everyone wanted to be famous. It was normal to want fame; the image of being content like a chrysanthemum only fed fans¡¯ fantasies. But the ambition of most artists extended at most to reaching Xia Siyu¡¯s position or maybe slightly lower, being fairly popular, earning a lot, having influence was enough. He too had thought only about how to keep Xia Siyu at the top for a long time, to continue to be a top influencer, but it turned out that she didn¡¯t want any of these dazzling prospects. ¡°But this way, you might waste more than half a year. You should know how precious half a year is for a female actress.¡± ¡°I know, I don¡¯t care. That¡¯s why I want to act.¡± Qin Baizhou nodded on the surface, ¡°Alright, I got it, I will make the arrangements.¡± In the past, Xia Siyu would never have talked back to him like this. It was not that he didn¡¯t let her take roles; he simply didn¡¯t want her to recklessly try a new team. It seemed that her change had happened only recently. Could it be because of¡ªBo Yan? At the thought of Bo Yan, Qin Baizhou¡¯s face instantly lost all trace of a smile. As they talked, they arrived at the venue. Xia Siyu got out of the car, originally intending to wave goodbye to Qin Baizhou, but unexpectedly, he got out as well and even greeted the person in charge, ¡°Sorry, if our Siyu lacks anything here, please take care.¡± After greeting everyone, he finally got back in the car, which quickly drove off. However, today, Xia Siyu still encountered quite a few acquaintances. There were those with whom she had a bad relationship and those with whom it was neutral. Chapter 279 - Chapter 279: Chapter 279 Dinner (5) Chapter 279: Chapter 279 Dinner (5) High-end luxury brands carry an inherent prestige, and even if you¡¯re a top influencer, if your public image is seen as down-to-earth, you might still have no chance of endorsing such a luxury brand. This was a fashion feast, and in the afternoon, a bunch of celebrities were gathered for a show, but the evening held a business dinner, inviting business figures. This wasn¡¯t a place just anyone could enter, apart from spokespersons, ambassadors for various lines, and a miscellaneous mix of preferred collaborating artists, as well as prestigious elders with clout and gravitas. Xia Siyu was the brand¡¯s spokesperson for the Asia-Pacific region. The brand favored Xia Siyu for a simple reason: her English fluency, especially in Italian. A high percentage of luxury brands hail from France and Italy, and she happened to be the spokesperson for an Italian brand. Sometimes, internationally, it¡¯s not about how amazing your acting skills are or how high your status is but just because you can speak a foreign language fluently, you can rival others¡¯ decades of effort. Upon her arrival, as the brand¡¯s spokesperson, she received exceptional treatment. Even though many cinema veterans were present, their poor English and lack of Italian meant that the president of the Asia-Pacific region was accompanied by her. Xia Siyu was accustomed to grand occasions. Although her mother had retired from acting after her birth, she occasionally met a few of her mother¡¯s superstar friends. Even though she didn¡¯t grow up in the Xia Family, her father Xia Youbiao had also created opportunities for her to mingle in various circles in Europe and China since she was young. Many stars, who wield great influence in China, might become unconfident when faced with foreigners speaking English. She was different; she wasn¡¯t afraid at all. With an inherent familiarity and an ¡°I¡¯m the best¡± presence, she interacted with everyone on equal footing. Although she had a fiery temper and spoke her mind, she unexpectedly hit it off with foreigners. Many people simply prefer it when you speak frankly, without hiding anything. Moreover, Xia Siyu, despite her quick temper, had a mother who was both a dancer and a leading actress; etiquette came naturally to her, no need to learn it from scratch; it was in her bones. Be it her looks, demeanor, eloquence, or etiquette standards, everything about her was beyond reproach. She wasn¡¯t foolish when attending such events. For the group photo in the afternoon, although she was now a top influencer, she still let the elder celebrities take the center spot, standing beside the president of the Asia-Pacific region. Although it seemed she stood off to the side, when the unedited photos were released, no one thought her status was low; they just saw her as being modest. And then there was this: every time you saw her, you couldn¡¯t help but be amazed, she was really so beautiful. Even the raw photos were stunning! The afternoon group photo only invited a slightly smaller number of people. But the evening dinner saw many more attendees. Quite a few politicians and business figures would also receive invitations to come and talk business. The dinner began with everyone seated according to their allocated spots. As a spokesperson, Xia Siyu naturally sat with the president at the head table. Apart from her, only one or two highly respected veterans from the entertainment industry were seated at the head table. At the adjoining table, those artists didn¡¯t have much chance to come over, present were the editors-in-chief of fashion magazines, business elites, and owners of various major brands with business relationships. Other artists could only sit far away in the corners. However, just as Xia Siyu settled into her seat, someone nearby called her name, ¡°Xia Siyu.¡± Chapter 280 - Chapter 280: Chapter 280 Dinner (6) Chapter 280: Chapter 280 Dinner (6) Xia Siyu is a star, and many people call her by name. But this one, his voice incredibly familiar, she turned to look. And for good reason, it was her dear older half-brother from the same father, Xia Ju¡¯an. Xia Ju¡¯an and Xia Sicai are fraternal twins, both 29 years old this year. Xia Ju¡¯an was born five minutes earlier and is the older brother, while Xia Sicai is the younger sister. However, although they are twins, they don¡¯t look very alike. Strictly speaking, Xia Ju¡¯an resembles their father, Xia Youbiao, more, while Xia Sicai takes after their mother more. Who also happens to be Xia Youbiao¡¯s ex-wife. The marriage between Xia Youbiao and his ex-wife was an appropriate match of social status, but it also meant there was little affection. They were incompatible and divorced within two years, leaving their two children to the Xia Family. Afterward, Xia Youbiao met her mother, Wen Qunxiao, which then led to her birth. If it were a simple transition from predecessor to successor without a third party climbing ranks or any wealthy individuals keeping mistresses ¨C a typically dramatic narrative ¨C then it could be considered relatively smooth. But life is never so unchangingly perfect. If it were, she wouldn¡¯t have ended up following her mother to travel across the ocean, only returning to China during her high school years. Upon seeing Xia Ju¡¯an, Xia Siyu only had one thought: What¡¯s a lumber merchant like you doing at a luxury gala? She was not wrong; the Xia Family business originated from construction materials, and with the domestic construction boom in recent years, the family¡¯s fortunes soared alongside, eventually branching into furniture design. But no matter what business you¡¯re in, you¡¯re still a lumber merchant. Could it be luxury brands are now venturing into the furniture business? She had heard that some luxury brands had started selling toilets not long ago; was this an indication they were moving into home decor as well? Xia Ju¡¯an indeed had come to discuss business. Luxury brands have been innovating over the past years, considering entering the high-end furniture market. The Xia Family had a good market share in high-quality furniture and was looking to expand their brand¡¯s influence, which is why they were considering a co-branded line with this luxury label. Even if the co-branding didn¡¯t happen, being the supplier for this luxury brand¡¯s furniture could still attract countless people¡¯s attention. Xia Siyu paid no mind to her brother¡¯s words but was instead asked by a CEO nearby in Italian, ¡°What¡¯s going on? Do you know that gentleman?¡± Xia Siyu said nonchalantly, ¡°Of course, I do. There aren¡¯t many in China who don¡¯t know me.¡± Hearing this, the CEO simply smiled and continued to eat his dinner. When attending a gala, no one is really there to eat; they¡¯re there for the networking that comes afterward. Everyone except for Xia Siyu. Xia Youbiao sat beside her, waiting. Once the meal began, Xia Siyu started with the appetizers and then progressed to the salad, the soups, the two main courses, the dessert, and finally some fruit. Since they were out, she didn¡¯t dare to drink much alcohol, merely sipping it twice during the main course. Fortunately, there wasn¡¯t a custom to urge people to drink in foreign countries. She conversed effortlessly with the foreign executives sitting around her. Other artists seeing this might get envious and say: Look, she¡¯s really good at brown-nosing, smiling so brightly. What, are the wealthy Chinese not enough for you anymore; now you¡¯re going after foreigners? These murmurings were also somewhat heard by Xia Ju¡¯an. He frowned slightly, took a sip of his drink, his face full of displeasure. After everyone finished eating and the CEO left, Xia Siyu went to the restroom. He finally took the chance to approach her. However¡­ Chapter 281 - Chapter 281: Chapter 281 Dinner (Extra) Chapter 281: Chapter 281 Dinner (Extra) However, before he could approach her, someone had already beaten him to the punch and struck up a conversation with Xia Siyu. Zhou Weiwei¡¯s ex-boyfriend, Li Weiyi, the youngest son of Zhongtian Group¡¯s boss who had been rumored to have an affair with her and got his face bloodied by her on the street. Before knowing Zhou Weiwei, Li Weiyi was an internet celebrity. Because of his status as the youngest son of Zhongtian Group¡¯s boss, he was acquainted with quite a few minor celebrities in the entertainment circle, and there were entertainment companies that had offered him contracts, but he was holding out for a better offer, not willing to sign with just any small company. Although Zhou Weiwei was not particularly famous, nor was she the most promoted individual in her company, her company had good resources. They had good relationships with major platforms whether it came to acting, singing, or operating on Weibo and TikTok. After getting to know Zhou Weiwei, he quickly signed a contract with her company. He originally wanted to capitalize on the scandal where Xia Siyu beat him up to market himself further, but that plan fell through when it got swiftly managed by public relations, and his moment in the limelight was cut short. Oh, but not entirely. Whenever he was mentioned, he was still that guy who got his face bloodied by Xia Siyu. Although Xia Siyu didn¡¯t benefit much from the incident, neither did he; getting beaten up by a woman like that was quite embarrassing. Especially since Qin Baizhou had gotten hold of information about his involvement in group activities and threatened to release it in an instant if he ever dared to hype himself up again. Now, Xia Siyu had made a successful comeback with ¡°Flowers and Grass,¡± rising with the tide and cleansing her image from various messy rumors. While she still had popularity, it was almost all positive. Especially after this second son of the Li family entered the entertainment industry, he discovered that he was not praised by female fans as much as he had imagined; instead, he faced more mockery and skepticism. After all, the gossip-loving public has a lot of free time; you don¡¯t even need to do anything wrong to get ridiculed. Sometimes, you might not even make a single mistake or say anything wrong, maybe just an inadvertent eye-roll caught on camera, or answering slightly too late, could lead to overwhelming doubt. The question is just how much skepticism you face. His looks were considered handsome among ordinary people, among the rich second generation, and in the internet celebrity sphere, but in the entertainment circle, they were not enough. Real beauty would still face criticism for a tiny flaw¡ªbe it chicken-mouth lips, a hawkish nose, or sanpaku eyes¡ªso what about him? With no works to his name and not nearly as handsome as Bo Yan, wasn¡¯t he just known for the incident where Xia Siyu bloodied his face? What was there to be proud of in that? Xia Siyu was about to enter the women¡¯s restroom when Li Weiyi, not in the best of moods, directly blocked her way at the door. Xia Siyu looked up and saw a man with a slovenly air about him, his hair even dyed with a streak, leaning against the entrance of the women¡¯s restroom. If it weren¡¯t for his normal-looking expression, she would have thought that his Parkinson¡¯s was acting up again with that crooked smile on his face. ¡°Xia Siyu,¡± Li Weiyi pronounced her name, one word at a time. Xia Siyu glanced at him and remained silent. In truth, from the very first moment Li Weiyi approached, she had recognized him but simply couldn¡¯t be bothered. After all, she had beaten up too many people; just today, Bo Yan got kicked by her too. If she had to pay attention to everyone she had confronted, as well as the tens of millions of netizens who insulted her online, could she possibly keep up? She stepped to the left, and Li Weiyi moved to the left; she stepped to the right, and Li Weiyi also moved to the right. With only one restroom on the first floor of the venue, their standoff naturally caught everyone¡¯s attention. There were quite a few celebrities and media invited to the dinner, and the speculation began. Xia Siyu, however, was unfazed, ¡°Are you also trying to use the ladies¡¯ restroom?¡± Chapter 282 - Chapter 282: Chapter 282: The Shaky Wine Bottle (1) Chapter 282: Chapter 282: The Shaky Wine Bottle (1) Li Weiyi was taken aback and shook his head. Xia Siyu then instantly began to rage, ¡°Then move out of my way now, do you want me to hit you again with my high heels, right here in front of all these people?¡± Did Li Weiyi think that because she looked more demure today, he had forgotten the bloodied face he had once had after she hit him? Politeness, gentleness¡ªthese were all acts she put on. Hitting anyone she disliked, continuing to hit until they submitted, that was her true nature! Even Bo Yan had been hit by her, Shang Feifei had been reprimanded by her. In the business world, her dear daddy Xia Youbiao had been blocked by her, and both her brother Xia Ju¡¯an and sister Xia Sicai disapproved of her. Who hadn¡¯t she cursed? Who the hell are you to dare provoke me? Li Weiyi¡¯s face turned bright red, so red that even the thick makeup on his face couldn¡¯t hide it. He had his pride, when had he ever been publicly humiliated¡ªoh, sorry, he had been, when Xia Siyu hit him and cursed him out, using very ugly language. As a rich second generation, used to swaggering through his social circles, when had he ever faced such direct criticism? It immediately put him in a foul mood, ¡°You slut, you¡¯ve ruined my reputation. You¡¯re not leaving today until you clear this up!¡± Xia Siyu was truly amused by him, standing at the door with an expression like she was looking at a fool, ¡°How could I ruin your reputation? Did I force your head during your ¡®group activities¡¯? Was it me who made you sleep around? Or forced you to record it?¡± Li Weiyi never expected Xia Siyu to actually say these things publicly, giving him no face whatsoever. Although the social circle was chaotic, with even wilder behaviors being common, those things remained as undercurrents beneath a shiny surface. But even if they were common occurrences within the circle, they were still contemptible when spoken aloud. Immediately, the surrounding crowd burst into a buzz of discussion, with a few girls looking in Li Weiyi¡¯s direction, their gazes full of disdain and mockery. This infuriated Li Weiyi, ¡°You¡¯re slandering me!¡± Xia Siyu was not afraid of his threats. He couldn¡¯t out-argue or out-fight her, and in terms of status in the entertainment industry, he was no match. Plus, she had video evidence¡ªwho should she fear? She said smugly, reveling in the disaster, ¡°Everything I said is true, how is that slander? You say I¡¯m slinging mud, but then I can only show the video evidence to prove my innocence.¡± As soon as she mentioned evidence, the whispers of the bystanders grew even louder. In this day and age, everything needed concrete proof, seek and you shall find! After saying her piece, Xia Siyu even pinched her chin, looked Li Weiyi up and down, finally resting her gaze on a certain part of him, and commented, ¡°Watching the video, you really are incompetent.¡± Li Weiyi was about to explode with anger, especially because the circle of women around were also following Xia Siyu¡¯s gaze, their expressions highly suggestive. A man absolutely cannot be told he¡¯s incompetent, let alone in the presence of a public audience, surrounded by a group of women. One could imagine that after tonight, the rumor of his incompetence would spread throughout the entire circle with the ending of the banquet. How would he flirt with women then? And how would other men view him? And for such matters, there was no way for him to prove his innocence. If he says he¡¯s very capable, how capable, and in what way? Xia Siyu, shameless and fearless, would just talk you to death without batting an eyelid. Li Weiyi¡¯s face turned scarlet red as he bellowed, ¡°You¡¯re going too far!¡± Just as he was about to move forward to hit someone, his arm was tightly grabbed by someone¡¯s hand. Chapter 283 - Chapter 283: Chapter 283: The Wobbling Wine Bottle (2) Chapter 283: Chapter 283: The Wobbling Wine Bottle (2) Li Weiyi tried to pull his hand away, saying ¡°let go,¡± but the grip on him only tightened. Moreover, with a swift counter-move, the person twisted his wrist backwards and contorted his arm, causing Li Weiyi such pain that his body arched and cold sweat streamed down! As Li Weiyi turned to look, the gazes of others followed suit. Xia Siyu also looked back, a slight surprise evident on her face. It was Bo Yan, actually Bo Yan! Wasn¡¯t he the spokesperson for another luxury brand? What was he doing here? Wouldn¡¯t this be taboo for the brand he represents? It wasn¡¯t just Xia Siyu who was puzzled; everyone else watching the scene was too. Crossing over between high-end brands was a major faux pas in the luxury industry. Even Li Weiyi couldn¡¯t help but to speak, ¡°Bo Yan, what are you doing here? Aren¡¯t you the ambassador for the brand next door? Why did you come here?¡± Bo Yan spoke indifferently, ¡°My cousin broke his hand and is receiving treatment; it¡¯s inconvenient for him to come over. I am here on his behalf to find someone. I was just passing by and did not expect to encounter this.¡± When he said ¡°cousin,¡± the people around remembered that Bo Yan was from the Bo Family of Yancheng, and his cousin must be the one from Bosch Corporation. Although everyone knew his identity, he rarely displayed his relationship with the Bo Family of Yancheng in public. So unless he brought it up himself, almost no one would think in that direction. As he spoke, he twisted Li Weiyi¡¯s arm harder, contorting his face in pain, causing him to cry out. Bo Yan¡¯s eyes could not hide his disgust, ¡°Playing group sports and then coming to bully a woman in person, you really are something.¡± In the meantime, Xia Ju¡¯an also arrived. He assessed the situation at a glance¡ªhe understood everything when he saw the angry Xia Siyu, Bo Yan with a face full of loathing, and the pitiful Li Weiyi caught in Bo Yan¡¯s grip like a little chick. ¡°Bo Yan.¡± Bo Yan continued to hold Li Weiyi, even twisting his arm with more force, looking as if it might dislocate any moment. He didn¡¯t care whether Li Weiyi was in pain and started conversing with Bo Yan, ¡°How come you¡¯re here?¡± He knew Xia Siyu was the spokeswoman, so was Bo Yan accompanying her? Bo Yan also saw his brother-in-law and replied, ¡°There was a bit of business at Bosch Company, I came over to sort it out, and I¡¯ll be leaving shortly.¡± The two carried on chatting casually, utterly disregarding the crowd of onlookers. Over the years, Xia Ju¡¯an had also discreetly dealt with some of Xia Siyu¡¯s scandals for their father. Even when their father appeared indifferent on the surface, sometimes angrily saying ¡°I told you not to become an actor, but you insisted, you deserve to be scolded¡± when the scandals and negative press were at their peak, it was still father and son who did the cleanup. For years, Xia Ju¡¯an had grown used to the fact that all the rumors and negative press his father asked him to quash were unfounded, except for the legitimate relationship with Bo Yan, who has always remained in the shadows. Despite their strained relationship, they never divorced or separated. As the two casually conversed, Li Weiyi grew frustrated, ¡°What, Bo Yan, are you in such a rush to defend her because you¡¯re having an affair with her? Your family is rich too, she seduced me before, has she seduced you too? Ah¡ª¡± Before he could finish, Bo Yan twisted his wrist again forcefully. This time, there was a distinct ¡°crack¡± sound¡ªthe sound of his wrist dislocating! In front of everyone, Bo Yan asked Xia Siyu, ¡°He says you seduced me, so do you have your eye on me now?¡± Chapter 284 - Chapter 284: Chapter 284: The Shaky Wine Bottle (3) Chapter 284: Chapter 284: The Shaky Wine Bottle (3) Xia Siyu replied resolutely, ¡°I don¡¯t like him!¡± Her words were so forceful and emphatic that everyone around heard them. While everyone else looked on as if watching a joke unfold, Xia Ju¡¯an slightly frowned and looked towards Bo Yan, but he said nothing. Bo Yan, however, remained calm, ¡°You heard her? She doesn¡¯t even fancy me, so how could she possibly fancy you? Saying she seduced you is a joke! You¡¯re ¡®impotent,¡¯ what could she possibly see in you?¡± Bo Yan¡¯s remark set off a wave of laughter. Indeed, in terms of family background, Bo Yan was not inferior. In looks and scholarly achievements, Bo Yan was clearly superior. If Xia Siyu didn¡¯t fancy someone like Bo Yan, how could she be hopelessly enamored with someone like Li Weiyi to the point of attacking him in public? Li Weiyi¡¯s choice standard could even be traced back to some of the past rumors involving her. In the entertainment industry, where rumors are often indistinguishable from truth, gossip about a female star¡¯s private life is both the easiest and most effective way to strike at her. Even if she¡¯s innocent, a story could be fabricated about her sleeping her way to the top, not to mention all this hype. But when Xia Siyu clarified it herself, people might not believe her. However, when Bo Yan spoke up, the effect was entirely different. The crowd around burst into laughter, and Xia Ju¡¯an added insult to injury, ¡°I thought you were looking for a urologist, but it turns out you need a neurologist too. Forget about Bo Yan, you can¡¯t even match up to me. You have the audacity to say my sister¡­ that we¡¯re targeting you. You should take a good look at yourself first! What about you is worth her affection? Do you think by stirring things up, the fake can become real? In a word, if you can produce a photo that shows you and her intimately together, I¡¯ll believe you! Or show us your WeChat conversation history with her, that would do too. Didn¡¯t you say she was pursuing you? That you were in a relationship for a while? Surely, you have at least that much evidence, right?¡± Li Weiyi¡¯s face turned deathly pale in an instant; where would he get such evidence? The sole sneak photo of him dining with Xia Siyu was taken from an angle that deliberately cut out Zhou Weiwei. He wasn¡¯t really dating Xia Siyu¡ªit was all because he knew she had no backers and her public image had been poor for years. Fearing it might spoil his endorsement deal, he dared to create a scene here. Who could have anticipated that Bo Yan and Xia Ju¡¯an would come to her aid! Bo Yan¡¯s involvement was somewhat understandable, given the many rumors of their association lately, but what business was it of Xia Ju¡¯an¡¯s? Perhaps Xia Siyu was his new target? It was well known that the Xia Family only consisted of the twins Ju¡¯an and Sicai; there had never been talk of a Xia Siyu. Moreover, Xia Ju¡¯an had no wife or girlfriend, and he and Bo Yan¡¯s families had been close for generations. Perhaps Bo Yan was standing up for Xia Ju¡¯an, helping out his latest sweetheart! After dislocating Li Weiyi¡¯s wrist, Bo Yan couldn¡¯t be bothered to pretend any longer and released his hand; the dislocated Li Weiyi staggered a few steps and fell to the ground, squirming helplessly like a worm because he couldn¡¯t use one arm. And next to him, Bo Yan looked indifferent and even elegantly took out a tissue to carelessly wipe his hand, as if touching Li Weiyi was somehow dirty. Xia Siyu suddenly spoke up, ¡°Have you all finished talking?¡± Xia Ju¡¯an nodded, and Bo Yan remained silent. Xia Siyu flexed her wrist, took a glass of red wine from a tray held by an attendant, and tossed it high into the air! Chapter 285 - Chapter 285: Chapter 285: The Shaky Wine Bottle (4) Chapter 285: Chapter 285: The Shaky Wine Bottle (4) She smiled, a resplendent smile, one that looked down upon the insignificant ants with lofty eyes. The smile was incredibly beautiful, like a fully bloomed rose. However, the words she uttered were ferociously cruel, like the thorns of a rose: ¡°Such a nice person, pity about the mouth!¡± Before the sound of her voice had faded, Xia Siyu brought down a wine bottle hard on Li Weiyi¡¯s head. The wine bottle shattered with a ¡°crack¡± upon Li Weiyi¡¯s head. Xia Siyu used all her strength in that strike, and shards of glass scattered in an instant like crystals, with red wine flowing over his scalp like fresh blood. Li Weiyi uttered a muffled groan and, without even a chance to beg for mercy, was knocked unconscious by Xia Siyu¡¯s bottle! Xia Siyu¡¯s decisive blow sent shivers down the spines of all the spectators. Looking at Li Weiyi¡¯s tragic state, everyone viewed Xia Siyu with an expression that said, ¡°Well, if it isn¡¯t just like you,¡± mixed with surprise and a bit of fear. Mainly, it was because it¡¯s pretty normal for men to smash bottles over people¡¯s heads; it happens several times every summer, so everyone was already used to it. Xia Siyu was a woman, and for a woman to do such a thing in public was quite outrageous. Yet, she had no turmoil in her heart and even had the leisure to reach out for a napkin from the plate of a servant standing by, dumbfounded, and wiped the wine off her hands. This gesture was exactly like the one Bo Yan had made when he dislocated his wrist earlier. She was not afraid at all. Seeing that someone was taking out their phone to record, perhaps even live-streaming, she didn¡¯t care one bit. The more people, the better, more witnesses were always an advantage! In the past, she had too many scandals, and she was tired of clarifying them; this time, she was going to settle it all at once! Then she spoke directly, ¡°Since so many of you are here, I might as well clear things up. I have never dated this Li Weiyi, there¡¯s been no pursuit on my part, nor have we ever been together. My eyes aren¡¯t blind! However, I¡¯m a good-hearted person; what happened to him was my doing. Those of you who want to call the police, post on Weibo or Moments, or call for a doctor, go ahead quickly. I alone am responsible for my actions! In the past, I¡¯ve clarified a lot of messy rumors, none of which many believed. That¡¯s why trash like this keeps bothering me. Today I might as well clarify it all at once. I, Xia Siyu, am not scared of losing business or being cursed by people. If anyone continues to spread false news about me or tries to slander me again¡­¡± At this point, she intentionally nudged her chin towards Li Weiyi, who lay on the ground like a dead dog, ¡°They¡¯ll end up just like him!¡± As her words fell, those recording the video and watching the scene indeed glanced over at Li Weiyi. She even casually singled out one of the onlookers, who seemed to be a senior official from a brand: ¡°You, come here.¡± The person Xia Siyu had called out was startled, ¡°Xia¡­ Miss Xia, is there something you need?¡± Xia Siyu said, ¡°Tell your CEO for me that I¡¯m sorry for causing a scene at his event today. If he has any objections to my role as a spokesperson, he¡¯s welcome to discuss it with my agent. I take responsibility for my own actions and won¡¯t cause trouble for you.¡± She spoke candidly, leaving the other party somewhat at a loss for words. After calming down for a bit, he said, ¡°I¡¯ll go call a doctor and report this.¡± Xia Siyu nodded, ¡°I¡¯ll just wait here until you¡¯ve handled everything, so no one can accuse me of fleeing the scene. ¡ª Waiter, a glass of champagne, please.¡± Chapter 286 - Chapter 286: Chapter 286: The Shaky Wine Bottle (5) Chapter 286: Chapter 286: The Shaky Wine Bottle (5) The doctor arrived quickly, and Li Weiyi had only been knocked unconscious, without even breaking the skin; he wasn¡¯t injured much. His wrist dislocation was simple to fix, just one adjustment and it was done. Although he was still ranting about going to the police and suing Xia Siyu, his disheveled appearance and frantic speech didn¡¯t present any semblance of dignity; it only made him appear laughable. Xia Siyu remained calm throughout, even feeling a bit tired from standing. She asked a waiter to bring her a chair and ordered a glass of champagne. The scent of red wine and the aroma of champagne filled the air, while a chaotic buzz of discussions surrounded them, including Li Weiyi¡¯s online ranting. Only Xia Siyu¡¯s side seemed surreal: she sat leisurely, crossing her legs, enjoying her champagne. Next to her, the two handsome men, Bo Yan and Xia Ju¡¯an, conversed calmly, making the disorderly scene seem almost otherworldly. Not only the doctor, but Li Weiyi, upon waking, had called the police as well, and officers followed suit. Xia Siyu set down her glass, elegantly and composedly smoothed her hair, and succinctly recapped the events: ¡°Just now, Mr. Li came to harass me, claiming I slandered him for engaging in group activities. I had proof and was ready to show the video. I don¡¯t know which word hit Mr. Li¡¯s sore spot, oh, maybe when I said he ¡®couldn¡¯t perform,¡¯ and then he decided to come at me. I knocked him out with a bottle. Everyone was present, everyone has a phone, they¡¯re all witnesses.¡± Li Weiyi grimaced, ¡°Did you hit me with the bottle as I was about to rush over and hit you? Clearly, you attacked me all of a sudden when my wrist was dislocated, and I was unable to fight back!¡± Bo Yan spoke up from the side, ¡°Sorry, it was my accidental mishandling that caused his wrist dislocation. Passing by, I simply couldn¡¯t stand him getting ready to hit a woman, so with a reflex, I twisted it. I didn¡¯t expect him to be so fragile that a light twist would result in a dislocation. However, it¡¯s no big deal now. It¡¯s been set right. If he experiences any complications, I¡¯m willing to bear the legal responsibility.¡± Xia Ju¡¯an also nodded with a smile, ¡°That¡¯s right. It looks like Mr. Li, in addition to neurology and psychiatry, might also need to see an orthopedic doctor in the future.¡± The three of them discussed and clarified everything clearly and crisply. Although Li Weiyi was red all over, which made him look like he was bleeding, it was all from the wine. At most, he might have been cut by glass shards when he fell, resulting in a few already-healing wounds. When he woke up, the doctor had promptly popped his dislocated arm back into place. So despite the scary look, he didn¡¯t really sustain any injuries to speak of. If pressed, it was a minor injury at best. Throughout the incident, everything was recorded on video. With both personal and material evidence present, and no major incident having occurred, the police officer at most delivered a verbal admonishment. The scene was full of wealthy individuals or stars. Moreover, Xia Siyu¡¯s apology was well-received, so once the officer admonished her, she immediately toed the line, ¡°You¡¯re right. Even if he ties me down for a CP gimmick again, no matter how he plays group activities with a bunch of women, regardless of how he insults me, I won¡¯t resort to physical violence. I won¡¯t use high heels to hit anyone, nor will I use a bottle. From now on, I¡¯ll stick to stating the facts and reason. If something like this happens again, I¡¯ll just post his video online. Let everyone be the judge, as a gentleman should only resort to using words, not hands.¡± Before the event ended, Xia Siyu also apologized to the person in charge of the venue. Exiting through the VIP passage, she immediately ran into Xia Ju¡¯an and Bo Yan. Chapter 287 - Chapter 287: Chapter 287: The Shaky Wine Bottle (6) Chapter 287: Chapter 287: The Shaky Wine Bottle (6) In the Xia Family, except for Xia Youbiao, Xia Ju¡¯an was quite nice to Xia Siyu. Even though his mother always filled his and Xia Sicai¡¯s ears with unpleasant things about Xia Siyu and her mother, Xia Siyu was adorable. He was just a little boy at the time, and little boys like their soft and sweet-smelling little sisters. Xia Siyu was more lively and prettier than Xia Sicai, and he really liked her¡ªit was just hard to express that in front of his mother and sister. As they grew up, Xia Sicai became the perfect lady of the house, sophisticated and perfect from all angles, which was fine and even ideal, but it always seemed to lack something. But Xia Siyu was different¡ªshe wasn¡¯t a product of the same mold of perfection. She was hot-tempered, straightforward, and righteous, alive like a wildflower growing freely in the mountains. That was a kind of brilliance that didn¡¯t need to please anyone. Helping his father handle some of her scandals, he gradually realized that Xia Siyu¡¯s private life was not as chaotic as rumors suggested, nor was she as arrogant and unapproachable as people said. It was just that she couldn¡¯t be bothered to explain, so the rumors grew wilder. He knew she didn¡¯t need the support of the Xia Family, but it still pained him to watch. When Xia Siyu came out, the two men automatically stopped their conversation. But Xia Siyu didn¡¯t pay them any attention and instead was on the phone with Qin Baizhou. She had just stirred up trouble again. And it might mean she would lose business deals because of this action, her recently managed good image collapsing in an instant¡ªall because she hit someone. Even though that person was trash. ¡°About what just happened¡­¡± ¡°I know, I¡¯ve seen it, and I¡¯m dealing with it right now,¡± Qin Baizhou¡¯s tone remained calm. He had gone online immediately upon hearing about the incident, and surprisingly, this time Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t universally ridiculed. Once bystanders uploaded the video to the platform, despite some minor inconsistencies in Xia Siyu¡¯s words, the gist of it was not bad. After all, Xia Siyu was known for her tough-as-nails persona, tearing into scumbag men and kicking exes to the curb, so her audiences weren¡¯t surprised at all by her actions. Especially since it happened during the recording period of a show¡ªher popularity was on the rise. Other viewers who were lamenting the end of the live variety show now had something new to watch, didn¡¯t they? And in the video, it was clear that Li Weiyi was asking for it. Moreover, through this incident, everyone got an informative session about his group activities and ¡°deficiencies.¡± This time Li Weiyi finally became famous¡ªfamous enough that the top search results were about him. It¡¯s just that his tag from then on would be linked with ¡°group activities¡± and ¡°inadequacy,¡± making him the butt of jokes. Also, with Bo Yan and Xia Ju¡¯an stepping in, they helped clear up her previous scandals. If Xia Siyu wouldn¡¯t give a man like Bo Yan the time of day, why would she care about those jerks? If anyone dared spread rumors about her again, well, she used her high heels last time¡ªthis time it was a wine bottle. Next time, she might resort to a knife! ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Xia Siyu didn¡¯t feel any psychological burden with others, but toward Qin Baizhou and Wei Jingjing, her assistant managers who cleaned up her messes, she genuinely felt apologetic. ¡°It¡¯s okay, so far it looks mostly positive. We¡¯ll guide the narrative, and you won¡¯t lose any business or endorsements,¡± he reassured her. Xia Siyu nodded, then hung up the phone. Xia Ju¡¯an originally had some things he wanted to say to his sister, but upon seeing Bo Yan beside him, he thought about it and decided to just smile. ¡°Siyu, it¡¯s a bit late tonight. Come over for a chat when you have time next time, Dad misses you.¡± Xia Siyu casually ¡°hmm¡±ed in response, and Xia Ju¡¯an stepped back. She was waiting for a ride; Bo Yan was waiting for her. Chapter 288 - Chapter 288: Chapter 288 Living Together (1) Chapter 288: Chapter 288 Living Together (1) Xia Siyu had arrived early. Little Tang would need some time to catch up, and the rest of the company was dealing with the aftermath of the altercation. She could only wait. As for Bo Yan, she didn¡¯t know whether he had contacted Song Fengzhi earlier, but since Song Fengzhi hadn¡¯t arrived yet, Bo Yan was also standing here for some reason. She was looking at the sky while he was looking at the distant road. Neither of them spoke. Perhaps it was because he had just given her a hand¡ªalthough Xia Siyu felt it was unnecessary. She could have handled that scum easily on her own. There was no need for him to intervene, completely redundant! But since he had offered help, it wasn¡¯t nice for her to say anything unpleasant, so she spoke up, ¡°Thanks for what happened just now.¡± Bo Yan answered indifferently, ¡°It was my duty.¡± He spoke so naturally that Xia Siyu felt a bit uncomfortable, ¡°I know you¡¯re just being a gentleman, accustomed to helping¡­ ¡®damsels in distress.¡¯ When she said ¡°damsels,¡± she paused slightly, her expression showing a tiny crack. ¡°No,¡± Bo Yan shook his head, ¡°I do have gentlemanly manners, but my manners are reserved for those I choose to help.¡± His expression read, ¡°I don¡¯t look down on you even if you are simple-minded.¡± Xia Siyu was taken aback by his words, at a loss for how to respond. The silence resumed, and Xia Siyu was not used to the current atmosphere. Back when they were dating, she would talk, and he would listen. Now, aside from work and movies, they basically had nothing to talk about. Especially after Bo Yan had bluntly acknowledged his devious thoughts of wanting to sleep with her, their interaction had become visibly awkward. However, he was right in a way; even though he was interested in her, he maintained his manners and wouldn¡¯t force her if she was unwilling. The sudden silence was uncomfortable for the talkative Xia Siyu. She was used to being lively, saying whatever came to mind, not holding her tongue, and thinking thrice before speaking, which was clearly not her style. After some thought, she decided to say something to break the awkwardness before them, ¡°What a coincidence, you¡¯re waiting for a ride too.¡± Bo Yan shook his head, his voice deep, ¡°It¡¯s not a coincidence, I¡¯m waiting for you.¡± Xia Siyu turned to him, puzzled, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you were here to meet someone?¡± Bo Yan nodded, meeting her gaze, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m here to find someone. I¡¯m here to find you.¡± Was this some kind of awkward, cheesy conversation? Xia Siyu was even more baffled, ¡°Did I take something of yours?¡± Bo Yan shook his head. As a straight-forward person, Xia Siyu didn¡¯t follow his logic, ¡°Then what do you want with me? You could have just called.¡± Bo Yan shook his head again, then gestured, ¡°I think when it comes to marriage, apart from marital duties, there are other things we can help each other with. For instance, if you¡¯re working late, I could give you a ride home.¡± Xia Siyu could no longer restrain herself and raised her voice, ¡°Who wants to be your wi¡ª¡± Before she could finish the word ¡°wife,¡± Bo Yan placed his finger to his lips, reminding her they were outside. With a calm expression, Bo Yan indicated, ¡°If you want to reveal our relationship to the public so soon, you can shout it out loud, or even better, shout it inside the venue, for double the effect.¡± And wouldn¡¯t that double the effect? The venue was packed with media and artists, and if she had shouted, the whole of China would have known in less than three minutes! Xia Siyu had no choice but to lower her voice again and ask in a low voice, ¡°What exactly are you doing here?¡± Chapter 289 - Chapter 289: Chapter 289 Living Together (2) Chapter 289: Chapter 289 Living Together (2) Because she was forced to lower her voice, she spoke through clenched teeth. Bo Yan remained calm, his tone even, as if he was stating an eternal truth, ¡°Isn¡¯t it very normal for a husband to pick up his wife after her evening shift?¡± Xia Siyu really held back for a long time before she managed to suppress the urge to beat him up. When they were newly married, it was he who first suggested that they should not make their relationship public. Since their breakup was not very pleasant, she naturally agreed. At that time, he had just entered the entertainment industry, and she too was plagued with scandals; aside from a marriage contract, they had no further ties. In fact, it had been like this for many years. God knows what got into him recently, but ever since that day in Sicily when she almost pulled down his pants, he had started clinging to her. What¡¯s more, the most infuriating thing is that even though Bo Yan is saying ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you¡± and ¡°I¡¯ll pick you up¡± which barely pass as sweet nothings, his face still reeks of displeasure. There¡¯s a slight frown between his eyebrows, and he looks not very happy. It¡¯s as if he¡¯s written ¡°I¡¯m only after her body¡± all over his face. Obviously, although he came to pick her up, it didn¡¯t mean he had fallen in love with her; he just wanted to sleep with her, and that¡¯s why he came to make nice! Although she had been puzzled before as to why Bo Yan remained indifferent no matter how she tried to seduce him, wondering if he had a sexual orientation issue or a physical problem. But just because he is physically normal doesn¡¯t mean she should throw herself into the tiger¡¯s den! Xia Siyu gritted her teeth, ¡°No need. I can manage on my own.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± asked Bo Yan with a questioning look, ¡°I just heard your phone call. Your driver won¡¯t be here for another half hour.¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s temple throbbed, ¡°Bo Yan, what exactly do you want?¡± Bo Yan¡¯s expression softened a lot this time, and he said slowly, ¡°I¡¯ve said it before, I want to be a husband and wife with you. If you don¡¯t want to have much contact outside, I won¡¯t come in the future, but at home, I hope we can get along as husband and wife.¡± ¡°Get along my foot!¡± Xia Siyu kicked him in the shin. Did Bo Yan really think she was a fool just because she usually didn¡¯t hold grudges? This guy, except for being a bit handsomer than Li Weiyi, having a bit more knowledge, and not being a player, how different was he from him? Talk is cheap, but in the end, when he says he wants to live a married life, he is just a big pervert! Bo Yan did not expect to get kicked, and Xia Siyu was incredibly firm and fierce! And the next second, Xia Siyu lifted her foot and stomped hard on the back of his foot, even twisting it twice. Everyone knows that for such banquets, one typically wears high heels, particularly stiletto heels. The boots that Xia Siyu was wearing were fifteen-centimeter stiletto high heels. Using all her strength for this stomp, one could see the composed Bo Yan finally showing a twisted expression on his face, as he was already bent over with sweat from the pain of being earlier kicked. After stomping him, Xia Siyu stomped away, and just at this time little Tang hurriedly arrived by car. Xia Siyu got straight into the car and left in a cloud of dust. Back at home, she was still fuming. She couldn¡¯t live in this house anymore; she needed to move out as soon as possible! The next day, she received a notification that the villa she had her eye on, Project One, was available for viewing. She rushed over at lightning speed! Chapter 290 - Chapter 290: Chapter 290 Living Together (3) Chapter 290: Chapter 290 Living Together (3) Just at this time, she wasn¡¯t taking on any new roles, so her schedule was fairly relaxed and leisurely with a lot of spare time. Last night, after she returned home, Bo Yan came home not long after. Despite his claims of wanting to get closer to her, his actions were quite restrained. She didn¡¯t need to lock her door, and he wouldn¡¯t barge into her room uninvited. This morning, he got up very early as well. Judging by the way he was getting ready, he seemed to be planning to go out. However, where he was going wasn¡¯t her concern, she didn¡¯t ask, and frankly, she couldn¡¯t be bothered to. After all, if everything went smoothly, she would be able to put down a deposit within three days, handle all the paperwork within half a month, and, before the shooting of ¡°Spring Light¡± started, she could have the property deed in her hands. Then after decorating, not long after the shooting of ¡°Spring Light¡± finished, she would be able to move in! Once she had moved, she could finally say goodbye to Bo Yan for good. Find herself an obedient handsome ¡®puppy¡¯, or maybe a good-looking hunk, divorce him, start a new romance¡ªperfect! She reported her house-viewing trip to Qin Baizhou. Unfortunately, everyone except Little Tang was helping deal with the trouble she stirred up last night. Although it wasn¡¯t a major incident yesterday evening, she cursed and hit someone, even involving the police. However, having cleared things up online, nobody was connecting her with Li Weiyi romantically anymore. Instead, they were laughing at that guy for liking play yet being ¡°unable to cut it,¡± and for getting beaten up by Xia Siyu twice, losing face to an extreme degree. People are indeed strange sometimes. If not for Xia Siyu¡¯s recent reversal of public opinion, if she had acted this way, she might have been viciously attacked online again. She would have been labeled as a violent capricious bully harassing her ex, not at all a pleasant character. But due to her recent positive reputation and Bo Yan vouching for her, she was now seen as a feminist warrior, a master of counteracting slander, the first celebrity to personally get involved. Someone who can battle fans, and beat bullies, audiences love someone who is straightforward and stands up for themselves with such a satisfying sense of justice. You¡¯re falsely accusing me of having an affair with you? Then you twist facts claiming I¡¯m slandering you? I¡¯ll beat you until you can¡¯t even recognize the words ¡°slander¡±! Furthermore, Xia Siyu was quite clever. Last time, even though she used a high heel to strike Li Weiyi, leaving his face bloody, the high heel wasn¡¯t lethal, not even a minor injury, hence no criminal liability. This time, she used a bottle, and apart from a few scratches from the glass shards, you couldn¡¯t even see a mark. She had once again effortlessly dodged legal punishment. She emerged unscathed and almost universally praised. However, even with all the praise, having reached the point where she was hitting people and police were involved, it did somewhat impact her image. Originally, she had lost quite a few commercial endorsements, which had then started to come back. But after last night¡¯s incident, some brands that were ready to sign contracts with her began to hesitate again. Although this was a positive portrayal, nobody knew if Xia Siyu would be this lucky next time. If a brand signed her as their spokesperson for a year, and she ran into trouble within that year, it would be a headache for them. Even though contracts now stipulate that if an artist faced legal or moral issues, they must pay a substantial compensation, the loss would still be felt. Anyway, such high-end villas shouldn¡¯t have any issues, right? Besides, in case of any trouble, Little Tang would be there. Just as she arrived, the real estate agent was waiting for them at the main gate: ¡°Coincidentally, the owner of building number one will also be here today. Later on, you two can discuss things properly.¡± Chapter 291 - Chapter 291: Chapter 291 Living Together (4) Chapter 291: Chapter 291 Living Together (4) The security check here was very strict, and the last time they were able to enter was also because there was an owner in this complex who wanted to sell their property and had invited them inside. Ordinary outsiders, without face recognition authentication, couldn¡¯t even enter the main gate, let alone wander around the complex. Apart from some military and government compounds where officials and institutional personnel lived, in the business world, The Villa Flagship was considered a very well-known luxury housing complex. There were no terraced houses, only detached ones. Built against the mountains, there was also a natural underground spring inside, from which a pond had been created, meandering around the entire complex. It was possible that next door to you lived the deputy CEO of Dada Taxi, or the big BOSS of some famous venture capital firm. Even people from the entertainment industry lived there very infrequently. Although they earned a lot compared to the average working-class, in comparison with these investment tycoons, they were quite insignificant. Xia Siyu was very satisfied with the security here; the environment was beautiful, the climate was pleasant, and the temperature was noticeably two degrees lower than in Yancheng City. There were mountains in the distance, blue skies, white clouds, and occasionally the sound of birds. Walking along the path inside, the for-sale buildings number one and two were near the pond. There were dedicated personnel cleaning the area, the pond was very clean, and they had also conducted mosquito and insect prevention treatment, making it quieter than the houses at the front. ¡ªSomehow, Xia Siyu always felt that the setting of this house resembled the taste of a certain person. Yes, it was that guy who wanted to take advantage of her yesterday! The real estate agent introduced, ¡°This house was also originally lived in by the owner themselves, so all the configurations are top-notch. But because they¡¯ve recently had some cash flow problems, that¡¯s why they¡¯ve decided to sell. Such properties are never lacking buyers; our encounter today is just good luck.¡± Xia Siyu didn¡¯t respond; anyway, she was wearing a mask, and without speaking, the agent couldn¡¯t recognize who she was. They first arrived at building number two, where a nanny was at home. The agent rang the doorbell, explained their intention, and the nanny let them in to have a look around. The decoration of the house was indeed nice, but Siyu felt that the owner must be involved in underground heavy metal music, and they certainly loved drinking¡ªa whole cabinet in the dining room was filled with liquor, and not just any pretentious red wine. There was whiskey, brandy, XO cognac, and the like, in various colors. Of course, there was also baijiu and beer. It felt to her like it belonged to a bar owner, and the setting seemed as if one could dance the night away right there, with overhead projection lights. She guessed the owner hadn¡¯t skimped on parties here. As she wandered in the courtyard of this building, the roar of a car came from outside, stopping next door. It looked as though the owner of building number one had arrived. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t pay much attention and just looked around. Aside from disdaining the owner¡¯s taste in decor, she didn¡¯t say much else. They quickly finished visiting building number two and moved on towards building number one. The agent introduced, ¡°These two houses are the best in the whole complex. Facing north to south, nestled against the hill and beside the water, they have excellent feng shui.¡± Good feng shui and yet the owners are both selling? Xia Siyu didn¡¯t believe in these things and followed them to building number one, which was also opened by a nanny. This house, unlike the overly decorated building number two, was obviously minimalist with a cold demeanor¡ªblack, white, gray, and Morandi colors mixed together in a postmodernist style with clean lines. The previous one was clearly for a party-loving drinker, while this one was definitely for a sulky pretender. However, didn¡¯t the owner seem to have come by just now? Why hadn¡¯t she seen them? Chapter 292 - Chapter 292: Chapter 292 Living Together (5) Chapter 292: Chapter 292 Living Together (5) ¡°` As if she knew what Xia Siyu was wondering, the nanny said, ¡°This house is inhabited by the gentleman alone. He usually lives in the city center, and he bought this place just to have it; he doesn¡¯t come back often. My master is very busy, and he only agreed to let you view the house because he heard that you have a strong intention to buy. He has returned and is in a room on the third floor, but the second and third floors are quite similar in layout. He doesn¡¯t like to be disturbed. If you agree to buy the house, then he will come out to meet you.¡± Xia Siyu nodded, and began to wander around the house. It was then that she discovered the owner of the house must be a reticently artistic young man. Even though she wasn¡¯t too fond of the minimalist decor, she was still attracted by the decorations here. Unlike the wine cellar that covered the whole wall next door, this first floor was still home to the living room, dining room, kitchen, gym, and such. The second floor had been converted into a large open space. Upon entering, there was a large bookshelf filled with all sorts of books. Although Xia Siyu was the type to fall asleep as soon as she picked up a book, she was particularly fond of these books¡ªall of them were about cinema, television, and art. There was a landscape painting on the wall; though she didn¡¯t know much about art, having lived in Italy since she was young, she recognized that it was a work by Amedeo Modigliani, an Italian genius artist who died young. At the front of the second floor was a projector, accompanied by a complete set of professional cinematic equipment. It was clear that once the curtains of the floor-to-ceiling windows were drawn and the lights in the room dimmed, it would become a cozy and discreet mini cinema. Next to it was a small wine cabinet, filled with the owner¡¯s collection of red wine. Sitting on the sofa with a glass of red wine while watching a movie would be perfect. The nanny also mentioned, ¡°There¡¯s a storage room downstairs which my master has turned into a wine cellar; it¡¯s equipped with full temperature control devices, maintaining a constant temperature of around 17 degrees Celsius and stable humidity.¡± She understood. This temperature was ideal for storing red wine. It seemed the small wine cabinet above was just for a few bottles for everyday drinking. Next to it was a collection room filled with out-of-print movie soundtracks, film reels, and even various photography equipment, such as tripods. She could say with confidence that by moving this photography equipment out, one could directly shoot a short film. This owner really had something special. Further up was the third floor. Xia Siyu then asked, ¡°Is it not possible to see upstairs?¡± The nanny seemed to be in a difficult position but she went upstairs first, ¡°Sir, the clients downstairs want to have a look upstairs, would that be okay?¡± Then the door creaked open. There was no answer, but he probably nodded, as the nanny came down and said, ¡°You can come up and have a look.¡± The second floor was made up of four large rooms converted into one open space. The third floor, reportedly similar in layout, indeed had four rooms. The master bedroom, located in the center, faces the backyard swimming pool. Besides it, there were three other bedrooms. Xia Siyu looked around and asked, ¡°Can I see the terrace above too?¡± The nanny nodded, ¡°Yes.¡± She climbed up alone; Little Tang and the real estate agent did not follow, and the nanny also watched them from downstairs¡ªthe second and third floors had many valuable collections, but the terrace was fine to look at, as there wasn¡¯t much up there. Once she was up there, she indeed felt like she was looking down at everything. The mountain breeze up there was particularly pleasant. However, a voice came from behind her, ¡°Do you like this house? Would it be okay to live here with me?¡± ¡°` Chapter 293 - Chapter 293: Chapter 293 Living Together (6) Chapter 293: Chapter 293 Living Together (6) Wait, that voice¡­ Why does it sound so eerily familiar? It seems like it¡¯s Bo Yan! Xia Siyu turned around and indeed saw Bo Yan standing by the balcony door, approaching her with an indifferent expression. For a moment, Xia Siyu was stunned. Was it the bright sun blinding her, or had the relentless pursuit from him recently driven her out of her wits? Why would she see Bo Yan? She rubbed her eyes and looked again. Damn, it really was Bo Yan! ¡°Why are you here?¡± Bo Yan¡¯s expression remained unchanged, looking completely unsurprised as he said, ¡°This is my house. You want to buy my house, so as the owner, shouldn¡¯t I be here?¡± ¡°Although that¡¯s true, but¡­¡± Xia Siyu was startled. How was this guy like an unshakeable ghost? ¡°Don¡¯t you have work today?¡± ¡°I do,¡± Bo Yan calmly nodded, also pointing to the makeup he had not removed and the carefully tailored suit, ¡°Was going to have dinner with the brand. I came back specially for your house viewing.¡± He didn¡¯t need to make an appearance for the brand. Because last night, he had been seen at the banquet of a ¡°competitive¡± luxury brand, and it had been reported. As a spokesperson for another luxury brand, he shouldn¡¯t have been there, no matter the reason; it was disrespectful to the brand he endorsed. To make it up to the brand, he had agreed to attend their events for the next few days for free, helping them with publicity to compensate for last night¡¯s loss. No wonder Xia Siyu thought the house¡¯s decor was unusually minimalistic, with all the lines being straight and the decor being plain, yet all the rooms were filled with movie-related items. After all this, it turns out to be this guy¡¯s house! Bo Yan had just come out directly from his master bedroom, having the nanny take LaXiaotangittle Tang and the real estate agent downstairs for tea. Thus, no one else realized that he, the homeowner, had suddenly appeared; she hadn¡¯t noticed either. Bo Yan came up, very naturally taking her hand, ¡°How about checking the master bedroom? The bedroom is large, and the bed is big and soft. Very comfortable to sleep in, I think you¡¯ll like it.¡± Like my foot! Xia Siyu quickly withdrew her hand from his grasp. What the hell was this, how come the house she finally took a liking to ended up being one bought by Bo Yan? No wonder he seemed internally unfazed and even a bit amused when he heard she was moving the other day. So he was just waiting here for her, wasn¡¯t he? An indignant Xia Siyu said, ¡°I might as well buy the one in building two.¡± Bo Yan nodded, ¡°That¡¯s possible. It¡¯s Han Yifan¡¯s property. I think he would sell it to you.¡± Xia Siyu: ¡°¡­¡± Han Yifan, Bo Yan¡¯s colleague from university and graduate studies, the one who opened a bar. This complex was developed by the Han Family¡¯s real estate company; no wonder the best buildings, one and two, were given to Bo Yan and him. Bo Yan also said, ¡°Actually, if you like this place, you don¡¯t need to buy it. We bought this house after we got married; it¡¯s our shared property as a married couple. If you want to move in, it¡¯s completely legitimate. I¡¯ll have the nanny give you a spare key later. Although it¡¯s a bit far from downtown, the environment here is great, transportation is convenient, and the expressway can get you to the CBD in half an hour. If you like it, you can move in today.¡± As he said this, he blinked, giving her a look, ¡°We can sleep together.¡± Chapter 294 - Chapter 294: Chapter 294 Living Together (Extra 1) Chapter 294: Chapter 294 Living Together (Extra 1) Xia Siyu¡¯s head nearly exploded at his words. Originally, Bo Yan, though aloof and impassive, was like an iceberg that no amount of teasing could melt. Despite his perpetual scowl, at least he wasn¡¯t actively reaching out; as long as she ignored him, he was practically just air to her. But now, even if he wasn¡¯t being too proactive, his casual comments left her not knowing how to respond without feeling a chill run down her spine. Bo Yan, of course, could see the disdain growing in her eyes. He was a bit confused and didn¡¯t know how to approach her. If he continued pretending to be oblivious and hiding his emotions, Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t feel anything from him. Although she became more unguarded around him, this unguardedness came at the cost of not considering him a man. But what if he openly expressed his affection for her? Would Xia Siyu run even faster? Given her current predisposition to dislike him, pursuing her relentlessly might just make her turn around and leave. Yet approaching her now, without speaking of emotions, or rather, using their marital status as a pretext, was equally repelling to her. What should he do? ** That evening, Bo Yan, dressed in a jacket, drove alone to a bar by the Yan River. Pushing open the bar doors, Han Yifan was not, unlike last time, chatting away with a bunch of boozers. Instead, he wore a white T-shirt with holes and torn jeans, looking youthfully vibrant as he DJed on stage. Two sexy and fiery pole dancers revolved and weaved around the stage¡¯s pole at first, then they used Han Yifan like a pole, rubbing against him with their arms and legs. As the music ended, both pole dancers stepped down with him. Han Yifan was quite liberal with his affections, draping an arm around one dancer¡¯s slim waist and planting a kiss on the other dancer¡¯s face. He was walking down from the stage, delighted, when he suddenly looked up, saw Bo Yan in the crowd, and almost stumbled, nearly falling off the stage. Thankfully, the two beauties at his sides, like bodyguards, helped steady him, saving him from embarrassment. After coming down from the stage, Han Yifan waved the women off, looked around to make sure no one was watching, and then cautiously approached Bo Yan, asking in a hushed tone, ¡°What are you doing here?¡± ¡°Returning your key.¡± Bo Yan was still in his jacket, with the hood pulled up. Xia Siyu wanted to see a villa at Reading Mansions, so he had detoured to Yan River to find Han Yifan before going to the luxury dinner party to look for her the day before. After all, Han Yifan had thought about selling the house to pursue his own music. He and Bo Yan were high school classmates, and the Han Family had made its fortune in real estate. Families like theirs wouldn¡¯t support him straying from the norm, giving up a career in design to become some sort of performer, especially one involved in rock and heavy metal. So he had to sell his own house and gather funds to do what he loved. The Han Family business wasn¡¯t going to be left to him anyway; his older brother would take care of that. Did he need to try hard? Han Yifan took the keys with a resigned air and waved him off despondently, ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, you can leave.¡± ¡°There is something.¡± Bo Yan spoke calmly. Han Yifan, puzzled, gestured for the bartender to bring two drinks, one for him and one for Bo Yan. The two men took their drinks to a VIP room, and Han Yifan took a sip before asking, ¡°What is it?¡± Chapter 295 - Chapter 295: Chapter 295 Living Together (Extra 2) Chapter 295: Chapter 295 Living Together (Extra 2) Bo Yan glanced at him, ¡°You¡¯re not boasting that you only spent five minutes chatting up a completely unknown girl, a plain-looking college student at that, right? Half an hour to kissing, an hour later heading to a hotel, and she was a first-timer.¡± Han Yifan nodded, his face animated with excitement, ¡°As soon as you mention this, I can¡¯t feel sleepy anymore. Yeah, although I¡¯m not as ordinary as you are. But when it comes to looks, I¡¯m still the brightest lad along the Yan River bar street. No doubt, I¡¯m not some scumbag. I was just comforting this beautiful girl, tossed about in the sea, unable to find release. She was deceived by a bastard, her boyfriend cheated on her with her best friend behind her back, and in a moment of anger, she came to drink. I approached her with the principle of relieving suffering and distress¡­¡± ¡°Stop.¡± Bo Yan cut him off, uninterested in his rambling, ¡°I just want to know¡­ How did you sweet-talk her into it.¡± Han Yifan looked puzzled, ¡°Why are you asking this?¡± He hadn¡¯t expected Bo Yan to be doing this to chase Xia Siyu. Although he had charmed quite a few girls with his smooth talking from a young age. But Bo Yan was different. Just by standing there, he attracted women like a magnet, impossible to drive away. As stunning as Xia Siyu, as reserved as Xia Sicai, and as wilful as Wu Di, all had pursued him. Not to mention celebrities like Shang Feifei and Li Yiru from the entertainment circle, he could have as many as he wanted. Even though Han Yifan had plenty of girlfriends, they were nowhere near Bo Yan¡¯s level. Bo Yan¡¯s face was the picture of integrity, ¡°It¡¯s for a movie. I¡¯m going to play a scumbag.¡± ¡°What scumbag! Watch your language! I¡¯ve never played with any girl, okay? As for that female college student, I even dated her for a while until she moved away after graduation to break up. Although I¡¯ve had quite a few girlfriends since high school, at least a dozen or two. But I have always approached them with respect, giving them warmth and love!¡± Bo Yan gave him a speechless glance, knowing all too well that you couldn¡¯t hear anything sensible when talking with slick types like Han Yifan. ¡°Are you going to talk or not?¡± ¡°Hey, don¡¯t be so stingy, I haven¡¯t seen you in a while. You seem even more haggard than the last time I saw you. What, did Xia Siyu do this to you?¡± Han Yifan even reached out to ruffle his hair, which Bo Yan dodged. Putting down his glass, he said, ¡°I¡¯ve returned the keys, I¡¯m leaving first.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t go.¡± Han Yifan finally smiled, ¡°Actually, it¡¯s not that complicated. If you want to persuade a girl to develop something with you, you at least have to say things she likes to hear, do things she likes. If it¡¯s a girl you¡¯re not very familiar with, the most important thing is to make her let down her guard, to allow her to accept your closeness. But remember, during this process, you absolutely can¡¯t get handsy or say anything too outlandish. Think about it, if you haven¡¯t even gotten close with the girl and you start touching her hand or kissing her lips, what would others think of you? You¡¯ve got to take it step by step, Rome wasn¡¯t built in a day¡­¡± Han Yifan habitually rattled off a bunch, then sighed, ¡°People like you wouldn¡¯t talk nonsense or get handsy, would you?¡± Bo Yan¡¯s hand holding the glass trembled slightly. Not only had he talked nonsense (about sleeping together as husband and wife), he had also gotten handsy (touched, hugged, and kissed), hitting the mark on every count¡­ Chapter 296 - Chapter 296: Chapter 296 Towel (1) Chapter 296: Chapter 296 Towel (1) Han Yifan suddenly thought of something, shut his mouth, ¡°But for making movies, you don¡¯t need that. You just need to mess your hair up to look disheveled and make your eyes look passionate. As soon as the camera captures that, women will naturally fall for you.¡± Bo Yan didn¡¯t speak, just silently pondered, saying words she liked to hear, doing things she enjoyed? The crux was, what words did she like to hear, and what things did she enjoy doing? Speaking of which, although Xia Siyu seemed carefree, direct, and her emotions were clearly expressed on her face, it was precisely for this reason that her thoughts were really hard to guess. The only certainty now was that her issues with the Xia Family, and her mother, were the deepest wounds in her heart; ones she was unwilling to mention to anyone. The conflict between her and the Xia Family, the strange father-daughter relationship with Xia Youbiao, and Xia Sicai¡¯s somewhat imperceptible disdain for her. There were some things that she was not willing to speak about, and nobody could pry them from her, not even her biological father, and he certainly wasn¡¯t able to at the moment. Apart from that, she was very upfront, who she liked and disliked was no secret. She liked to look at his body, even touch it. But she didn¡¯t like him as a person, nor did she accept his pursuit, and she was even more afraid of his entanglement and love. This kind of person was impervious to flattery or coercion, and since she had been pursued since childhood, ordinary tactics simply didn¡¯t work on her. Upon closer consideration, besides continuing to sell his masculine appeal, besides making her delicious food every day in various ways, besides talking with her about films, he really didn¡¯t know how to get closer to her. It seemed that besides these, she had no other hobbies. Surely he couldn¡¯t let her beat him up¡­ After some time had passed and the alcohol had completely worn off, he finally drove back. As soon as he entered the house, he heard Xia Siyu lounging on the sofa talking on the phone. It seemed to be a man¡¯s voice on the phone? And moreover, a young man¡¯s voice! Bo Yan¡¯s eyebrows furrowed in an instant. Xia Siyu also saw him return, glanced at him without bothering to acknowledge him. Bo Yan went to the bedroom to change into pajamas. After giving it some thought, not wanting Xia Siyu to be too repulsed by him, he turned back and quickly took a shower in the bathroom. Then, with a towel wrapped around his waist and another on his head, he nonchalantly walked out of the bedroom. And Han Yifan was right, he shouldn¡¯t get too close to her, to avoid her feeling repulsed, nor should he talk too much. Since she liked to look at his body, he would let her have her fill. He still needed to play it cool, so he poured himself a glass of water. Xia Siyu was talking to Wang Zisu. Wang Zisu was also an ambassador for another luxury brand and, as he was out of town, missed last evening¡¯s dinner party. But upon hearing that Xia Siyu had caused quite a stir and even landed on the trending searches for hitting someone, he immediately showed his support with his main Weibo account and now was calling her. Especially since Wang Zisu and Li Weiyi were from the same company, in theory, he shouldn¡¯t have contradicted her for the sake of company interests. Like Zhou Weiwei, though she sent a WeChat message, she didn¡¯t use her main Weibo account to support her. Wang Zisu, however, didn¡¯t care. Being a top celebrity now, he did indeed strut around the company, his word was law, ¡°That Li guy is so annoying, with his pig-like face he actually dared to say Sister Siyu was chasing him! He had it coming! Seeing him get his comeuppance feels so gratifying.¡± Xia Siyu nodded, ¡°He¡¯s really something else,¡± and she heard Bo Yan coming out, initially unhappy until her eyes caught sight of his body just in the towel and suddenly couldn¡¯t look away¡­ Chapter 297 - Chapter 297: Chapter 297 Towel (2) Chapter 297: Chapter 297 Towel (2) Men can¡¯t take their eyes off a beautiful woman. Even if you don¡¯t like that type, your eyes will inevitably follow her. The same goes for women. Upon seeing a handsome man, they would either scream out loud or at least give a gaze of admiration. Xia Siyu knew that when Bo Yan came out wearing a bath towel, nothing good would come of it, he usually dressed so primly, there¡¯s no way he would just show up wrapped in a bath towel. But she kept looking at him. Last time on the plane, the space wasn¡¯t comfortable enough. This time she sat on the sofa, watching Bo Yan¡¯s back as he poured water. His figure was tall and lean, his muscle lines full and smooth. They seemed not as bulging as those of a fitness coach¡¯s, yet they were powerful. Broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and long legs. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Sister Siyu, even though Li Weiyi has signed with our company, he¡¯s too arrogant. He joined us less than half a year ago and already messed around with several of our trainees. Those trainees are the ones the company focuses on developing. The higher-ups were furious and warned them to mind their public image. Sister Weiwei (Zhou Weiwei) doesn¡¯t like him much either. He doesn¡¯t have any special skills. He was doing fine as an internet celebrity, but mixing in the entertainment industry is not so easy. People like us, we¡¯ve trained in Korea for many years, only getting three to four hours of sleep a night to make it this far. And he isn¡¯t like Sister Siyu, who¡¯s naturally cut out for this industry. Right, Sister Siyu? Sister Siyu?¡± Bo Yan was pouring water on the other side, and although he didn¡¯t deliberately eavesdrop, with just the two of them in the room and decent sound insulation, he could naturally hear everything. There goes Wang Zisu, that little brat again. By the end, Wang Zisu called out Xia Siyu¡¯s name several times, and she didn¡¯t snap out of it. He thought, Xia Siyu must be watching him. Just like Xia Siyu is confident in her body and appearance, so is he. His physique is the result of a fitness coach¡¯s assistance and his own years of effort and rigorous training. Every inch of him is perfect. The effect is also very significant, not only attracting fans¡¯ screams but also catching her attention. Then suddenly, Bo Yan turned around and looked directly at her. Xia Siyu was startled and almost dropped her phone. In that fleeting moment, Bo Yan caught her gaze fixed on him. He felt somewhat reassured; apparently, employing his good looks was truly effective, at least with Xia Siyu, it was no problem at all. Even if she didn¡¯t like him, she would definitely take an extra look at his fine physique. His attractiveness was still effective on her, proving he wasn¡¯t completely without advantages. Men and women who have been intimate, even after many years apart, start having fantasies as soon as they see each other wearing less clothing. Bo Yan lifted his gaze and looked in her direction, Xia Siyu quickly lowered her head, pretending to be still on the phone with Wang Zisu. ¡°Ah, oh, right.¡± As Xia Siyu was talking with her head down, Bo Yan lifted his leg and walked toward her. Wang Zisu was still talking: ¡°Sister Siyu, I¡¯m coming to Yancheng next week, do you have time, can we have a meal together? It¡¯s been several days since we split up, and I haven¡¯t seen you for a while.¡± Xia Siyu answered absently: ¡°We¡¯ll see, if there¡¯s nothing else, we can arrange a place to eat ¡­¡± The last word was abruptly cut off as Xia Siyu hung up the phone in a panic. Because she realized that Bo Yan was sitting next to her with a glass of water in his hand. Wearing only a bath towel. Chapter 298 - Chapter 298: Chapter 298 Towel (3) Chapter 298: Chapter 298 Towel (3) Ever since Bo Yan had punctured the illusion that they were to be husband and wife, she finally, belatedly realized that some of his previous actions might have been attempts to get closer to her. For instance, now, whereas Bo Yan used to fastidiously button up his shirts in her presence, looking every part the refined rascal, he was currently draped in nothing but a towel around his waist, and because he was sitting down, the towel covered even less. If this had been before, Xia Siyu would have boldly and righteously gazed upon him. But now, while she still dared to look, it was only through sneaky glances. If she were to look openly, the consequences might not be as simple as just a look¡ªBo Yan might allow her to get a close, firsthand experience¡­ Even with just a stolen glance, she got the impression that Bo Yan wasn¡¯t wearing anything under the towel. He sat beside her, not speaking, instead picking up the script for ¡°Spring Light¡± from the coffee table to read. He also had a pen in hand, seemingly making notes as he read, occasionally scribbling something. With him not talking, she naturally didn¡¯t feel it was appropriate to start a conversation either, and what was there to say? Outside, where everyone was dressed and others were present, Bo Yan wouldn¡¯t get too close to her. Just like today, when she found out he was the owner of the Number One villa at Reading Mansion, and they were alone together, he couldn¡¯t help but mention ¡°sleeping together¡± within every few sentences. But once downstairs and upon meeting Little Tang and the housekeeper, he reverted to his aloof, pretentious, and frigid demeanor. Although Bo Yan prided himself on being a gentleman, apart from that day when he was drunk and forcibly kissed her, he had behaved himself at all other times, even sleeping next to her on the plane without crossing any lines. But he was still a man, after all, and she didn¡¯t want to take any chances. If Bo Yan suddenly lost control and pinned her down on the couch, proceeding to do this and that, wouldn¡¯t she still be at a loss in the end? Xia Siyu¡¯s gaze once again swept quickly over his towel. Hm, actually, she wouldn¡¯t be at a loss, as she could vaguely make out something below. Hey, wait a second? Xia Siyu was starting to feel a little displeased. She had just sneaked a glance at him and was quite sure that he was indeed not wearing anything underneath. If he were to take off that towel, he would genuinely be left with nothing! Putting down her phone with a bit of annoyance, she spoke up, ¡°Can you put some clothes on?¡± Bo Yan set the script down calmly, ¡°This is my house, I could even wander around without clothes if I wanted.¡± ¡°But this is also my house, and you¡¯re not embarrassed by parading around like this?¡± ¡°Not at all.¡± Bo Yan replied nonchalantly, ¡°Besides, I¡¯m wearing a towel, it¡¯s not like I¡¯m uncovered¡­¡± He suddenly acted as if he had ¡°realized¡± something, ¡°You¡¯re sneaking looks at me! You¡¯re so observant that you can even tell whether I¡¯m wearing pants or not.¡± ¡°I did not sneak looks, I just casually glanced,¡± Xia Siyu quickly retorted. Then she raised her voice as if in an argument where the loudest person seemed more justifiable, ¡°Aren¡¯t you ashamed? You¡¯re being indecent.¡± ¡°A husband being indecent with his wife is nothing to be ashamed of.¡± As Bo Yan spoke, he deliberately shifted his bottom closer to her as if trying to get near her on purpose. Xia Siyu quickly stretched out her hand to push him away, ¡°Stop! You¡¯re the one who said it from the start¡ªstay two meters away from you! Move back.¡± In the scuffle, Bo Yan¡¯s towel was accidentally pulled off by Xia Siyu. Well, now the situation was clear, Xia Siyu¡¯s guess was confirmed: he truly wasn¡¯t wearing any shorts! Chapter 299 - Chapter 299: Chapter 299 Towel (4) Chapter 299: Chapter 299 Towel (4) Then, the next second, Xia Siyu was sent spinning, and Bo Yan pressed her down onto the couch. Normally, Xia Siyu would resist with all her might. But today, perhaps because he was squeaky clean, her struggles felt futile, and she found herself at a loss for how to react, not even daring to look at him. Her head turned to one side. At first, Bo Yan was startled and slightly embarrassed when she pulled off his towel, even though he had stealthily kissed her before and taken advantage of the alcohol to kiss her. Now, with a towel wrapped around him, he just meant to tease her a bit, never expecting that she would actually dare to pull it off. But after pinning her down, he saw the way Xia Siyu turned her head away, her breathing rapid. Especially since the usual Xia Siyu was Sister Xia, domineering, proud, and straightforward. Even when looking at his abs, most of the time she did so openly, without any attempt to conceal it. Yet, she was a bit flushed, her eyes averting to one side, not daring to look at him. This sort of shy demeanor was almost entirely new to him¡ªexcept in movies. Their confessions, their relationship, their first kiss and first time, all were initiated by her; she had never been coy or hesitant. He originally thought she couldn¡¯t possibly be shy, but it turned out she really could be! But he liked her forthrightness just as much as her awkward embarrassment. With high attractiveness, she looked good in any state! However, Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t learn to be gentle and demure, and even when she herself felt a bit awkward, she wouldn¡¯t whisper gently asking him to leave but would bark, ¡°Bo Yan, get lost!¡± Bo Yan didn¡¯t respond to her, but instead leaned in close, muttering, ¡°You pulled off my towel.¡± This was a declarative statement. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t intend to deny it, but still unwilling to face him directly, she said with her head to the side, ¡°So what if I did!¡± ¡°You saw it.¡± Bo Yan¡¯s voice was very low, his voice naturally resonant. In such a quiet and dark room, deliberately lowering his tone, it seemed almost like an illusion of a bass speaker. ¡°It¡¯s your fault for not wearing anything underneath! How is that my fault!¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s face turned slightly red as he spoke, her eyes swiftly rolling, obviously replaying the scene in her mind. God truly wasn¡¯t fair, he¡¯s gifted with good looks and physique, and even that part too. Although there had been one instance seven years ago, it was too dark and chaotic to see anything clearly. Last time on the airplane, he had been wearing tight shorts, and even though they were stretched tight and the outlines were extra clear, at least they covered everything. But just now, despite it being just a fleeting glimpse, she¡­ From such a close distance, Bo Yan clearly saw Xia Siyu¡¯s eyes shift shiftily. He found it a little funny, yet also slightly annoyed. This woman, who had lewdly ogled him several times, who couldn¡¯t take her eyes off his abs, still insisted on pushing him away. If Xia Siyu could be compared to anything, it would be those boys who whistled at girls on the street. They liked to ogle and flirt with beautiful women, but didn¡¯t dare to actually make a move. Coveting in heart, but not in courage. ¡°Of course, it concerns you, for it was intended for your use.¡± He truly hadn¡¯t planned on any hanky-panky; he really was afraid that by the time he got out of the shower, Xia Siyu would have returned to her room, so he hurriedly wrapped a towel around himself and stepped out, not expecting that she would really pull it off during their altercation. Xia Siyu was a bit flustered and angry, retorting fiercely, ¡°Who would use it! I¡¯m warning you, get lost now! Otherwise¡­ mmph¡­¡± Chapter 300 - Chapter 300: Chapter 300 Towel (5) Chapter 300: Chapter 300 Towel (5) The final words, she didn¡¯t utter, all were blocked in her throat by him. In this period of time, Xia Siyu had kissed him more than once. There were kisses in the play, rolling together in each other¡¯s arms. And there were kisses off the set, like the time he drank too much and got wild, and if it weren¡¯t for the people outside, if it weren¡¯t for the fact that they were filming a show, if it weren¡¯t for her firm refusal, would this scoundrel have taken advantage to the very end? Then there were the two accidents in the restroom and on the plane. To be honest, aside from disliking the person Bo Yan, kissing him wasn¡¯t so repulsive. At least he was handsome, and his physique wasn¡¯t bad either. And he was proper with his hands and feet; he didn¡¯t grope around carelessly. His upper lip was slightly thin, and his lower lip was thick and soft. Such a lip shape wasn¡¯t too cool or aloof, yet it didn¡¯t appear too lustful. And because he had just taken a bath and brushed his teeth, there was also a minty fragrance. Moreover, when Bo Yan got close, even though it was a kiss, his body was well-behaved, without taking the opportunity to press against her and rub around to take advantage. They kissed during their relationship years ago, but at that time, both of them were still students, a bit awkward and green. But now, she didn¡¯t know how this guy had learned, yet she felt that, over the years, his kissing skills had improved by leaps and bounds. Bo Yan didn¡¯t dare linger too much, remembering Han Yifan¡¯s words, to stop at the appropriate point; their relationship hadn¡¯t developed to the point where they could hold hands intimately or kiss lightly. Taking a small advantage was acceptable, but going further would risk arousing her displeasure. Although he felt a bit of pity in his heart, he reluctantly parted from her a bit. She had just managed to regain her voice, when the first thing she said was, ¡°You¡¯re lying!¡± She stated this with full confidence, and if it weren¡¯t for the slight redness on her face from being kissed, looking like a moist and ripe fruit, her words might have held even more force. Bo Yan looked at her huffy little face and wanted to kiss her again. He indeed lowered his head and pecked her, muttering from his throat with a hint of huskiness, ¡°What have I lied to you about?¡± Xia Siyu confidently declared, ¡°Bo Yan, you haven¡¯t been single these years, have you? You¡¯re quite good at kissing, who taught you? Was it Xia Sicai? Or some other woman?¡± She wasn¡¯t jealous, nor was she particularly angry. After they broke up, who he wanted to find or how many he found was his freedom. She was an adult and wouldn¡¯t quibble over such a thing. Even if they later got married, they both had agreed that they could freely seek their own happiness, so even if he had had other partners, she would not hold a grudge. But lying is not good, right? Last time he clearly said no, but this time his kissing skills have suddenly soared. Don¡¯t tell her it¡¯s all practiced from his movies. She had seen his movies, even if she didn¡¯t want to she had to: it was for research within the industry. In three years he¡¯d made five films, including ¡°Storm,¡± making it six, but except for one artsy film where the entanglements between the characters were more intense (actually, the film was very stream-of-consciousness, with a fragmented style), there wasn¡¯t actually much kissing. The rest of them, with one focusing on pure romance, the kiss was simulated. Another was a war film with no romantic scenes at all. Where had he practiced his kissing skills? He must have strayed on the outside, the liar. ¡°Do you want to know?¡± Bo Yan¡¯s eyes grew deep. ¡°Not really. But I don¡¯t like being deceived.¡± She didn¡¯t care whether he found one woman or several, she just didn¡¯t like being lied to. Chapter 301 - Chapter 301: Chapter 301 Towel (6) Chapter 301: Chapter 301 Towel (6) Bo Yan¡¯s lips curled slightly, and his voice grew lower and lower, as he whispered into her ear, ¡°No, there¡¯s only you.¡± Bo Yan¡¯s voice was already pleasant to hear, with clear intonation, accent-free, yet brimming with emotion, unlike the cold, detached tone of a newscaster. Even if they covered his face and he pursued a career as a voice actor, he would likely make a name for himself with that baritone voice. Xia Siyu, though momentarily captivated by his enchanting voice, maintained a clear head: ¡°Just tell me the truth, I won¡¯t get angry, nor will I be jealous. ¡ª Have you kissed Xia Sicai? Slept with her? I know you were almost engaged to her.¡± The arranged marriage between the Xia Family and Bo Family was inevitable. At that time, Bo Yi had not yet returned from his junior position, and she too was making waves outside. Xia Sicai liked him and had been pursuing him since their university days. If it hadn¡¯t been for her later being moved by Bo Yi¡¯s persistent pursuit (or what she saw as Xia Sicai sizing up the situation and marrying Bo Yi to become the future mistress of the Bo Family when he became a part of Bosch Corporation¡¯s management), Bo Yan might have ended up with a different wife. Even though she would not be jealous or hold post-autumn accounts, if he had indeed been intimate and slept with Xia Sicai, then sorry, Siyu would rather die¡ªeither outside, or throw herself from here¡ªthan to be with Bo Yan. Bo Yan was slightly amused and vexed by her reaction; what, was his kissing skills not up to scratch now? He snorted in annoyance and nipped her nose, ¡°No!¡± This damn man, as if taking advantage of her wasn¡¯t enough, now he was biting her? Xia Siyu was not having it, and the two finally started scuffling. During the struggle, Bo Yan, having nothing to lose, wasn¡¯t afraid of her punches or scratches. On the other hand, her strap nightgown was being torn apart, almost losing her defensive ground. Xia Siyu had trained in boxing. Beating Shang Feifei in fight scenes was a breeze, and taking down a physically spent playboy like Li Weiyi was no challenge either. Unfortunately, Bo Yan had also trained, and he easily subdued Xia Siyu¡¯s superficial kung fu. Bo Yan grabbed her wrists and sat on her waist, using his longer arms and legs to pin her down firmly. Although he had the upper hand, he dared not advance too far. Last time, under the influence of alcohol, he forced himself on her, resulting in Siyu being angry enough not to talk to him for a long time. Coupled with Han Yifan¡¯s warnings, he would not make the same mistake again. Bo Yan said, ¡°Listen clearly, I¡¯ll say it again, I haven¡¯t been with another woman. And it¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to. Although you are a bit dim-witted, straightforward, like to hit people, lack quality and manners¡­ there aren¡¯t many women prettier than you. I haven¡¯t found one that¡¯s prettier and has a bigger chest than you.¡± Listening to his previous words, Xia Siyu was angry enough to fight a hundred rounds with him, but upon hearing the last sentence, she believed him and, huffing, declared, ¡°Nonsense! I am the most beautiful!¡± She was still annoyed, ¡°Are you going to let go of me?¡± Bo Yan calmly replied, ¡°No.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t let go, huh?¡± Xia Siyu was furious. Seizing a moment when he relaxed his grip, she forcefully resisted, pulling free from the shackles of his hands, and then shoved him away. Bo Yan tried to grapple again, but Xia Siyu gave a fierce kick backward¡ª ¡°Ugh¡ª¡± The one in pain this time was Bo Yan. By accident, Siyu¡¯s kick landed on his sensitive spot, and he clutched himself, slowly collapsing from the edge of the couch to the floor, his face twisted in agony, sweat beading on his brow. Chapter 302 - Chapter 302: Chapter 302: Not Allowed to Leave (1) Chapter 302: Chapter 302: Not Allowed to Leave (1) Xia Siyu was glad she hadn¡¯t worn high heels at home. If those had been stilettos, Bo Yan could joyfully become good sisters with Xia Siyu from now on. ¡°You¡ªhiss¡ª¡± Bo Yan had meant to say something, but as soon as he raised his head, a searing pain shot up his spine, so intense that he immediately lowered his head again, his back arching involuntarily. ¡°Serves you right! That¡¯s for bullying people!¡± Xia Siyu was no weak woman to be pushed around; anyone who dared to take advantage of her was asking for trouble! But when she turned around and saw the pitiful state Bo Yan was in, and remembered that she had indeed put all her strength into that kick, she wasn¡¯t sure if anything had broken, but it must have been very painful, that was certain. Bo Yan must have been in real pain. He didn¡¯t care about anything else, and barely got to his feet, still covering himself with the towel as he limped towards his own room. He checked and saw a slight swelling; since he hadn¡¯t used it, he couldn¡¯t tell if it was damaged, but he knew it was still very painful even after applying a cold compress. It was a good thing Xia Siyu practiced boxing, not taekwondo, or else one kick from her and he really could have become her sister. After a long while, when the burning pain finally began to subside, Bo Yan changed into loose pants and came out again. He was going to put on a shirt but hesitated and decided against it. When he stepped out the door, Xia Siyu was still looking down, texting on the couch. She was waiting there because, although she felt she was in the right! The scumbag deserved it for taking advantage of her! On the other hand, it did seem quite possible that maybe, perhaps, she kicked him a bit too hard. If that caused Bo Yan any serious disability, although she was clear in her conscience, she might be legally responsible. She was a law-abiding citizen; she needed to see if her actions met the standard for a criminal case. When Bo Yan opened the door to come out, she didn¡¯t turn around, still chatting with Wei Jingjing. Wei Jingjing was discussing business matters with her. Fortunately, public opinion was on her side this time, and Qin Baizhou conveniently bought several trending searches to clear her name. Not only was the incident cleared up, but even the previous street fight with Li Weiyi was wiped clean. They could even lead many people to backtrack and clarify some of the inaccurate reports about her past. Of course, the cost of the trending searches was deducted from her account. After finishing the chat, Bo Yan had nearly approached her. She still didn¡¯t turn around¡ªperhaps feeling a bit guilty. Bo Yan sat next to her, and this time, with a glance from the corner of his eye, he noticed that he had put on pants, which probably meant it wasn¡¯t anything serious, so she got her confidence back. According to the case law, she had the right to inflict harm on him for his undue intentions. It was already generous of her not to hold him accountable; he couldn¡¯t blame her for kicking too hard! This time, Bo Yan was concise: ¡°I have three things to say.¡± ¡°First, I haven¡¯t deceived you. After we broke up, I truly didn¡¯t pursue any women. Nor did I develop a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship with Xia Sicai.¡± Xia Siyu didn¡¯t answer. Bo Yan said, ¡°Second, you can¡¯t be that violent in the future. I promise that I won¡¯t force you to have relations against your will. I¡¯m not that despicable.¡± Xia Siyu still didn¡¯t speak. Bo Yan spoke again: ¡°The last time we went through security, I carried that watch for you, and you personally promised to fulfill a request from me that was under a hundred thousand yuan. I have a request now.¡± This time, Xia Siyu finally looked up at him. Bo Yan looked into her face and said word by word, ¡°You are not allowed to move out. You must live with me.¡± Chapter 303 - Chapter 303: Chapter 303: Not Allowed to Leave (2) Chapter 303: Chapter 303: Not Allowed to Leave (2) Xia Siyu was stunned for a moment. It indeed wasn¡¯t a request that required spending over a hundred grand, and she could easily manage it. But just because of this, she had to keep living with Bo Yan from now on? Why on earth! She was getting a little upset, ¡°What kind of request is that? If that counts as a request, we also agreed when we got married that you mustn¡¯t meddle with my freedom. I¡¯ll go wherever I want to. And what if I find true love? Do I bring him back for a romp? What if you find your true love? Will you also bring her back for us to watch together?¡± Things were fine until she hit that last part; Bo Yan¡¯s expression twitched slightly. It took him a while to say, ¡°As long as neither of us has found another person, and without any special reason, you can¡¯t move out.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want that either. What if you lay a hand on me?¡± Bo Yan straightened his back, declaring with an air of righteousness, ¡°I won¡¯t. Unless you make a move on me first, I won¡¯t lay a finger on you again.¡± Xia Siyu snorted in disdain, ¡°How could I possibly make the first move.¡± This man is seriously hilarious. ¡°Then it¡¯s settled. You can¡¯t move again. If you move, it¡¯ll be to a villa in La Villa de Si, which is also our home.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s ¡®us¡¯ with you.¡± Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t be bothered with him. She was about to stand up when she saw Bo Yan also standing up, ready to return to his room. However, as he made a move¡ªhis face contorted in pain. He had some self-control, and his expression was managed quite well, even though he was in pain, he just frowned slightly and didn¡¯t complain further. When he went back to his room, though, he walked gingerly. Watching his struggles from behind, Xia Siyu sniffed in contempt, ¡°Serves you right for bullying people.¡± ** In the following days, Bo Yan indeed lived up to his word, coexisting peacefully with her. Both were artists with engagements to attend. Sometimes they wouldn¡¯t see each other for days; sometimes one would be back while another had flown off elsewhere. About the villa matter, once Qin Baizhou had dealt with her business affairs, he also started to inquire. She had told Little Tang to keep quiet about the encounter with Bo Yan at the villa, and Little Tang dared not mention it to Qin Baizhou. Therefore, she had to respond, saying the owners of those two properties needed cash urgently, for full payment, and she felt it was a bit too much of a burden to bear, so she was considering other options. Although prime residential complexes like La Villa de Si and Qingcheng Apartments with excellent security were limited, they weren¡¯t nonexistent. Qin Baizhou comforted her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, there¡¯s plenty of time, we can take it slow¡± Xia Siyu hesitated, then said, ¡°Actually¡­ I¡¯ve been spending a bit too much money lately. If I¡¯m not particularly satisfied with the house, I think maybe we should hold off for now¡­¡± Qin Baizhou was taken aback, ¡°Are you short on cash? If you really need money urgently, I can lend you some.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that,¡± Xia Siyu shook her head, unable to speak of Bo Yan¡¯s issue, and thought for a moment before answering, ¡°This isn¡¯t renting, it¡¯s buying a house that I won¡¯t change for a long time. Of course, I hope to buy the best possible one.¡± Although she gave an explanation, it was clear Qin Baizhou wasn¡¯t entirely convinced, insisting, ¡°Then let me help you look.¡± Xia Siyu brushed it off vaguely, and Qin Baizhou continued, ¡°You mentioned ¡®Youth 2¡¯ the other time. The production said you can join the crew later, as long as it doesn¡¯t delay the filming. Also, thanks to ¡®Flowers and Grass¡¯, you¡¯ve gained quite a lot of fans, and some variety shows have approached you. Do you have any preference for which one to choose?¡± Chapter 304 - Chapter 304: Chapter 304: Not Allowed to Leave (3) Chapter 304: Chapter 304: Not Allowed to Leave (3) ¡°Don¡¯t you have a recommendation?¡± Xia Siyu was indifferent to variety shows; as long as she could collect her paycheck for the work, she was content. Qin Baizhou said with a smile, ¡°Indeed, there¡¯s this talk show that¡¯s quite popular online, and they¡¯re inviting you to be a regular guest. Of course, you only need to take a day or two each month to record several episodes, so it won¡¯t cause any delay. As long as you don¡¯t hit anyone on the show or make any illegal or disorderly statements, you¡¯re free to say whatever you please.¡± Xia Siyu gave an ¡°Oh,¡± and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go with that.¡± ¡°There¡¯s another one, a dance-oriented program. I¡¯ve noticed you seem to be quite a good dancer, and the first season featured celebrities as guests. It¡¯s great for gaining popularity and viewership. But participating in this would require some time for practice. However, once you¡¯re done with this program, you can seamlessly move on to filming ¡®Youth 2¡¯¡­¡± That¡¯s when Xia Siyu finally realized something was amiss, ¡°What about ¡®Spring Light¡¯? Did you talk to them for me?¡± Qin Baizhou was confident as well, ¡°We¡¯ve held several internal meetings and unanimously concluded that spending half a year on a project that might not succeed is a waste of time. It¡¯s not just my suggestion; it includes our other two partners and a group of senior agents.¡± Xia Siyu didn¡¯t want to hear these explanations, ¡°I want to sign ¡®Spring Light¡¯.¡± Qin Baizhou couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Why are you so fixated on this project? Is it because¡­ the male lead is Bo Yan?¡± Xia Siyu was somewhat surprised, ¡°What does this have to do with Bo Yan? I like the script. I think that anyone who can write a script like this must have put a lot of effort into it. He may not have been a well-known director before, but someone who writes a script with such dedication, surely won¡¯t do poorly. Besides, there¡¯s Yu Fenfei, Director Yu can supervise it.¡± Qin Baizhou¡¯s expression stiffened. He had managed Xia Siyu for seven years. In those seven years, although Xia Siyu seemed to be very decisive and selective, if he spoke nicely and stroked her ego, she never objected. Of course, he asked himself if, over the years, he had not deliberately exploited Xia Siyu¡¯s commercial value, and he had also considered her interests, which Xia Siyu was well aware of, so their cooperation had always been pleasant. But now everything had changed, starting from when she auditioned for ¡°Storm¡± on her own, and after she began speaking with Bo Yan, all her choices, which seemed to be her own, were actually guided by Bo Yan. Including the ¡°Flowers and Grass¡± program, which he had also fancied, but it was clear that Bo Yan knew they were going to participate, yet they had no idea Bo Yan was too. Perhaps, the whole production team invited her at Bo Yan¡¯s behest. Given his status and popularity, that was entirely within the realm of possibility. ¡°Storm¡± and ¡°Flowers and Grass¡± might be passable, after all, one was a work by Wang Ju, and the other was the hottest variety show of the summer, which even helped Xia Siyu clear up some past rumors. But why ¡®Spring Light¡¯? Bo Yan might have his own investment in the film or other considerations, which is why he would act in it. But Xia Siyu was different; there was no need for her to sacrifice herself for Bo Yan. ¡°If you really must go¡­¡± After a long while, Qin Baizhou finally said these words with difficulty. Xia Siyu nodded firmly. Chapter 305 - Chapter 305: Chapter 305: Not Allowed to Leave (4) Chapter 305: Chapter 305: Not Allowed to Leave (4) Qin Baizhou actually wanted to ask if she was really living with Bo Yan. All these recent ideas of hers, were they all manipulated by Bo Yan behind the scenes? How far had their relationship developed? Had they already become inseparable? Then preparing to film together, participate in variety shows together, live together, go public, and then get married ¡­ But as the words reached his lips, he still nodded, smiling helplessly, ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll contact them for you.¡± Since Xia Siyu had asked several times, if he refused again, he feared that with her temperament, she would personally come knocking on his door. ¡°I hope you won¡¯t regret this decision.¡± Xia Siyu flipped her hair nonchalantly, ¡°I¡¯ve never regretted the decisions I¡¯ve made. And although half a year, or strictly speaking, five months may be a lot, I¡¯m only twenty-six now, and I¡¯ll be just twenty-seven after five months. I still have plenty of time, and I can afford to wait. If I don¡¯t take advantage of my youth to strive and fight hard, when I get older, I will have even less time and not the courage to transform.¡± The youth of female artists is fleeting. Some seize their prime to marry into wealth and then retire from the industry, marrying into a prosperous household. Others, driven by their career, would shoot eight to ten TV series or movies a year, frantically taking on roles to earn the most money possible during their best years. However, she chose to try her hand at art films and to refine herself while she still had the chance to make mistakes. She still had the opportunity, she could afford to lose. Most importantly, she had to work hard to bring home the best actress trophy and live up to her mother¡¯s reputation! In the past, she could rely on her youth to let Qin Baizhou devise a scandalous and famous route for her, to become a top influencer and comfortably make money. But now, as she was approaching thirty, she had new reflections on life; she no longer wanted to be trapped here. Moreover, she felt that her acting was not like rotting wood, which couldn¡¯t produce flowers no matter how it was used. Whether she was a mere stone or unpolished jade, she wanted to find out for herself. Xia Siyu and Qin Baizhou were there to participate in a show, and Qin Baizhou was also going to appear on stage. It was a show that featured both artists and their agents, and they were one of the guest pairs. After participating, the two had time to discuss this matter in the makeup room backstage. Xia Siyu¡¯s fierce persona was very popular on variety shows, and her recent reputation had successfully turned the tides. Qin Baizhou was also known as a master marketer in the entertainment industry for many years, and he was tall, handsome, humorous. With them participating together, the effect was doubled. Qin Baizhou indeed felt a little indignant; he wanted to spend more time with Xia Siyu. For the past seven years, he had been by Xia Siyu¡¯s side. Although he wasn¡¯t her assistant and couldn¡¯t immerse himself in her daily life like Wei Jingjing did, she had always been with him through thick and thin. When he started his new company, she was among the first artists to join. She was discovered by him and had grown up with him. Over the years, they had relied on each other; she became the most successful artist, and he became a top partner. He was quite certain that there were no intimate men around Xia Siyu. He had watched her grow from a super newcomer to a scandalously famous top star. Even though her reputation had been tarnished, she was still the same person. Just as innocent and naive, just as passionate and straightforward. He had actually thought about making a subtle confession on her twenty-seventh birthday. Who would have known that just one month shy of that date, Bo Yan would beat him to the punch. Chapter 306 - Chapter 306: Chapter 306: Not Allowed to Leave (5) Chapter 306: Chapter 306: Not Allowed to Leave (5) Qin Baizhou suddenly felt a bit impulsive and wanted to ask her if she really started a relationship with Bo Yan. He¡¯d known her for many years, and her love or hate was always transparent on her face. It was clear from her expression that she held disdain for Bo Yan, without any attempt to hide it. Given Xia Siyu¡¯s current status, fame, and earning power, she had no need to ingratiate herself with Bo Yan, nor was there any such thing as a kept relationship. She already was at the top of the food chain, whether in terms of wealth, looks or status, all of them first-class. It was only after developing to where he was today that Qin Baizhou gained the confidence to dare to pursue her, this rose full of thorns. She had complete autonomy in choosing her partner and didn¡¯t need to be swayed by anyone. Why then did she, on one hand, detest Bo Yan, yet on the other, be influenced by him, and even put on a mask in front of him? ¡°Knock knock knock,¡± the sound of knocking on the door echoed. Qin Baizhou¡¯s gaze flickered, and he quickly switched back to a smiling face, ¡°Since it¡¯s a decision you made yourself, then I¡¯ll help you make the contact. Just one thing, if you¡¯re going to do it, do it best. For an art film, it¡¯s naturally about aiming for awards. I know you¡¯re going to the West for filming, and I¡¯ll take out time to follow the crew. You must perfect your shooting, tirelessly pluck at every detail in hopes of eventually contending for an award.¡± Qin Baizhou stepped back, and Xia Siyu, not one to quibble, immediately nodded, ¡°Sure.¡± The atmosphere in the room relaxed, he went to open the door; it was someone from the show¡¯s staff, bringing them drinking water. And the person knocking was also the on-site director, ¡°Teacher Xia, Mr. Qin, your performance today was quite remarkable. I was wondering if you¡¯d be interested in signing up as regulars?¡± The team they joined today was from the ¡°Artists and Agents¡± show, selecting famous agents and artists from major agencies, a mix of mental and physical challenges, an outdoor reality TV activity. Previously, it was always celebrities with celebrities, or celebrities with ordinary people, the pairing of artists and agents was less common, thus this was a trial project. Not only did celebrities need to maintain a good image, so did the agents. Therefore, the plump agent from Wang Zisu and Zhou Weiwei¡¯s company was eliminated. Qin Baizhou, who was worried about not having opportunities to spend more time with Xia Siyu, naturally agreed. Xia Siyu was indifferent toward variety shows, and even if she was filming, taking a day or two to appear on a variety show as a guest would not be a hindrance. Of course, there was an advantage to celebrities and agents appearing together; variety show salary caps were especially strict now, with a maximum of ten million for a regular appearance on a variety show, but when adding an agent, the amount could reach twenty million, complying with the rules. This was also a major reason why many artists were submitting applications to participate. Since both were interested, the remaining negotiations were Qin Baizhou¡¯s affair, and they could sit down tomorrow to discuss the details. It was a bit late this evening, so Qin Baizhou said, ¡°Let me drive you home.¡± ¡°No need. Prince is in Yancheng, and he¡¯s asked us out for dinner. I¡¯ve arranged for Little Tang to drive me.¡± Qin Baizhou didn¡¯t object, ¡°Have fun, and drink less. I need to take Jingjing first to discuss the details of this variety show contract.¡± Xia Siyu nodded, and Qin Baizhou watched her get into Little Tang¡¯s car with a smile. When he turned his head and rolled down his car window, although he still had a smile on his face, his eyes had instantly turned dark, ¡°Jingjing, I have a question for you, and I hope you¡¯ll answer truthfully. Have Xia Siyu and Bo Yan been living together for a long time?¡± Chapter 307 - Chapter 307: Chapter 307: Not Allowed to Leave (6) Chapter 307: Chapter 307: Not Allowed to Leave (6) Wei Jingjing was taken aback; their boss, Qin Baizhou, seemed to have been moody lately. Just now, he entered the makeup room alone with Xia Siyu, not letting her in and instead sent her away first. She didn¡¯t know how to answer. On one hand, Xia Siyu did live with Bo Yan, and something beyond friendship seemed to have happened between them. Whether Xia Siyu slept with him or he pressed Xia Siyu onto the couch to kiss her, such behavior did not align with Xia Siyu¡¯s claim that there was no intimacy between them. But on the other hand, Xia Siyu¡¯s disgust for Bo Yan was genuine. She might not know about others, but she understood Xia Siyu too well. If she truly liked a man, she wouldn¡¯t deliberately insult him or always be at odds with him. She would certainly take the initiative, the kind to make him fall at her feet. Therefore, she would rather believe that the only possibility between them was¡ªfriends with benefits. A relationship only of the body, without the feelings. This was actually quite common in the entertainment industry. After all, with high pressure and surrounded by handsome men and beautiful women, sometimes one would film in a remote area for months without seeing other people, and even having to perform romantic scenes. It was too normal for emotions to spill over into physical relationships during filming, but once the filming ended, and they left the crew, such feelings naturally dissipated. Artists are held by their own sense of morality, but how many possess such a high moral standard? Xia Siyu, in fact, did, which is why her scandals were all fake. But now faced with Bo Yan, she became a bit unsure. ¡°You don¡¯t have to hide it from me. The fact that I¡¯m asking you this means I already have evidence,¡± actually, upon seeing Wei Jingjing¡¯s hesitation, Qin Baizhou already had his answer. Unexpectedly, the little bunny he had nurtured and hesitated to harm was snatched away by a wolf. Wei Jingjing had no choice but to say, ¡°You can actually tell that Siyu¡¯s disgust for Bo is real.¡± He knew this as well, ¡°And then?¡± Wei Jingjing hesitated for a long time before speaking, ¡°They indeed live in the same apartment. But they are not boyfriend and girlfriend. They also sleep in separate rooms; this much is true; I have no reason to lie to you.¡± That is to say, there wasn¡¯t too much depth in their feelings, perhaps just one or two physical contacts. Although the hardest thing to accept hadn¡¯t happened¡ªXia Siyu and Bo Yan were not in a live-in relationship. However, the fact that they lived together and Xia Siyu clearly didn¡¯t want to move out¡ªeven though they slept in separate rooms¡ªsuggested that a relationship might have already taken place. For a man, knowing that someone he fancies has been touched by another man conjures an indescribable feeling. Despite seeing such things often in the entertainment industry, he still felt as if he was being scorched. Xia Siyu was so beautiful, innocent, and pure; it was natural for people to like her. He had always believed that as long as he stood behind her, supporting her, and driving away the flies that buzzed around her, the two of them would eventually become a couple. He had overestimated himself, and her as well. But it wasn¡¯t too late for him, not yet. At least Xia Siyu still disliked Bo Yan, and they hadn¡¯t continued further. If he just aimed higher, he should easily win her back. ¡°From now on, you¡¯d better tell me everything about them, every little detail.¡± Qin Baizhou looked at himself in the rearview mirror, showing a real smile for the first time. ** Xia Siyu hurried to Wang Zisu¡¯s dinner party, and upon opening the door, she found, to her surprise, that Bo Yan was also there. Chapter 308 - Chapter 308: Chapter 308: Not Allowed to Leave (Extra for Monthly Votes) Chapter 308: Chapter 308: Not Allowed to Leave (Extra for Monthly Votes) No, it wasn¡¯t just Bo Yan, Han Yifan was there too. Over at Wang Zisu¡¯s side was Hu Juyue. There were also two other young beauties Xia Siyu didn¡¯t recognize, probably trainees from Wang Zisu¡¯s company. Unfortunately, Zhou Weiwei was out of town filming at the moment, otherwise she would definitely have been part of today¡¯s drinking session. When celebrities go out, they definitely look for a place with a good degree of privacy. The private room chosen by Wang Zisu had facilities for dining and karaoke. Once the tables were cleared, the spacious area could also be used for dancing. Adjacent were services for massage and ball games, a completely leisurely experience, all in a high-end club. As soon as Wang Zisu entered, she smiled, ¡°Just as I walked in, I ran into Brother Yan and his friend here. He said he was your classmate and is now into music, so he came along.¡± So that was it. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t engage with Bo Yan, but she did look towards Han Yifan. Han Yifan¡¯s eyes sparkled brightly, circling around her since she entered. Although he stared at her, his expression wasn¡¯t lecherous, it was that pure appreciative kind of liking, ¡°Xia Siyu! Do you still remember me? I was Bo Yan¡¯s bunkmate! Long time no see, you¡¯ve gotten more and more beautiful.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you talk properly?¡± Hu Juyue said with a laugh, refuting, ¡°Siyu is naturally beautiful, not artificially enhanced later on!¡± Han Yifan laughed, ¡°Yes, yes, my mistake. I¡¯ll punish myself with a drink!¡± With that, he cheerily picked up his glass and took a sip himself. Meanwhile, Wang Zisu had the two beauties stand up: ¡°Sister Siyu, I brought two girls over. They are my juniors, and they used to go to Korea to train with me. They are really eager to meet you, to say thank you for your help. If it weren¡¯t for you taking down Li Weiyi, maybe they would¡¯ve been his next victims.¡± Xia Siyu paused for a moment, then the two girls stood up, one with long flowing hair said, ¡°Sister Siyu, hello, my name is Yu Xin.¡± The girl with short hair said, ¡°I¡¯m Youyou.¡± Xia Siyu gave off the impression of having a strong presence and a volatile temper; that was when others weren¡¯t showing her much goodwill. When others spoke to her in a nice and soft voice, she wouldn¡¯t put on airs, so she nodded with a smile, ¡°Xia Siyu.¡± Wang Zisu smiled and said, ¡°See, I told you Sister Siyu is super easy to converse with. Those reporters outside have no heart, writing nonsense!¡± After a simple introduction, everyone took their seats. All being artists, although it was a late-night meal, not many actual delicacies were ordered. But when artists gather for a meal, food can be absent but alcohol is a must. Fortunately, everyone was just looking to drink for fun, going for beer and champagne rather than high-proof alcohol. A few rounds of drinks later, the atmosphere was quite nice. Han Yifan wanted to get into music and chatted happily with Wang Zisu and her two juniors. Xia Siyu, whimsical as she was, joined in their conversation with a glass in hand. And Hu Juyue, leaving behind her host¡¯s instinct to flit between groups, integrated perfectly into the conversation. Only Bo Yan sat quietly to the side, responding with a word or two only when cued, looking out of place. But no one bothered with him. It wasn¡¯t until the crowd was getting lively and it was almost time to wrap up that Xia Siyu noticed the three or four empty beer bottles in front of Bo Yan, and he was about to open another. Xia Siyu, who had had a bit too much herself, stopped Bo Yan¡¯s hand, ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to drink anymore!¡± What if he got too drunk and his beastly nature came out, and he forced himself on her? Chapter 309 - Chapter 309: Chapter 309 Contest (1) Chapter 309: Chapter 309 Contest (1) Han Yifan wore a puzzled expression, ¡°Why?¡± Xia Siyu declared righteously, ¡°He¡¯s drunk too much and gets frisky when he¡¯s drunk!¡± If the people present weren¡¯t all acquaintances, her statement, if overheard by outsiders, would turn into something indescribable. Bo Yan indeed became flushed easily when drinking, his face now a bright red. His complexion was naturally pale, so the redness showed through like a white glow tinged with pink. And although he was lucid, since they were all artists and there was no need to conceal his identity today, he did not wear a hat. His hair hung down slightly, giving him an especially innocent and harmless look. Bo Yan¡¯s hair was black, long and straight, quick to grow out even when cut short, unlike Wang Zisu¡¯s soft brown hair with a slight curl. What a pity, if it had been on Wang Zisu¡¯s head, she would have liked to muss up his hair. It¡¯s a shame it was on his head, but that didn¡¯t mean she couldn¡¯t do it. Bo Yan would probably welcome her to ruffle his hair. If she did ruffle his hair, perhaps in the end it would be her getting ruffled by him. Xia Siyu, perhaps because she had drunk too much, observed him sitting obediently with his legs together, palms on his knees, looking like a primary school student. His face was so red, it especially gave off the impression of a child pretending to be an adult, a level of docility never seen from the usually aloof Bo Yan. ¡ªIt made her kind of want to bully him. But she couldn¡¯t afford to mess with Bo Yan when he was drunk, so she reluctantly called over Wang Zisu, ¡°Younger brother, come here.¡± Wang Zisu, true to form of a large breed dog, ¡°woofed¡± and pounced into her arms, allowing Xia Siyu to vigorously rub his hair to her heart¡¯s content. Han Yifan was still laughing, ¡°You don¡¯t know, you think Bo Yan just gets flushed from drinking, but actually he is very¡­¡± Before he could finish, Bo Yan seemed to choke on his drink, coughing twice. Xia Siyu asked, ¡°What¡¯s with his drinking?¡± Han Yifan glanced at Bo Yan¡¯s complexion then shamelessly switched his stance, ¡°¡­Really can¡¯t handle it. We always love to get him drunk and then tease him.¡± Xia Siyu nodded to herself in agreement, she had learned something new, to get back at him, just get him more drunk! As long as she ensured he wouldn¡¯t get frisky when drunk like last time! The group got more boisterous, drinking into the wee hours, with assistants messaging them. Wang Zisu stood up with a disappointed look, ¡°Sister Siyu, they¡¯re calling me back. Once I leave this time, I don¡¯t know when I¡¯ll have the chance to come hang out again.¡± ¡°No worries, there¡¯s plenty of time, whenever you come to Yancheng or I go to Shangcheng, we¡¯ll just contact each other on WeChat,¡± Xia Siyu felt she was slightly tipsy. Although the beer wasn¡¯t strong, she had drunk several big bottles, and while it was fun at the time, she hadn¡¯t noticed, but now the alcohol effect was hitting, her head spinning a bit. It was getting late, Hu Juyue, Han Yifan, and the two junior sisters of Wang Zisu also took their leave. Wang Zisu and the junior sisters had their company¡¯s ride, Hu Juyue had an assistant, and Han Yifan called for a substitute driver. On this end, Bo Yan glanced at LaXiaotang, planning to send Little Tang away and take Xia Siyu back himself. Unexpectedly, just as they reached the downstairs, a car stopped in front of them, the door opened, and it was Qin Baizhou with a smile, ¡°I have just finished a meeting, I¡¯ll give you a ride back on my way.¡± Bo Yan¡¯s expression tensed slightly. He even had Wei Jingjing help her, and reproached lightly, ¡°Didn¡¯t I say you should drink less? You never listen. What if you encountered bad people?¡± Chapter 310 - Chapter 310: Chapter 310 Contest (2) Chapter 310: Chapter 310 Contest (2) Although he didn¡¯t name names, Bo Yan always felt that Qin Baizhou was talking about him. Xia Siyu mumbled with a frown, her speech slurred from drinking: ¡°Anyway, there¡¯s no event tomorrow. I can rest these few days, can¡¯t I?¡± Qin Baizhou had just sent her a WeChat message telling her that he had made contact with Sun Wujiu¡¯s side. Normal movies require auditions, but firstly Sun Wujiu is a new director, not widely recognized. And secondly, no matter what Xia Siyu¡¯s acting skills were like, her popularity and status were solid. With her in the cast and Bo Yan¡¯s guarantee, Sun Wujiu would choose her without hesitation. The day after tomorrow she still had an agreed meeting with Sun Wujiu¡ªshe at least had to get in touch briefly and understand how the film should be shot. Xia Siyu had no objections to Qin Baizhou¡¯s arrangements, leaving business and variety show appearances to him. Except for the acting gigs. As long as he facilitated the connections, she couldn¡¯t be bothered to argue anymore. For the next two or three days, she indeed had no activities, as she had specifically taken time off for Grandpa Bo Yan¡¯s birthday. Without any surprises, she was also going to stay with Bo Yan at the old house. ¡°Resting well is a good thing, artists are so busy, it¡¯s essential to balance work and leisure. Actually, you could go to a holiday resort and enjoy an essential oil SPA to relax your body.¡± ¡°No need, I have plans tomorrow.¡± Xia Siyu staggered while being supported by Wei Jingjing as she got into the car. Once the car door was closed, Qin Baizhou then felt in the mood to deal with Bo Yan: ¡°Teacher Bo, we¡¯ll be leaving first then.¡± Bo Yan nodded without saying much, watching Qin Baizhou instruct Little Tang, ¡°Drive.¡± Then he rolled down the window. The windows of celebrity cars are all fitted with reflective tint; he couldn¡¯t see clearly inside. Soon the car drove away, and Song Fengzhi arrived on his side. He didn¡¯t say much either, got into the car, and drove towards Qingcheng Apartments. ** To his surprise, just as Bo Yan¡¯s car entered the garage of Qingcheng Apartments and approached the elevator, he saw a car parked by the elevator entrance. It was Xia Siyu¡¯s. After that, it was Qin Baizhou¡¯s gentle voice: ¡°Be careful, she¡¯s had too much to drink.¡± Then it was Wei Jingjing and Qin Baizhou, together helping Xia Siyu out of the car. Xia Siyu seemed to be completely drunk, unable to stand by herself, leaning on Wei Jingjing. Wei Jingjing tried to support her, but as a woman, she couldn¡¯t manage on her own, and Qin Baizhou ¡°naturally¡± lent a hand. Bo Yan¡¯s Maybach approached, and Qin Baizhou had already noticed it. But he didn¡¯t leave, instead followed Xia Siyu to the elevator entrance. Bo Yan knew that Qin Baizhou had seen him: unless he was deaf and blind, with such a big car and bright headlights, no one could miss it unless they were as drunk as Xia Siyu. He was deliberately showing off his intimate relationship with Xia Siyu in front of him. Indeed, when Bo Yan got out of the car, Qin Baizhou showed no intention of leaving. It was Wei Jingjing who greeted him first: ¡°Teacher Bo.¡± Only then did Qin Baizhou turn around with a radiant smile, as if unaware, and said, ¡°What a coincidence, Teacher Bo, you live here too?¡± Upon seeing his face, Bo Yan knew that he had already found out about him living with Xia Siyu. With an impassive expression he said, ¡°Not a coincidence, I¡¯m cohabiting with her.¡± Qin Baizhou¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change, clearly having already grasped this piece of information. He continued smiling and said, ¡°Could you trouble yourself, Teacher Bo, to press the elevator button? Siyu is not quite able to.¡± Bo Yan glanced at her indifferently and extended a finger to press the button lightly. Four people stood in the elevator, Bo Yan in front, with Qin Baizhou and Wei Jingjing supporting Xia Siyu behind. Chapter 311 - Chapter 311: Chapter 311 Contest (3) Chapter 311: Chapter 311 Contest (3) During the elevator¡¯s ascent, Bo Yan didn¡¯t speak or turn around, but the elevator doors were metallic, allowing a vague view of the situation behind him. Qin Baizhou still whispered, ¡°Keep an eye on her in the future, and don¡¯t let her drink too much. You know how she handles her liquor.¡± Wei Jingjing¡¯s gaze swiftly swept over Bo Yan, aware that Qin Baizhou had deliberately spoken loud enough for Bo Yan to hear. It was obvious that Bo Yan and Qin Baizhou, the two males, were tussling over Xia Siyu¡¯s mating rights. As a humble individual, she couldn¡¯t afford to offend either, one being her direct supervisor and the other a powerful and influential actor. She could only nod, ¡°Okay, I will remind her to be careful.¡± The elevator soon reached its destination. Bo Yan stepped out first, followed by Qin Baizhou and Wei Jingjing supporting Xia Siyu. Bo Yan went ahead, changed his shoes, whereas Qin Baizhou and Wei Jingjing, having taken off their own shoes, didn¡¯t have time to let Xia Siyu change. They supported her, and she staggered back to her bedroom in her high heels. This time, Qin Baizhou noticed that her bedroom was still a mess. The clothes she had taken off the day before were carelessly thrown at the head of the bed. The quilt was not folded, and the bedding, like quilts and pillows, was only set up for her. He helped Xia Siyu to the head of the bed and even asked, ¡°Should we change her into pajamas?¡± Use the pretext of changing pajamas to open her wardrobe¡ªinside, there were only her clothes. Wei Jingjing glanced over and felt it inappropriate to intrude, ¡°Let¡¯s leave it, she often ends up like this.¡± Qin Baizhou nodded, carefully helped her off with her high heels, and tucked her into bed. He then said, ¡°I¡¯m going to use the restroom.¡± Inside, he realized that her personal belongings were complete, including a single set of toothbrushes, which were available right there in the bathroom. After a thorough search, there was no sign of any men¡¯s items. This indicated that Xia Siyu was indeed sleeping separately from Bo Yan. If she had truly been cohabiting with Bo Yan, there would be no need to keep things so neatly separated: her clothes alone in the wardrobe, and only her belongings in the bathroom and restroom. Personal items would undoubtedly be mixed. Even if they were just sleeping together, without any commitment, it would be impossible to have absolutely no overlap in living essentials. Qin Baizhou¡¯s mood lightened somewhat. Although Xia Siyu had definitely kept many things from him, her feelings for Bo Yan seemed to be minimal. However, it must be said that Bo Yan¡¯s influence over her was growing, and he needed to pay close attention. Qin Baizhou made a round trip and came out just as Wei Jingjing had tidied up a bit on her own behalf. As they left the apartment, Bo Yan had also changed into pajamas and was pouring some water in the living room. Seeing them exit, Bo Yan barely glanced their way, nor did he greet them. After he got his water, he took a seat on the sofa. It was Wei Jingjing who said, ¡°Mr. Bo, we are heading out now.¡± Bo Yan nodded, acknowledging them briefly, so she and Qin Baizhou left together. Just as they reached the ground floor, right out of the elevator, Qin Baizhou patted his pocket, ¡°Ah, I left my keys in her room.¡± Wei Jingjing paused for a moment, then said, ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you.¡± Qin Baizhou nodded, confident as he made his way back, rang the doorbell, and smiled at the video intercom¡¯s camera, ¡°I¡¯ve left my keys in her bedroom; I¡¯m coming up to look for them.¡± Bo Yan appeared nonchalant with a water glass in hand, pressing the door release button. Soon, Qin Baizhou was back upstairs, and the two men faced each other in the entrance hall. Qin Baizhou didn¡¯t proceed to the bedroom, nor did Bo Yan inquire. They both knew clearly that Qin Baizhou wasn¡¯t there to look for his keys, but to have a one-on-one talk with him. Chapter 312 - Chapter 312: Chapter 312 Contest (4) Chapter 312: Chapter 312 Contest (4) Indeed, Qin Baizhou was the first to speak, ¡°I know you two are living together.¡± This was a declarative sentence. Bo Yan said nothing, not even a change in expression. Did he even need to say it? Even a blind person could see that. ¡°I also know that you like Siyu, you want to pursue her.¡± He paused, then Qin Baizhou added, ¡°I also know that you two have had relations.¡± Bo Yan remained unmoved. After all, they were living together now, so it was quite normal to think that way. And what Qin Baizhou said wasn¡¯t wrong. Although it had only been that one night seven years ago. Still, Bo Yan¡¯s composure was upsetting Qin Baizhou. Some things, he had guessed, but Bo Yan¡¯s reaction at this moment was tantamount to admitting that he indeed had slept with Xia Siyu. No man would feel good about this, and he was no different, but his willpower was strong enough to persuade himself. ¡°But I also know that right now, she does not accept your pursuit, and you two are not yet lovers.¡± This statement from Qin Baizhou indeed struck a chord with Bo Yan, whose acting skills were good enough to hide the anger inside him. But he couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°So what?¡± Qin Baizhou exuded confidence, ¡°I¡¯ve known her for seven years. Seven years ago, I discovered her by the roadside, she was stunningly beautiful. I brought her into the previous company, starting as a trainee, trained her for half a year, she filmed a movie, and became an instant hit. She¡¯s incredibly beautiful and very perceptive, a superstar rookie from the get-go. But later, after a few years, she was maligned by the girlfriend of the man she was scandalized with, accused of being the other woman and smeared with endless scandals. Others in the entertainment industry joined in, intent on destroying her.¡± ¡°At that time, she was having a falling out with the previous company, not renewing her contract. The previous company turned a deaf ear to the scandals, allowing the situation to escalate, determined to teach her a lesson. I had just started Huixing Company and waited until her contract was up before bringing her over. But by then, her reputation had soured, and Huixing was newly established, lacking the means we have today, so we let her popularity grow from being infamous.¡± Her character was strong, her spirit resilient. Despite the many who slandered and vilified her, she remained unaffected. Back then, her reputation was poor, and she lost all her endorsements, but later on, relying on the release of her film, which enjoyed decent box office returns, she managed to gradually recover. Huixing Company has also been doing better and better, finally reaching a point where we don¡¯t have to kowtow to others, with business deals and acting roles coming to us.¡± During these seven years, I¡¯ve struggled alongside her, supporting each other, and our feelings have grown deep. She trusts me, and I¡¯m very fond of her. If you¡¯re just toying with her, then I hope you back off quickly; she¡¯s not someone to be toyed with at whim. If you¡¯re serious about pursuing her, then I¡¯ll take you on as a challenger. I¡¯m confident that, over these seven years, our relationship has grown strong enough not to be easily disrupted by an outsider like you.¡± Bo Yan looked at him calmly, then took another sip of his water, ¡°You say you know her well, but maybe not. I¡¯ve known her, much earlier than you.¡± ¡°I know. You, Zhou Weiwei, and her, you¡¯re all from N University; you must have known each other back then.¡± But no matter, she had dropped out of N University. These seven years of time, it was he who had accompanied her all the way. He had witnessed her rise to this point, how could he easily give up! ¡°My relationship with her is much deeper than you think,¡± Bo Yan said with a light smile, then lifted his chin, ¡°So have you finished what you came to say? I need to rest, please leave.¡± He placed special emphasis on the word ¡°rest.¡± Chapter 313 - Chapter 313: Chapter 313 Contest (5) Chapter 313: Chapter 313 Contest (5) Quietly reminding him, Xia Siyu living with him could very well lead to something happening. Qin Baizhou had indeed heard this, his gentlemanly demeanor that he had maintained until now cracked in an instant. The words he had just spoken were actually a show of bravado. Just as Bo Yan misled him, pretending he and Xia Siyu had already shared many experiences, he too emphasized his feelings for Xia Siyu. Of course, there were feelings, but he could sense that Xia Siyu truly trusted and relied on him. However, she had never seen him as a boyfriend. Both men were evenly matched, but Bo Yan was now living with her and they¡¯d been intimate, giving him an upper hand. Although their feelings weren¡¯t too deep at this moment, if they ended up having a child together, their relationship would become incredibly complicated. Now that the masks had been torn away, the two men exchanged no more words, and Qin Baizhou turned away, his complexion somewhat ashen. Bo Yan watched him enter the elevator, his face also devoid of much smile. Qin Baizhou had begun his onslaught. Although Xia Siyu had no romantic feelings for him at present, she also didn¡¯t for himself. Only he knew that their current relationship might even be less than what she had with Qin Baizhou. At least, she wouldn¡¯t trust him. ¡ª Should he just go ahead and turn raw rice into cooked rice, take her by force? If they really became intimate, she probably wouldn¡¯t reject him so much anymore, right? He had to admit, Qin Baizhou¡¯s words just now had indeed stirred him. Even though the two of them were married, he truly had missed the past seven years. Bo Yan pushed open the door, and inside, Xia Siyu was still resting. He crept in quietly and sat down beside the bed. Xia Siyu¡¯s clothes were still unchanged. Qin Baizhou had just been there and Bo Yan was also living with her, so Wei Jingjing found it awkward to help her take off her coat, undo her underwear, and help her remove her makeup. She was very peaceful. The fiery spirit of the day, alone at night in her room, was like a tired frolicking cub that had finished playing and was sleeping deeply and peacefully. Bo Yan watched and watched, then gently began to undo her buttons¡ªnot to be a pervert, but to turn around and get her pajamas, ready to change her into them. She had attended an event that day, wearing a shirt dress. It would be uncomfortable to sleep with the buttons fastened. But as he unfastened the buttons and saw the expanse of her fair skin, along with a set of white bra and shorts and a waft of fragrance, he was suddenly dizzy. He didn¡¯t know where to begin, and feared that if he really touched her, could he restrain himself? He had vowed that day¡ªif she didn¡¯t take the initiative, he would absolutely not force himself on her. Even though he had just clashed with Qin Baizhou, he still could not take advantage of someone in their vulnerable state. Xia Siyu had been sleeping soundly and wrapped up in a blanket, but Bo Yan didn¡¯t just lift the blanket, he also undid her clothes. She felt a bit cold, and she wrinkled her little nose slightly, then turned in bed and grabbed the only source of warmth nearby, rubbing her entire body against it. ¡ª The source of warmth was, his arm. His arm was tightly embraced by her, and she rubbed herself against it. Although he was lost in fantasy just a moment ago, it was all just in his head. But now, Xia Siyu was turning dreams into reality¡ªher body leaned in, her hand grabbing and rubbing his arm. Bo Yan shivered all over. He relied solely on his willpower to refrain from acting unless she took the initiative. But with her taking action like this, he completely lost control! Chapter 314 - Chapter 314: Chapter 314 Contest (6) Chapter 314: Chapter 314 Contest (6) He took a deep breath and slowly withdrew his arm that she had grasped. Just as he was sighing in relief, unexpectedly¡­ Because he had to pull his arm back and didn¡¯t want to wake her up, he had been sitting, but now he could only lie down sideways, shifting stealthily to her side. Once his arm was back in place, he hadn¡¯t come back to his senses when Xia Siyu, who habitually liked to hug a pillow while sleeping, felt the pillow (his arm) being taken away, and subconsciously tried to pull it back. But as she stretched out her paw, she accidentally grabbed Bo Yan¡¯s neck, and with one move, she ended up dragging him back forcefully, causing him to fall directly on top of her! Bo Yan, who had finally managed to calm his emotions, had them shattered in an instant by her. His breathing became erratic; the place his face landed on was right on her chest, completely buried. Even without breathing, the touch on his cheeks felt like soft, warm clouds. He dared not breathe, struggle, or make any sudden moves. Breathing in only her warmest, most fragrant scent; the sensations from any struggle were the most sensitive and soft. But he didn¡¯t dare not move away, afraid that if he lingered any longer, he would truly lose control of himself! Bo Yan finally managed to get away when her arm around his neck relaxed, sneaking off quietly. His own handsome face was flushed, but the instigator was still fast asleep, drunk and unaware, having no idea of the turmoil her careless sleeping manner caused him. Luckily for her, the man beside her was him. If it were anyone else, even that self-proclaimed gentleman Qin Baizhou, they might not have been able to restrain themselves from making a move on her. He tried hard to calm his emotions, though his mind was shielded, his body was quite excited. That component, almost damaged by her kick that day, was still not resting. After what she did to you that day, you¡¯re still happy about it? Bo Yan, speechless, could only get up and wash his face with cold water. When he returned, she was already sprawled out, sleeping soundly, utterly unaware of her actions that almost threw him into chaos. Bo Yan thought for a moment, then quickly unbuttoned her shirt and flicked open the metal clasp of her BRA. He didn¡¯t dare take another look, turned his head away, grabbed the nightgown, and without hesitation, slipped it over her head. Then, like flipping a pancake, he quickly turned her over, pulling the nightgown down into place. Xia Siyu, heavily asleep from the alcohol, only felt slightly uncomfortable from the rolling, wrinkled her brow, and continued to sleep soundly, changing positions. Bo Yan remembered the previous two times she had drunk herself to sleep, he didn¡¯t remove her makeup to avoid suspicion, and both times she scolded him bloody. He thought about it and squeezed out some strong, no-rinse makeup remover oil. Naturally, it wasn¡¯t as clean as directly washing with water, but at the moment, it was better than nothing. He squeezed the makeup remover oil onto a large washcloth, turned Xia Siyu¡¯s face upward, and rubbed away indiscriminately. It was only because she was sleeping so heavily that she didn¡¯t wake up after all that rubbing. After rubbing her face, he also took a small makeup pad, dipped it in makeup remover, and gently wiped it off her eyes and lips. Having changed her clothes and removed her makeup, Bo Yan felt as though he had taken a bath himself, covered in sweat. He simply went for a cold shower and then felt slightly aggrieved. I¡¯ve already done so much for you, it¡¯s only fair I charge a little interest, right? Like sleeping together, for instance. Chapter 315 - Chapter 315: Chapter 315 I Want to Kiss You (1) Chapter 315: Chapter 315 I Want to Kiss You (1) After a quick clean-up, he washed up, got ready, took off his pajamas, and just wore shorts as he came in, feeling delighted, yet apprehensive. Xia Siyu was still lying on her side, the same way she had fallen asleep after removing her makeup. He lifted the blanket and slipped in beside her. After a moment of thought, he moved closer to her. Then, with another thought, he shifted her head onto his shoulder so it looked like she was sleeping against him, creating an image of intimacy between the two. This time, Xia Siyu did not reach out to hold him, nor did she cuddle against him. Bo Yan turned his head, the dim bedside lamp casting a soft glow on her face. Her features, devoid of makeup, were fresh and clear, and still breathtakingly beautiful. Gently, he kissed her forehead and turned off the light, then snuggled his head close, resting his forehead against hers. He liked her, he did not just like her. Holding her, nestled close together, it felt as if the missing sense of family warmth he longed for was gradually emerging. These were memories from when he was very young, before his parents died in an accident, the few remaining memories of a family of three. Apart from her, nobody had given him such a sense of familial warmth in a very long time. ** Xia Siyu had another dream. When she was little, she lived in Sicily. Although she usually lived with her mother, occasionally, her dad would come over from Malaysia. In fact, Xia Youbiao was very fond of her and her mother. Even though her mother would verbally express how much she disliked him and hated the Xia family, and did not want to return with him to Malaysia, she would still dress up carefully every time he was about to visit, making sure to dress Siyu up beautifully as well. She still remembered the happiest times, when during summer Xia Youbiao and her mother would take her to the seaside for a vacation. Her dad would play in the sand with her, swim together, surf, and even let her ride horses. He would put her on his shoulders and bounce her, saying this would make her grow tall. Back then, she did not quite understand why after having fun with Xia Youbiao during the day, she would still insist on squeezing into bed with her doll to sleep with both her dad and mom at night. With no choice, Xia Youbiao would playfully stroke her little nose, pick her up, and let her sleep between them¡ªshe held her dad¡¯s arm on the left, leaned against her mom on the right, and slept contentedly. Since then, she had developed a liking for large toys and enjoyed sleeping with a pillow in her arms at night. But as she grew up, the conflicts between her mom and the Xia family never dissipated. Xia Youbiao would still visit often, but each visit brought more weariness on his face. Gradually, she became aware of the disputes between her parents, and the conflicts involving her, her mother, and the Xia family. She continued to act spoiled but lacked the willfulness of her younger years. Only the habit of sleeping with a doll remained. ¡ª¡ªJust like now. Wait a second, Xia Siyu hadn¡¯t opened her eyes yet, but subconsciously, she squeezed with her hand¡ªit really felt like she was holding an arm. However, this arm appeared different from the one she remembered her father having; it was leaner, stronger, and somewhat more slender. And this scent, it wasn¡¯t like her parents¡¯. It felt like¡ªit was Bo Yan? Xia Siyu was so startled that she immediately woke up¡ªupon opening her eyes, she truly was stunned. She hadn¡¯t been mistaken; indeed, she was holding Bo Yan¡¯s arm. He was shirtless, with only a pair of shorts covering his body. Moreover, the place she had kicked him before now seemed to be stirring awake¡­ Chapter 316 - Chapter 316: Chapter 316: I Want to Kiss You (2) Chapter 316: Chapter 316: I Want to Kiss You (2) Xia Siyu¡¯s reaction was far from minor; she let out a piercing scream. It wasn¡¯t just a scream; she also made a vigorous effort, pushing Bo Yan, who was lying beside her, straight off! Bo Yan had been resting peacefully when, out of the blue, disaster struck, and Xia Siyu kicked him right off the bed. As everyone knows, Xia Siyu is quite restless in her sleep. Eventually, she would move towards the center of the bed, occupying two-thirds of it, forcing Bo into the edge, and then, with one kick, she¡¯d pushed him off. He was completely clueless about what was happening when Xia Siyu kicked him off the bed. By the time he rolled off and woke up, dazed, rising to his feet, he found that his waist and abdomen were at the same level as Xia Siyu¡¯s line of sight. At one glance, she saw his shorts and immediately let out another shriek. Then, a throw pillow fiercely collided with his head. ¡°Bo Yan you big pervert, you bastard!¡± A pillow hit Bo Yan¡¯s face, blurring his vision, and he took two steps back, bumping into the window, which finally brought him fully to his senses. He frowned at her, his expression as stern as ever, ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°What am I doing, I¡¯d like to ask if you¡¯ve done anything to me!¡± Shameless, despicable, deadbeat dog of a man! And to think she actually believed he would be gentlemanly and wouldn¡¯t lay a hand on her. But clearly, if a man is reliable, pigs can climb trees! It was only a few days ago that she kicked him, and now he dared to creep up on her! ¡°What have I done to you?¡± Bo Yan had just finished speaking when Xia Siyu hurled another pillow at him. ¡°And you still ask! Take a look at yourself!¡± Xia Siyu accused him with a face full of indignation, and he still had a reaction now; this was ironclad evidence! Sure, she had fantasized about Bo Yan¡¯s body. He looked good, and she wanted to touch his chest and abs. But that was all she did: fantasize. She never acted on it. Unlike this deadbeat, who appeared all prim and proper but in reality was full of lechery, a wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing! She wasn¡¯t opposed to matters of men and women, and she believed in enjoying life. But with Bo Yan, and especially when she was drunk at night, that wasn¡¯t enjoyment, that was a crime! Even if they were married, legally, she could absolutely refuse any forced behavior within the marriage! Bo Yan looked down and indeed discovered it. He was somewhat speechless; this wasn¡¯t something he could control. It was a normal physiological response. It meant that his body was in good condition, with no unhealthy habits. And it also confirmed one thing¡ªthe kick Xia Siyu gave him that night hadn¡¯t crippled him. ¡°Can¡¯t you use your brain to think for a moment? If I had really done something to you, would you still be in one piece right now, confidently making accusations at me? Just look at yourself, did I violate you in any way?¡± Xia Siyu actually did take a quick scan, and indeed, there was nothing. But she still felt annoyed: ¡°Then why were you in my bed?¡± ¡°In your bed? I was helping you change into your pajamas, helping you remove your makeup! You fell asleep drunk before, and when you woke up and found out you hadn¡¯t removed your makeup, you blamed me. I was just trying to be nice, seeing you sleep in that shirt so uncomfortably, I helped you change into pajamas, and removed your makeup for you. You were the one clinging to my arm, leaving me no choice but to sleep with you. You sleep so badly, taking up two-thirds of the bed, if you hadn¡¯t insisted I stay, I wouldn¡¯t have!¡± Wait a minute, Xia Siyu noticed a key point: ¡°You helped me change into my pajamas? So¡­¡± Chapter 317 - Chapter 317: Chapter 317 I Want to Kiss You (3) Chapter 317: Chapter 317 I Want to Kiss You (3) ¡°Yes,¡± Bo Yan said as he leaned against the windowsill, his expression calm, ¡°I unbuttoned your blouse one by one and helped you take off your dress. Seeing that you weren¡¯t sleeping comfortably, I also unfastened your BRA and then took your pajamas and put them on you. You weren¡¯t willing to cooperate, so I had no choice but to pick you up, press you against me, and then help you change¡­¡± He seemed to be doing it on purpose, speaking slowly, allowing his words to gradually become clear in her mind. Xia Siyu was both angry and embarrassed, especially since she was too drunk to resist his handling. When she was angry, she had to vent, like right now she rushed over, grabbed his arm, and bit down hard. Bo Yan was by the bed, letting her pull and bite him, until she tasted a hint of blood in her mouth, and then she slowly let go. The mark she left was beautiful, a perfect crescent. Bo Yan remained calm throughout, while Xia Siyu was puffing with anger, looking a bit like a hamster. She even tried to kick him, but that didn¡¯t work; Bo Yan dodged quickly, avoiding her attack. He still tried to argue, ¡°You can¡¯t kick anymore, if you do, you won¡¯t be able to use it later.¡± ¡°Bo! Yan!!¡± Xia Siyu gritted her teeth, the flames in her eyes seemed like they could set him ablaze. Bo Yan sat down at the edge of the bed. He moved closer, and she resolutely did not back down, slapping him on the cheek. Bo Yan clearly saw her hand coming, but didn¡¯t dodge, and the slap landed squarely on his face, causing his handsome face to turn slightly, and even his fringe flew up. After slapping him once, Xia Siyu didn¡¯t feel relieved and extended her fist to punch him in the chest. Everyone knows Xia Siyu has been trained in boxing. Even though that punch wouldn¡¯t kill him, she exerted quite a lot of force. Bo Yan was obviously in pain, but he just sat there by the bed, letting her hit him. When she had almost finished hitting him, and her anger seemed to have dissipated, he finally asked, ¡°Have you had enough? Do you want to keep hitting me?¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s eyes slanted, her expression clear: she hadn¡¯t hit enough. Bo Yan sighed, and this time didn¡¯t let her continue to be wild. He caught her wrist and pinned her against the headboard, pecking her on the lips. As soon as he kissed her, Xia Siyu instantly exploded in rage, ready to bite him with an ¡°Awooo,¡± but Bo Yan retreated quickly, pulling away to a safe distance before he started talking, ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything excessive to you last night, didn¡¯t violate you, didn¡¯t steal kisses, didn¡¯t touch all over. I did change your clothes and remove your makeup, but I swear, I didn¡¯t grope or take advantage of you.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t know, would I? Of course you can say whatever you want! You can make black into white!¡± Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t a three-year-old child; how could she possibly believe his few words of defense? ¡°Are you stupid!¡± Bo Yan only wished he had a third hand to poke her forehead, ¡°Let me put it this way, if I really wanted to do something last night, it wouldn¡¯t have just been this. I would have gone all the way, and not just once. I really just lay down and slept. I told you before, unless you¡¯re willing, I won¡¯t do those things.¡± Xia Siyu really was furiously angry, but she wasn¡¯t stupid. Of course, she knew nothing had happened to her. But she just couldn¡¯t stand Bo Yan¡¯s smug look as if he¡¯d made a great bargain. ¡°Also¡­¡± ¡°What else,¡± Xia Siyu roared with her anger puffing out. ¡°Also¡­ I¡¯m going to kiss you now,¡± Bo Yan let go of her wrist but pinched her chin, and then kissed her unequivocally. Chapter 318 - Chapter 318: Chapter 318 I Want to Kiss You (4) Chapter 318: Chapter 318 I Want to Kiss You (4) Xia Siyu had not expected that, right after being hit, this guy still harbored ill intentions and actually started kissing her. Moreover, she was pressed against the headboard by him, unable to move. His fingers were pinching her chin. She couldn¡¯t turn her head, nor could she run away, she could only be bullied by this guy. Although Xia Siyu was very annoyed by his sudden move, she was not so repelled because he kissed her so gently. He was very patient, not going too deep, afraid of provoking her resentment, not being passionate, just rubbing lightly at the edge. After the kiss, both of them were a little breathless. Xia Siyu tilted her head, without any coyness, and asked him seriously, ¡°Bo Yan, have you been wanting to make a move on me for a long time?¡± Bo Yan curled up a smile and nodded, ¡°Yes.¡± Damn it! He actually said yes! This damn man, he had been harboring improper thoughts all along! Xia Siyu gritted her teeth with anger, ¡°When?¡± Was it that time when the two of them were sleeping together, and she accidentally pulled down his pants? She remembered that before that, he would always look at her with disgust. Bo Yan said, ¡°After I slept with you.¡± Wasn¡¯t that seven years ago? So, does that mean after they had been together, he had been thinking every day about doing this and that with her? Damn this dead pervert, this big bastard! He had actually deceived her for so many years, never telling her! And he even lied to her, saying he had no interest in her! She had even boldly wanted to see what Bo Yan would look like when seduced by her. Because he seemed so cold and distant, the less he wanted to be close to her, the more she wanted to tease him. Who knew, originally she thought to tease and run, to coolly walk away. Instead, she played right into his hands and was nearly taken in by him! If he hadn¡¯t exposed himself, she might still be foolishly hooking him!! Hey, wait a minute. When they got married, why did he put on that ¡°live and let live, independent¡± expression? And their recent encounters, he acted like ¡°mommy won¡¯t let me play with you,¡± too lazy to bother with her! So it seems, all men are pigs! On one hand, he looks down on her, and on the other, he wants to sleep with her, which is just too dog-like! Scumbag behavior! Xia Siyu roared, ¡°Bo Yan, do you know you¡¯re very annoying!¡± She had also been deceived by his high-cold abstinence appearance, what high-cold male god, he¡¯s clearly a beast in human clothing! ¡°I know,¡± Bo Yan even nodded, as if it was a matter of course. ¡°But,¡± Bo Yan paused, his eyes very close to hers, his peach blossom eyes ordinarily seemed somewhat frivolous. But on his face, they inexplicably took on a chillier mood. Now, however, those peach blossom eyes were exceptionally firm and calm, as though what he was saying was some kind of eternal truth. ¡°I only want to sleep with you. There was no one before, and there will be no one in the future.¡± Xia Siyu scoffed, ¡°How do you know there won¡¯t be any in the future?¡± You might not have, but I might! Before she had finished speaking, Bo Yan closed in again. This time, he was so close that just a tiny bit more, so close that he could even see when Xia Siyu lowered her eyes, the natural crease of her double eyelids: ¡°Because, in the future you won¡¯t have the chance to leave me. You actually crave my body, don¡¯t you? If you could really find a man better than me, you wouldn¡¯t have stayed single all these years. Oh, no, you¡¯re not single, Mrs. Bo.¡± Chapter 319 - Chapter 319: Chapter 319 I Want to Kiss You (5) Chapter 319: Chapter 319 I Want to Kiss You (5) ¡°Who is your wife?¡± Xia Siyu gnashed her teeth. She knew well the nature of their marriage, and so did he. If she were not the beloved daughter of the Xia family, and if he were not the young master of the Bo family, their marriage would have been impossible. ¡°You are,¡± Bo Yan replied, his lips curling into a smile. Thanks to the laws of China, regardless of the reason for their marriage, they were now bound together by a red marriage certificate. Throughout his life, he was definitely not going to the Civil Affairs Bureau to swap that red book for a green one. Xia Siyu chuckled lightly, ¡°You know exactly why I married you. If Xia Sicai hadn¡¯t gotten engaged to Bo Yi, the role of Mrs. Bo Yan wouldn¡¯t have fallen to me.¡± Bo Yan¡¯s gaze withdrew slightly, his face adopting a contemplative expression. After leaving him, Xia Siyu soon entered the entertainment industry; although she rose rapidly, her reputation suffered. The Bo family¡¯s traditions would never allow him to marry a disgraced actor. He himself had been castigated by his family for mingling with the entertainment circle, so what about Xia Siyu¡¯s situation at that time? Certainly, he was not one to compromise easily, nor one to let others arrange his life without a fight. Even if the members of the Bo family were reluctant to accept his wife, he didn¡¯t care. He had infiltrated Xia Siyu¡¯s fan circles incognito and knew her personal situation. Most of the rumors were untrue. She was not someone vain or prone to stepping on others to raise herself, nor was she unprofessional or known for throwing starry tantrums. But the only problem was, by that time, Xia Siyu had already become a big star, while he was just a university lecturer. Even if he switched immediately to acting, there was no guarantee he would soar to stardom and reach her level right away. Xia Sicai had always been pursuing him. After graduating from the University of New South Wales and returning to China, she took a fancy to him the moment she saw him at a social event attended by both the Xia and Bo families. At that time, Bo Yan was dating Xia Siyu and only saw Xia Sicai as a friend. Perhaps because Xia Sicai had been chased by many boys since childhood, she seldom took a fancy to anyone. But Bo Yan¡¯s looks, family background, character were unassailable, and combined with his gentlemanly manners, elegant and scholarly demeanor, she became infatuated with him. Fortunately, Xia Sicai was of the subtle and restrained kind; even if she liked someone, she wouldn¡¯t confess as directly as Xia Siyu. Not long after, Xia Siyu left without a word, and later, when Xia Sicai finished her postgraduate studies and returned to China, she began to seek him out frequently under the pretext of family and work. Bo Yan was aware of Xia Sicai¡¯s fondness for him early on. Had he not met Xia Siyu, perhaps he would have accepted Xia Sicai¡¯s advances. But unfortunately, he had met this calamity in his life first, and he had no choice but to accept it. Sometimes love is just like that, completely unreasonable. Seeing Bo Yan¡¯s contemplative eyes, Xia Siyu felt both anger and disdain in an instant. She had always known men were critical when choosing a wife. All it took for a girlfriend was beauty, but for a wife, besides beauty, one should consider family background, character, temperament, values. He and Xia Sicai were of the same kind, full of shrewdness and cunning. Just as she was about to push him away in disinterest, Bo Yan spoke up, ¡°Do you want to hear the truth?¡± Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t care less about his views on choosing a spouse and pushed him away, ¡°Not interested.¡± Bo Yan gave her a look and said seriously, ¡°In my life, I have only done two things for which I have never felt any regret. One is falling in love with you, and the other is marrying you. I have never regretted marrying you. Given a choice between you and Xia Sicai, I would naturally choose you.¡± Xia Siyu looked up, ¡°Why? Do you like me?¡± Chapter 320 - Chapter 320: Chapter 320 I Want to Kiss You (6) Chapter 320: Chapter 320 I Want to Kiss You (6) If it weren¡¯t for Xia Siyu¡¯s expression being so sarcastically mocking at the moment, Bo Yan might have nodded in agreement. But he had his ways, too. He smirked and said teasingly, ¡°Guess.¡± Guess my ass! Xia Siyu pushed him away, ¡°I¡¯m not in the mood to play word games with you. I¡¯m going to take a shower and get ready.¡± Bo Yan let her push him away and didn¡¯t follow or pester her. He just smiled, and the moment she closed the bathroom door after entering, he chuckled on his side and said, ¡°Because she¡¯s not as busty as you.¡± Xia Siyu slammed the door shut with a loud ¡°bang,¡± annoyance written all over her face: Bo Yan, you big pervert, you jerk! ** After a simple brunch, the two of them packed up and got ready to attend Grandpa Bo Yan¡¯s birthday banquet. Today was Grandpa Bo Yan¡¯s eightieth birthday. Three months earlier, Bo Yan had informed Xia Siyu that they would attend together. Given that it was an eightieth birthday, the event was quite grand. In the evening, Yancheng Hotel would be booked out for the banquet, which would include business notables and some from the entertainment industry. After the celebration, Grandpa had invited Bo Yan and her to stay at the old house for a day or two. Although Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t fond of the Bo Family, she was aware of the tradition of respecting the elderly and loving the young. She couldn¡¯t avoid such family gatherings and wouldn¡¯t refuse to attend. She¡¯d go just to show her face. After all, both the Xia Family and the Bo Family knew she and Bo Yan were in a marriage of convenience without any real feelings involved, so there was no need to feign affection. When Bo Yan told Xia Siyu that the event would be held at Yancheng Hotel, she already had an idea. This trip would likely involve meeting quite a few people, including other business partners and some from the entertainment industry, aside from the relatives of both the Xia and the Bo families. As the granddaughter-in-law of the Bo Family, she was supposed to attend as a host. However, she was an anomaly in both the Xia and Bo families, with her identity being a topic they avoided. She didn¡¯t want to acknowledge that empty title herself, either. But Bo Yan was no different. If she guessed right, today¡¯s eightieth birthday celebration for the old man would likely be the official moment for Grandpa to hand Bosch Corporation over to Bo Yi¡¯s father, Bo Yan¡¯s uncle, Bo Qiliu. Giving it to Bo Qiliu basically meant handing it over to Bo Yi, declaring officially that Bo Yan had no place in Bosch Corporation. As the two of them were leaving the house, it was Bo Yan¡¯s grandmother who called to inform him of this. She told him in advance lest he be burdened by it, and she assured him, ¡°Your grandpa is thinking of you too. Even though the company goes to your elder brother, you still have your shares. You¡¯ll always have your part in the Bo Family.¡± Bo Yan¡¯s expression remained indifferent, showing no sign of joy or sorrow. Ever since his parents died, he knew that everything at home was oriented towards his elder brother. The fact that they were telling him now wasn¡¯t out of consideration for his feelings but because Bo Yi had just passed the Bo Family¡¯s tests and could be groomed as a successor to take over the company. This wasn¡¯t comfort; it was merely a ¡°notification.¡± ¡°Oh, I understand,¡± he said. Bo Yan¡¯s response clearly disconcerted his grandmother on the other end of the phone, and next to her, presumably, his grandfather was also present. Grandpa seemed a bit displeased as he said, ¡°Bo Yan, what do you mean by that? Are you implying that I¡¯ve been unfair? It was you who insisted on becoming some actor! Even as a film emperor, you¡¯re just an actor, working for someone else. If you had joined the company earlier¡­¡± Chapter 321 - Chapter 321: Chapter 321: Masked Kiss (1) Chapter 321: Chapter 321: Masked Kiss (1) ¡°Yes, thank you for your gracious gift, Grandfather,¡± Bo Yan answered quite calmly. He also stated, ¡°Today is Grandfather¡¯s eightieth birthday, please don¡¯t be upset. I have never regretted becoming an actor. It is my profession, and my pursuit.¡± During the conversation, Xia Siyu had already changed into her high-heeled shoes and pressed the elevator button. Bo Yan looked up impassively: ¡°I¡¯m about to enter the elevator, I¡¯ll be there soon.¡± When he hung up the phone, he could still hear his grandfather blowing his beard and staring on the other end. Bo Yan understood his grandfather. If he put himself in his shoes, considering his youngest son had died and his eldest son, though mediocre, was in his prime. His youngest grandson was clever but had no parents or guidance. His eldest grandson was a bit lacking but always striving to shoulder the Bo Family. From any perspective, he would choose the eldest grandson to inherit Bosch. His grandfather wasn¡¯t bad to him, but under this mindset, he would pay more attention to Bo Yi and neglect him. If Bo Yi achieved even a little, there would be a crowd around him singing his praises. And he had nothing. But it didn¡¯t matter, for he had already found what he wanted. Fame and the company couldn¡¯t hold him back. The two entered the elevator together, and as they descended, silence reigned. Xia Siyu watched him through the metallic reflection of the elevator doors. He stood erect, his shirt buttoned up without a wrinkle, and his hair combed perfectly, showing no emotion. But Bo Yan, typically cold, was never this polite when speaking. His courtesy indicated that he actually did care a little. What he cared about wasn¡¯t that his grandfather had given Bosch to Bo Yi, but the unfairness. Children reliant on others often have a sensitive disposition. Just like her: though her mother gave her plenty of love and her father also loved her, sometimes she was bothered that their dad spent more time with Xia Ju¡¯an and Xia Sicai on this side. After exiting the elevator, Little Tang had yet to arrive. Bo Yan stood at the elevator entrance and suddenly asked her, ¡°Would you like to come with me to buy a birthday gift for Grandfather?¡± Xia Siyu was startled and took a while before nodding: ¡°Sure.¡± Perhaps it was a sense of ¡°commiserating with each other¡± or a tradition of respecting elders, but she didn¡¯t refuse Bo Yan¡¯s request. Bo Yan hadn¡¯t called Song Fengzhi to pick him up; he had driven there himself. He didn¡¯t take his usual Maybach but chose a more low-profile Audi and offered her the passenger seat. This was the first time Xia Siyu was in his car, and she felt slightly uncomfortable. When they were dating back in university, Xia Siyu wore a disguise and no one knew she was the Xia Family¡¯s heiress. Bo Yan was also low-key, never flaunting his Bo Family lineage. They mostly got around on foot, communicated by yelling, and relied on dogs for security. The occasional outing involved public transport or the subway, and they rarely took cabs. By the time they reunited later, she had become a widely popular star, while he was just starting out as the young master of the Bo Family. She already had her own drivers and assistants, and he lacked nothing in terms of service. After getting married, they each had their own transportation. Being celebrities, even shopping on a daily basis was inconvenient, let alone traveling together. Even for family dinners, they arrived separately with no connection to each other. It was only recently, with his shameless persistence and her soft heart, that she had let him draw near. But going shopping meant hitting the stores. If the two of them appeared in a mall, wouldn¡¯t the place instantly grind to a halt? Chapter 322 - Chapter 322: Chapter 322: Masked Kiss (2) Chapter 322: Chapter 322: Masked Kiss (2) Especially when she heard they were going to a restaurant and there would be celebrities present. No matter the occasion, as soon as her sister Xia entered the scene, she had to dazzle everyone! Thus, she was wearing fifteen-centimeter stiletto heel boots today and donned a cocktail dress¡ªsince it was the old man¡¯s birthday, it was not appropriate to dress too seductively, so it was a dress that wasn¡¯t too revealing or too tight, much to her regret. She also applied makeup, though not with dramatic eye shadow or eyeliner, but rather in a more dignified and virtuous style. However, she was naturally a stunning beauty with impactful looks, and makeup only made her shine even brighter. Attending events would be fine, but it was a bit too extravagant for shopping. But Bo Yan had come prepared. He parked the car in the underground garage and then turned to her, ¡°Wait a moment.¡± Xia Siyu nodded, and Bo Yan got out of the car first, opened the trunk, and then took out several large bags. Only then did Xia Siyu realize that Bo Yan had prepared a trench coat in the trunk. The coat was black, long, and could perfectly cover her cocktail dress. There were also a pair of shoes, black sneakers that were exactly her size. He also brought a black baseball cap for her, along with black-framed glasses and a black mask, he even thought of a hair tie. Xia Siyu put on the clothes, fastened the belt, and casually tied her hair up, looking ready to go. Bo Yan, on his part, was also prepared; he wore a grey casual outfit that was loose and hooded. He too pulled the hood over his head. Plain glasses and a mask were also essential, and the clothes, shoes, hood, and glasses indeed concealed her makeup and elegant attire. After changing, indeed no one could recognize his appearance. But Xia Siyu still had to put on shoes. She bent down to pick them up. This wasn¡¯t her usual nanny car with ample space, so it was somewhat difficult for her to bend over. Bo Yan had already changed into the full protective gear on the other side and, seeing her struggling, was a bit speechless: ¡°Let me do it.¡± Xia Siyu paused for a moment, but didn¡¯t object. Some celebrities indeed require assistance even to put on shoes. Xia Siyu, although she often relied on Wei Jingjing¡¯s help, didn¡¯t have any issues taking care of herself in daily life, having grown up abroad after all. But occasionally, when pressed for time, she would ask Wei Jingjing for help. However, Bo Yan, even during the time they were dating, had never done such a thing, so she was somewhat surprised. It¡¯s known that a man, or rather a male animal, would do anything for the right to mate. How come he had been so cold during their past relationship? How cheap! Yet even cheaper moments were to come. Bo Yan held her foot gently and removed her high heels. Some say that a beauty shouldn¡¯t only be judged by the face but by the overall appearance. He felt that if she was a beauty, her feet must also be very attractive. Xia Siyu had well-proportioned bones and was naturally pale-skinned. Apart from having a body that gained weight easily, the parts that should be slim were delicate, and those that should be plump were ample. Her feet weren¡¯t too small nor big, a standard size 37, held in the palm they felt as if made of water, slippery, soft, white, and tender. Bo Yan studied literature in college and had read quite a few books. In some ancient literary works, the male protagonists were foot fetishists. He used to scoff at it; feet are smelly and dirty, what¡¯s there to be obsessed about? But when he actually held Xia Siyu¡¯s foot, he suddenly felt an urge to suckle on those cute toes. Chapter 323 - Chapter 323: Chapter 323: Masked Kiss (3) Chapter 323: Chapter 323: Masked Kiss (3) And it wasn¡¯t just a fleeting thought, in that instant he seemed bewitched, genuinely leaning down and softly kissing her toes. Xia Siyu¡¯s face turned red in an instant, not knowing if it was because this was her sensitive spot, or because no one had ever kissed her toes before. Her whole body shuddered, uncertain if it was from disgust or nervousness. But Xia Siyu was not like those other girls who would just sit there in shock; upon realizing what was happening, her first reaction was to kick and shove him! ¡°Bo Yan you big jerk!¡± Only Bo Yan, having been kicked by her several times before and learning from experience, dodged just a tiny bit. Just that tiny bit, and her foot brushed past his vitals, hitting his lower abdomen. Bo Yan¡¯s abs were very solid, like hitting a soft sandbag, so a kick didn¡¯t even tickle him. But this girl always aimed for his vitals when anything went wrong, a bad habit that needed to be corrected! Otherwise, who knows when she would take him by surprise! Then the next second, Bo Yan grabbed her foot and pulled her towards him, instantly closing the distance again. The space inside the car was cramped. With one foot held by him and the other stuck below, she was pressed against the car seat by his body, unable to move. Especially since she could feel Bo Yan holding her foot, squeezing it hard as if trying to wring out water. The ball of his thumb, slightly pressing with a hint of moisture, lightly slid across the arch of her foot, as if numerous tiny currents were flitting through. At the same time, although his head was tilted at a forty-five-degree angle, his eyes quickly swept over her, one corner of his eye lifting. It was obvious, this vile pervert was seducing her! Xia Siyu immediately got upset, ¡°You big jerk, let go of me!¡± Bo Yan still had something to say, ¡°You really need to fix your habit of kicking people randomly. What if you hit the vitals next time?¡± There wouldn¡¯t be a next time, Xia Siyu¡¯s foot stretched out instantly, and this time she really kicked his vitals. Luckily he was still holding her foot, and the confined space didn¡¯t allow her to use full force, so it wasn¡¯t very painful. She retorted using his own words, ¡°You need to fix your habit of kissing people randomly too!¡± ¡°How am I kissing people randomly when you¡¯re the only one I¡¯m kissing?¡± Bo Yan immediately countered. While speaking, he leaned in, intending to be mischievous, but Xia Siyu¡¯s duckbill cap brim blocked him. Both Bo Yan and Xia Siyu were stunned for a moment, he hadn¡¯t expected that his intent to kiss her would be thwarted by a duckbill cap. He attempted to move forward once more, this time deliberately lowering his head, determined to kiss her. But Xia Siyu pulled down the brim of her cap, and once again his forehead knocked against it. Bo Yan frowned slightly; meanwhile, Xia Siyu was smirking triumphantly on the other side, her little expression showing off. Bo Yan simply flipped off her cap and threw it away, now who could stop him? When he approached once more, Xia Siyu was quick and simply pulled down her mask, and Bo Yan¡¯s kiss landed firmly on the mask. Bo Yan paused for a moment, then drew back slightly, a small frown forming between his brows. Xia Siyu was particularly smug, wearing her mask and still smiling at Bo Yan. Even though the mask covered most of her expression, it was evident that her eyes were curved into crescents, as if to say: Let¡¯s see what you can do now! Unexpectedly, the next second, Bo Yan, knowing full well it was her mask, kissed it anyway. Right on her mask. Chapter 324 - Chapter 324: Chapter 324: Masked Kiss (4) Chapter 324: Chapter 324: Masked Kiss (4) Xia Siyu had kissed many times before, but this was definitely a novel experience with a mask on. Perhaps Bo Yan knew it was a mask, so he was especially invested. Through a layer of meltblown fabric, he tenderly and delicately suckled at the other end. With his gentleness, he patiently traced the shape of her lips. Fortunately, the mask had just been taken out, so it wasn¡¯t dirty. Through the mask, Bo Yan¡¯s warmth, humidity, and strength all came through. Especially since wearing a mask already made breathing not very smooth, his closeness directly gave her a feeling of nearly suffocating. After that kiss, Xia Siyu was breathing heavily. While she was still in a daze, Bo Yan took off her mask, and the next second, he silenced her completely. The previous kiss, though through the mask and somewhat refreshing, felt a bit stuffy. This time, Bo Yan took advantage of her lack of realization to deepen the kiss gradually. He wasn¡¯t in a hurry, and fearing her resistance, he savored it, painstakingly savored it. Perhaps it was because he was too gentle, or maybe because her head was still a bit dizzy, leaving her without the strength to stop him. Maybe it was because he looked good, and his skills were decent. More likely¡ªit was out of habit. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t firmly push him away, and even if she tried, her effort was faint, more like an inviting gesture of coyness. Bo Yan hesitated for a long time before finally releasing her. Afterward, both were panting. But Xia Siyu lived up to her name; even though his recent advances had made her gradually accustomed to his kisses, she was still annoyed, ¡°Bo Yan, you jerk, you just kissed my foot!¡± To kiss her with the same mouth that had kissed her foot, to death with you! Perhaps even Xia Siyu hadn¡¯t realized it, but when Bo Yan kissed her before, her first reaction was: to death with this pervert. Now, after being kissed by Bo Yan, although she was still disgusted, her greatest disgust was: that jerk actually kissed her foot before kissing her! Disgusting! Even if she had just showered before going out, even if he had wiped the mask, in her mind, feet were still dirtier than hands. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t realize it, but Bo Yan keenly did. He still feigned ignorance, ¡°It¡¯s not dirty.¡± He even raised his head and cradled her foot in his arms as if to warm it with his body temperature, ¡°It¡¯s really not dirty.¡± Perhaps because she was annoyed by his kiss, or maybe because when his fingers gripped her foot, the rough texture of his palm seemed to bring a different kind of touch that startled her, she struggled fiercely. In her struggle, her foot hit his vital spot again. ¡°Ugh!¡± Bo Yan grunted and finally let go. Xia Siyu quickly moved back, hurriedly put on her flats without even tying the laces, and turned to look: Bo Yan had shrunk into a corner of the driver¡¯s seat, huddled into a small ball. Such a big man, curled up with his back to her, looked somewhat pitiful and funny. Xia Siyu did know that her kick had hit him, and in her panic, she definitely used some force. Even if it wasn¡¯t full strength, it must have hurt at such a close range. But she still stubbornly refused to admit it, ¡°Serves you right for bullying people!¡± Bo Yan didn¡¯t respond for a long time, not even changing his position, evidently in a lot of pain. Chapter 325 - Chapter 325: Chapter 325: Masked Kiss (5) Chapter 325: Chapter 325: Masked Kiss (5) Xia Siyu waited for a while, but Bo Yan didn¡¯t move. She felt a bit guilty herself, but her tone was still very strong, ¡°Hey, are you pretending again? Is it broken? Hey, Bo Yan? Bo Yan?¡± She called out for quite a while before Bo Yan leisurely turned around. Xia Siyu saw that his temples were sweaty and his face was a bit pale. She immediately perked up again, wearing the face of a victim, ¡°See if you¡¯ll dare to bully me like that again!¡± Bo Yan turned around angrily, ¡°Xia Siyu, I¡¯m warning you, if you really kicked me hard enough to break something, I won¡¯t punish you, and I won¡¯t sue you in court. I¡¯ll just never divorce you, making you spend your whole life as my sister! You want to leave me? No chance!¡± Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t intimidated by his threats, she immediately retorted, ¡°If you become a eunuch and still refuse to divorce, I¡¯ll go out and cheat on you. I¡¯ll turn your head into a vast green pasture!¡± ¡°You wouldn¡¯t dare!¡± Bo Yan was instantly furious. ¡°You think I wouldn¡¯t?¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s temper flared in an instant, and she immediately began puffing out her small chest. The two glared at each other for quite a while. Xia Siyu¡¯s momentum didn¡¯t wane, but she glanced at his lower half, ¡°You¡¯re standing straight now, it doesn¡¯t hurt anymore, right?¡± This smartass had even taken note of his posture, which made Bo Yan laugh despite his annoyance. She was clearly at a disadvantage, yet she acted all high and mighty, ready to argue with him. Did she not know that at this very moment, he could easily press her against the chair back and kiss her until she cried? Pity that they didn¡¯t have enough time, otherwise he would have definitely spanked her thoroughly, to set the marital record straight. But at this moment, all he did was lean over, bow his head, tie her shoelaces, then placed the duckbill cap he had removed earlier to kiss her more easily back on her head. Also, he pulled up her face mask and fit it snugly on her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, my parts aren¡¯t broken yet, so you won¡¯t have the chance to cheat on me because I became a eunuch. My parts are fine and ready for you to use.¡± ¡°Who wants to use it! Get lost!¡± Xia Siyu pushed him away angrily and stepped out of the car first. Bo Yan wasn¡¯t in a hurry. He watched her stomp her feet in anger. While she made a fuss, he smiled. After a moment, Bo Yan also got out of the car, and they went upstairs together. The place they arrived at was Yancheng¡¯s most high-end shopping center, housing many luxury brand stores. Such a place was convenient for buying gifts for young people, children, or even regular elders. However, for someone like Elder Bo, who was in his eighties and had seen all kinds of storms, there were few things he hadn¡¯t seen. A young, fashionable place filled with luxury goods might not catch his eye. But the destination Bo Yan had in mind wasn¡¯t this shopping mall, but rather an unassuming Tea City behind the mall. The elder indeed didn¡¯t care for luxuries, but he enjoyed drinking tea. Bo Yan had asked her to come not to pick out a dress or a watch, but to buy a tea set. The moment Xia Siyu walked in the store, she asked the shopkeeper, ¡°I want to buy the biggest and most expensive item in your store!¡± The shopkeeper was taken aback, ¡°The biggest and most expensive?¡± Xia Siyu raised her small chin, ¡°What, is it not for sale?¡± The shopkeeper shook his head and then glanced at Bo Yan, ¡°It¡¯s not that, it¡¯s just¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s him!¡± Xia Siyu decided on the spot, turning back to ask Bo Yan, ¡°You¡¯re not going to be stingy and refuse to pay, are you?¡± An hour later, the shopkeeper¡¯s van followed Bo Yan¡¯s Audi to the venue. Bo Yan had specifically called several security guards to help move, ¡°This is the biggest and most expensive item in our store.¡± Chapter 326 - Chapter 326: Chapter 326: Masked Kiss (6) Chapter 326: Chapter 326: Masked Kiss (6) The object, covered in red cloth, was two meters tall and had a diameter of one meter wide. Judging by the way several security guards strained to move it, it must have been very heavy. The object entered through the back door of the Yancheng Hotel. When it arrived, someone specifically requested a huge kitchen trolley designed for moving goods. Using the largest freight elevator, it was barely transported to the venue. At the venue, with half an hour left before the banquet started, many guests had already arrived. Fortunately, Bo Yan and Xia Siyu took the service corridor, because if they had entered through the main entrance and walked the red carpet, considering their current status in the entertainment industry, it¡¯s likely that the traffic at the front door would have been paralyzed within minutes. When the object was finally delivered, Bo Yan paid the fee and the freight charge, and the item was brought up to the floor. The security guards continued to push the object forward. Although it was covered with a red cloth, its large size couldn¡¯t be completely concealed; it appeared to be a very large piece of wood. Bo Yan instructed the security guards to push the object into the live event area. On the way, a crowd of onlookers were amazed, but Bo Yan was not in the mood to deal with them. Instead, he turned his head, ¡°Will you attend with me or not?¡± Xia Siyu pondered for a moment, ¡°Better not, let¡¯s stick to the old rules.¡± ¡°The old rules¡± were that she wouldn¡¯t attend with him, not presenting herself as the Bo Family¡¯s daughter-in-law, nor interfering with the Xia Family¡¯s affairs. Bo Yan nodded. Sometimes, going public with such matters wasn¡¯t solely their own decision to make. Behind them stood two major talent agencies with teams of over a hundred people revolving around the two of them. They could go public on a whim for the sake of happiness, but it would be very unprofessional and irresponsible not to notify their teams beforehand. A reckless disclosure could have a significant impact on both their commercial endorsements, their personal brand value, film and television invitations, variety show engagements, and the agencies that managed them. Once they¡¯d turned themselves into commodities to be scrutinized and commented on, they needed to be prepared to sacrifice certain aspects of their personal lives. If Xia Siyu loved him, he would claim her even at the cost of offending the entire industry and wouldn¡¯t let her suffer the slanders of fans. But since she was not willing, he wouldn¡¯t force her. Moreover, just as they stepped out of the elevator, Xia Siyu¡¯s phone rang. She glanced at the sender, hesitated for a moment, then turned around, ¡°I¡¯ll go deal with something on my end first.¡± Her ¡°end¡± naturally referred to: her father Xia Youbiao, her brother Xia Ju¡¯an, and her dear sister Xia Sicai. Bo Yan nodded, and the two parted ways in the vicinity of the service kitchen. Before getting out of the car, Xia Siyu had already switched her sneakers for high heels. After parting with Bo Yan and turning a corner, she untied her trench coat¡¯s belt, tore off the coat, pulled up the hood, and yanked off the mask, casually tossing it into a trash bin. With one hand holding her trench coat and hood, and the other pulling off her hair tie, she threaded her fingers through her dark hair, casually flinging it about. Without the need for makeup or additional color, Xia Siyu at that moment was the domineering ¡®big sister¡¯ often captured by the paparazzi: tall, with an indifferent expression, a commanding aura, as if answering a battle cry, a warrior heading off to war, she strode confidently in her high heels across the hotel¡¯s red carpet, arriving in front of the Xia Family¡¯s resting room. Inside, there were faint voices speaking. She could make out the slightly weary voice of a middle-aged man, as well as a young woman¡¯s voice tinged with resilience and mirth. There was also a young man¡¯s voice chiming in occasionally. But the content of the discussion seemed to be related to her. Chapter 327 - Chapter 327: Chapter 327 Family (1) Chapter 327: Chapter 327 Family (1) Xia Siyu originally had no interest in the affairs of the Xia Family; no matter how they were churned, they would not catch her eye or enter her heart. It began with Xia Sicai¡¯s voice: ¡°¡­ Dad, there¡¯s no need to force her to sit at the main table. In fact, whether the Bo Family acknowledges her is another matter.¡± ¡°How could they not acknowledge her? The marriage between her and Bo Yan was arranged by both parents, and they have a legitimate marriage certificate from the civil affairs bureau, protected by the state law. They are not acknowledging it publicly now only because of their status, which makes it inconvenient to reveal. If Bo Yan dares not to recognize her, to not let her sit at the main table, I won¡¯t care about anything else. I will make sure Old Master Bo gives Siyu an explanation!¡± Standing outside the door, Xia Siyu got the gist of the situation; it was her father, Xia Youbiao, who wanted her to sit at Bo Yan¡¯s table. He saw this as an opportunity for Bo Yan to formally introduce her identity to the public: She wasn¡¯t some scandal-ridden, talentless vase; she was the precious daughter of the Xia Family, the daughter-in-law of the Bo Family! However, her dear sister, Xia Sicai, obviously didn¡¯t share this view: ¡°Dad, I helped Ayi organize this birthday feast, and they didn¡¯t let her go on stage, didn¡¯t arrange her introduction or her place.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t we add that now? What¡¯s wrong with saying one more sentence? Aren¡¯t you her sister? Can¡¯t you think a little for her benefit?¡± Xia Youbiao clearly was a bit defiant. He had learned from experience. When he married Xia Siyu¡¯s mother, Wen Qunxiao, he was cautious of her actress status and her reputation and did not publicize it. This hesitance had planted the seeds of trouble. If he had known, he would have proclaimed her as his wife, the daughter-in-law of the Xia Family, from the start. Then she would not have taken the child and left for overseas. Xia Sicai was still trying to convince him: ¡°Dad, as you said, she and Bo Yan both have their own considerations. They are adults now, and since they haven¡¯t mentioned it themselves, it obviously isn¡¯t the right time yet. You also know they are celebrities now; if we disclose it casually, they might lose their work.¡± Xia Youbiao was now unhappy: ¡°If she doesn¡¯t work, then she doesn¡¯t work. I can support her! And if that Bo Yan kid dares to wrong her, I¡¯ll go and twist his head off to vent her anger!¡± If it weren¡¯t for Xia Siyu¡¯s determination to become a star, if she hadn¡¯t refused to let her family interfere with her work and life, he would have stepped in to handle even the dirtiest scandals. Now, Xia Siyu was no longer like that. When she first debuted, many bosses behind the scenes wanted to take advantage of her. Xia Youbiao saw it and worried, protecting her from many disasters. But this girl, just like her mother, had a stubborn temperament. Unless Bo Yan and the Bo Family took a stand, she would never bow her head, nor would she take the initiative to accommodate. Xia Sicai glanced at her brother, Xia Ju¡¯an, who also felt that Xia Sicai was somewhat biased, but the birthday banquet was about to start, and their quarreling wouldn¡¯t help. Between his mother and sister on one side, and his father and younger sister on the other, he could only play the peacemaker. ¡°Dad, Sicai has some points too. For example, publicizing this matter should be discussed with Bo Yan. Sometimes it¡¯s not about the relationship, but really about work. They both have management teams behind them; we can¡¯t make things difficult for those people.¡± He calmed him with these words, then suggested: ¡°Otherwise, let¡¯s have Siyu sit at our table.¡± Her relationship with Bo Yan was not suitable for public disclosure, after all, marital issues are a big deal in the entertainment industry. But revealing her identity as the precious daughter of the Xia Family would be all benefit and no harm. Chapter 328 - Chapter 328: Chapter 328 Family (2) Chapter 328: Chapter 328 Family (2) Many of the issues surrounding Xia Siyu, such as her being labeled a ¡°gold digger¡± and accused of ¡°fishing for wealthy men,¡± ultimately boil down to her ¡°grassroots¡± status. Although the entertainment industry today isn¡¯t like it was twenty years ago, where stars desperately aimed to marry into wealthy families, affluent households still remain the top choice for many celebrities. Even though the profession of celebrity is already among the high-salary industries, and despite salary caps, starring in a variety show can bring in several million, or tens of millions, and filming a movie can earn tens of millions. This is income that ordinary people could hardly dream of earning in their whole lifetime through hard work. However, compared to the true ¨¦lite with their fortunes of tens of billions, even ten top-ranked celebrities together wouldn¡¯t match up. Xia Siyu had already become a top star, whose commercial value, though occasionally fluctuating due to her controversial news, was undoubtedly among the most profitable. Yet, because of her ¡°grassroots¡± background, there were still those who enjoyed slapping the label of ¡°gold digger¡± onto her. Little did they know, the unanimously perceived gold digger across China was in fact the legitimate heiress of the Xia Family. Even if she never fought for anything or acted in movies, Xia Youbiao would ensure she had enough wealth to last three lifetimes. What others desperately tried to display on their faces, Xia Siyu simply threw away. What did the Xia Family¡¯s wealth have to do with her? Although she had never suffered considerable hardships as a child¡ªher mother could have provided a prosperous and carefree life as a dancer and movie star even without marrying Xia Youbiao¡ªher upbringing could still have been comfortable and secure. Thus, her mother always emphasized to her: all those are illusory, given by others. And as long as you rely on others, you will have to compromise and follow their lead. True independence is when you earn money with your own hands, only then do you have the right to do as you please. Her approach to choosing a partner followed the same philosophy. At the time, although Bo Yan was an enviable college heartthrob, he never flaunted his status as the young master of the Bo Family and remained very low-profile. She had no idea he belonged to the Bo Family, and he didn¡¯t know she was the youngest daughter of the Xia Family. Because they desired nothing from each other and did not blindly follow, her love and hatred were exceptionally frank. She would repay those who were kind to her twice over. Those who dared to stab her in the back, she couldn¡¯t play the two-faced game either¡ªshe¡¯d confront them directly! For years, when faced with the world¡¯s malice, if it didn¡¯t affect her life, she would treat it as nothing more than a fart and ignore it. But if anyone dared to provoke her directly, Bo Yan would not hesitate to fight back! For Xia Youbiao, the secret marriage between Bo Yan and Xia Siyu, while referencing a bad precedent, was ultimately the children¡¯s own affair. They didn¡¯t want to make it public, and there was no use in him, as their elderly father, being anxious about it. But to acknowledge his daughter openly and let her bask proudly in his affection, he would, of course, be delighted! Xia Youbiao immediately nodded, ¡°Good, that¡¯s very good. If she doesn¡¯t feel comfortable sitting at the main table, she can join me.¡± However, Xia Sicai wasn¡¯t quite pleased with that, ¡°Dad, mom will be there today too.¡± The ¡°mom¡± she referred to naturally wasn¡¯t Xia Siyu¡¯s mother Wen Qunxiao, but Xia Youbiao¡¯s ex-wife, the mother of Xia Sicai and Xia Ju¡¯an¡ªMadam Tong Min from the Tong Family. Xia Youbiao¡¯s marriage to Madam Tong was also an alliance of families, and compared to the Xia and Bo families, his relationship with the Tong Family was even closer: the Xia Family¡¯s company was originally established jointly by the Xia and Tong families, with the Tong¡¯s as one of the partners. Even though the Xia Family later came to dominate the business, the Tong Family still retained a significant, albeit not overwhelming, position within the company. Xia Youbiao and Madam Tong were childhood sweethearts, but Madam Tong was too domineering, and just a couple of years into the marriage, they divorced due to irreconcilable personalities. Chapter 329 - Chapter 329: Chapter 329 Family (3) Chapter 329: Chapter 329 Family (3) Although they divorced, the Tong Family still wielded power within the company, so Mrs. Tong held a senior position there and owned shares, often participating in the Xia Family¡¯s activities. Because of their two children, she even got involved in the Xia Family¡¯s clan affairs. Furthermore, the elders in the Xia Family had always recognized Mrs. Tong. They believed a couple¡¯s quarrels were common and divorce was merely a rash decision. The children were still there. Their mother would sometimes be invited back by the old Xia patriarch for dinner, or to take the kids out over the weekend. In fact, during the days when Wen Qunxiao wasn¡¯t in China, there was a period when Mrs. Tong even assumed the role of the family matriarch. Of course, all of this was against Xia Youbiao¡¯s wishes. But his reluctance was in vain at that time, as his father was in charge of the household. The family didn¡¯t acknowledge Wen Qunxiao and his marriage, despite its legitimacy. Mrs. Tong, though divorced, always felt that with the children there and the Xia Family¡¯s support, Xia Youbiao would eventually come around. Who would have expected Wen Qunxiao to come along halfway through, enchanting Xia Youbiao, who insisted on marrying her despite his parents¡¯ opposition? Wen Qunxiao¡¯s personality seemed gentle, yet it hid a stubborn streak. Back then, great families still had a hard time accepting actors, often labeling them as ¡°performers.¡± Especially before she met Xia Youbiao, she had dated a scumbag. After that man cheated and they broke up, he spread rumors about her, besmirching her name. Additionally, during that time, something very unpleasant happened that almost completely ruined her reputation. The public opinion was murderous. She had no other way to clear her name and could only watch as her reputation worsened. Like Xia Siyu, she didn¡¯t care much about public opinion, as long as her husband believed her. But she was too naive. Even if Xia Youbiao loved and trusted her, the Xia Family did not believe her or acknowledge her. Her willful personality also led her to discover that Mrs. Tong and her twins were coming between her and Xia Youbiao. Some things, the less they are explained, the further apart the relationship becomes. Even though Xia Youbiao trusted her, he couldn¡¯t abandon his parents and the entire Xia Family for her. In a fit of anger, Wen Qunxiao took their daughter and moved far away to Italy, leaving the industry and thus severing all ties with China. It was only when Xia Siyu was in high school and her health was deteriorating, coupled with another incident, that she was brought back to the country by Xia Youbiao. Even after returning, she refused to live in the Xia Family mansion and set up her own household. Xia Siyu treated everyone else in the Xia Family as strangers. Their virtues or faults were irrelevant to her. She felt both love and resentment towards Xia Youbiao. On the one hand, she knew her father loved her and her mother deeply. But on the other hand, he was too gentle and weak to protect his own wife and daughter. As for Mrs. Tong, sorry, but she was naturally on the opposite side. Influenced by Western thoughts, she simply couldn¡¯t understand Mrs. Tong¡¯s persistent and malicious intentions. On one hand, she never yielded or relented in her marriage, leading to a divorce through her overpowering nature. Yet, after divorce, she still regarded Xia Youbiao and the Xia Family as her possessions, looking down on her mother and her with no reservation. This contempt was absorbed by Xia Sicai. While she couldn¡¯t match her mother¡¯s domineering presence, Xia Siyu could feel it in the way she looked at her, as if it was filled with disdain. Disdain towards her was one thing, but the moment it involved her mother, sorry, she was going to fight! Chapter 330 - Chapter 330: Chapter 330 Family (4) Chapter 330: Chapter 330 Family (4) At the height of the heated discussion inside, Xia Siyu slammed the door open with a ¡°bang.¡± Under the varied gazes of surprise and indifference from the few inside, Xia Siyu marched straight in. Today, she wore a satin cocktail dress with high heels, her almond-shaped eyes slightly narrowed, calmly yet sharply scanning the lounge. In the center sat her father, Xia Youbiao, snuggled up next to him was her sister, Xia Sicai. On the sofa beside them sat her brother, Xia Ju¡¯an. Upon her arrival, Xia Youbiao¡¯s face brightened considerably. Xia Youbiao, in his fifties, looked well-preserved, almost as if he were in his early forties. Free from the potbelly and greasiness of middle-aged men, he had a gentle temperament. Although years of business had toughened him and instilled some cunning, he still maintained a refined and scholarly demeanor. Her brother, Xia Ju¡¯an, sitting aside, seemed pleased to see her but was also very worried about her impending encounter with Mrs. Tong. Only Xia Sicai, upon seeing Xia Siyu, paused in surprise but quickly resumed smiling, ¡°Siyu has arrived.¡± Xia Siyu quietly observed her, unable to fully comprehend the emotions in Xia Sicai¡¯s eyes. She merely felt that her sister always harbored an aloof pity. But now, having fought her way through the entertainment industry, there wasn¡¯t a type of person she hadn¡¯t encountered. Xia Sicai was just an enhanced version of Shang Feifei. Shang Feifei was the type labeled as ¡°green tea,¡± and Xia Sicai with the added glory of family business, would be described in more pleasant terms as extremely versatile. She was scheming and calculating, and perhaps even capable of true love, but all was entangled with the pursuits of interests. How much she had liked Bo Yan back in the day, so much so that she gave up her doctoral studies to return home for him. But as soon as Bo Yi took control of Bosch Corporation and began pursuing her, she was ready to switch sides and engage herself to Bo Yi. She didn¡¯t have such tactics and cunning. Did she and Mrs. Tong truly detest her and her mother that much? Of course, the struggle for Xia Youbiao was a reason. But the deeper cause was that Xia Youbiao and the Xia Family were their stronghold of interests. It was essential for them to defend it, hence the continuous repulsion of outsiders like Xia Siyu and Wen Qunxiao. Now add the Bo Family to the mix. Since she was now married to Bo Yi, she and Bo Yan, in the eyes of that couple, became thorns in their side. Naturally, she hoped Xia Siyu would never gain the recognition of the Xia Family nor be accepted by the Bo Family. What they defended to the death, she saw as insignificant. But considering them insignificant didn¡¯t mean she was willing to be trampled on by them without a fight! ¡ªJust like Bo Yan, he might choose not to compete, but if others thought they could exploit his good nature, sorry, they were sorely mistaken! Eh? Why was she thinking about Bo Yan? Xia Siyu frowned slightly, then smiled faintly, ¡°I just heard that you seemed to be discussing me.¡± Xia Youbiao nodded, ¡°How do you plan to take your seat later?¡± Xia Siyu smiled, striding confidently in her high heels. She approached Xia Youbiao, twistily shoved Xia Sicai aside, and sat down nonchalantly, ¡°How about I sit next to Dad?¡± Xia Sicai stepped back, her smile slightly diminished. Xia Youbiao knew this daughter rarely showed closeness to him, except when her mother was still alive. Other attempts at such closeness meant pushing aside her siblings, but even knowing she had an ulterior motive, he was happy, ¡°Of course, that¡¯s good. But now you¡¯re married to Bo Yan. This is the senior Mr. Bo¡¯s birthday banquet, what about your position with the Bo side?¡± Chapter 331 - Chapter 331: Chapter 331 Family (5) Chapter 331: Chapter 331 Family (5) ¡°Sigh¡­¡± Xia Siyu sighed, deliberately sitting at an angle, and pushed Xia Sicai a bit further away, ¡°Dad, you know the work Bo Yan and I do, there¡¯d be a huge mess if it went public. Who¡¯d have thought I¡¯d be one of the hottest celebrities, right? My biggest problem right now is¡ªtoo much fame. But it doesn¡¯t matter, this morning when he woke up, he told me, he¡¯ll make it up to me when we go back to the old house tonight.¡± Wait, ¡°this morning when he woke up¡±? Xia Siyu emphasized these words, and as expected, several people caught onto it. Xia Sicai asked from the side, ¡°You and Bo Yan?¡± Xia Siyu turned around, her beauty already stunning, and with a smile, she bloomed like a profusion of flowers, ¡°Yes. He¡¯s living with me now. We¡¯ve been sleeping together these past few days.¡± So close by, she noticed that the amusement Xia Sicai had been hiding so well broke through a little more. Damn it, just because I¡¯m usually straight as an arrow, direct in my dealings, they think I can¡¯t play the innocent? I¡¯ve been in the entertainment industry for years. What type of woman haven¡¯t I seen? There are the green tea b*tch types like Shang Feifei, the ones pretending to be rough-and-tumble men like Li Yiru, and those who appear pure on the outside but are dark inside. I¡¯ve just been too lazy to bother. Besides, I¡¯m an actress, playing the green tea b*tch is a breeze. If you b*tch at me, I¡¯ll give it back to you several times over without charging extra! But Xia Sicai¡¯s game is pretty high, she immediately replied, ¡°You and Bo Yan¡­ got closer? But how come I see you constantly having conflicts with him lately, often fighting on Weibo?¡± Xia Siyu nodded as if it were natural, ¡°If we don¡¯t put on an act, can we continue to get endorsements together? I¡¯ve been filming movies and reality shows with him recently, we¡¯ve been getting too close. If we don¡¯t do this, outsiders will guess our relationship.¡± Xia Sicai was still smiling, just that her smile had slightly frozen, ¡°Really? But the Bo Yan I know wouldn¡¯t care if he wasn¡¯t interested. But if he were, he probably wouldn¡¯t hide it.¡± Xia Ju¡¯an finally couldn¡¯t hold back and spoke up, ¡°No, actually Bo Yan values Siyu a lot. At the last luxury brand event, he specially attended, and when someone was being unpleasant to Siyu, he stood up for her. He nearly offended another brand he endorses for this, and didn¡¯t hesitate to do so.¡± Xia Sicai kept on, ¡°But still¡­¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Xia Youbiao stopped the dispute, ¡°Siyu is here, just ask her directly. How does Bo Yan treat you? If he dares to be bad to you, you tell me, I¡¯ll take care of him!¡± When asked this, Xia Siyu¡¯s face flushed faintly red, and she lowered her eyes slightly, unable to utter a word. That expression on her face was clearly one of bashfulness. As married individuals, whether it was Xia Youbiao or Xia Sicai, they knew what Xia Siyu meant by her demeanor. It¡¯s hard to say about other things, but married life was certainly harmonious. Xia Sicai was a little surprised. When she had been pursuing Bo Yan, she had seen countless young girls throwing themselves at him, but had never seen Bo Yan give any of them a kind face. As for herself, although their families had been friends for generations, Bo Yan was only polite to her. But that was all. She had pride in her social status and had always radiated goodwill around Bo Yan, thinking that if he were interested in her, he should catch the hints. Isn¡¯t that how adult relationships worked? Sometimes it wasn¡¯t about passionate love; it was about letting things happen naturally. But Bo Yan had truly shown no reaction at all. Chapter 332 - Chapter 332: Chapter 332 Family (6) Chapter 332: Chapter 332 Family (6) She was not content. Although she had never been as dazzling as Xia Siyu, she was top-notch in every aspect¡ªlooks, talent, family background, personality. Yet, she had hit a wall when it came to Bo Yan. The only consolation was that Bo Yan was indifferent not only to her but to all women, especially that Wu Di. With her, he was slightly better, but she did not know if this slight favor was because she was the daughter of the Xia Family or because she knew her boundaries, at least not pestering him like Wu Di did. Later, when Bo Yan joined the entertainment circle against his family¡¯s wishes, Bo Yi pursued her. Assessing the situation, she chose Bo Yi. She thought she had made the right decision, only to find out that Bo Yan had registered for marriage with Xia Siyu. Xia Sicai could not believe her ears when she heard the news! Of course, she knew that the marriage between Bo Yan and Xia Siyu was arranged by their families. The family had always favored her and Bo Yan, but when she chose Bo Yi, the Xia Family felt they owed Bo Yan and so they introduced Xia Siyu to him. The two of them should have been strangers just meeting to get married, clearly lacking in affection. Over the following three years, she and Bo Yi, Xia Siyu and Bo Yan, both couples exemplified the term ¡°in name only.¡± At this year¡¯s New Year¡¯s reunion banquet, the two of them still gave each other the cold shoulder. Just a few months later, Bo Yan and Xia Siyu were close. Xia Sicai paid close attention to the relationship between Bo Yan and Xia Siyu, driven not merely by jealousy but also by deeper considerations. Although Bosch Corporation was doing well, they occasionally still needed Bo Yan¡¯s influence. One Bo Yan they could handle, but add Xia Siyu to the mix? No matter what her reputation, Xia Siyu was a top star, indisputably so, ranking among the top five money makers in Forbes¡¯s artist list for six consecutive years, the advertising queen beloved by countless brands. A single film could bring in tens of millions, a variety show ten million, a product endorsement tens of millions. Together with Bo Yan¡¯s considerable influence, charisma, and money-making power. Now they were just artists, but if they were to start their own studio or invest in a film company and take dividends, their net worth could rocket to billions overnight. An artist¡¯s career can¡¯t last a lifetime, but Bosch Corporation can last forever. When the time comes, will the old man still hand over the company to Bo Yi? While Xia Sicai had her considerations, Xia Youbiao was beaming with pride. Among his three children, only Xia Siyu was the most troublesome and his greatest concern. She was too beautiful and too straightforward, making him always worry about someone targeting her in the entertainment industry. Bo Yan would be a good place for her, but since there had been no spark between them, he had been anxious. But now there was no need to worry. The most critical aspect of a harmonious marriage is a healthy sex life. Xia Youbiao was relieved that her relationship with Bo Yan had improved on the one hand, but on the other, he was annoyed that his precious daughter was taken by a boor. Even if the boor was somewhat handsome, he was still a boor¡­ ¡°If he doesn¡¯t treat you well, feel free to deal with him!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Dad. I¡¯ll hit him.¡± She had slapped him today and thrown numerous punches, most importantly, a swift kick to his ¡°parts.¡± Xia Youbiao was still looking at Xia Siyu, as he needed her to unblock him from the blacklist on her WeChat before he felt satisfied. It was a tale of tears¡ªXia Youbiao had been blacklisted by his own dear daughter for nearly half a year, now having to beg her to lift it. After the conversation ended, the banquet was about to begin, and a knock came at the door, ¡°Ready yet? My dear wife.¡± Chapter 333 - Chapter 333: Chapter 333: Wife (1) Chapter 333: Chapter 333: Wife (1) The moment she heard this, Xia Sicai¡¯s expression in the room shifted from cloudy to sunny. The owner of the voice was Bo Yi. The door swung open quickly. He was dressed in a silver suit that matched perfectly with Xia Sicai. Last time, during the car race with Bo Yan, he had fractured his forearm, and in order not to affect his daily work, he had undergone surgery to insert a steel plate. Now, with the jacket on, one simply couldn¡¯t tell there was a wound underneath. When Bo Yi first came in, he was unconsciously captivated by Xia Siyu, astounded for a moment. But very soon, his gaze shifted to Xia Sicai, and his smile broadened, ¡°You¡¯re really here. The banquet is about to begin, let¡¯s go together.¡± Xia Sicai smiled too. Indeed, having chosen Bo Yi, she ought to let go of her feelings for Bo Yan. To her, Bo Yan was her uncle by marriage, her sister¡¯s husband, and also a competitor of both her and her husband. Besides, Bo Yi truly treated her well, earnest and ambitious, and disregarded other women completely; she should cherish that. She carefully hooked her arm through Bo Yi¡¯s, being mindful not to put any strain on his wrist. Bo Yi felt her care and gave Xia Sicai a tender look. Such tenderness, something Bo Yan could never give her. Even if she felt she was exceptional, in front of Bo Yan, there was always a sense of an unmovable iceberg. ¡ªTherefore, she didn¡¯t believe what Xia Siyu said, Bo Yan wasn¡¯t a man who could be easily swayed. Nor could he be the type to indulge in beauty. There were so many beauties in the entertainment industry that he could meet, how could it be that he ignored Xia Siyu for three years after marriage, only to suddenly become inseparable after three years? Although he was more worried about his younger daughter, Xia Youbiao also loved Xia Sicai dearly, and he asked his son-in-law, ¡°Ayi, I heard you had a car accident recently.¡± Upon recalling the accident, Bo Yi¡¯s smile tightened slightly on his face. But he soon smiled again, ¡°Yeah, a minor issue, not a big deal.¡± With difficulty, he raised his arm, ¡°After all, I have Sicai taking care of me. She has been a big help to me with organizing today¡¯s banquet, which dad entrusted to me.¡± Xia Sicai smiled, ¡°Between husband and wife, it¡¯s only natural to help each other.¡± Bo Yi did not speak, just placed his other good hand gently atop hers. This closeness between husband and wife did not need another word to express. Seeing Bo Yi¡¯s behavior, Xia Youbiao knew he was indeed good to his daughter. Bo Yi then turned back, ¡°The banquet is about to start, shall dad and Ju¡¯an come with us?¡± He glanced at Xia Siyu, hesitated for a moment, but also said politely, ¡°You too.¡± Xia Siyu did not respond to him, but Xia Sicai, as if to show off or provoke, deliberately said, ¡°Just now, Siyu said she and Bo Yan are in a good relationship, although they can¡¯t sit together at the banquet, they¡¯re both thinking of each other.¡± Bo Yi looked curious, ¡°Really didn¡¯t notice that.¡± Did you hear that? The thing about marital affection, it¡¯s not like if you say you have a good relationship, then it is actually good. In this circle, it¡¯s common for couples to be indifferent toward each other, apparently in name only, yet they would show off their love in public during important events. Xia Siyu thought that by casually uttering a few sentences, she would make Sicai feel uncomfortable. She thought too much! Xia Sicai still smiled, deliberately jabbing at her, ¡°Indeed, Siyu was saying, she and Bo Yan live together, and that they even got up together this morning.¡± No sooner had these words fallen, a man at the door responded, ¡°She¡¯s not wrong.¡± It was Bo Yan. Chapter 334 - Chapter 334: Chapter 334: Wife (2) Chapter 334: Chapter 334: Wife (2) Bo Yan¡¯s arrival caused everyone in the room to pause for a moment. He had changed back into a suit, a crisp black one, and his hair, slightly disheveled from their earlier kiss in the car, added a touch of rebellious charm. The disarray had a certain handsome appeal to it. He stood at the doorway, slightly turned aside. After finishing his sentence, he looked up a little and his gaze found Xia Siyu in the hall. Although there was no smile on his face, his tone was gentle, ¡°It wasn¡¯t just getting up together, we also picked out gifts and came here together. Right, wife?¡± The last word¡¯s inflection rose slightly, and when combined with his deep, resonant voice, it lingered pleasantly. Paired with his peach blossom eyes, it conveyed a sense of passion and depth. Xia Siyu, momentarily startled, quickly came to her senses, walking over in high heels. As she passed by Xia Sicai, her shoulder brushed hers like a light breeze. Then she reached Bo Yan¡¯s side and, extending her arm and swaying her hips, she draped herself over his shoulder, her compliant murmuring tinged with complaint: ¡°Why did you just come now? I¡¯ve been waiting for you for so long~~¡± Showing off affection takes two hands to clap. One to set the stage, and the other to perform. Otherwise, Xia Siyu¡¯s splendid performance would just move herself, not even coming close to Bo Yan¡¯s simple ¡°wife.¡± If she needed to act the innocent girl, to be sly, who was she afraid of? Shang Feifei might be a celebrated actress, but even she couldn¡¯t outperform her! Her statement brought a variety of interesting expressions to the faces of the others in the room. Xia Youbiao was happy, Bo Yi puzzled, and Xia Sicai¡¯s smile was stiff. Xia Ju¡¯an, slightly tugged at the corner of his mouth. His ¡°wife¡± had already put on a good show, and he needed to offer her a ladder, or he couldn¡¯t justify his own role. So, Bo Yan extended his arm, gently encircling Xia Siyu¡¯s slender waist, pulling her closer: ¡°There were many things earlier.¡± It resembled the scenario of a busy magnate finally taking the time to pamper his delicate little wife. However, when he wrapped his arm around Xia Siyu¡¯s waist, she shuddered slightly, a chill running through her. But within moments, she had to pretend to smile coyly, ¡°Bosch won¡¯t be under your control in the future; why are you so concerned? Let big brother manage it. You should spend more time with me.¡± As she spoke in a feigned, fragile voice, it made Xia Siyu nearly nauseated to hear herself. But Xia Siyu herself didn¡¯t realize that, although her words were offhand, they actually revealed Bo Family¡¯s disregard for Bo Yan¡¯s dissatisfaction. If Bosch was to be handed over to Bo Yi, then it had nothing to do with Bo Yan¡ªthey should use his name less! Bo Yan¡¯s eyes slightly narrowed, clearly catching on, and with an air of enjoyment, he leaned in to kiss the corner of her lips: ¡°You¡¯re right. From now on, I will be with you every day. I hope the next banquet is for our child¡¯s full-moon celebration. We must make it even more grand than this one.¡± He was intentionally provocative¡ªsince Bo Yi and Xia Sicai were hosting this banquet, he just had to outshine them. Xia Siyu felt goosebumps all over¡ªthough her face held a smile, her eyes shifted to Bo Yan, and in the lowest whisper, she gritted out: ¡°Hey, we¡¯re just pretending here. That¡¯s enough, no need to be so heartfelt and realistic.¡± Feigning ignorance, Bo Yan indulged her, caressing her disheveled hair: ¡°What did you say? Wife?¡± Chapter 335 - Chapter 335: Chapter 335: Wife (3) Chapter 335: Chapter 335: Wife (3) ¡°` The two of them stared face to face, but although Xia Siyu had a smile on her face, her eyes were full of daggers. Bo Yan¡¯s mouth was curved into a smile, and there was a leisurely determination in his gaze. True to his actor origins, he could put on a show of affection like no other. Xia Youbiao was fooled by it, and he even laughed, ¡°Really? You two want to throw a full-month celebration?¡± Speaking of a full-month celebration, it certainly meant having a baby. A baby isn¡¯t conceived by some miracle, so it must be the result of the hard work between husband and wife. As for that process of creation¡­ Bo Yan was dead serious. Perhaps because he usually appeared so cold and icy, his words now seemed extremely solemn, ¡°Hmm, I¡¯m in the midst of trying.¡± And by trying, he indeed meant he was trying to sleep with her, no errors there. Xia Siyu was furious. But since they were in front of Xia Sicai, she couldn¡¯t expose him right away, so she could only say indignantly, ¡°Who wants to have a child with you!¡± Unexpectedly, Bo Yan responded at once, with a soothing tone as if coaxing a child, ¡°Okay, if you don¡¯t want a child, then we won¡¯t have one. Having a little brat would indeed be like having a lightbulb around, let¡¯s enjoy a few more years of just the two of us.¡± She didn¡¯t mean she wanted to experience ¡®just the two of us¡¯, she just didn¡¯t want to go through the process of making a baby with him. Xia Siyu wanted to retort, but Xia Youbiao came up with the words of an old father, ¡°It¡¯s fine for young people to want to play around for a few more years. Anyway, with advanced medicine nowadays, you can have a child whenever you want. I know you are both artists, and having a child can interrupt work, you don¡¯t have to worry about me, I won¡¯t rush you to have one. As long as you two are happy, Dad will be happy.¡± ¡°Dad, I¡­¡± Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t hold it in any longer and immediately turned around to object. But she had only said two words when Bo Yan pulled her back, still smiling, ¡°When do big brother and sister-in-law plan to have kids?¡± The mention of Xia Sicai made Xia Siyu bristle, and although she had intended to leave, she continued to stay by Bo Yan¡¯s side. Bo Yi turned his head to look at Xia Sicai, who was also looking at him, ¡°Of course. Let it be natural, we don¡¯t have as many concerns as you do when it comes to having children. Though it indeed affects work, as long as we manage our time well, it¡¯s not a problem.¡± A single sentence from Sicai also reminded Bo Yi. He immediately started to retaliate, ¡°Bo Yan, since when have you and Siyu become so close? During New Year¡¯s, you two barely interacted.¡± Bo Yan remained calm, ¡°At that time¡­ There wasn¡¯t enough time to understand each other.¡± Married for three years and still no time to understand each other? And then suddenly making a leap in just half a year? Who are you kidding? Bo Yan continued to narrate colorfully, ¡°Then I was filming a movie, and she just happened to play the female lead. We also shot a variety show, and just so happened to share a room. For three or four months, we were together day and night, living under the same roof.¡± Bo Yi couldn¡¯t help but add, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you two fell in love over time.¡± Bo Yan considered it carefully; if ¡°day¡± were a verb, it seemed there was no mistake in that statement. But Xia Siyu certainly wouldn¡¯t be pleased. He thought for a moment and said firmly, ¡°Nonsense, I¡¯m not so superficial. It¡¯s lust at first sight.¡± Is there even a difference? As the time for the banquet was nearing, Bo Yi didn¡¯t have the leisure to banter anymore, and pulling Sicai along, prepared to leave. He had just taken a couple of steps when Bo Yan called out, ¡°Wait a moment.¡± Bo Yi paused in his step, his brows slightly furrowed, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°` Chapter 336 - Chapter 336: Chapter 336: Wife (4) Chapter 336: Chapter 336: Wife (4) Bo Yan glanced at him nonchalantly and spread his hands in front of him, ¡°Last time you said you¡¯d give me the Patek Philippe couple¡¯s watches worth eight million, but you still haven¡¯t. When can you make good on your promise? You¡¯re about to inherit Bosch; such a little amount of money shouldn¡¯t be hard to give, right?¡± Bo Yi¡¯s temples throbbed, Bo Yan just so boldly blocked his way, sticking out his hand asking for money. After a long while, he gritted his teeth and said, ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll buy it for you. The Patek Philippe New Era couple¡¯s watch, right? It¡¯s not easy to get, it¡¯ll take me some time.¡± Bo Yan let out an ¡°Oh¡±: ¡°Actually, it doesn¡¯t need to be that troublesome. You can just give me the cash.¡± He even explained, ¡°Cash is more cost-effective. This model is limited edition, and probably isn¡¯t available anymore, a brand-new one in the second-hand market would cost an extra two million to buy, that¡¯s ten million in total.¡±, he said with a face full of earnestness: ¡°I¡¯m just trying to save you money.¡± What saving money, that¡¯s blatant extortion! Xia Siyu was even quicker, directly pulling out her phone: ¡°Just transfer it to me, send it to my online bank account.¡± Everyone who sees this gets a share! She didn¡¯t care how Bo Yan was robbing him, she saw it, she wanted in too! Even though she wasn¡¯t short of money, who wouldn¡¯t want money that comes without effort? And it was by extorting Xia Sicai, no less, she was all the more righteous in doing so! Bo Yan watched as she took out her phone and did not stop her, but the couple standing at the door made it clear, no money, no leaving! Bo Yi¡¯s temples thudded loudly, Xia Sicai turned his head to ask him, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Bo Yi was too embarrassed to say that he lost a race, and even lost face in front of Boss Chen and his subordinates. What kind of man would want to disclose such things? He could only say that he had a minor motorcycle accident and injured his hand bone. He then gritted his teeth and said: ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll transfer it.¡± Bo Yan actually stood aside, waiting to see him transfer money to Xia Siyu. Even after the transfer, he was not reassured; what if he recalled the transaction halfway? Only when the bank card received the money and Xia Siyu was all smiles, did he put on a smile and say, ¡°Then thank you, brother. I wish you and sister-in-law a hundred years of happiness and to grow old together.¡± Bo Yi clenched his teeth, ¡°Bless your kind words.¡± Bo Yan had an as-it-should-be expression, ¡°Of course, we¡¯re all brothers here.¡± Bo Yi was cornered into paying the ransom. Originally, he was high-spirited today, as the old man had handed Bosch over to his father, which pretty much meant handing it to him as well, and he had a lovely wife by his side, so life was at its peak. The cold splash from Bo Yan and Xia Siyu¡¯s mixed doubles hadn¡¯t even settled before the banquet started and he was swindled out of eight million. He cast a dark glance at Bo Yan and lifted his leg to leave the room. Xia Sicai glanced at Bo Yan, then at Xia Siyu, and followed her husband out the door. As soon as they left, Xia Siyu sprang up like an arrow, distancing herself one meter from Bo Yan, the previously feigned tenderness dissipating instantly. Bo Yan didn¡¯t mind, ¡°I¡¯ll go ahead then.¡± Xia Siyu hummed in response, not following, clearly indicating the so-called ¡°marital affection¡± was just for show. But since they were both actors, they performed more convincingly than others. But before Bo Yan left, he didn¡¯t forget to look back at Xia Siyu, ¡°Four million, I want half.¡± Was this the start of splitting the loot? Xia Youbiao and Xia Ju¡¯an were still around, yet they paid no attention whatsoever. ¡°Dream on!¡± The money was in her hands, and it was hers. She wasn¡¯t about to give any of it away¡ªno way! ¡°If you don¡¯t want to give me the money, then I¡¯ll have to let you repay this debt in other ways¡­¡± Chapter 337 - Chapter 337: Chapter 337: Wife (5) Chapter 337: Chapter 337: Wife (5) In the last few words, he lowered his voice and spoke right beside Xia Siyu¡¯s ear. The threatening implication was particularly obvious, he wanted her to ¡°repay the debt with her body¡±! ¡°What debt? Is that even considered a debt?¡± Xia Siyu puffed out her small chest with outsiders present, she wasn¡¯t afraid of Bo Yan playing any mind games with her, ¡°That¡¯s called marital joint property! Isn¡¯t it normal for women to manage the finances in a family? I¡¯m already doing great, not even asking for your salary card. You mentioning it now actually reminds me, hand over your salary card!¡± Unexpectedly, Bo Yan took out his wallet and stuffed it into Xia Siyu¡¯s arms, ¡°It¡¯s all yours, if the money isn¡¯t enough, I can give you myself as well.¡± ¡°Who wants you?¡± Xia Siyu got a chill and then shoved the wallet back at him, ¡°I don¡¯t want your money either!¡± She was a top influencer herself, earning a significant amount from endorsements and acting fees each year, why would she need his money? She didn¡¯t need a man to support her, nor did she want one to. She could earn her own money, buy her own things. ¡ª¡ªOf course, this sort of ill-gotten wealth obtained through extortion, she¡¯d take it as her way of carrying out justice! She was rejecting him, but in Xia Youbiao¡¯s eyes, this was just standard small quarrels between a young couple. Although Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t as affectionate with Bo Yan as she had just indicated, as long as a husband and wife had topics to talk about, there was hope for them yet. Xia Youbiao¡¯s concerns were half-relieved. After Bo Yan had left, Xia Youbiao looked at his daughter, ¡°Siyu, come sit with Dad later.¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s facade of gentleness vanished in an instant, and she even laughed, ¡°If I sit there, where will Mrs. Tong sit?¡± With that one sentence, Xia Youbiao and Xia Ju¡¯an both fell silent. Xia Youbiao had no particular affection for Tong min, at most, it was familial since she was the biological mother of Xia Ju¡¯an and Xia Sicai. Xia Youbiao could be ruthless to her, but he couldn¡¯t bear to be the same towards his two children. Besides, other relatives of the Xia Family also supported her, and the company still needed the influence of the Tong Family; as long as she didn¡¯t do anything too outrageous, he couldn¡¯t just drive her away. Moreover, in the future, it would probably be Xia Ju¡¯an who would be in charge of the Xia Family. Xia Sicai was also well-established in the Bo Family by then, so even if he didn¡¯t show Mrs. Tong any respect, he still had to consider his son and daughter. Xia Youbiao¡¯s expression was hesitant, so was Xia Ju¡¯an¡¯s. In fact, they were both well aware of Tong min¡¯s issues, but they were incapable of dealing with her. Xia Siyu was also unwilling to compromise. She looked coldly at her father and brother, fully aware that they both had their own thoughts deep down. However, Xia Youbiao was naturally gentle and yielding, and Xia Ju¡¯an wasn¡¯t the type to speak harshly to his mother and sister. ¡°I said it three years ago, if she stays, I go; if I stay, she goes. You all rest well, I¡¯m leaving.¡± She slung her trench coat over one shoulder, her face calm, and strode out on her high heels. Just as she had reached the door, Xia Youbiao called out to her from behind, ¡°Siyu¡­ Visit home when you have time. Dad misses you.¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s expression was cold, ¡°As long as you turn on the TV or computer, just click a few apps, you should be able to see my splash ads everywhere.¡± So, visiting home? Better not. With those words, she closed the door firmly behind her. Actually, she wasn¡¯t very saddened, having known for many years that this would be the outcome. Therefore, she never attended any activities held by the Xia Family, and the woes or joys of the Xia Family were none of her concern. Still, she didn¡¯t expect that not long after she left, around the corner of the corridor not far away, there was someone pondering over the sight of her departing figure. Chapter 338 - Chapter 338: Chapter 338: Wife (6) Chapter 338: Chapter 338: Wife (6) The banquet hall was abuzz with people. Yet among them all, Bo Yan remained the most eye-catching presence. Not only was he a part of the Bo Family, but he was also a top celebrity. Wherever he stood, he seemed to glow with a soft light. He had now become the Bo Family¡¯s trademark. Although the elite circles didn¡¯t hold much regard for stars, a high-quality idol like him, an artist with a spotless reputation, was still highly sought after. Not just by young girls, but also by major players with business dealings with Bosch Corporation, who would approach him for a chat. At a glance, Bo Yan did see a few familiar faces. There was no need to mention Shang Feifei and Li Yiru, as well as Wu Di, his junior from the same company who had been a guest on a show. And there was Boss Chen, the one who had raced cars with him and Bo Yi before. Li Weiyi, who had been beaten up by Xia Siyu last time, had also come with his father, a director of Zhongtian Group. And then there was one more. This one also had a bit of a history, the girlfriend of the male artist entangled in the first scandal with Xia Siyu three years ago, Jiang Bumei. While the male artist continued to hassle Xia Siyu, he told Jiang Bumei that it was Xia Siyu who seduced him. Jiang, already coming from a certain background as the daughter of the regional agent of a multinational company in China, desperately dug up dirt on Xia Siyu. As a result, Xia Siyu¡¯s image of innocence crumbled, turning her into a controversial figure plagued by scandals. However, the love Jiang had fiercely defended didn¡¯t last long; the male artist reverted to his old ways and cheated again. Although Jiang Bumei broke up with him, she harbored resentment towards Xia Siyu and continued to malign her. If it had been Bo Yan¡¯s own gathering, he certainly wouldn¡¯t have invited people like Jiang Bumei and Li Weiyi. But this time, it was his grandfather¡¯s eightieth birthday and also for the transition of Bosch Corporation, so naturally, more socialites were invited, leaving him with no say in the matter. Of course, amid the guests stirring up trouble, there were those who stood by him, such as Han Yifan. This time, he came with his father and his elder brother. Instead of his usual hair dyed in flashy colors, it was neatly groomed, and he was dressed in a proper suit, looking quite the gentleman. With just a few minutes left before the banquet, Bo Yan kept glancing at the door while chatting. Wu Di was right beside him; she had made a beeline for Bo Yan as soon as she entered. Bo Yan didn¡¯t pay her much attention, spending more time discussing business with other company executives. Although Wu Di was entitled, she did not interrupt when Bo Yan was seriously talking business, but otherwise, she was always trying to get a word in. She noticed that Bo Yan kept looking at the entrance as if waiting for someone. A little upset, Wu Di still asked with a smile, ¡°Who are you waiting for, brother Yan?¡± For some reason, Wu Di¡¯s mind suddenly conjured up one person: she did not know why, but at this moment, the first woman she thought of was Xia Siyu. Maybe it was because she had recently seen Xia Siyu appearing around Bo Yan frequently, whether in movies or variety shows. Although there didn¡¯t seem to be anything fishy between the two, she still felt there was something off. Bo Yan didn¡¯t answer, but he had his ways and beckoned Han Yifan over for assistance. Han Yifan approached with a grin: ¡°Yo, isn¡¯t this Wu Di? You¡¯re looking better than ever, long time no see. Come over here and chat with brother Han.¡± Then, regardless of her resistance, he dragged Wu Di away. Bo Yan remained expressionless, and this time, not even Shang Feifei or Li Yiru came to pester him; he could focus entirely on waiting for his guest. Soon the door opened, and from outside, a voice could be heard, ¡°Good evening, Miss Xia.¡± Chapter 339 - Chapter 339: Chapter 339: Crisis (1) Chapter 339: Chapter 339: Crisis (1) ¡°` Bo Yan, who had been chatting, suddenly directed his gaze toward the door. The Miss Xia who entered was indeed from the Xia family, but it was not Xia Siyu, it was Xia Sicai. And she came in with Bo Yi. Not only was Xia Sicai called out, someone also called ¡°Mr. Bo.¡± Clearly, the arrivals were not limited to Xia Sicai and Bo Yi; his grandparents and uncles and aunts had all arrived as well. The guests attending the event were not just there for a meal or to bask in the birthday celebrant¡¯s happiness; most had their own agendas. When the Bo family patriarch and Uncle Bo Qiliu appeared, they immediately attracted a crowd. At Bo Yan¡¯s side, the once bustling noise had now thinned. However, he didn¡¯t seem to mind. Checking the time, just a few minutes remained before the banquet was to begin, and he walked over and took his seat at the main table. The banquet was about to start, and the Bo family patriarch¡¯s entourage soon arrived at the main table. Once they were fully seated, Bo Yan¡¯s gaze continued to sweep toward the doorway. Xia Siyu had not taken her seat. And the banquet hall, with almost all guests in place, was quickly filled. He took a quick glance around; the number of people who came here were fixed, not one more, not one less. Aside from the first few tables assigned to relatives with name cards dictating their seating, there were also a few tables for walk-in guests who could sit wherever they liked. In theory, if Xia Siyu were not a member of either the Xia or Bo families, given her status, she should be a named and known figure, at least able to sit with the entertainment industry group. But Xia Sicai purposely blurred the lines, neither arranging a place for her within the Bo family nor within the Xia family seats, and naturally, there was no place for her among those from the film and television circles. If she wanted to sit, her only option was to find a spot in a corner, squeezing in with other strangers. For someone as proud as Xia Siyu, this was simply impossible. Xia Sicai, however, had secured an excellent seat for herself. Bo Yi must have known, and probably Bo Qiliu as well, but nobody cared. Who would pay attention to a daughter not even publicly acknowledged by the Xia family, a daughter-in-law married to him who didn¡¯t even have a seat prepared by the Bo family? The banquet was about to commence, and it was time for the hosts to say a few words on stage, especially considering that it was the Bosch Corporation handover ceremony. But while the other members of the Bo family got up to prepare to go on stage, Bo Yan remained sitting. It seemed insignificant until the patriarch saw it first, Xia Sicai tugged at Bo Yi¡¯s sleeve, and Bo Yi whispered it to his parents. The younger generation¡¯s whispers finally reached the patriarch¡¯s ears. He turned his head and saw Bo Yan, one hand casually resting on the table, the other hanging naturally by his side, his legs crossed, looking totally at ease. He didn¡¯t move a muscle. The patriarch frowned. They were at the main table, and now the attention of the whole hall had turned their way, putting the patriarch in an awkward position. He called out softly, ¡°Bo Yan.¡± His tone carried a hint of anger. But Bo Yan sat comfortably and even looked up and smiled at him, still motionless. The quiet standoff led to murmurs among many. They couldn¡¯t wait any longer, delaying the start of the banquet. Bo Qiliu urged the patriarch, ¡°Dad, shall we go on stage first?¡± The patriarch gave Bo Yan another sharp glance but quickly paid him no more mind and walked onto the stage. The lights in the room dimmed, the crowd fell silent, and the entire hall spotlighted only the stage. Just as the patriarch began with, ¡°Good evening, everyone¡­¡± The doors to the banquet hall suddenly flung open with a ¡°bang.¡± Chapter 340 - Chapter 340: Chapter 340: Crisis (2) Chapter 340: Chapter 340: Crisis (2) The sudden sound was all too abrupt, especially because the venue was so quiet, it stood out starkly. Everyone followed the sound and looked over, the room was pitch dark, but there was a beam of light in the hallway. Right in everyone¡¯s gaze, Xia Siyu, in her cocktail dress, stood by the door in high heels. Light shot in from behind her, as if wrapping her in a golden edge, making her appear as though she had stepped out of a painting. Her expression was natural; as a celebrity, she was long used to being scrutinized, so she didn¡¯t feel the slightest discomfort. She stood by the door, her eyes sweeping swiftly over the venue¡ªHmm, no empty seats. The place with the most vacancies on site was only one spot, right beside Bo Yan, at the Bo Family¡¯s main table! Xia Siyu was not one to shortchange herself. Even though sitting at the Bo Family table wasn¡¯t her intention, she didn¡¯t hesitate at all and marched straight toward the main table. Everyone on site was watching her, including Bo Yan. Perhaps fearing that she might stumble in the dim lighting, they even shone a spotlight on her. Thus, Xia Siyu proudly and comfortably walked towards Bo Yan, bathed in light, passing by the Xia Family¡¯s table on her way. Xia Youbiao and Xia Ju¡¯an were fine, but Madam Tong¡¯s face turned colors. Bo Yan sat in his chair, but a careful observer would notice that he no longer lounged casually with his legs crossed. Instead, he sat up straight. The only thing that hadn¡¯t changed was his smile, which had become even more radiant than before. Xia Siyu stopped in front of him and asked in front of all the guests, ¡°Is there an empty seat beside you?¡± Bo Yan nodded his head. Without further hesitation, Xia Siyu pulled out the chair and sat down next to him! At the moment she was seated, the entire venue erupted. Even Shang Feifei, who wasn¡¯t far off, saw it; she said nothing, but her eyes held a meaningful depth. There was also Jiang Bumei, Xia Siyu¡¯s dedicated hater, and Li Weiyi, whom she had beaten up, both looking this way with dark expressions. The impatient one was Wu Di. She stood up and yelled, ¡°What gives you the right to sit next to Brother Yan?¡± Xia Siyu didn¡¯t bother with her. Was there any point in arguing with someone like that? Besides, if she didn¡¯t sit next to Bo Yan, was she supposed to sit on his lap? Two people sharing one seat? Ridiculous! It was Han Yifan who spoke up, knowing there were media and people from the entertainment industry present and that Bo Yan wasn¡¯t in a position to speak. He broke the silence, ¡°There are no seats left, are there? If not beside him, how about beside you?¡± His remark elicited quite a few chuckles. Xia Siyu was late, the venue was dark, and she needed to find a spot¡ªof course, it had to be the main table. The buzz of conversation filled the air until the elder Bo from the stage coughed, redirecting everyone¡¯s attention back to him. He was delivering a speech, first thanking everyone for attending his birthday banquet, then going on to say that he was getting on in years and no longer had the energy, so he planned to hand over Bosch Corporation to his son. As he spoke from the stage, Bo Yan and Xia Siyu below exchanged words. Bo Yan leaned in and asked, ¡°How come you¡¯re so late?¡± It was only a three-minute walk from the Xia Family¡¯s resting room. Even if she wanted to avoid suspicion, she shouldn¡¯t have been late, right? Xia Siyu seemed amused, even laughing, ¡°I just saw something interesting. That guy I hit with a wine bottle last time, Li Weiyi, right? He¡¯s proved quite formidable, from now on, you¡¯ll have to call him ¡®Mommy Li¡¯!¡± She knew Li Yiru was being promoted by someone but didn¡¯t know who, until just now when she ran into them. She was in Li Weiyi¡¯s dad¡¯s arms! Chapter 341 - Chapter 341: Chapter 341: Crisis (3) Chapter 341: Chapter 341: Crisis (3) Xia Siyu clicked her tongue. ¡°I knew Li Weiyi was wild, but it seems like the apple doesn¡¯t fall far from the tree. The most pitiable one must be his mother¡ªthough not necessarily; they might well have agreed to each doing their own thing a long time ago.¡± Bo Yan wore an expression that said he was at a loss for words. She has the nerve to criticize others? Weren¡¯t the two of them doing the same thing? Although Xia Siyu hadn¡¯t gone that route, she had the desire to seek something beyond her current life. He needed to tighten the reins quickly to prevent his kite from flying away. ¡°And there¡¯s Li Yiru, was she not eyeing you before? She¡¯s not short of money, so why would she choose such an old man?¡± The thought of being targeted made Bo Yan shiver with disgust. If Li Yiru had managed to hook up with Bo Yan, she certainly wouldn¡¯t need to deal with the old man, but that was impossible. If she had to settle for less, Li Weiyi¡¯s father wasn¡¯t even sixty, he was well-preserved, and not bad looking either. Considering his son¡¯s lifestyle, their family dynamics were probably everyone for themselves, taking what they needed. If his wife didn¡¯t interfere, outsiders had no place to say anything either. As for lacking money, celebrities are definitely wealthier than the average person, and Li Yiru was a second-tier star, so she was hardly strapped for cash. But no one turns down more money. If she could earn more and gain support, of course she would be willing. Not everyone is like Xia Siyu, who became famous immediately upon entering the scene, a super newcomer. Many artists work their whole lives and still can only achieve the status of Li Yiru. Though she complains a lot, her popularity is genuinely high. Moreover, Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t short of money, nor did she value it as much. Her ambition wasn¡¯t to become famous or make more money; her heart was pure, so she wouldn¡¯t be swayed. ¡°Everyone makes their own choices,¡± Bo Yan didn¡¯t want to judge. They were all adults; there was no compulsion, only choices. The two of them were speaking in hushed tones. Though the elder Bo had finished speaking and it was now Bo Qiliu¡¯s turn to greet the guests, basically no one was listening to him. Bo Yan and Xia Siyu, being top celebrities, naturally attracted a lot of attention as they spoke together. Although some media folks from the entertainment industry were present, most were from financial magazines that wouldn¡¯t publish content recklessly. Still, their every word and action was closely watched. Perhaps it was out of consideration for their unified front, especially with Mrs. Tong eying them, Xia Siyu remarkably refrained from making a public scene with Bo Yan. Once the speech had ended and the lights of the banquet hall were brightened, Xia Siyu didn¡¯t leave. Instead, she had an extra chair brought up and unapologetically took her seat between Xia Sicai and Bo Yan, helping herself to the chopsticks. She also commented, ¡°You can tell Sicai chose this menu. Stuff like boiled cabbage and literary tofu soup.¡± The food was delicious and had a high level of sophistication. For someone as unrefined as her, she was better suited to holding something and gnawing on it directly. After the meal was over and the floor cleared, the waitstaff quickly tidied the area, leaving the center open. It was time for the cake. The cake was ordered by Bo Yi, who also brought a gift. Xia Sicai, with a smile, said, ¡°Grandpa, Ayi and I wish you a long life of a hundred years.¡± Xia Siyu muttered under her breath, ¡°Yeah, right, Grandpa is already eighty. Aren¡¯t you cursing him by wishing him a hundred years?¡± Xia Sicai stiffened for a moment, then it was Bo Yan¡¯s turn. The gift he had bought before was brought up, and when he lifted the red cloth, it was a piece of Petrified Wood carved with a Buddha: ¡°May you live as long as the Southern Mountain¡¯s immortal pine.¡± Chapter 342 - Chapter 342: Chapter 342: Crisis (4) Chapter 342: Chapter 342: Crisis (4) Yeah, this is indeed an age-old tale. It¡¯s just a gift, no one really makes a big deal out of these things. Before long, the cake was sliced and distributed, and the room was tidied up. Those who wanted to dance could dance, those who wanted to mingle could mingle. Usually, in such situations, Xia Siyu would neither dance nor care to socialize, and she would simply leave. Unfortunately, today she couldn¡¯t go just yet, as she still had to return to the Bo Family¡¯s old house with Bo Yan later in the evening. But while she was zoning out here, others still needed to network. Even Bo Yan found himself surrounded by people. He hadn¡¯t gone on stage earlier, which might be seen as disrespectful to his family, but it was also understandable; the Bosch Company wasn¡¯t handed over to him, would his presence on stage not cause chaos? Yet now, when it was time for him to take up the task of networking, he wouldn¡¯t leave. There was no helping it, even though his grandfather hadn¡¯t been exactly fair to him, he didn¡¯t want to disappoint his grandmother. As he networked, Xia Siyu yawned beside him, bored to death. It wasn¡¯t that no one came to talk to her. She was a big star after all, and even though Shang Feifei and Li Yiru were present, she intrinsically had more of a star appeal than that of an actor. Without doing anything, just by sitting there, she naturally attracted the attention of others. Just as Bo Yan attracted female fans, she had no shortage of unwanted suitors. If it weren¡¯t for Xia Siyu¡¯s tough reputation, there would probably be even more flies buzzing around her. Finally, a gentleman with narrow eyes bravely stepped forward, holding a glass of wine, ¡°May I have the honor of having a drink with Miss Xia?¡± Xia Siyu looked up and didn¡¯t recognize the person. She didn¡¯t hide her displeasure, ¡°Who are you?¡± Her words sent him packing. But the gentleman didn¡¯t take offense, and Xia Siyu saw that with him having taken the initiative, a greater number of men began approaching her. Annoyed, she simply stood up and walked outside. The hallway was empty, which gave her some respite as she walked around for a bit, then she headed to the restroom. After turning the tap in the restroom and letting the water run, she went to wash her face. As the water flowed from the faucet, someone emerged from one of the stalls. This person hadn¡¯t come to wash hands but to seek her out: ¡°Xia Siyu.¡± The tone indicated trouble, and Xia Siyu had no interest in looking directly at her, but she could see in the mirror the person approaching her; it was Jiang Bumei. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t know her, nor was she interested. She simply glanced at her then indifferently looked away, bowed her head and began to touch up her makeup. Jiang Bumei watched her through the mirror. Indeed, she was beautiful, with a great figure and attractive looks. Unfortunately, she liked to steal other people¡¯s boyfriends, ¡°Do you know who I am?¡± Xia Siyu didn¡¯t even bother with her, continuing with her compact powder. Just because you¡¯re somebody, should I know you? Jiang Bumei wasn¡¯t put off and continued her introduction, ¡°I am the girlfriend of your former scandalous connection, Yang Nu.¡± Yang Nu? Xia Siyu thought for a long time before she remembered, Oh, the first guy who hyped up a scandal with her, the one she had worked with on a film. This guy started with publicity stunts with her but then actually got tangled up with her, wanting to date her and thus inciting his girlfriend¡¯s dissatisfaction, which led her to start digging up dirt on Xia. But he was just a minor character, and she didn¡¯t pay much mind. After finishing her makeup, she packed up her cosmetics bag, gave herself another look in the mirror, and prepared to leave. Just as she reached the door, it was abruptly slammed open, and a man with a ruffian¡¯s grin blocked the entrance, ¡°Miss Xia, we meet again.¡± It was Li Weiyi. Chapter 343 - Chapter 343: Chapter 343: Crisis (5) Chapter 343: Chapter 343: Crisis (5) Xia Siyu rolled her eyes dramatically. One after another they come, do they think life is too comfortable and are looking for a beating? Li Weiyi gave her a thorough look from head to toe, his eyes carrying a hint of ferocity, yet he was still smiling, ¡°I owe Miss Xia for her hospitality last time, my injuries only healed a couple of days ago. Hearing that Miss Xia would also attend the banquet, I begged my father to bring me along.¡± Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t be bothered to pretend anymore, she lifted her chin indifferently, ¡°So, do you feel the high heel scraping your face wasn¡¯t thrilling enough, or was the reminder from the wine bottle to your head insufficient? Take your pick for another round.¡± Li Weiyi laughed, ¡°Of course not. Miss Xia is not only beautiful, but her delicate hands are quite capable of landing a blow. I learned my lesson well last time and have a very deep memory of it. However, since I dared to show up this time, naturally, I came prepared.¡± As he spoke, he glanced twice towards the door. From behind him, two men walked in, one to the left and one to the right. One of them was the man with the narrow eyes who had just tried to have a drink with her. As soon as this man entered, he smiled, ¡°Hello there, Miss Xia, you didn¡¯t have time to drink with me just now. Do you have time now?¡± Xia Siyu also noticed that the other man placed a ¡°Do Not Disturb¡± cleaning sign at the door. Clearly, they had trapped her in the washroom to deal with her! The man with the narrow eyes had just now deliberately asked Xia Siyu for a drink to provoke her irritation, causing her to walk outside. If he couldn¡¯t handle it alone, his brother would take over. If it were socialites with well-known networking skills like Shang Feifei or Li Yiru, this tactic probably wouldn¡¯t work. But Xia Siyu was famously antisocial, especially never drinking with anyone in public places. By using this method to test her, they could easily lead her away from the event and also observe whether her assistant or bodyguard were following. Li Weiyi was still smiling, but this time he looked at Jiang Bumei, ¡°Miss, I have some personal grievances to settle with Miss Xia. I hope you can leave first if you have no business here.¡± Jiang Bumei had been silently observing from the side. She had been a die-hard hater of Xia Siyu for years. As everyone knows, a die-hard hater is the most devoted, always following to hate. She might even be clearer about Xia Siyu¡¯s every move than the fans. Li Weiyi had been beaten bloody in the street by Xia Siyu previously, and a few days ago was hit with a wine bottle at a luxury dinner party, ruining his reputation and humiliating himself. Now that he brought two men with him, it was obvious he came for revenge! Therefore, she said, ¡°Sorry, I also have a score to settle with Xia Siyu; she stole my boyfriend.¡± ¡°Oh, a person with the same grievance, huh? That¡¯s good.¡± Hearing she was also seeking revenge, Li Weiyi wasn¡¯t afraid anymore. Even if she wasn¡¯t, when it came time to deal with Xia Siyu, he could just beat her up too, no big deal. Xia Siyu was fierce but not foolish. Now, there were three men and one woman against her. If it was just Li Weiyi and Jiang Bumei, a spoiled young master and a woman, whose combat power could be negligible, she would be confident in fighting her way out. But now there were three men. As everyone knows, washrooms don¡¯t have surveillance cameras. Moreover, there was only one exit door in the washroom, and once they locked it from the inside, there was no escape. They had thoroughly prepared, aiming to get her! Xia Siyu observed that they had no weapons in their hands, nor did she, yet she remained calm, ¡°What do you want to do?¡± Chapter 344 - Chapter 344: Chapter 344: Crisis (6) Chapter 344: Chapter 344: Crisis (6) Li Weiyi, upon seeing her calm demeanor, clicked his tongue as well, ¡°Miss Xia is truly talented and bold, still not anxious even with trouble on the doorstep.¡± Is getting anxious useful? You can lose the battle but not the momentum, the more you¡¯re at a disadvantage, the more you need to brace yourself! This time, for the banquet, because she had to follow Bo Yan back to the Bo Family afterwards, she indeed didn¡¯t bring Little Tang and Wei Jingjing along, nor did she bring bodyguards, and even Qin Baizhou didn¡¯t know. The only person who could possibly assist her, apart from Xia Youbiao and Xia Ju¡¯an, was Bo Yan. Just now, when those few men appeared together, she had actually already tried calling Bo Yan¡¯s phone, but up until now, Bo Yan hadn¡¯t responded, probably because there were too many people and he was networking, his phone not on his person. No matter, then she would call Xia Youbiao and Xia Ju¡¯an again. Xia Siyu¡¯s little movement also drew Jiang Bumei¡¯s attention, who immediately said, ¡°She¡¯s sending out a distress signal!¡± ¡°Sending a signal? No matter,¡± replied the man with the narrow eyes, pulling out a handheld device, ¡°This thing is called a signal jammer. It¡¯s usually used in exam rooms. Since we planned to do something today, I conveniently brought it along. Within ten meters, no calls can be made, and there¡¯s no network.¡± Xia Siyu furrowed her brows, but she wasn¡¯t too nervous. She knew that the more frightened she was at this moment, the more arrogant the other side would become! She had already thought it through; if those few men pounced on her later, she definitely wouldn¡¯t be able to fight them off, so she would hit the instigator, Li Weiyi, with all she had! She might not be able to take on three men, but she could handle Li Weiyi with no problem. Even if she got hurt, Li Weiyi wouldn¡¯t get away unscathed! Also, although she couldn¡¯t make phone calls, she could still record audio. If they dared to lay a hand on her, she would make sure they¡¯d die a terrible death! ¡°Li Weiyi, what do you want to do? Slash my face with a knife? Or hit me with a bottle?¡± Her tone was still firm and tough, causing Li Weiyi himself to laugh when he heard it. He said, ¡°Rest assured, us guys, we are very compassionate and cherish beauty. Miss Xia, you are so beautiful, it would be such a pity to ruin your looks. Fortunately, two of my buddies here are your movie fans, they especially admire you. They have your posters all over their houses. Now that they finally see you in person, we won¡¯t be rough, we just want to take a photo with you¡ªa nude one.¡± She understood, they wanted to take nude photos of her to threaten her! If she didn¡¯t obey them in the future, the photos could be released! It was the equivalent to her having evidence of Li Weiyi¡¯s group activities; if he made a move, she could release it just the same. Moreover, with this device, it wasn¡¯t even convenient for Xia Siyu to call the police, which presented a leverage point! After all, she was a celebrity and a woman. Society is indeed very harsh regarding women in these matters. Even if she was the victim, there would still be a bunch of onlookers ¡°asking for seeds¡± when it gets out, gossiping about her behind her back. However, this kind of thing might work as a threat to others, but to Xia Siyu, since she hadn¡¯t done anything wrong, she wasn¡¯t afraid of threats, even of this sort leaking out! Of course, it would still be best to avoid it as much as possible¡ªwhy should she subject herself to their threats? Li Weiyi took a step closer, his smile growing more presumptuous, ¡°Miss Xia, why don¡¯t you cooperate with us, and spare us the trouble of having to hurt you.¡± In your dreams! As Xia Siyu pondered her escape, suddenly, there was a knock on the restroom door! Chapter 345 - Chapter 345: Chapter 345: You Are Not As Good As Her (1) Chapter 345: Chapter 345: You Are Not As Good As Her (1) ¡°Thud, thud,¡± like a lifeline, at this time, no matter who was coming, as long as someone interrupted them, Xia Siyu could escape! Li Weiyi naturally would not open the door, but Jiang Bumei reacted very quickly, ¡°Doing cleaning! Please use another floor!¡± Inside, Xia Siyu was someone who could bend or stretch; if she didn¡¯t call for help now, when would she? She quickly raised her voice, shouting at the top of her lungs, ¡°Murder! Robbery! Help!¡± Her shout angered Li Weiyi, already red-faced with embarrassment, who immediately had his two buddies flank her, ready to silence her by covering her mouth to torment her further. The person outside hesitated, but then a cold voice followed, along with more forceful knocking, ¡°Open the door! I have security behind me, and if you don¡¯t open it, the security will break it down!¡± These words were indeed very intimidating, immediately halting the actions of the several men in the restroom. Li Weiyi hesitated for a moment, glanced at the two men beside him, who also stopped what they were doing and sullenly walked to the restroom door, opening it. Outside, there was no security present, but they didn¡¯t dare to continue their wrongdoing. Since they had been discovered by someone else, continuing their actions would only attract more attention. ¡ª And besides, this person was not someone they could afford to offend. Soon, Jiang Bumei also left, and the last to come out was Xia Siyu, who had just shouted for help so powerfully, but now, there wasn¡¯t the slightest trace of fear on her face. On the contrary, there was a hint of confusion. Especially when she came out and saw the person who had rescued her, her confusion deepened. ¡°Shang Feifei, why is it you?¡± The person who had just been calling out at the door was indeed Shang Feifei. She hadn¡¯t called for security; she had been following Xia Siyu the whole time, so she knew that after Xia Siyu entered the restroom, three men had followed. Therefore, in a critical moment, she had saved Xia Siyu. She glanced at Xia Siyu and smiled, ¡°Shall we have a drink together?¡± Xia Siyu frowned, standing still. Although Shang Feifei had saved her, who knew if it was a trap? What if she also had ill intentions? Then her cries for help would fall on deaf ears, and she¡¯d meet her end even quicker. As if knowing what Xia Siyu was thinking, Shang Feifei simply smiled, ¡°Let¡¯s talk here in the corridor then.¡± Xia Siyu hesitated, but still followed her out the door. Once in the corridor, Shang Feifei found a quiet spot to stand, and Xia Siyu purposefully took out her phone ¨C with signal and internet she wasn¡¯t afraid. Nevertheless, she still kept an eye on her surroundings in case one of Shang Feifei¡¯s accomplices decided to surprise attack. Shang Feifei understood her expression and didn¡¯t bother to explain. Once they had stopped, she finally spoke, ¡°You and Bo Yan are a couple, right?¡± This was a statement, not a question. It was clear she had been observing Xia Siyu and Bo Yan for a long time. Xia Siyu never intended to keep it a secret from Shang Feifei. Although she occasionally criticized her as a green tea b*tch, she was also aware that as long as Shang Feifei didn¡¯t cross any major lines, she couldn¡¯t be bothered to intervene. Shang Feifei had been following them for a long time, and she probably knew something from their last trip to Italy and Germany for the variety show, but she just never mentioned it. ¡°You and the Xia Family also seem to have a profound connection. I just found out that Bo Yan¡¯s wife, also the future lady of Bosch Corporation, is named Xia Sicai.¡± Xia Siyu remained calm. She had no particular sentiment towards the Xia Family and was casual in her response, ¡°Is that all? Can I go now?¡± However¡­ Chapter 346 - Chapter 346: Chapter 346: You Are Not As Good As Her (2) Chapter 346: Chapter 346: You Are Not As Good As Her (2) Xia Siyu had taken only a few steps when Shang Feifei mentioned a name from behind, instantly halting her in her tracks. ¡°Wen Qunxiao.¡± Seeing her stop, Shang Feifei had a guess in her mind. She continued, ¡°Born in 19XX, graduated from the Dance Academy with a major in folk dance and also studied ballroom dancing, excelling at the cowboy, rumba, and cha-cha. At twenty-two, she won China¡¯s dance gold award. She started acting at twenty-three. Three years later, at twenty-six, she won the Gold Oscar for Best Actress, and got her second win at thirty.¡± Xia Siyu turned around, her gaze sharp as she looked toward her. Her look was more serious than ever before, even more cutting than when she was cornered in the restroom, surrounded and threatened by Li Weiyi and others to take scandalous photos, her expression was never this sharp, like a blade! Shang Feifei continued, ¡°As for her love life, it¡¯s only known that she dated a boyfriend at the Dance Academy before co-starring in a movie with him. That man was a scumbag; they broke up after he cheated on her, and afterward, he spread rumors everywhere, so her reputation suffered greatly. After she won her second Best Actress Oscar at thirty, a major event happened, and she withdrew from the industry. It is said that she got married and went abroad, and since then, there has been no news of her.¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s eyes turned cold, her expression as if to say, What exactly do you want to do? Shang Feifei smiled faintly, her narrative still calm and unhurried, ¡°I know of her because I too am a student at the affiliated school of the Dance Academy. I¡¯ll be frank, I went to Sicily because I heard that she had gone abroad to Italy. Some people say they¡¯ve seen her in Sicily ¡ª and her daughter.¡± In fact, that name was on the tip of her tongue, but Shang Feifei deliberately paused. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t bring it up either, and the two stood about a meter apart, their eyes holding knives toward each other. Shang Feifei smiled, ¡°¡­That daughter, it¡¯s you, isn¡¯t it?¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, so close that Shang Feifei could feel her clenching her fists tightly. If she herself said one wrong word, without a doubt, Xia Siyu would immediately rush up and burst her head open! Unafraid, Shang Feifei spoke freely, ¡°I¡¯m telling you this not to threaten you or to go around spreading it. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have helped you just now. What I didn¡¯t expect was for you to be Teacher Wen¡¯s daughter. To be honest, she is my idol. My reason for going to the Dance Academy, for acting in movies, it¡¯s all because I admire her.¡± For the first time, Xia Siyu sneered coldly. She huffed, ¡°If you¡¯re going to make up an excuse, at least make it a plausible one. How old are you this year? You weren¡¯t even in kindergarten when she retired.¡± Shang Feifei smiled faintly, ¡°Have you ever liked an idol? Like Hollywood¡¯s golden age stars such as Taylor, Vivien Leigh, and Hepburn. It doesn¡¯t matter if they are still alive now. But, films and images, they preserve them, immortalize their beauty for all of humanity. Teacher Wen, to me, is such an existence.¡± ¡°Do you think I¡¯d believe such a clumsy reason? It would be more believable for you to say that you like Bo Yan, that¡¯s why you¡¯re jealous of me, and want to dig into my past!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need you to believe,¡± said Shang Feifei confidently because this was the truth. She had thought about Bo Yan, that was because she assumed Bo Yan had no lover. Later, when she learned he had one and that he showed no interest in her, As one of the top celebrities herself, she naturally wouldn¡¯t continue to pine over him, much less be jealous for his sake. Chapter 347 - Chapter 347: Chapter 347: You Are Not As Good As Her (3) Chapter 347: Chapter 347: You Are Not As Good As Her (3) Initially, She really disliked Xia Siyu, but ever since she learned that Siyu might be Wen Qunxiao¡¯s daughter, that dislike changed. How should I put it, it¡¯s a subtle rivalry and comparison. She sized up Xia Siyu from head to toe. In truth, Xia Siyu bore some resemblance to Wen Qunxiao. She hadn¡¯t noticed before because she¡¯d never considered that possibility. But now that she did, the more she looked, the more they seemed alike. Her talent for acting, her talent for dance, as well as her beauty, her figure, even her stubborn personality, were all inherited from her mother. ¡°My father was a fan of Teacher Wen; I grew up watching her dance videos and her movies at home. Knowing she was a student at the Dance Academy, I was desperate to apply to the affiliated high school of the Dance Academy. Unfortunately, I didn¡¯t have much talent for dance and turned to study film in college. I swear, my goal in life is to be like her. Although I can no longer achieve anything in dance, in the film industry, I, too, want to win Best Actress, to win it twice. And now, I¡¯ve already won one Oscar, although I was twenty-seven when I received it.¡± After saying this, She took another look at Xia Siyu, her gaze somewhat scornful: ¡°But you, you entered the industry at twenty and are almost twenty-seven now, yet you haven¡¯t won any awards. Compared to your mother, you are really disappointing. To be honest, I think you¡¯re a disgrace to your mother.¡± This statement had a devastating impact, far greater than ten Li Weiyis! Xia Siyu clenched her fists tightly in rage, her teeth gritted. Having said this, Shang Feifei vaguely saw someone walking down the corridor in the distance; it seemed to be Bo Yan. He must have come out following Xia Siyu¡¯s incident, thinking about how to inform him but with no success, and now he had pursued her, perhaps. Shang Feifei glanced at Xia Siyu¡¯s tense body and smiled again: ¡°I still have a chance; I will definitely win Best Actress before I turn thirty. I am the one who will truly inherit your mother¡¯s mantle. As for you, apart from the good fortune of being born from your mother, you have nothing that compares to her. You will also fall short of me.¡± After saying this, she left the scene. Moreover, she walked directly toward Bo Yan. Bo Yan indeed hadn¡¯t known about Xia Siyu¡¯s phone call; his phone had been signal-blocked earlier. But after he finished his conversation and glanced over to Xia Siyu¡¯s supposed location, finding no one there, he frowned slightly. After circling the room and failing to spot her, he strolled over to Han Yifan: ¡°Where is she?¡± When Bo Yan asked about ¡°her,¡± he usually meant Xia Siyu. But Han Yifan couldn¡¯t resist teasing him: ¡°Who, which ¡®she¡¯?¡± Bo Yan didn¡¯t respond but simply walked outside. Among the people present were Li Weiyi and Jiang Bumei; how could he have forgotten? What if they did something to her? After checking one corridor and finding no one, he went to another and finally saw her. Bo Yan breathed a sigh of relief, but soon furrowed his brow again because he saw Shang Feifei was there, too. Shang Feifei came straight toward him, offering only a smile as she brushed past him. Bo Yan couldn¡¯t be bothered with her and headed straight in Xia Siyu¡¯s direction. After walking a few steps, he noticed Xia Siyu was heading back to the venue, so he stopped and entered the venue through another door. On the other hand, Han Yifan also followed outside: ¡°Did you find her?¡± Bo Yan didn¡¯t answer him; he hadn¡¯t seen Xia Siyu either, but he ran into Shang Feifei, quite literally. Chapter 348 - Chapter 348: Chapter 348: You Are Not As Good As Her (4) Chapter 348: Chapter 348: You Are Not As Good As Her (4) Han Yifan was startled for a moment, not yet realizing what had happened when a soft, fragrant presence burrowed into his arms. The moment he looked down, what he saw was the slightly surprised face of Shang Feifei. Although Shang Feifei was not as pretty as Xia Siyu, that was only in relative terms. She was also a top star in the entertainment industry, it¡¯s just that her beauty was more understated, while Xia Siyu¡¯s was glamorous. But in the midst of ordinary people, she was still an undeniable beauty. Especially at such a close distance, it was like a beauty overload. Her temperament wasn¡¯t as explosive as Xia Siyu¡¯s, and even after bumping into him, she didn¡¯t get that angry. She just smiled a bit, quickly stood straight, and then smoothed out her hair that had been tousled by the collision. Shang Feifei naturally had long black straight hair, and as she combed through it, the perfume scent entwined in her strands seemed to grow even richer. ¡°Sorry.¡± Hmm, her voice was also very pleasant. It wasn¡¯t as clear as Xia Siyu¡¯s, hers was softer. Bo Yan, with his cold exterior and flirty heart, liked girls like Xia Siyu who were both beautiful and had good figures. Han Yifan, already flashy in his appearance, preferred the pure and innocent type instead. Even the university student that Bo once mentioned, who would kiss for half an hour and then go to a hotel room for an hour, was the innocent type. It wasn¡¯t a matter of high or low class, just a difference in aesthetic preferences. Han Yifan quickly reined in the frivolity on his face, straightened out his clothes, and even reached out to shake her hand, ¡°Hello, my name is Han Yifan, a friend of Bo Yan, the second son of Han Enterprise.¡± Heaven knows how he usually hated introducing himself as the second son of Han Enterprise when outside. Like Bo Yan and Xia Siyu, he didn¡¯t like to rely on his family¡¯s name. People¡¯s goodwill towards him, their respect for him, was not due to his own abilities, but because of his surname. But Shang Feifei was different, she was an award-winning actress, one of the top figures in China¡¯s entertainment industry. Without using Bo Yan¡¯s and Han Enterprise¡¯s reputation, she probably wouldn¡¯t even remember him. However, Shang Feifei clearly didn¡¯t care about his string of titles, simply smiling, ¡°Mr. Han, hello. Shang Feifei.¡± She hesitated for a moment, but then shook his hand. Afterward, it seemed someone was looking for her. She withdrew her hand, bowed slightly and said, ¡°Sorry, I need to go check.¡± Han Yifan didn¡¯t cling to her and watched as she left with a graceful walk, quickly returning to mingling and toasting with others. Although Shang Feifei also belonged to the carefree and forthright category, she was a bit different from Xia Sicai. In Xia Sicai¡¯s demeanor, there was a hint of the shrewdness of the business world and refined self-interest. As for Shang Feifei, a star accustomed to being adored by fans and media, she didn¡¯t navigate as effortlessly as Xia Sicai and sometimes even showed a touch of aloof detachment. This detachment could cause those who disliked her to call her a green tea, but her fans would praise her, saying she had the pure demeanor of a chrysanthemum and a lofty grace. In a word, it was exactly what hooked Han Yifan¡¯s sense of beauty, and it did so firmly. He picked up his phone, gazed at Shang Feifei¡¯s receding figure, and called Bo Yan, ¡°You know Shang Feifei, right?¡± On the other end of the line, Bo Yan frowned, his face bearing the bemused look of an old man flustered with a smartphone .jpg. How should he put it¡ªhe knew her, sure. They had each other¡¯s numbers and WeChat, but it was nothing special, the most ordinary colleague relationship. They belonged to the same industry, collaborating occasionally, and running into each other at work-related events. Well, if he had to say, she was one of the people that his wife, Xia Siyu, disliked. He didn¡¯t respond, but Han Yifan didn¡¯t care whether he answered or not. He simply said into the phone, ¡°I¡¯m going to get her. Within a month, I¡¯ll have slept with her.¡± Chapter 349 - Chapter 349: Chapter 349: You Are Not As Good As Her (5) Chapter 349: Chapter 349: You Are Not As Good As Her (5) With a ¡°snap,¡± Bo Yan hung up the phone. Crazy, who cares if you keep her or not? After hanging up, Bo Yan looked at Xia Siyu sitting in the center of the living room. She seemed to have something on her mind, drinking alone from her small cup, too lazy to pay attention to anyone approaching. After all, Xia Siyu¡¯s bad temper was well-known, and no one thought her rudeness was out of line. But Bo Yan had been paying attention to her all along; he certainly knew that Xia Siyu¡¯s condition today was very wrong. Was it because of what happened just now when she left? Bo Yan hesitated for a moment, someone came up to talk to him, but he ignored them and walked straight over to sit down by Xia Siyu¡¯s side. Xia Siyu knew he was there, but she ignored him too, just sipping her drink from the glass in her hand. Then a call came in, and she answered: ¡°Hello? Brother Qin?¡± It was Qin Baizhou¡¯s call. He had just heard about the incident where Li Weiyi and Jiang Bumei tried to settle scores with her. Although that incident was interrupted by Shang Feifei¡¯s sudden intrusion and therefore remained an attempt, Xia Siyu was the kind who sought revenge from morning till night. She wouldn¡¯t let those who bullied her get away with it! But she was indeed single-handed now, not really suited to confront them head-on. Although there was a recording, since it was only an attempt, it could not warrant much punishment. But Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t one to sit on her vengeful thoughts; of course, she told Qin Baizhou right away. ¡°You¡¯re saying Li Weiyi and Jiang Bumei just tried to make a move on you, right? They even wanted to take indecent photos of you? They¡¯re really asking for it!¡± Qin Baizhou was furious when he heard it; even though he didn¡¯t like Xia Siyu, he wouldn¡¯t be pleased if such things happened to an artist under his banner. ¡°Be careful, I will take care of it for you. Are you at the banquet? Do you want me to come pick you up?¡± Xia Siyu glanced at Bo Yan and shook her head: ¡°No need. I still have some things to handle today. Don¡¯t worry, my security here is assured.¡± Qin Baizhou was still somewhat worried, but since Xia Siyu said so, he chose to trust her: ¡°Then take good rest, and leave the rest to me.¡± Xia Siyu nodded: ¡°Got it.¡± Bo Yan, listening on the side, frowned: ¡°They wanted to take photos of you?¡± The security today was actually very strict. Other than business partners and the stars themselves, even assistants were not allowed inside. It just so happened that this mess was stirred up by some privileged brats amongst themselves. If Xia Siyu really encountered misfortune, he felt like he could kill someone! Xia Siyu didn¡¯t respond to him; she was indeed in a bad mood, but not because of Li Weiyi. Or to say, Li Weiyi was only a small part of it. What era is it now? Back then, the photo scandal was the collapse of beliefs, the epitaph for a generation of stars. But today¡¯s photo scandals? Sorry, they are even publicity stunts for the lesser-known celebrities. If these jerks dared to mess with her, she¡¯d counter with a call to the police! Do they think she doesn¡¯t understand the law, that she¡¯s uneducated? If they dared to lay a hand on her, there would be no need for Shang Feifei to show up; believe it or not, within ten minutes, someone would need to use the restroom and then notice something was wrong here. Holding out for ten minutes without succumbing to them, she was confident in that, of course, she¡¯d take some hardship. But she absolutely would not give in easily! What really pissed her off was what Shang Feifei said. Especially the line, ¡°I think you bring shame to your mother¡±! She had indeed been considering a transformation lately, wanting to work on her acting, aiming not to tarnish her mother¡¯s reputation. But never had anyone dared to point at her and scold her: You bring shame to your mother! Chapter 350 - Chapter 350: Chapter 350: You Are Not As Good As Her (6) Chapter 350: Chapter 350: You Are Not As Good As Her (6) Ironically, she was also aware that what Shang Feifei said was indeed true. She really couldn¡¯t compare to her mother! Her mother had won the Dance Gold Award at the age of twenty-three, while she, at the age of twenty-six, had already received the Gold Oscar for Best Actress. Although her acting was filled with spiritual energy, it was still far behind her mother¡¯s. What made her the angriest was that Shang Feifei had actually managed to win the award, and moreover, she had boldly declared that she would become a two-time Best Actress by the age of thirty! The most infuriating part was that she might actually be able to do it! If Shang Feifei bad-mouthed her, she would return the favor. If Shang Feifei continued to target Bo Yan, maybe she wouldn¡¯t even need to lift a finger; Bo Yan would take care of it himself. But ironically, Shang Feifei was fighting her fair and square, directly competing in acting skills and vying for the title of Best Actress. She also had a target, and that target was her mother! She could ignore Shang Feifei all she wanted, but deep down she knew, that mountain, her mother¡¯s legacy, was always there, unshakeable. She was indeed angry, but what she was really angry about was herself! She had wasted seven years and indeed¡ªit was time to put in the effort! Xia Siyu had another drink, having finished the bottle. As she reached for a new one, Bo Yan abruptly stopped her. Then he shook his head, ¡°You¡¯ve had too much.¡± Xia Siyu was furious, squinting at him sideways, ¡°Afraid I¡¯ll sleep with you tonight?¡± Bo Yan¡¯s hand trembled, and he swiftly released his grip. Xia Siyu snatched the bottle away and poured herself another drink without hesitation. Then she downed it in one gulp. Bo Yan stopped persuading her. He knew that at times like this, when Xia Siyu was in a bad mood, she really needed to drink to vent her emotions. He simply signaled the waiter, ¡°Bring me a bottle of the same drink she¡¯s having.¡± The waiter nodded and immediately went to prepare it. Thus, the two of them sat there in silence, communicating only through countless cups of alcohol. Of course, Bo Yan was not simply drinking alone; he knew when to stop. Previously, when Li Weiyi and she had a conflict, Qin Baizhou collected evidence, and he did too. At that time, Qin Baizhou seemed to have negotiated a deal with Li Weiyi, which was why he stood down. But now, with Li Weiyi prepared to do such things, wouldn¡¯t he be less of a man if he didn¡¯t take action? Before even leaving the building, Li Weiyi was hit by a double whammy. On one hand, Qin Baizhou took revenge by leaking Li Weiyi¡¯s group sex video online. It was pixelated on domestic websites but clear on international ones. As the video spread, Li Weiyi¡¯s image was completely ruined. Moreover, as Xia Siyu said, Li Weiyi was indeed ¡°not up to par¡± in the video! On the other hand, there was Bo Yan. He found one of the victims of Li Weiyi¡¯s group activities. It turned out that Li Weiyi didn¡¯t just play; he had also used drugs! Some of the girls were drugged and it wasn¡¯t their intention. This made the crime much more severe, and it was directly considered rape, necessitating a prison sentence. Once one victim came forward, other victims were also inspired to do the same. It was unlikely that Li Weiyi played these games alone. The guy with the narrow eyes and another accomplice, also participants in the group activities and involved in drugging, were caught all at once. Li Weiyi¡¯s father tried to settle matters with money, but the victims were protected by Bo Yan and were beyond his threats. All he could do was watch his son be tried and sentenced to prison. As for Jiang Bumei, she hadn¡¯t caused any major problems for the time being, and Bo Yan was keeping a close eye on her as well. Let¡¯s set aside these matters for now. At the moment, Xia Siyu had drunk a bit too much. That evening, she still had to go back with Bo Yan. Chapter 351 - Chapter 351: Chapter 351: You Are Not As Good As Her (Monthly Ticket Bonus) Chapter 351: Chapter 351: You Are Not As Good As Her (Monthly Ticket Bonus) By the time the event was ending, Xia Siyu sat quietly in her seat. She was right on the edge of being drunk, as quiet and unassuming as a vine, unable to speak. She knew she was a bit tipsy, feeling troubled especially after the double blow from Li Weiyi and Shang Feifei. She was aware of her discomfort and thus allowed herself to indulge in just enough alcohol to feel slightly buzzed. When it was time to leave, Xia Youbiao wanted to take care of his daughter, but as a successful middle-aged man in a public setting, pulling along a top female celebrity, believe it or not, would spike the search rankings instantly. The women by his side were either Madam Tong, Xia Sicai, or other members of the Xia Family. None of them liked Xia Siyu, none could be relied upon. He hesitated, glancing at Xia Ju¡¯an next to him. Xia Ju¡¯an said, ¡°I¡¯ll go then.¡± After all, he was Xia Siyu¡¯s legitimate older brother, and it was only right for a brother to take care of his sister. Even if the story got out, he wouldn¡¯t be afraid. However, no sooner had he taken a few steps than a female waitress approached Xia Siyu to strike up a conversation, and then Xia Siyu stood up and followed her. Although Xia Ju¡¯an wasn¡¯t aware of the earlier confrontation involving Li Weiyi cornering her in the restroom, he felt something wasn¡¯t quite right and was about to intervene, but then he saw Bo Yan in the distance looking at him and shaking his head. Xia Ju¡¯an understood then that this must have been someone arranged by Bo Yan. Feeling reassured by Bo Yan¡¯s assistance, he turned back to tell his father about it. While Xia Youbiao felt relieved, he also felt a pang of sadness because Xia Siyu hadn¡¯t given him even a glance throughout the entire event. Compared to the Bo Family, she detested the Xia Family even more. Bo Yan indeed paid close attention; the waitress was someone he had specifically chosen, believing it wasn¡¯t too convenient for him to go himself. When descending the stairs, he took the left elevator and she the right, intentionally choosing different floors. Bo Yan¡¯s car was parked on the third basement level, but he pressed the button for the second basement parking lot. When he arrived at the second level, he looked up and said apologetically, ¡°Oh, sorry, I remembered wrong.¡± There were other people in the elevator, and everyone shared a knowing smile. Many who attended the banquet had been drinking, and there were continuous pickups. His deliberate time delay meant that by the time he made his way to the car, Xia Siyu was already seated in the back, eyes closed, collecting herself. Was she asleep? Bo Yan wasn¡¯t quite sure, and the driver hadn¡¯t arrived; he leaned in to take a sniff. Bo Yan¡¯s car was parked at the very end of the garage. The windows were tinted with a reflective film to ensure actions inside were invisible to outsiders. Besides, Xia Siyu was utterly disoriented from the alcohol, showing no response no matter how he touched or shaped her. Even so, he was still quite cautious at first, shifting his seat slightly before gradually leaning in closer, his upper body inching down as his face moved slowly toward the target of her lips. Perhaps it was because the surroundings were filled with the murmur of voices, not just people talking, but also the sound of cars moving and headlights glaring. Even though he was aware that those outside couldn¡¯t see inside the car, he could watch the outside scenery. This sneaky feeling was indeed more thrilling, more arousing. Who could imagine that hidden in the back seat of an inconspicuous car in the corner, were two of China¡¯s top celebrities? Xia Siyu had drunk fruit wine, and her body smelled not only of alcohol but also of fruit. Bo Yan couldn¡¯t resist moving even closer, about to kiss her¡­ Chapter 352 - Chapter 352: Chapter 352: Obediently Listening (1) Chapter 352: Chapter 352: Obediently Listening (1) Just at this moment, he heard footsteps approaching. Bo Yan hesitated for a second but did not step back. This was the most secluded corner, and although that was the case, there were still quite a few people attending the banquet today, so there were some coming and going. It couldn¡¯t be his driver, could it? As he was thinking this, the footsteps drew nearer and not long after, the car door opened: ¡°Young Master Yan.¡± When the driver entered, Bo Yan and Xia Siyu were already seated. Only, Xia Siyu was leaning against the car door, while Bo Yan¡ªseemed to be sitting right in the middle, next to Xia Siyu. ¡°Sorry to have kept you waiting.¡± Kept waiting for what, Bo Yan slightly frowned, wished he had instructed the driver to come half an hour later. He grunted from his throat, sat up straight, maintaining a calm demeanor. The car quickly set off, with a driver present, Bo Yan dared not act recklessly. Occasionally, he glanced at her and noticed that Xia Siyu had woken up at some point. However, she was leaning one arm against the car window, looking at the scenery outside. But she was very quiet, not making a fuss, her expression somewhat serious, as if pondering something. The car sped along, streetlights and buildings being left behind quickly. Xia Siyu, propping up her arm, had been looking at the street scenes for quite a while when she suddenly asked, ¡°What kind of person do you think I am?¡± Bo Yan was startled; the question came out of nowhere. What did she mean by ¡°What kind of person am I?¡± And was she asking him? Maybe she had drunk too much and was now launching into her second mode: drunken babble. He fell silent for a moment. Xia Siyu did not hear his response, but she wasn¡¯t angry. A little while later, she asked again, ¡°Do you think I¡¯m a failure?¡± This time Bo Yan finally turned to look at her, openly. Xia Siyu was still gazing outside the window, her expression unreadable. The one thing for certain was that her tone was resolute, though it carried a hint of self-deprecating mockery, it was definitely not to the level of drunken nonsense. At most, it was a case of the truth coming out when drunk. He spoke up, ¡°Are you asking me?¡± Xia Siyu did not heed his counterquestion and continued with her third query, ¡°Do you ever find me quite laughable?¡± Bo Yan frowned, now even more puzzled. Even though Xia Siyu¡¯s tone was fine, the questions sounded too much like the ramblings of a drunkard. With the driver in front, he also didn¡¯t know what to say: ¡°Why do you ask?¡± There was silence again. This kind of silence, it just wasn¡¯t like Xia Siyu¡¯s personality. Bo Yan asked again, ¡°Are you drunk? Do you still know who I am?¡± Xia Siyu was silent for a long time before she began to speak, ¡°I officially debuted at the age of twenty, and I¡¯m almost twenty-seven now. I found fame the moment I debuted, and I¡¯ve been in the spotlight for six years. Everyone knows me, from the old and frail to kindergarten kids. I get paid a few tens of millions for a movie, millions for an advert. These years, I¡¯ve earned more money than many will in their lifetime. Although I don¡¯t have the best reputation, I don¡¯t really care. I know what people say about me, that I¡¯m nothing but a pretty face. Besides my looks, I¡¯m worthless. My reputation is poor, I¡¯m involved in scandals, I have a bad temper, I¡¯m known to throw diva fits¡ª I¡¯m aware of everything my haters say about me. But I don¡¯t care. I don¡¯t care how others see me.¡± Bo Yan didn¡¯t know how to interject, so he remained silent. But at this moment, Xia Siyu suddenly turned her head, looking him straight in the eye: ¡°But I do care about how I see myself.¡± Chapter 353 - Chapter 353: Chapter 357: Obediently Listening (6) Chapter 353: Chapter 357: Obediently Listening (6) Her eyes were sparkling, and even though the car light was off, he could still see the gleam in her pupils. Even if she really had drunk too much, her reason was still there. Was it because of Li Weiyi¡¯s rebuke today, or had she heard some unpleasant words at the Xia Family¡¯s end, making her feel this uncomfortable? Before Bo Yan could ask, Xia Siyu explained herself: ¡°Of course, I know I am beautiful. It¡¯s because of this face that I entered the entertainment industry, and because of this face, I became a top celebrity, and I¡¯ve been one for six years. As long as my face isn¡¯t ruined or aged, I should continue to be popular. Popularity is good, it brings in the most money, attracts the most attention. I¡¯m not unaware of my beauty; I know too well how good-looking I am, it¡¯s like relying on beauty to be aggressive. But I always want to leave behind something more.¡± Bo Yan frowned slightly; he vaguely felt that Xia Siyu¡¯s words held another meaning, and it didn¡¯t seem to be just because of Li Weiyi that she was upset, but rather something deeper. As for the Xia Family, that was even less likely. Although Xia Siyu¡¯s relationship with the Xia Family wasn¡¯t to the point of being completely incompatible, it was close. She had nothing to talk about with her biological father, her brother, or her sisters. The Xia Family disapproved of her reputation; she couldn¡¯t be bothered to provoke those who pointed fingers and passed judgment. ¡ªSuddenly, he thought of Xia Siyu¡¯s mother. Although Xia Siyu¡¯s mother had already passed away by the time they got married, if anyone could affect her emotions and cause such turbulence, it would definitely be her mother. Even though Xia Siyu and the Xia Family were very secretive about her mother, when Bo Yan visited Sicily last time, he had a feeling that her mother must have been quite a character. Unfortunately, Wen Qunxiao had left the industry too early, about thirty years ago. And when she left, her reputation hadn¡¯t been very good, so she was rarely promoted thereafter. As a doctoral scholar in film arts, he had indeed seen her movies. But for one, he hadn¡¯t considered it from that angle, and for another, over the years, the Xia Family had been gradually erasing her presence. Apart from the dedicated hard-core fans, her movies were rarely rerun, her dances were seen even less, and without promotion, after thirty years, there weren¡¯t many new people commemorating her on a large scale. But he wasn¡¯t certain, so he said nothing. He didn¡¯t speak, but Xia Siyu scoffed lightly, ¡°Sometimes you must find me ridiculous and don¡¯t want to bother with me, right? I dropped out of college, my head is empty, I haven¡¯t read many books. I got into university as an overseas Chinese art student. It¡¯s not just you, many people laugh at me for being ignorant, uneducated, ¡®all brawn and no brains,¡¯ relying solely on a pretty face. Let them curse; I don¡¯t care. I just think that, many years later, when I¡¯ve aged, when I¡¯m gone, will people still remember me, not just as ¡®the most beautiful one,¡¯ but rather, ¡®a good actress¡¯? I am an actress; this is my profession. I¡¯ve worked in this job for seven years, and I¡¯ve become a top celebrity, one of the most famous people in the country. But I have not received any recognition in my profession, which is not someone else¡¯s problem, it¡¯s my own failure.¡± After saying that, Xia Siyu looked at Bo Yan earnestly: ¡°I want to learn how to act. I want to win the Best Actress award on my own merit. Not just one, not two, but as many as possible. Please teach me.¡± Chapter 354 - Chapter 354: Chapter 354: Obediently Listening (3) Chapter 354: Chapter 354: Obediently Listening (3) Bo Yan had never expected to hear such a statement from Xia Siyu. Before he entered the entertainment industry, he had been a teacher, serving as a teaching assistant when he first met Xia Siyu. By the time he officially became a lecturer and stood at the podium, Xia Siyu had long since dropped out. Even before she dropped out, she was a notorious slacker in class, often sleeping through lectures and passing exams by simply showing up¡ª a 24K gold-branded dud. During their relationship, he rarely heard her talk about her studies. This was the first time she had explicitly expressed a desire to learn and wanted Bo Yan to teach her! Bo Yan was stunned for a moment, noticing her earnest eyes and intensely focused expression, as if she was about to discuss a life-altering matter of great importance. He looked at her, about to nod, when the car suddenly stopped, followed by the driver in front announcing, ¡°Young Master Yan, we¡¯ve arrived.¡± Bo Yan grunted in response, not even giving the driver half a glance. Moreover, he turned to say, ¡°You go down first.¡± ¡°Here?¡± The driver was slightly puzzled; he had stopped the car inside the courtyard, not having brought it into the garage yet. Usually, Bo Yan and Xia Siyu would get out first, and after entering the house, it was more convenient for him to drive into the garage. But as this was Bo Yan¡¯s instruction, he got out of the car. The driver got out first, closing the car door behind him. Bo Yan remained still, rolling down the window and glancing at the driver. Then he gestured with his hand for the driver to move farther away. The driver did as he was told and walked away from the car. Bo Yan only rolled up the window after watching him leave the courtyard. Afterward, he thought for a moment and locked the car door, using the remote on the key to secure it. The lights in the car dimmed, leaving just the two of them. Throughout this process, Xia Siyu maintained the same posture, her gaze fervent. Clearly, although her thoughts were coherent, she was a bit drunk. Otherwise, given her personality, she would have either made a run for it or at least grumbled about it, not sitting here so obediently. Bo Yan looked at Xia Siyu in the light of the courtyard lamp and nodded faintly, ¡°I can teach you, that¡¯s not out of the question.¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s eyes lifted, ¡°What do I need to do for you to agree?¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s eyes were locked on him, unguarded and direct. Bo Yan was notoriously thick-skinned; although her stare made him a little nervous, he showed no fear and met her gaze head-on. Moreover, he continued to earnestly persuade her, like a salesperson in a multi-level marketing organization fervently pitching himself, ¡°As you know, I have a Doctorate in Film Culture and Arts, and I¡¯m a university lecturer with extensive theoretical knowledge. I¡¯m not all talk¡ª my practice is solid too, at least the Best Actor trophy I have is proof. But I don¡¯t just teach anyone. Even if you¡¯re willing to learn, I need to see if you have the talent. After all, acting requires innate ability. Without talent, you¡¯re just a block of wood, no matter how much I teach you. But talent alone isn¡¯t enough. To be a successful actor, you need not just that one percent of talent; you also need ninety-nine percent effort. It¡¯s exhausting work, so forget it.¡± ¡°Of course, I want to grab it! As soon as possible, preferably next year¡ª at the latest within three years. I must get the Best Actress award. No, two of them¡ªno, three! And it would be even better to win an international award!¡± Perhaps it was the influence of the alcohol, but there was a fiery sincerity in her eyes. It seemed that she was utterly unaware of the looming danger. Chapter 355 - Chapter 355: Chapter 355: Be Obedient (4) Chapter 355: Chapter 355: Be Obedient (4) However, Xia Siyu¡¯s words still left Bo Yan somewhat puzzled, ¡°Why two statues? Why does it have to be within three years?¡± Within three years, she would exactly be thirty. She wanted to win two Best Actress awards by the time she turned thirty? Wait a second, thirty years old, two-time Best Actress¡­ In China, there are three top awards, Gold Oscar, Gold Sparrow, and Gold Cup. At the age of thirty, those who have won more than two awards are few and far between in the entertainment industry. Back in the days in Hong Kong and Macau, indeed there were acting legends, and there were some in the mainland as well. But even for top actresses, it is not guaranteed to win two Best Actress trophies, let alone before turning thirty. Some information flashed through his mind, somewhat fragmentary, but Bo Yan faintly felt that this information was critically important. It seemed as if some name was on the verge of coming to him. ¡°It has to be within three years! If Shang Feifei can win Best Actress, why can¡¯t I? She is aiming for a second Best Actress, I want to win more, and do it sooner!¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s remark once again left him speechless with a wry smile. He actually felt that Xia Siyu had the idea of transforming. From her choice of the second female lead in ¡°Storm¡± to her insistence on performing in ¡°Spring Light,¡± it was clear that she indeed had thoughts about her career. Flowers do not bloom for a hundred days, let alone in the ever-changing entertainment circle. She was now twenty-six or twenty-seven, right at the age of a blooming flower. Because of her early fame, she had already been in the industry for six years. But at this very moment, she was at the peak of her beauty. Not long after this, by thirty, her body and face would start to decline quickly. Even with dedicated workouts and appropriate cosmetic procedures, it was only about maintaining her current state. It looked like tonight¡¯s incident was probably triggered by something Shang Feifei said to her, hitting right on her insecurities, which is why she reacted so strongly. And this person must be related to her mother! ¡°You yourself are not without talent, it¡¯s just that your talent, for a role in an idol drama or something, isn¡¯t a problem, but to win an award, you¡¯re currently still a bit far from the standard of Best Actress. Of course, you are capable, but with your talent, maybe it¡¯ll take three to five years of hard work, perhaps ten years, or even twenty years, you should be able to win a Best Actress. However, if you¡¯re not eager to improve yourself, then forget I said anything.¡± Bo Yan knew well the essence of pyramid schemes. Elevate oneself first, then skillfully belittle others. After lowering your expectations, give you a ladder, telling you that following their advice will lead to success! ¡°So, do you want to learn from me? Can you endure hardship? Can you listen to me?¡± Xia Siyu had never been so docile before. She nodded vigorously, her eyes sparkling. Bo Yan glanced at her, then lowered his gaze, his voice low, ¡°Since ancient times, teachers have charged tuition, that is, a fee for their teaching. I can teach you, but I also want to collect some interest¡­ If you¡¯re willing to pay the tuition, I¡¯ll pass on all my knowledge and skills to you without reservation.¡± Xia Siyu tilted her head, bewildered, and looked at him with confusion. Bo Yan glanced at her, then slowly reached out his hand¡ªthe target was her neckline. Although Xia Siyu was drunk and desperately wanted to win, she still maintained an instinctive resistance. She threw a punch his way. Fortunately, Bo Yan reacted quickly, grabbing her arm and smoothly falling back, pinning her to the car seat, ¡°Didn¡¯t you agree to behave and listen? If you don¡¯t listen, how can I teach you?¡± Chapter 356 - Chapter 356: Chapter 356: Obediently Listening (5) Chapter 356: Chapter 356: Obediently Listening (5) Bo Yan felt like he was precisely like the type of bad uncle who lures little girls with candy, deceiving an innocent little bunny into a wolf¡¯s den before gobbling it up. He once spent his university years engrossed in rigorous study, aiming to become a famous scholar, establish his own school of thought, then take under his wing some proud disciples to propagate and enhance his beliefs and ideas for generations to come. To his surprise, his first disciple turned out to be Xia Siyu. And under such circumstances, no less. But Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t someone easy to handle, even at a time like this. She wouldn¡¯t just lie down and obey; she was restless and terribly uncomfortable. Bo Yan lowered his voice, deliberately using a prolonged, rich tone to entice her, ¡°If you don¡¯t listen and keep fidgeting, I won¡¯t teach you.¡± After these words, Xia Siyu really froze as if she were spellbound, looking at him without moving an inch. She indeed drank a bit too much just now, but she didn¡¯t lose her composure as before because she was preoccupied with her troubles. She had never shown the most vulnerable side of her heart. Her mother¡¯s matter was her heart¡¯s greatest secret, as well as her role model. But there was no one around her to confide in. Her relatives¡ªher father and brother loved her, but they also had to consider the thoughts of the Tong lady and Xia Sicai as well as the family. She didn¡¯t have any friends, and Qin Baizhou, being a man, had to maintain a proper distance for the sake of propriety. Wei Jingjing came too late, only getting to know her three years prior. Though responsible for her daily life and work, she was more like a colleague with whom she got along well; there were some secrets Fei¡¯er didn¡¯t wish to reveal to her. As for Zhou Weiwei, even though she and Xia Siyu were classmates and friends during their insignificant earlier times, Xia Siyu knew that Zhou Weiwei wasn¡¯t without ulterior motives. Besides, Zhou Weiwei was also busy with her career as an artist. Such matters, she wouldn¡¯t discuss with Zhou Weiwei either. Despite being surrounded by a host of people¡ªassistants, bodyguards, agents, makeup artists, as well as fans, and haters¡ªshe could be recognized by someone on the street within ten minutes. Yet, she didn¡¯t have any close family or friends, living like an isolated island. If she hadn¡¯t become familiar with Bo Yan recently, if she hadn¡¯t been drinking tonight, if not for the mixed doubles blow by Li Weiyi and Shang Feifei, she probably wouldn¡¯t have spoken of such matters to Bo Yan. She had considered transitioning for a long time, aiming to star in serious, meaningful films that could stand the test of time. Only, she had never felt such an urgency as she did today. Winning the title of ¡®Best Actress¡¯ wasn¡¯t something you could achieve just by working hard. After entering the industry, she was entirely self-taught, and the acting teachers who were hired merely gave her some casual guidance. She was very young then and hadn¡¯t thought so far ahead. Later she was besieged by haters, and handling them every day exhausted all her energy, leaving no room to think about transitioning. And humans tend to be lazy by nature. She considered herself serious about acting, and she wasn¡¯t bad at it either, otherwise she wouldn¡¯t have been nominated for Best Actress. But being nominated wasn¡¯t enough; she wanted to climb higher and stand farther! Deep down, she actually knew Bo Yan¡¯s abilities, and she even admired him a bit. He was a Ph.D. student during his academic years, and quickly won the ¡®Best Actor¡¯ award after starting his acting career. He relied on his own strength, not his family. She was a poor student in school, and after acting for years without winning a single award, she was also mediocre in acting. When Bo Yan said he would teach her and that she had to be obedient, she truly lay quietly waiting for him to speak. Chapter 357 - Chapter 357: Chapter 357: Obediently Listening (6) Chapter 357: Chapter 357: Obediently Listening (6) If Xia Siyu hadn¡¯t been drunk, she probably wouldn¡¯t have been so obedient. If it weren¡¯t for Shang Feifei provoking her, she had set a small goal for herself previously, aiming to gradually transition from supporting actress in ¡°Storm¡± to art house films, and then to other genres, expanding her acting range and developing her skills. This was not only to avoid tarnishing her mother¡¯s reputation, but also for herself and her profession as an actor. But provoked by Shang Feifei, what originally should have taken five, ten, or even more years to accomplish was now compressed into three years. Her desire to win was intense, not just because of Shang Feifei, but also because she felt guilty about the seven years she had wasted, and she was ashamed in front of her mother. ¡ª¡ªBut there was also something else, perhaps even Xia Siyu herself didn¡¯t know. The person to teach her was Bo Yan. During this time, she became familiar with Bo Yan through acting and variety shows together, and even slept in the same bed at night. They shared many kisses and embraces, she had seen his body, touched his abs, and he had seen her in her entirety, gradually blurring the boundaries she had set between them as men and women. But even though they had kissed, touched, and embraced each other, Bo Yan had said himself that he would absolutely not take the final step with her unless she refused. So, in a way, Xia Siyu did feel a slight sense of trust in Bo Yan. The disappearance of these invisible boundaries was the most dangerous. When she was sober, Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t particularly guarded against Bo Yan, but if he dared to overstep, she would definitely give him a beatdown, plus an ¡°Extinguishing Family Kick¡± that would make him question his life. But she was drunk, and she also needed something from him. At this moment, his actions weren¡¯t too forceful, his voice was very gentle, and he even had a smile on his face. The inebriated Xia Siyu just lay there motionless. Not only that, but she also gazed at him with innocent, twinkling eyes. Bo Yan hesitated a bit; although he wanted so much to deal with her right away, this was in a car, and there were people coming and going. It wouldn¡¯t have mattered if others saw them, but if Bo Yi and Xia Sicai came to watch, it would really spoil the mood. ¡°Don¡¯t talk and don¡¯t move now, I¡¯m going to a quieter place to teach you.¡± Xia Siyu nodded her head. He quickly got up, opened the car door, and then lifted her up horizontally. Xia Siyu obediently wrapped her arms around his neck, docile like a kitten. Bo Yan walked swiftly to the mansion, carrying her, his pace quick, though it wasn¡¯t clear if it was because she was heavy, or for some other reason. Upon entering the mansion, the grandparents, Uncle Bo Qiliu and his family, including Bo Yi and Xia Sicai, were all present. Seeing him return, Bo Yi spoke with a tone of double meaning, with a sting in his words: ¡°I thought you were busy with something outside and wouldn¡¯t come in. Since when did you and Siyu become so close?¡± Xia Sicai glanced at Bo Yan and her, pausing briefly on the princess carry before quickly looking away. The grandfather¡¯s expression wasn¡¯t very pleasant either; Bo Yan¡¯s absence onstage today clearly meant he was deliberately not giving face to him, and he stood up with a grim face: ¡°Bo Yan, come to the study.¡± Being called to the study in the Bo Family meant a scolding. Uncle Bo Qiliu tried to mediate: ¡°Dad, it¡¯s your birthday today, a day of celebration, let¡¯s not scold anyone.¡± Even though he was trying to diffuse the situation, the smile on his face showed he was quite pleased. Unexpectedly, Bo Yan replied: ¡°Grandfather, I have a very important matter that needs to be handled right away. Can we talk about your instructions tomorrow?¡± After saying that, he no longer paid attention to everyone in the hall and quickly carried Xia Siyu back to the bedroom. Chapter 358 - Chapter 358: Chapter 358 Untitled (1) Chapter 358: Chapter 358 Untitled (1) Bo Yan could still hold it together when he started in the hall, quickly carrying her upstairs. But once they passed the stairwell¡¯s corner, he almost ran forward. Yet, he was worried about jostling Xia Siyu and making her uncomfortable, so he tried to keep it as smooth as possible while running. The Xia Siyu in his arms was really well-behaved, not moving or speaking at all. Upon reaching the second floor, a servant saw him and said, ¡°Young Master Yan.¡± Bo Yan nodded, it was inconvenient to continue holding Xia Siyu, so he asked, ¡°Could you open the door for me?¡± The servant nodded, opened his bedroom for him, and also turned on the light. Bo Yan carried her in, closed the bedroom door with his heel, took quick steps, and put her on the large bed. He spoke softly, ¡°Wait here, be good and don¡¯t move.¡± Xia Siyu knelt at the head of the bed, already very drunk at this point, it was her bedtime, and she was drunk, sleepy, and tired, so she nodded. Bo Yan even complimented her, ¡°Excellent.¡± Then he turned around and locked the bedroom door from the inside. After some thought, he drew the curtains too. He had promised Xia Siyu that if she was unwilling, he would absolutely not make a move on his own. But he also had his ways. And now, was this opportunity not delivered right to his door? And she had personally asked for it. Although he wanted the physical intimacy, even at this moment, he did not want to force it. The matters between men and women should be consensual for the greatest joy. Persuasion, deception, and seduction were all preferable to a direct and aggressive takeover. Therefore, even now, he still approached with a smile, sitting beside her without touching her body. He wanted to lure her into his trap so that when she sobered up, she wouldn¡¯t deliver a womb-breaking kick and divorce him! In these past years, Bo Yan¡¯s acting skills honed in the entertainment industry were put to the ultimate test in this moment. He looked at her with a face that was indifferent, gentle yet aloof, ¡°Do you really want to learn how to act?¡± Xia Siyu nodded. Perhaps feeling her own determination insufficient, she nodded more vigorously. Bo Yan also nodded, ¡°Good. Do you know what is the most difficult part to play for an actress? Emotional scenes. Especially¡ªromantic love. I know you¡¯ve shot a lot of innocent girl films before. But your only breakthrough was ¡®Storm¡¯. And that¡¯s still not enough. Our school teaches a class called ¡®rehearsal¡¯, where you pick a random scene, a female lead¡¯s personality, then you perform it. In a moment, I¡¯ll give you a test, set a female lead¡¯s personality, a scene, and I¡¯ll act with you. Can you do it?¡± Xia Siyu nodded vigorously again. She was indeed drunk at the moment, but not entirely without consciousness. Bo Yan mixed truth with lies so well that with her muddled mind, it seemed to make sense. Add to that his polite and high-status behavior, her brain was indeed numbed, and she failed to sense the danger. Bo Yan nodded, ¡°Good. Since you¡¯ve always played the innocent white flower female lead, now, you will play a fiery and proactive character. The setting is a swimming pool, you¡¯re wearing a bikini, I¡¯m in swim trunks, you come over and caress my chest, then casually pull down my swim trunks. I will resist, but you must be the initiator. Can you do that?¡± Xia Siyu nodded. ¡°Excellent,¡± Bo Yan said, ¡°then I¡¯ll be unbuttoning your clothes now¡­¡± Chapter 359 - Chapter 359: Chapter 359 Untitled (2) Chapter 359: Chapter 359 Untitled (2) When Bo Yan spoke those few words, he maintained a facade of calm at first, but by the last few words, his breath faltered. However, when his fingers touched her neckline, Xia Siyu still subconsciously resisted. Seeing her resistance, Bo Yan didn¡¯t force her any further and swiftly retracted his hand, speaking with a facade of nonchalance, ¡°Otherwise, you do it. I won¡¯t touch you.¡± Xia Siyu blinked twice but didn¡¯t move. Bo Yan, with a good-natured tone, said, ¡°If you¡¯re unwilling to learn, then let it be. If you¡¯re not willing to practice even the simplest scene, then it¡¯s unlikely you¡¯ll win Best Actress before you¡¯re thirty.¡± The keywords ¡°thirty¡± and ¡°Best Actress¡± indeed stirred something in Xia Siyu. She shook her head and then nodded emphatically but as she nodded, the alcohol made her head spin even more. She really bent her head down and started to unzip her dress herself. But after two tugs, with no change, she looked up at Bo Yan with pleading eyes. Her red lips were slightly pursed, and her cheeks looked dewy, but her eyes carried a pitiful expression akin to that of a sad puppy. Xia Siyu¡¯s on-screen image was that of innocent charm, and her off-screen personality was straightforward and fiery. But nobody knew that at this moment, struggling to unzip her dress, she had a pitiful urgency that really made people want to tease her! Bo Yan definitely wasn¡¯t going to let a cooked duck fly away. He put on a look of helplessness, ¡°Do you want me to help?¡± Xia Siyu nodded. He had to work hard to restrain himself from touching her carelessly, even keeping his pinky raised as he circled around to her back and unzipped her dress. Xia Siyu rarely wore perfume and, if she did, it was a very subtle scent. Right then, it was a new summer peach fragrance. The sweet scent of peach mixed with her own smell, and the moment he unzipped the dress, the fragrance intensified to its peak. Bo Yan inhaled this scent, and the parts she had earlier kicked started to stir back to life. She looked good in clothes, but without them¡ªshe looked even better. Unveiled before him was a flawless back with perfect lines. Her skin was fair and delicate, with a beautiful spinal ridge and butterfly bones on her shoulders. With regular exercise and dancing, her waist was both slender and strong, twisting with a silky flexibility. Bo Yan tried his best to control himself. No, he couldn¡¯t pounce at this moment; he had to proceed slowly and definitely could not ruin all his previous efforts! After he slipped off her cocktail dress, he returned to the front, behaving properly. He shed his own clothes quite enthusiastically, tossing his suit jacket aside and swiftly unbuckling his belt with a ¡°click,¡± then swiftly kicking it away. With his shirt, he unbuttoned it quickly, one by one. But even though his actions were fast, he kept composed in front of Xia Siyu, as if he were leisurely reading a book. When he was down to just a pair of shorts, Bo Yan pulled out his ultimate move: he took out his phone! Then, he placed it on a table nearby, aimed at the bed, and hit record! As for why he wanted to record? Bo Yan didn¡¯t have the hobby of keeping a record during such acts. His purpose for doing this was only so that when Xia Siyu woke up the next day, he¡¯d have the recording as evidence! He wasn¡¯t forcing her; it was her own voluntary decision! He had said so himself, he would never force her to do anything unless she was willing. She had scoffed at the idea at the time, but look, wasn¡¯t she ¡°voluntarily¡± agreeing now? Chapter 360 - Chapter 360: Chapter 360 Untitled (3) Chapter 360: Chapter 360 Untitled (3) He also instructed Xia Siyu, ¡°You see? Even though it¡¯s a lesson, you still have to make it look realistic. Just pretend that the phone is a camera, and do everything just like when you¡¯re filming.¡± Xia Siyu blinked her eyes, mechanically glanced at his phone, and nodded. Bo Yan said, ¡°Remember, in the upcoming scene you take the initiative. You¡¯ll come over, touch my chest, then all the way down, hook my swim trunks, pull them off, and then embrace me. During this process, I might resist a little, but you must keep going, no matter what I say. This is an emotional scene, you mustn¡¯t be shy or hold back. You have to show that forthright passion, without any hesitation!¡± Xia Siyu blinked her eyes and nodded again. ¡°¡ªNow, please start your performance.¡± As he said, Xia Siyu really did pounce on him. But since she had drunk too much, not only was her brain not clear, but her cerebellum and brain stem also couldn¡¯t maintain balance. Her intention was to touch his chest according to Bo Yan¡¯s instructions¡ªand maybe, bolstered by the alcohol, she did indeed want to touch his well-built chest after seeing him without his shirt. He was really very handsome, and Xia Siyu was a sucker for good looks. Setting other factors aside, a little touch definitely wouldn¡¯t be a loss. However, intoxicated as she was, Xia Siyu lost her balance as she lunged over and ended up falling right into his arms; moreover, her face was buried in his abdomen, with only a thin layer of fabric between them! Bo Yan¡¯s head went ¡°boom,¡± he already had a low alcohol tolerance, his face still flushed and hadn¡¯t subsided yet. Xia Siyu¡¯s tiger-like pounce completely threw him off rhythm, and he flushed even more from his face all the way down to his body. He was excited and thrilled, yet had to show resistance. He quickly said, ¡°What are you, what are you doing? Did you drink too much?¡± Xia Siyu poked her head out from his embrace, still remembering his words that no matter how he resisted she should keep going. She grinned and chuckled, ¡°I want to touch you!¡± Then, with unstoppable momentum, she stretched out her hand straight toward his chest. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t use much strength, but when she suddenly reached out her hand, Bo Yan¡¯s body trembled as if electrified, shaking all over. He had to act, ¡°Do you even know what you¡¯re doing?¡± Xia Siyu blinked and declared confidently, ¡°Of course I do!¡± Even while drunk, Xia Siyu was bold and fearless. Her hand traced from his chest and landed directly on his lower abdomen, hooking onto his shorts and tugging them down. ¡ªIn fact, according to what Bo Yan had described earlier, ¡°wearing only a bikini¡± means just the three little pieces underneath. The ¡°swim trunks¡± referred to his shorts. Xia Siyu followed his instructions and didn¡¯t think there was anything inappropriate. And thankfully, at this point she was intoxicated. She just cocked her head, curiously looking over his body, then turned to look at her own, ¡°Why don¡¯t I have one?¡± But that didn¡¯t matter! She still remembered that she needed to continue the act; she was someone who saw things through. Bo Yan had said an embrace was needed! With another tiger lunge, she pounced on him, pushing him onto the edge of the bed. Xia Siyu was quite pleased with herself, thinking, I¡¯m doing quite well, aren¡¯t I? Just as she was basking in her triumph, suddenly she felt the world spin; she was firmly pinned down by Bo Yan, and from above, a man¡¯s dark voice spoke, ¡°This was your choice to make¡­¡± Chapter 361 - Chapter 361: Chapter 361 Untitled (4) Chapter 361: Chapter 361 Untitled (4) ¡°Hmm?¡± Xia Siyu cocked her head in confusion, but the very next second, she couldn¡¯t make a sound. The man¡¯s long-suppressed emotions erupted suddenly. Moreover, her acting just now was so convincing, so very good that it saved him the last step, allowing him to get straight to the point. A man starved for seven years can be incredibly fierce, and she realized this in an instant. Siyu was already drunk, tired, and sleepy, having just mustered the energy to engage in an acting game with him. Now, tightly held by him, she couldn¡¯t escape even if she wanted to. She should be grateful that she often exercised and was in good shape. She danced, so her waist was flexible, and she had trained in boxing, which allowed her to vigorously grapple with Bo Yan continuously. She was even more thankful that she was drunk, which meant she didn¡¯t resist much and lacked the embarrassment she might have felt while sober. Xia Siyu was forthright by nature. Their first time was initiated by her as well. She wasn¡¯t coy. In fact, she felt so happy during the process that she even cooperated with him a bit. Of course, if Bo Yan made her unhappy, she wouldn¡¯t hesitate to scratch with her claws or bite with her teeth. By the end of it all, Bo Yan¡¯s face, body, and back were all marked. But he didn¡¯t feel wronged at all, rather appearing as splendid as fireworks bursting in the sky. The room was also a mess. Although their outer clothes had been removed early on, the bed sheets were dirty and wrinkled from their tussling; her BRA hung at the foot of the bed, his shorts kicked under it. Once he had rested, he turned off his phone and checked the recorded video. He edited out the part at the beginning where he tricked her into acting and deleted the scenes where they fought, leaving only the part where she took the initiative. Xia Siyu was already fast asleep, completely exhausted. Just moments before, she had been as fierce as a wildcat, but now, with her hair spread out, she slept at the head of the bed like a delicate doll. Equally noble, wild, both angel and demon. The incident happened so suddenly that he didn¡¯t have time to take a shower, remove his makeup, or anything of the sort, let alone take precautions. But it didn¡¯t matter. They were husband and wife. If she didn¡¯t want it, she could take measures after waking up the next day. For now, he urgently needed to take a shower and remove his makeup. The mansion¡¯s bathroom had a bathtub, and he adjusted the water temperature and started to fill it. While waiting for the bath to fill, he picked up Xia Siyu, routinely cleansed her face, and removed her makeup. Fortunately, he had come back to stay in advance; disposable makeup removers and other living supplies were all well-stocked. After cleansing her face, he carried her into the bathtub, allowing her to lean against him, and applied body wash on her. She was so pale. Under the warm light of the bathroom, she practically glowed, especially when contrasted against his chest. Such pale skin was also scattered with marks. He had been careful, knowing she was a public figure, and dared not leave any on places that might be exposed. But in some more hidden spots, there were patches of bluish purple. As his hands, covered in body wash, roamed over her fair skin, his breathing quickened again. Bo Yan was not one to shortchange himself. He washed both of them as quickly as possible, rinsing off the dirty water, and filled the tub with fresh water. Soon, the sounds in the bathroom were like waves crashing against rocks. Under the relentless surge of the waves, Siyu, in her grogginess, reached out an arm to cling to the only support she could find, losing herself completely¡­ Chapter 362 - Chapter 362: Chapter 362 Untitled (5) Chapter 362: Chapter 362 Untitled (5) Xia Siyu had a very long dream. At the beginning, she was by the seaside in Sicily. Her father had come, and she was holding her mother with one hand and her father with the other, playing in the water, with the sand, and basking in the sun. It took a lot of effort to build two houses out of sand for the three of them. Her father sneak attacked from behind, and a pail of water brought everything down. Annoyed, she chased after her father, who hid behind her mother, and the three of them kept laughing and playing. The scene shifted, and they were inside a messy little building in Sicily. Her mother, holding her trembling with anger and fear, wore a cold expression. The day they returned to China was supposed to be a day of reunion for their family of three, but she remembered that day at the airport, when there was a heavy rain, and the sky was very dark, reflecting her mother¡¯s gloomy face. Her father said nothing, took her hand, and picked up the luggage. After a few steps, he sighed. ¡­ Later, she met Bo Yan. He was tall and handsome, the most handsome boy she had ever seen. She wanted to know him, to have such a person as a boyfriend, so she immediately struck up a conversation with him and got his mobile number in class. But by then, the conflict between the Xia Family and her mother and her had intensified. Xia Youbiao had thought that bringing them back to China, to be with the family, people would gradually accept them. But to his dismay, even though he hadn¡¯t divorced Wen Qunxiao and their child had grown so much, the Xia Family still didn¡¯t accept her. It wasn¡¯t just because of Ms. Tong stirring things up; it was the Xia Family elders who had a prejudice against entertainers and wouldn¡¯t accept women from the entertainment industry. Moreover, Wen Qunxiao had been maliciously slandered by her ex-boyfriend for a long time, and right before she was about to marry Xia Youbiao, a major scandal had occurred. That scandal, at the time, was known to everybody. The elders of the Xia Family felt it was disgraceful and didn¡¯t want to associate this woman with their family at all. Bo Yan felt that after she greeted him, she disappeared for several days without being seen; in fact, she hadn¡¯t returned to school to attend classes, as she had gone back to the Xia Family¡¯s home. The house was in total chaos, and she didn¡¯t want to deal with Bo Yan when she was marked by the Xia Family. To her surprise, Bo Yan thought the same. He admitted that he was a very cold person ever since he was a child. His parents died early, and he lived at the mercy of others. His grandfather was partial, so everything he did was done indifferently. Other girls would flock to him, but he always paid them no attention. With certain things, Xia Siyu might ¡°believe¡± first, then ¡°see.¡± He, on the other hand, not only had to ¡°see¡± first, then ¡°believe,¡± but before he took action, he would observe for a very long time to ensure nothing could go wrong before he made a decisive move. When doing things, this kind of effortlessness gave people a strong sense of trust, as if just his nodding would mean the matter was certain to be accomplished. But love was different. Xia Siyu was passionate as fire while he was as cold as ice. Although he also fell in love with Xia Siyu at first sight and later dated her, there were always some small habits in his life that he unconsciously brought into the relationship, which ended up hurting her without him even realizing it. He hid his identity, didn¡¯t introduce her to his friends and family, nor did he bring her into his social circle. Yet, people from his social circle kept disturbing their relationship, like Wu Di, like Xia Sicai¡­ He thought things would follow an orderly progress, naturally¡ªdating while studying, living together after graduation, and getting married once they had a child. Chapter 363 - Chapter 363: Chapter 363 Untitled (6) Chapter 363: Chapter 363 Untitled (6) Bo Yan had always been accustomed to doing everything at his own pace. First, he would meet someone, then get to know them, gradually grow fonder, confess his feelings, date, and then get married. Even if he liked something, if he didn¡¯t understand its characteristics, he would still observe it for a very long time, no matter how fond of it he was. The sudden appearance of Xia Siyu was like a shooting star gliding across his night sky. The first time they met, she introduced herself; the second time, they naturally had a meal together. She was the first to confess, and it was her who initiated their first kiss. Even their first time was instigated by him. She invested too quickly, and he invested too slowly. In his heart, his affections for her gradually deepened, but on the surface, he still wore a distant and unapproachable demeanor. She was also constantly preoccupied with family matters. Until that incident happened. Their first time was even the night before they broke up. After it was over, she kicked Bo Yan out cleanly and then disappeared from his world. ¡­ Latter on, they got married. It was a thorough match of convenience; it wasn¡¯t until before the wedding that Xia Siyu found out that her intended was Bo Yan. At that time, her career was at its lowest point, with Jiang Bumei spreading rumors about her, other families joining in the attack, and bosses like the one from Golden Plastic Tires who failed trying to harass her under the table¡ªall these forces were blackening her name. She was also at odds with her previous agency and hadn¡¯t yet switched over to Qin Baizhou. Even the assistant who had followed her for years had been taken away by the previous agency. Her filmed movies were shelved, her endorsed advertisers were suing her for breach of contract, demanding she pay an astronomical sum in damages. She was truly on her own. However, she didn¡¯t agree to marry Bo Yan only because of this; it was still related to her mother. But it didn¡¯t really matter. After all, it was just a marriage of convenience. Who she married didn¡¯t really make a difference. They had already agreed to lead separate lives, and as long as it didn¡¯t affect her personal life, she had consented. Besides, Bo Yan was preferable to others; she knew him inside and out and at least he wouldn¡¯t target her. ¡­ Later, she had to move into Qingcheng Apartment to avoid the black fans¡ªthe apartment they arranged as their marital home, yet they never lived there a single day. Instead, after being distant for three years, they began living together. But what bothered her was that she had thought they were two people who didn¡¯t interfere with each other¡¯s lives. Who would have known Bo Yan would always find opportunities to get close? Appearing on the same film shoots, joining the same variety shows, and even living together. She initially thought she might be overthinking it¡ªBo Yan wasn¡¯t someone easily swayed or softened, and he hadn¡¯t shown her much kindness when they were dating, nor had he been close during their three years of marriage. Why would he think of her now? Later, it was proven that Bo Yan, that big pervert, was out to bully her. As Xia Siyu fell asleep, she was thinking maybe she had been daydreaming and night dreaming too much lately. She always felt that guy Bo Yan was up to no good, liking to pinch her waist and kiss her lips, doing naughty things to her. And the feeling of this dreamworld was just a bit too real¡ªso real that she herself believed that at this moment, she was sitting atop Bo Yan, wrestling with him. In the end, it was like returning to Heidelberg, seeing those fireworks ascend into the night sky, with her body trembling slightly. It wasn¡¯t until long after the storm had subsided that she gradually awoke from her deep slumber. Chapter 364 - Chapter 364: Chapter 364 Untitled (Extra for Monthly Votes) Chapter 364: Chapter 364 Untitled (Extra for Monthly Votes) Her head was a bit painful, her whole body a bit sore, especially from the waist down, it felt nearly like it was breaking, extremely uncomfortable. Xia Siyu was now between wakefulness and sleep, her consciousness at the blurry edges. She lay in bed, still puzzling over what she had done last night, feeling as though she had practiced dancing all afternoon, or perhaps filmed horseback riding scenes all night long. It took her a very long time to recall that last night, Li Weiyi had cornered her in the bathroom, wanting to take advantage of her. She also remembered Shang Feifei¡¯s mocking provocation. She was not like her mother, she couldn¡¯t win Best Actress, and she would be inferior to Shang Feifei in the future¡­ A little figure was desperately trying to squeeze out of her mind to assert its presence, it was Bo Yan. She seemed to vaguely remember drinking a lot with Bo Yan. How much exactly she couldn¡¯t recall, but at least two bottles. And it wasn¡¯t beer, nor wine, but something like spirits, although not very strong, perhaps only about twenty degrees, sweet and mixed with fruit flavors. But it was still spirits. She drank, Bo Yan drank too. The last clear impression she had was of being led by a waitress to the car in the parking lot. After that, everything in her mind was a haze. In a daze, she felt as though she had acted in something, as if swimming. During the process, she seemed to have really encountered water, but it always felt like taking a bath, in a bathtub. What happened afterward, her memory was completely blurred. But she had a persistent feeling, in that blurry memory, there was a man¡¯s figure, like it was Bo Yan. Just like now, as she lay in bed, she always felt that she was resting with her head on a man¡¯s arm. She even thought that she was lying on her side and that if she reached out, she could touch the man¡¯s body. Xia Siyu was daring, and as soon as this thought passed through her mind, she stretched out her hand the next second. Um, this man had smooth skin, no acne, and none of the body hair typical of Europeans. His muscles were firm, his body devoid of excess fat. Xia Siyu felt her hand was touching his arm, and reaching forward, it should now be his chest. A man¡¯s chest definitely isn¡¯t like a woman¡¯s, but when touched, it felt raised and solid, like a mahogany sofa with a cushion on top. When the palm of her hand lay on it, she could feel the powerful heartbeat in his chest. Further down, the lines were also very clear. His waist was tight, and she felt that if this man wore a tailored suit, he must have very elegant lines. Xia Siyu nodded to herself internally, this man¡¯s figure was much better than Bo Yan¡¯s. What about further down? Xia Siyu was now half in a dream, her eyes not yet open, her consciousness in a state of limbo. There was a thread of logic, but not a clear one. She hesitated a little, although she had longed for Bo Yan¡¯s good figure, wanting both to see and to touch. But her bottom line was right here, if she continued further down, it wouldn¡¯t be a provocation, it would be idiocy. But then again, she was dreaming, what was there to fear in a dream! And this dream felt so real, if she didn¡¯t try now, would she ever have the chance again? She had never explored in her life, although she had touched it seven years ago, and recently when Bo Yan acted like a hoodlum, she had also seen. But looking and touching were different, the tactile sensation was not the same! The man before her had a physique not inferior to Bo Yan¡¯s, and this might be her only chance. Since it was a dream, there was no harm in touching. Why not make a move and then run away? Chapter 365 - Chapter 365: Chapter 364 Untitled (Extra for Monthly Votes) Chapter 365: Chapter 364 Untitled (Extra for Monthly Votes) Her head hurt a bit, and so did her entire body, especially from the waist down¡ªit felt almost as if it were breaking apart, an incredibly uncomfortable sensation. Xia Siyu was half-awake at this moment, her consciousness teetering on the edge of haziness. She lay in bed, still puzzled, trying to recall what she had done the previous evening, why she felt as if she had practiced dancing all afternoon, or shot horse-riding scenes all night, the kind that left one feeling like they were falling to pieces. It took her a very long time to remember that last night, Li Weiyi had cornered her in the bathroom intending to bully her. She also recalled Shang Feifei¡¯s mocking provocation. She was not like her mother, she couldn¡¯t win the Best Actress award, she would also be outperformed by Shang Feifei in the future¡­ A tiny figure desperately squeezed through the holes in her brain, vying for attention¡ªit was Bo Yan. She vaguely remembered that she had drunk a lot of alcohol with Bo Yan in the end. Exactly how much she couldn¡¯t calculate, but at least two bottles. And that wasn¡¯t beer or wine, but something similar to white liquor, although not very strong, perhaps only around twenty degrees, sweet and blended with fruit flavors. But it was still white liquor. She drank, and so did Bo Yan. The last clear impression she had was of being guided by a waitress, taken to a car in the parking lot. Everything after that was a blur in her mind. In a daze, she felt as if she had acted out a scene, as if she were swimming. Throughout the process, she actually seemed to see water, but always had the feeling it was during a bath, in a bathtub. What happened afterward, her memory was completely vague. But she always had the sensation, within this hazy memory, that there was a man¡¯s silhouette, like that of Bo Yan. Just like now, as she lay in bed, she always felt as if she were resting her head on a man¡¯s arm. She even thought she was lying on her side and that by simply stretching out her hand, she could touch him. Xia Siyu was bold¡ªno sooner had this thought crossed her mind than her hand reached out the next second. Hmm, this man had smooth skin, no acne, and none of the body hair that Europeans have. His muscles were firm, and there was no excess fat on his body. Xia Siyu felt her hand was touching his arm, and reaching forward, it must be his chest now. A man¡¯s chest certainly wouldn¡¯t be like a woman¡¯s, but it felt full and solid to the touch, like a mahogany sofa with a soft cushion on top. As her palm stroked over it, she could feel a powerful heart beating inside the chest cavity. Further down, the lines were also very defined. His waist was tight, and she even felt that if this man wore a tailored suit, he would definitely have elegant lines. Xia Siyu was nodding to herself internally¡ªat least this man¡¯s physique was far better than Bo Yan¡¯s. Should she explore further? Right now, Xia Siyu was in a half-dream, half-awake state; her eyes were still closed, her mind in a state of detachment. There was a thread of logic, but it wasn¡¯t clear. She hesitated. Although she had indeed fantasized about Bo Yan¡¯s impressive physique, wanting both to see and to touch it, her bottom line was here. Going further would not be provocation; it would be idiocy. But then again, she was dreaming, right? What was there to fear in a dream! Moreover, the dream felt so real¡ªif she didn¡¯t try now, might she never have the chance again? While it¡¯s true she had seen it seven years ago, and recently Bo Yan had acted indecently, where she caught a glimpse¡ªyet seeing was not the same as touching, the tactile sensation was different! The man in front of her had a physique that held up to Bo Yan, and this might be her only chance. It was just a dream, after all. Why not touch it if she could? What about doing it just this once and escaping afterward? Chapter 366 - Chapter 366: Chapter 365: Take Responsibility for Me (1) Chapter 366: Chapter 365: Take Responsibility for Me (1) That¡¯s what she thought, and that¡¯s what she did. Thinking she was dreaming, she reached out without any hesitation. Huh, why does it feel like this? Hey, wait a minute, why does she feel like the man next to her is awake, shouldn¡¯t she just run away quickly? She turned to run but was caught by the man behind her, who then pinned her against the corner of the wall. Xia Siyu whined in regret, telling herself she deserved it for provoking others. At the same time, her mind couldn¡¯t help but think that this dream was way too realistic. So realistic that she could feel the man¡¯s weight and her own body starting to ache again. It was just like seven years ago when she and Bo Yan were together, the exact same feeling. It wasn¡¯t just a memory now; how could she feel as if last night, in a half-conscious state, there had also been a similar experience? Moreover, it seemed that within these bizarre dreams, there was also a Bo Yan! Wait, Bo Yan. Xia Siyu seemed to remember something and abruptly opened her eyes. As soon as she did, she indeed found that the man was Bo Yan. He looked a bit surprised upon realizing that she was awake but quickly leaned down and sealed her lips with his. His bangs fluttered lightly with his movements. Then, Xia Siyu confusingly discovered that she was not dreaming at all. This was freaking reality! The man she had just fought with was really Bo Yan, and she couldn¡¯t run because Bo Yan was blocking her, locking off her escape route. She couldn¡¯t even cry for help because Bo Yan was covering her lips! Xia Siyu was shocked and furious, and even the alcohol seemed to have been scared out of her! She wanted to fight back, but Bo Yan seemed to have anticipated this moment and had taken her wrists in advance, pinning them beside her head. Unable to resist or run, and incapable of crying out, Xia Siyu was bewildered until the very end. When Bo Yan finally released her wrist, she immediately stood up and swung her palm down, cursing vehemently, ¡°Bo Yan, you son of a bitch! You dead pervert! You bastard!!!¡± Her eyes were nearly spitting fire! This dead pervert had said he wouldn¡¯t lay a hand on her, hadn¡¯t he? How could she have been dumb enough to believe his lies! How could she forget that this man was an animal! A bastard with no credibility! Bo Yan was slapped, right on his face too, but sadly he seemed to be a bit accustomed to it. He moved his lips slightly, his eyes slowly shifting towards her with the same handsome composure on his face, calmly speaking, ¡°You were the one who initiated it.¡± ¡°I initiated what¡­¡± Xia Siyu began, but then suddenly remembered that she had indeed been handsy with Bo Yan in the ¡°dream.¡± Wait a minute, Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t stupid. She quickly pieced it together. Even if it had been her reaching out that woke Bo Yan up this time, what about last night? She had been without clothes, and so had Bo Yan. She laid there in Bo Yan¡¯s arms, her head on his arm, able to touch him with just an outstretched hand. So they must have done it last night! That bastard, using the accident from just now to nullify everything that happened last night, in a dream! ¡°Don¡¯t try to deny it! What about last night then!¡± Bo Yan looked up at her calmly and said, ¡°Last night¡­there were three times.¡± Ni Ma, are you freaking an animal? Including just now, doesn¡¯t that mean¡­ Chapter 367 - Chapter 367: Chapter 366: Take Responsibility for Me (2) Chapter 367: Chapter 366: Take Responsibility for Me (2) Xia Siyu really wanted to kill someone, and Bo Yan looked at her indifferently, ¡°But it was you who initiated it.¡± ¡°I initiated my ass! I initiated a hammer I initiated!¡± Xia Siyu was furious to the point of death and pounced on him with a ¡°grr¡± bite. Bo Yan let her punch and hit, without fighting back, and turned around unhurriedly to pick up his phone. ¡°It really was you who initiated it, don¡¯t believe me, see for yourself.¡± Bo Yan had anticipated that Xia Siyu would come to settle accounts with him today, so he took out his ultimate weapon: mobile phone video recording! In the video, Xia Siyu was left with just three points covering her body, she pounced like a hungry tiger, lunging directly at Bo Yan. Bo Yan¡¯s face was red, his eyes were vacant, slightly frightened, and his movements were slow, clearly drunk, even his speech was slurred: ¡°What are you doing, are you too drunk?¡± Xia Siyu poked her head out from his embrace, grinning from ear to ear, ¡°I want to touch you!¡± Then she reached out her paw, going straight for his chest. Bo Yan was scared, his whole body began to tremble. He tried to back away, but he was already sitting on the edge of the bed with no escape: ¡°Do you know what you¡¯re doing?¡± The Xia Siyu in the video was confident, ¡°Of course, I know!¡± Then it was her hand placed on his chest sliding down, pulling at his pants. Bo Yan tried to avoid her in every possible way but still couldn¡¯t escape her claws, and in the end, she even toppled him onto the bed head¡­ ¡­ At this point, Xia Siyu herself felt a bit guilty. The video was solid evidence; after drinking too much, if Bo Yan was roaming around in front of her wearing only shorts, maybe she really would reach out and touch him. She indeed was a bit greedy for Bo Yan¡¯s body. Just like today, she hadn¡¯t sobered up yet when she started getting handsy. But, at most she just wanted to look and touch, ah, that was her original intention, not the things that followed. She didn¡¯t want to provoke him! She barely lifted her head, speaking with difficulty, ¡°¡­You could have refused.¡± He could have stopped it; though the fire was set by her, both of them were drunk at the time. If he hadn¡¯t moved, wouldn¡¯t there be no issue at all? Don¡¯t think she doesn¡¯t know, if a man really drinks until his consciousness is blurred, it¡¯s impossible for him to get excited. This guy was clearly emboldened by alcohol, he did it on purpose! Now the one acting confident was Bo Yan, ¡°Why should I have refused?¡± Yes, why should he refuse? He had been yearning to live a married life with her all along, he had wanted to make a move on her for a long time but refrained from forcing her out of gentlemanly conduct. The moment she offered him an opportunity, he was quick to take the lead and climb up! Xia Siyu was grinding her back teeth, drinking was a mistake! No matter how distressed she felt, she should have hidden away and drunk in secret rather than drinking in front of this bastard! Now look at what¡¯s happened, it¡¯s gone too far! The most infuriating thing is. What if she got pregnant? Even taking medicine hurts the body! Xia Siyu¡¯s emotions finally calmed down, and for a moment the room was silent. After a long time, Bo Yan finally spoke, ¡°Well, since it¡¯s already happened¡­¡± Xia Siyu followed his words, ¡°Let¡¯s just pretend nothing happened. After all, we are adults, it was consensual, there was no force involved.¡± Standard douchebag rhetoric. Bo Yan didn¡¯t expect her to be so dismissive at this moment, and he suddenly became displeased, ¡°How can we pretend nothing happened?¡± Chapter 368 - Chapter 368: Chapter 367: Take Responsibility for Me (3) Chapter 368: Chapter 367: Take Responsibility for Me (3) Xia Siyu stiffened her neck, resolutely refusing to acknowledge it, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with that, I was drunk, let¡¯s just forget about it.¡± Bo Yan spoke earnestly, ¡°Maybe I could forget about last night since I was drunk, but just now, what happened between us was when I was fully sober. Do you understand what I mean? Xia Siyu, maybe for you this was just a night of confusion, but for me, it was absolutely not. When I was in the midst of it with you, I already made up my mind. You¡¯ve rejected me before, unwilling to maintain a normal husband and wife relationship with me. Yet, now we¡¯ve consummated our marriage, and henceforth, I must fulfill the obligations of a husband.¡± Although they were already husband and wife, their marriage had no practical effect beyond a marriage certificate. Their relationship was even less intimate than when they were dating back in the day. Bo Yan spoke with righteous indignation, but his central message was clear: he intended to continue exercising his rights as a husband, he wanted to continue with her! Xia Siyu ground her teeth in anger, did she really look like a fool to him? She asked coldly, ¡°Do you only want to fulfill a husband¡¯s obligations? What about a husband¡¯s rights, do you want those too?¡± Bo Yan replied as if it were to be expected, ¡°Rights and obligations go hand in hand, if I fulfill my obligations, of course I have rights.¡± So nicely put, but Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t about to let him beat around the bush; she directly pierced through his vile intentions, ¡°So essentially, you want to continue sleeping with me tonight.¡± Bo Yan¡¯s expression was serious, the very picture of moral rectitude. If it weren¡¯t for her recent discovery of how wretched he really was, she might have forever been deceived by his appearance. He said, ¡°What¡¯s all this about sleeping or not sleeping. Since we¡¯re husband and wife, this is just regular marital life.¡± He also considerately added, ¡°Both of us are artists, we don¡¯t have to go public if we don¡¯t want to. I know going public could affect your career. I won¡¯t hold you back. If you don¡¯t want children, we can wait. Even though we¡¯ve been married for three years, we¡¯ve hardly had a moment just for the two of us. Even if you don¡¯t want kids and it stays like this, I can be very open-minded about it.¡± He himself was an orphan, having endured icy remarks and partiality from family. If she didn¡¯t want to have kids, he would definitely not force her. However, if she did want them, he would give his child all his love. As for keeping it secret, that was fine by him. Sneaking around could be even more thrilling. After saying so much, it all looped back to one point: he wanted his benefits! Xia Siyu was furious, she decisively rejected him, ¡°What if I don¡¯t agree?¡± Bo Yan looked puzzled, ¡°You¡¯ve said it yourself, we are adults, it¡¯s consensual. Why wouldn¡¯t you agree? Is it because I¡¯m not handsome enough or my technique isn¡¯t good enough? But you clearly enjoyed it just now.¡± The mention of ¡°technique¡± made Xia Siyu¡¯s temple throb. Truth be told, when she was sober just now, she of course had memories of it. Bo Yan was impressive, especially towards the end, that sense of merging was like being scorched, it curled her toes. To be honest, if they hadn¡¯t had that past, accepting Bo Yan as a casual fling wouldn¡¯t have been out of the question. But with their past, she didn¡¯t want to go back to old ways. ¡°I¡¯m a man, I need to take responsibility for you.¡± Xia Siyu immediately shook her head, ¡°I don¡¯t need you to take responsibility.¡± Bo Yan quickly changed the subject, ¡°Then you take responsibility for me. This was also my second time, you were the one who pounced on me, you must take responsibility for me!¡± Chapter 369 - Chapter 369: Chapter 368: Take Responsibility for Me (4) Chapter 369: Chapter 368: Take Responsibility for Me (4) Xia Siyu¡¯s patience had reached its limit, and finally, when Bo Yan uttered his last words, she exploded! Bo Yan awkwardly pulled on his pants, as Xia Siyu pushed him out the door. Just as he was about to turn around, Xia Siyu threw his clothes out, smacking him on the head. Bo Yan, in a frantic mess, grabbed his clothes, attempting to say something, but Xia Siyu hurled a pillow at his head, screaming at the top of her lungs, ¡°Get out of here!¡± Then, with a ¡°bang,¡± she slammed the door in his face. The commotion attracted quite an audience, including the servants and Bo Yi and Xia Sicai from the next room. Fortunately, Bo Yan had dressed quickly, but there he was, barefoot and holding a pillow, his hair a mess¡ªa man clearly thrown out by his wife. Bo Yi certainly wasn¡¯t going to miss this opportunity to mock him, laughing with his arms crossed, ¡°Yo, bright and early, what did you do to get Siyu to kick you out?¡± In front of others, even in his current dishevelment, his expression remained calm, especially upon facing Bo Yi and Xia Sicai. He replied with composure, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Just a lover¡¯s quarrel that¡¯ll be made up by bedtime.¡± Upon hearing him mention ¡°bed,¡± Xia Sicai¡¯s gaze shifted slightly, only to notice visible nail scratches on his face and neck, as if clawed by a woman. Bo Yan having relations with Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t a surprise to Xia Sicai. They were legitimately married, and even without much emotion between them, physical intimacy was expected. Even if they didn¡¯t interact, having a child for the sake of long-term planning and maintaining mutual marital interests, was not uncommon. But what was unexpected was that after three years of acting like strangers, their interactions had surged in the past few months. Could these two be scheming something? Like last night, for instance, when Bo Yan deliberately didn¡¯t go on stage, failing to give the old man face. Was he challenging him, expressing dissatisfaction with handing Bosch Corporation over to Ayi? Were he and Xia Siyu joining forces, utilizing her influence in a tag-team marriage? Of course, these thoughts spun around in her head a few times, but she didn¡¯t voice them. Bo Yi, clueless, continued to jeer, ¡°Tsk, tsk, looks like it was quite a fight, you even got marks on your face. Going to need some concealer for events, huh?¡± Bo Yan was not the least bit angered, his gaze lowered to Bo Yi¡¯s wrist, staring intensely. Bo Yi caught his look and immediately got heated. Was he mocking the fact that not only had he lost the match, injured his hand, but also ended up eight hundred thousand poorer? While they were talking, the voice of the Bo patriarch came from downstairs, ¡°What¡¯s all this noise?¡± Then came the sound of his footsteps, quickly ascending. He swept a glance over the younger generation and soon spotted Bo Yan, hugging a pillow, without even slippers on, and frowned. He turned around, ¡°Bo Yan, you come with me to the study.¡± Bo Yi began to take delight in another¡¯s misfortune¡ªserves him right, as grandpa was supposed to reprimand him last night. Bo Yan wasn¡¯t flustered in the slightest; without even putting on slippers or straightening his clothes, he followed the old man to the study, carrying the pillow. Once inside the study, the door closed, the Bo patriarch sighed heavily. He turned back, looking at his grandson. In fact, Bo Yan was much more outstanding than Bo Yi, and how could he not know that. Bo Yan had always been reserved and studious, smart and composed. Bo Yi, on the other hand, was impulsive and quick to anger, always seeking to claim superiority in everything. Chapter 370 - Chapter 370: Chapter 369: Take Responsibility for Me (5) Chapter 370: Chapter 369: Take Responsibility for Me (5) If Bo Yan¡¯s father had not died, he might not have chosen a successor so soon. But his father left too early, and in recent years the company had been controlled by Bo Qiliu, who would not willingly hand everything over to his nephew; the company also could not afford internal strife. From a young age, Bo Yan deliberately avoided disputes, opting for the path of a scholar and even becoming a university lecturer. His entrance into the entertainment industry was also a declaration that he had no ambition for the company. Bo Yan was willing to yield, and this brought both relief and sadness to the old family head. Relieved because he knew how to avoid the sharp edges, but saddened because such a clever person would not inherit the family business. From the standpoint of the family head and the company chairman, he could only support Bo Yi and overlook Bo Yan. It wasn¡¯t about family affection, but rather interests. Bo Yan never fought for anything nor did he say much. Over the span of twenty or so years, he had grown accustomed to Bo Yan¡¯s concessions. That was why Bo Yan¡¯s insistence last night made him both angry and upset. He had intended to scold him, but after a night of calm, he found himself at a loss for words. After a long while, he finally spoke up, yet what he asked about was Bo Yan¡¯s love life, ¡°How are things between you and Siyu?¡± Bo Yan was taken aback; he had even anticipated how the old family head would scold him, but did not expect his grandfather to suddenly inquire about him and Xia Siyu. He nodded, ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± A very official response, in line with his usual standard of speech. But as he said these words, the corners of Bo Yan¡¯s mouth slightly lifted, clearly indicating that he was in a good mood. Even though he was rushed out without his shoes, he knew in his heart that his relationship with Xia Siyu had taken a very important step forward. Xia Siyu, despite being rumored outside as the scandal queen with endless boyfriends, feared to have extensive experience, in truth had only ever been with one man. She may seem dominant and straightforward, but that directness is predicated on her actually liking the man. Just as she once did with him. In this respect, Bo Yan was confident. Whether it was looks, physique, scholarship, or eloquence, he was in no way inferior to others. If Xia Siyu were to prefer other men after dating him, it could only mean that he genuinely ¡°wasn¡¯t good enough¡±! If there was no man who could touch her heart, then hovering around her every day was useless, like Qin Baizhou. Thinking back, her quirky personality wasn¡¯t so bad. Anyone with a normal brain, not to mention keen individuals like Xia Sicai and Shang Feifei but even someone like Wei Jingjing, would have noticed Qin¡¯s brother¡¯s affection for Xia Siyu. It was just this straightforward girl who truly couldn¡¯t see it¡­ The traditional yet Western Xia Siyu actually placed a great emphasis on physical intimacy. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have kept rejecting his advances. Moreover, he could vaguely sense that Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t so repulsed by the idea. After all, although she was angry this time, she didn¡¯t directly kick his private parts; she simply slapped him and sent him out. Even if she wouldn¡¯t admit it, deep down she was gradually accepting him. That¡¯s okay, he could start with the physical side. As long as there¡¯s more interaction, more sleeping together, she would gradually get used to it over time. Zhang Ailing once said, ¡°The shortcut to a woman¡¯s heart is through the Y-channel.¡± He hoped it would really be so. The old family head looked him up and down. Bo Yan¡¯s eyes were clear, his expression calm, showing no sign of being upset over not getting Bosch. His mood became even more complicated. Was it right or wrong to hand Bosch over to Bo Yi? Chapter 371 - Chapter 371: Chapter 370: Take Responsibility for Me (6) Chapter 371: Chapter 370: Take Responsibility for Me (6) ¡°Get lost.¡± In the end, he was still an elder and couldn¡¯t bring himself to say anything soft, so he could only tell him to leave. Bo Yan rolled out swiftly, and before rolling out, he considerately said, ¡°Then I¡¯m leaving,¡± and then he closed the door behind him. After Bo Yan left, still holding a pillow in his arms, one of the servants stepped forward: ¡°Young Master Yan.¡± He wanted to take the pillow from his hands. Bo Yan didn¡¯t give it to him, ¡°No need.¡± It was tossed out by Xia Siyu, and it still had her hair on it¡ªno way he was giving it up. Besides, he was planning to use it to play the sympathy card later. Just as the servant was about to leave, Bo Yan called him back: ¡°Wait.¡± He hesitated for a moment: ¡°I¡¯ll have a delivery later, under your name and phone number, could you receive it for me?¡± He was a celebrity, after all. If people found out that he bought things like post-coital drugs, who knows what kind of uproar it would cause. The servant, not understanding the situation, quickly nodded. Bo Yan, holding the pillow, went to the bathroom. There was one in every bedroom, but there was also one outside. He had just been intimate with Xia Siyu that morning and hadn¡¯t had a shower yet. There was also a walk-in closet next to the bathroom, and although most of his clothes were in the bedroom, some were kept in the walk-in closet outside. Before showering, he placed an order on his phone for delivery, obviously for adult products. They really weren¡¯t suitable to have children just yet, so of course, precautions were necessary. However, as he was shopping, his eyes were unconsciously drawn to the various little umbrellas. Never having used them before and quite curious, he browsed through the selection and unwittingly tossed seven or eight boxes into his cart, then paid for them all. Since he would need them in the future, why not buy a bunch at once. After making the payment, he went into the bathroom, quickly took a shower, and then changed into fresh clothes in the walk-in closet. With everything settled, the delivery was almost there. The servant took the call and, passing through the living room, Bo Yi happened to come by, teasing with a smile, ¡°What kind of delivery? Isn¡¯t the food at home tasty enough?¡± The servant answered honestly: ¡°Ordered by Young Master Yan.¡± Ordered by Bo Yan? After a moment of surprise, Bo Yi¡¯s curiosity was piqued even more. He peered in and saw the box glinting with three characters ¡°Durex.¡± Before Bo Yi could react, the delivery bag was snatched away by Bo Yan: ¡°If Big Brother wants some, you can buy them yourself.¡± Then, with the bag in hand, he turned and headed upstairs. Left behind, Bo Yi scowled, ¡°What¡¯s with the attitude?¡± He returned to his bedroom and shared the story with Xia Sicai as if it were a joke, adding, ¡°Can you believe it? As if I would snatch his stuff.¡± Xia Sicai was slightly taken aback, ¡°He bought a whole bag of little umbrellas, huh.¡± Hard to tell, but the relationship between Xia Siyu and Bo Yan seemed¡­ rather good. ¡°Right, and we don¡¯t need those.¡± Bo Yi scoffed, and then he cozied up with a mischievous grin, ¡°Wife, when shall we have a child?¡± They hadn¡¯t had one before because both wanted to focus on their careers. Now that their family had won the old man¡¯s approval and could inherit Bosch, it was time to have a little heir. Xia Sicai smiled faintly: ¡°You¡¯re still on medication. We should plan for a child properly, starting from pre-pregnancy care.¡± ** Meanwhile, Bo Yan, one hand holding a big bag of little umbrellas and the other clutching the pillow, went to knock on the door: ¡°Siyu, open up.¡± No response from inside. Bo Yan was very calm: ¡°If you want to have a baby for me, I don¡¯t mind waiting a little longer.¡± Chapter 372 - Chapter 372: Chapter 371: Marital Fun (1) Chapter 372: Chapter 371: Marital Fun (1) As expected, this sentence packed a punch. Even if Xia Siyu did not get up, she still hummed discontentedly, ¡°The door wasn¡¯t locked!¡± Bo Yan understood and opened the door, stepping inside. The room was still a mess, remaining in the chaotic state left by their previous fight. Xia Siyu seemed to have taken a shower, judging by the teeth-gritting expression as she sat on the edge of the bed; she had probably scrubbed her skin raw. Bo Yan, on the other hand, appeared unperturbed, placing some items down at the foot of the bed as someone knocked on the door, ¡°Young Master Yan.¡± He stood up, and a servant handed him a cup of hot water. He nodded and said, ¡°Thank you.¡± While Bo Yan was fetching the water, Xia Siyu was angry but also curious. To go buy emergency contraception was one thing, but why buy a whole bunch? What else was in the bag? However, she only glanced at it before looking away, not pursuing the matter further. When Bo Yan turned around, he caught her curious glance. His face remained expressionless as he walked over and handed her the water, ¡°Here.¡± Xia Siyu glared at Bo Yan resentfully, not uttering a word. Bo Yan took out a pill from the bag and handed it to her. Watching her swallow it with water, he then took the cup from her. Xia Siyu was still fuming when Bo Yan asked, ¡°Want to know what¡¯s in the bag?¡± Immediately, Xia Siyu shook her head, ¡°Don¡¯t want to!¡± But Bo Yan started to sell the idea, ¡°You might as well take a look; you will need it too.¡± She would need it? What was it? Still sitting at the head of the bed, arms crossed and looking indignant, Xia Siyu¡¯s eyes quickly darted towards the bag. Bo Yan dumped the contents onto the bed and casually picked a few items, ¡°This one is ultra-thin supreme quality, this one has dots, and this one is spiral-shaped.¡± He also remarked, ¡°The shop was quite small, only had one brand. We¡¯ll try others later.¡± And he even looked disappointed about it! And these things, aren¡¯t they the legendary durex, aren¡¯t they? Xia Siyu¡¯s face turned scarlet. She might be frivolous, but her frivolity was like that of a man¡¯s, merely looking and admiring. Little did she know this man, seemingly gracious and bright, was actually a wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing¡ªa complete rascal! Were they so close that they needed to choose these things together? It was just an accident, yet he was getting carried away! Even if she had drunk too much last night, wasn¡¯t fully aware, and took the initiative, it was him who was the happiest in the end, right? When she took a bath earlier, although she seemed unscathed in areas that could show arms and legs, she found that he hadn¡¯t spared any part of her that was slightly covered! He wasn¡¯t reticent at all; he was just waiting for her to get drunk and let loose! He did it on purpose! Xia Siyu had a temper and wasn¡¯t going to indulge him. With a sweep of her hand, she knocked everything on the floor. She then fiercely cursed, ¡°To hell with it!¡± Bo Yan wasn¡¯t angry at all; in fact, he seemed pleased, ¡°So you mean, we¡¯re going to have a child? Although I¡¯m not yet ready to be a father. But if the child is ours, I¡¯ll be very happy.¡± ¡°Who wants to have a child with you!¡± Xia Siyu was truly getting angry, ¡°Last night was just an accident, forget it happened.¡± Bo Yan wouldn¡¯t have it, he moved closer, spread his arms, and supported himself on both sides of her body. Leaning forward, his face came close to hers, ¡°I¡¯ve said it before, if you won¡¯t let me take responsibility for you, then you take responsibility for me.¡± Chapter 373 - Chapter 373: Chapter 372: Marital Fun (2) Chapter 373: Chapter 372: Marital Fun (2) Xia Siyu was about to retort when Bo Yan moved closer and lightly touched her lips. That¡¯s why there is a bit of a difference between having and not having done something. Although Xia Siyu was still annoyed by his closeness, being kissed by him, her first reaction wasn¡¯t to angrily bite him back with an ¡°ow,¡± but to blush slightly. Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes had a misty look, but she was resolutely opposed, ¡°Bo Yan, we are both adults now, be mature about it. It¡¯s just one night, it¡¯s not like we haven¡¯t been through this before, don¡¯t act as if you¡¯ve suffered a loss. What era are we in now? There¡¯s no need to talk about responsibility.¡± Besides, they had already gotten their marriage certificate. It¡¯s just that their marital relationship was somewhat abnormal. Bo Yan¡¯s face was still close to hers, close enough to touch her with a slight lean, ¡°You say you can forget, but I can¡¯t. I¡¯m rather traditional. To put it in a phrase, ¡®faithful from start to finish.¡¯ If you hadn¡¯t made the first move, I might¡¯ve let it slide, but you provoked me, I cannot easily let you go.¡± Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. She lifted her head, and with such proximity, the redness at the bottom of her eyes could be seen, her anger poured forth, ¡°To tell you the truth, if it had been anyone but you, I could accept it. But with you, I don¡¯t want it anymore, do you understand? Our breakup before was unpleasant, I don¡¯t want to recall that past! I chose to marry you because you were unintrusive, you wouldn¡¯t bother me, so I got the certificate with you, it doesn¡¯t mean I really want to be husband and wife with you! Bo Yan, if we really have to settle this, I hate you! I¡­¡± The rest of her words remained unspoken, sealed in her throat by Bo Yan. One hand still braced by her side, his other hand held the back of her head, fingers weaving through her black hair. Xia Siyu, angry, threw a punch at him, which he caught without hesitation, protecting her head as he brought her down with him. Though they went down, except for the kiss, he did nothing else inappropriate. Xia Siyu resisted for a long time, and he didn¡¯t release his grip, inching closer with patience, gradually wearing down her anger. Though she no longer resisted, her gaze was still fiery, and deep within her eyes were not just opposition and anger, but also a trace of desolation. Being so close, Bo Yan finally understood. Before Xia Siyu could get angry, he preemptively said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s eyes were still angry; she had no intention of forgiving him. Bo Yan said softly, ¡°I¡¯m saying sorry not for this kiss, nor for what happened last night. It¡¯s for¡ªour love affair back then.¡± Although, he also didn¡¯t know why things that were going so well between them, even the night before they had both given their first time to each other, turned into her breaking up with him right after and then disappearing for over a year. When she reappeared, she was already a celebrity, coming to process her school withdrawal. But thinking about it, he indeed hadn¡¯t been very proactive in that relationship and hadn¡¯t spent much time with her. ¡ªAnd he could see, the anger and desolation at the bottom of Xia Siyu¡¯s eyes were sincere. It was for their lost love affair. ¡°Even though I don¡¯t know what I did wrong, I¡¯m still sorry. After all, you¡¯re a girl, and you endure much more than I do.¡± Chapter 374 - Chapter 374: Chapter 373: Marital Fun (3) Chapter 374: Chapter 373: Marital Fun (3) Bo Yan¡¯s apology was sincere. He felt that as a man, who had been Xia Siyu¡¯s boyfriend and was now her husband, it was true that gender equality was emphasized nowadays, but in a relationship, he¡¯d been passive, while Xia Siyu had been the active one. She was more enthusiastic, and he was less responsive; indeed, he was at fault too. Although he still didn¡¯t understand why Xia Siyu suggested breaking up immediately after their first time together. He didn¡¯t even get the chance to make amends before she disappeared from his world. But no matter what, the fact that he made his wife¡ªalso his former girlfriend¡ªfeel both angry and lonely meant that the problem lay with him. Or perhaps, the problem had always been there, and he was just too oblivious to notice it sooner. Xia Siyu had not expected that he would apologize for their failed relationship from so many years ago, which left her somewhat surprised at first. But her surprise could not outweigh the anger, disappointment, and other emotions from that time. She chuckled lightly, ¡°Let it be, just let it go. I won¡¯t hold last night against you, but in the future, could you please leave my world? Wouldn¡¯t it be better if we just lived our lives without interfering with each other, like before?¡± ¡°No,¡± Bo Yan shook his head firmly. He could admit his mistakes and he could change. But one thing was certain¡ªhe would not let her leave his world. ¡°No matter why you chose me, we are now husband and wife, an undeniable fact. Besides, we can¡¯t easily divorce right now, right? Whether it¡¯s for me, for you, for both of our families, or even because of your mother¡­¡± As soon as he mentioned her mother, even just those few words, Xia Siyu¡¯s expression showed a bit of struggle. Indeed, Bo Yan knew that the reason Xia Siyu agreed to marry him three years ago¡ªat a low point in her career¡ªcouldn¡¯t have been sufficient on its own. She wasn¡¯t after the Xia Family¡¯s money; she didn¡¯t care about them, including her own father and siblings. Even in hard times, she wouldn¡¯t stoop so low. The only possibility was her mother. Xia Siyu loved her mother deeply, treasured that love, and never showed it in front of anyone, including him. It was only for her mother that she kept compromising and agreed to a marriage in name only, without any real substance. Bo Yan¡¯s voice softened, and his eyes became gentler, ¡°So, we can¡¯t divorce easily. And actually, you have feelings for me, right? You can¡¯t help wanting to see me, you can¡¯t help wanting to touch me. Deep down, you still have me in your heart, don¡¯t you? Even if I did something wrong, even if you hate me. But just as you are the only woman for me, I am the only man for you. Since divorce is not an option for now, why not try a different approach and attempt to get along?¡± What getting along, after all his talk, he was merely trying to satisfy his own desires! ¡°Pah! Get along? You just want a free, long-term companion,¡± she scoffed. Conveniently, she was right by his side, good-looking, with a nice figure, and now they had a license; naturally, he didn¡¯t hesitate to take what he wanted with a smug smile. Bo Yan shamelessly said, ¡°Of course. There aren¡¯t many men in China with a good body and handsome looks like mine. Plus, you¡¯ve used it just now, so the hardware and software should still be acceptable, right?¡± Chapter 375 - Chapter 375: Chapter 374: Marital Fun (4) Chapter 375: Chapter 374: Marital Fun (4) Shameless! Despicable! Vulgar! Brazen! Dog of a man! Bo Yan read all those terms in Xia Siyu¡¯s eyes. He wanted to say something more when someone downstairs called out to them, ¡°Young Master Yan, Miss Siyu, time for dinner.¡± Bo Yan looked up and responded loudly, ¡°Got it!¡± Then he looked down again at Xia Siyu, ¡°Shall we go eat?¡± Bo Yan shouldn¡¯t have mentioned it, but as soon as he did, even though Xia Siyu¡¯s eyes were shooting daggers, her stomach betrayed her with an audible ¡°grumble.¡± Bo Yan chuckled lightly and didn¡¯t want to force her, so he slowly said, ¡°Let¡¯s eat first. We can talk after dinner.¡± After speaking, he got up and considerately pulled her to her feet. Xia Siyu still glared at him furiously, but while she stared him down coldly, her stomach growled again. Dammit, it was all his fault that she was so hungry now. Although she was furious, she still had to eat her fill. Only then would she have enough strength to hit him! Watching her puff up with anger, Bo Yan couldn¡¯t help but lean in and gently kiss her. Xia Siyu was not one to be taken advantage of. She immediately fought back with kicks and punches, matching wits and strength with him. As they playfully fought, Bo Yan stole a kiss quickly and darted away, with Xia Siyu chasing after him. Whether her anger had subsided was unclear, but one thing was certain: the lively, bouncing guy was back, washing away the feeling of loss from earlier. They chased and play-fought all the way down the stairs, lucky to be at home wearing slippers; otherwise, Xia Siyu wouldn¡¯t have been able to run as fast in heels. Their ruckus continued until Bo Yan turned a corner on the staircase and stopped. Xia Siyu came up and landed a fierce strike on the back of his head, triumphantly saying, ¡°Not running now, are you?¡± Then her gaze followed Bo Yan¡¯s downward, and there below were the Bo patriarch, the grandmother, Uncle Bo Qiliu and his wife Lady Shen, as well as Bo Yi and Xia Sicai. The main issue was Xia Sicai¡¯s presence; Xia Siyu quickly reined in her fiery temper and straightened up her clothes, adopting a high-heeled stance despite her slippers and walked downstairs head held high. Bo Yan accompanied her. Although Xia Siyu¡¯s reputation wasn¡¯t the best and Bo Yan had his own complaints about the Bo Family, it had to be said that the two made quite a picture standing together¡ªit was like looking at a poster. The handsome man and the beautiful woman were both tall and elegant; even as celebrities that came with their own halos, though they faced each other with cold brows, just one glance at each other would set off a frenzy among the couple¡¯s fans! However, the scuffle between Bo Yan and Xia Siyu had clearly been witnessed by everyone downstairs. The pair appeared loving in public but fought behind the scenes, putting on a lonely show of affection. Particularly, Bo Yi and Xia Sicai exchanged looks and shook their heads. Bo Yi even laughed, ¡°It seemed like you two were fighting just now?¡± Xia Siyu rolled her eyes contemptuously, their pettiness reaching the skies as she retorted without any politeness, ¡°What¡¯s it to you?¡± And indeed, it had nothing to do with him. She wasn¡¯t his wife. He and his wife were just fine. Bo Yi turned around, and, as if to confirm his thoughts, Xia Sicai shared an understanding smile with him. It was time to eat. The last time there had been a family dinner at the Xia household went all the way back to the distant New Year¡¯s Eve. Since both daughters of the Xia Family had married into the Bo Family, and Xia Ju¡¯an was still single, the family reunion dinner was shared together. Compared to last time, the father and the brother were absent, but it made no difference to Xia Siyu ¨C to her, they were all just strangers. But they still noticed something different: whenever Bo Yan reached for a dish, Xia Siyu always cut him off! Chapter 376 - Chapter 376: Chapter 375: Marital Fun (5) Chapter 376: Chapter 375: Marital Fun (5) Bo Yan¡¯s chopsticks reached for the green vegetables, and she pointed at the green vegetables. When Bo Yan¡¯s chopsticks moved to the spicy fried oxtail, she also got to the oxtail first. Every time Bo Yan was about to pick up some food, she would beat him to it and snatch it away. After several instances, everyone at the table took notice. It seemed Xia Siyu was particularly targeting him, expressing significant dissatisfaction with him, wanting to compete with him for everything. Bo Yi glanced at Xia Sicai, who did not speak. Bo Qiliu and Mrs. Shen, his parents, were also a bit curious. At the head of the table, the Bo family patriarch was eating with his head down, unaware whether he had seen the situation or not; he acted as if he were oblivious. However, the grandmother¡¯s expression was slightly worried. She looked at Xia Siyu, then at Bo Yan, and still, she said nothing. Bo Yan had, of course, noticed much earlier. Deliberately, he directed his attention towards high-protein food such as scallops and shrimp tails, which could help one recover after ¡°the act¡±, and Xia Siyu also ¡°rushed¡± to eat them. He even asked the servants, ¡°What soup do we have today?¡± Upon learning it was red date chicken soup, he nodded, ¡°Serve me a bowl.¡± No surprise, as soon as the bowl was placed, Xia Siyu, who still had her mouth bulging with scallops, hardly chewed before she hurriedly swallowed and then spoke up, ¡°I want one too!¡± The servant was a bit troubled, but a glance from Bo Yan meant to serve her as well. Xia Siyu always enjoyed her meals, and it seemed even tastier competing with Bo Yan. The meal was quickly finished, and Bo Yan even asked, ¡°Do we have oysters and chives? We could prepare them in the afternoon, I feel like having some.¡± Following the spirit of outdoing Bo Yan, Xia Siyu immediately said, ¡°Make them for me first!¡± The servant nodded, ¡°We can go buy some.¡± Bo Yi scoffed, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Is your body in poor condition that you need to replenish?¡± He glanced at Xia Siyu, at her charming face and good figure, and thought, alright, having such a wife indeed calls for extra nourishment. Bo Yan spoke earnestly, ¡°It¡¯s not for me, it¡¯s for her.¡± He glanced quickly at Xia Siyu, who was still sipping tea to aid her digestion, then added, ¡°She was quite exhausted last night. Eat more and take good care of your body.¡± It finally dawned on Xia Siyu as she remembered the kind of food Bo Yan had ¡°allowed¡± her to eat, along with oysters and chives. The tea in her mouth almost spurted out. After drinking tea, she was still feeling very full. On the other side, Bo Yi was already inviting Xia Sicai, ¡°Shall we take a walk?¡± On this side, Bo Yan also looked at Xia Siyu, ¡°Do you want to walk?¡± Xia Siyu was not inclined to agree; she didn¡¯t hold out her hand to him at all. Bo Yan¡¯s face lit up with faux surprise, ¡°You want to rest with me? We just had quite a lot of scallops and lobster and drank chicken soup; I¡¯m a bit dizzy indeed. Going to sleep would be good.¡± He purposefully emphasized the word ¡°sleep.¡± Xia Siyu shuddered, knowing all too well what Bo Yan was thinking. Going back to sleep meant only she would be ¡°slept.¡± Furthermore, Bo Yan had just said that after eating scallops and lobster and drinking chicken soup, he was already nourished! She quickly said, ¡°Let¡¯s forget it, as learning is boundless. I¡¯ll go to the study to read.¡± Bo Yan nodded, ¡°You can do that. I¡¯ve been away from school for many years and haven¡¯t read for a long time.¡± Xia Siyu was furious, ¡°Why do you always copy me?¡± Bo Yan¡¯s gaze was steady as he looked at her, ¡°Copy you? It¡¯s just that we happen to have the same goal. Otherwise, shall we go for a walk together or go to sleep? I prefer taking a nap, actually.¡± Chapter 377 - Chapter 377: Chapter 376: Marital Fun (6) Chapter 377: Chapter 376: Marital Fun (6) ¡°You!¡ª¡ª¡± Xia Siyu had seen plenty of shameless people. But she had never come across anyone as shameless as Bo Yan. Other shameless people would at most just want her money, slander her, or curse her. The shamelessness of Bo Yan¡ª¡ªwas his lust for her body; he was despicable! Moreover, with other strangers, no matter how much they slandered or cursed her, including the previous boss of Jin Su Tires who wanted to take advantage of her, she might have been very angry but ultimately would not be deeply affected, after all, those were people she didn¡¯t know and would not frequently appear in her life. But Bo Yan, they lived together, acted together, he was like a plaster that couldn¡¯t be shaken off, and it really made her angry! She couldn¡¯t be bothered to talk to him, she just shook off her arm and stomped upstairs to the study on the second floor. Bo Yan smiled faintly and followed at a leisurely pace, his steps neither fast nor slow. Throughout the process, he didn¡¯t even glance back at the couple behind him. Bo Yi and Xia Sicai exchanged a look, a bit speechless. Xia Sicai even asked, ¡°Does it feel like¡­ Bo Yan is accommodating her?¡± To say ¡°accommodating¡± was already a euphemism. To put it bluntly, Bo Yan was just a ¡°lapdog¡±! Bo Yi clicked his tongue, ¡°Your little sister is quite something.¡± Xia Sicai was both shocked and angry. Bo Yan, such a cold man, the man who showed no reaction no matter how much she pursued him, was actually chasing after Xia Siyu! And he wouldn¡¯t even retort no matter how she scolded him! ** Xia Siyu was a pure academic underachiever, looking at serious books for less than five minutes would surely put her to sleep. The most diligent two years of her life were those two years after returning from Italy to attend high school in China, aiming to make her mother proud and to not be ridiculed by Xia Sicai, she worked hard to get into N University. And that too as an overseas Chinese joint examination student, as well as an art student. However, she was still very interested in the Bo Family¡¯s study. The reason was simple: it contained many books about movies and the film industry. She loved reading about her mother¡¯s career here. Wen Qunxiao, although notorious back in the day, had won two Best Actress awards. In the entire entertainment industry, there weren¡¯t many who had claimed the title twice, just a handful of people. If she hadn¡¯t retired from the scene, if she had continued to shine occasionally in the entertainment circle, if the Xia Family hadn¡¯t deliberately suppressed her news. Perhaps, she would have been more famous than she is now. But it didn¡¯t matter, her mother didn¡¯t care about that. She was someone who had experienced the malice of antis; the antis of that era, while not as numerous as the current internet age, could still track down your address, hang banners under your apartment, write public denunciations to your workplace; it was even more embarrassing. Xia Siyu looked at the reports about her mother, her mother¡¯s photos from her youth, her mother¡¯s stills from movies, completely mesmerized. Bo Yan did not come closer, but he knew what Xia Siyu was looking at. Last night, after he guessed who Xia Siyu¡¯s mother might be, he immediately looked up the information. The number of people who won two Best Actress awards at the age of thirty in China can be counted on one hand, and Wen Qunxiao was one of them. He hadn¡¯t expected her mother to be a Best Actress and also a Gold Award-winning dancer. No wonder she acted with spiritual energy and danced well. But as Xia Siyu focused on her reading, he did not come up to disturb her. Even though he knew, he still pretended not to know. However, he would carefully protect the feelings in her heart, cautiously keeping them unspoken. ** The afternoon passed beneath the bookshelves, and soon it was time to rest together again in the evening. Bo Yan, with an excited heart, stepped into the bedroom¡­ Chapter 378 - Chapter 378: Chapter 377: Marital Fun (Bonus for Monthly Pass) Chapter 378: Chapter 377: Marital Fun (Bonus for Monthly Pass) After getting up this morning, Xia Siyu had been fiercely guarding against him. Whenever Bo Yan got a bit closer, she would immediately raise her defenses, her face filled with waryness as she watched him. But in the evening, they were supposed to sleep together, weren¡¯t they? Even if they sometimes had separate rooms over the past three years, during those times Bo Yan and she had agreed to do their own things: she would sleep on the bed, and he on the couch, with each minding their own business peacefully. If it had been before, he might have been touchy-feely, but at least he maintained gentlemanly manners and didn¡¯t cross the line. But now, although she didn¡¯t have a strong notion about what it meant as a woman, as if sleeping one night would bring about some significant change. Although she spent a confusing night with Bo Yan, it was indeed her who took the initiative, and she could only admit to her actions. However, what she said to Bo Yan this morning was indeed her true feelings, she didn¡¯t want to have any more emotional entanglements with Bo Yan. Maintaining a marriage without intimacy was already her limit; she didn¡¯t want to reconcile with Bo Yan, let alone get entangled further. The problem now was that on one hand, she wasn¡¯t strong enough yet to make her mother proud. Shang Feifei¡¯s words still echoed in her mind, ¡°You¡¯re a disgrace to your mother¡±! She was determined to win Best Actress, definitely before she turned thirty, and preferably several. If she really could break through on her own, become completely independent of the Xia Family, and not rely on anyone, bringing her mother¡¯s spirit tablet back with dignity, that would be best. But before that, even though she always loathed the Xia Family, she knew deep down that her father and brother had done a lot behind the scenes to protect her. Because she was merely an Internet celebrity who could be hyped up with money without any real works, her career was like a skyscraper built on sand, which could collapse with the slightest carelessness. She couldn¡¯t assert with 100% confidence, ¡°I don¡¯t rely on the Xia Family, I rely on myself!¡± On the other hand, she had also promised Bo Yan that she wouldn¡¯t move away from his side until she found a new love. Xia Siyu was educated in the West, and a fundamental principle in Western education is ¡°procedural justice.¡± As long as one¡¯s actions are legal and reasonable without violations, one must not go against them. She was a good child who valued credibility, so even though Bo Yan had overstepped the boundaries with her, there was no procedural violation, and she couldn¡¯t justifiably kick him out. When Bo Yan entered the apartment in the evening, Xia Siyu was messaging Wei Jingjing while simultaneously preparing to guard against him. After Bo Yan entered, he glanced in her direction and then gave a smile. Then, as expected, he received a pillow that Xia Siyu threw at his head. Bo Yan caught the pillow with a laugh, and didn¡¯t continue to bother her, instead he turned and went into the bathroom. Soon, the sound of running water echoed from the bathroom. Meanwhile, Wei Jingjing was still talking to her. After finding texting too troublesome, she switched to voice chat with her: ¡°¡­ I was talking about for your birthday. Qin¡¯s idea is to take advantage of your current popularity and positive image to hold a birthday fan meet, inviting major fans from the fan club, and then do a live broadcast.¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s usual birthdays were spent with her agency and Qin Baizhou, Wei Jingjing, and little Tang. She used to have too many haters, making it impossible for her to hold fan meets. She didn¡¯t want to go back to the Xia Family, and coming to the Bo Family was out of the question. Before she could reply, the sound of water in the bathroom stopped, followed by Bo Yan¡¯s slightly frivolous and flirtatious voice: ¡°Wife, I forgot to grab a bath towel, could you pass me one, please?¡± Chapter 379 - Chapter 379: Chapter 378 Bathe Together (1) Chapter 379: Chapter 378 Bathe Together (1) ¡°Here¡¯s a turtle for you, just air dry yourself!¡± Siyu completely ignored him, but Jingjing, hearing his voice, was so startled she almost spat out her cookie, ¡°You, you and Bo Yan are really together, huh?¡± Fortunately, she had made the call away from Qin Baizhou. In the future, it seems when calling Siyu, she should also make sure to avoid Qin Baizhou! She didn¡¯t take that ¡°wife¡± nickname to heart. As everyone knows, when boyfriends and girlfriends get along well, they also call each other ¡°hubby¡± and ¡°wifey.¡± Jingjing really hadn¡¯t expected Bo Yan calling Siyu ¡°wife¡± to be meant in the literal sense. ¡°No!¡± Siyu was already feeling annoyed and frustrated, and she directly rejected the idea. Bo Yan thought Siyu was responding to him, and with a light chuckle, he said, ¡°Then I won¡¯t wear clothes coming out. After all, it¡¯s just you in the room, feel free to look.¡± Even though she hadn¡¯t seen it with her own eyes, Jingjing could tell from Bo Yan¡¯s lighthearted tone that he seemed very happy, his lips slightly curved, his eyes sparkling¡­ ¡°Fuck!¡± Oh, the woes of being uncultured, a single ¡°fuck¡± conquers all. Jingjing really needed a moment to process. Even though Siyu rejected firmly, Bo Yan¡¯s response was also very cheerful. If any other man said this, Jingjing would just think it¡¯s casual teasing. But Bo Yan is different; his image in the eyes of the public has always been aloof and indifferent to women. There are even people who think that if you gave him a buzzcut, he could immediately become a monk, that kind of pure and abstinent. ¡°You dare!¡± The voice exploded like a bomb, Siyu¡¯s angry roar directed at Bo Yan. Then her voice lowered a bit, ¡°I¡¯ll call you back later.¡± And then she hastily hung up. Jingjing held the phone, frozen for half a minute. Just as she came back to her senses, she got up, ¡°Where¡¯s my medicine? Where are my heart pills?¡± On the other end, after hanging up the phone, Siyu, fuming with rage, stomped over to the bathroom door. The sound of water inside had indeed stopped, and Bo Yan was still speaking, ¡°The towel is on the bottom shelf of the wardrobe. Thanks, wifey.¡± Towel my ass! Siyu couldn¡¯t care less about him, she was in the middle of talking to Jingjing, but then Bo Yan inside added another line, ¡°Wifey? Darling? Babe?¡± Siyu was furious, wishing she could rush in and shut Bo Yan¡¯s mouth. Not wanting to deal with him yet not able to ignore him, caught in her hesitation, all she could do was seethe, ¡°You just wait for me, bastard!¡± Then, irritated, she turned around, opened the wardrobe, and found his towel, before kicking the door, ¡°Open up!¡± The bathroom door cracked open a sliver. Siyu reached out to hand in the towel, but the gap was too small, and she couldn¡¯t get her hand through. Slightly annoyed, she pulled the door open a bit wider. Just as her hand was reaching in, Bo Yan abruptly pulled the bathroom door open, and Siyu found herself face-to-face with him. This damn rascal, he hadn¡¯t even showered yet, fully clothed, and had tricked her into coming inside! Then the next second, Bo Yan pinned her against the wall, using his body¡¯s advantage to block her escape route, and calmly said, ¡°The water temperature is already set, wanna join me for a shower?¡± Siyu wasn¡¯t about to indulge him, and went straight for a knee raise aimed at his parts! Bo Yan was already on guard; he quickly stepped back. Seizing the opportunity, Siyu quickly turned to leave but was pulled back by Bo Yan grabbing her arm, ¡°Don¡¯t rush off. Help scrub my back.¡± Chapter 380 - Chapter 380: Chapter 379 Bathe Together (2) Chapter 380: Chapter 379 Bathe Together (2) Xia Siyu kicked out her foot, and although she didn¡¯t hit his ¡°parts,¡± she did strike his shin. In pain, Bo Yan involuntarily released his grip, allowing Xia Siyu to finally break free and slam the bathroom door forcefully! From inside, Bo Yan¡¯s laughter could be faintly heard, followed by the sound of running water; this time, he must have truly been showering. Xia Siyu clenched her teeth in anger, damn it, how could she have ever thought Bo Yan was too aloof to be interested in women? He was clearly a wolf! A wolf starved for seven years! Meanwhile, Wei Jingjing sent her a message: ¡°Are you and Bo Yan in love now?¡± ¡°Love my ass!¡± She was furious, and turned her head back majestically to ask, ¡°Tell me about my birthday!¡± No sooner had she mentioned ¡°birthday¡± than a message arrived. It was from her dad, Xia Youbiao, saying, ¡°Siyu, your birthday is next week, come home to celebrate.¡± Then Xia Siyu replied without hesitation: ¡°No!¡± Xia Youbiao¡¯s response was very humble, almost pleading: ¡°It will be just family, no one else. Just me and your brother, your sister is busy and might not come back. Let¡¯s just have the three of us celebrate your birthday together.¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s mood was already agitated and she couldn¡¯t bear to listen to Xia Youbiao¡¯s soft words: ¡°The reason it¡¯s ¡®just the three of us¡¯ is because Xia Sicai won¡¯t be there, Mrs. Tong can¡¯t make it, so you say ¡®just the three of us¡¯? Well, you, Xia Sicai, and Xia Ju¡¯an, you three are the ¡®father and daughters¡¯!¡± After that, she hung up the phone straight away. When she was little, she didn¡¯t quite understand why her mother still wouldn¡¯t come back to the country despite her dad being gentle enough and desperately pleading. Even after returning, she lived in a separate house and adamantly refused to live with the Xia family. Xia Youbiao was gentle, but his over-gentleness turned into indecisiveness. He did love her and her mother. She could feel that he loved them a bit more than he loved Xia Sicai and Xia Ju¡¯an, and this love, aside from the romantic love he felt for her mother, had a tinge of guilt mixed in too. It was this love and guilt that wore on both her mother and herself. It made it impossible for her to hate him, yet also impossible to accept him. Unless he resolved the Xia family¡¯s prejudice against her and her mother, unless he changed Xia Sicai¡¯s view of her, unless he kept his ex-wife Mrs. Tong, who still meddled in family affairs despite being divorced, out of the picture, she would never be able to have a normal father-daughter relationship with him. Already in a bad mood because of Bo Yan, Xia Youbiao¡¯s pestering only exacerbated it. If Xia Youbiao couldn¡¯t address the Xia family¡¯s bias against her, then she had to deal with it herself! She had declared when she made a fuss at the Xia family¡¯s house that one day, she would make all those people who looked down on her and her mother respect her, take pride in her, and escort her back home with great ceremony! Until that day, she would never go back! Back then, society still had a prejudice against the film and television industry, labeling everyone as actors. Even in her mother¡¯s era, talented actors who won awards were looked down upon if there was the slightest issue in their personal lives. Not like now, with fan economy and talent reigning supreme! That day after drinking, she told Bo Yan she needed to win the Best Actress award quickly and improve her acting skills. Although she was drunk, her words truly reflected her own thoughts. Even without Shang Feifei¡¯s provocation, she had to improve herself, to claim the Best Actress award as soon as possible. The fastest shortcut was only one: Bo Yan. Chapter 381 - Chapter 381: Chapter 380 Bathe Together (3) Chapter 381: Chapter 380 Bathe Together (3) ¡°` After going in circles, Xia Siyu found that she still had to ask Bo Yan for help. There was the covetous scrutiny of Mrs. Tong and Xia Sicai on the inside, and Shang Feifei leading the way on the outside. Moreover, Shang Feifei had already won an award for Best Actress, so Siyu was lagging behind and needed to catch up. Even she had to transform herself. Time was running out. Xia Siyu bit her lip, Qin Baizhou was an excellent agent, always designing the most popular, most efficient development routes for her. But what she needed now was skill, not popularity or money. She wasn¡¯t familiar with the other acting coaches. After much consideration, Bo Yan seemed the most suitable. But clearly, Bo Yan was going to make physical demands of her, and she was reluctant¡­ As she pondered, Wei Jingjing sent her a message, ¡°For your birthday, we¡¯ll invite the big fans from the fan club. Qin has already contacted the platform to arrange the first birthday fan meeting. There¡¯s still half a month until your birthday, which gives us time to promote it on the platform.¡± Xia Siyu ignored these things and casually agreed, ¡°Okay.¡± Wei Jingjing then asked, ¡°For the fan meeting, do you want to charge admission? Or maybe just a symbolic amount and then give them various merchandise at the end.¡± Xia Siyu shook her head, ¡°No need, and why charge admission? I¡¯m not a monkey in a zoo.¡± Getting fans to spend their time to see her in person was already not easy; to charge them as well? Since they were the big fans from the fan club, they had definitely supported Xia Siyu for many years. They had stayed with her even when her reputation had been bad and had always organized trips to watch her movies. They were true fans. ¡°¡­¡± Wei Jingjing was at a loss for words, ¡°But the venue, the decorations, the marketing, and the round trip airfare and hotel could cost at least over a million.¡± ¡°Just tell me how much you need, it will come out of my account.¡± Xia Siyu had no qualms about spending large amounts and never bothered about such expenses. Spend the money if you have it, earn it if you don¡¯t. She didn¡¯t place too much importance on money; she was the kind to spend a fortune for a smile. ¡°Okay.¡± Since Xia Siyu was willing to pay, Qin would probably not have much to say either. It would save the company a big expense. Why not? ¡°Right, speaking of fans, ¡®Shengxia Yanyu¡¯ should also be in Yancheng. He has spent a lot of money supporting me over the years; I¡¯m a bit embarrassed. If we¡¯re inviting, we must invite him.¡± Wei Jingjing nodded, ¡°Of course.¡± ¡®Shengxia Yanyu,¡¯ Xia Siyu had also heard of him. He was a wealthy fan who liked her. Lately, he seemed to have climbed the wall to the ¡®Fable CP¡¯ fan base, often seen interacting there. Because of his interactions, a bunch of Xia Siyu fans followed, and even some of Bo Yan¡¯s casual fans were attracted. They would go to the ¡®Fable CP¡¯ page to generate content every day. Writing fan fiction, drawing fan comics, they clung to the few photos of them together and analyzed them daily. A group of CP fans screamed ¡°we got our fix of sugar!¡± At first, Wei Jingjing thought ¡®Shengxia Yanyu¡¯ was a man. It¡¯s not that female fans aren¡¯t crazy, but those who spend large sums, like several hundred thousand to a million on Xia Siyu¡¯s movie releases, are usually of the opposite sex. But now he¡¯s started shipping CPs, and it¡¯s rare for men to do so, so it must be a woman, right? Xia Siyu thought for a moment and said, ¡°Forget it, I¡¯ll message him. I¡¯ve added him as a friend.¡± No sooner had she finished speaking, the sound of water from the bathroom stopped¡ªBo Yan was coming out. Chapter 382 - Chapter 382: Chapter 381 Bathe Together (4) Chapter 382: Chapter 381 Bathe Together (4) Xia Siyu quickly replied, ¡°Not talking to you anymore.¡± Then she put down her phone and sat upright on the couch, poised and still. Bo Yan soon emerged from the bathroom. Xia Siyu instantly put up her defenses, hugging her arms and looking at him with a scrutinizing gaze. Bo Yan, however, remained calm. This time, he had put on a bathrobe, the belt loosely tied, and she could vaguely make out that he wasn¡¯t wearing shorts underneath. Bo walked along, dabbing at the water droplets on his hair with a towel, and upon reaching the bedroom, casually tossed the towel into the laundry basket. Xia Siyu immediately tensed up, thinking, See, it¡¯s starting! He¡¯s starting! If a man doesn¡¯t break through this barrier, he¡¯s just coy. But once he does, he¡¯ll be openly flirting! She really wanted to smack her own head. How did she ever think this man was reserved? Reserved, my foot! He¡¯s clearly a wolf with unsatisfied desires! Bo Yan¡¯s hair was still dripping wet, with his slightly long bangs hanging down, the tips dripping water. His eyes were hidden behind those bangs, briefly glancing at her. Xia Siyu braced for combat¡ªshe stretched out her leg! If he dared to come over and bully her, she would kick him hard! Bo Yan indeed walked toward the bed, and with each step, drops of water fell from his bangs. Xia Siyu¡¯s spirit instantly tightened, her eyes half-closed, watching Bo Yan¡¯s every move, ready to kick him at any moment! Closer and closer, one step and then another. Just as Xia Siyu was preparing to throw a punch or a kick, Bo Yan sat down beside her, reached out, opened the wardrobe, and took out his shorts. Xia Siyu still didn¡¯t dare relax. She watched as Bo Yan put on his shorts, even gathered up the scattered mini umbrellas on the floor, and tied up the bag. Then, he casually removed his bathrobe, pulled back the quilt, lay down, and even rolled up most of the quilt! Not only that, he was lying right in the middle, leaving her only one-third of the space whether she slept on the left or the right. Even though it was a two-meter wide bed, it was still annoying! Xia Siyu watched him for a while, and Bo Yan also pulled out his phone, swiping through the screen, seemingly reading some message. What did this mean? Was he reverting to his old ways? Toggling between relaxation and tension to numb her mind, and then strike when she least expected? Well, he was sorely mistaken! Xia Siyu glared at him sideways for a long while. Bo Yan kept swiping through his phone, with no inclination to pay her any heed. After some thought, she nudged his leg with her foot, and asked coarsely, ¡°Hey, what are you trying to do?¡± Bo Yan looked up, ¡°Sleep. Or do you want me to sleep with you?¡± Xia Siyu immediately blew up, ¡°In your dreams!¡± Bo Yan didn¡¯t mind, ¡°Then there you go, sleep.¡± But sleeping was not okay! He was taking up two-thirds of the bed; how was she supposed to sleep? Surely, she couldn¡¯t sleep on top of him? She nudged him again with her foot, ¡°Move over a bit!¡± Bo Yan put down his phone again, ¡°I can move over a bit, but I do have a condition~¡± By now, Xia Siyu could automatically read between his lines and snapped, ¡°You wish!¡± She quickly pointed her chin towards the sofa, ¡°You sleep there!¡± It had always been like this. Whenever they were forced to stay in the same room at the old house, he would sleep on the sofa while she slept on the bed. Bo Yan refused, ¡°No. I was the one who got wearied last night. I need a good rest today.¡± Chapter 383 - Chapter 383: Chapter 382 Bathe Together (5) Chapter 383: Chapter 382 Bathe Together (5) ¡°You!¡ª¡ª¡± Xia Siyu really wasn¡¯t one to blush easily, but Bo Yan was simply too shameless! What is it called when someone takes advantage and acts cute? This is exactly it! Clearly, he had his fun four times, yet he had the nerve to say he was tired! But when he said he needed to rest well tonight, what did that mean? Had he partied too hard last night and now had no energy left for tonight? Xia Siyu was somewhat relieved, but she still worried whether Bo Yan was deliberately deceiving her. What if he tricked her into coming over, trapped her, and then did this and that! She was still hesitant, and Bo Yan didn¡¯t care, continuing to play with his phone, not giving any clue as to what he was looking at, sometimes tapping on the screen. Xia Siyu observed him for a long time. He didn¡¯t glance her way at all. But as they say, a thief can¡¯t be on guard for a thousand days. He was currently leisurely, but she was about to lose her patience. She still asked, ¡°You¡¯re not going to come over later, are you?¡± ¡°Why would I come over?¡± Bo Yan looked at her again, ¡°Or are you suggesting, you hope I would do something?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t hope for anything!¡± She certainly did not want him to come closer, nor did she want anything to happen between them. Bo Yan uttered an ¡°Oh,¡± then went back to his phone, ignoring her from then on. The standoff continued for a while. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t dare approach him, but she also couldn¡¯t stand just sitting there like a fool. Seeing Bo Yan enjoying browsing on his phone, she also took out her own smartphone. She opened the WeChat interface. The last message was still from Wei Jingjing: ¡°Then you go contact Shengxia Yanyu.¡± Since she was bored anyway, Xia Siyu also headed to Weibo, donning her alternate account¡¯s disguise. Upon logging in, she first searched her own Weibo as a routine, then took a tour around the super topic area. Fans were blowing rainbow-colored smoke, hackers were attacking her on a personal level. She was tired of the polarized fandom. Looking at the CP super topic, ¡°Fable CP¡± was still ranked in the top three. She clicked in to check and found that her star-marked friend Shengxia Yanyu was also online and had even liked some CP fan¡¯s content. When it comes to the most uncomfortable fan circle behavior, it isn¡¯t about fans turning into haters or haters pretending to be bystanders. No, it¡¯s when a former dedicated fan becomes a fan of your CP, especially when they stan the CP you detest the most. This was the situation for Xia Siyu now. She couldn¡¯t understand for the life of her what was so good about Bo Yan, that even her dedicated super fan had jumped ship! But she still sent a private message to Shengxia Yanyu: ¡°Are you there? This is Xia Siyu.¡± As soon as she sent the message, Bo Yan¡¯s phone vibrated. Xia Siyu was startled, raised her head, and saw Bo Yan looking calm. If Xia Siyu had been next to him at the time, she would have noticed that he was frantically hitting the volume button, though his expression remained unfazed. Then after a short wait, Shengxia Yanyu replied: ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°My birthday is in half a month, and I¡¯m inviting you to come to Yancheng for my birthday meet-and-greet. Hotel accommodation and round-trip flight tickets are all covered. Do you have time?¡± The message was sent, and after a long time, the reply came: ¡°Forget the hotel and meals, but if I have time, I will definitely go, tell me the time and place.¡± Xia Siyu sent the address of the hotel banquet hall. The place Qin Baizhou had booked for her was in that five-star hotel, which was convenient for travel. After waiting a while, Shengxia Yanyu replied: ¡°OK.¡± Xia Siyu put down her phone and looked up at Bo Yan again. He too had just put away his phone, and even rubbed his eyes, seemingly a bit tired. What to do, to sleep or not to sleep? Chapter 384 - Chapter 384: Chapter 383 Bathe Together (6) Chapter 384: Chapter 383 Bathe Together (6) She hesitated for a moment, realizing that there was no way she could sleep on the sofa. Looking at Bo Yan, he must be very tired today, right? Still not giving up hope, she asked one more question, ¡°You won¡¯t do anything to me tonight, right?¡± Bo Yan looked up, his expression a bit helpless, ¡°I¡¯m not a beast. If you are not willing, would I force you?¡± He actually really wanted to be a beast, but he also knew that Xia Siyu was not the kind of woman who would unconditionally follow him after sleeping with him. Seven years ago, it was the same; after their first time, she directly dumped him. If he forced her, the least she would do was fight back, and at worst, she would go to the police and cause a city-wide scandal. He indeed wanted to possess her, but not just for a fleeting desire for her body; what he wanted was much more in the future. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t taken the initiative last night, we probably wouldn¡¯t be in this situation.¡± Damn it, so it was her fault? Was it because she instigated him and he, following the principle of not taking the initiative, no promises, and no responsibility, conveniently slept with her, is that what this meant? Although she was very angry when he tried desperately to take responsibility today, right now, his attitude of a classic scumbag who refuses to acknowledge after sleeping with her, infuriated her even more! Xia Siyu gritted her teeth and said, ¡°Fine, then let me see if you really are a beast or not!¡± She really got up and, with heavy steps, walked over, directly flipped open the blanket, and crawled in beside him. As she did, she kicked her legs onto him, ¡°Move over a bit!¡± Bo Yan refused to comply, ¡°I said, if you move, I have my conditions.¡± Fine, she admitted defeat. Anyway, once they were asleep, it was every man for himself when it came to grabbing the blanket. When it comes to fighting for the blanket and bed space, she wasn¡¯t boasting, but she had never lost to anyone! Xia Siyu lay down, turned her back to him to sleep, and made an effort to roll up, pulling most of the blanket with her. Bo Yan chuckled lightly, not bothering to argue with her, and turned off the bedside lamp. Once the light went out, the darkness seemed to envelop them both, making Xia Siyu start to regret her decision. Before on the plane, she had also lain with Bo Yan like this, but at that time, Bo Yan had not made a move, and when he said he would not initiate anything, he truly didn¡¯t. But now what? She was not so certain. Usually, Xia Siyu would fall into a deep sleep as soon as her head hit the pillow, but today, even though she had a headache, she simply couldn¡¯t fall asleep. Two people under one blanket, sharing one bed, although there were two pillows and more space than they had on the plane, and they were not bound together by a seatbelt, she still felt as if she were locked tight, even more anxious than before. Bo Yan¡¯s body was right behind her; she didn¡¯t dare to turn her head or make a move. She was afraid that any noise would provoke him to lose control and do something untoward to her. Xia Siyu had slept on her arm for a long time, maintaining the same position until it went numb. She endured this for a while until the man behind her began to breathe evenly, and then she stealthily moved her arm, trying to pull out her hand and change position. Just as she moved, there was a stir from behind her. Then Bo Yan reached out his arm and forcefully pulled her into his embrace. Shit, I knew this old lecher was doing it on purpose! He didn¡¯t fall asleep at all; he was just waiting for her to let her guard down! Just as Xia Siyu was about to resist, Bo Yan began to speak, ¡°Go to sleep, I promise, as long as you¡¯re not willing, I absolutely won¡¯t touch you.¡± As soon as he made the promise, Xia Siyu, who had been holding back her sleep, immediately fell asleep. Bo Yan looked at the person in his arms with a complex expression, wondering what he would do if he wanted to go back on his word? Chapter 385 - Chapter 385: Chapter 384: Experientialist (1) Chapter 385: Chapter 384: Experientialist (1) Xia Siyu had a very comfortable sleep. Perhaps it was really because she had done too much exercise yesterday, or perhaps, it was because Bo Yan hadn¡¯t touched her. Or maybe it could be said that it was because Bo Yan was beside her, and she breathed in the familiar scent of his body, subconsciously feeling safe and reassured. Xia Siyu, who usually fell asleep the second her head hit the pillow regardless of her surroundings, had changed her residence several times over the years. At its quickest once a week, at its slowest every six months, she was always targeted by paparazzi and stalkers, which forced her to move. Although she wasn¡¯t particular about sleeping in her own bed, subconsciously she still felt unsafe. Otherwise, it was constant filming, attending various events, flying all over the world, staying in hotels, or participating in reality shows, where cameras would even be present while she slept. The all-day, all-encompassing surveillance nearly suffocated her and made it hard to breathe. At Bo Yan¡¯s place, they were all artists who knew each other well. She felt like a part of an agency, and although Qin Baizhou and Wei Jingjing were always by her side, they were there for work after all, and she wouldn¡¯t share her personal affairs with them. But with him, she didn¡¯t need to pretend. She could say whatever she wanted, hit whomever she wanted. Although she and Bo Yan were still at odds, what she didn¡¯t realize was that she had gradually grown accustomed to having him by her side. Even if they fought and bickered, life was not reduced to stagnant water. When she woke up, she found herself in Bo Yan¡¯s arms. As everyone knew, Xia Siyu¡¯s sleeping posture was notoriously bad. Her head was resting on his arm, her hand was holding his waist, and one of her legs was raised, using him like a large cuddle pillow, weighing down on his leg. And her face was facing his face. Bo Yan was still asleep. When he was quiet, he indeed looked very handsome. His slightly long bangs, his very black and dense eyebrows that didn¡¯t need any special attention to look good, and his long eyelashes were drooping down. His nose bridge was high. His lips were also nice, neither too thin and cold nor too thick and soft. Actually, they felt rather comfortable to kiss. Being a celebrity, celebrities are required to maintain their appearance. He usually kept his beard shaved clean. But these past two days, because he was resting, he hadn¡¯t been too particular about grooming, and a blue shadow of stubble had formed on his chin. It is said that men with vigorous beard growth are impressive in certain aspects. Xia Siyu recalled, although she had been totally clueless throughout the episode yesterday morning, except for the fact that she disliked Bo Yan as a person, in hindsight, he seemed not to have regressed compared to the past. His skills had even improved a bit, and his strength too¡­ She wasn¡¯t like the traditional women in China who felt devalued by spending a night with a man or that it created some complications or entanglements. Upon reflection, she realized that with Bo Yan, neither of them was at a disadvantage. Bo Yan was handsome with a good physique and great skills. Although she kept scolding Bo Yan as a scoundrel yesterday, actually she enjoyed the process as well¡­ But as much as she thought about it, she still didn¡¯t want to have too much contact with Bo Yan! Now she wanted to get out of bed. Xia Siyu glanced at Bo Yan; he seemed to be sleeping peacefully, probably not awake yet. Xia Siyu gently moved her leg, and as she did, it seemed to touch something, which visibly reacted slightly. Xia Siyu¡¯s leg stiffened in an instant, knowing that it was his, er, part; it¡¯s true that men often get an erection in the morning, she had seen it before. She looked up at Bo Yan again. He was still not awake. Suddenly, Bo Yan¡¯s eyes opened. Chapter 386 - Chapter 386: Chapter 385: Experientialist (2) Chapter 386: Chapter 385: Experientialist (2) Xia Siyu was stunned as Bo Yan¡¯s eyes looked at her. Their gazes met. At this moment, Xia Siyu¡¯s leg was still hooked around his waist, and her hand rested on his chest. Her face was close to his. Especially since the area just above her leg was rubbing against his part. Even without looking down, she could feel him slowly changing. It was beyond taking initiative, it could almost be considered ¡°seduction¡±! Xia Siyu¡¯s head was about to explode; she wanted to say something but didn¡¯t know how. How could she have such sleeping postures? She felt a bit embarrassed, so embarrassed that she curled her toes, but even this small change caught Bo Yan¡¯s attention. His eyes gradually cleared from the fog of sleep and he looked at her, then glanced at his part and said indifferently, ¡°You¡¯ve woken him up.¡± It took Xia Siyu a while to realize the ¡°he¡± Bo Yan referred to was his part, and she immediately shook her head, ¡°This is a misunderstanding.¡± She swiftly disentangled her legs from him, her movements slick and quick. Bo Yan then looked at her arm on his chest, ¡°You¡¯re still hugging me with your arm.¡± Xia Siyu quickly retracted her arm, ¡°I didn¡¯t, I didn¡¯t!¡± Bo Yan ignored her explanation and continued to ask, ¡°Do you want it that much?¡± Xia Siyu shook her head at once, ¡°No!¡±, her tone decisive. But her actions were not as decisive as Bo Yan¡¯s. Before she could escape, Bo Yan flipped over immediately, blocking her way out. Xia Siyu, unable to flee, asked indignantly, ¡°What do you want to do!¡± Bo Yan¡¯s speech was initially a bit groggy from just waking up, but now he had regained his usual sly and insidious demeanor. He lowered his head, touched the corner of her mouth, and chuckled lowly, ¡°You¡¯re asking who I want to do¡ªwhat to?¡± What kind of outrageous language was that? Xia Siyu was no innocent little rabbit, she reached out to slap him. Bo Yan was completely unperturbed, ¡°Hit me, if you hit me once, I¡¯ll kiss you once. Hit me twice, and you won¡¯t be leaving this room this morning.¡± Although she had practiced boxing and indeed could punch painfully, he had a good temper and an even better heart, he wouldn¡¯t hold it against her. She had never seen such a shameless person! Xia Siyu knew Bo Yan kept his word. Although he wanted her before, he didn¡¯t make a move since she didn¡¯t initiate. He also promised last night to let her rest well, and he did as he said. But now, it was the same. Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t just not resist; she wasn¡¯t about to blush and wait for his kiss. Can¡¯t hit him, huh? Then I¡¯ll kick! She immediately lifted her knee, intending to slam into his part fiercely. As soon as she made her move, Bo Yan, who had learned from experience, quickly moved his leg to block her knee, preventing his part from suffering further misfortune. Their battle of wits and strength continued, neither willing to give in. During the melee, Xia Siyu threw whatever she could grab; if her hands were free, she would hit, if not, she would kick. Bo Yan was only defending, never resisting, and he was even enjoying it, ¡°One, two, hiss, four. You grabbed me three times, that makes seven in total. Didn¡¯t we just agree one hit equals one time? Tonight, we really need to work hard to make up the numbers.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s ¡®we¡¯!¡± Xia Siyu raged, the bag containing Durex was right there on the bedside table, she grabbed one and threw it straight at his head. Bo Yan took advantage of the confusion to grab her hand and brought her down with him. Chapter 387 - Chapter 387: Chapter 386: Experientialist (3) Chapter 387: Chapter 386: Experientialist (3) Just as he had pinned her against the headboard, Bo Yan was still smiling faintly as he touched her lips, ¡°Wife is really too enthusiastic, don¡¯t worry, tonight I will definitely satisfy you seven¡­ ¡± Before he could finish the word ¡°times,¡± there was a sudden ¡°snap¡± and then a sensation as if the heavens and earth were collapsing. Bo Yan instinctively wrapped his arms around Xia Siyu as they uncontrollably fell downwards, as if an earthquake was happening. Facing such a sudden incident, Xia Siyu was also stunned. She thought it was perhaps an earthquake. Although she had never experienced an earthquake, there are active volcanoes in Italy, and she had seen such earth-shattering scenes on TV. In moments of danger, people will instinctively cling to whatever floats beside them. Xia Siyu, although independent and not one to rely on others, could not help but instinctively not push Bo Yan away in this environment, watching vigilantly. If something serious were indeed happening, she could also make a quick exit to safety. However, after observing for a short while, aside from wooden splinters and dust, she only saw objects scattered around from their earlier scuffle. But beyond that, everything else in the house was normal. Xia Siyu scanned her surroundings a few times vigilantly, but could see no further signs of earthquakes or aftershocks, and she and Bo Yan looked at each other. With difficulty, she said, ¡°The bed, has the bed collapsed?¡± No sooner had she spoken when someone knocked on the door. The loud noise just now had caught the attention of the whole family. People generally didn¡¯t lock their doors at night, so after nobody responded to the knocking, a group of people burst in. Bo Yan had just managed to say ¡°It¡¯s no,¡± before he could finish ¡°big deal,¡± when he saw grandparents, uncles, and aunts all coming in, joined by Bo Yi and Xia Sicai as well. What the group saw was the collapsed bed, Bo Yan holding Xia Siyu amidst the broken bed planks, Bo Yan wearing only a pair of shorts, and Xia Siyu in her nightgown, with him on top of her. On closer inspection, the ¡°du-ley-si¡± was scattered all over the floor¡­ Bo¡¯s grandfather and grandmother left with an expressionless face, while Bo Qiliu and Mrs. Shen also covered their faces as they exited. Bo Yi was a bit speechless, and only Xia Sicai blushed a little and appeared somewhat surprised. Initially, they thought Xia Siyu and Bo Yan were merely in a marriage of convenience, possibly with physical contact just for the sake of producing an heir to vie for the family property, and that they had no real affection for each other. Now, it seemed these two were just too¡­ wild. The scene of the scattered ¡°du-ley-si,¡± the broken bed planks, and the two huddled figures¡­ ** Because of that slight mishap in the morning, Xia Siyu felt her face blush even when she went down for lunch. It was too embarrassing, too embarrassing! Being observed by a group of elders as a couple whose fight caused the bed to collapse, no one believed her explanations, and the more she explained, the more it seemed to indicate something between the two of them, didn¡¯t it? Xia Siyu normally had a thick skin, accustomed to being criticized without having done anything wrong, and was not afraid of others talking. But what had happened with Bo Yan was true, and it had just happened yesterday. She never got angry about baseless accusations, but being caught in something real was indeed embarrassing. Bo Yan, on the other hand, was completely calm. Ever since going to university, he had lived on campus, staying from undergraduate through to completing his doctorate, and had entered the entertainment industry not long after graduation. All in all, it had been over a decade since he had lived in the family home for any extended period. The old house had carefully selected wood materials, and being uninhabited for over a decade, the wooden planks were frail and couldn¡¯t withstand their tossing and turning. Chapter 388 - Chapter 388: Chapter 387: Experientialist (4) Chapter 388: Chapter 387: Experientialist (4) Because the room was a mess, both the bed and the floor needed to be swept and cleaned again, and the bed frame had to be replaced. After lunch, Xia Siyu felt too embarrassed to hide in her room. It was the middle of the day and the sun was blazing; she didn¡¯t want to go out for a walk, so she had no choice but to join a group of people drinking tea in the living room. In the living room, the other men of the Bo Family, aside from Bo Yan, were discussing the development of the Bo Family¡¯s enterprise, the machinations of their business partners, and how to expand their market share. Grandma wasn¡¯t feeling too well, so after eating she sat for a bit before going up to rest, and even Xia Sicai could join in, occasionally sharing his views and insights. Only Xia Siyu and Bo Yan were on this side, one drinking tea, the other bowing his head focused on his phone. Xia Siyu glanced over and noted Bo Yan was quite serious about whatever he was looking at, she had no idea what had captured his interest so intensely. Another pot of water was ready, and the servant brewed tea for everyone, filling the fair cup and pouring into small cups for each person. After several cups of tea, Xia Siyu began to feel calmer. She picked up her cup of tea, just finished it, and her eyes swept to notice Bo Yan finally put down his phone satisfied, the screen of his phone still open while he also savoured his tea in small sips. She hadn¡¯t been looking, but upon glancing at Bo Yan¡¯s phone, she realized, good lord, he was picking out a bed! Thinking back to the bed that had just collapsed, Xia Siyu felt a bit angry and embarrassed. Just about to say something, Bo Yan turned around first, ¡°You should take a look, too. What kind of material, what kind of style do you want for a bed? A wooden one, a Simmons, raised or flush with the floor?¡± With that comment, everyone at the table looked over, some out of curiosity, some for the entertainment, and some with more profound implications. Bo Yi said, ¡°Weren¡¯t we planning on changing the bed frame? It should arrive this afternoon.¡± Bo Yan uttered an ¡°oh¡± and explained, ¡°I was talking about our marital room. Now that we¡¯ll be living together, we¡¯ll need to get a bigger bed. And the one in our marital room isn¡¯t really explainable. If it breaks down in the middle of the night, it wouldn¡¯t be good to have it replaced in the city. After all, I am an actor.¡± He then earnestly asked Xia Siyu, ¡°Do you prefer a softer bed? High beds with soft pillows are indeed comfortable, just not very spine-friendly. But if you like it, we could get a softer Simmons. What do you think?¡± She didn¡¯t think much of it and stood up directly, ¡°I¡¯m going to rest.¡± Bo Yan frowned in confusion, ¡°The bedframe isn¡¯t fixed yet, and the room isn¡¯t tidied up either, what will you do going back?¡± Xia Siyu turned around again, ¡°Then I¡¯ll go for a walk.¡± Walking a hundred paces after a meal will keep you alive until ninety-nine! Bo Yan added, ¡°You haven¡¯t applied sunscreen yet. Aren¡¯t you afraid of getting tanned or sunburned by stepping out like this?¡± And in the neighborhood, where there were other residents, what if someone recognized her? Xia Siyu thought that was also true, so she turned her head towards the study, ¡°Then I¡¯ll go read a book.¡± ¡°You read books, and in less than ten minutes, you¡¯ll surely fall asleep. There¡¯s no bed in the study, how uncomfortable it would be to sleep hunched over the desk.¡± ¡°Who says? I didn¡¯t fall asleep yesterday!¡± Xia Siyu naturally didn¡¯t approve, and she turned with a complaint. Of course, she wouldn¡¯t fall asleep while reading her mother¡¯s messages. Bo Yan replied, ¡°There are only those few biographies in the study. If you want to read, we¡¯ll go to the villa later; there¡¯s a lot of film-related material, DVDs, and audiovisual recordings there.¡± With this not working and that not working, isn¡¯t he just saying he wants her to keep him company? Xia Siyu huffed in annoyance, ¡°Then you tell me, what should I do?¡± Bo Yan stood up, ¡°Do you have time? There are a few points I¡¯d like to discuss with you about the scenes in ¡®Spring Light¡¯.¡± Chapter 389 - Chapter 389: Chapter 388: Experientialist (5) Chapter 389: Chapter 388: Experientialist (5) He was a good teacher. The last time Xia Siyu wanted to learn, and she had already ¡°paid¡± with her body, he wouldn¡¯t renege on his promise; he would surely teach her all he knew. Xia Siyu was startled. True, her greatest goal right now was to improve herself, to strive for the Best Actress trophy through her own efforts. But acting was intangible and elusive. She could practice long-term, constantly ponder and understand, requiring both talent and hard work. However, to improve in the short term, she had to find a teacher. She indeed wanted to find Bo Yan, but without having ¡°drank too much,¡± she was too embarrassed to ask and feared he would propose some illicit deal, so she hesitated. Since Bo Yan had taken the initiative to mention it, of course she was going to seize the opportunity! Yet Xia Siyu didn¡¯t want to reveal her eagerness, so she glanced at him haughtily, ¡°Initially I didn¡¯t want to. I wanted to rest. But since you¡¯re so earnestly asking, I will condescend to practice with you.¡± After speaking, she immediately turned her head, clicking her high heels. Seeing that Bo Yan didn¡¯t move, she looked puzzled, ¡°Aren¡¯t we going up to discuss? My time is quite precious, you know.¡± Bo Yan, seeing her eager little pose, felt like laughing inside. He said, ¡°The study is too cramped. I¡¯ll take you somewhere.¡± Then he naturally extended his hand to lead her there. Xia Siyu hesitated for a moment on whether or not to take his hand. But Bo Yan didn¡¯t give her the time to hesitate; seeing her standing still, he took a step forward and directly grasped her hand. Strangely enough, even though Xia Siyu had been more intimate with him before, her entire body jolted as if scalded at the touch of their hands, and she felt a bit uncomfortable. When they were dating, they rarely held hands like this. It felt weird. Bo Yan¡¯s large hand was smooth, with intertwined lines in the palm, but not as rough as someone who did physical labor. His fingers were long, well-defined, and slightly clammy. Xia Siyu, led by him, found herself being drawn along without realizing it as he applied a slight force, and her fingers moved her joints naturally. Bo Yan led her out of the room to the backyard, where there was a small bungalow. Pushing open the door, the interior was empty. But on closer look, on the side, the Duobao Pavilion was neatly lined with many toys, each meticulously placed. Bo Yan said, ¡°This was my playground when I was a child. Grandpa was very busy, and when my big brother¡¯s family came to live here, I would hide away by myself. Until I bought my own house and became independent, this was my only private space.¡± Xia Siyu remembered that Bo Yan grew up without his parents, living at his grandparents¡¯ house. Although this place was where he grew up, he didn¡¯t feel a deep connection to the Bo Family. That was because Grandpa valued ¡°inheritance¡± over ¡°family bonds.¡± Naturally, he preferred Bo Yi, who was set to inherit the Bosch Corporation. Even though he loved Bo Yan too, he was powerless to do much. Bo Yan knew from an early age that only ¡°power¡± was what mattered most. He couldn¡¯t depend on family, only on himself. In that respect, she was just like him. Even though her father, brothers, and sisters were all there, after her mother died, she lived as if she was an orphan. As a celebrity, she was recognized by the whole world when working, but in private, she felt as if she was isolated from the world. It seemed like she had everything, but in reality, her heart felt very empty. Xia Siyu withdrew her gaze, and Bo Yan, true to his word, began her formal lessons. ¡°Modern acting techniques are generally divided into three schools: the Experiential, the Method, and the Presentational,¡± he started. Chapter 390 - Chapter 390: Chapter 389: Experientialist (6) Chapter 390: Chapter 389: Experientialist (6) ¡°The ¡®Method School,¡¯ as the name suggests, emphasizes the profound emotional experiences of the actor, merging the actor¡¯s inner self with the character. Stanislavsky¡¯s ¡®The Actor¡¯s Self-cultivation¡¯ exemplifies this school. The Method School involves the actor using their body and expressions to convey the character¡¯s inner world, requiring consistency in portrayal both onstage and offstage. Marlon Brando is a famous representative of this approach. The Performance School, on the other hand, is about distinctly separating oneself from the character while still maintaining closeness, fully aware that the character is the character, and oneself is oneself. It emphasizes the expressive form of physical actions, focusing on the external.¡± Learning theoretical knowledge is often the most likely to induce sleepiness. However, Bo Yan wasn¡¯t showing off his knowledge; he simply wanted to ask her, ¡°Which category do you fall into?¡± After Xia Siyu answered, he could specifically use various schools¡¯ methods to teach her, which would be twice as effective. Xia Siyu hesitated a moment, ¡°The first one.¡± That means she is part of the Method School, integrating her own experiences into the character, using her life experiences to understand the character¡¯s feelings. No wonder she usually plays characters in youth films, but because she incorporates herself into the roles, the characters also have a soul. The proprietress in ¡°Storm,¡± although somewhat coquettish and enchanting, has an inner core that is bold in love and resolute, a personality that matches hers. Bo Yan said, ¡°There is nothing wrong with the Method School, the problem lies in the fact that when you want to create different characters, some well-rounded characters, without life experience or empathy for them, you cannot get close to these characters¡¯ inner worlds. That¡¯s your deficiency.¡± The character she was supposed to play in ¡°Spring Light¡± was a capitalist¡¯s daughter during a special era, a female college student from a big city, an educated woman who faced persecution at home, and was sent down to the Northwest mountain area. Playing a capitalist¡¯s daughter was not difficult, and she could also portray the arrogance of a female college student, and as for experiencing hard life in the Northwest mountain area, she could accomplish that too. But it was a special era, with ideological conflicts, confusion, and persistence, and a proud backbone hidden within. Then there was also her feelings for the male lead. The male lead didn¡¯t know the female lead before¡ªsaying he didn¡¯t know her wasn¡¯t quite right either; influenced by others, he had done something many impulsive young people did during that era, leading a group to denounce a professor. And this professor was precisely the female lead¡¯s mother. But before the violence could continue, the male lead suddenly regretted his actions and didn¡¯t follow through, yet his companions went on with it and even injured the female lead¡¯s mother. This was the spark that ignited the story. Later, when the university suspended classes, the male lead also went home and met the sent-down female lead. They shared hatred, yet they became the only people in the area who could have a conversation. The male lead, educated and thus also considered part of the ¡®bad five categories¡¯ like the female lead, faced censure together with her. Their similar plights brought them gradually closer. After driving away a thug who was bullying the female lead, the male lead couldn¡¯t restrain himself and also acted like a thug, forcing himself on her. The female lead¡¯s feelings towards him were a mix of love and hate; they presented a united front against the villagers¡¯ criticisms, but aside from spending the night together, they had no emotional exchanges in private. In the end, the female lead returned to the city, leaving the child for the male lead to deal with. The male lead stayed with the child and the small house they had lived in together, waiting day and night for the female lead to return. But whether the female lead would come back, only heaven knew. In fact, after reading the script, Bo Yan felt that it was a portrait of themselves. Chapter 391 - Chapter 391: Chapter 390: I Want to Have a Home (1) Chapter 391: Chapter 390: I Want to Have a Home (1) Moreover, he was truly grateful for this story: If Xia Siyu could vent all the love and hate she harbored in her heart for him, perhaps their future development would turn out to be better. Xia Siyu might appear carefree, but she always kept her worries hidden away from others. Very few people could influence her emotions now, and the Xia Family was one of them. He was another. Although these emotions were mostly negative¡­ ¡°That was a special era, and what you need to understand is a lot of background knowledge from that time. Having seen this script, I believe you know that neither the male nor the female lead is perfect; both are struggling in the torrents of time and society, and amidst their struggles, they transform. Even though it¡¯s a short story, the characters still grow. Leave the male lead aside; you could say he¡¯s a scoundrel, a jerk, a believer in collapsed faith. But the female lead has her own conflicts, struggles, pride, and confusion. Beyond the societal and era attributes she embodies, there is also transformation within this story. Can you convince the audience that she is a person from that era, a living, breathing person, with all her entanglements and spiraling growth as genuine? This play might seem to center on the male lead, with him being the main thread of the story. In truth, the male lead is merely the one flying the kite, while the female lead, as the kite, is the focal point of the entire play. Can you grasp it well?¡± When Xia Siyu first took an interest in this script, it was because she was drawn to the character of the female lead, believing it to be a substantial role. Then, it was the whole story, which also had no issues. These days, it¡¯s not easy to come across a good script. This one, allegedly Sun Wujiu had spent many years on, drawing inspiration from real stories around him. So in terms of detail, control, and other aspects, it should all reflect his vision. Coupled with Yu Fenfei¡¯s assistance, if well-executed, even if not award-snatching, it would at least be a good movie, an exceptional work. While reading the script, she just felt attracted to the female lead¡¯s character and wanted to perform it. But she hadn¡¯t expected that she herself would be the crucial element. Including Bo Yan, all the actors were there to build a platform for her. She furrowed her brows suddenly, then went over it seriously one more time. Afterward, she nodded, ¡°I¡¯ll do my best.¡± ¡°Not ¡®do your best,¡¯ but must, absolutely. If you don¡¯t perform well, the movie will flop. If you do perform well, it will be like the finishing touch to a dragon, bringing it to life. Remember, you need to give more than one hundred and twenty percent. One hundred percent is no longer enough. That means, with two months left before the official shooting starts, you must improve yourself!¡± Xia Siyu had seldom seen Bo Yan with such a serious expression. He usually maintained a cold demeanor and kept a distance from women. Lately, he had adopted a second persona, flirtatiously teasing her in private. But she recalled Zhou Weiwei, who had taken a few of his classes, saying that Bo Yan was quite fierce and strict. She had thought it was exaggerated. Now she saw that indeed, the rumors were true. If Bo Yan had really given up acting to become a university professor, he would definitely have been a very strict teacher. However, she did indeed need a strict teacher right now, to enable her to make rapid progress. ¡°I can!¡± This time, Xia Siyu nodded with conviction. Bo Yan scrutinized her closely, his eyes shining, but he still spoke sternly, ¡°Good.¡± Chapter 392 - Chapter 392: Chapter 391: I Want to Have a Home (2) Chapter 392: Chapter 391: I Want to Have a Home (2) ¡°Wait here for a minute, I¡¯ll be right back,¡± Bo Yan said, and then he pushed the door open and left. Xia Siyu began to roam about in the room. Although the house was a small bungalow, it was very clean. The little boy¡¯s toys were nothing but pistols, model planes, model cars, Transformers, and the like, none of which she found very interesting. However, as she wandered, she spotted something that looked like a yellowed notebook. Bo Yan was such a grown man, did he actually like to keep a diary? Xia Siyu was a bit curious, she turned her head to see that Bo Yan was not there. It might not be nice to snoop on someone¡¯s privacy, but he had bullied her, so it should be okay for her to take a sneaky peek, right? She wouldn¡¯t remember it anyway. So, she pulled out the notebook, which was well preserved with a cover made of kraft paper, clearly well-protected. On it were a few words written in a clumsy scrawl: ¡°Me and Dad and Mom.¡± Was it about his parents? Xia Siyu knew that Bo Yan had lost both parents when he was very young, and he had lived with his grandparents ever since. Living at the mercy of others, it was inevitable that he would be looked down on, so his relationship with his family wasn¡¯t good either. So¡­ just one look, I promise not to read the content of his diary, just the title! Xia Siyu opened the pages, only to realize that this was not a diary, but a photo album. It seemed to be from when he was in elementary school. A young couple, the man refined and tall, the woman gentle and friendly, with a six or seven-year-old child in the middle, his eyes squinting from laughter. The background looked like a school. The handwriting beneath was quite delicate: ¡°Ayan¡¯s group photo at elementary school.¡± This handwriting, she guessed, was probably written by his mother. Xia Siyu glanced at his parents; actually, Bo Yan was quite charming and seemed to have inherited the best from both parents. Dad was tall, but the eyes followed the Bo family¡¯s elongated shape. Mom¡¯s eyes were very large, the typical peach blossom eyes. Bo Yan¡¯s eyes resembled his mother¡¯s. All three had prominent noses, but unlike Mom¡¯s cherry lips, his lips were more like his Dad¡¯s. It was a photo album, not a diary, which felt slightly better. Xia Siyu flipped through more pages, ¡°Ayan¡¯s sports day, long-distance running champion!¡± There was even an exclamation mark, clearly showing how proud the parents were of their son¡¯s achievements. Bo Yan was dressed in sportswear, his clothes and pants covered in dirt as if he had rolled around somewhere, holding a first-place medal¡ªa little red flower. His smile was nothing like the stern and reticent individual he was now; he seemed exceptionally happy. There were also pictures of father and son playing football together, Bo Yan stepping on the ball, and Dad dressed in sports attire as well, both wearing number ten jerseys, making the victory V sign. The caption read, ¡°Our family¡¯s football match.¡± Obviously, Mom was the one behind the camera, asking them to say ¡°cheese.¡± Then, they started wearing winter outfits and building a snowman. Bo Yan was wrapped up in a thick down jacket like a doll, with a smear of gray on his nose as if he was messing around while Mom and Dad were cooking a barbecue feast. Looking at the scenery outside, it seemed like they were abroad, a typical European and American city¡¯s nightscape. Further on¡­ Just as Xia Siyu was about to turn the page, Bo Yan, unknown to her, had walked up behind her, stretching out his arm from behind to gently close the photo album, ¡°Do you want to take a look?¡± The man¡¯s voice resonated above her head. Xia Siyu turned around and indeed, Bo Yan had returned. Chapter 393 - Chapter 393: Chapter 392: I Want to Have a Home (3) Chapter 393: Chapter 392: I Want to Have a Home (3) ¡°` This kind of invasion of privacy is indeed wrong, and on top of that, I got caught red-handed. She quickly shook her head, ¡°Sorry, I¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, I haven¡¯t looked at it in a long time either. Let¡¯s look at it together.¡± As Bo Yan said this, he held the photo album in one hand, and habitually took her hand with the other. Xia Siyu¡¯s palm was grasped by his, and she involuntarily followed him. There was only a table and a chair in the room. Bo Yan sat down first, and with a pull of his hand, Xia Siyu, not knowing how it happened, moved like a puppet on strings, unconsciously going with his pace. By the time she came to her senses, she was already sitting on Bo Yan¡¯s lap, with Bo Yan enveloping her from behind as they looked at the album together. This posture was something they had never experienced during their relationship, and Xia Siyu felt somewhat uncomfortable. But since she had been caught sneaking a look at his album and felt guilty, she didn¡¯t have the courage to reject him. Moreover, everyone has a curiosity. Even though she wasn¡¯t particularly interested in Bo Yan, she still couldn¡¯t help but sneak a peek at his album. Now that he was inviting her to look at it openly, and not doing anything to make her feel uncomfortable, she naturally didn¡¯t resist. She glanced again at the desk where his books and DVDs recently fetched from the bookcase were placed. Upon closer inspection, they were mostly documentaries about the ¡°Spring Light¡± era, both visual and textual materials. Bo Yan also wanted to understand Xia Siyu¡¯s past, to unravel her emotional knots. But emotional knots are mutual, he only wanted to understand her, but was unwilling to open his heart to her, which meant that they could never truly resonate with each other. So he might as well relax his demeanor, let her take the initiative in joining his family life, to understand her first. Perhaps, this would gradually encourage her to open up and slowly accept him. Bo Yan started explaining from the beginning of the album: ¡°When I was little, my mother would prepare an album for me each year. When I was even smaller, it was more frequent, almost every day she would write in the baby journal. In the cabinet over there, all those albums are stored, two cabinets full of them.¡± Xia Siyu turned her head to look at the bottom of the Duobao Pavilion, which was a set of cabinets. She had originally thought he stored his important toys there, but it turned out to be full of photo albums. Pity the hearts of parents the world over. His parents, although they passed away early, loved him dearly. You could also tell that their parent-child relationship was very good; his parents would play soccer with him and watch sports events together. When his parents cooked, although he would mess around, it reflected that his father wasn¡¯t the type of man who shirked household chores, but rather helped his mother with some of them. Moreover, they trained him from a young age to cook too. No wonder, Bo Yan can cook now, and he¡¯s quite good at it, too. Moreover, as a child, Bo Yan was noticeably more lively and active, enjoying soccer and participating in long-distance running, laughing carefree, eyes squeezed shut in delight. If it weren¡¯t for his parents¡¯ accidental death later on, perhaps he would have had a completely different life. Bo Yan continued to narrate along with the pictures in the album, saying that he started elementary school and got into the best local primary school. His older cousin, Bo Yi, attended an international school that was more about spending money. He, on the other hand, had earned his place in the best public primary school in Yancheng, which was definitely cause for celebration. Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t surprised by this; Bo Yan had always been a top student from a young age. Then it moved on to his sports day, playing football, and Christmas. But flipping further, the pages were blank. ¡°` Chapter 394 - Chapter 394: Chapter 393: I Want to Have a Home (4) Chapter 394: Chapter 393: I Want to Have a Home (4) About this, Xia Siyu vaguely sensed something but she didn¡¯t ask aloud, instead turning to look at him. Bo Yan¡¯s gaze, too, was rarely immersed. After a long while, he finally spoke, ¡°The photo album in your hands is the last one of our family of three.¡± Xia Siyu was stunned, she had just casually flipped through one, likely the one placed at the top, more noticeable. She hadn¡¯t expected it to be the last one. That is to say, Bo Yan¡¯s parents had died that year. ¡°Your dad and mom¡­¡± ¡°Yes. What you see, the Spring Festival they spent with me abroad, was our last holiday together. The day of my birthday was the anniversary of my parents¡¯ death.¡± Xia Siyu had not anticipated this scenario at all, and she was momentarily stunned. Although her family situation was complicated, and she and her mother were long denied recognition by the Xia family elders. Mrs. Tong even incited Xia Sicai and others in the Xia family to show hostility towards her and her mother. Xia Sicai was young back then, his rejection of her might have been out of fear of losing his father. But now, he still shunned her, possibly out of the enduring hatred and perhaps the fear that the Xia family¡¯s wealth might go to her, and the Bo family¡¯s wealth might also fall into her hands. But no matter what the situation was, at least her mother had died of illness. Although she died in depression, although she had suffered before dying, at least it was a lingering illness, and Siyu had fulfilled her filial duties by her mother¡¯s bedside. But for Bo Yan, the joy in his life had stopped on his seventh birthday. If she remembered correctly, Bo Yan¡¯s birthday was in January, maybe his parents had just returned from celebrating Spring Festival with him abroad, getting ready to celebrate his birthday together when life came to an abrupt halt. ¡°I still remember it was the Lantern Festival that year. It was the end of the first semester of my first grade in primary school, and I had scored perfect hundreds in the exams. To reward me and also to sort out work matters, my mother took me abroad, to be with my dad who was working in the United Kingdom. I was born on the Lantern Festival, and my dad had just finished all his work before that. To catch the tail end of Spring Festival and to reunite our family, the three of us took a flight back. We had already arrived in China, but on the airport highway, we encountered a pile-up car accident. My dad and mom threw themselves over to protect me instantly, but they remained on the highway forever.¡± There were no poisons, no schemes, no crushing by a powerful family¡ªjust like that, because of a car accident, he became an orphan. The most ridiculous part was, he could never forget the face of his Uncle Bo Qiliu at his parents¡¯ funeral, the surface sadness but the barely concealed ecstasy inside: Yes, his dad was dead, the biggest competitor vanished into thin air, and from then on, the Bo family would belong to him and his son! And as for his grandfather¡¯s grief¡ªwas it for the loss of a son or for the loss of the best heir? Sometimes, kinship weighs heavier than Mount Tai. Sometimes, it crumbles at the slightest touch. Xia Siyu turned back, her eyes shocked and somewhat saddened. She also shook her head, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t realize it was like this.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s all in the past.¡± Bo Yan had long grown accustomed to his parents¡¯ departure, and to licking his wounds alone. He was a child back then, but now he stands tall and firm as a man. Moreover, he can make his way in the world on his own strength, without the need for his family¡¯s shelter. Although he said it was okay, the slight droop of his head and the tightness of his lips clearly betrayed that his emotions were stirred. Chapter 395 - Chapter 395: Chapter 394: I Want to Have a Home (5) Chapter 395: Chapter 394: I Want to Have a Home (5) Xia Siyu was sitting on Bo Yan at that moment. Although she disliked Bo Yan, at this time, she still turned around, gently reached out her hand, and patted his shoulder as a comforting gesture. Then, what she saw were Bo Yan¡¯s peach blossom eyes earnestly looking at her from beneath his bangs. Bo Yan¡¯s peach blossom eyes, when smiling, resembled a blossoming peach¡ªboth amorous and heartless. But when not smiling, as long as he was looking at you, you would feel his attention and affection. You¡¯d get butterflies, become shy, and dare not look directly at him. But in reality, he was just casually glancing your way, exhibiting nothing more than a rather polite attitude. When he got serious, his eyes narrowed slightly, and an invisible pressure seemed to emanate from him, as if he were examining, exploring. But at this very moment, she swore she saw in Bo Yan¡¯s eyes the droopy gaze of a dog, like that of Wang Zisu¡ªendearing, irresistibly tempting one to tease, making one want to dig out all the goodies for him. At this very moment, she certainly didn¡¯t dare to tease him, nor did she have any treats to offer him. But what Xia Siyu did was reach out her hand and tousle his hair. Xia Siyu had always wanted to ruffle Bo Yan¡¯s hair. Apart from pulling his hair during their fights, she sometimes felt the impulse to tousle it too. Unfortunately, he wasn¡¯t Wang Zisu, not like Wang Zisu who was akin to a large dog summoned at will. If she ruffled Bo Yan¡¯s hair, Bo Yan would ruffle hers back. His hair strands were unlike Wang Zisu¡¯s¡ªfluffy, soft, and slightly wavy. Bo Yan¡¯s hair was jet-black and somewhat stiff. If such hair were allowed to grow long and tied back neatly with a crown in ancient times, he would doubtlessly have looked very dashing and carefree. If allowed to flow loosely over a long robe, he wouldn¡¯t even need to act; he would be the perfect embodiment of Wei and Jin dynasties¡¯ elegance. And at this moment, Bo Yan was actually rubbing his face against Xia Siyu¡¯s palm. He wasn¡¯t wearing makeup, and his skin was still very smooth and fine. The stubble on his cheeks and chin was a bit prickly but brought a peculiar sense of stimulation, like a puppy experiencing its first change of coat. Having known him for so many years, Xia Siyu was seeing this look in Bo Yan¡¯s eyes for the first time. Women are all empathetic and maternal; faced with cute animals, cute human infants, or adorably young brothers who are similar to them, they can¡¯t help but feel affectionate. Perhaps it was because of Bo Yan¡¯s pitiable gaze, which held a hint of stubbornness, that she didn¡¯t withdraw her hand. It wasn¡¯t until Bo Yan put her on the desk, and after he had cleared away the surrounding books, that she suddenly realized in dismay: Damn it, she had been tricked by him again! He¡¯s not pitiable at all; he¡¯s clearly a sly fox. Was he pretending on purpose, just waiting for her to walk right into his trap? Bo Yan lowered his head and gently touched the corner of her lips. Strangely enough, although he was clearly ready to do that thing, there wasn¡¯t a hint of the usual wolfish gleam in his expression; instead, it remained somewhat sorrowful. Perhaps it was because of that look or maybe because she had just listened to his story, she found herself unable to muster much strength to resist, even though she knew this guy was up to no good. Or perhaps it was because Bo Yan had blocked her escape route, she couldn¡¯t run away. But she still insisted on pushing his shoulder with one hand, somewhat anxious yet very firm, ¡°No, we can¡¯t, there¡¯s no protection.¡± She didn¡¯t want to take pills; taking them is harmful to the body. Even she hadn¡¯t noticed that her opposition now wasn¡¯t about sending him away, it was merely because he hadn¡¯t taken any precautions! Chapter 396 - Chapter 396: Chapter 395: I Want to Have a Home (6) Chapter 396: Chapter 395: I Want to Have a Home (6) Unexpectedly, Bo Yan gently pulled away her palm and, under her surprised gaze, carefully planted a kiss in the center of her hand. Meanwhile, his other hand deftly retrieved an object from his pocket, ¡°It¡¯s okay, just now when I was getting the book, I also took this¡­¡± ¡°What?¡± Xia Siyu was still puzzled when she saw Bo Yan adroitly take out a small umbrella from the box and quickly set it up. This guy, he had even prepared for this! Wait, was he always ready to do this and that with her? She had just been feeling sorry for him because he lost his parents when he was young, but now she might as well feel sorry for herself first! This lecherous bastard, he infuriated her! However, the next second, she could no longer think straight, everything was washed away by his overwhelming presence¡­ Xia Siyu was actually thinking while hugging his neck that Bo Yan was pretty handsome, had a good build, and his¡­ skills were also very impressive. Being a long-distance runner, playing soccer, practicing martial arts, he had plenty of strength and stamina. Apart from the fact that she really didn¡¯t want to get too close to Bo Yan, he was practically the perfect partner candidate. Plus, he was clean; he hadn¡¯t been with other women for many years, so there was no need to worry about contracting strange diseases from being with him. Especially now, Bo Yan was still wearing his shirt with every button done up, not a bit disheveled. His hair was also hardly messed up, perfectly embodying the essence of a ¡°tidy brute¡± or a ¡°decent scoundrel¡±. In contrast, she was quite a mess, her clothes hanging around her waist. And they were on a desk, that, just like the bed with the broken boards they slept on, was also in need of repair. Though it wasn¡¯t going to collapse, it still creaked ¡®squeakily¡¯. Xia Siyu thought that if she ever moved to a new home, she would definitely get a desk that didn¡¯t make any noise. And she would also get a big bed that wouldn¡¯t just break! While she was thinking, Bo Yan suddenly nipped her nose with his teeth, ¡°Focus on what you¡¯re doing!¡± Focus my ass! Just like a dog, that man had even learnt how to nip people! Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t one to take things lying down; provoked by him, she got completely angry and immediately started to fight back! Moreover, she targeted his hair, grabbing and pulling it, and clawing at his clothes. I¡¯ll teach you to dress so respectably, I¡¯ll teach you to be a scoundrel, I¡¯ll teach you to bully people! Naturally, Bo Yan was also not to be outdone. His wife hitting him, he couldn¡¯t fight back. After all, as a man, it was not acceptable to hit a woman. But he could punish her! The more fiercely Xia Siyu scratched, the more vigorously he responded. Xia Siyu was like cheering him on, fueling his unstoppable momentum. Although she got the upper hand with her hands, she was completely overwhelmed in the grand scheme of things. After the skirmish, she was completely drained, leaning on Bo Yan and panting for breath. Bo Yan, still in a good mood, stroked her back, and when she came to her senses and glared at him in anger, he leaned in and gently touched her lips with his. He also said, ¡°Actually, you have feelings for me, right? I can¡¯t say for certain about other things, but you did respond to me, you didn¡¯t resist that much in between, you clearly have feelings too, right? Why won¡¯t you accept me? Anyway, we can¡¯t get divorced now, whether we¡¯re estranged or reconciled, of course it¡¯s better to make up. I know, there were many things in the past for which I owe you an apology. But now, I want to change. I want¡­ to have a home. With you.¡± Chapter 397 - Chapter 397: Chapter 396: Wife, Open the Door (1) Chapter 397: Chapter 396: Wife, Open the Door (1) ¡°` Scumbag of a man, all that ¡°I want to have a home¡± crap, he¡¯s just lusting after her body¡ªhe¡¯s despicable! She admitted that she did fancy his good looks, but that was all it was¡ªa fancy; she wouldn¡¯t lay a hand on him. Who knew this bastard would turn out to be such a dog! Whatever he set his eyes on, he had to drag it back to his den to savor, and her unwillingness didn¡¯t matter. Even if she ran away, he¡¯d catch her and bring her back! She said coolly, ¡°What if I just stay with you as family, without doing anything intimate?¡± Bo Yan rejected the notion with utter seriousness, ¡°Of course not, a wife is a family member but also a lover. Lovers must do the things lovers do.¡± Go to hell! This guy is beyond redemption! Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t be bothered with him anymore and hopped down from the desk. As she landed, her legs went weak, and she almost fell. Thankfully, Bo was right in front of her, and caught her in one swift motion. His hand swooped under, encircling her waist and pulling her into his arms, comforting her with every pat, ¡°See, I told you, a husband and wife should support each other. Without me, wouldn¡¯t you have fallen?¡± But Bo was unwilling to let her go now, ¡°Weren¡¯t you saying you wanted to practice acting? Wanting to gain knowledge? I¡¯ll teach you.¡± Who asked you to teach! Distracted by Bo Yan¡¯s interjection, she had completely forgotten about the serious matters at hand. Xia Siyu refused his offer, struggling and squirming to stand up. But Bo held on, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve already taken care of it. I¡¯m out of strength now; I won¡¯t touch you again.¡± This was a rather scientific explanation, and she believed it. The crucial point was she had no choice but to believe him¡ªafter the effort she had just put in, she was indeed out of strength; she could only allow him to hold her. Xia Siyu thought that next time, not only would this room need a new desk and a bed, but also a few more chairs! Fortunately, a satiated Bo really just held her without making a move. He bent down to pick up the books they had prepared earlier¡ªone for her, one for him¡ªand they read together. Whenever she didn¡¯t understand something, she would turn to ask him. On this matter, Bo finally showed the expertise of a PhD, a university lecturer as one would expect. Whether it was understanding characters, swiftly getting into a scene for filming, or related historical knowledge, he spoke with complete authority and exhaustiveness. Moreover, when working, Bo was truly hands-off, completely earnest and meticulous. The two briskly went through the script, roughly outlining the important points and content; he explained everything to her in great detail. In the middle of this, Bo even called the servants in the front yard to bring water and went to the restroom himself. Even so, he never asked for an extra chair; he kept holding her. Xia Siyu, from initially being uneasy about sitting on his lap, gradually found, hmm, this flesh-and-blood couch was rather comfortable. As long as he kept still, she would save him face and join him. And Bo Yan was glancing at her. Although Xia Siyu was usually a poor student, falling asleep the moment she read, at this moment¡ªknowing the importance and urgency of learning¡ªshe remarkably didn¡¯t feel sleepy or tired at all. She bowed her head to read intently, her beautiful swan-like neck bending slightly, her expression peaceful, her posture content. She was indeed focused and working hard. The questions she asked were pointed, showing she was thinking. Bo Yan had known her for a long time and knew what kind of person she was. Seeing her work so diligently now moved him even more. ¡°` Chapter 398 - Chapter 398: Chapter 397: Wife, Open the Door (2) Chapter 398: Chapter 397: Wife, Open the Door (2) It turned out that when she said she was willing to endure hardships and aimed to win Best Actress within three years, she wasn¡¯t pretending. It was apparent that some of the questions she asked were quite tricky, likely because she had read related books and had some understanding of historical knowledge. However, her knowledge was still insufficient and not comprehensive enough. After all, Xia Siyu had grown up abroad when she was young and didn¡¯t understand domestic common sense too well; even her historical knowledge had been crammed. Of course, he also had to observe her, as some people, after swearing an oath, would initially have plenty of enthusiasm, but after a few days, would slack off and rest, like the saying ¡°three days fishing, two days drying the nets.¡± If she could persevere, if she could keep working hard like this, he was certainly willing to assist her, helping her to reach even greater heights. Bo Yan¡¯s childhood dream was to find a wife whom he adored, have one or two lovely children, and then, hand in hand with his wife and children, be with his parents together. After meeting Xia Siyu, his dream was to marry her, have one or two lovely children, and every year during Qingming Festival, not to forget to mourn and pay respects to their parents. That was his vision for a family. But he also had aspirations for his work. His ideal was to be a director, a screenwriter, and the lead actor in an epic masterpiece. If he could add one more thing, it would be that he was the male lead and Xia Siyu the female lead, both acting in an epic masterpiece together. If possible, to help her win an award or something would be even better. Even if Xia Siyu herself didn¡¯t want to strive hard, he still wanted to push her forward. If she was willing to do it herself and also aspired to go even further, he was all the more willing to join her on that journey. Although both of them were top stars, even if they really ended up together in the future and she decided not to work, with the savings they had at that moment, they could still provide a happy life for their children. However, Xia Siyu had ambitions in her career, which just so happened to align perfectly with his own pursuits. She was like the partner sent from heaven, his ally in the workplace, his comrade-in-arms in battle, and his lover! He didn¡¯t like those traditional wives who had no jobs and stayed at home, with the man working outside and the woman inside. But he also didn¡¯t love someone like Xia Sicai who was too astute and slick, where even her smile at you was difficult to discern whether it was genuine or just out of habit. He liked Xia Siyu, who wore her emotions on her sleeve, laughed when happy, and fussed when not. Yet, she was no fool¡ªshe had ideals and aspirations, was talented and intelligent, just too lazy to quarrel with those people ordinarily, which made her appear particularly straightforward. He sincerely hoped that they could continue on their path. And at the end of that road would be the moment they both received the highest awards and lifted the trophies together. ** Time spent reading always flies by quickly. Until the sun sets in the west. After spending the entire afternoon reading, Xia Siyu gained a better understanding of the background of that period. She stretched lazily. It turned out that reading wasn¡¯t as dry or sleep-inducing as she thought. Whenever she encountered something she didn¡¯t understand, she would ask Bo Yan. True to being a teacher, Bo Yan knew how to explain concepts in a way that didn¡¯t bore his students. She stood up, closed the book, covered her notebook where she had been taking notes, and put the caps back on her pens. She guessed that by this time, the house had probably been cleaned up, and the bed board reinstalled, right? However, just as she was about to leave, Bo Yan stopped her again. When she turned around, she was met by Bo Yan¡¯s gaze. That look was one she recognized, like a wolf who knew it was time for meat at four in the afternoon in the park¡ªexactly that look! Chapter 399 - Chapter 399: Chapter 398: Wife, Open the Door (3) Chapter 399: Chapter 398: Wife, Open the Door (3) But that¡¯s not right, he just had one not long ago, didn¡¯t he say he was tired? Xia Siyu was not having it; she immediately struggled, but because she was sitting on his lap and he had her trapped against the desk, she couldn¡¯t move freely. ¡°Weren¡¯t you out of energy?¡± Actually, Bo Yan hadn¡¯t intended that at all at first. He just wanted to stop her, and then go back with her. But now that she had mentioned it, Bo Yan felt he had rested quite long enough and indeed could have another round. Moreover. Xia Siyu usually had such a thick face, but ever since they got physically intimate, he often saw her blush profusely from a few words of his. That shy yet annoyed look, somehow indulgent in the moment, was really adorable. She didn¡¯t even know, how beautiful she looked when they were entwined with each other, her breath delicate, her complexion faintly rosy, a look of anger mixed with annoyance, lips slightly parted, and strands of hair sticking to her forehead because of sweat! Bo Yan¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple moved slightly, and his eyes darkened. He confidently stated, ¡°Didn¡¯t I rest already?¡± He calls studying and teaching ¡°resting¡±? Xia Siyu was furious; he just knew how to enjoy himself, that umbrella was surely all used up by now, and she didn¡¯t want to get pregnant! ¡°I don¡¯t want to take the pill!¡± ¡°I know, I brought it,¡± he had just taken precautions in case the thing wasn¡¯t durable enough or enough of them, so he took several. What if it ripped halfway through? What if he got into it and wanted a few more turns? You see, isn¡¯t it handy now? Seeing him pull out several from his pocket, and for the sake of different sensations, he had also taken different types¡ªpolka-dotted, spiral¡­ As he said this, he sniffed the back of Xia Siyu¡¯s neck. Because she didn¡¯t go out to a show, Xia Siyu didn¡¯t wear any perfume. There was only the fresh scent of shower gel, and their rich body fragrance from their recent fun. It smelled pretty good. Xia Siyu was so angry she felt faint; that old lecher! It was just now that she felt sorry for him and got fooled by his puppy-dog eyes, but now she wasn¡¯t so foolish! She immediately turned her head to push him away, but he caught her hand, and Bo Yan even smiled, ¡°You¡¯ve forgotten, during our fight this morning, I counted, you hit me seven times, so we need to do it seven times today to make it even. We still have six to go.¡± Not even once! ¡°Will you let go?¡± Xia Siyu glared coldly. ¡°No,¡± he would be a fool to let go. This woman in his arms was legitimately his wife, the licensed kind! Not only would he not let go, but the hand that was holding her waist moved gently downward, and further down¡­ Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t believe it; the high and cold male idol, who was so formal in public, turned out to be like this in private! If his fans saw this, they would probably want to unfan and trample back instantly! Bo Yan wouldn¡¯t let go, would he? Then, with force, she stomped on his instep, her heel twisting a couple of times. This trick was indeed effective, Bo Yan quickly let go of her hand, and Xia Siyu managed to escape. After escaping, she still felt unsatisfied, kicking his shin hard once more. Bo Yan felt the pain and doubled over, clutching his shin and hissing. It hurts, doesn¡¯t it? It should, because she had kicked with all her might just now! Bo Yan wanted to chase after her, but Xia Siyu ran too fast, she wasn¡¯t stupid enough to stay and continue to be victimized by him; she definitely had to escape the crime scene! Chapter 400 - Chapter 400: Chapter 399: Wife, Open the Door (4) Chapter 400: Chapter 399: Wife, Open the Door (4) Moreover, it wasn¡¯t just that, during dinner, Xia Siyu was also on guard. However, Bo Yan remained calm as ever, still effortlessly asking the chef to cook him steaks and oysters and other energy-boosting foods to prepare for the several tough battles ahead in the evening. Xia Siyu was not that foolish; she did not continue to eat those things with him. Moreover, after dinner, the bedroom was tidied up, she quickly dashed up at an 800-meter sprint speed, closed the door directly, and locked it. No entry for Bo Yan and the dog! Bo Yan didn¡¯t force her, still taking things easy. As she stayed upstairs, he continued to read downstairs in the living room. The other people went on with their tea and chat, as if he belonged to a different world from them. But in the evening, a major incident occurred. A serious safety accident happened at Bosch Corporation, it was said that someone had died. Such a major event naturally called for the current head of the family, Bo Qiliu, and the future heir, Bo Yi, to attend. The old man, Mr. Bo, considered it an opportunity for the father and son to handle official duties first. This was essentially Bo Qiliu¡¯s and Bo Yi¡¯s first war since assuming their roles as the new heads of Bosch. They both took it very seriously. The two of them left the ancestral home immediately. These days, if such safety accidents are not handled well, they can have a severe negative impact on corporate image, and also affect the marketing and operations of the business. Xia Sicai was supportive, ¡°Husband, go take care of it, I¡¯ll wait for you here at home.¡± Having such a virtuous wife, Bo Yi was naturally delighted. Moreover, Xia Sicai was not just idly living off him; she still had a job in the Xia family¡¯s enterprise, she was a furniture designer. ¡°I will make sure to complete the work and come back right away.¡± Bo Yi affectionately touched Xia Sicai¡¯s face and left tenderly. As the couple displayed their affection, Bo Yan didn¡¯t even lift his head. He was still immersed in his materials, scribbling and pondering something from time to time. Although the setting was a Northwestern Mountain Village, apart from learning the local dialect outside of his coursework, the most crucial part, of course, was how to design the plot, enrich the characters, and enhance the details. The male protagonist was both from the Northwest mountain area and had come to the big city for studies; he ought to have many imprints of his era on him. While learning the dialect was essential, if he couldn¡¯t master it well, he¡¯d rather not speak it at all, as a half-baked accent could easily alienate listeners. But it was not something he could skip either, as it was ultimately a means to get closer to the protagonist¡¯s inner world. After reviewing his own work, he casually checked Xia Siyu¡¯s as well. She had written and sketched quite a bit. The funniest thing was, this girl grew up abroad, and although she learned Chinese, it wasn¡¯t her mother tongue, so she wasn¡¯t very proficient. After returning to China, she mainly used computers for typing and rarely handwrote anything. After becoming an artist, she even used computers less, preferring voice commands over texting on her phone. Therefore, there were many characters she couldn¡¯t write. Her annotations were even in pinyin, a total educational slacker and illiterate! But this Xia Siyu had painstakingly written several lengthy pages of material, which showed that she must have put all her thoughts and deficiencies to use. Quite interesting. Bo Yan tidied up, organizing the materials by category, and then he walked towards the bedroom in a relaxed manner. As he went upstairs and tried to open the door, it was locked from the inside. He knocked, Xia Siyu didn¡¯t respond. ¡°Wife, open the door.¡± Xia Siyu completely ignored him. Just as Bo Yan was about to look for the keys, Xia Sicai opened her door and came out: ¡°Bo Yan.¡± Chapter 401 - Chapter 401: Chapter 400: Wife, Open the Door (5) Chapter 401: Chapter 400: Wife, Open the Door (5) Bo Yan grunted, not bothering to meet her gaze. He continued knocking, ¡°Wife, open the door, I need to come in and rest.¡± Xia Siyu was furious, ¡°Go sleep in the study yourself! If not the study, then go sleep in your playground! Stop bothering me!¡± Bo Yan¡¯s expression remained calm as he lazily knocked on the door, ¡°That won¡¯t do. Neither the study nor the playground has pillows, nor blankets.¡± He paused, then added, ¡°And neither has you.¡± As soon as his words ended, Xia Siyu flung the door open and charged at Bo Yan, shoving a blanket into his chest. She also threw out his pillow. Bo Yan was just about to speak while holding the blanket when Xia Siyu remembered something, turned back with a ¡°thump thump thump¡±, and Bo Yan quickly stepped inside. But before he even reached the doorway, he heard Xia Siyu coming out with a plastic bag. Bo Yan probably already knew what it was, and sure enough, Xia Siyu threw out a bag full of Durexes and him, ¡°Take these too, and get lost!¡± After she said that, she immediately closed the door. Bo Yan was left standing outside, holding the blanket, with the pillow tossed on the ground. On the floor was also a litter of various Durexes scattered everywhere. And there was Xia Sicai, looking on in surprise. Bo Yan, however, remained poised and turned to Xia Sicai, ¡°Excuse me, help me pick up the pillow, and stack it on top, please.¡± Xia Sicai was taken aback for a moment, then nodded, ¡°Okay.¡± She placed the pillow on top of the blanket Bo Yan was holding and then asked, ¡°Is there anything else I can help with?¡± Bo Yan nodded, ¡°Then please help me put these boxes into the bag.¡± Xia Sicai first nodded, but when she was about to start picking them up, her fingers hesitated. This Durex was obviously opened, and more than one box was. And he had only stayed with Xia Siyu for two nights. Were he and Xia Siyu that close? ¡ªWell, come to think of it, the bed they slept on did break. In a daze, Bo Yan struggled to carry the blanket downstairs. Xia Sicai quickly packed the boxes into the bag and followed him. Seeing Bo Yan arrange the pillow and blanket on the large sofa downstairs, she passed the bag to him, ¡°Here.¡± Bo Yan accepted it calmly and simply placed the bag aside. Xia Sicai watched him make his bed on the sofa, clearly planning to stay there, and she sat down on a side sofa, her expression ineffable. Watching Bo Yan¡¯s busy back, she indeed had a hard time accepting it. Back in the day, Bo Yan was an unattainable, high and noble figure. He was gentle but not heartless and never made an insincere promise to any girl. Perhaps back then, she was the woman closest to him. Because they had similar educational backgrounds and their families were old acquaintances, they shared many common interests. They could talk about academia, literature, the arts. He might have her in his heart, or he might not. But she sure had him in hers. What she wanted was not this sticky relationship that shunned clear confessions and declarations. Bo Yan¡¯s attitude towards her was just a bit better than that towards other women, but definitely not the kind of good that one shows a girlfriend, more like the way one treats a friend. Then Bo Yi appeared. He was the legitimate heir to Bosch, and perhaps a better choice for a marriage alliance between the Bo and Xia families. Moreover, he liked her, pursued her, and she could see in Bo Yi¡¯s eyes the simplest form of man-woman love. Then she turned her head and chose Bo Yi. Chapter 402 - Chapter 402: Chapter 401: Wife, Open the Door (6) Chapter 402: Chapter 401: Wife, Open the Door (6) At that time, Xia Sicai might have had this mindset, thinking that if you ignore me now, I will make sure you can¡¯t reach me in the future! Not only did she choose someone else before the two families were engaged, but she also deliberately picked his cousin. Even if he was estranged from his cousin, they were still family and had to see each other. However, the image she had fantasized about, of her proudly appearing arm in arm with Bo Yi while Bo Yan stood by, despondent and heartbroken, never materialized. He quickly accepted her half-sister, Xia Siyu, who was already a celebrity and had a notorious reputation. They married so quickly that even before they had finished their honeymoon, he and Xia Siyu had already registered their marriage. But after the registration, his relationship with Xia Siyu was strained. During the three years of their marriage, they were like strangers to each other and often fought publicly on social media. It seemed to prove a point: a woman who misses out on the man she wants to marry becomes increasingly picky. A man who misses out on the woman he wants to marry becomes increasingly careless. So, the essence of his marriage with Xia Siyu was centered on being ¡°careless,¡± right? That¡¯s what she had always thought, until now. No matter how much the two of them fought and quarreled, it was evident that Bo Yan was actually very tolerant of Xia Siyu. She had never seen him so tolerant of any woman. If it had been someone else, including her and Wu Di, if anyone dared to hit or scold him to his face, he would not fight back, of course. But he would walk away briskly and never have anything to do with them again. But what about with Xia Siyu? Could it be, he was also bewitched by Xia Siyu¡¯s beauty? Xia Sicai sat to the side, watching Bo Yan tidy up the sofa. Only when he sat down again did she ask, ¡°Do you and Xia Siyu¡­ get along well?¡± Bo Yan was a bit surprised. What did his relationship with Xia Siyu have to do with you? If it had to be said, there was some relation. Xia Sicai was now his sister-in-law and also Xia Siyu¡¯s sister. If one really had to classify it, it amounted to a somewhat distant familial relation. Every family has a few relatives who like to ask all sorts of questions, he understood. Bo Yan didn¡¯t answer, but instead counter-asked, ¡°Do you and my elder brother get along well?¡± Xia Sicai immediately sat up straight: ¡°Of course, Ayi and I get along very well.¡± After that statement, she looked up at Bo Yan. His expression, along with her response, had already said it all. No matter whether their families had originally intended to pair them up, now they were sister-in-law and younger brother-in-law, sister and brother-in-law. She and Bo Yi got along well, and she had no intention of infidelity. It was just that ¡ª her heart was not content. She couldn¡¯t accept that the unreachable man of her dreams was now being bossed around by a sister she looked down upon. Moreover, this man seemed to be somewhat enjoying it. Upstairs, Xia Siyu initially didn¡¯t hear Xia Sicai talking with Bo Yan. It was only when she opened the door to give him a blanket that she vaguely sensed the presence of Xia Sicai, but she wasn¡¯t sure. But later on, she clearly heard the conversation between Bo Yan and Xia Sicai at the door and felt annoyed. She didn¡¯t care about Bo Yan being close to anyone else, except for Xia Sicai and Lady Tong ¡ª these two were her arch-enemies, and she just couldn¡¯t stand it! Once the two of them went downstairs, she quietly opened the door and followed. With the rare opportunity today, since Bo Yi was not around and everyone else had gone to rest, Xia Sicai, who had been holding back for three years, still wanted to ask, ¡°Are you holding a grudge because I dumped you and married Ayi?¡± Chapter 403 - Chapter 403: Chapter 403: I Have No Regrets (2) Chapter 403: Chapter 403: I Have No Regrets (2) When she asked this question, Bo Yan across from her and Xia Siyu at the corner of the staircase were both stunned. The first time Xia Sicai met Bo Yan, Xia Siyu was still secretly dating him. He didn¡¯t know about the sisterly relationship between Xia Siyu and Xia Sicai, and Xia Siyu also didn¡¯t know Bo Yan¡¯s true identity. But Xia Siyu by chance discovered that Xia Sicai would occasionally come to the university to find Bo Yan. Bo Yan had actually been curious about the sisters¡¯ names. He had asked Xia Siyu, ¡°Are you an only child? Do you have any siblings?¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s face turned cold then, and she answered without hesitation, ¡°No!¡± Bo Yan believed Xia Siyu¡¯s words and never thought of her as a daughter of the Xia Family. When Xia Sicai was dealing with him, she only mentioned having a brother and never brought up that she actually had a half-sister. When Xia Sicai and Mrs. Tong appeared at the Bo Family¡¯s, they never even hinted at Wen Qunxiao and Xia Siyu. Later, after they broke up, Bo Yan couldn¡¯t find Xia Siyu no matter what. A year later, when Xia Siyu reappeared, she was already a star. And when they met again during her withdrawal from school, Xia Siyu was quite cold to him, as if she deliberately wanted to sever ties with him. Bo Yan thought that perhaps they might never have a chance to be together again. By then, Xia Sicai had also graduated from Australia and did spend some time with him. Although he never confessed, nor clarified their relationship, he knew in his heart that his family introduced her as his future wife. Xia Sicai was right; a man who misses the woman he most wants to marry becomes increasingly indifferent. Only, she didn¡¯t expect that she was actually the indifferent one. If she were insistent on marrying Bo Yan, he wouldn¡¯t have agreed. If Xia Siyu had never reappeared, years later, he would have gradually gotten used to a life without Xia Siyu, but definitely not now. Then, Xia Sicai chose Bo Yi. And Xia Siyu, after much turmoil, returned to his side again. At this very moment, when Xia Sicai asked that question, Bo Yan¡¯s brows visibly furrowed, ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Xia Sicai¡¯s expression was somewhat sorrowful, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t wait for you back then.¡± Before Bo Yan could reply, Xia Siyu upstairs was about to go berserk! Crap! A pair of shameless dogs! She had finally witnessed what it meant to be utterly shameless! Compared to her, Shang Feifei and Li Yiru were simply models of pure innocence! Although Shang Feifei had once harbored thoughts about Bo Yan, once he paid her no mind, she gradually stopped thinking about him, at most causing some petty troubles for her, competing for the Best Actress award. As for Li Yiru, she was blatantly scheming, and very direct in her seductions. Not like Xia Sicai. On one hand, she enjoyed the love and respect that her husband Bo Yi provided, along with the reputation and status he inherited from Bosch. On the other hand, she still felt tearful regret for not having chosen Bo Yan back then. What was this? She might as well be straddling two aircraft carriers! Xia Siyu didn¡¯t care at all about Bo Yan¡¯s view; she just wanted to rush down and tear Xia Sicai¡¯s usually haughty face to shreds! So this was the true nature hidden behind her facade of a noble maiden! However, before she even took a step, Bo Yan shook his head indifferently, ¡°I have never regretted marrying Xia Siyu, not for a single day.¡± Chapter 404 - Chapter 404: Chapter 404: I Have No Regrets (3) Chapter 404: Chapter 404: I Have No Regrets (3) Xia Siyu¡¯s footsteps instantly retreated, and there was a hint of surprise on her face. Just as surprised was Xia Sicai. She had also not expected Bo Yan¡¯s response to be so succinct, as if it were an immutable truth. But it was true, no matter how much history they had together, it was all in the past now. The current situation was that she had married Bo Yi, and he had married Xia Siyu. Regardless of how good their relationship was, at least their married life was fairly harmonious, to the point where they broke the bed with a bag of Doritos¡­ Still, she felt a faint trace of unwillingness, ¡°Why? Because she¡¯s pretty?¡± Xia Siyu was more than pretty; she was stunning. In ancient times, she would have been considered an exceptional beauty, the kind that could start wars over her face. Even if she were busty but brainless, empty-headed, scarcely literate, lacking in manners, and with a scandalous reputation, married yet still involved in rumors of infidelity. But she was beautiful, impactfully beautiful, the kind of beauty that stood out in the entertainment industry, the first face you¡¯d notice in a crowd. Just the type to attract men. Even Bo Yi, as loyal as he was to her, would occasionally take a second look at his pretty little sister-in-law. Of course, it was just a look, a moment of appreciation with no further thoughts. But Bo Yan was also a man. Men are visual creatures. It was totally normal for him to be moved by Xia Siyu¡¯s face. Xia Siyu critiqued herself from above, ¡°Damn it, isn¡¯t that obvious!¡± I¡¯m prettier than you; anyone with eyes could see that. Is that even a question? Therefore, Bo Yan didn¡¯t hesitate to nod, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°A head full of wisdom is not as good as a handsome face,¡± mused Xia Sicai with a touch of gloom, but she was still not satisfied, ¡°Is that the only reason?¡± After a thought, Bo Yan added another comment, ¡°She has big breasts.¡± Another killer blow! But Bo Yan was indeed right, Xia Siyu was not only beautiful in the face but also had a perfect figure, truly blessed by the heavens. Entering the entertainment circle was like a fish in water for her, as if fate was tossing golden opportunities her way, and she even needed to create some drama herself. If she had planned well and worked hard to polish her acting skills, she could have been a legend already. Of course, she was still only twenty-six, not too late at all. Xia Sicai felt as though she had been shot in the chest twice. She took pride in her own beauty as well, born into a wealthy family, both beautiful and smart, adept in social graces, naturally cherished by the world. Then came Xia Siyu, who may not be notably intelligent or adept in dealing with people, quite the opposite really, acting without regard for conventions, and yet she was blessed with good looks and a great figure, completely upending the proverbial wisdom like an untrained fighter defeating a master. All strategies were ineffective against her beauty. Now even the man whom she, Xia Sicai, had once pursued in vain, had fallen at the hem of her pomegranate skirt because of that same face and figure. What a load of crap! Even though Bo Yi liked her and hadn¡¯t been swayed by Xia Siyu¡¯s beauty, it was hard for her to say how much of Bo Yi¡¯s affection was for her, and how much was for her fraternal twin brother, Xia Ju¡¯an, and her mother, Mrs. Tong, seeing the Xia family as a future asset and thus marrying her without reservation. Bo Yan then asked, ¡°Anything else? If not, I¡¯m going to rest.¡± Xia Sicai wanted to say more but didn¡¯t know how to begin, and in the end, had no choice but to leave dejectedly. As she left, she didn¡¯t notice Xia Siyu around the corner. ** Night deepened gradually. Chapter 405 - Chapter 405: Chapter 405: I Have No Regrets (4) Chapter 405: Chapter 405: I Have No Regrets (4) Bo Yan would never be content just resting downstairs. The so-called bed-making just now was nothing more than a stalling tactic. Xia Siyu never called for him, so he leisurely took a bath downstairs and changed into pajamas. As a delicate piggy boy, he even applied some skincare to his face¡ªno choice, his long vacation was ending tomorrow, and he had to go back to work. As a celebrity, he had to maintain his skin. He even shaved. Before leaving, he pocketed a few condoms and took the key to the room before heading upstairs. If Xia Siyu didn¡¯t open the door for him, it was simple, he had the key! Aside from the front door and the safe, all the doors in the house could be opened with a key. As the key turned, it only made one revolution before the door opened, clearly, Xia Siyu hadn¡¯t double locked it. Bo Yan was surprised. Had Xia Siyu left the door open for him? He didn¡¯t know that Xia Siyu had overheard the conversation between Xia Sicai and him, which might be why she didn¡¯t double lock the door when she came back. But Bo Yan was still delighted. He just knew that his wife still cared about him! Inside everything was quiet; the lights in the room were off, the curtains drawn. Even though it was dark, Xia Siyu was lying at the head of the bed, turned away from him, seemingly sleeping soundly. But Bo Yan knew she wasn¡¯t really asleep. When Xia Siyu was actually asleep, there¡¯s no way she would have such a neat sleeping posture! He had already washed up, came directly upstairs, and then pulled back the covers. As soon as he got in, he felt Xia Siyu¡¯s body tense up slightly. Sure enough, she wasn¡¯t sleeping! She was pretending. Bo Yan wasn¡¯t worried; he gently asked, ¡°Siyu? Wife? Darling?¡± Xia Siyu didn¡¯t move an inch. You can never wake a person who is pretending to be asleep. But Bo Yan had his ways. He gently touched her, lingering on her arms before quickly moving towards his favorite spot¡ª Bo Yan had just proudly told Xia Sicai, ¡°Her breasts are big!¡± It¡¯s common knowledge that one doesn¡¯t wear a BRA while sleeping. Thus, Xia Siyu could feel his slightly rough palm just lingering there. Bo Yan wouldn¡¯t short-change himself; whether she was really asleep or just feigning it, he was determined to enjoy himself. Xia Siyu really held back for a long time, restraining herself from turning around and thwacking him. This man really was an animal once stripped of his glossy appearance! He was like a child in a kindergarten, playing with a piece of high-quality playdough, kneading it with his fingertips, changing its shape. If it weren¡¯t inconvenient for her to turn around, maybe he wouldn¡¯t be satisfied until he took a bite! After causing a commotion for a while, he even leaned in closer and whispered in her ear, ¡°Wife? Darling? Honey?¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s brows furrowed and unfurrowed. She was determined to see what other tricks this despicable man could pull! After a long time without hearing any response from Xia Siyu, she faintly heard him mutter doubtfully from behind her, ¡°Is she really asleep?¡± Yeah, so hurry up and sleep yourself, or mama¡¯s gonna smack you! Bo Yan really did as suggested and withdrew his hand, not just his hand but his whole body too. Xia Siyu sighed in relief, just about to relax and rest, when suddenly she felt a coolness on her body, and then Bo Yan pressed up against her. The distance between the two finally became negative¡­ Chapter 406 - Chapter 406: Chapter 406: I Have No Regrets (5) Chapter 406: Chapter 406: I Have No Regrets (5) ¡°Bo, Bo Yan?¡± Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t pretend anymore, nor could she. This damn jerk, she had thought that him playing with putty was already too much, but now he was even worse! Now she realized that unless she had given him no chance from the very beginning, once he caught even the slightest opportunity, he would definitely not let her go! Bo Yan ¡°Hmm¡±ed from behind her in a low voice, clearly in a good mood. However, to prevent her from escaping, he quickly circled his arms around her waist, preventing her from leaving his side. Xia Siyu struggled with difficulty to break free from his restraint and raised her hand to deliver a slap. Bo Yan was always very generous at times like this, letting her hit him. After all, a duck that was already in his mouth couldn¡¯t be allowed to fly away. As for the minor skirmishes, she could hit if she wanted to; after all, he had learned Sanda before, and he didn¡¯t care about these flowery punches and fancy kicks¡ªit could be considered a kind of small game between husband and wife. Xia Siyu was definitely not willing to surrender. From the moment she reacted, she had been making a fuss with him. But as they fought, she gradually felt a little change. In fact, she had felt it during these few times¡ªthat fighting with Bo Yan wasn¡¯t so painful and not so repellent, and there was a vague, hazy bit of¡ªfun. But she certainly didn¡¯t want to have fun with Bo Yan, and even less to let Bo Yan know that she found it fun! However, Xia Siyu was just that kind of person who wore her heart on her sleeve, all her feelings¡ªeven if she didn¡¯t say them out loud¡ªshowed on her face. Bo Yan clearly felt her change and was willing to play along with her. As the saying goes, shared joy is double joy! The more Xia Siyu didn¡¯t want to show it, the more he wanted to tease her. The angrier Xia Siyu got, angry at him and angry at herself, the more he found it amusing. One had to endure, the other to tease; one to hit, the other to fuss. In military terms, it could be described as: the enemy advances, we retreat; the enemy camps, we harass; the enemy tires, we strike; the enemy retreats, we pursue. Fortunately, Bo Yan had read so many books when he was young, he knew he was at a disadvantage now and couldn¡¯t play a large-scale positional war or engage in frontal battlefield with the enemy; he could only use circuitous tactics, a guerilla warfare. To deal with someone like Xia Siyu, who didn¡¯t respond to conventional methods but still coveted him, he had to play psychological and tactical games! He was thoroughly versed in the sixteen-character maxim for guerilla warfare. Xia Siyu was so agitated by him that she felt both angry and hateful, both embarrassed and awkward, but besides that, she was gradually also following his rhythm, being led by him. Bo Yan was like leading her on a wild goose chase through the ravines; after firing one shot, he changed his location. When she charged at him furiously ready to strike, he would retreat swiftly. When she dejectedly walked away, he would suddenly launch an attack and catch her off guard. After the battle, Xia Siyu was a mess, routed and defeated. But Bo Yan had found her sensitive spots, knew where she was ticklish, where a pinch made her go weak, what made her happiest¡­ Afterward, Bo Yan touched the corner of her mouth with a smile, ¡°You see, you can¡¯t beat me when you fight me, and you find it fun yourself, so why hide? Otherwise, let¡¯s go back to living as husband and wife.¡± Xia Siyu was not willing to lose face, and at this moment, she resolutely refused, ¡°No!¡± If it weren¡¯t for her blushing cheeks, her slightly heavy breathing, and the peach blossom in her eyes, perhaps her words would have been a bit more convincing. Chapter 407 - Chapter 407: Chapter 407: I Have No Regrets (6) Chapter 407: Chapter 407: I Have No Regrets (6) Bo Yan had grown accustomed to being rejected and didn¡¯t mind. Anyway, what use was her verbal rejection when she herself hadn¡¯t realized that the distance between them had already become negligible? She had gotten used to resting together, to him kissing her. Although she would hit him while working, her resistance had gradually weakened. He even kindly offered, ¡°Do you want to take a shower? I can scrub your back.¡± ¡°No!¡± Xia Siyu saw through his trickery. What kind heart? He was clearly using the excuse of scrubbing her back to carry out his unseemly intentions! This damn pervert was utterly wicked! He appeared pure and noble on the outside, but cut him open and look inside¡ªall black! Heart, liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys, along with his brain, all black! Grinding her teeth in fury, she roared, ¡°Bo Yan, if your fans knew about this side of you, do you think they would rebel?¡± Bo Yan simply didn¡¯t care and provocatively said, ¡°If your male fans saw you like this, what do you think they would think?¡± Xia Siyu exploded, ¡°You jerk!¡± Bo Yan graciously let out an ¡°Oh.¡± Xia Siyu continued to curse, ¡°Dead pervert!¡± Bo Yan hummed in good spirits again. Xia Siyu¡¯s curses didn¡¯t stop, ¡°Dog of a man! Old lecher! Big jerk!¡± Bo Yan nodded repeatedly, ¡°Got it, got it.¡± He even happily asked, ¡°Since you¡¯ve called me a jerk so many times, if I weren¡¯t a bit of a jerk, wouldn¡¯t I be letting down the name?¡± Xia Siyu felt a hint of danger and watched him warily, ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Eh¡­¡± Bo Yan sighed, ¡°Life¡¯s pleasures are short-lived. Sadly, we have to return to work tomorrow. Why don¡¯t we make the most of tonight while we¡¯re still together? ¡ª How many times did you say this morning when you hit me? Sweetheart.¡± He pronounced the last word ¡°sweetheart¡± with a rise and fall in his tone, enchantingly sweet. If it weren¡¯t for his eyes, which shined with a wolfish gleam, perhaps it would fit his persona as a male god more closely. ** The next morning, Xia Siyu skipped breakfast and quickly escaped the Bo family¡¯s old house. She and Bo Yan first returned to the Qingcheng apartment, but before she could even sit down properly, she was whisked away by LaLittle Tang, who drove her to a variety show she was scheduled for. As for Bo Yan, naturally, he didn¡¯t have time to be overly affectionate with her either, as he went back to the apartment to pack up his things for a variety show out of town, followed by plans for a live broadcast and a cameo appearance in a movie. The variety show they talked about this time was the same agent-themed one she had participated in with Qin Baizhou. Fortunately, she had attended an episode before, or else there would probably be rumors about her being a diva again outside. In between breaks, he kindly asked her, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you today? You don¡¯t seem to be in good shape.¡± Her throat was hoarse, so she took a sip of water and shook her head, saying, ¡°Caught a chill, got a bit of a cold.¡± As soon as she finished speaking, Qin Baizhou¡¯s hand suddenly touched her forehead. Chapter 408 - Chapter 408: Chapter 407: I Have No Regrets (6) Chapter 408: Chapter 407: I Have No Regrets (6) His palm, even more delicate than Bo Yan¡¯s, was smooth except for a slight callous on the fingertips from frequent typing, unlike Bo Yan, who often practiced Sanda. Xia Siyu paused for a moment, Qin Baizhou also frowned, ¡°You don¡¯t have a fever, do you?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s just a tonsil inflammation affecting my vocal cords, it¡¯s not serious, I¡¯ve already taken some cold medicine.¡± Xia Siyu took a step back. Just for that instant, it seemed as if Qin Baizhou almost wanted to press his forehead against hers. In the past, Xia Siyu really was so thick-skinned and slow to notice Qin Baizhou¡¯s fondness for her. It was only after Bo Yan¡¯s various flirtations with her that she began to catch on, even if just a little. But she only slightly increased the distance between them and didn¡¯t overthink it. She and Qin Baizhou had always been really good friends and partners. She didn¡¯t want to lose this friend. Qin Baizhou could sense her slight resistance and didn¡¯t pursue it further, instead smiling and pretending ignorance, ¡°Cold medicines shouldn¡¯t be taken lightly, especially antibiotics. Medicines have their toxins, so next time you catch a cold, see a doctor first. The company has its own designated physicians.¡± Xia Siyu nodded, ¡°I understand.¡± While discussing business, they somehow started talking about ¡°Spring Light¡±. Now that Xia Siyu was determined to sign the contract, there was no pulling her back, but Qin Baizhou had one condition, ¡°I¡¯d like to attend the script reading for this drama. If this film is as important as you say and worth six months of preparation, then I should go and learn too.¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s expression turned serious in an instant when it came to work and movies, ¡°Of course. I think it¡¯s very important to improve acting skills and expand the range of roles. The audience isn¡¯t foolish and aren¡¯t easily deceived. In the past, you could get by with just any popular name; as long as there were fans, the box office would be there, no matter how poor the acting. But now, the audience¡¯s aesthetic standards are increasing, as are their demands for quality. If we don¡¯t improve our acting, the only possibility is being outdated. I don¡¯t want to wait until I¡¯m past my prime to start thinking about transitioning. It¡¯s of course better to be prepared.¡± The bet with Shang Feifei was her personal issue. Neither Bo Yan nor Qin Baizhou needed to know. Seeing how earnest she was, Qin Baizhou no longer objected, ¡°Then do your best, and strive to be the best. Oh, right, about the extension contract I showed you last time¡­¡± When Xia Siyu had originally signed with Huixing Company, it was the lowest point in her life. She was maliciously slandered by her rivals, suppressed by industry bigwigs for refusing to engage in their unspoken rules, berated by people like Jiang Bumei, condemned by netizens, torn apart by haters, and her former talent agency had taken a hands-off approach to her stagnation due to unsuccessful contract negotiations. Public relations? Nonexistent. But even so, she was the biggest star for the newly established Huixing at the time. Talent agencies usually provide contracts a year in advance. The last time Qin Baizhou suggested a renewal was three months ago, during her filming of ¡°Storm¡±. Her contract with the company had less than a year left. Whether to stay or go, the choice was up to Xia Siyu. Qin Baizhou was good to her, promoting her, and the company¡¯s resources were tilted in her favor, she knew that well. She never skimped on the commission for her staff, always generous. The only conflict was the path she would take in her future career development. Chapter 409 - Chapter 409: Chapter 408: Ill Wait for You at Home (1) Chapter 409: Chapter 408: I¡¯ll Wait for You at Home (1) Compared to those days, Xia Siyu has managed to make a comeback today. Although she is still criticized a lot, her popularity and buzz have skyrocketed. And thanks to Li Weiyi¡¯s incident last time, her scandal of hitting someone in the street has been whitewashed. This scumbag of an ex-boyfriend, not only indulged in group activities but also drugged people, has already been arrested and is awaiting trial. Since Xia Siyu had been harshly criticized before, netizens now seem to have a kind of sympathetic filter towards her. She is indeed beautiful, and her acting¡ªalthough not great, doesn¡¯t break the immersion either. She hasn¡¯t done anything wrong, just that she has too many scandals and a bit of a temper. It¡¯s normal for a beautiful woman to have more admirers. Qin Baizhou is quite confident that Xia Siyu would renew her contract. If she¡¯s hesitating at this point, it must be because the terms have not been fully agreed upon¡ªperhaps a lower revenue share, perhaps more favorable business terms¡­ Xia Siyu is indeed a loyal person, or else she wouldn¡¯t have helped Zhou Weiwei, knowing full well that she had ulterior motives. She doesn¡¯t care much about the revenue shares either. As long as it¡¯s not exploitation, she is indifferent to getting a little less, ¡°Just renew it automatically when the time comes, let¡¯s stick to the original contract, no need for changes.¡± That means there are still about nine months left to renew the contract. Qin Baizhou breathed a sigh of relief, as long as Xia Siyu continued to stay by his side, that was what mattered to him. Xia Siyu came to the company this time for another matter as well, which was her birthday fan meeting. The time for the birthday fan meeting is set right after their first script reading. The script reading is scheduled for Friday during the day, and her birthday is the following day. Xia Siyu has never been interested in her birthday, nor does she celebrate it with much fanfare. Qin Baizhou was willing to make a fuss, so she would cooperate. Besides, after so many years of struggles, she did owe something to her fans who had supported her all along. Her thoughts remained the same, ¡°It would be great if Shengxia could come.¡± A big fan who could register in her inner circle surely must have done some earth-shattering feats. Take, for instance, this Shengxia, famous for his wealth. Qin Baizhou had naturally heard about him, and said with a smile, ¡°I¡¯ll make sure someone prepares for it.¡± After that, there wasn¡¯t much else to discuss. After finishing filming ¡°Spring Light¡±, Xia Siyu still had many offers. If she had calculated correctly, she should be taking on ¡°Youth 2¡± next. She¡¯d join the crew half a month late and concentrate her filming during that period. In this way, her schedule for the year was set. There were other roles she was considering as well. An artist¡¯s time is planned out like this, back-to-back. It¡¯s only during the recent pandemic, with the economic downturn and the cold spell in the film and TV industry, that she wasn¡¯t booked out till the year after next, like she was during her peak in popularity. As for variety shows, those are just squeezed in wherever there¡¯s room. Even for regular variety shows, you don¡¯t need to be there all the time; guest appearances only require a day or two. These things, Qin Baizhou would take care of for her. After all, she wasn¡¯t picky about variety shows, as long as she could pick a few fun ones to participate in. Just as Qin Baizhou finished discussing serious matters, Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t help but yawn, lowering her head. Qin Baizhou looked at her sideways, wondering if it was just his imagination or if Xia Siyu had become more¡ªfeminine, recently. No, perhaps it would be more accurate to say she had matured. In the past, her temper was explosive and her personality was brash. Now, she would think more and be more rational. But when she revealed her nonchalance and sensuality unintentionally, it was like a bewitching potion that enchanted all beings! Chapter 410 - Chapter 410: Chapter 409: Ill Wait for You at Home (2) Chapter 410: Chapter 409: I¡¯ll Wait for You at Home (2) Xia Siyu had been seductive and charming before, but that was acting. The audience couldn¡¯t tell, but he, a veteran in the entertainment industry who had known her for many years, could distinguish it at a glance. But now, he was sure that her innate charm was gradually beginning to disperse. Some say that a woman peaks at eighteen. Both tender and spirited. But there is a type of woman who slowly begins to radiate an enchanting charm around the age of thirty. Xia Siyu was the latter. Qin Baizhou didn¡¯t want to wait anymore. He knew Bo Yan was pursuing her, and perhaps they even had a physical relationship. But only he could help Xia Siyu continue on! ** In the following days, Bo Yan was busy and so was Xia Siyu. Soon, the day of the script reading arrived. This wasn¡¯t Xia Siyu¡¯s first script reading. During her last one for ¡°Storm¡±, because she didn¡¯t oppose any of Shang Feifei¡¯s demands, she was seen as a pushover, thought to be mindless, with others casually making requests. In the end, Xia Siyu performed brilliantly, silencing her doubters. And it wasn¡¯t just within the crew that she proved herself, but even the reporters who were following the shoot saw it. This time, Xia Siyu had also done a lot of preparation. She was determined to act well, watching the materials and films provided by Bo Yan. She and Bo Yan had been apart for several days at a time. Sometimes she was in Yancheng, and he went to other places. Sometimes when he briefly returned, she went to other cities. That¡¯s the life of a celebrity, besides filming in one movie town for months without leaving. Even if there¡¯s no filming, there are other events to attend. There are hardly a few days in the whole year to be together. However, without Bo Yan at home, she slept extraordinarily well, sprawling comfortably on the big bed, rolling however she wanted. She didn¡¯t have to constantly match wits with him, and even her breathing felt more at ease. ** The last time Qin Baizhou and Xia Siyu participated in a variety show for agents, their pairing was highly praised. So, when the show approached them again, Qin Baizhou quickly renewed his contract to appear with her. The script reading took place after Qin Baizhou and she participated in the variety show for agents together. Qin Baizhou planned to pursue her, so recently, whenever he had the time, he would follow Xia Siyu¡¯s schedule. Luckily, they both had this collaboration on the variety show, which gave them topics to talk about, preventing boredom. Although they had worked together before, the nature of their work was different. Xia Siyu was the one in front of the camera, responsible for looking beautiful on stage. In contrast, Qin Baizhou worked behind the scenes, paving the way for her. Although they were cooperating, their different perspectives led to some divergence in views. But this time, by appearing in front of the camera with her, Qin Baizhou realized just how challenging the life of a performer truly was. Even though they had a script for interviews, many interviews with celebrities are live, and there¡¯s no editing possible. Natural responses can¡¯t be controlled. Despite having a general direction, one slip of the tongue or an improper gesture could result in thousands of harsh criticisms. In the variety show, he had to look after her without appearing too competitive. He needed to be clever with good stamina and use skill, not brute force. Moreover, he couldn¡¯t be too close nor reveal his feelings for her, to avoid negatively impacting her. Chapter 411 - Chapter 411: Chapter 410: Ill Wait for You at Home (3) Chapter 411: Chapter 410: I¡¯ll Wait for You at Home (3) She couldn¡¯t let her need to hide her emotions make her act timid, for fear of affecting the show. Luckily, Qin Baizhou wasn¡¯t idle either; he had been in the industry for many years and managed a smile through everything. He smiled whether he was being tough, happy, or calculative, and others would even count his money for him after being outmaneuvered by him. At the same time, Qin Baizhou¡¯s reputation as a ¡°smiling tiger¡± spread from within a small circle of the industry to becoming widely known by society through the show. He was exhausted after the variety show, but having Xia Siyu by his side made even the tiredness joyful. He also had to perk up and join Xia Siyu for the script reading session. The car stopped in a serene Tea City, and as Xia Siyu and Qin Baizhou entered, they immediately ran into Bo Yan. All things considered, Xia Siyu and Bo Yan hadn¡¯t seen each other for over ten days. Compared to Xia Siyu, who was accompanied by her agent and assistant, Bo Yan only had Song Fengzhi with him, and after Song Fengzhi arranged his materials for him, he stepped back. Although the lead actors in ¡°Spring Light¡± were Bo Yan and her, the supporting cast included several experienced veterans. Fortunately, there were no internet celebrities involved. Of course, no internet celebrity would be interested in a film directed by a newcomer, especially one that had barely managed to put a crew together and was short on funds. Such a film was obviously not going to be a box office hit; it was made with awards in mind. And for that reason, internet celebrities wouldn¡¯t be interested because of their inadequate acting skills. For this film, Xia Siyu received the highest salary, ten million. Bo Yan didn¡¯t take a salary; instead, he invested in the project. The first condition was that this counted as an investment, and should there be any box office revenue, he would share in the profits proportional to his contribution (which he hardly considered). The second was that he could practice and get involved in the shooting when Sun Wujiu was directing. Bo Yan had long planned on becoming a director and naturally seized the opportunity. Sun Wujiu would lead the film, but Yu Fenfei would also assist. He was eager to learn from the renowned director, Yu, and this was his chance. The combined salaries of all the other actors, including the second male and female leads, didn¡¯t even add up to Xia Siyu¡¯s, which meant they were hired at a very reasonable price. This ensured the production team had the maximum budget to guarantee the quality of the film. With outsiders present, Bo Yan behaved very calmly. He didn¡¯t entangle himself too much with Xia Siyu, nor did he show that their relationship had been particularly intimate. Of course, since they had previously worked together on a film and a variety show, it would¡¯ve been unbelievable to act like strangers. So when Bo Yan saw them arrive, he briskly stepped forward to greet her with a serene expression, ¡°Siyu.¡± Xia Siyu genuinely did not want to have any physical contact with him, her temples throbbing. Bo Yan probably noticed it because, in front of everyone, he adopted a calm expression and then lifted his chin, ¡°Eh,¡± he noted, ¡°it seems like there¡¯s some scrap of paper stuck on you.¡± Perhaps it was the way he said it that was too natural; Xia Siyu didn¡¯t even realize what was going on. As he spoke, he casually moved closer. After all, from Xia Siyu¡¯s side, there was only her, Qin Baizhou, and Wei Jingjing. Both of them knew about their relationship. Everyone else was behind him, thoroughly blocked from view, so he wasn¡¯t worried about being exposed. Then, right in front of Qin Baizhou and Wei Jingjing, especially Qin Baizhou, he pretended to brush away some dirt from the top of her head, whispering into her ear, ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting for you at home tonight.¡± Chapter 412 - Chapter 412: Chapter 411: Ill Wait for You at Home (4) Chapter 412: Chapter 411: I¡¯ll Wait for You at Home (4) That sentence of his was clearly heard not only by Xia Siyu but also by Qin Baizhou behind her, and by Wei Jingjing as well. The moment Qin Baizhou saw him approaching, the smile on his face froze. After hearing what he said, his brow even slightly furrowed. As for Wei Jingjing, it was as if a shadow had fallen before her, feeling that she was about to be settled with! It¡¯s over, I¡¯ve been exposed! Xia Siyu was obviously very angry, she was not someone who could be threatened and teased into blushing and acting coy with just a few words. She didn¡¯t care about all that and kicked at Bo Yan with a lift of her leg! Everybody was around, had he gone mad! Bo Yan, well-experienced in being hit by her, quickly stepped back. Before retreating, he even pretended to be dusting off her shoulder. Then he stepped back again. Luckily, apart from them, the situation went unnoticed by the other actors, directors, and screenwriters present. After Xia Siyu arrived, Sun Wujiu and several other crew members, as well as the other actors, all came forward, and everyone had a brief meeting. Qin Baizhou was still there, and indeed, the others involved in the script read-through were somewhat surprised. Xia Siyu was not a newcomer, nor was it her first time filming a movie; there was no need for such close follow-up. But neither Bo Yan nor the director said anything, so they just wondered to themselves without making any comments. Xia Siyu had come prepared this time; she brought along a thick stack of materials and her own notebook for taking detailed notes on things she didn¡¯t understand. Whether her questions were right or wrong, she at least had the right attitude. Director Sun Wujiu presumably had heard a lot about Xia Siyu¡¯s reputation, about being a diva and not professional, and he thought she was going to be deliberately troublesome when he saw her with her agent. Who knew she would be so cooperative and had done her homework so well. Even if a female artist was a bit pampered, as long as she handled the acting well, he was relieved by half. The script read-through was mainly for the actors to review the outline, and for any changes they needed to make, it was best to bring them up at this stage so the director could manage and the screenwriter could make adjustments. But unexpectedly, the two leads scrutinized the script so meticulously that they had gone beyond discussing the plot and could delve into deeper discussions. Consequently, the screenwriter and the other actors felt as inexperienced as newcomers, breaking into sweat as they paid close attention. In fact, Qin Baizhou had nothing to say about Xia Siyu accepting the film the moment she brought out her prepared materials and notebook. If she didn¡¯t care for something, she wouldn¡¯t take such pains to be meticulous about it. Even if the film might turn out to be a box office flop without awards, for Xia Siyu herself, it was a breakthrough. It showed that she was seriously developing in the direction of an actor and was not indulging in the vanity brought by popularity. It was Bo Yan. Qin Baizhou narrowed his eyes, knowing that Bo Yan¡¯s words were not only directed at her but also at himself! He was displaying power, laying claim to his territory! He was blatantly telling himself that Xia Siyu belonged to him! ¡ª¡ªBut actually, Bo Yan meant nothing more. He was simply stating the literal meaning of his words. He was to take the earliest flight to Shangcheng this morning; there was an important meeting tomorrow afternoon that he could not miss. Tomorrow was Xia Siyu¡¯s birthday, and regardless of whether Xia Siyu cared about it, it was still her birthday. This was the only time he had to be in contact with Xia Siyu in person to wish her a ¡°Happy Birthday.¡± Chapter 413 - Chapter 413: Chapter 412: Ill Wait for You at Home (5) Chapter 413: Chapter 412: I¡¯ll Wait for You at Home (5) As for Qin Baizhou? Did he ever take him seriously? No. Xia Siyu was originally his girlfriend, his wife, and now the two of them had taken the most crucial step forward. Qin Baizhou? He hadn¡¯t even held Xia Siyu¡¯s hand. How could he be of any significance! But even though he didn¡¯t take Qin Baizhou seriously, Qin Baizhou took him very seriously. While a group of actors was discussing the plot, Qin Baizhou suddenly spoke up, ¡°If the script is detailed to this extent, what happens if there are last-minute changes? This film is Director Sun¡¯s first attempt at directing. I¡¯d like to know how much control Director Yu will have inside? I understand that Director Sun comes from a photography background, and having a photography background can make the shots look very pretty. However, this is a film, not a collection of landscape photos. Has Director Sun considered how to grasp the plot and the characters? After all, for a film, the plot is the thread, and characters are the soul. All other artistic elements are incidental. Also, in Director Sun¡¯s script, I see a lot of critical elements. Not to mention whether such things are convenient for censorship. Film is art, not meant for criticism, nor is it for exposing some reality. Perhaps those are secondary, but more importantly, it¡¯s a way of expression. I wonder if Director Sun will overemphasize criticism and ideology, and in doing so, lose sight of the original intention of storytelling?¡± Qin Baizhou¡¯s words, in fact, hit right at some of the current issues. Many filmmakers, on their first directorial endeavor, seek to capture the bizarre scenes from their minds without considering how the finished film turns out or whether the audience can understand it at all. Of course, he acknowledged that some new directors indeed have talent and produce films with great imagination. But most who pursue stream of consciousness and montage, with various edits and the gimmick of single-shot technique, end up shooting something that doesn¡¯t even convey a complete story. The audience, left bewildered, gives low scores, and the box office suffers. Then filmmakers blame the audience for not getting it, dismissing them as ¡°this generation of audience is no good¡±. Don¡¯t they see what they¡¯ve created, incomprehensible even to themselves, and then blame others for not appreciating it? Xia Siyu accepted such a low fee, spent six months grinding on a movie, and he, of course, was not at ease. What if, in the end, there were neither awards nor box office success, and even the reputation was ruined¡ªcould the producers afford that loss? Bo Yan¡¯s recent provocation had indeed made Qin Baizhou a bit uneasy. And considering that Sun Wujiu was recommended by Bo Yan, and his film was funded with Bo Yan¡¯s help, even deceiving Xia Siyu into joining, he knew well enough how many films had been ruined by directors¡¯ whimsical performances. Since you¡¯re aiming for critical acclaim and awards, then you must stick to that standard rigorously. Anything less would be unsatisfactory. Xia Siyu might be easy to talk to, but he wasn¡¯t, and so, naturally, he had to look out for Xia Siyu¡¯s interests. Indeed, directors have significant authority, but it also depends on the circumstances. For example, Wang Ju, Yu Fenfei, not only do all the actors have to listen to them, but even investors have to give them some respect and can¡¯t just insert anyone they like into the cast. However, for a new director like Sun Wujiu, who is facing big names like Bo Yan and Xia Siyu, you can imagine how much say he has. It¡¯s possible that everyone in the crew listens to Bo Yan. Qin Baizhou was known as a ¡°smiling tiger¡±, and when fighting for artists¡¯ interests, he could be quite aggressive. But when it came to matters unrelated to interests, he was always very generous. But this time, his slight loss of control was because of Bo Yan. Bo Yan¡¯s line, ¡°Wait for me at home tonight¡±, felt like an execution delivered in the open! Chapter 414 - Chapter 414: Chapter 413: Ill Wait for You at Home (6) Chapter 414: Chapter 413: I¡¯ll Wait for You at Home (6) He was showing off, provoking, and even though Xia Siyu had kicked up her leg to retaliate afterward, it was obvious that the relationship between the two had progressed rapidly. Perhaps, the three-day leave Xia Siyu took last time was spent with Bo Yan! But after Qin Baizhou finished speaking, everyone was silent for a while. Today was only a script reading, so Director Yu Fenfei did not come; only the director, screenwriter, and a few main actors were present. It was just a script reading, intended to sort through the general outline, where different opinions could be raised¡ªno need to be so aggressive. Bo Yan¡¯s brow furrowed. Although he understood the meaning behind Qin Baizhou¡¯s words, now that he had signed the contract, he should trust the director. This was the director¡¯s passion project, and he wanted to make a great film more than anyone else. Moreover, Bo Yan had worked with this director before and knew that he was not one to show off technical prowess for its own sake. He simply wanted to tell a story earnestly. As a cinematographer, he had a natural pursuit for color composition, which he didn¡¯t need to control. Success meant telling a good story well. Sun Wujiu said, ¡°Firstly, the script reading is just to sort out the general plot, and there will certainly be minor changes. The screenwriter is going to stay with the production until filming is complete. This film is my first time leading, with Master Yu Fenfei only assisting. Coming from a cinematography background, he is helping me to avoid focusing too much on beautiful scenes and characters. As for criticizing society, I haven¡¯t thought about it¡ªI just want to tell a story. The male and female leads are not perfect; they have flaws, and my only goal is to present their completed journey. That¡¯s all.¡± He added another sentence: ¡°If you really feel that I¡¯m inadequate, you¡¯re free to leave now, and we¡¯ll find another actress.¡± Directors tend to be a bit temperamental. Xia Siyu had come with an agent and an assistant, quite an entourage. In contrast, Bo Yan only came with Song Fengzhi, who had left earlier. While it wasn¡¯t considered behaving like a diva¡ªsince he had encountered artists who were much more demanding and had larger entourages, even among men¡ª the label ¡°difficult to work with¡± was already figuratively stamped on Xia Siyu¡¯s forehead. Making a movie is a matter of choice for both parties. Losing Xia Siyu might mean the film¡¯s exposure and traffic wouldn¡¯t be as high, but if she insisted on leaving, there was nothing he could do. After being confronted, Qin Baizhou quickly recovered and made amends: ¡°If Director Sun has already taken these factors into account, then I am reassured. Naturally, I hope the film turns out well, which is why I agreed to sign.¡± Xia Siyu spoke up: ¡°I trust the director.¡± She was very serious. Although she wasn¡¯t academically strong, having been in the entertainment industry for many years, she had an innate intuition for scripts. Maybe this film wouldn¡¯t be a blockbuster, but it was sure to be crafted with care. As long as effort was put into it, and it wasn¡¯t worthless, she believed the audience would feel it. If it didn¡¯t work out, then she¡¯d consider it a learning experience. Failure was inconsequential; she would have the opportunity to start over. Because of Qin Baizhou¡¯s speech, the subsequent script reading was hastily gone through, and then everyone dispersed. It hadn¡¯t even started filming, and the first gathering of the main cast had this kind of atmosphere; everyone¡¯s mood was not too great. When they parted, Bo Yan didn¡¯t linger and took a car to leave first. Qin Baizhou, on the other hand, stayed behind with Xia Siyu to prepare for tomorrow¡¯s birthday meet-up scene. At eleven fifty-five, Xia Siyu finally returned to Qingcheng Apartment. Before getting out of the car, she was a bit nervous¡ªBo Yan wouldn¡¯t really be waiting for her, would he? Chapter 415 - Chapter 415: Chapter 414: Because of You (1) Chapter 415: Chapter 414: Because of You (1) Although Bo Yan had been by her side these days, she had gradually gotten used to interacting with him. In fact, if the guy didn¡¯t make too much of a fuss, she couldn¡¯t be bothered to resist. But being accustomed is one thing, liking is another. Right now, she was merely used to having Bo Yan around, and far from liking him. Even the word ¡°like¡± still carried a tone of rejection for her. The worst part was that she couldn¡¯t get out of her marriage to Bo Yan until she had won the Best Actress award and proven herself to her family. Foolishly, she had handed him the leverage, agreeing not to move out. And she needed to rely on Bo Yan¡¯s power to win Best Actress quickly. Isn¡¯t this just like delivering oneself to slaughter, how could Bo Yan not take a bite? Xia Siyu had always been decisive in her actions; she either liked something or she didn¡¯t. When she liked something, she would chase it fervently; when she didn¡¯t, she would discard it like an old shoe. Unfortunately, Bo Yan clung to her, and she couldn¡¯t shake him off or escape, only to be wrapped up in his embrace, deeply uncomfortable. ¡°Siyu, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Qin Baizhou leaned closer to her. Since he was accompanying her throughout this time, he had arranged for a business nanny van. The rear compartment was spacious enough that, when flattened, it could be used as a bed. At the moment it was in couch mode, so Qin Baizhou was sitting beside her. ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Xia Siyu shook her head, yawning. Wei Jingjing was in the front seat, and as soon as they arrived, she got out to fetch things from the trunk, leaving only Qin Baizhou and her in the car. Qin Baizhou turned to glance at her; her expression was calm, nonchalant, showing no signs of distress. But Qin Baizhou had just heard that Bo Yan was waiting for her at home. That meant that he was about to deliver Xia Siyu personally into Bo Yan¡¯s arms. Though he had seen many strange male-female pairings in the entertainment industry, he still hoped that the person he liked could be simpler. Currently, Xia Siyu obviously still rejected Bo Yan, yet they were living together. Moreover, it was clear that Bo Yan held the dominant position in this relationship, and she couldn¡¯t escape. Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t the kind of person who would sleep her way up for resources; she didn¡¯t need to curry favor with Bo Yan for anything. But Bo Yan seemed to have a significant influence on her. With a film like ¡°Spring Light,¡± which initially seemed impossible to even convene a team, he managed to lure her in and even persuaded her to take the role at a low price. If it were for love, it would be highly possible. But Xia Siyu didn¡¯t like him. Qin Baizhou simply couldn¡¯t comprehend their way of interacting. Why, he just couldn¡¯t understand. If Xia Siyu had any unspeakable difficulties, she could tell him, right? He would do his utmost to help her. They had known each other for seven years, he had been by her side as she grew, even if just as a friend, he would go through fire and water for her. ¡°If you have any unspeakable difficulties, feel free to tell me,¡± finally, Qin Baizhou couldn¡¯t hold it in anymore and spoke up directly. Xia Siyu was taken aback for a moment, then nodded: ¡°All I¡¯m thinking about now is improving my acting skills.¡± Just for the sake of acting skills? Indeed, on this point, Bo Yan truly had a convincing argument. Although he had won Best Actor, he wasn¡¯t omnipotent. Every year the country heralds three Best Actors, wouldn¡¯t the others be sufficient? Couldn¡¯t other seniors do? ¡°I¡¯ll help you find a teacher,¡± he said. ¡°Okay.¡± Just as Xia Siyu was about to get out of the car, Qin Baizhou suddenly grabbed her wrist. Chapter 416 - Chapter 416: Chapter 415: Because of You (2) Chapter 416: Chapter 415: Because of You (2) This gesture was slightly intimate, which caused Xia Siyu to pause for a moment before turning to look at him. She had known Qin Baizhou for seven years, and they were very familiar with each other. Qin Baizhou had always been known as a ¡°smiling tiger¡± to others, but he had always been gentle and like a spring breeze towards her. She knew she had a fiery temper, and sometimes she couldn¡¯t even control her impulses. Even if she knew that reporters were scheming outside, she would still jump into the fray without hesitation. And Qin Baizhou was the one behind her, filling in the pits she dug. No matter what kind of trouble she got into, as long as she looked back and saw Qin Baizhou, who would smile at her, she knew everything was OK, the matter was settled. He was also a very disciplined person, who valued efficiency. As long as she followed him, unless she left the industry, she wouldn¡¯t have to worry too much about her career. Except for today¡¯s dealings with Sun Wujiu, he was proper with other businesses, directors, and partners. Although he never gave in on major business directions, he knew how to make small concessions for mutual satisfaction. She considered Qin Baizhou a friend, a colleague, a comrade-in-arms. Wei Jingjing should have informed him about everything except for the matters related to the Xia Family and Bo Yan¡ªshe had no intention of hiding anything from him. But recently, she couldn¡¯t help feeling that Qin Baizhou was becoming a little too concerned about her. Xia Siyu was very direct and asked when in doubt, ¡°Is there something wrong?¡± Qin Baizhou smiled, withdrew his hand naturally, and in a corner she couldn¡¯t see, his fingers gently brushed against each other as if savoring the touch of her skin. ¡°Nothing much, just that if you go to shoot the film, you might be in the mountains for five or six months. We might not see each other for five or six months.¡± Qin Baizhou sighed. Since ¡°Spring Light¡± was a done deal, it was certain that they needed to shoot the film well. But he was unwilling to let Bo Yan get his way; first, he had to find a teacher who would teach her acting every day, to keep Bo Yan from being too free to hover around her! Xia Siyu said, in her straightforward manner, ¡°That¡¯s not completely true, didn¡¯t I sign up for that reality show with the agent? Besides, even if I¡¯m filming in the mountains for five or six months, it does not mean I¡¯ll actually be confined there without the chance to leave. If there are other business matters, I¡¯d still have to come back.¡± Qin Baizhou nodded, ¡°Would you welcome me to visit you? Or maybe, I should stay with the crew for a while?¡± For him, a top agent and a partner of the company, it was rare to join a crew to accompany an artist. He was so busy with countless work; he really didn¡¯t have the time to spend months in a small village in the Northwest. Xia Siyu was also puzzled, and Qin Baizhou seemed to realize he might have been too forward, quickly backtracking, ¡°You are a top star in our company. Your contract is about to be renewed, and I have to keep a close eye on it. If another company poaches you, it would be a great loss.¡± That made sense to Xia Siyu. Given her current popularity, indeed many companies were extending olive branches to her. If she wanted, she could also go solo, set up a studio, and be her own boss. But she was lazy. Given that the company¡¯s treatment of her was satisfactory, she saw no need to change her team. ¡°Just add a clause in the new contract that I get to pick my roles, and there¡¯d be no other issues.¡± After saying this, Xia Siyu turned around to prepare to get out of the car when Qin Baizhou, watching her silhouette, really wanted to hold her hand. And he did say it out loud, ¡°Siyu.¡± Xia Siyu turned back again, ¡°Anything else?¡± Chapter 417 - Chapter 417: Chapter 416: Because of You (3) Chapter 417: Chapter 416: Because of You (3) Qin Baizhou smiled, ¡°Happy Birthday.¡± They had just been talking under the building, and it had been five minutes. Now, after midnight, it was a new day. Qin Baizhou must have been the first one to wish her a happy 27th birthday. But Xia Siyu didn¡¯t care about that; she looked down at her phone and, indeed, it was past midnight. Then, her WeChat kept flashing, probably friends sending her birthday messages. She randomly clicked on one and saw that, as expected, the first one was from Wang Zisu. Wang Zisu was particularly enthusiastic, starting with, ¡°Sister Siyu, reply quickly, reply quickly, reply quickly!¡± ¡°Reply to what?¡± Xia Siyu asked with a puzzled face. ¡°Your Weibo, of course! I went and wished you a happy birthday; hurry up and reply to me! And don¡¯t forget to like my post in the Moment!¡± Xia Siyu was speechless. Wang Zisu¡¯s way of sending wishes was to post messages on Weibo and Moments right away. Of course, she also transferred 1314.27 yuan to Xia Siyu¡¯s WeChat, as a red envelope. After logging into her main account, Xia Siyu saw that besides Wang Zisu, Hu Juyue and Zhou Weiwei had also posted on Weibo, tagging her. As soon as she came online, many of her fans followed suit, sending her blessings. ¡ªOf course, there were none from Bo Yan. Xia Siyu replied quickly. Qin Baizhou next to her said, ¡°It¡¯s a small matter; let Jingjing handle it for you.¡± While thinking of a reply, Xia Siyu said, ¡°It¡¯s alright, these are just a few friends; there¡¯s no need for Jingjing¡¯s help between friends.¡± After replying to a few friends, she logged off and then checked her Moments. There were far fewer people in her Moments, but there was one from her old man, Xia Youbiao. Xia Siyu hesitated for a moment, then replied with a thank you to Xia Youbiao. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t look any further. She put away her phone, remembering that Qin Baizhou had just wished her a happy birthday, she said, ¡°It¡¯s not like I¡¯m celebrating a milestone birthday. Moreover, isn¡¯t there a birthday meet-and-greet tomorrow? You will be going too, right? The company has also prepared a gift for me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s different; that¡¯s the company¡¯s preparation. Right now, it¡¯s me wishing you, as a friend.¡± The truth was, the gift prepared by the company was also personally selected by him. He wanted to give her another gift privately as a friend, but he was afraid it might seem strange to her, so he decided against it. ¡°Thank you,¡± Xia Siyu didn¡¯t overthink it and even remarked with a sigh, ¡°But the four words ¡®Happy Birthday¡¯ must be the most dreaded by women in the entertainment industry because it feels like they¡¯re getting a year older.¡± But she said it with a laugh. Qin Baizhou then asked her, ¡°What about you?¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s smile was radiant, ¡°Of course, I¡¯m not afraid. Even if I get old and turn eighty, I¡¯ll still be the most beautiful, trendiest old lady.¡± She had always been this confident. Why should women fear aging? Why be afraid of getting old? Time might take away youth and freshness, but it also grants a different kind of charm that settles in. It¡¯s something you just don¡¯t have when you¡¯re young and tender. It was also because of her sunshine, so genuine and direct, that it made Qin Baizhou smile as well, ¡°Right.¡± That was exactly why he liked her. No matter what, she always looked at things with the most optimistic attitude, believing there was always a way out, even in perilous situations. That innate, positive energy was particularly infectious. Then she got out of the car, pressed the elevator button, and went up. Chapter 418 - Chapter 418: Chapter 417: Because of You (4) Chapter 418: Chapter 417: Because of You (4) Qin Baizhou¡¯s smile stayed on his face until she entered the elevator. After Wei Jingjing came up, his tone had already turned somewhat cold, ¡°On this trip to the West, stay close to her. Don¡¯t let Bo Yan get too close to her.¡± Wei Jingjing glanced at Qin Baizhou, who had no smile on his face, and she hurriedly nodded, ¡°I understand.¡± ** On this side, Xia Siyu was carrying her stuff upstairs and even took a deep breath before opening the door. The elevator soon reached her floor. She was ready; after all, she was wearing high heels today. If he dared to make a move, she was determined to kick him into doubting his existence! When the elevator doors opened, the lights in the entryway were on. She looked down at the door; Bo Yan¡¯s dress shoes were not there. Could it be that this guy was hiding on purpose to give her a fright? She kicked off her high heels, placed her things on the lobby cabinet, and sneakily entered. Even though it was her own home, she felt like a thief, stealthily moving closer to duel wits with Bo Yan inside! The living room lights were still on, but it was empty and silent. Xia Siyu was puzzled and, like a burglar, she silently slipped to the door of her own room. She quietly pushed the door open: still, no one was there. Not here? Or maybe he was hiding in the bathroom! This jerk had been in the bathtub the last time at the old house. She was so tired, she could only let him do as he pleased, kneading her like dough. Xia Siyu turned her head and grabbed a readily available weapon: a clothes drying rod, and tiptoed to the bathroom. However, to her surprise, he was still not there. Xia Siyu was extremely puzzled this time. Not here, not there, so where could he be? His own room? Perhaps because she hadn¡¯t found him in her room, Xia Siyu, brandishing the clothes rod, swung the door open with a bang. Bo Yan¡¯s room was pristine white, very clean, unlit, and devoid of any human presence. Checking the bathroom in his room, he wasn¡¯t there either. Xia Siyu stepped back out with a confused face. What kind of trick was this? So this guy said he wanted her to come back early just to trick her for fun? As she turned back toward the living room, she finally noticed a note on the coffee table left by Bo Yan: ¡°Xia Siyu, I had a 5 a.m. flight and am already on my way to the airport. Don¡¯t cry if you can¡¯t find me.¡± Damn it, who would cry! She was eager for him to leave already. Holding the clothes rod triumphantly in one hand and the note in the other, Xia Siyu was in a foul mood. Just as she set down the note, there was suddenly a small noise at the door. In Xia Siyu¡¯s mind, it couldn¡¯t be, Bo Yan had left already, it definitely couldn¡¯t be him coming back. But if it wasn¡¯t him returning, then who could it be? After all, in this apartment building, only the two of them had keys. Xia Siyu walked over with the clothes rod, puzzled, when she heard a ¡°ding¡± as the elevator door opened, and out stepped Bo Yan! But that wasn¡¯t right. Hadn¡¯t this guy left a message saying he was taking off? Why was he back now? Bo Yan, standing at the doorway, also looked at Xia Siyu, seeing her with the clothes rod, tilting her head, a puzzled expression on her face. He even remarked emotionally, ¡°I just thought I¡¯d come back to check if you were here, and sure enough, you¡¯re home.¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s eyebrows slowly furrowed. Just as she was about to say something, Bo Yan suddenly stepped forward, wrapped his arms around her waist, and drew her slightly forward. Then, tilting his head slightly, he decisively blocked her lips without room for doubt. Chapter 419 - Chapter 419: Chapter 418: Because of You (5) Chapter 419: Chapter 418: Because of You (5) Xia Siyu initially wore an expression of bafflement, as if to say ¡°meow meow meow,¡± but by the time she realized she wanted to do something about it, Bo Yan had already pinned her against a corner. The clothes rod in her hand was unwittingly taken away by him. Bo Yan approached her dominantly, one arm wrapping around her waist, the other supporting the back of her head. She had taken off her high heels, and for fear of making noise, had not put on slippers, walking barefoot around the house, resulting in a fifteen-centimeter height difference between her and Bo Yan. This gap was just right for him to reach her with a lowered head. Maybe it was because this was just a touch, without further advances, he had done things that were even less shameless and more intimate before. Maybe it was because, before Xia Siyu could react, he had succeeded. Or maybe it was¡ªhis skills were not bad, both gentle and dominant, so she did not resist much. After a prolonged kiss, Bo Yan held her and breathed gently, his hand originally around her waist, lightly caressing her rosy lips. His fingers were slender, the pads slightly moist. The way they brushed past her lips was gentle and meticulous, like wiping a peerless treasure. As Xia Siyu came to her senses, her first reaction was to glare at him, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you were leaving?¡± The note was written by him, right? The time, place, and content all matched up, so why had he come back? Bo Yan nodded, ¡°Mm. I was going to leave. But I came back because there was something I didn¡¯t take.¡± Xia Siyu asked, ¡°What thing?¡± Just take it and leave fast, and better never come back. Bo Yan withdrew his hand and then leaned in again, pressing his face against her cheek. He muttered a word from his throat, ¡°You.¡± What kind of cheesy pick-up line was this? Just as Xia Siyu was about to retort, Bo Yan added another phrase, ¡°Your kiss, and¡­¡± His words, along with his gaze, slowly moved downward, then lingered on her chest, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbing. Damn this jerk, she knew it! Xia Siyu was just about to push him away when Bo Yan¡¯s phone started to vibrate. He was right next to her, so she felt it too. Bo Yan knew who was calling at this time and also knew why they were calling, but he didn¡¯t want to answer. His phone vibrated continuously in his pocket. Xia Siyu looked up and called out again, ¡°Are you deaf? It¡¯s your phone.¡± Bo Yan still didn¡¯t move, looking at her eyes that had grown a bit misty from their recent closeness, ¡°Let me kiss you, and I¡¯ll answer it.¡± ¡°Go to hell!¡± Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t take it anymore, lifting her leg to take a swing at his private parts. Bo Yan, familiar with being kicked, had developed a reflex; as soon as she prepared to lift her knee, he quickly stepped back, then answered the call. The call was from Song Fengzhi, and being so close, even without speakerphone, Xia Siyu could hear everything clearly, ¡°Bro Yan, we need to head to the airport. When are you coming down? The meetings tomorrow afternoon and the next morning are important; you can¡¯t miss them.¡± The meeting Bo Yan was to attend was a government-led gathering of cultural workers, and as a guest speaker, Bo Yan absolutely couldn¡¯t be absent. But today was Xia Siyu¡¯s birthday, and he truly didn¡¯t want to leave. Especially, although he scorned Qin Baizhou strategically, he had to take him seriously tactically. Even if Baizhou didn¡¯t warrant his attention, having a man buzzing around like a fly near his wife was bothersome indeed. Bo Yan hung up the phone, but he still wanted to tease her, ¡°If you let me stay, I won¡¯t leave.¡± Chapter 420 - Chapter 420: Chapter 419: Because of You (6) Chapter 420: Chapter 419: Because of You (6) ¡°Who asked you to stay? Hurry up and leave!¡± Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t surprised at all as she glared, swiftly and mercilessly rejecting him, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say the meeting was important? Hurry up and go, the longer you¡¯re gone the better.¡± The longer you can stay away, the better! Bo Yan chuckled softly and checked the time on his phone, then in front of Xia Siyu, he called Song Fengzhi, ¡°My flight takes off at five. It¡¯s just past twelve now. From Qingcheng Apartment to the airport, night driving takes an hour. Check-in for flights, forty-five minutes in advance. So, I just need to leave at three. I won¡¯t go to the company, there¡¯s nothing important there anyway; pick me up at three.¡± Song Fengzhi was completely bewildered, about to respond, but Bo Yan had already hung up. Then he turned to Xia Siyu with a smile, and with a sudden movement, he scooped her up in a horizontal carry. When Xia Siyu heard his words just now, she vaguely sensed trouble brewing. Now, being lifted into the air, she fully understood what was happening. This pervert, he wants to take advantage of these short three hours before he leaves to do this and that to her! She was definitely not resigned to being oppressed and immediately started to resist, ¡°Bo Yan, you big jerk, let me go!¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s resistance wasn¡¯t the feeble, ambivalent kind found in domineering CEO stories. She kicked and punched, caused a commotion and yelled. Bo Yan didn¡¯t even think of doing anything more to her; she was about to slip right off him after just a couple of steps. So, Bo Yan hurriedly took a few steps and they both tilted to the side, collapsing onto the sofa. Even at a disadvantage, Xia Siyu didn¡¯t forget to fight back. Although she had learned boxing, her way of hitting now involved pulling hair, scratching faces, and tugging on clothes: ¡°Bo Yan, get out, now!¡± Bo Yan only barely managed to subdue her resistance. This woman was too wild; leave her unattended for three days and she¡¯d be up on the roof tearing off the tiles. They had been apart for over ten days, didn¡¯t she miss him at all, not even slightly willing to see him? Even though he had grown accustomed to being hit by her, Bo Yan still used his longer arms and legs to his advantage, pinning her wrists so she couldn¡¯t attack him. When her hands were restrained, Xia Siyu started kicking! Bo Yan reacted quickly, using his own legs to block her knees so she couldn¡¯t strike. With both hands and feet immobilized, Xia Siyu still rolled around, with one clear goal: not to let this pervert succeed so easily! ¡°Even the assistant says the meeting is important and you must attend, so hurry up and go!¡± She didn¡¯t want her 27th birthday present to be doing this and that with him here and, what¡¯s worse, being the coerced party! If Bo Yan really dared to force himself on her, she¡¯d cut off his ¡°parts¡± afterwards! Then grind them to dust, burn them, and scatter the ashes! That¡¯ll teach you to bully people! Bo Yan was actually just joking with her at first. His departure was unavoidable, and since he was scheduled to speak tomorrow morning, he just had to arrive by then. Today was her birthday and he had simply wanted to stay with her for a bit longer, maybe even attend her birthday fan meeting. But unfortunately, he had to report for duty this afternoon. He had no choice but to go. However, Xia Siyu¡¯s twisting and turning couldn¡¯t get her out of his hold, but¡ªunexpectedly activated his ¡°parts.¡± With their bodies pressed together, Xia Siyu naturally felt the change in him and became even more infuriated. See, she wasn¡¯t wronging him¡ªthis man was up to no good, thinking of nothing but lust day in and day out! Chapter 421 - Chapter 421: Chapter 420: Because of You (Monthly Ticket Extra 1) Chapter 421: Chapter 420: Because of You (Monthly Ticket Extra 1) Xia Siyu would definitely not let herself be bullied by him, she held her breath and focused, ready to ferment her emotions and deliver a fatal blow! Bo Yan, you fucking bastard, dare to force yourself on her, she¡¯s going to ruin you! ¡°Wait a second!¡± Bo Yan suddenly whispered in her ear, Xia Siyu hesitated for a moment. What, was this supposed to be a delaying tactic? Did he want to deceive her into not resisting, and then take the opportunity to make his move? Hmph, did he think she was a fool? She wouldn¡¯t let things go his way! Xia Siyu paid him no mind, she had intended to match wits and strength with Bo Yan all along, and now she was just gathering her energy, fighting back even more fiercely. The two of them tussled from the entryway to the sofa, and then from the sofa to the ground, with Bo Yan still gaining the upper hand. If it wasn¡¯t for the heavy sofa and coffee table, trapping them between, the scope of their clashing would have been even broader. In the midst of the struggle, there was no sign that Bo Yan was backing down, on the contrary, he became even more agitated. She knew it, the words of this bastard couldn¡¯t be trusted. He just wanted one last hurrah before leaving, deliberately deceiving her! Bo Yan did indeed have to leave; it wasn¡¯t certain about other things, but Song Fengzhi was waiting downstairs. He had no intention of making someone wait outside for an hour or two. Besides, love that¡¯s forced is never beautiful. It¡¯s better when it¡¯s a mutual pursuit, a mutual desire. But Xia Siyu twisted even more fiercely, and he simply couldn¡¯t withstand it. The situation now was, if he let go, of course, nothing would happen, but Xia Siyu would probably blacklist him from then on. But if they continued, then Song Fengzhi really would end up waiting downstairs. If the plane were delayed even a little, it would be very troublesome for him. Having no choice, he had to more forcefully restrain her movements, tightly grasping her hands, blocking her escape routes. He didn¡¯t even dare touch her lips, afraid that once he did, he could not stop himself. He rested his head in the crook of her shoulder, whispering in her ear: ¡°Don¡¯t move!¡± Telling her not to move was impossible. Only a fool wouldn¡¯t move. But no matter how much Xia Siyu thrashed about, he suppressed her firmly like this. Three minutes, five minutes, ten minutes passed, and even when Bo Yan¡¯s phone rang once more, he still held her down tightly, suppressing his own desires as well. Gradually, Xia Siyu also sensed Bo Yan¡¯s intentions; although she was still cautious of him, she was no longer retaliating as fiercely ¡ª well, of course, she had also depleted all her strength in the earlier fight. Until the ringing of Bo Yan¡¯s phone went on for thirty seconds with no answer and cut off, the room once again fell into silence. Bo Yan let out a long breath. Xia Siyu felt that he had really calmed down, and his body had returned to its normal state. Bo Yan¡¯s tone also slowly regained a rational calm, he whispered softly in her ear: ¡°I¡¯ve said that if you¡¯re unwilling, I won¡¯t force you.¡± Wasn¡¯t that a given? Xia Siyu snorted, and while he was not paying attention, she pushed him away. Although they hadn¡¯t progressed to the final step, because the scuffle had lasted so long, their clothes were still crumpled into a mess. She hadn¡¯t even removed her makeup when she returned, and thankfully she hadn¡¯t worn much that day, but her lipstick was smeared everywhere, and her hairstyle was a mess, too. Bo Yan wasn¡¯t in much better shape himself; Xia Siyu, in the midst of the fight, had specifically targeted his face to scratch, and his hair to pull. Fortunately, Bo Yan¡¯s hair was quite dense and tough, so not many strands were pulled out, his hairstyle was just a mess. As for the scratch marks on his face¡­ it wasn¡¯t a big deal, just apply a thicker concealer. Chapter 422 - Chapter 422: Chapter 421: Because of You (Monthly Ticket Extra 2) Chapter 422: Chapter 421: Because of You (Monthly Ticket Extra 2) Bo Yan composed himself and stood up before she did, after all that fighting; her clothes were already torn to shreds, and he needed to change. He had to cover up his makeup and comb his hair. Mainly, he stood up, poured himself a glass of water. Feeling it wasn¡¯t enough, he went straight to the refrigerator and took out a bottle of ice-cold sparkling water, twisted it open, and gulped it down. The ice water in his stomach stimulated his intestines and cooled his body. Bo Yan turned around and saw Xia Siyu still sitting on the ground with her leg cocked, poured her a glass of water, placed the cup on the coffee table, and came over to pull her up. Xia Siyu looked on guard. Bo Yan would not go to the extreme, but their current situation, how was it any different from the extreme? Bo Yan squatted down, trying to help her again, and Xia Siyu slapped him fiercely without any courtesy. The slap turned Bo Yan¡¯s face to the side. His already disheveled hair became an even greater mess. Even though Xia Siyu had been fighting with him for a long time and her strength had diminished a lot, being slapped from such a close distance could still visibly redden Bo Yan¡¯s face. Great, at the age of twenty-seven, the first time she hit him, he hadn¡¯t expected it to come so quickly, not even an hour had passed, and she had already struck him. Bo Yan sighed, turned his head, and still reached out his hand, trying to help her up. Xia Siyu might slap when she punched, but she certainly didn¡¯t hesitate to take his help, using his hand to sit back on the sofa. Bo Yan handed her the water, and she took a sip from the cup in his hand. As Bo Yan set the cup down, she moistened her throat and unhesitatingly retorted, ¡°You pervert, bastard, scum of a man!¡± At that moment, Bo Yan was very patient, tolerating both the hitting and the yelling, nodding continuously and even reaching out to smooth her somewhat messy hair. Xia Siyu was truly angry, not just because he nearly forced himself on her just now, but also because of today, in public, in front of Qin Baizhou and Wei Jingjing, he blatantly told her to ¡°wait for him at home tonight¡±! This was meant to be her private life; she didn¡¯t want to make her personal life public. Qin Baizhou and Wei Jingjing might be familiar, but they were colleagues, after all. Qin Baizhou and Wei Jingjing would not gossip, but what if others overheard? At the time, there were others around too, like Sun Wujiu, as well as scriptwriters and other actors. Had he gone mad? To speak such words directly in front of those people? If word got out, she and Bo Yan would definitely be shredded by fans! Although she wasn¡¯t afraid of the fans¡¯ curses, she didn¡¯t want to invite them unnecessarily. But most importantly, although she and Bo Yan were husband and wife, having somewhat absentmindedly become intimate not long ago, their relationship wasn¡¯t that of an ordinary married couple, or even of lovers. Not even casual one-night partners. He may have no shame, but she does! Being linked to him in rumors, she felt she would be jinxed for three years! ¡°And you! Were you out of your mind today, speaking so suggestively in public? You might want to go public, but I sure don¡¯t! I don¡¯t want any association with you, don¡¯t forget how we despised each other on social media before. I don¡¯t want to be targeted by your fans! Nor do I want to lose acting roles and business endorsements because of it! Moreover, Qin Baizhou and Wei Jingjing clearly heard, Qin is kind and didn¡¯t pry, but he certainly knows about our relationship now!¡± Bo Yan admitted that when he said those words, his main intention was to tease her, to close the distance between them. But he was also influenced by Qin Baizhou. He looked up, ¡°Then if he asks, how will you explain to him?¡± Chapter 423 - Chapter 423: Chapter 422: Because of You (Monthly Ticket Extra 3) Chapter 423: Chapter 422: Because of You (Monthly Ticket Extra 3) In fact, Bo Yan wanted to know what Xia Siyu¡¯s guided reading thought of Qin Baizhou. He and Qin Baizhou had already crossed the line, but from what Xia Siyu had just said, she probably didn¡¯t know yet. She didn¡¯t know that Qin Baizhou liked her. Moreover, given how Qin Baizhou went directly to his door last time, he probably wanted to declare war officially. Bo Yan¡¯s provocative remark today was also a rather casual acceptance of the challenge. Xia Siyu frowned slightly, her expression a bit conflicted. Seeing her like this actually made Bo Yan¡¯s heart sink a little. Although he currently had the upper hand, and they had even registered their marriage, protected by the law, Xia Siyu¡¯s resistance to him was quite real. Of course, there was some progress, at the very least in the form of kisses and hugs. Although she still wasn¡¯t thrilled, she wouldn¡¯t hit him. But if he wanted to get any closer, she would strongly object. After thinking it over, Xia Siyu said, ¡°Although Brother Qin is quite nice to me, he is, after all, an agent, and I¡¯m an artist. Agents don¡¯t want their artists to get involved in relationships¡ªit affects business and casting offers.¡± Qin Baizhou had always been a person who prioritized interests. He liked to use the least amount of time to achieve the highest efficiency and create the best benefits. In the past few years, Xia Siyu¡¯s career had gradually recovered under his management, quickly returning her to the top-tier status. Despite the mixed reviews, it had to be said that he indeed had a knack for bringing money, popularity, and attention to his artists. And his contracts were not as oppressive as those at other companies. That¡¯s why Huixing had become China¡¯s most famous entertainment company in just three short years of establishment. But, between an artist and an agent, there was both a community of interest and conflict. An artist¡¯s personal needs and the company¡¯s regulations were naturally conflicting. However. Her relationship with Qin Baizhou, it seemed, was not just that. Originally, Xia Siyu never felt there was anything amiss. She and Qin Baizhou had known each other for many years, and their interactions were like those between friends or brothers. Although she didn¡¯t want to talk about her family issues, she would tell him everything else and trusted him deeply. But recently, how should she put it? Maybe it was really because Bo Yan¡¯s disruptive acts influenced her, making her overthink, but somehow she felt that Brother Qin¡¯s behavior towards her was, perhaps, sort of, probably, a bit peculiarly close? In the past, she never considered Qin Baizhou in that way. It wasn¡¯t because he wasn¡¯t handsome or lacked charm. After all, having known each other for so many years as good friends, they were too familiar with each other to have those kinds of feelings. Besides, having known each other for so many years, if he wanted to confess, he would have done it a long time ago, wouldn¡¯t he? Why wait until now? She must be overthinking it! She shook her head, ¡°Let¡¯s leave it at that. I don¡¯t like my private life being known by the company, and I hate people who go around publicizing my private affairs even more!¡± She looked at Bo Yan, her gaze sharp; clearly, Bo Yan was the one spreading her private matters around! Upon hearing her even tone, Bo Yan figured she really didn¡¯t regard Qin Baizhou as a boyfriend or an alternative. This straightforward woman, if Qin Baizhou didn¡¯t confess, perhaps she would never consider the possibility between the two of them in this lifetime. He smiled wryly. Just at that moment, Song Fengzhi¡¯s call came again, and this time Bo Yan replied affirmatively, ¡°I¡¯ll come down immediately.¡± After hanging up, he looked at Xia Siyu seriously, ¡°I¡¯m leaving now.¡± ¡°Hurry up and go.¡± Bo Yan smiled, ¡°Give me a kiss before I go.¡± Chapter 424 - Chapter 424: Chapter 423 Happy Birthday (1) Chapter 424: Chapter 423 Happy Birthday (1) His answer was a pillow thrown by Xia Siyu. Had his reflexes not been sharp, she would¡¯ve hurled the glass she¡¯d just been drinking from as well. Bo Yan changed his clothes and slightly tidied his hair before turning around. He looked at Xia Siyu and didn¡¯t forget to add, ¡°Are you really not going to let me stay a little longer?¡± Did she look stupid? Allowing him to stay would only result in her getting sleep alone. She wasn¡¯t opposed to intimate relations between men and women, but she had to be willing. But in the current situation, she had no desire to be lovey-dovey with Bo Yan. Xia Siyu was unequivocal: ¡°Get lost, quick!¡± Bo Yan nodded, walked to the door, changed his shoes, and said, ¡°But I miss you a lot.¡± Xia Siyu was about to explode: ¡°But I don¡¯t miss you!¡± Bo Yan pressed the elevator button, and before stepping in, he poked his head back out, ¡°I¡¯m really leaving now.¡± ¡°Just go!¡± Xia Siyu had barely finished speaking when she heard the sound of leather shoes tapping, followed by the elevator door closing. Xia Siyu hesitated for a moment before getting up to check, and this time Bo Yan had indeed left. She stood at the entrance, where the clothes rod she had used for hitting someone earlier still lay. After a pause, she picked it up. She had intended to put it back, but somehow, holding the clothes rod, she walked to the living room¡¯s floor-to-ceiling windows. Standing upstairs, she watched a car drive out from the underground garage. Despite the night making it hard to see clearly, it was probably Bo Yan¡¯s Maybach. She stood there for a while, her phone constantly ringing¡ªnot with calls, but with message tones. Turning back, she saw countless messages left for her on Weibo. The account was probably being managed by her company¡¯s staff by now. She glanced at it but didn¡¯t pay much attention. Her friends¡¯ circle was also buzzing with activity, with many friends sending her messages to wish her a happy birthday. Xia Siyu picked the important ones and replied one by one, then turned back, removed her makeup, took a shower, and threw herself again in the center of the large bed. Her phone was still busy, with a constant buzz, as if she was surrounded by lots of friends. In reality, over the years, the number of people she could truly count as friends could be counted on one hand. It was quite an odd phenomenon. Phones and the internet brought people closer together. Even across oceans, connectivity was just a network or phone call away. But if you looked closely, you¡¯d find yourself completely alone, silent as though in another world. Because the internet is so convenient, it has actually reduced the number of opportunities to meet friends face-to-face. She went through her circle of friends, and people at the company also steadily wished her a happy birthday in group chats. At times like these, Xia Siyu was very generous, sending out a string of red packets without hesitation. After a while, Qin Baizhou went online. As soon as he logged on, he sent her a private transfer for ¡°1314¡± with a birthday wish attached. When Xia Siyu accepted the red packet, she hadn¡¯t thought much about it. Seeing the number and thinking about some things Qin Baizhou had said that day, along with doubts about Bo Yan, she hesitated. Afterwards, she returned a ¡°2628¡± red packet to him, double the amount. Qin Baizhou didn¡¯t accept it and replied, ¡°I hope you¡¯ll always stay at our company.¡± Oh, so that was what his ¡°1314¡± meant. Xia Siyu¡¯s heart settled, and then she sent back an emoji saying ¡°Thank you, boss.¡± She knew it, how could Qin Baizhou possibly like her? But after putting down the phone, Xia Siyu rolled around at the head of the bed. When Bo Yan was around, she found him always clinging to her. But without him, the house became very quiet. Chapter 425 - Chapter 425: Chapter 424 Happy Birthday (2) Chapter 425: Chapter 424 Happy Birthday (2) Xia Siyu was someone who enjoyed lively scenes. After becoming a celebrity, she became so famous that she would be recognized everywhere she went, so she could only disguise herself, and sometimes she even had to bring a bodyguard, no longer able to enjoy the simple pleasures of an ordinary person. Perhaps because today was her birthday, she suddenly felt a bit more sentimental. In the past, she worked tirelessly, and when she returned to her room, she had no time to ponder life, needing only to rest for a bit before washing up and going to sleep. But recently, because Bo Yan was always hovering around her, even though he was truly irritating, at least he was a living person, one who knew all her private matters. Moreover. Xia Siyu rolled over again, thinking angrily. This jerk really was just after her body, huh? Today was her birthday, and all he could do was come back to take advantage of her, not even sparing a ¡°Happy Birthday.¡± ** The next afternoon. After having lunch, Wei Jingjing and Little Tang came to pick up Xia Siyu for the birthday fan meeting. Her birthday fan meeting, which was the first one to be held, was only open to the major fans from her support club. Xia Siyu had paid out of her own pocket for their round-trip travel expenses and accommodations, so the venue wasn¡¯t too large. Qin Baizhou simply rented out Yancheng Hotel¡¯s grand banquet hall. Of course, Qin Baizhou also arranged for a live stream. Live streaming was a source of income on the platform, and it was Qin Baizhou¡¯s responsibility to communicate with the platform about this; Xia Siyu didn¡¯t get involved. Xia Siyu would sing and dance at the meeting, interacting with the fans. The official start of the live stream was from eight to ten in the evening. However, in the afternoon, she would make contact with the fans who arrived one after another. She would also have dinner with them at the hotel¡¯s Chinese restaurant in the evening. To facilitate the meeting and make it convenient to see the fans, she booked the entire hotel specifically for them, including a suite for herself at Yancheng Hotel. If she got tired, she could just go straight up to rest, which was better than the exhaustion of traveling. There was no choice, these days, celebrities worked to earn money. When others celebrated holidays, they worked. When others celebrated their birthdays, they had to treat their birthdays like work, too. There were a hundred carefully selected fans in total, most of whom Xia Siyu still remembered. Since they were major fans, some might have followed her to premieres, some might have caught her at the airport, and some might have been very active on Weibo. When she arrived at the scene, quite a few fans had already checked in. She appeared with a smile, taking photos with everyone individually. However, among these people, she was quite curious about Shengxia Yanyu. Last time, after Shengxia Yanyu promised to attend the fan meeting, she had asked them for their ID number and other information to facilitate booking plane tickets and hotel rooms. Shengxia Yanyu was actually a resident of Yancheng, so they could save on the plane tickets. As for the hotel, they said they wouldn¡¯t stay overnight and only hoped she would send the invitation card to a specified location. That¡¯s right, this person, who casually spent millions just to support a star, was probably a big boss involved in busy dealings. The fact that they were willing to come to the fan meeting was already giving her face. She didn¡¯t insist, and when Wei Jingjing reported on Shengxia Yanyu¡¯s situation, she asked Wei Jingjing to mail the invitation card to them according to the information given by Shengxia Yanyu. Currently, the dinner was about to start, but Shengxia Yanyu still hadn¡¯t checked in. She was also very curious, what gender was Shengxia Yanyu, what age, and what they looked like. But it didn¡¯t matter, there was still some time before the live stream started, and she wasn¡¯t in a hurry. But what she didn¡¯t expect was that before Shengxia Yanyu could arrive, Bo Yan sent her a message, ¡°Do you miss me?¡± Chapter 426 - Chapter 426: Chapter 425 Happy Birthday (3) Chapter 426: Chapter 425 Happy Birthday (3) Xia Siyu responded decisively, ¡°Don¡¯t want to!¡± Since Bo Yan was now out of town, although she was indeed a bit bored after he left last night, that wasn¡¯t missing him¡ªit was just her nature to like lively scenes. If it were another roommate, she might have missed them even more. ¡°But I miss you. I really want to see you.¡± Xia Siyu said without hesitation, ¡°Then go dream about it. You can have anything in dreams.¡± She was straightforward enough, but the guy on the other end was even more shameless, ¡°I actually dreamed about you last night. I dreamed we were doing it on the couch. You were on top of me, extremely active and eager¡­¡± Fuck! Xia Siyu¡¯s phone slipped from her grasp and crashed to the floor instantly. She was shocked; how had she never realized that Bo Yan was such a person! If she¡¯d known sooner that Bo Yan was so shameless, she wouldn¡¯t have chased after him eight years ago! Xia Siyu bent down to pick up her phone, but someone was a bit quicker than her, stretching out a fingertip and grabbing the phone first. It was Qin Baizhou! Xia Siyu was startled, Qin Baizhou couldn¡¯t have seen the message Bo Yan sent her, could he? Luckily Bo Yan hadn¡¯t sent a voice message, otherwise, if his words from just now were spoken aloud and heard by Qin Baizhou, she¡¯d have wanted to crawl into a hole and hide! How to put it, although she was quite open-minded, there were some topics she could discuss with Wei Jingjing or Zhou Weiwei, but not with Qin Baizhou. After all, the former two were her girlfriends, but Qin Baizhou was a man. As for Qin Baizhou and her, even though they were good friends and colleagues, there was tenderness but not enough closeness. Fortuitously, when Qin Baizhou picked up the phone, the screen was face down. Xia Siyu quickly snatched the phone back, and Qin Baizhou smiled, ¡°Check if it¡¯s broken.¡± As he spoke, he even leaned over to glance at it. Bo Yan had sent a long text, and with just a quick scan, he indeed didn¡¯t see it. The contact name in the chat was also changed by Xia Siyu to ¡°Asshole¡±. But when Qin Baizhou leaned over, Xia Siyu got a tad nervous and accidentally dropped the phone to the ground again. This time, the phone screen truly cracked. But with current phones, even with a broken screen, they still work. Xia Siyu picked up the phone, the glass had shattered into pieces like a spider web. But the display wasn¡¯t too problematic. Qin Baizhou asked, ¡°Is the phone broken?¡± Xia Siyu glanced at it, the messages from Bo Yan in WeChat were also fragmented, she hurriedly exited WeChat and said calmly, ¡°No problem, I¡¯ll just buy a new one.¡± ¡°It¡¯s my fault, I¡¯ll buy it for you,¡± Qin Baizhou immediately admitted fault. ¡°No, no, it was my own clumsiness. Besides, phones aren¡¯t that expensive. If I want one, I can buy it myself.¡± ¡°Consider it a birthday present then. I hope you¡¯ll sign with us for a long, long time.¡± With Qin Baizhou insisting, Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t really refuse. After all, a phone just costs a few thousand yuan, which truly is a small amount for artists like them. She nodded, ¡°Then thank you.¡± Qin Baizhou was very efficient. Before the live stream had even started, he had his assistant purchase the latest model phone and had it delivered to her. Xia Siyu swapped the SIM cards, logged into her cloud account, and perfectly transferred all her data. She couldn¡¯t just discard the old phone carelessly, to prevent someone from hacking into it and stealing her information. Soon, the fan meeting started, and Shengxia Yanyu had not yet arrived. Chapter 427 - Chapter 427: Chapter 426 Happy Birthday (4) Chapter 427: Chapter 426 Happy Birthday (4) Qin Baizhou was meticulously dressed today. Xia Siyu wore a new upscale little dress, and Qin Baizhou also wore a custom suit. He was originally quite handsome among ordinary people. When he was just a small-time Star Scout, he might have been a bit rough. But after taking on Xia Siyu, gradually entering the entertainment circle, he learned all kinds of knowledge there and started to care more about his personal image. For women, you can have a good figure, be beautiful, know how to wear makeup and dress well, and still be picked apart for this or that imperfection. But for men, as long as you¡¯re not too short and not too unfortunate-looking, being clean and fresh already puts you above average. If he paid a little attention to body management, knew how to groom himself, and added a little refinement, he could fit right into the entertainment circle. Add to that being a partner for three years, his entire demeanor showed, although he was slightly impatient when facing Bo Yan, he was otherwise perfect in his performance. Anyway, when he appeared alongside Xia Siyu, he was very humble in his introductions, only saying he was Xia Siyu¡¯s agent and one of the partners at Huixing. But most of the fans present had been following Xia Siyu for several years, old and dedicated fans who naturally knew Qin Baizhou¡¯s identity. His last appearance on that agent reality show also received great reviews. Under Qin Baizhou¡¯s deliberate management, he and Xia Siyu finally also had CP fans, and their ranking in the super topic wasn¡¯t half bad, just below ¡°Fable CP,¡± named ¡°Storm Along.¡± At today¡¯s fan meeting, there were also ¡°Storm Along¡± CP fans. Of course, Qin Baizhou still maintained the attitude of ¡°I¡¯m a good boss, a good agent, Xia Siyu¡¯s good friend,¡± and any other ambiguities or relationships were left for the CP fans to imagine. He wasn¡¯t selling it, but he wasn¡¯t going to explain it either. He was in the entertainment business himself and understood that CP fans were self-motivated and free to ¡°yy¡± (fantasize). Of course, even fantasies require some material, and today¡¯s fan meeting had some segments he designed, which were perfectly interspersed throughout the interaction part of the meeting. It made people feel he and Xia Siyu weren¡¯t deliberately close, but they understood each other and could even collaborate to trick others. The fan meeting was still being broadcast live; the in-person audience might not have felt it very much, but the CP fans in the live streaming room were especially hyped. There were also fans bought by Qin Baizhou who led a good rhythm in there, implying that if these two people didn¡¯t marry on the spot, it would be an injustice. Anyway, Xia Siyu¡¯s rumors have always been plentiful, even a CP with Bo Yan, who she couldn¡¯t stand, had fans, let alone with Qin Baizhou. Even if people inside the company saw it, they would just pretend not to see, laugh it off, and not take it seriously. Xia Siyu naturally took it even less seriously. After a fan meeting where both the host and guests enjoyed themselves, the attending fans got a small gift bag, and there was also a lottery for the viewers watching the broadcast. Finally, when the big cake was brought out for her to make a wish, her wish was, ¡°Next year I want to win Best Actress.¡± She even said it out loud. Legend has it that wishes spoken aloud don¡¯t come true. However, with Xia Siyu¡¯s back catalog, winning Best Actress for ¡°Storm¡± was nearly impossible, wasn¡¯t it a supporting role? ¡°Spring Light¡± hadn¡¯t been filmed yet; waiting for it to be released and for the award season, it would need at least another year, so she probably couldn¡¯t make it next year. The fan meeting ended, and Qin Baizhou specifically called to her, ¡°Siyu.¡± He wanted to take the opportunity today to confess his feelings to Xia Siyu. Chapter 428 - Chapter 428: Chapter 427 Happy Birthday (5) Chapter 428: Chapter 427 Happy Birthday (5) Qin Baizhou was twenty-three that year, just graduated from university. He majored in Chinese for his undergraduate studies and went to a traditional media company after graduation. Eight years ago, traditional media had already been on the decline, but it was stable and the income was acceptable. Unwilling to settle for the stable but just over ten thousand income, Qin Baizhou soon resigned and joined an entertainment company as a journalist. There, he wrote various plans and soft articles and also moonlighted as a Star Scout. In his first month on the job, he discovered Xia Siyu on the street, astonishingly beautiful, and invited her to come have a look at the company. At that time, Xia Siyu had just broken up with Bo Yan and there had been major changes at home, but with her mother being a film queen, she didn¡¯t have any natural aversion to showbiz and quickly signed a contract. With just a bit of training, it seemed Xia Siyu had a natural talent for acting and for the camera, she grabbed it and just knew. Her debut movie was a big sell, and she quickly became the hottest rookie. But then, she was too beautiful, a born star. Qin Baizhou was just a minor Star Scout and later went from assistant to agent, and then to a partner. Although it appeared that he and Xia Siyu supported each other, in reality, it was a one-sided adoration from him. Only now, when the company had regained its footing and his position was secure, able to provide Xia Siyu with more opportunities for development, capable of supporting her to the top, did he feel confident enough to pursue her. ¡°Is something the matter?¡± Xia Siyu was a bit tired, having been too busy with work recently. Even though she hadn¡¯t been filming, it had been non-stop every day. She had wanted to go back to get some rest, but since a room was already booked here, she might as well stay in the suite for the night. ¡°In a while, do you have time for a drink?¡± Qin Baizhou seldom asked her out for drinks; he knew that Xia Siyu was prone to gaining weight and swelling, her face swelling up with alcohol. But there was nothing pressing tomorrow, she could rest, and in two days they were off to the Northwest to start shooting. He wanted to confess quickly, whether to live or die, to ensure a place in her heart first. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t think much of it: ¡°Then you¡¯ll have to wait a bit, I want to go back to take a shower and remove my makeup, this dress is too tight, it¡¯s suffocating.¡± She thought that Qin Baizhou was seeking her out for some serious talk. Qin Baizhou naturally agreed, his smile gentle, ¡°Then I¡¯ll come to your room to find you in an hour.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Xia Siyu nodded, Wei Jingjing helped her with her things, and the two went upstairs. Wei Jingjing was originally going to help her sort things out, but she received a message from Qin Baizhou on WeChat, asking her to come out for a bit. She said to Xia Siyu, ¡°Qin Ge is looking for me, probably has some matters to discuss.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, I¡¯m pretty tired today too; you can go get some rest after you¡¯re done too.¡± Wei Jingjing nodded, ¡°Then if you need anything, just call me later, I¡¯ll be in the room downstairs.¡± Xia Siyu nodded, and Wei Jingjing left the room. Qin Baizhou was just outside the door, which startled Wei Jingjing for a moment, but Qin Baizhou pierced right through with his question, ¡°Is there anyone else in her room?¡± Wei Jingjing shook her head: ¡°No.¡± It seemed Bo Yan wasn¡¯t there. Good, Qin Baizhou smiled faintly, ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard today, you should rest well. I¡¯ll take care of Siyu here.¡± He was very patient; he had waited seven years already, what was one more hour? ** Xia Siyu had taken a shower and removed her makeup, half an hour later. The Yancheng Hotel was by the Yan River, in the heart of Yancheng, where the tallest and most expensive buildings of the CBD stood. Naturally, Xia Siyu chose the most expensive presidential suite to stay in, drawing back the curtains, she was greeted with a beautiful scene through an entire wall of floor-to-ceiling windows. Just as she finished her skincare routine, her phone received a message: Chapter 429 - Chapter 429: Chapter 428 Happy Birthday (6) Chapter 429: Chapter 428 Happy Birthday (6) Xia Siyu was still wearing a bathrobe loosely tied around her; under it, only a pair of shorts. After all, she was on the thirtieth-plus floor of the Yancheng Hotel, and being alone in her room late at night, no one could see her. She poured herself a glass of water, drank it while reading her messages. It was a message from Shengxia Yanyu: ¡°Sorry, something came up today, and I couldn¡¯t make it to your meet-and-greet.¡± Shengxia Yanyu hadn¡¯t shown up, and Xia Siyu felt a bit disappointed. She replied, ¡°It¡¯s okay, I hope you can come next year.¡± Shengxia Yanyu replied: ¡°I¡¯m at the hotel now. Are you in your room? Can I come to see you? Or have you already left to go home?¡± ¡°Now?¡± Xia Siyu hesitated: ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m with my manager and assistant, we have work to do.¡± Shengxia Yanyu said, ¡°It¡¯s too late tonight. Can I come over tomorrow morning? Which floor are you on? I would like to meet you.¡± Asking only for the floor number meant a brief encounter at the staircase entrance was okay. Xia Siyu had no problem with that, worst case scenario, she would call on Wei Jingjing and Little Tang to join her. She replied with, ¡°Thirty-fourth floor.¡± ¡°Okay, if it¡¯s convenient for you, I¡¯ll come over to see you tomorrow morning.¡± Xia Siyu didn¡¯t give it much thought and nodded her agreement. This was Xia Siyu¡¯s new phone; she had just copied some data over and hadn¡¯t had time to organize everything. Since she was free at the moment, she started to tidy up the desktop, set a beautiful picture of herself as the wallpaper, and logged onto Weibo and WeChat to handle some affairs. It was almost eleven o¡¯clock now, and outside in the CBD, the colorful lights had gone out, and the night was deep. After finishing her work, she looked at the time; it was about the moment Qin Baizhou had asked her to go for drinks. She stood up, ready to change into another outfit, but just as she did, Bo Yan¡¯s call came through: ¡°Siyu.¡± Xia Siyu stared at her phone for several seconds, not wanting to answer. That damn man, she didn¡¯t even have to think about it ¡ª if he was calling her, within three sentences, he would turn the conversation to sleeping. Today was her birthday, and it was almost over without him even saying ¡°Happy Birthday.¡± But the phone kept ringing, and she frowned slightly, then accepted it. If that bastard dared to speak nonsense again, she would blacklist him and delete his contact. She would never speak another word to him! To her surprise, Bo Yan¡¯s first words were, ¡°Are you by the window? Open the curtains.¡± The curtains were already open, but now that she was getting ready to change clothes, she was planning to close them. Bo Yan¡¯s words irritated her even more, and she defiantly wanted to do the opposite: ¡°Why should I? I¡¯m going to close the curtains.¡± ¡°So, the curtains are still open, right? Stand by the window.¡± What the heck? Was he confused? She was at a hotel now, not at home; opening the curtains was pointless. She began to tease him: ¡°I want to close them, and it¡¯s none of your business whether I do or don¡¯t.¡± As she walked over to the window, ready to press the button¡ª Suddenly, all the skyscrapers in the distance lit up. Standing by the window, she watched the neon lights of these buildings, including the giant Ferris wheel by the river, start to twinkle. It was like a prince with magic in a fairy tale, turning the night into a kaleidoscope of colors in an instant. Then, Xia Siyu saw on the giant LED screens of these skyscrapers a sentence forming from beginning to end: ¡°Happy Birthday Xia Siyu.¡± Chapter 430 - Chapter 430: Chapter 429 Happy Birthday (Extra 1 for Monthly Ticket) Chapter 430: Chapter 429 Happy Birthday (Extra 1 for Monthly Ticket) Xia Siyu was stunned. She hadn¡¯t expected the guy who hadn¡¯t wished her a ¡°Happy Birthday¡± all day to bless her in this way. But how did he know she was at the hotel? However, thinking about it, given the big fuss over her birthday fan meet today, it should have been easy to find out which hotel she was at. Then, she heard a doorbell at the entrance. Someone outside called, ¡°Room service, a guest has ordered dinner.¡± Dinner? Did Qin Baizhou order it? Xia Siyu wondered, stood by the door, and looked through the peephole, only to see the hotel waiter bring in a cart with food on it. She was wearing a face mask that covered her face as she opened the door. The meal was covered with two silver domes, and there was wine on the side. After the waiter left the room, Xia Siyu was about to close the door when a slender arm suddenly propped it open. She followed the arm with her eyes and, sure enough, she saw Bo Yan standing by the door, giving her a gentle smile. ¡°Bo Yan? Why is it you?¡± She was genuinely surprised. Wasn¡¯t he out of town? Hadn¡¯t he said that the event was so important that he couldn¡¯t miss it? Didn¡¯t he leave this morning? ¡°How did you get here?¡± And, he seemed to have come alone, without Song Fengzhi or any luggage, not even a backpack, just him by himself. Bo Yan took a step forward, and the door closed behind him. He gently slid the metal chain of the door latch in place, preventing someone from outside from opening the door. The door was locked from the inside. Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t surprised. Bo Yan sneaking over like this was already quite extraordinary, and it really wouldn¡¯t be easy to explain if he were seen by fans or someone like Qin Baizhou. Still, she was puzzled, ¡°How did you know I was here?¡± Even if he knew which hotel she was celebrating her birthday at, how could he know her room number? Of course, Bo Yan knew. He had been to this hotel for events before, and the best and most expensive suite was the one with a view of the entire Yan River. Knowing Siyu¡¯s personality, she would surely choose the most expensive presidential suite, so it was easy for him to find the room after a little confirmation. Bo Yan¡¯s gaze remained on her, deep eyes hidden in the shadow of his bangs, then he grumbled, ¡°I missed you.¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Although he had said this in a message before, hearing it in person was completely different. On top of that were the dazzling lights outside. Having been in the entertainment industry for a while, Xia Siyu had seen all sorts of extravagant pursuits by the wealthy. If Bo Yan had given her money directly, she would¡¯ve walked away without hesitation. If it was something as valuable as money, she would¡¯ve found it boring. The lights, although pretty, weren¡¯t as touching as his in-person ¡°I missed you.¡± Although her feelings for Bo Yan weren¡¯t love, she was still moved a little. Then, without hesitation, he leaned in and kissed her on the side of her head. Bo Yan held her head with one hand and wrapped the other around her waist, pinning her against the wall. As there had already been one attack in the early hours, Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t flustered and didn¡¯t make a fuss. Or maybe it was his sudden appearance, the lights outside, and his words that drained her strength to resist. By the time she realized it, Bo Yan had already silently opened her bathrobe and barged in. Chapter 431 - Chapter 431: Chapter 430 Happy Birthday (Extra 2 for Monthly Vote) Chapter 431: Chapter 430 Happy Birthday (Extra 2 for Monthly Vote) Xia Siyu was not with him for the first time, she had been with him several times when she was sober not long ago. Each time, it happened before she could react, and he succeeded. But if she was to take the initiative or cooperate with him, sorry, she couldn¡¯t. Not only could she not, but she would also hit him. It happened like that early this morning, Bo Yan got scratched quite badly by her, needing to apply several thick layers of concealer to cover the scratch marks on his face. Luckily he was an entertainer, otherwise, if a man wore such heavy makeup, people might think his sexual orientation was off¡­ But Xia Siyu also protested, ¡°Get out! No precautions!¡± As soon as Xia Siyu spoke, Bo Yan quickly followed suit. But soon after, he re-equipped himself¡ªsince he came, he must have been well-prepared, and began his venture anew. But this time, Bo Yan seemed to have something different in mind¡ªhe didn¡¯t take her to the two-meter-wide bed, but stood by the door instead. Although all the rooms here were soundproofed, standing by the door, one could still hear noises from outside. Likewise, people outside could also hear what was happening near the door. This thrill caused Xia Siyu to be slightly startled but also made her¡ªexceptionally excited. Bo Yan felt the same. Actually, Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t averse to sex, she just didn¡¯t like it with Bo Yan, even less so being forced. If she couldn¡¯t avoid him, she would enjoy it. But she still felt rather annoyed, especially since she had been tricked by Bo Yan¡¯s ¡°I miss you¡± without realizing his sinister intentions right away. Bo Yan had done so much today, using lighting effects, suddenly appearing, and saying ¡°I miss you,¡± but not even five minutes after meeting him, it was still the same story¡ªhe wanted to have sex. Indeed, a man would do anything for sex, she felt somewhat displeased, feeling like she had been played by him. ¡°Did you do it on purpose? Did you deliberately lie to me about leaving, then set all this up?¡± Xia Siyu said intermittently while holding onto his neck. Bo Yan, who had been buried in her shoulder, lifted his head at this comment and gently touched her lips with his, ¡°I have to leave at three.¡± He had a meeting at ten o¡¯clock the next morning that he still needed to attend and speak at. His six o¡¯clock flight would take two hours to reach the destination and he estimated he¡¯d arrive at the venue by nine. Xia Siyu asked, ¡°Then why did you come back?¡± It couldn¡¯t be just to do this with her, could it? The corners of Bo Yan¡¯s lips curved slightly, then he looked down at her again, ¡°Today is your birthday.¡± Xia Siyu asked again, ¡°And then?¡± Bo Yan gently sniffed her cheek, ¡°I thought, I should at least spend some time with you.¡± Xia Siyu bit her lower lip, ¡°Spending some time with me means doing this kind of thing?¡± Bo Yan nodded honestly, ¡°That¡¯s what I thought.¡± Xia Siyu, infuriated, bit her back teeth. Damn it, of course! She was beautiful, with a great figure, a top beauty in the entertainment industry. Even if he truly looked down on her, choosing her for her face and figure was quite normal. Men are that pragmatic. But Bo Yan then said, ¡°You¡¯re my wife. Wanting to be with you as your husband and accompany you on your birthday, isn¡¯t that the most natural thing to do?¡± Xia Siyu was taken aback. Just when the two of them were at their happiest, they faintly heard footsteps outside the door. Chapter 432 - Chapter 432: Chapter 431 Happy Birthday (Extra 3 for Monthly Vote) Chapter 432: Chapter 431 Happy Birthday (Extra 3 for Monthly Vote) Xia Siyu remembered that Qin Baizhou had asked her out for drinks earlier that evening. But footstep sounds were normal in a hotel, right? There were always people coming and going in a hotel; it couldn¡¯t be that much of a coincidence. Just as she was thinking this, her cellphone in her pocket suddenly vibrated. Xia Siyu was startled, Bo Yan too, even though Xia Siyu didn¡¯t answer the call, he could still hear the footsteps outside getting closer. The sounds of the call, alongside the footsteps, matched perfectly with hers. Moreover, the footsteps stopped outside the door and he heard Qin Baizhou¡¯s puzzled voice, ¡°Eh, Siyu? Why aren¡¯t you answering the phone?¡± Bo Yan¡¯s brow furrowed slightly as he looked down at Xia Siyu. That was a close call, he had arrived just in time, at the exact moment when she was in the midst of things. If he had been a few minutes later, she might have left with Qin Baizhou already. Xia Siyu was also frightened, especially since she and Bo Yan were in the middle of doing something bad, and right by the door at that. Although Bo Yan had locked the door from the inside, stopping Qin Baizhou from entering, what if some noise leaked out with only a door between them? Besides, she wasn¡¯t one to break a promise; she had just agreed to have drinks with Qin Baizhou. It could be something important he wanted to talk about. Yet, here she was, entangled with Bo Yan. Outside, Qin Baizhou was still puzzled. He clearly heard Xia Siyu¡¯s phone ringing inside, but why wasn¡¯t she responding? After thinking, he knocked ¡°thump thump thump,¡± but there was no response from inside. He frowned slightly and knocked again, this time calling out, ¡°Siyu, are you there?¡± Still, no one responded from inside. Qin Baizhou¡¯s eyebrows furrowed deeper, struck with curiosity. He thought for a moment, then made a call to Wei Jingjing. Through the door, Xia Siyu and Bo Yan could clearly hear his voice asking, ¡°Did Siyu call you to come up just now?¡± Wei Jingjing had already returned to her room to get ready for bed when she answered the call, ¡°No, Siyu said she was a bit tired today and told me to go back and rest early.¡± ¡°She¡¯s tired?¡± Qin Baizhou was taken aback for a moment. In fact, he had been keeping up with Xia Siyu¡¯s schedule all this time. Although celebrities were wealthy, their money was often the result of an overwhelming workload. Just like Bo Yan, who had been at a script reading in Yancheng yesterday and had then gone out of town for a meeting; he was to stay there for two days before flying straight to the Northwest. Xia Siyu¡¯s schedule was similar, and now they were already planning for the next and the following year. She was indeed very tired that day. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have skipped going home and just stayed in the hotel. Perhaps she was so exhausted after washing up that she just fell asleep immediately. He continued asking, ¡°Did she say she was going to meet someone today?¡± Actually, what Qin Baizhou really wanted to know was whether she was going to meet Bo Yan. Wei Jingjing replied again, ¡°I didn¡¯t hear her mention anyone.¡± Qin Baizhou hesitated slightly, uncertain whether to keep knocking to wake her up or to just turn around and leave. But he had made elaborate plans, even booking the entire rooftop revolving restaurant for her. After thinking it over, he knocked again: ¡°Siyu, are you there?¡± Of course Xia Siyu was there, and the dog of a man seemed to be getting alarmingly excited because there was someone at the door. She had to cover her mouth to prevent herself from making any sound. She glared at Bo Yan furiously. Was he insane? Qin Baizhou was right at the door; if she was discovered in such a compromising situation, how could she face anyone in the future? Chapter 433 - Chapter 433: Chapter 432 Happy Birthday (Extra 4 for Monthly Vote) Chapter 433: Chapter 432 Happy Birthday (Extra 4 for Monthly Vote) Qin Baizhou¡¯s knocking didn¡¯t garner even the slightest response. Although he was reluctant to leave, he was worried about disturbing her rest, so after some thought, he turned and left. Only when Bo Yan and Xia Siyu heard Qin Baizhou¡¯s footsteps grow fainter did she breathe a sigh of relief. Xia Siyu was never one to suffer a loss, and, sure enough, Bo Yan received a slap: ¡°Are you crazy? If he heard us, how could I ever face him at the office again?¡± Of course, Bo Yan wouldn¡¯t admit that he was feeling jealous. From what Qin Baizhou implied, he must have made arrangements to meet with Xia Siyu earlier. It was late at night, and it was her birthday, so his calculated effort to come over, with Xia Siyu being naive, made her easily swayed. What if Qin Baizhou had some bad intentions, and he ended up wearing a green hat? What if Qin Baizhou impulsively confessed and Xia Siyu developed feelings for him? Wouldn¡¯t that still leave him with a green grassland atop his head? Even though, as it seemed, Xia Siyu, being too naive, hadn¡¯t noticed Qin Baizhou¡¯s feelings for her, hence, she only saw him as a friend. But what if Qin Baizhou confessed, and she found out and ended up liking him back? His wife, of course, needed to be secured tightly, not to be fooled by another man. But he definitely couldn¡¯t disclose his jealousy. Bo Yan spoke leisurely, ¡°Don¡¯t you think this is¡­more thrilling?¡± ¡°Thrilling my ass!¡± For the sake of thrill, she almost lost her soul. ¡°But you were definitely excited, very engaged, and very¡ªhappy.¡± During these days they were together, now was the most passionate. Words could be deceptive, but her instinctive reactions could not. Her happiness came at the risk of possibly revealing her relationship with Bo Yan. Given a choice, she would never trade knowing others about what she and Bo Yan were doing right now for the sake of excitement! She angrily said, ¡°You are not allowed to do this again in the future!¡± Bo Yan, instead of being scolded, laughed, ¡°You¡¯re already thinking about the future? Good wife, in the future, we won¡¯t need an audience, we¡¯ll be sneaky.¡± ¡°Who, who wants to be sneaky with you.¡± Xia Siyu might have been relentless with her words, but she had already been thoroughly defeated. In the end, Bo Yan directly scooped up the completely languorous her and carried her to the large bed. Thankfully, this hotel was the tallest in the vicinity, nobody outside could see what they were doing. He also accompanied the ¡°Happy Birthday Xia Siyu¡± lights outside the window, as he gently caressed her arms, little by little. Xia Siyu had indeed been too joyful, and now she lay there listlessly, wanting to push away his mischievous hand, but she really had no strength to do so and could only glare at him. Bo Yan saw her eyes, teasing yet reproachful, filled with moisture, her entire being soft and delicate to the extreme, and he couldn¡¯t resist leaning in, brushing his lips against her eyelids. After the eyes, came the nose, cheeks, earlobes, lips, neck, and finally, he landed on her heart. Men, especially straight men, all like a woman¡¯s body. Particularly skinny, bony figures aren¡¯t actually favored by straight men; they prefer them soft and fragrant, with curves, a little meaty feel. Bo Yan, especially. Xia Siyu was particularly annoyed. Was this guy really a dog? Gnawing for so long must have been enough, right? As she thought about it, Bo Yan¡¯s gaze turned dark, his breathing grew more hurried. Then, once again, the sounds from the bedroom filled the air. Finally, on her twenty-seventh birthday, they had their second intimate encounter. Chapter 434 - Chapter 434: Chapter 433: New-Type Relations (1) Chapter 434: Chapter 433: New-Type Relations (1) Xia Siyu had finally understood what Bo Yan meant by having room service deliver food. The things he ordered were particularly fitting for the occasion: grilled oysters, steak, and red wine. All of them were for recuperating energy after exertion. Afterward, Xia Siyu had turned into a puddle of mush, sitting on the sofa in Bo Yan¡¯s embrace, furious as could be, she articulated each word sharply, ¡°Bastard!¡± Bo Yan ¡°hmm¡¯ed,¡± and cut her a piece of Wagyu steak. Xia Siyu cursed as she cursed, but she was still very enthusiastic when there was food involved. Chewing on the steak, she thought about it and got irritated again, ¡°Pervert!¡± Bo Yan waited until she finished chewing, then stuffed another oyster into her mouth. Xia Siyu ate it, continuing to curse while she ate, ¡°Shameless!¡± Bo Yan nodded again, poured her a glass of red wine, which Xia Siyu drank a big gulp from without any politeness, and still feeling aggrieved, she said, ¡°Sleazy!¡± Bo Yan even replied with ¡°okay,¡± then finished the rest of the wine in the glass. The two went on like this, taking turns, Xia Siyu eating first, followed by Bo Yan with the same set of cutlery. When Xia Siyu had her fill of food and drink, he started the cleanup, quickly consuming the remaining items. He then turned, found Xia Siyu a tissue and wiped her mouth for her. Xia Siyu cleaned up with the tissue in his hand, and finally summed it all up, ¡°Dog of a man!¡± As she spoke, Bo Yan also happily rubbed his head against her cheek, just like a large dog would. After she finished her tirade, Bo Yan spoke calmly, ¡°Siyu, let¡¯s be husband and wife. No, we are already husband and wife, in fact. What just happened was just normal emotional communication between a husband and wife. Actually, you do not dislike me as much as you think you do. You were especially excited just now. I know, sometimes I can be a bit hasty. But apart from you, I haven¡¯t been with another woman. Seven years passed before I did this a few times. You have to understand. These things are normal physiological needs for a man and a woman. We are both adults now, it¡¯s alright to have needs. Besides, if you can find another man in the entertainment circle who is handsomer, has a better body, and is more skilled than me, I¡¯ll willingly step aside. Admit it, not just now but also when we were together before, you enjoyed it as well.¡± Xia Siyu definitely couldn¡¯t admit it, and she didn¡¯t want to admit it. But this time, stimulated by Qin Baizhou, Bo Yan insisted on defining their relationship, ¡°We have been together so many times already, you can¡¯t just not acknowledge it. Since it is already an established fact, why not continue? I promise, from now on, I won¡¯t force you, nor will I reveal our relationship to the outside world, and I definitely won¡¯t say anything excessive to provoke baseless speculation about you. Siyu, let¡¯s start over. I really do want to be husband and wife with you.¡± Xia Siyu hung her head low, her brows deeply furrowed, but she didn¡¯t refute him right away, giving Bo Yan the feeling that he might have a chance! He tempted her again, ¡°Tell me, if there¡¯s anything you¡¯re not satisfied with, I¡¯ll definitely change. As long as we can maintain this kind of relationship.¡± Xia Siyu really thought it over for a very, very long time. She was an easy-going person, but this time, she truly hesitated. In the end, as if she had made a great decision, she bit her lower lip, ¡°I don¡¯t want to be your wife.¡± Bo Yan¡¯s face darkened. Xia Siyu then said, ¡°I don¡¯t want to start over with you either. If we have to define it¡­ I can barely accept being¡ªyour friend with benefits.¡± Chapter 435 - Chapter 435: Chapter 434: New-Type Relations (2) Chapter 435: Chapter 434: New-Type Relations (2) Bo Yan was stunned. He had never expected Xia Siyu to say such a thing! Xia Siyu had been thinking a long time. She and Bo Yan were a done deal; if it had just been that time she got drunk, she could have deceived herself into thinking he tricked her, and he succeeded. But things shouldn¡¯t happen more than twice. When she was drunk the last time, it was fine, she could deny it. When they went to read the book, she could say this guy acted pitiful in front of her, and she let her guard down for a moment, which led to him getting his way. But they had just been together again, and although it was still Bo Yan¡¯s sudden attack, Siyu knew in her heart that her defenses against him were getting lower, and her resistance was getting weaker. But that was just physically. Mentally, she truly did not want to interact with Bo Yan anymore, nor did she want to open up to him. Yet, some of what Bo had said wasn¡¯t wrong. She was an adult, nothing shameful about it. As a male companion, there wasn¡¯t much to criticize. Just like she confidently considered herself the most beautiful in the entertainment industry, so did Bo Yan. She would have a hard time finding a man with better external conditions than Bo Yan; she was a face connoisseur, how could an ordinary man catch her eye? After much consideration, the best course of action was to have a no-strings-attached¡ªFriends with Benefits. This was freaking a classic quote from a playgirl! She admitted she was attracted to his body, she admitted she liked being with him. But she just wasn¡¯t willing to develop even the slightest bit of emotion for him. She was far too liberal with separating emotions from the body. A freshly-baked playgirl indeed! Bo Yan¡¯s face turned dark in an instant. He had never thought that Xia Siyu would come up with such an idea! He was so angered that he laughed, momentarily at a loss for words, ¡°You¡¯re calling our relationship now, Friends with Benefits?¡± Have you ever seen such a relationship? Legally married couple, calling it Friends with Benefits, does that sound right? Having made up her mind, Siyu naturally had nothing to fear. She shamelessly said, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with that? I don¡¯t want to date you. I don¡¯t want a normal marriage with you either. Don¡¯t forget, we originally had a marriage of convenience, with no feelings involved, together just for the sake of cooperation between our two families. Besides, we¡¯ve broken up before, getting back together as an intimate couple, does that seem fitting? If you¡¯re not willing, then I¡¯ll find another man. Although he may be slightly worse than you, I won¡¯t shortchange myself by choosing someone too inferior. After all, it¡¯s all the same who I do it with right? If you agree to this condition, you can come over when I want. If you find another partner you fancy later, I will wish you well, won¡¯t make you responsible, and will leave gracefully. Of course, the same goes for me. We¡¯ll only talk about physical needs, not emotions. Do you agree?¡± After finishing her speech, she even puffed out her little chest. Having thrown caution to the wind, she decided to completely abandon any sense of shame. Apart from that, he didn¡¯t have much feeling for her either, and of course, she felt the same. The two were equally eager for each other, so neither could talk down to the other. Bo Yan was infuriated! He had been holding back for so long, restraining the urge to give her a piece of his mind. What on earth was packed inside that head of hers, what was its structure? A stable, long-term relationship with emotions was not what she wanted, instead, she preferred this duckweed-like fleeting affair! Seeing that he didn¡¯t respond for a long time, Siyu added, ¡°You¡¯re not willing, huh? Then forget it.¡± Just as she was about to get up, she was grabbed by Bo Yan once more. Chapter 436 - Chapter 436: Chapter 435: New-Type Relations (3) Chapter 436: Chapter 435: New-Type Relations (3) Xia Siyu turned around, only to see Bo Yan say through gritted teeth, ¡°Fine, let¡¯s just have a soak first.¡± After saying that, he didn¡¯t give Xia Siyu a chance to speak, and directly circled her on the sofa¡­ ** With Bo Yan¡¯s commotion, Xia Siyu ended up sleeping until noon, waking up only when the call for check-out came in. She scratched her head and slowly came to her senses. After waking up, she checked her phone and, sure enough, there was a bombardment of messages. She casually dealt with work, took a quick shower, and tidied up her appearance. Soon, Wei Jingjing came up to help her pack her things. As the door opened, she wasn¡¯t expecting that not only had Wei Jingjing come, but Qin Baizhou had also followed. Fortunately, Bo Yan hadn¡¯t brought much last night except for himself, his ID card, cell phone, and mask. The only other thing he brought was a few small umbrellas, which, to not waste any, were all used on her. Thinking about it that way, he was even more beastly. But since she had also suggested a friends-with-benefits relationship yesterday, she, too, had let loose. Indeed, she was an adult. Although women don¡¯t have as many demands as men, they occasionally have desires too. Being in the entertainment industry, it was indeed hard to find a man like Bo Yan: good-looking, with a great body, skilled, clean, and someone who knew all her secrets without spreading them around. They both craved each other¡¯s bodies, as long as there were no feelings, no responsibilities, they could play however they wanted. Later, if she found someone she was interested in, she would still tell him, ¡°Bye-bye.¡± Having come to terms with it, Xia Siyu no longer held back. Anyway, whether she cried or laughed, it was all due to his teasing, so she might as well take the initiative and gain the upper hand. At first, Bo Yan was indeed furious. He wanted to be husband and wife with her, yet she was only thinking of playing around. When a man says, ¡°I like you,¡± ¡°I love you,¡± those are just lines to deceive girls. What really counts as treating a girl well? That¡¯s being willing to take responsibility for her. Responsibility, for a man, is heavier than the sky, especially for a grown man. He wanted to be responsible, to be a husband, which meant he was ready to seriously spend his life with her. Resting together at night was just the most superficial part; there is also living together, sharing work experiences, striving together, moving forward together, and braving the storms of life together. But this flaky woman only wanted to have her fun with him and refused his offered commitment, preferring a fleeting affair. So, he could only comply with her wishes. Although he was annoyed, his body¡ªdamn it¡ªfelt amazing. He had coaxed and deceived her before, and Xia Siyu hadn¡¯t just resisted; she¡¯d often come out scratched and bruised. But now, with Xia Siyu taking the lead, he had become the sleeping partner. Of course, Bo Yan wasn¡¯t planning to give up the initiative. The two of them fought and struggled, advancing and retreating, each striving to gain the upper hand. The feeling of mutual initiative was¡ªexhilarating. Even seven years ago, her first proactive night with him wasn¡¯t as wild as last night. After all, back then, they were both inexperienced, fumbling around. But now, it was different. In the end, Bo Yan regretted only taking four small umbrellas out with him. If he had known, he would have brought one or two more. After all, there would be no next shop after this village, and who knew whether Xia Siyu would still feel the same way next time they met. Chapter 437 - Chapter 437: Chapter 436: New-Type Relations (4) Chapter 437: Chapter 436: New-Type Relations (4) Xia Siyu¡¯s twenty-seventh birthday gift to herself was gaining a friend with benefits. So far, she thought it was pretty good. Bo Yan probably thought so too. But his coming alone wasn¡¯t without benefits; at least now, with Qin Baizhou¡¯s unexpected visit, he wouldn¡¯t see a house filled with men¡¯s products, at most some clutter. As soon as Qin Baizhou stepped through the door, although there was a smile on his face, his eyes were definitely scouting around. Besides a few spent trinkets in the garbage can, nothing was evident on the surface. Siyu, although tired from the previous night, slept rather well after the exercise, and with a weight lifted from her heart, she and Bo Yan shamelessly played their games. She was much more at ease and carefree. Her composure, in the eyes of Qin Baizhou, seemed as though nothing had happened, as if she was just too tired and had slept soundly, now looking quite spirited. Qin Baizhou laughed, ¡°You must¡¯ve been really tired last night; when I came to find you, you didn¡¯t even answer the door.¡± Xia Siyu hummed in response, ¡°I really was exhausted last night, I passed out as soon as my head hit the pillow.¡± She wasn¡¯t good at lying, but what she said was indeed the truth. She was exhausted, and by the time Bo Yan left her be, she had almost instantly fallen asleep, not even knowing when he had left. Qin Baizhou studied her expression; Wei Jingjing could tell whether she was lying, so naturally, Qin Baizhou could too. He stared at her for a moment and, seeing no evasion in her eyes, knew that she was telling the truth. Although somewhat regretful that he didn¡¯t confess his feelings yesterday, he was comforted to see that she had a good rest. In two days, she would be off to the Northwest to film. The initial agreement was to go there to experience local life, perhaps staying with the locals for a few nights to observe the situation. The official shooting was scheduled to start a month and a half later. But just thinking about her going to film with Bo Yan made him feel a subtle imbalance in his heart. He also asked, ¡°The climate in the Northwest is dry with significant wind and sand. The food might not be what you¡¯re accustomed to, and the living conditions won¡¯t be as refined; you might have trouble adjusting to the environment.¡± The place Xia Siyu was going to was a region on the Loess Plateau. Even though it had been rehabilitated and the situation had vastly improved compared to the past¡ªthere were more trees now¡ªit was still dry, and years of soil erosion had created a terrain riddled with gullies and mountains. When it didn¡¯t rain, it was arid, and when it rained heavily, there could be mudflows. Qin Baizhou indeed was worried, not only about her and Bo Yan but also about her health: ¡°But anyway, they¡¯re going to scout the place for a while. There¡¯s no rush.¡± Xia Siyu was nonchalant: ¡°It¡¯s fine; we¡¯ll start by staying with a farming family. They do their scouting, and we do our observation.¡± Qin Baizhou was taken aback: ¡°You¡¯re going to stay in the countryside right from the start? Can you handle that?¡± The rural houses there were often old cave dwellings, worn from years of neglect and lacking in facilities. Although he knew that Xia Siyu was dedicated to her role, did she really need to go to such an extent? Forget about internet access; some places didn¡¯t even have running water! Xia Siyu looked puzzled: ¡°If I don¡¯t live with the locals, how can I experience their life? And now, life there isn¡¯t bad; most of the cave dwellings have been renovated with the government¡¯s help. I have hands and feet; I can do work.¡± Qin Baizhou fell silent for a long time before finally saying: Chapter 438 - Chapter 438: Chapter 437: New-Type Relations (5) Chapter 438: Chapter 437: New-Type Relations (5) ¡°Have you ever thought that maybe after all the effort you put in, you won¡¯t achieve the reward you desire?¡± Xia Siyu said calmly, ¡°Perhaps. But if I don¡¯t even try, then what reward can I speak of?¡± Her words left Qin Baizhou at a loss for words. Some people work hard desperately just to escape their poor old selves and live a different life. But Xia Siyu worked hard desperately to fulfill the beliefs in her heart. She could have taken it easy, continued making small rom-coms, starred in some romance movies, and married into a wealthy family before she turned forty, bearing an heir and then living carefree as a lady of high society. This is what many entertainers strive for as their ultimate goal in life. But she was not willing to settle. She had ideals and aspirations. Perhaps the path she chose was harsher and more tortuous than others, yet she embarked on the journey without looking back. And he liked her for exactly that. ¡°Alright, you have to work hard then, strive to become a Best Actress and show everyone what you¡¯re capable of,¡± he said. Xia Siyu nodded, ¡°I will.¡± The conversation dried up there, as there wasn¡¯t much else for them to continue talking about. She was heading to the Northwest in a couple of days, and today and tomorrow afternoon, she had an advertisement and a magazine cover and spread to shoot. Before leaving, Qin Baizhou checked Bo Yan¡¯s Weibo. Bo Yan had been active on his Weibo that day, posting a photo from a report he gave at a meeting at ten in the morning. Qin then checked the super topic on Bo Yan and saw that fans had gone to pick him up at the airport late last night; the location of the pickup and the meeting that morning were in the same city. That meant he had left Yancheng yesterday and had gone to a meeting this morning. Xia Siyu had her birthday yesterday, so he probably didn¡¯t have much time to see her. Qin Baizhou¡¯s heart was somewhat relieved. Although Qin Baizhou guessed that Bo Yan didn¡¯t have much chance to woo her yesterday, he still felt a bit uneasy. He reflected for a moment. If he had confessed outright yesterday, their relationship might have become even more awkward if Xia Siyu had rejected him, potentially ruining even their friendship. But he wanted to at least convey his feelings for her before she left. It didn¡¯t matter whether she reciprocated or not, as long as she knew what was in his heart. ** Xia Siyu left the hotel and only then remembered about Shengxia Yanyu. While in the car, she messaged Shengxia Yanyu, ¡°Sorry, something came up today and I probably won¡¯t be able to meet.¡± Shengxia Yanyu replied quickly, and his tone didn¡¯t convey the slightest bit of dissatisfaction, ¡°No problem, there will be plenty of other opportunities to meet in the future.¡± Xia Siyu didn¡¯t overthink it and put her phone in her pocket. She was shooting an advertisement today. The business dealings she had sabotaged before were now all coming back at once. The client for this cocktail advertisement was one of them. Since the advertisement was for cocktails, it was supposed to convey the feeling of coming out buzzing from a party, so they asked her to wear a rather revealing cocktail dress. Because Qin Baizhou was accompanying her and Xia Siyu was well-regarded, the advertisers paid her extra attention and even rented a small yacht. Xia Siyu went to change and headed to the makeup room. As she took off her clothes and looked in the mirror. Damn that Bo Yan, he really went all out. He had kept his hands orderly away from her arms, legs, and neck, even her back was untouched and snow-white. But at his favorite kneading part, he seemed to have treated her skin like putty, leaving it a patchwork of blues and purples. Chapter 439 - Chapter 439: Chapter 438: New-Type Relations (6) Chapter 439: Chapter 438: New-Type Relations (6) Her legs, too, were a ghastly sight, as if gnawed by a dog, but luckily all of this could be covered by clothes, otherwise she would¡¯ve killed him for sure! Xia Siyu changed into her clothes, applied her makeup, and when she came out, Qin Baizhou stared at her incessantly. He wasn¡¯t looking at her makeup, though. His gaze lingered on her arms, the bends of her legs, and places like the back of her neck and her back, checking for any marks. Of course, there were none. Bo Yan, despicable as he may be, knew that Xia Siyu was an artist, so he avoided leaving marks on many areas to prevent embarrassment. Unlike Siyu, who would scratch him when she was angry, and similarly when she was happy. Now, his back, chest, face, neck, shoulders, and arms were all marked with her impressive battle scars. Luckily, Bo Yan didn¡¯t need to shoot advertisements, nor did he need to pose for magazines, and he certainly didn¡¯t have any movies to film. At that moment, he was dressed in a suit, holding a meeting in the conference room, looking every part the high-flyer, while his fans were still shouting ¡°Hubby, you¡¯re so handsome!¡± But as Qin Baizhou kept watching, he noticed her slender waist, her perfect figure, and even more perfect than her figure, her face. Xia Siyu really was beautiful, no matter how many times he saw her, he was astounded by her beauty each time. She was beautiful, pure, and confident; she never submitted to the unspoken rules, nor was she indulgent in materialism. She didn¡¯t step on others to elevate herself or blindly follow trends. Loyal and though sometimes reckless, she was not foolish. She was ambitious about her work. Personally speaking, Bo Yan, to be honest, was above him for the time being. But it wouldn¡¯t be long before Huixing would go public. By then, his personal net worth would skyrocket by tens or even hundreds of times, propelling him into the ranks of billionaires worth tens of billions. And Bo Yan, no matter how much money he made from acting, at most his fortune would only amount to several billions. Even as the son of the Bo Family, the family¡¯s wealth wouldn¡¯t all go to him; at most, he would get just a small share. As for himself, he had built his empire through his own efforts, every penny earned by himself, and he was of course more willing to share it with someone he liked. The advertisement was to be filmed at nightfall, which suited her perfectly as she slept until noon, spent the afternoon getting ready with makeup and changing clothes, and started shooting in the evening. It was a party scene, where she and a male model danced elegantly, her dress fluttering, popping open a bottle of champagne, having a blast, and with the lighting, it was like a scene straight out of a fairy tale. Xia Siyu may truly have been a natural-born movie star, able to withstand the 360-degree, no-dead-angle scrutiny of the big screen; the photographer did not need to look for her best angle, as she looked good from any angle. After finishing the shoot and changing clothes, she went home, removed her makeup, rested, and after a good sleep, she was off to a magazine photoshoot the next day. This time she was featured on the cover and inner pages of a fairly famous fashion magazine, taking advantage of her current popularity from the variety show and ¡°Storm,¡± which was in the midst of busy post-production and applying for a screening license, riding the wave of her newfound fame. The photographer, with whom she often worked, had a bit of an experimental and avant-garde flair. Xia Siyu tried on several outfits, and even though she was proficient at finding the perfect looks, the photographer¡¯s inspiration flowed like water. But every time she changed outfits, her makeup and hairstyle had to be changed as well, and by the time they finished shooting, it had gone from noon to early morning. Qin Baizhou stayed with her the whole time. She was leaving for the Northwest tomorrow, and today was their last day, he wished he could glue his eyes to her. A candlelit dinner in a revolving restaurant was out of the question, but placing a bouquet of flowers in the back of the car was still doable. Today, no matter what, he had to confess to her and let her know how much he liked her! Chapter 440 - Chapter 440: Chapter 439: New-Type Relations (Extra 1 for Monthly Ticket) Chapter 440: Chapter 439: New-Type Relations (Extra 1 for Monthly Ticket) The car traveled along, with Qin Baizhou, Wei Jingjing, LaXiaotang driving, and Xia Siyu as the four passengers. Since boarding the car, Xia Siyu had her head down, looking at her phone. It wasn¡¯t that she was purposely avoiding closeness with Qin Baizhou, but rather, the person messaging her was Bo Yan. If she didn¡¯t respond, Bo Yan might just call her directly. After all, the ride back was boring anyway. Rather than doing nothing, chatting with him also served to kill the time. Bo Yan¡¯s messages to her were straightforward and blunt, ¡°Are you home yet? When is your flight tomorrow? Once you¡¯re in the Northwest, I can¡¯t wait to see you.¡± What ¡°see¡± you? Perhaps the word ¡°do¡± would be more fitting in place of ¡°see.¡± But since they had opened up to each other, Xia Siyu had tossed aside her unnecessary sense of shame. Having decided on an open relationship, why hide and seek? How else to enjoy themselves? As everyone knows, the body is for physical pleasure, love for emotional needs, and marriage for societal needs. She didn¡¯t want emotions or social ties; she wanted pleasure. If it was about pleasure, then she would take it however it came! Over the years, Xia Siyu hadn¡¯t watched many Japanese films, but when she was younger, she¡¯d seen a lot of comics! And under the guise of ¡°art,¡± she had seen quite a few beautifully shot action movies. Although her total nights with Bo Yan were only a handful, her little notebook already had a long list of ways to have fun! She even teased, ¡°And then what? Bo Yan, you only have these few methods, too boring. Don¡¯t you have any good recommendations?¡± So far, the most they had ¡°unlocked¡± were different spots around the house. Bed, bathroom, by the door, sofa. Hmm, she had been really angry at the time, but thinking back, she had to admit, doing it by the door when someone was around was especially thrilling. Bo Yan was still attending a dinner party. Although he was there for a meeting, besides the leaders, there were many well-known actors, directors, writers, and other ¡°students¡± present. It was a typical social setting where everyone gathered to eat and drink. Director Yu Fenfei was also there, though he was serving as an instructor giving lectures. At that moment, Bo Yan was sneakily messaging Xia Siyu while talking to the director and others. He just wanted to flirt with her. But after her barrage of taunts, his phone slipped out of his hands and smashed onto the floor with a ¡°crack.¡± When his phone fell, Director Yu heard the noise and turned back, ¡°What happened?¡± Bo Yan maintained his usual cold demeanor, not showing a hint of panic as he picked up his phone and calmly said, ¡°Slip of the hand.¡± Director Fifteen just made an ¡°oh¡± sound, not minding Bo Yan¡¯s little mishap, and turned back to continue chatting with others. Bo Yan¡¯s face betrayed nothing, but as he picked up his phone to reply, his fingers fluttered and he typed rapidly, ¡°I can¡¯t stop thinking about you being on top. I want it in the car, outdoors. You used to dance, right? You should be quite flexible; there are many positions we could unlock. We can try them one by one.¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s question kept him from feeling tired. Even though he had no interest in Japanese adult films¡ªno artistry, no discretion, just blunt primal impacts¡ªwhat good is that? They will never understand that the beauty of ¡°being beckoned and called forth, half-concealed with a lute in hand¡± is the ultimate expression! Chapter 441 - Chapter 441: Chapter 440 Initiative (1) Chapter 441: Chapter 440 Initiative (1) ¡°` Hmm, but learning a little lesson from experience is still possible, at least there¡¯s a variety of patterns¡­ Besides, since his wife had made these demands, he naturally wanted to carry them out perfectly! When Xia Siyu saw Bo Yan¡¯s reply, as expected, human nature can¡¯t withstand a challenge. Just by loosening up a bit and casually asking a question, one could get such an answer! And did he want her on top? Wasn¡¯t that just asking her to take the initiative? Xia Siyu snorted, ¡°It¡¯s not that I can¡¯t take the initiative. But if I¡¯m leading, then you have to listen to me on everything!¡± Bo Yan faintly sensed the little scheme hidden in her words. Xia Siyu was certainly not a docile girl, nor was she someone who would take grievances. Once her little brain started working, she was definitely preparing to play dirty behind the scenes! However, if his wife wanted to play games with him, even if he knew it was a trap, he¡¯d jump right in. Given her intelligence, she surely couldn¡¯t outplay him. Anyway, the one who ends up led into the pit might still be unknown! So he agreed magnanimously, ¡°Alright then. I¡¯ll wait for you to come to me.¡± Xia Siyu narrowed her eyes looking at his cheerful agreement, her mind indeed filled with mischief! If she was to take the initiative, fine, she¡¯d make sure Bo Yan had an unforgettable memory and see if he dared to bully anyone again in the future! She closed the chat window and turned to ask, ¡°Do you have candles and ropes or anything like that? Help me prepare. I heard the power supply in the mountains isn¡¯t very stable, so we might need candles. Also, although I¡¯ll be over there, I¡¯ll occasionally come back to participate in activities, so if there are studded skinny high heels, prepare a pair for me, too. Do you have leather skirts as well? Bring one of those.¡± I¡¯ll give you a thrill with a set of dripping wax and leather whip! If it weren¡¯t for the whip being difficult to prepare, she¡¯d definitely want it! Sure enough, when she mentioned this, Wei Jingjing expressed her confusion, ¡°Candles can be bought, but why ropes? How thick should the ropes be? And for the activities, aren¡¯t these paired on-site after coming back?¡± Xia Siyu glared at her, ¡°I just want them! Why ask so many questions? Just go prepare. As for the ropes¡­ the thicker and stronger, the better!¡± This way, when Bo Yan is tied up and flogged, he won¡¯t be able to escape so easily. Wei Jingjing, though a bit puzzled, did not ask further and made a list to prepare. Qin Baizhou was nearby and, seeing Xia Siyu¡¯s excited appearance, became curious, ¡°It seems you really want to film this movie, it¡¯s rare to see you make so many requests.¡± Xia Siyu nodded, ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s right.¡± It¡¯s not every film that she could tie up Bo Yan, complete with dripping wax, a little leather whip, and high heels. Of course, after whipping him, she¡¯d definitely make her escape. She wouldn¡¯t let him enjoy it. Qin Baizhou coughed, actually thinking about confessing his feelings, but was trying to find an entry point. He said, ¡°On your birthday, someone lit up a building for you.¡± As a businessman, he naturally knew the price of such a large screen advertisement. To say the least, the seven words ¡°Happy Birthday, Xia Siyu¡± would cost at least over a million. Such a generous gesture was not something an ordinary person could afford. His first thought was Bo Yan, but Bo Yan was out of town that day, and she had been asleep when the lights were lit. With Bo Yan¡¯s personality, he wouldn¡¯t do such an unrewarding task. So who could it be? Xia Siyu had almost forgotten about it, but now that Qin Baizhou brought it up again, she remembered. ¡°` Chapter 442 - Chapter 442: Chapter 441 Initiative (2) Chapter 442: Chapter 441 Initiative (2) I have to admit, Bo Yan¡¯s move did touch me a little, and with the words ¡°I miss you a lot,¡± otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have fallen for his charm and ended up sleeping with him. If she claimed it was someone from the fan club, given the recent fan meeting, she had contacts with all the major fans, and it¡¯s likely they would inquire about it. Thus, Xia Siyu had no choice but to blame someone on the spot: ¡°It was¡­ Shengxia Yanyu! He couldn¡¯t make it that day due to something, but he told me about it later.¡± He was perfect to take the fall: wealthy and mysterious, someone the fan club had tried to contact several times without success. ¡°Shengxia Yanyu?¡± Qin Baizhou frowned slightly. It¡¯s not that he doubted whether Shengxia Yanyu had the intention and financial capability to do such a thing but illuminating Xia Siyu¡¯s night sky to let the whole Yancheng, even the entire China, know of his birthday wishes. Even an idiot could tell that this Shengxia Yanyu had a thing for Xia Siyu and was pursuing her. Although Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t materialistic, Shengxia Yanyu had been a fan for several years and spent millions. With yet another gesture to woo her, as long as this person wasn¡¯t ugly or sleazy, there was a good chance Xia Siyu would be moved by him. With Bo Yan already on the scene and now Shengxia Yanyu appearing, Qin Baizhou felt immense pressure, as if facing a potential threat from both front and back. ¡°In that case, we can¡¯t let him spend so much money. Also, with such a grand display, if it gets out, it could harm both his and your reputations. Better let Wei Jingjing contact him to get our stories straight. We¡¯ll say the company bought the sky lanterns, and we¡¯ll reimburse him the money,¡± he said. ¡°But is that really appropriate?¡± Xia Siyu naturally wanted to retract her claim immediately. Not to mention that Shengxia Yanyu wasn¡¯t the real buyer, even if he were, it wouldn¡¯t be quite ethical for the studio to intercept a gift meant for her, even though they would reimburse him. ¡°The main concern is the excessive number of scandals you¡¯ve had before. The sponsors of your current contracts wish for you to have less negative news. Such sensational displays, if not instigated, might give rise to further issues if someone digs into it and finds out he sent it. If he were single, it might be okay, but if he has a girlfriend or a wife, you¡¯d be hard-pressed to clear your name even if you jump into the Yellow River.¡± The gift-giver indeed had a wife, and she truly wouldn¡¯t be able to clear her name even if she leaped into the Yellow River. But it wasn¡¯t Shengxia Yanyu; it was Bo Yan. Xia Siyu wanted to refuse, but Qin Baizhou had already instructed Wei Jingjing, ¡°Call him. He should have left a number when he registered for the fan meeting. Tell him we appreciate his kind gesture, but to avoid misunderstandings and to save Xia Siyu any trouble, let¡¯s pretend the company bought the sky lanterns for Siyu. We¡¯ll return his money double and send him some of Siyu¡¯s merchandise as well.¡± Xia Siyu felt a bit uneasy: ¡°Isn¡¯t that a bit unkind of you?¡± As Qin Baizhou watched Wei Jingjing make the call, he smiled at her, ¡°I¡¯m doing this for your own good, considering your reputation.¡± Seeing Wei Jingjing actually making the call to Shengxia Yanyu, Xia Siyu¡¯s heart leaped to her throat! She hadn¡¯t checked with Shengxia Yanyu before this, and if he lets something slip, Qin Baizhou won¡¯t let it go easily! But with Qin Baizhou watching her, she couldn¡¯t log in to her alternate account to clarify things with Shengxia Yanyu. If he truly answers ¡°It wasn¡¯t me,¡± what should she do? Should she confess it was Bo Yan? Chapter 443 - Chapter 443: Chapter 442 Initiative (3) Chapter 443: Chapter 442 Initiative (3) ¡°` The call was made, the ¡°beep beep¡± sound waiting for a connection filled the room. In the quiet car, Wei Jingjing¡¯s dialing was particularly grating to the ear. On the other end, Bo Yan was still drinking. Qin Baizhou was talking to him about some of the preparations for ¡°Spring Light.¡± He got halfway through when Bo Yan¡¯s phone rang. Bo Yan picked it up and saw that it was a call to his secondary card. The number seemed vaguely familiar, likely from Xia Siyu¡¯s assistant. ¡°Bo Yan, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Yu Fenfei asked him, ¡°Is there something important? If there is, you should take the call first.¡± Bo Yan just glanced at it and ignored it, pocketing his phone, ¡°It¡¯s nothing important, just a nuisance call. Let¡¯s continue. As I was saying, I think it¡¯s best to shoot ¡°Spring Light¡± smoothly. A good movie is not afraid of delays, but I¡¯m worried that Director Sun might make storytelling a bit complicated. Actually, the script is very solid, we just need to shoot the story well.¡± Yu Fenfei nodded, ¡°Right. He¡¯s a newcomer, no need for those stream-of-consciousness or montage structures, just tell the story honestly and cleanly.¡± On this side, Wei Jingjing was still waiting, and Xia Siyu¡¯s heart had jumped to her throat. If Shengxia Yanyu had picked up the call and denied it, she would have had to come up with another excuse. Of course, she could also choose not to explain, but knowing Qin Baizhou¡¯s personality, he would definitely investigate thoroughly. She didn¡¯t reply, so he would go and ask at those places selling advertising spots! Over the years, there indeed has been a power struggle between artists and their managers, especially over issues that could tarnish the reputation of the artists. She knew she was hot-tempered and impulsive, sometimes when Qin Baizhou wanted to pry into her private life, as long as it was unrelated to the Xia Family or the Bo Family, she usually couldn¡¯t be bothered to ask and let him handle it. But this time, he seemed to have gone too far. No matter what Xia Siyu was thinking, on the other side, Wei Jingjing¡¯s call kept on dialing until, after thirty seconds, it automatically disconnected. Wei Jingjing held her phone, ¡°Brother Qin, he¡¯s not answering.¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s breath eased a bit, and anger began to well up inside her again as she said, ¡°Brother Qin, you¡¯ve overstepped this time. If we really tracked down Shengxia Yanyu and the gift was from him, how could you claim it for the company? I know you mean well, but this could hurt the fans. With so many years of supporting me, you know what Shengxia Yanyu is like. He wouldn¡¯t even show his face at a fan meet, would he speak directly to the media? Even if I really owe him, it¡¯s my debt, not the company¡¯s place to interfere. No matter how much that gift cost, I won¡¯t shortchange him, and I¡¯ll even pay him for those movie tickets he bought before.¡± It was rare for Qin Baizhou to see Xia Siyu this angry and serious. He had indeed been a bit too anxious and flustered just before. Bo Yan had just walked away, and now there was Shengxia Yanyu. Each was a formidable opponent. Yet Qin Baizhou was still very adept at managing situations, and he quickly apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, all I thought about was how to protect your reputation from being harmed, I was biased in my consideration, not handling things properly. However, Shengxia Yanyu didn¡¯t come to the meeting, and Jingjing still has to call him to send the merchandise. If he replies later, I¡¯ll have Jingjing send him a double portion of the gift as an apology.¡± Xia Siyu nodded, her face serious, ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll also say something to him.¡± Then she boldly took out her phone in front of Qin Baizhou, logged into her alternate account, and sent a private message to Shengxia Yanyu: Chapter 444 - Chapter 444: Chapter 443 Initiative (4) Chapter 444: Chapter 443 Initiative (4) ¡°Sorry, my studio contacted you earlier, to deliver a birthday fan meeting gift. Also, there¡¯s a favor I need to ask you, a few of my friends pooled money together to buy billboard space for me in Yancheng¡¯s landmark building complex. If the media or anyone else asks, I¡¯m going to say it was you who bought it. I guarantee those people won¡¯t bother you.¡± By this time, Bo Yan had drunk quite a bit, and their business was done. Tomorrow he would part ways with this group to go shoot a film in the Northwest. On the way back, his route coincided with Yu Fenfei¡¯s, walking and listening to the bustle on the phone, he pulled it out to find it was a long string of messages from Xia Siyu. A smile tugged at Bo Yan¡¯s lips involuntarily. It was really rare to see Xia Siyu speaking so humbly and pleadingly. He wondered when she would plead like that to his true self? He didn¡¯t reply as bluntly as he had initially intended. He had wanted to say, ¡°If I agree, what will you offer me in return?¡± But thinking it over, he deleted that and simply said, ¡°Okay.¡± Sending that word back, Xia Siyu really felt somewhat guilty towards him. After thinking it over, she still said, ¡°Thank you for your support. Whenever you come to Yancheng, I¡¯ll treat you to a meal.¡± Bo Yan, reading the message, couldn¡¯t help smiling, ¡°No need. I just simply like you, that¡¯s all.¡± He dared not say ¡°like¡± when he was himself, and even if he did, given Xia Siyu¡¯s personality of only liking to be friends with benefits with him, she¡¯d probably laugh at him. Now, under the guise of an online persona, he found he could say it smoothly. Yu Fenfei, seeing him smiling at his phone, asked, ¡°What¡¯s up, did your girlfriend message you?¡± It was common knowledge in the industry that Bo Yan didn¡¯t have a girlfriend. But his smile just then was too obvious¡ªit was the foolish grin of a man in love. It was also because Yu Fenfei had a good relationship with Bo Yan that he dared to ask so directly. Bo Yan shook his head: ¡°No.¡± How could Xia Siyu be his girlfriend? She was clearly his wife! Before they stepped into the elevator, he smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s just that, I feel this movie is going to be a success. Because we¡¯ve chosen great actors.¡± Yu Fenfei also smiled, ¡°Is that so? It¡¯s good to be confident.¡± He thought Bo Yan was referring to himself, the actor playing the male lead. Bo Yan didn¡¯t correct him, and having returned to his room, asked Song Fengzhi, who was helping him pack, ¡°What time is our flight tomorrow?¡± Song Fengzhi replied, ¡°After we¡¯re done with the closing meeting at ten in the morning, we can leave. So we have a flight at two in the afternoon, and we¡¯ll arrive at Xicheng around five. We¡¯ll spend a night there, and early the next day, we¡¯ll drive to the location for the shoot. It¡¯ll probably take about four or five hours on the road.¡± Bo Yan looked down, checking the flight details, ¡°Change that ticket for me.¡± Song Fengzhi paused, then nodded his head, ¡°I got it, I¡¯ll prepare it right away.¡± ** Meanwhile, in Yancheng. After her chat with ¡°Shengxia Yanyu,¡± Xia Siyu also breathed a sigh of relief. Qin Baizhou immediately apologized as well, ¡°Sorry, I¡¯ve probably been under a lot of work stress lately, not thinking things through thoroughly. Facing the fans, we indeed can¡¯t act all high and mighty. They are like a different kind of parents to us in terms of food and clothing. From now on, I¡¯ll make sure those managing the fan club are more careful.¡± Xia Siyu shook her head, ¡°There¡¯s no need for that.¡± Chapter 445 - Chapter 445: Chapter 444 Initiative (5) Chapter 445: Chapter 444 Initiative (5) ¡°` Fans indeed vote for her and spend money on her, but there¡¯s no need to hold oneself too highly and look down on fans. Nor is it necessary to treat fans like Gods. She and her fans should have an equal relationship, like friends. If they are friends, then they should help each other succeed. She works hard and aims to repay her fans¡¯ affection with the best work performance. She guides her fans to follow stars in a positive way, to do charity work, and to participate in activities, and to reduce cursing. When it comes to endorsements and acting offers, she¡¯ll fight for them herself; she doesn¡¯t need her fans to charge into battle for her. If she¡¯s capable, she can frequently give back to her fans, instead of exploiting them. What fans need to do is just like her and take pride in her. Years later, when looking back on their fan career, they¡¯ll smile knowingly: The star I chased back then was truly worth it. That¡¯s enough. ¡°Hmm,¡± Qin Baizhou nodded, liking Xia Siyu more and more with every look. Who says she¡¯s foolish? She might be impulsive and quick-tempered, straightforward, and not sweat the small stuff. But she has a good grasp of the important things. Because she¡¯s not materialistic, doesn¡¯t demean others or put them on a pedestal, and treats everyone equally. She¡¯s also not tempted by money and power, she¡¯s got a firm backbone. That¡¯s why she can act recklessly, and that¡¯s why she doesn¡¯t just go with the flow. Arriving at Qingcheng Apartment, he said, ¡°Siyu, I have something I want to say to you alone.¡± Xia Siyu didn¡¯t feel like talking to him anymore, not because she was angry about the comment he just made, but because she was too tired. These past few days she had been busy, and she hadn¡¯t finished packing at home. She had to leave again tomorrow, and if she kept talking and chatting now, would she have any rest at all? She flatly refused, ¡°My flight is at 3:30 p.m. tomorrow, and I need to leave by 12. It¡¯s a bit late now, and I¡¯d like to go back and rest. Whatever you want to say, just message me on WeChat.¡± Qin Baizhou was a bit anxious, ¡°It¡¯s important.¡± If the person Qin Baizhou wanted to confess to wasn¡¯t Xia Siyu, then by now, one might have detected something unusual. But unfortunately, this person who was rather oblivious, truly didn¡¯t sense anything wrong: ¡°Then just say it now. What¡¯s so important that we can¡¯t discuss it together?¡± Qin Baizhou hadn¡¯t expected Xia Siyu to be so blunt. Confessing love isn¡¯t necessarily something that can¡¯t be done in front of others. But if so, and if Xia Siyu were to reject him, they wouldn¡¯t even have the chance to be friends anymore, and the awkwardness between them would be unbearable. Moreover, it was the time for contract renewal. If she were frightened away from renewing her contract, the company would be furious. Still not understanding, Xia Siyu looked at Wei Jingjing, ¡°Jingjing, has the company made any significant decisions about me recently?¡± It couldn¡¯t be that they were planning not to offer her good terms during the contract renewal, could it? Wei Jingjing shook her head, ¡°No, not that I¡¯ve heard of.¡± Thus, Xia Siyu glanced at Qin Baizhou again, with an inquiring look. No matter how much Qin Baizhou had to say, suddenly he found himself at a loss for words. These words, how could he utter them, it would indeed be too embarrassing. And even if he did, it wasn¡¯t certain Xia Siyu would agree right away, and even if she did, there was still Bo Yan, watching like a tiger eager for its prey. He had no choice but to say, ¡°It¡¯s nothing big, I¡¯ll come visit you in the Northwest next time.¡± Xia Siyu kindly said, ¡°You¡¯ve been working too hard recently. Actually, you don¡¯t need to accompany me on many of my trips. Those partners wouldn¡¯t dare treat me badly. The contracts are there, and so is my reputation.¡± Where Qin Baizhou wanted to go wasn¡¯t the issue, what he wanted was just to spend more time with her! ¡°` Chapter 446 - Chapter 446: Chapter 445 Initiative (6) Chapter 446: Chapter 445 Initiative (6) Unfortunately, this straight woman really couldn¡¯t tell¡­ Because of Xia Siyu¡¯s words, Qin Baizhou was too embarrassed to say what he had planned to say afterwards. Although he did go upstairs later on, he only looked around the room¡ªhmm, the two of them were not cohabiting in the Qingcheng apartment; they were still living separately. The only few times they slept together were at the old house and in a hotel, and the room was still clean. Wei Jingjing helped her pack some supplies. As for the ropes, candles, leather skirts, studded high heels, and the like that she wanted, they didn¡¯t have them at home. They could buy them temporarily and send them over. Then there were some personal items. Since she would be living there for nearly half a year, although she wouldn¡¯t stay in the village the whole time, it certainly wouldn¡¯t be as convenient as Yancheng to shop, so she needed to prepare. By the time everything was packed, it was indeed late into the night. After washing up and removing her makeup, it was two in the morning. An artist¡¯s time is indeed fought for by the second; not a minute is wasted. In the end, Qin Baizhou never got a chance to say, ¡°I like you,¡± and Xia Siyu never knew about it. She didn¡¯t have the time or energy to find out. To her, the most important thing was the shooting of the movie. In the following five months, she would devote herself to working hard on it in the Northwest. Besides the movie, the biggest worry was Bo Yan. Outside of her work and personal time, dealing with just a Bo Yan was exhausting. Where would she have the emotional bandwidth to bother with anything else? Qin Baizhou¡¯s recent unusual behavior, she chalked up all to pre-contract renewal syndrome and didn¡¯t think further about it. There wasn¡¯t much time; she needed to work hard. Being in a romantic relationship, such a lavish and boring matter, was not her style. ** After a night¡¯s rest, the next day, Xia Siyu went to the airport, and Qin Baizhou still came to see her off. Even though he failed to confess his feelings once again, he was still determined to win Xia Siyu over. After dropping her off and on the way back last night, he said to Wei Jingjing in the car that he needed her to keep a close eye on Bo Yan. He was just short of telling her directly not to allow any private contact between them! Wei Jingjing also felt enormous pressure. With Bo Yan¡¯s status, what impact could a little assistant like her have? He and Xia Siyu were already at that level of relationship; how could it be stopped? An artist¡¯s work really seizes every opportunity. Even when going to the airport, Xia Siyu had to do street photography there. She had arranged with the station sisters and paparazzi to take photos of her at the airport. Once she stepped out, she had to be in business mode. After the photos were taken and the check-in process was completed, it was time to go through security. Qin Baizhou was still reluctant to part, ¡°I will come to see you.¡± Xia Siyu laughed carelessly, ¡°Remember to bring hotpot when you come!¡± What could he do, when he was in love with a real straight girl, a little fool who truly didn¡¯t know unless it was spelled out for her? Xia Siyu passed through security and boarded the plane without any issues. She had also intended to upgrade Wei Jingjing to first class like her, but unfortunately, the first class tickets were sold out, so she had to reluctantly let her sit in economy class. But as she got on the plane and the cabin door was about to close, not all the first class cabins had been filled. She still had some complaints in her heart about the waste. It would have been better to give it to Wei Jingjing! However, the next second, there was a stir from that direction, and a man wearing a trench coat and a mask walked over¡ªit was Bo Yan! Even with a mask, Xia Siyu recognized him instantly, and immediately got angry, ¡°Why is it you?¡± Bo Yan pulled down his mask in front of her, so close he could almost kiss her, and smiled, ¡°I couldn¡¯t wait for you to take the initiative.¡± Chapter 447 - Chapter 447: Chapter 446 Bath Scrubbing (1) Chapter 447: Chapter 446 Bath Scrubbing (1) Bo Yan had Song Fengzhi change his ticket yesterday, switching from a direct flight to the Northwest to one that would first fly to Yancheng and then transfer at Yancheng Airport ¡ª and this was the connecting flight. Of course, Song Fengzhi found it quite strange when changing the ticket, because there was really no need to transfer and no discounts; it would only add several hours to the journey. Moreover, Bo Yan specifically requested that he travel to Yancheng alone, while Song Fengzhi continued with the original plan to head to the Northwest. Having no other option, if Bo Yan wanted to transfer, then that¡¯s what would happen. Following his request, Song Fengzhi booked the tickets, and the two of them went their separate ways. Xia Siyu was stunned, gazing at the Bo Yan before her and for a moment, she had no idea where to start. This was a large plane, and First Class had about eight seats; Xia Siyu¡¯s seat was towards the back, so generally if nobody deliberately turned around to look, not many would notice. But the flight attendant soon approached their area. Siyu was startled, afraid she¡¯d be recognized. That¡¯s one of the hassles of domestic flights ¡ª after all, being a celebrity, you might get caught on the plane. Unlike international airlines where the flight attendants don¡¯t know who you are, which is a lot more comfortable. Bo Yan was also clever. After coming closer, he didn¡¯t actually kiss her, but instead whispered an apology, ¡°Sorry.¡± Then he turned his head back to his own seat, pretending he¡¯d just arrived and had accidentally stumbled. Sure enough, this didn¡¯t attract the flight attendant¡¯s attention. He hadn¡¯t taken off his mask and was still wearing a hoodie and a duckbill cap, pulled low over his face. Dressed like that, he¡¯d draw extra looks in any bank, as people would think he was up to no good. Xia Siyu had intended to remove her mask, but now it seemed best not to. The two of them conveniently sat in the same row, and the flight attendant came over to ask, ¡°Would you like any meals?¡± They were each given a menu from which they could choose. Setting everything else aside, Bo Yan spotted the alcohol and immediately ordered, ¡°Give me a bottle of Bordeaux.¡± His intentions were as clear as day! Did he really want alcohol to liven things up? He knew his alcohol tolerance was even worse than hers, and yet he dared to drink? Xia Siyu turned around and said to him in a low voice, ¡°Let¡¯s not overdo it, okay?¡± Bo Yan looked up and spoke softly, ¡°What, are you scared? Anyway, there won¡¯t be anyone else there today, and didn¡¯t you say you wanted to do something fancy? Can¡¯t even have a drink?¡± Xia Siyu, who couldn¡¯t stand being provoked, immediately slapped the table, ¡°I¡¯ll have Bordeaux as well!¡± Her voice was so loud that people in the front row turned around, and the two faintly overheard someone saying, ¡°That woman¡¯s voice sounds familiar, like I¡¯ve heard it somewhere.¡± Xia Siyu quickly pulled her mask up a little higher. It was the same old story; she could ignore people cursing her online. But in real life, unless she was being verbally attacked by Bo Yan¡¯s fans, she wouldn¡¯t back down. In other situations, she¡¯d avoid confrontations as much as possible. The meals were served quickly. Xia Siyu waited until the flight attendant turned to leave with the meals before pulling down her mask and eating with great caution. When it came time to collect the plates, she swiftly put her mask back on. She also noticed that although Bo Yan had ordered red wine, he only drank one glass. So at least he had some sense, and she followed suit, drinking just one glass herself. Red wine with steak was simply divine! When it was time to use the restroom, Xia Siyu stood up just as Bo Yan did the same. They walked to the lavatory together. The restroom in First Class was slightly more spacious, but still not as generous as on international flights. Bo Yan, with his long legs, walked quickly and even cut in line! Chapter 448 - Chapter 448: Chapter 447 Bath Scrubbing (2) Chapter 448: Chapter 447 Bath Scrubbing (2) Xia Siyu was getting annoyed, ¡°Why are you coming to the restroom with me? Don¡¯t you know that only sisters do that together? Or do you want to become sisters with me?¡± Although the aisles in first class were a bit wider than those in economy class, they weren¡¯t so narrow that one person could block another from moving, but if Xia Siyu wanted to get ahead, she still had to squeeze past like Bo Yan just did. Bo Yan looked back, his gaze flicking over her body, and dropped a casual remark, ¡°If I were to become sisters with you, the one crying would be you.¡± As he spoke, his eyes landed on her chest, standing in front of the restroom door, and taking the opportunity while no one was paying attention, he gently began to unbuckle his belt. The sound of the belt ¡°clicking¡± open reached Xia Siyu¡¯s ears, sounding like an excellent SEXY suggestion! Damn this shameless man! Bo Yan¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed, ¡°However, I would welcome you to join me inside, there¡¯s plenty of room, enough for two people without any problem.¡± No problem my ass! Xia Siyu quickly pushed him with a sense of urging. Bo Yan just smiled faintly, noticing the flight attendant glancing their way and didn¡¯t say more, entering the restroom first. Soon Xia Siyu returned as well, Bo Yan was already seated and had adjusted his chair to the reclining position, lying back leisurely. Xia Siyu also lay down and got comfortable. Just as she settled in, she suddenly felt a hand sneakily stretching from the side, gently touching her leg. Xia Siyu was furious, she wasn¡¯t the kind of girl who would stay silent after being harassed. If you dare touch me, I¡¯ll hit you! She swung her hand at him, slapping Bo Yan¡¯s face mask directly. Bo Yan seemed to be used to being hit, not showing the slightest reaction. Instead, it was the flight attendant who came over with a smile, on hearing the noise, ¡°Do you two need anything else?¡± Bo Yan, true to his title as a movie star, was unflustered; Xia Siyu¡¯s long skirt had hidden his mischievous handiwork. He spoke calmly, without a hint of panic, and even asked, ¡°Give me a bottle of German dark beer.¡± He wants to drink more! This damned man was practically writing the words ¡°eat you up¡± all over his face! Seeing Xia Siyu¡¯s angry glare, Bo Yan calmly asked, ¡°What, you want one too? Get her a bottle as well.¡± The flight attendant, puzzled, brought two bottles over. Xia Siyu, angry, protested, ¡°I don¡¯t drink.¡± ¡°No worries, then I¡¯ll drink both,¡± Bo Yan said with great composure. How could she allow that! With his drinking capacity, wouldn¡¯t he go crazy after two bottles tonight? Xia Siyu immediately grabbed one of the beer bottles, angrily popped the tab, took a pissed-off gulp, ugh, dark beer is bitter. Bo Yan smiled lightly; thankfully, with a drink in hand, he finally ceased his mischief. Maybe it was because Bo Yan was by her side, keeping her constantly on alert, that she felt completely sober even though she would usually feel a bit tipsy after two drinks. Finally arriving in the Northwest, Xia Siyu picked up her luggage, met up with Wei Jingjing and Little Tang, and just as they were getting into the car, Bo Yan shamelessly tagged along, ¡°It¡¯s on the way.¡± Bo Yan¡¯s sudden appearance startled Wei Jingjing and Little Tang, especially Wei Jingjing. Brother Qin had instructed her multiple times to keep a close eye on Bo Yan, to not give him any chances. But what could she do when he took the initiative to come over? She was so worried she thought she hadn¡¯t brought enough heart pills with her. What on earth was he talking about, being on the way? Didn¡¯t he have his own nanny van, assistant, agent, and bodyguard? Chapter 449 - Chapter 449: Chapter 448 Bath Scrubbing (3) Chapter 449: Chapter 448 Bath Scrubbing (3) Xia Siyu looked around; it seemed he really hadn¡¯t. Just like last time, Bo Yan had come alone. ¡°There¡¯s no room in my car.¡± Xia Siyu really didn¡¯t want to go with him; nothing good ever happened when they were together! But Bo Yan had his ways. He suddenly looked over Xia Siyu¡¯s shoulder: ¡°Look, isn¡¯t that a paparazzo? They¡¯ve spotted us.¡± Xia Siyu was startled. She truly didn¡¯t want to be associated with Bo Yan, especially not in public! Even though those previous scandals were fake, this was real, all-encompassing, absolutely undeniable! She quickly turned around to find a group of people gathered, all carrying cameras and the like, but they seemed more like a tour group, equipped with SLR cameras for taking pictures. After one glance, she knew she had been tricked and turned back angrily. Sure enough, Bo Yan had taken the opportunity to slip into the car. Xia Siyu was furious, really wanting to drag him out, when Wei Jingjing said, ¡°We should go, people are starting to look this way.¡± This time it was true because the airport was one of the prime locations for paparazzi to stake out. Although the entertainment industry in the Northwest wasn¡¯t as developed as in Yancheng and Shangcheng, this was after all the capital city of the province with lots of traffic. Xia Siyu was in a Mercedes-Benz van, a rare sight at the airport, and it would be problematic if they were caught. Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t one to be trifled with. Although she had no choice but to let Bo Yan ride in her van, as soon as she got in, she stepped on Bo Yan¡¯s foot and twisted it twice for good measure. Bo Yan¡¯s expression visibly twisted for a moment before quickly returning to a smile, though his voice was slightly trembling, ¡°Your car¡­ is quite comfortable, just a bit tight on the feet.¡± Seeing his displeasure, she felt pleased, and because of Bo Yan¡¯s expression, Xia Siyu¡¯s journey was relatively smooth. When they arrived at the destination, Sun Wujiu came to pick them up. Seeing Bo Yan getting out of Xia Siyu¡¯s car, Sun Wujiu was a bit surprised: ¡°You two?¡± His impression was that these two weren¡¯t in that kind of relationship. But in the entertainment circle, all sorts of people existed. Publicly not matching while actually being a couple wasn¡¯t uncommon, so even though he found it odd, he didn¡¯t comment. It was Xia Siyu who spoke up first, ¡°Director Sun, don¡¯t misunderstand, Bo Yan is not my boyfriend.¡± Bo Yan quickly added, ¡°That¡¯s right, I¡¯m certainly not.¡± Song Fengzhi soon rushed over. He had arrived before Bo Yan and had already arranged a place for him. Of course, he knew that Bo Yan was taking a connecting flight just for Xia Siyu. But he was quite perceptive; since the two of them didn¡¯t suit a public relationship and didn¡¯t want one, he naturally had to cover for them: ¡°Brother Yan, I told you there was no need for me to come back first even though you wanted to meet a friend at the airport. Now it¡¯s caused Ms. Xia trouble.¡± Trouble was an understatement; he was a huge hassle! With the groundwork laid by others, Wei Jingjing promptly chimed in: ¡°Right, we ran into Mr. Bo at the airport, and we came back together since it was on the way.¡± Xia Siyu said nothing, just furrowed her brows, a clear sign of her discontent. Fortunately, upon arriving at the hotel, they went their separate ways, and Xia Siyu went back to her own room. This was a five-star hotel in the capital of a province in the Northwest. Xia Siyu had specifically booked an executive suite with a large whirlpool tub, perfect for a soak. Chapter 450 - Chapter 450: Chapter 449 Bath Scrubbing (4) Chapter 450: Chapter 449 Bath Scrubbing (4) Unless something unexpected happens, a team will be dispatched tomorrow to scout the location, and then Xia Siyu and Bo Yan will follow. The official start of the filming was supposed to be in over a month, but it was Xia Siyu and Bo Yan who strongly requested to scout the location beforehand. Bo Yan, apart from acting, also wanted to be involved in the film¡¯s production. His discussions with Yu Fenfei yesterday and with Sun Wujiu today were for this purpose; he wanted to learn directing, to one day shoot, direct, star in, and script his own completely original work. As for Xia Siyu, she came along to learn more. She was even more eager than Bo Yan to enter the village, to communicate more with the locals, to observe and to learn. Even if the film turned out fruitless, it would still mark a beginning. She believed that her efforts and observations would be noticeable to the audience. Of course, before entering the village, they would enjoy what they could. The production team was so poor that they could only start filming by relying on Bo Yan¡¯s investment and Xia Siyu cutting her fee just enough to scrape together the funds. The other members of the crew couldn¡¯t afford to stay in a five-star hotel and had to settle for the four-star one next door. Only the few key creators could stay here, and even then, it was only because Xia Siyu and Bo Yan paid extra to upgrade to executive suites. During dinner, Sun Wujiu was quite surprised. Swayed by the alcohol, he laughed and said, ¡°I never expected you, Siyu, to turn down so many jobs outside and come here to eat dirt with us.¡± Qin Baizhou¡¯s rebuke last time was exactly questioning his abilities, blaming him for luring their Siyu here for several months for nothing, without the promise of a substantial payment. Moreover, given Xia Siyu¡¯s previous messy rumors, Sun Wujiu always felt she was delicate and prone to throwing tantrums. Xia Siyu, however, was calm: ¡°There¡¯s nothing unexpected about it. I want to win awards, you want to make films, our goals are aligned, all for the sake of the film.¡± The phrase ¡°for the sake of the film¡± indeed struck a chord with Sun Wujiu. The pressure on him had always been immense. But what was rare was having the support of a movie emperor like Bo Yan and the effort of Xia Siyu. As long as she wasn¡¯t utterly indifferent, even if she were rotten wood, he¡¯d strive to carve something out of her! Filmmakers still have the desire to make good films, and he nodded, raising his glass: ¡°Right, for the sake of the film.¡± After the clink of glasses, he turned to Bo Yan: ¡°The person you recommended is really not bad.¡± Xia Siyu was startled; she had thought she had secured the role on her own merits, not realizing that Bo Yan had indeed spoken up for her. Bo Yan looked down, not glancing at her, but simply curved his lips into a faint smile. After dinner and some rest, Bo Yan was called away by Sun Wujiu. Xia Siyu had already had Wei Jingjing clean the bathtub, intending to indulge in a good bath to relax. In the Northwest, especially in the villages, taking a bath was indeed a luxury, especially in such a large whirlpool bathtub. She wouldn¡¯t stay in the provincial city for long; as soon as the location scouting was over, she would join the crew and live and eat with the locals, without the current comforts. Wei Jingjing had prepared the water, along with a bath towel, essential bath salts, and the like, then stepped out. Just as she left Xia Siyu¡¯s room, a WeChat message from Qin Baizhou came in: ¡°Remember, don¡¯t let Bo Yan get too close to Siyu.¡± Wei Jingjing bit her handkerchief, feeling a bit conflicted. The agency indeed didn¡¯t want the artists to be in relationships, or if they were, they had to be discreet. But how could she stop Bo Yan¡¯s advances? As she pondered, Bo Yan indeed finished his meeting and came over: ¡°Is she inside?¡± Chapter 451 - Chapter 451: Chapter 450 Bath Scrubbing (5) Chapter 451: Chapter 450 Bath Scrubbing (5) Wei Jingjing nodded subconsciously. Bo Yan¡¯s expression remained indifferent as he directly said, ¡°Swipe open the room door.¡± Perhaps it was Bo Yan¡¯s nonchalant tone, as if he were stating an immutable truth, or perhaps when speaking to others, he unintentionally exuded an undeniable authority. Wei Jingjing let out an ¡°Oh,¡± actually turned around, took out the room card, and swiped open Xia Siyu¡¯s hotel room door. The entire process felt completely natural, without a hint of inappropriateness. It wasn¡¯t until Bo Yan stepped inside, and the door closed in front of her, that she suddenly realized something was amiss. She prepared to knock on the door and ask Bo Yan to come out. However, before she could knock, the door opened on its own, opened by Bo Yan. In a low voice, he asked Song Fengzhi beside him, ¡°Are the items ready?¡± Song Fengzhi¡¯s expression also showed a slight crack as he said, ¡°Already gone to buy them.¡± Bo Yan nodded and then with a ¡°why haven¡¯t you left yet¡± look, closed the door. Wei Jingjing, left outside, was dumbfounded. As she was about to knock on the door, she took a step forward but was stopped by Song Fengzhi. Wei Jingjing was a bit anxious, ¡°I¡¯m going to our artist¡¯s room; why are you stopping me?¡± Song Fengzhi coughed, his face slightly unnatural: ¡°I¡¯m also helping our artist by keeping others away.¡± Bo Yan, intending to maintain a long-term relationship with Xia Siyu, couldn¡¯t possibly keep it a secret from everyone around him, especially Song Fengzhi, who was with him daily. He owned his studio with more independence than Xia Siyu, operating semi-autonomously from the company, able to make his own decisions. Song Fengzhi was the talented individual by his side, handling various relationships and managing all kinds of affairs, dutifully following Bo Yan¡¯s commands. Like Wei Jingjing, there was no worry that he would blab about private matters, as there were agreements in their contracts. What Bo Yan had Song Fengzhi buy were some adult novelties, which he certainly couldn¡¯t purchase under his own account without causing a media frenzy if it got out. It was at times like these that Song Fengzhi¡¯s role was fully utilized¡ªusing his information and having him run the errand. Wei Jingjing actually had known about their relationship for a long time, but Brother Qin was also pressuring her from the other side, and Xia Siyu didn¡¯t like Bo Yan bothering her¡ªyet she couldn¡¯t stop Bo Yan either. Caught in the middle, it was truly difficult. ¡°But Siyu said she wanted to rest well today and not to be disturbed,¡± she protested. Song Fengzhi replied, ¡°Bo Yan also said the same, that he wants to rest well today without distractions.¡± The same words, in a different context, conveyed a completely different meaning. Wei Jingjing knew she couldn¡¯t stop him, and actually, Song Fengzhi wasn¡¯t too fond of Xia Siyu either, as she often lost her temper at Bo Yan in public. But what could be done when Bo Yan was infatuated and insisting on being a lap dog? Luckily, on the suite floor, only Bo Yan and Xia Siyu could afford to stay there, having booked the entire level to themselves, free from others¡¯ disturbances. Otherwise, there certainly would have been rumors about ¡°male and female actors rehearsing scenes in hotel rooms.¡± Meanwhile, Qin Baizhou was still sending her messages: ¡°Make sure to be careful not to let any news leak. She¡¯s only recently managed to improve her public image; we don¡¯t need any scandals.¡± Wei Jingjing thought, Bo Yan is already inside, what¡¯s there to fuss about; just hope for the best. Inside, Xia Siyu thought it was Wei Jingjing who had come in and said, ¡°Jingjing, is that you? Perfect timing, help me scrub my back.¡± Chapter 452 - Chapter 452: Chapter 451 Bath Scrubbing (6) Chapter 452: Chapter 451 Bath Scrubbing (6) Xia Siyu seldom used a bath scrubbing cloth. This item is quite common in the Northwest, where there is always a scrubbing master in a big public bathhouse. When she was little, she lived abroad, where there are only essential oil spas, with few scrubbing masters to be seen, let alone the scrubbing cloth itself. Moreover, the material is quite rough, and the skin of entertainers is delicate. Using this could cause redness and swelling, leading to unnecessary suspicion and trouble. But Xia Siyu was about to join the crew soon, where bathing might be inconvenient, let alone soaking in a tub. Today, when she saw a pile of household items bought by Wei Jingjing, including this cloth, she just asked her to help out. At that moment, Xia Siyu was soaking in a round massage bathtub. The tub was large, and with the push of a button, it could change the flow of the water for a massaging effect. For comfort, she had Wei Jingjing pour her a glass of champagne and scattered some dry flowers in the bath; it was bubbling away comfortably. She had no clue that the person coming in was not Wei Jingjing, but¡ªBo Yan. Because she had already agreed with Bo Yan that they¡¯d be FWBs, and it was her who had initiated it. She hadn¡¯t made her move yet. Wait until the candle¡¯s string, high heels, and everything else had arrived; she would let him know what ¡°the cost of taking the initiative¡± was! Bo Yan didn¡¯t come in immediately, but first undressed outside, took a box of Xiaoyu umbrellas, along with the scrubbing cloth she had requested, and then pushed the door to enter the bathroom. In the bathroom, the steam was rising, and Xia Siyu sat with her back to the door, savoring a glass of champagne from the ice bucket with her eyes closed. The bathtub was massaging her, bubbling with vigour. It was precisely because of the massage bubbling that she didn¡¯t quite catch the difference between Bo Yan¡¯s footsteps and Wei Jingjing¡¯s. In front of her, she faced a floor-to-ceiling window. The blinds were half-open, half-closed, presenting a hazy night view. She was admiring the beautiful scenery while Bo Yan was admiring her. She hadn¡¯t applied any shower gel yet; the water in the tub was clear to the bottom, leaving nothing to the imagination. The scene was¡ªtruly beautiful. Bo Yan walked over quietly, put on the bath cloth, and gently rubbed her shoulders and back. His strength was not too great, just enough for a massage, and because of the bath cloth, Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t tell whether the hands inside the gloves were a man¡¯s or a woman¡¯s. She even moved slightly forward to make it easier for him to clean her back. From behind, Bo Yan could see her beautiful spine and shoulder blades and a glimpse of her shapely side when she slightly turned. Even through the gloves, the smooth sensation as he glided over her fair back seemed to transmit directly to his fingertips. His breathing became somewhat hurried. After cleaning her back, Xia Siyu, with eyes still closed, found it quite comfortable and smiled, ¡°Jingjing, that¡¯s quite a skill. Even if you leave this industry, you could become a massage master, and I bet many customers would ask for you by name! Could you work on my shoulders too? I feel like I¡¯ve caught a chill these past few days, and they¡¯ve been uncomfortable. Just use the same pressure as before.¡± As the wife commanded, of course he had to comply. Xia Siyu heard the sound of gloves being pulled off from behind her, followed by a soft tearing, like opening a packaging bag. She thought Wei Jingjing was quite professional, knowing to bring essential oil, which would make the kneading even more comfortable. However, when those long, articulate hands climbed onto her back, the hands of a man are fundamentally different from those of a woman, and she immediately perceived the difference. Chapter 453 - Chapter 453: Chapter 452 Habits (1) Chapter 453: Chapter 452 Habits (1) When she looked back again, damn it, that wasn¡¯t Wei Jingjing at all¡ªit was clearly Bo Yan! Moreover, that sound of tearing open the package was not essential oil after all, but the umbrella he had prepared! Wait, that doesn¡¯t make sense. Her room card¡ªonly she and Wei Jingjing had one. How did Bo Yan get in? Xia Siyu immediately furrowed her brows, ¡°Did you tell Jingjing? Who allowed you to tell her that?¡± Hadn¡¯t she said that their relationship was only for the two of them to know, to not involve others, especially to keep her private life from mixing with her work! ¡°Do you really think we can keep our relationship a secret from the company, but what about from assistants who spend every waking hour with us? Can we really keep it hidden from them? Or is it that your relationship with Wei Jingjing isn¡¯t actually that close?¡± Bo Yan had considered this. However, it wasn¡¯t the first time Wei Jingjing had discovered something about him and Xia Siyu, and she had never talked about it. Even with Qin Baizhou, he felt that it was Qin Baizhou who had noticed something on his own. Due to her family background and becoming an entertainer, Xia Siyu had a strong sense of guard. This guard, while beneficial at most times, isn¡¯t applicable in all situations. Some entertainers when changing companies find it hard to take their managers with them, but assistants can usually follow. Wanting to be independent was necessary, but some trust had to be given to those deserving of it. After all, human beings are social animals; she couldn¡¯t forever hide herself in an unseen corner, wallow in self-pity, and keep to herself. Doing so would be detrimental to her mental and physical health, as well as to her career development. ¡°Of course, Jingjing and I are on very good terms.¡± Although Wei Jingjing had not been with her from the start of her career in entertainment. It was after she had joined Qin Baizhou¡¯s company that Wei Jingjing was newly recruited. In fact, according to the workload, Wei Jingjing had far surpassed what was expected of an assistant and could independently handle responsibilities as a manager. Seeing Wei Jingjing was like seeing the former Qin Baizhou. Over the years, it wasn¡¯t just her and Qin Baizhou who had developed¡ªWei Jingjing had as well. Moreover, since Wei Jingjing was also a woman, there were some things Xia Siyu could not conveniently discuss with Qin Baizhou but could with Wei Jingjing. For example, she had never told Qin Baizhou or Zhou Weiwei about the time she had almost slept with Bo Yan during a show, but she confided it to Wei Jingjing. After all, Wei Jingjing was involved in her life, and their close interaction naturally fostered a closer relationship. But there were some personal issues she did not want to share with anyone. Or perhaps, since the mother who could listen to everything was no longer there, she wished to completely hide her privacy, to not have it known by anyone else. Moreover, although Wei Jingjing was her assistant, her direct supervisor was Qin Baizhou. Jingjing would listen to her but would also heed Qin Baizhou. Even though she had asked Wei Jingjing to help conceal her affair with Bo Yan last time, she always had this feeling that the recent odd behavior of Qin Baizhou was not merely because she wanted to renew her contract, but because he had sensed something. Maybe it was something Wei Jingjing had said. ¡°How do you know she won¡¯t tell Qin?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll teach you,¡± Bo Yan said and then stepped over from outside the bathtub and embraced her: ¡°If you want to continue to develop, to take another step up and forward, the one thing you must learn is how to interact with your subordinates, to ¡®manage those beneath you¡¯!¡± Chapter 454 - Chapter 454: Chapter 453 Habits (2) Chapter 454: Chapter 453 Habits (2) Bo Yan came from the Bo Family, and for the scions of an aristocratic family, the most important lesson was: interpersonal relationships. Interpersonal relationships cover how to interact with people in your circle, and also include, how to communicate with your leaders, your collaborators, partners, and how to deal with other parties involved. Of course, it¡¯s best to become a leader, learning how to communicate with your team members. This isn¡¯t about unequal personal relationships; quite the contrary, it¡¯s a required lesson to ensure that your projects, your studies, and work are completed more smoothly. A successful leader doesn¡¯t make you fawn or belittle others, nor does it involve abusing or looking down on team members. On the contrary, you should enable your team members to maximize their initiative while also looking after their interests and creating opportunities for them as well as for yourself. Bo Yan felt that sooner or later, Xia Siyu and Qin Baizhou would clash. Not because of his relationships, nor because Xia Siyu disliked Qin Baizhou, but because they fundamentally disagreed in their philosophies. Qin Baizhou was an excellent businessman who valued efficiency in everything. Anything not related to profit and efficiency was deemed unsuccessful in his eyes. But Xia Siyu was an actress, aspiring to art and leaving a mark in history. Art is precisely what cannot be tethered to efficiency and profit. Some movies, even if they fail at the box office, are ridiculed by countless critics and audiences, and win no awards, may still be recognized for their value many years later. In ordinary circumstances, there¡¯s nothing wrong with valuing profit and efficiency, and he was also against wasteful efforts. However, if something was valuable and worth his effort to nurture, Bo Yan would agree, but Qin Baizhou might not. Although Xia Siyu had not considered going independent yet, sooner or later, she and Qin Baizhou would inevitably part ways. She would need to start rallying forces around her that would follow her lead, and Wei Jingjing and Little Tang were among them. ¡°Control what now? Is Wei Jingjing under me?¡± Although it¡¯s common in the entertainment industry for artists to treat their assistants like nonentities, she had never seen Wei Jingjing as a servant. Even if she were a servant, that too is a legitimate profession that is paid to do a job. Is it necessary to act so superior? ¡°Sorry, I misspoke. What I mean is, you can unite those you can unite. If there are changes in the future, she will stand by you,¡± Bo Yan apologized quickly. ¡°I know that what actually upset you wasn¡¯t me showing our relationship in front of her, but rather¡ªthe exposure of personal privacy, which displeased you.¡± Xia Siyu fumed, ¡°If you knew, why did you say it!¡± Even if it were absolutely necessary to tell someone, it should be her talking to Wei Jingjing, not him. They weren¡¯t boyfriend and girlfriend now, just F-buddies. What right did he have to meddle in her affairs? Bo Yan gently sucked at her neck, his voice as soft as his suckling, ¡°I know there are things you don¡¯t want to tell anyone. I also know that although we¡¯re doing the most intimate things, there are things you don¡¯t want to say to me, so I won¡¯t ask. But I still hope that you and I can be different from those casual F-buddies.¡± What, just a mere physical relationship, and he wants it to yield the results of a boyfriend-girlfriend situation? Xia Siyu was a bit displeased. Even if you do want to be boyfriend and girlfriend, do you think it¡¯s appropriate to get straight to the point without much conversation? Chapter 455 - Chapter 455: Chapter 454 Habit (3) Chapter 455: Chapter 454 Habit (3) Although she had agreed to be ¡°friends with benefits¡± with him before, she had also said that this kind of thing should be consensual, right? When Xia Siyu was wrapping her arms around his neck, she hinted subtlety, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say last time that you wanted me to take the initiative?¡± Her little whip, candles, studded high heels hadn¡¯t arrived yet; they wouldn¡¯t come until at least tomorrow. Yet, this scoundrel just couldn¡¯t help himself and came over today. Plus, she had just soaked for quite a while, all her strength fading away with the hot water, while he was brimming with energy, kneading and feeling before getting into the water. The bathtub was large, but with one arm, he could hold her captive, and she couldn¡¯t escape. Bo Yan lifted his head, his face the picture of calm, ¡°Is that so? That¡¯s just one of the things I had in mind. I¡¯ve also thought about the car, the rooftop, the great outdoors¡­ No worries, we can try them all.¡± Xia Siyu bit her lower lip, ¡°You forgot, the most important point is ¡®mutual consent¡¯!¡± Bo Yan smiled and pecked at her rosy cheek, ¡°I¡¯m quite willing!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not willing!¡± She didn¡¯t escape this time, plus she had talked to him about having an open relationship before. It was the first time, and she didn¡¯t want to go back on her own words, otherwise, she would have slipped away long ago. Even if she didn¡¯t manage to escape, she¡¯d give him a couple of slaps and kick his gears a few times. ¡°Mutual consent¡±¡ªhe chose to ignore the third word, didn¡¯t he? That dog of a man had even learned how to stir up trouble between her and Wei Jingjing. ¡°You¡¯re not willing?¡± Bo Yan paused briefly, his gaze lowering to her somewhat aroused expression. His lips tilted in a slight smile, ¡°No? I think you seem quite willing right now.¡± Xia Siyu really didn¡¯t expect that after a few years apart, this dog of a man could be so saucy! Back when they were dating, he was like an unattainable flower, revered from afar. Had she not confessed, they might never have been together. Had she not initiated a kiss, their relationship wouldn¡¯t have grown close. Seven years after they separated, three years into their marriage, he had been on his best behavior. Sometimes the way he looked at her even held a hint of disdain. It wasn¡¯t until recently that she discovered what a cad he truly was, so full of flirtatious comments! Moreover, this guy had said that he¡¯d been fantasizing about doing this and that with her¡ªfor seven years! Seven years! During the three years they were married, he outwardly despised her, but he must have fantasized about her countless times in his head. No wonder once Pandora¡¯s Magic Box was opened, this bastard thought of nothing but marital relations every day! ¡°This isn¡¯t willingness, this is a normal reaction.¡± She wasn¡¯t stupid; a reaction was one thing, arousal another, and arousal was worlds apart from having feelings. Unless he was ¡°impotent¡± like Li Weiyi, of course she would react. Well, perhaps a little more intensely. Bo Yan¡¯s smile was calm and assured. Anyway, he had already got what he wanted, and this time, she didn¡¯t hate his sudden assaults as much as before, didn¡¯t kick or punch him. He didn¡¯t mind playing a little game with her. Although he continued, he added two more words, ¡°Really unwilling.¡± Xia Siyu was not one to admit defeat easily; she immediately shook her head, ¡°I¡¯m not willing!¡± Bo Yan this time leaned close to her ear, his voice almost whispering right into it, ¡°Really don¡¯t want to continue?¡± Xia Siyu did not hesitate, ¡°Don¡¯t want to!¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Bo Yan didn¡¯t show the slightest hesitation, and just as the roller coaster was about to reach its most intense moment, he suddenly retreated. Chapter 456 - Chapter 456: Chapter 455 Habits (4) Chapter 456: Chapter 455 Habits (4) Then he swung his long legs over and sat down on one side, seriously soaking in the bath and playing with water. ¡°Huh?¡± The sudden withdrawal stunned Xia Siyu. She hadn¡¯t expected Bo Yan to retreat completely at this moment, leaving herself in an awkward situation. Somehow, she wasn¡¯t actually that keen on this. Even less so, on frolicking with Bo Yan. Choosing Bo Yan was firstly because he was too clingy. Secondly, his personal qualities were indeed superior, and apart from this time letting Wei Jingjing know about their relationship¡ªactually, even if he hadn¡¯t said anything, Jingjing probably would have guessed it, there seemed to be nothing else to pick at. But this feeling of abrupt cessation, like when you¡¯re playing a game and you¡¯re a single enemy away from winning, only for your phone to suddenly die. It wasn¡¯t so much the unwillingness in her heart, but rather this tormenting feeling that was hard to bear. And the dog of a man, with that satisfied expression on his face, it was simply infuriating! She knew he was doing it on purpose. Before, he was begging her, but now he had turned the tables. If she wanted him to continue, she¡¯d have to beg him, concede to his terms with substantial compensation, otherwise, he would definitely not carry on. If he won¡¯t continue, then so be it, who¡¯s afraid of who! So Xia Siyu also sat back down. The bathtub was large enough to accommodate three people bathing together. But when Bo Yan took his bath, he comfortably stretched out his legs. With a height of 183 cm and a proportionate build, he had very long legs. Stretching out like this, he almost occupied half the bathtub. Xia Siyu looked at him and got angry, she stretched out her foot and kicked his leg hard. Had it been on dry land, her kick would have hurt a lot. Unfortunately, in water the resistance was great, and her toes playfully touching his leg ended up looking more like a coy invitation. The kick almost made Bo Yan tremble, but he managed to hold back. The two of them each took a side of the bathtub, ignoring each other. Xia Siyu turned her head angrily, wanting to drink. She suddenly realized that Bo Yan had taken over the spot where she had been sitting, one hand scrolling through his phone by the edge of the tub, and with the other hand, he turned the massage jet to the highest setting causing loud gurgling sounds in the water. He was even drinking from her wine glass! Who allowed him to drink? That was the vintage champagne she had specifically asked Wei Jingjing to buy! Furious, Xia Siyu ¡°swooshed¡± over, snatched the wine glass from his hand and gulped down the contents. Bo Yan wasn¡¯t angry; after she finished drinking, he took the glass from her hand and poured himself a glass. Xia Siyu directly grabbed the bottle, not about to let this bastard take advantage, and decided to down it all in one go! Bo Yan just watched from the side as she tilted her head back and poured the whole bottle of champagne into her stomach. The alcohol content in champagne isn¡¯t high, but Xia Siyu¡¯s tolerance was even lower. The champagne had been in an ice bucket, so at first, the ice-cold, sweet liquid going down was very comforting, perfectly countering the sluggishness in her brain from soaking too long. But as she kept drinking, the warmth of the alcohol steamed up in her stomach, in her chest. That heat rushed upwards, kept rushing, all the way to the top, adding to the confusion already in her brain from the bath. After finishing the drink, she let out a belch and felt slightly dizzy. She initially planned to place the bottle on the side of the bathtub. She had thought it through clearly, but her cerebellum let her hand loosen right above the tub, and the bottle plunged into the water with a plop. And she, the person herself, also tumbled into Bo Yan¡¯s arms. Chapter 457 - Chapter 457: Chapter 456 Habits (5) Chapter 457: Chapter 456 Habits (5) Bo Yan had just been pretending to take a bath on the side, but in reality, every move Xia Siyu made was under his control. Xia Siyu already felt hollow, and naturally, it was tormenting him even more. But he could endure it. This woman was too wild, and he played kite-flying with her, which involved a delicate balance of pulling and letting go. Too tight a grip and the string would snap from stress, but too loose, and someone else might lead her away. A cycle of tension and relaxation is the way of both civil and military affairs, and it must be applied in relationships between men and women, too. But now, it was Xia Siyu who had thrown herself into his arms, and of course, he wasn¡¯t foolish enough to push her away. He just circled her waist and asked her, ¡°Do you want to continue?¡± Xia Siyu had a lot of spirit, and even though she was already limp and without a shred of strength, intoxicated as she was, she still made an effort to extend her paw and push him away, ¡°No.¡± ¡°Really don¡¯t want to?¡± ¡°You¡¯re so annoying!¡± Xia Siyu, who had drunk too much, finally found her fighting spirit. Annoyed by Bo Yan, she swung a punch at him. Unfortunately, her aim wasn¡¯t great; it was meant for his face but landed squarely on his chest instead. Bo Yan had already caught her hand, steadying her to sit on him. It was like Xia Siyu was pushing forward to retreat while hitting backward, and her fighting spirit was off the charts amongst women, leaving them in the dust. But what could be done? She was his wife, taken for better or worse, and divorce wasn¡¯t an option. When Xia Siyu was still conscious, her heart was in hell, but her body was in heaven. Later, even her heart and mind were lost. She decided not to think about it and could only drift along with him after the effects of the alcohol and exhaustion took over¡­ ** Perhaps it was because she had been very active last night, or maybe because she had taken a bath, her body was extremely weary. She hadn¡¯t drunk much, but she had drunk too quickly and gotten drunk all at once, so her mind was a bit foggy. Being both sleepy and tired meant that she slept a very deep sleep. Before this, she had work every day. Even if she started in the afternoon, she had to get up early. Getting ready, makeup, and the commute took several hours. By the time she got home and finished her nightly routine, it was already past midnight. And that was when her schedule wasn¡¯t too tight; sometimes, with a tighter schedule, she had to run to several places in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Not to mention the exhaustion of travel and having to keep a smile on during meals. Being tired with Bo Yan was a physical thing. Work left her both physically and mentally drained. Xia Siyu¡¯s sleep quality had always been excellent, managing to fall asleep the moment her head hit the pillow. But even with this intense work schedule, going non-stop for years without a break, she was beginning to feel overwhelmed. ¡ªOr perhaps, it was because Bo Yan hadn¡¯t been by her side during those days, leaving her feeling somewhat empty. Roaming around the house felt eerily silent like being in another world. Even Xia Siyu herself hadn¡¯t realized that over these past months, she had grown accustomed to having Bo Yan around. Even if they didn¡¯t sleep in the same room, share a bed, or engage in activities, having someone there, even someone she disliked, was still better than being alone, where tears, laughter, and tantrums were her only company. When she woke up the next morning in Bo Yan¡¯s arms again, she turned her head to look at his sleeping face. She no longer screamed or got angry like before. Habit was indeed a scary thing; Bo Yan¡¯s breath, Bo Yan¡¯s body, everything about Bo Yan, had become like a dense web ensnaring her, and she was deeply entrenched, unable to extricate herself. Chapter 458 - Chapter 458: Chapter 457 Habits (6) Chapter 458: Chapter 457 Habits (6) Habit can be terrifying. When he was around, she might find him annoying, but when he wasn¡¯t there, she would unconsciously think of him. Even if she didn¡¯t love him, she had grown accustomed to his presence by her side, accustomed to bickering with him, accustomed to his shamelessness, and even accustomed to¡ªdoing certain things with him. Although she had drunk too much last night, and in the latter part, she had no initiative, only able to passively endure. However, her brain was feeling, and her body was reacting. Bo Yan¡¯s physical prowess was indeed¡ªquite impressive. Yet, she was still not pleased, always feeling that Bo Yan was scheming against her. Even though a woman could also enjoy it, it was clear that Bo Yan was more proactive, his hands going left and right, his moves cunning and smart. His high IQ seemed to be entirely focused on how to scheme her, and he did it with ease. She would always grind her back teeth in anger only when it was happening, wishing she could slap him to death. Little did she know, the more she got involved, the deeper she sank. At least she could still barely guard her heart, not to fall for him, but her surroundings had completely fallen, and she was at a loss¡­ Xia Siyu lazily checked her phone and glimpsed the time: Holy shit, it¡¯s already twelve o¡¯clock! She had finished dinner last night and came back early to soak in the bath and rest. Even though she had fought with him for a while, it shouldn¡¯t have lasted until the wee hours. She had actually slept for twelve hours! As something crossed Xia Siyu¡¯s mind, she suddenly sat up from the bed. This movement of hers also woke Bo Yan. He turned his head and saw Xia Siyu hurriedly twisting her body as if she was preparing to find clothes to put on. The curtains in the room were drawn, dimly letting in light, her long hair cascading down, her back snow-white, her hair jet-black. Her fluffy long hair, and her soft, slender waist without an ounce of extra fat¡ªit was sheer perfection. As Bo Yan watched, he gently stretched out his hand, hooked her waist, and pulled her back. Xia Siyu was still displeased, ¡°Couldn¡¯t you have set an alarm? Didn¡¯t Director Sun say we would have lunch together? They¡¯re expecting us to meet before the time check.¡± Bo Yan pulled her back forcefully, a smile curling on his lips, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, they¡¯ve already gone ahead. I told him last night that we would join the set a few days late. We need to first visit the provincial archives and library. I¡¯ve already arranged appointments for us, and we¡¯ll go tomorrow morning.¡± Although they had already gone through some of the materials, they could still go to the library to check out more information and get firsthand details. Since they were doing this, they wanted to do it best. This was how Bo Yan always approached acting, with thorough preparation. That was why he won Best Newcomer as soon as he debuted and bagged the Best Actor trophy within a couple of years. ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± Bo Yan laughed again, ¡°As soon as I got back, we were stuck together.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s ¡®we¡¯ with you?¡± Although Xia Siyu retorted sharply, she was relieved to have rest and laid back down. She had done things with Bo Yan and slept together many times, but lying together peacefully was a first for them. Xia Siyu felt slightly uncomfortable, wriggling left and right. Bo Yan turned slightly, gently kissed her forehead, and pulled her into his embrace. But Xia Siyu was clearly not one for stillness; she soon lifted her head, ¡°About Wei Jingjing¡­¡± Bo Yan¡¯s voice was still vaguely groggy from waking up, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Song Fengzhi will tell her.¡± However, soon Xia Siyu got up again, but this time it wasn¡¯t intentional; a call came through. It was from Qin Baizhou. Chapter 459 - Chapter 459: Chapter 458 Habits (Bonus for Monthly Votes) Chapter 459: Chapter 458 Habits (Bonus for Monthly Votes) Qin Baizhou sent a message to Wei Jingjing yesterday, but she didn¡¯t reply all night. He actually had a hunch, always feeling that with such a rare opportunity, not to mention Bo Yan, even he himself wouldn¡¯t let it slip by. Bo Yan¡¯s constant fantasies about taking her to shoot a film were just to use the opportunity to spend nearly half a year alone with her, right? Wasn¡¯t it all to deceive her into his arms? Setting aside the disgust between rivals, he was genuinely worried that Bo Yan might lead her astray. For a female artist, time and youth wait for no one, and being lovesick is even less desirable. Acting is a profession that feeds on youth, especially for female artists, whose opportunities to make money are mostly concentrated before the age of forty. During this period, even if Xia Siyu were to date him, he would consider it carefully, hoping she would prioritize her career. But if she were to follow Bo Yan, who knows how Bo might coax her? In case she gets swept off her feet and sinks deep into the luxuries of a wealthy life, possibly retiring from the circle and no longer pursuing her career, her life would practically be predictable from there on. As her manager and as a man, he hoped that Xia Siyu wouldn¡¯t just become a wife confined to a wealthy household but would have her own career and status. Of course, what he felt even more was jealousy. This world is inherently unfair. Some are born with perfect looks, a good family background, enviable intelligence, and resources provided by their family. However, for others, the endpoint of their lifetime of efforts is just someone else¡¯s starting point. He worked so hard, and now, he is only just starting on an equal footing with Bo Yan. Yet in his relationship with Xia Siyu, Bo Yan had already taken the lead. Moreover, he seemed to have developed an insatiable taste for her and couldn¡¯t stop himself. How could he be content with this? The scariest part was that Xia Siyu, too, was gradually leaning toward Bo Yan through their interactions. He was now a bit annoyed; why did he have so much work that he could only deal with mountains of tasks in Yancheng, when even sparing a moment to glance at her was a luxury? So he had no choice but to make a phone call, as a subtle reminder. Xia Siyu and Bo Yan both saw the call coming in. She hesitated for a moment before answering, ¡°Qin Ge.¡± ¡°Siyu,¡± Once Qin Baizhou heard Xia Siyu¡¯s slightly hoarse voice, he knew she had probably just woken up. He asked, ¡°Did I disturb your rest?¡± ¡°Not at all, I was about to get up anyway,¡± Xia Siyu cleared her throat a bit. It was the aftermath of last night¡¯s revelry that left her with a somewhat raspy voice at this moment. Qin Baizhou kindly asked, ¡°Do you have a cold?¡± He knew Bo Yan and she had a physical relationship, but thought they were just the type who¡¯d pull up their trousers and act like strangers after the act, essentially just friends with benefits. He hadn¡¯t expected them to be cuddling up to each other, let alone that they were together at this very moment. ¡°No. Just a bit tired,¡± she said. Just a bit tired¡­ Qin Baizhou felt a slight sinking sensation in his heart. Being shrewd, he could naturally guess what the ¡°tiredness¡± implied. He pretended to be oblivious and changed the subject, ¡°So, how¡¯s it going with the new crew?¡± Xia Siyu nodded, ¡°Pretty good.¡± He then asked, ¡°You and Bo Yan are about to join the crew, aren¡¯t you?¡± Xia Siyu shook her head, ¡°No, they¡¯re going on a location scout first. We¡¯re going to spend a couple of days at the archives before we leave.¡± As expected, Bo Yan had made his move! What ¡®they¡¯re going on a location scout¡¯ if not just to create an opportunity to be alone with Xia Siyu! What Qin Baizhou didn¡¯t expect at that moment was that Bo Yan was indeed creating an opportunity to be with Xia Siyu, his hand stealthily reaching out¡­ Chapter 460 - Chapter 460: Chapter 459: Three Rules (1) Chapter 460: Chapter 459: Three Rules (1) Xia Siyu was on the phone, his paw stealthily climbing up her waistline. Her waist was very slender, firm from long-term exercise. He had tested it last night, finding that a dancer¡¯s waist really is different; the flexibility of her body was quite pleasing, easily performing various difficult movements without struggle. Initially, he was just gently caressing her, like a feather drifting across. Xia Siyu continued her phone conversation, too lazy to bother with him. But then that big hand started to play like it was kneading putty, she frowned slightly, a bit unhappy, even her responses to Qin Baizhou were delayed by half a beat. It took Qin Baizhou calling out a couple of times, ¡°Siyu, Siyu?¡± Only then did she turn her head back and continue the previous topic, ¡°The materials I¡¯ve seen before were all film and literature works; I¡¯ve rarely seen firsthand materials. This trip should give me the chance to encounter some things ordinary people don¡¯t get to see.¡± Indeed, the archives were not open to the general public. It was because Bo Yan had held that political advisory meeting a few days ago, getting in touch with Yu Fenfei and the local leaders; only after they wrote recommendation letters did she get the chance to view the materials. Also, as Bo Yan himself was an N University lecturer, he had connections in the academic circle, which made accessing the materials smoother. Bo Yan might play around, but he was always clear-headed about serious matters. Yet at this moment, Qin Baizhou¡¯s heart felt slightly out of balance, speaking with a cold tone, ¡°Did Bo Yan ask for this? You¡¯re going to shoot a film, not conduct research; do you really need to look into it so detailedly?¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than he heard a soft ¡°hiss¡± from Xia Siyu, followed by a crisp sound, as if something was smacking flesh. He asked, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Nothing much, it¡¯s gotten cooler now, how come there are still mosquitoes?¡± Yes, that giant mosquito, busily sucking at her chest, not painful, just slightly itchy. Bo Yan, accustomed to being hit, took it well. After being slapped, he just smiled and backed off, no longer disturbing her. Xia Siyu continued, ¡°It won¡¯t take too many days. I¡¯ll review the materials for a couple of days, and then for the next month, I estimate we¡¯ll start shooting and live with the villagers.¡± Moreover, the reforestation efforts have been so successful that even the Loess Plateau has many areas now verdant with greenery, and the houses have been renovated. Director Sun, aiming to replicate the environment of the time, might seek out areas that are less developed and greener. It would be rough, but she was no stranger to hardship. But Qin Baizhou felt a tinge of distress, ¡°Do you really¡­ need to work so hard?¡± Many big movie stars don¡¯t necessarily gain a deep understanding of local customs or learn much about the place. Being able to join the group a week in advance to get familiar with the surrounding environment is already commendable in today¡¯s restless age. Movies are not research or academia. No matter how deeply you study, in the end, it depends on the actor¡¯s performance. If the acting falls flat, all is for naught. If well-acted, but the box office flops or the picky film critics and award judges don¡¯t like it, it¡¯s all futile. ¡°Anyway, since I¡¯m already here, it doesn¡¯t hurt to take a look for two days. I believe the audience can tell whether or not effort has been put in.¡± Xia Siyu knew very well that the audience¡¯s aesthetic standards had risen. Stick to the same old tricks, and society would leave you behind. As the two were talking, Qin Baizhou suddenly heard Xia Siyu¡¯s low exclamation, ¡°Ah¡ª¡± It was Bo Yan; his earlier retreat was just to fetch an umbrella, and now he was swooping back over her. Chapter 461 - Chapter 461: Chapter 460: Three Rules (2) Chapter 461: Chapter 460: Three Rules (2) Qin Baizhou was startled, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s nothing,¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s voice trembled slightly. She turned her head back and glared at Bo Yan as a warning. Little did she know, this conveniently facilitated Bo Yan, who stepped forward, bowed his head, and gently sealed her lips with a kiss: ¡°Mmm¡­¡± The more Qin Baizhou listened to this sound, the more he felt something was off. Were it morning or deep at night instead of noon, he¡¯d definitely conjure up some unsavory images. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Siyu?¡± ¡°A bug, a bug!¡± Xia Siyu broke free from the restraint and hastily turned back to explain. And that damn bug was still causing trouble around her. It¡¯s true that the presence of a bug would typically cause most women to scream and their speech to tremble, nothing wrong with that. Even the most capable and strongest of women could instantly turn into a little lamb. Qin Baizhou almost wished he could crawl through the internet cable to display some manliness and help her chase the bug away, ¡°What kind of bug is it? Is it big? Can Jingjing and LaXiaotangittle Tang help? If not, let the staff come and deal with it.¡± He even said, ¡°Aren¡¯t you staying in a five-star hotel? If there are bugs in the hotel, it¡¯s a failure in their housekeeping service. You can complain about this!¡± ¡°Ah, um¡­¡± Xia Siyu seemed to be responding to him, or perhaps someone else. She uttered two interjections, but somehow, it didn¡¯t feel quite right. Especially, in that response, there was also a rhythmic movement which to Qin Baizhou sounded not like someone hitting a bug but rather as if they were up to no good. Qin Baizhou vaguely sensed that something was amiss and asked, ¡°Is there someone else with you?¡± His voice became both serious and sharp. However, Xia Siyu clearly didn¡¯t have the time to chat with him, she quickly took a breath and tried to finish her words, ¡°I¡¯ll talk to you later.¡± Having said that, she hung up the phone decisively. But just before she hung up, he faintly heard what seemed like a man¡¯s low laughter from the other end. Qin Baizhou held his phone, speechless, for quite a long time. It wasn¡¯t until a subordinate, who had been knocking on the door for a long while, did he say, ¡°Come in.¡± Being quite perceptive, the subordinate did not report anything else and just served the coffee he had specifically asked for, then closed the door after himself. Alone in the room, Qin Baizhou stood up, agitated, and loosened his tie, seemingly to help his breathing. He then walked to the windowsill and leaned his hands against the glass. The bright sunshine outside did not disperse the gloom on his face. Last night, he had asked Wei Jingjing to watch over her, but Wei Jingjing didn¡¯t give a definite answer. Now it was noon, but Xia Siyu had just woken up. Her startled scream from before, along with the subsequent weird noises, and her somewhat abnormal behavior. ¡ª¡ªCould it be that she was, just now, with Bo Yan? At that thought, Qin Baizhou felt like ripping off his tie, and even the tailored fit of his clothes seemed too constrictive, the shirt uncomfortably tight. The talent he had nurtured was possibly being poached by someone else. Bo Yan might have spent the night with her, and they could still be together now. He had called, and Bo Yan was probably listening from the side. Combining the fact that she had just got out of bed, he struggled with the thought¡ªcould she be, right now, with Bo Yan¡ªdoing that kind of thing? Chapter 462 - Chapter 462: Chapter 461: Three Rules (3) Chapter 462: Chapter 461: Three Rules (3) ¡°` No way, Xia Siyu isn¡¯t that kind of person. She wouldn¡¯t even let someone she despises enter her sight, let alone her heart. Yet it seems Bo Yan really is an exception. Despite Xia Siyu¡¯s undisguised repulsion towards him, she still lives with him and refuses to move out. Moreover, the two of them clearly share a visible closeness. This behavior, which completely goes against Xia Siyu¡¯s usual principles, must be related to her family matters¡ªunless. Since Qin Baizhou had known her, she never introduced her family to him. Back when he was a lowly assistant and agent without the authority or inclination to pry into her private affairs. She seemed to always be on her own, with no mention of parents or siblings. Even after he had started a new company and signed her, Xia Siyu still hadn¡¯t any social interactions during holidays. Other than her friend Zhou Weiwei, she didn¡¯t post on social media during festivals or buy any gifts¡ªas if she was an orphan. But how can someone actually be an orphan? Even orphans have welfare institutions and adoptive parents. However, Xia Siyu lived as if she was an isolated island. Yet from her appearance on the variety show, her Italian wasn¡¯t bad either. And judging from her behavior and deportment, she didn¡¯t seem like a girl from an impoverished background. When he first met her, her food, clothing, and general lifestyle were not of poor quality, and she was worldly and knowledgeable¡ªa student at N University fluent in English. Many people of ordinary backgrounds who enter the entertainment world are quickly seduced by its superficial glamor and plunge into a life of decadence. However, she remained indifferent to all that, and not even when powerful tycoons threw money at her did she so much as furrow her brow. Clearly, she must come from a wealthy family. But why does she never mention it? What kind of family does Xia Siyu come from? Qin Baizhou vaguely felt that these unspoken matters were the key to Xia Siyu¡¯s attitude towards Bo Yan. However, none of his theories alleviated the anxiety in his heart. He stood up, walked over to the office desk, paced back and forth, and finally made up his mind. He picked up the phone and dialed, ¡°Can my schedule for the day after tomorrow be adjusted a bit? Yes, I have some personal matters to take care of. No need for the company to book the tickets, I¡¯ll handle it myself.¡± After hanging up the phone, he looked at the window glass. The entertainment company, to prevent paparazzi snooping, had installed privacy glass. He could clearly see his own reflection mirrored on the window glass. This time, he was determined to let Xia Siyu know his true feelings! ** On her end, after Xia Siyu hung up the phone, she had the urge to turn around and slap him. Bo Yan was so annoying, she had warned him not to do such things at this time. If someone took notice, how would she ever face people again? But just as she prepared to turn around and hit him, Bo Yan made a swift move, and she let out a startled cry. Bo Yan quickly lowered his head and whispered in her ear, ¡°You¡¯re actually very happy, aren¡¯t you? I could feel it during the phone call just now; you were especially happy.¡± Artists often have to hide their true selves, only showing the audience a well-crafted persona or performance. While keeping private lives secret, these feelings that flirt with the brink of discovery only intensify. He had noticed it last time at the door, and this time was even clearer. Happy my ass! She had initially thought Bo Yan was a person of supreme rationality. Later, she discovered that his so-called rationality was only because he hadn¡¯t had his fill of enjoyment. When it came to things that truly made him happy, he was crazier than anyone. Chapter 463 - Chapter 463: Chapter 462: Three Rules (4) Chapter 463: Chapter 462: Three Rules (4) People can¡¯t always be indulged in intuition, following it blindly. What¡¯s the difference between us and animals then? In the entertainment industry, she had seen too many people fall from grace because of their desires. Rationality is like a floodgate; if you hold it back, it¡¯s all good, but if you let go, things can spiral out of control. That¡¯s how she was with Bo Yan, carelessly letting him close in on her step by step. What was worse, she herself had grown accustomed to being with Bo Yan, to bantering with him, living under the same roof, sleeping in the same bed, doing things together¡­ But she still hoped to have her own small circle, not wanting to be influenced by Bo Yan, nor did she want him meddling too much in her work and life. After all, he was just a legitimate friend with benefits. You give him an inch, and he takes a mile. She hadn¡¯t even agreed to like him yet! Not to mention, whether she agreed or not, he hadn¡¯t even said he liked her. Why should he meddle so much in her affairs? Next, Bo Yan could feel Xia Siyu¡¯s resistance, though it wasn¡¯t to the point of kicking and beating, but her uncooperative attitude was practically written all over her face. Bo Yan was somewhat anxious on the inside too. He could feel that although Xia Siyu seemed to be retreating step by step on the surface, the resistance in her heart was still strong. He was trying so hard now but couldn¡¯t seem to pry open a small gap in her heart; it was like she was still repelling him. After it ended, he behaved himself and didn¡¯t cling to her. After they both finished cleaning up, Xia Siyu did indeed stop him, ¡°I have to set some ground rules with you.¡± Bo Yan looked at her indifferently, neither agreeing nor objecting. He comfortably leaned back on the sofa, resting an elbow on the armrest, and lazily lifted his chin, ¡°Let¡¯s hear them.¡± ¡°First, if you continue to reveal our relationship in front of others, including Wei Jingjing, Little Tang, and Brother Qin, we will immediately end this friends-with-benefits relationship, and you¡¯ll never get close to me again.¡± When Xia Siyu spoke, she was incredibly serious. If it weren¡¯t for the slight blush still on her face from just after exercising, and her voice being too soft, perhaps her words might have carried more weight. So that means no more public flirting, only secretive sleaziness, huh? Bo Yan did not object, and then asked, ¡°What¡¯s the second thing?¡± ¡°Second, you can¡¯t force me when I¡¯m unwilling. And I¡¯ve noticed you might have a psychological issue; you seem to enjoy doing things when there are people around. I don¡¯t like it, I firmly refuse.¡± It was the same last time by the door, and even worse this time. Especially just now, if she hadn¡¯t reacted quickly, Qin Baizhou would have discovered them long ago. ¡°But you just now¡­ you clearly enjoyed it.¡± ¡°But I don¡¯t want to bear the consequences of being discovered! You might not care with your thick skin, but I can¡¯t handle it.¡± Speaking of thick skin, Bo Yan glanced at Xia Siyu, his face showing some confusion. She wasn¡¯t someone with special interests, no desire to expose her private life to others. She especially didn¡¯t want others to know about her relationship with Bo Yan. Although she grew up in Italy since she was young, she also had a strict family education. Wen Qunxiao, throughout her upbringing, wished she could keep her under lock and key, not letting any boys get close to her. ¡°In any case, if you dare to act recklessly again, you can just get lost!¡± Bo Yan responded with an ¡°oh¡±, ¡°Anything else?¡± ¡°No touching me in public places either, like you did on the plane. No intentional closeness! Aren¡¯t you aware of your own fans¡¯ fighting strength? I¡¯m not afraid of them, but I don¡¯t bother dealing with the backlash.¡± Bo Yan nodded again, ¡°Is that all? Then what about tonight, how are you planning to take the initiative?¡± Chapter 464 - Chapter 464: Chapter 463: Three Rules (5) Chapter 464: Chapter 463: Three Rules (5) ¡°You still¡­ want to?¡± Xia Siyu looked down at him skeptically. Last night, they had been at it for a long time, and they started again as soon as they woke up. Now it was already one in the afternoon, she hadn¡¯t eaten, and she felt like he had taken her apart. Wasn¡¯t he¡­ tired at all? ¡°Isn¡¯t this just a halftime break? By evening, surely I¡¯ll be rested enough.¡± Was that too much? Thinking about it, he was nearly thirty now, and it hadn¡¯t been until recent that he ¡°got to eat meat¡±. Besides, he and Xia Siyu weren¡¯t always together. Being a celebrity, one trip could last for ten days or half a month. Since her birthday, they had been apart for quite a long time. After such a long wait to reunite, what¡¯s wrong with him being a little eager? Plus, once they start shooting, they¡¯d be immersed in work and definitely wouldn¡¯t have time to be clingy. If they didn¡¯t make the most of their leisure time now, they¡¯d have nothing to eat once work began. Qin Baizhou was watching them so closely that, even if he wasn¡¯t here, he¡¯d send a spy (Wei Jingjing), and he even personally made calls to catch them in the act (just now). Xia Siyu didn¡¯t like being disturbed. What if Qin Baizhou called every day? Would they still be able to do it? What if Qin Baizhou arranged work for her every day? Would they still get to spend time together? Bo Yan even emphasized, ¡°Anyway, we don¡¯t have anything on today. We¡¯re only going to the archives the day after tomorrow, so today is our free time, right? And let¡¯s not forget, after getting married, we never lived together for three years and didn¡¯t even have a honeymoon. We¡¯re both busy with work, and it¡¯s rare for us to have time together like this. The crew has gone to scout the location this afternoon. There won¡¯t be anyone else here to disturb us, just the two of us.¡± Xia Siyu was a bit suspicious that this guy had deliberately sent the crew away and arranged to go to the archives tomorrow morning, as if he had planned to have today to themselves all along. She even thought about rejecting him. ¡°What if I don¡¯t want to?¡± Bo Yan looked utterly calm, even generous in a way, ¡°Then it¡¯ll be tomorrow night. I¡¯m patient. I¡¯ve waited seven years before, so one more night doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯m still waiting for you to ¡®take the initiative¡¯.¡± Speaking of taking the initiative, Xia Siyu remembered something and specifically checked the delivery records. Isn¡¯t it a coincidence that this evening, after the crew left, the ropes, candles, and studded shoes she ordered would arrive? The whip wasn¡¯t included, but no matter, his belt could serve the same purpose. Xia Siyu clenched her teeth and said with determination, ¡°Tonight then, tonight! It¡¯s agreed that I¡¯m the one who will initiate, you¡¯re not allowed to make a move! If you dare to disrupt my taking the initiative, don¡¯t blame me for being merciless when I turn on you!¡± Bo Yan knew she had laid a trap. But no worries, with her little brain, trying to outsmart him would probably be difficult in this lifetime. His lips curled slightly, and his gaze also carried a seductive charm, ¡°No problem. I believe this will be an unforgettable night for us.¡± Xia Siyu bit her back teeth: ¡°Not just unforgettable, I¡¯ll definitely make it unforgettable for the rest of your life!¡± The two of them tidied up and then left the room. Wei Jingjing had been waiting outside the door and hesitated upon seeing them come out together. Xia Siyu¡¯s face showed constriction, grinding her teeth in anger, looking like she wanted to bite off a piece of his flesh. Bo Yan, on the other hand, was all smiles, in high spirits, and even teased upon seeing Wei Jingjing: ¡°Jingjing looks a lot prettier recently.¡± Xia Siyu thought, damn it, shameless, stirring up trouble between her and Wei Jingjing yesterday, and now sucking up to her today! Chapter 465 - Chapter 465: Chapter 464: Three Rules (6) Chapter 465: Chapter 464: Three Rules (6) The most infuriating thing was how Wei Jingjing, shameless as she was, beamed with delight when complimented by a handsome man, ¡°Really? I also think I¡¯ve slimmed down quite a bit recently.¡± Bo Yan was always especially generous in such moments, and he even suggested, ¡°Does Jingjing know if there is anything delicious around here? I¡¯m treating today, so order whatever you want, don¡¯t hold back.¡± Wei Jingjing wasn¡¯t local, so she turned to look at Xia Siyu. Xia Siyu spoke up directly, ¡°Let¡¯s go to the most expensive place! We¡¯re not asking for the best, just the priciest! Don¡¯t be polite to him, bring on the full Manchu Han Imperial Feast!¡± Bo Yan nodded with his exceptionally good temperament, looking at Xia Siyu with a face full of indulgent smiles, ¡°Of course, you must have been tired last night, eat more to replenish yourself. Men, especially straight men, don¡¯t like skinny girls who are all skin and bones; I prefer you with a little more weight. When I touch your chest, it feels like they¡¯ve shrunk recently.¡± Xia Siyu was so angry, she was about to slap him. But Bo Yan was clever, he didn¡¯t dodge and instead pointed towards the distance, ¡°Look, the cleaning lady!¡± Xia Siyu reined in her anger in a second and quickly turned her head, ¡°Where?¡± The corridor was utterly empty. On the executive suite floor, so far, only he and Xia Siyu were staying. More precisely, Bo Yan had bought all the rooms on this floor to get close to her. The vacant rooms were allotted to his own close associates like Song Fengzhi, Wei Jingjing, and Little Tang; no one else was staying on the same floor. The other rooms were empty as well. Furthermore, he had instructed Song Fengzhi to contact room service, to not come knocking for cleaning unless they called for it; they would only come up if they asked, otherwise, even if no one responded all day, they were not to disturb this floor. He wasn¡¯t afraid at all. But Xia Siyu didn¡¯t know this, so she immediately toned it down, thinking other rooms were occupied. Soon they agreed to go out to eat, and as expected, Bo Yan took them to a restaurant where the average cost per person was over 1000. The advantage of an expensive restaurant was its quiet and sparse crowd. They sat in a private room, and as usual, Bo Yan ordered oysters and shrimp, and also selected loaches, squab, and so on. If the restaurant¡¯s menu had included it, he probably would have ordered snake meat. Even the side dishes he ordered were pine nut corn and leek with eggs. Xia Siyu quickly googled, damn it, they were all aphrodisiacs. After they finished eating and returned, the film crew was almost ready to do a site visit, including Director Sun, everyone went except for Bo Yan and Xia Siyu. In front of others, Bo Yan instantly turned serious, discussing earnest matters about film shooting and acting; his clothes were impeccably neat, not a hint that this guy could be such a beast. But as soon as the film crew members left, after dinner, Bo Yan sent her a message: ¡°Baby, my dear, wife, are you there? Whenever you¡¯re ready, I¡¯ve already showered.¡± Along with this message, he also sent a photo of himself in the bathroom. Previously, Xia Siyu had seen photos of him in a bath towel showing off his six-pack abs. This time, however, he wasn¡¯t even wearing a bath towel, arrogantly sending a selfie of himself. Looking at the photo, Xia Siyu suddenly felt an urge to post it online and let others curse him to death! She held back, looking at the candles, ropes, and high heels she had prepared, she finally mustered some courage, ¡°Then come on over.¡± You little twerp, if I can¡¯t make you die a thousand deaths this time, I¡¯ll make sure that from now on, every time you see my face, you¡¯ll be incapable of getting it up! Chapter 466 - Chapter 466: Chapter 465 I Love You (1) Chapter 466: Chapter 465 I Love You (1) Bo Yan was well-prepared when he arrived, deliberately wearing nothing but a loosely tied bathrobe, not even shorts underneath. The less he wore, the less there was for her to take advantage of. Beyond that, he had brought a whole box of little umbrellas, and then nonchalantly knocked on the door across the hall. ¡°Baby, darling, I¡¯m all ready. Hurry up and open the door, let me in.¡± Xia Siyu looked through the peephole and saw this guy acting so arrogantly, not caring about the hotel corridor¡¯s surveillance, nor worried about being overheard. She didn¡¯t know that Bo Yan had booked the entire floor and even though the paparazzi knew they were going to shoot a film, the rumor he had spread was that he followed the crew to scout locations; they¡¯d mostly follow the crew and wouldn¡¯t stay here. Her second reaction was, no trousers? Without trousers, what about the belt? She thought about it and decided since the rope she bought was long, she¡¯d just use the rope to tie him up. Although it might not have the same effect, it could still teach him a lesson. Xia Siyu opened the door and saw Bo Yan with an ill-intentioned face, while Bo Yan himself was grinning from ear to ear. She held back for a long time, resisting the urge to hit him right then and there, and even said, ¡°Since we agreed that I should be the one to take initiative, from the moment you step through this door, you must listen to me completely!¡± Bo Yan smiled and nodded. Xia Siyu took a silk scarf, folded it neatly, and said, ¡°I¡¯m going to blindfold you, and I¡¯ll only rip it off when we start.¡± Bo Yan nodded, but didn¡¯t move. Instead, he spread his arms in a posture inviting her to do as she pleased. Xia Siyu added, ¡°Bend down.¡± It was only then that Bo Yan bent down. At that moment, he glanced at Xia Siyu¡¯s attire. Though she was wearing a loose bathrobe on the outside, the tip of an iceberg peeping through seemed to be made of a leather-like material, with a V-neck style underneath that was incredibly sexy. The hem of her dress ended where the bathrobe¡¯s hem did, making it almost impossible to notice she was wearing that dress underneath unless one looked closely. It was so fiery hot; he liked it. Xia Siyu blindfolded him and took his hand to lead him inside. When she held his left hand, his little finger slid intentionally or unintentionally over her palm, tickling her. Xia Siyu mentally cursed, damn this old lecher, seducing her at a time like this, he won¡¯t even know how he dies later! She led him all the way to the front of the bed, his knee bumped against the edge of the bed; they had arrived. Bo Yan didn¡¯t move, and Xia Siyu wondered, ¡°Lie down.¡± Bo Yan calmly spoke, ¡°How would I know how to lie down? Should I lie down facing up, on my side, back, or lie down on my stomach?¡± What the hell! Xia Siyu was speechless, she pushed him. He was strong and muscular, impossible to push. Xia Siyu got a bit angry and was about to push him with both hands when Bo Yan suddenly grabbed her hand and pulled her beside him, then quickly lay down. Xia Siyu, caught off guard, fell down with him. She hurriedly got up, fuming. This damn pervert, starting to create chaos now! She quickly pushed him away! ¡°Behave yourself! Lie down in a ¡®spreadeagle¡¯ position, now!¡± Bo Yan¡¯s lips curved slightly, but he didn¡¯t lie down properly and seductively lay on his side, facing her. His bathrobe had come undone during the previous action, revealing glimpses of clothing underneath. Xia Siyu was furious, ¡°Are you going to obey or not? If you don¡¯t, I¡¯m leaving.¡± Bo Yan then smiled and complied with her request, ¡°Don¡¯t spare me because I¡¯m a delicate flower, go hard!¡± Chapter 467 - Chapter 467: Chapter 466 I Love You (2) Chapter 467: Chapter 466 I Love You (2) ¡°Little troublemaker, thinking you can be so arrogant, I won¡¯t let you off so easily!¡± Bo Yan saw her attire and immediately understood what this rascal was up to. Although he reckoned he¡¯d inevitably suffer a bit later, what she didn¡¯t know was how incredibly beautiful she looked from his perspective! Xia Siyu gritted her teeth and said firmly, ¡°I¡¯m very democratic, you know. Which do you want to try first? Do you think playing with candles is fun, or would you prefer a whipping? Or maybe, you like the feeling of high heels stepping on you?¡± Bo Yan smiled wryly, ¡°Bring them all on. I think playing with fire might be quite interesting.¡± ¡°Okay, wait for it!¡± Xia Siyu first put down the rope, then turned to grab a lighter. Bo Yan took the opportunity while she turned her head to test the bonds himself. Xia Siyu thought she had tied the ropes tightly, but in reality, she had no real skill in knotting and was also afraid of going too far, so the knots she tied were slipknots. Besides, she couldn¡¯t find any particularly strong rope at short notice, so she ended up just buying some hemp rope, which wasn¡¯t very thick. The hotel beds did not have iron railings; she had tied Bo Yan to the handles of the bedside tables on each side. He didn¡¯t even need to undo the knots, just applying a little smart force was enough to slip the rope off the handles, and escape would naturally follow. Bo Yan tried and it wasn¡¯t very difficult. But he knew that Xia Siyu was in a bad mood and if he didn¡¯t let her vent this simmering rage, she would cause trouble later. If she wanted to hit, let her hit. Besides, he had previously studied Sanshou and done various outdoor trekking and tough training; this pain was nothing compared to that. A wife hitting him a few times wasn¡¯t a big deal. Xia Siyu quickly lit the candle and approached with a grin, ¡°Bo Yan, want to try what playing with fire feels like?¡± While waiting for the candle to melt, she kicked his bathrobe aside with the sole of her high heels. And sure enough, Bo Yan¡¯s front was lean and muscular, strong and upright. Even lying down, the lines of his muscles were faintly visible. His expression showed not a hint of fear, as if he was not the least bit aware of the danger; on the contrary, he seemed exceptionally cheerful. ¡°Damn it, I¡¯ll show you!¡± As soon as the candle wax was ready, Xia Siyu didn¡¯t hesitate to drip it onto him. However, Bo Yan had a normal reflexive response but merely shivered a bit, and he even laughed, ¡°My wife is so good to me, it doesn¡¯t hurt at all.¡± Wei Jingjing had been afraid of an accident, so she bought low-temperature candles, the kind used on birthday cakes that don¡¯t hurt when dripped. Xia Siyu dripped a few more drops on him, but Bo Yan remained unfazed, laughing righteously, ¡°Is that enough? Shall we start then?¡± Start my foot! Xia Siyu turned and grabbed the thin hemp rope, giving him a hard lash. Unfortunately, the hemp rope was no whip, and to achieve a whipping effect, one needed skill. She lashed out hard, but the rope being too long and floppy, although the places where he was struck reddened a bit, Bo Yan showed no reaction. This wasn¡¯t working, that wasn¡¯t working, Xia Siyu got anxious and, still in her high heels, prepared to step on him. Alas, the heels were too thin, and the bed too soft; as soon as she climbed on, she lost balance and fell right on top of Bo Yan. Far from being polite, he immediately sealed her lips. Xia Siyu, furious, got up with such force that she made a ¡®pop¡¯ sound. Bo Yan was eager to try: ¡°Wife, the night is deep. Untie my ropes and let me embrace you.¡± In your dreams! Xia Siyu slipped away, leaving him to lie there and catch the Northwest wind by himself! Chapter 468 - Chapter 468: Chapter 467 I Love You (3) Chapter 468: Chapter 467 I Love You (3) Bo Yan didn¡¯t chase after her. Once she had left, he patiently freed his hand from the knob of the nightstand drawer and untied his legs. He put on his bathrobe again, this time tying it very tightly before getting up unhurriedly. He cleaned the wax off his body and didn¡¯t go looking for her directly. Instead, he returned to his own room to get a room card¡ªit was Wei Jingjing¡¯s room card. In the middle of the night, Xia Siyu had nowhere else to go. She could only head to Wei Jingjing¡¯s room. Sorry, but he had booked the entire row of rooms. Originally, Wei Jingjing and Song Fengzhi were staying downstairs, but Bo Yan had kindly upgraded her to a suite, moving her up to this floor. Having the opportunity to stay in a larger room, Wei Jingjing was certainly willing and had trotted upstairs eagerly. What she hadn¡¯t expected was that, while Bo Yan upgraded her room for free, he naturally also took another room card for it. Bo Yan was utterly composed as he walked straight up to Wei Jingjing¡¯s door and knocked: ¡°Are you in there?¡± Xia Siyu was certainly inside; she hadn¡¯t expected Bo Yan to free himself so quickly. But it didn¡¯t matter, she had dripped the wax and pulled the rope. Even though the scenario where she flogged him senseless hadn¡¯t happened, she had still let off some steam. At that moment, she had no intention of opening the door. Did she look stupid? With a smug laugh, she said from inside: ¡°If you can, come on in!¡± Bo Yan replied from outside: ¡°Come out then.¡± Xia Siyu responded: ¡°You come in.¡± She had expected Bo Yan to be frustrated all night. Instead, he immediately answered: ¡°Since you¡¯re inviting me so warmly, then I¡¯ll come in.¡± After saying that, he swiped the room card and opened the door. Ever since yesterday, when Bo Yan didn¡¯t even pretend and boldly took an umbrella to Xia Siyu¡¯s room in front of her, Wei Jingjing knew how far those two had progressed. Luckily, when Xia Siyu had asked her to prepare those ¡°instruments of torture,¡± she had the foresight to replace them with less dangerous substitutes. After the whipping, Xia Siyu slipped into her room, triumphantly suggesting that her ¡°instruments of torture¡± gave Bo Yan a bit of a hard time, while Wei Jingjing thought to herself, ¡°Oh, my na?ve sister, just look at your IQ. Competing with Bo Yan in a battle of wits is a dead end for you.¡± Sure enough, there was Bo Yan, confidently swiping open her room door, appearing right in front of them both! Xia Siyu was infuriated at the sight: ¡°How did you get in?¡± She turned towards Wei Jingjing: ¡°You traitor! Did you give him the room card?¡± She must have buckled under Bo Yan¡¯s threats and temptations and handed over the room card. Wei Jingjing quickly shook her head: ¡°I didn¡¯t!¡± She might have switched the candles and the rope, but she wouldn¡¯t go that far! Bo Yan watched the internal squabble unfold with a leisurely gaze, then kindly offered a piece of advice: ¡°She didn¡¯t give it to me. I helped her upgrade to this room for free, so I also have a room card.¡± Damn, this jerk had been waiting for this all along; she hadn¡¯t seen it coming at all! Xia Siyu also hid behind Wei Jingjing: ¡°No, I refuse! And this is in front of an outsider, I won¡¯t leave this room. You¡¯ve already broken two of the three rules you promised me!¡± Bo Yan¡¯s temper was always particularly good at such times: ¡°Since it¡¯s inconvenient for Jingjing to be here and you don¡¯t want to leave, then Jingjing can go to your room first. As long as I¡¯m with you, any place will do for me.¡± Wei Jingjing had a full head of black lines, and only at this moment did she truly realize how crafty Bo Yan could be. Chapter 469 - Chapter 469: Chapter 468 I Love You (4) Chapter 469: Chapter 468 I Love You (4) ¡°` No wonder Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t escape his Five Finger Mountain. He had her completely wrapped around his finger. Then again, only Xia Siyu could resist Bo Yan¡¯s charm for so long. Anyone else might have thrown themselves at him, crying out ¡®husband¡¯ long ago! At this time, Bo Yan turned away from Xia Siyu and smiled at Wei Jingjing, ¡°Jingjing, please step out for a moment. I have something to discuss with my wife.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s your wife!¡± Xia Siyu fumed. Both of them knew too well that Bo Yan was referring to the literal meaning of ¡°wife.¡± Bo Yan smiled, a helpless and indulgent expression on his face, ¡°After you put on your pants, you act as if nothing happened. That¡¯s not what you were saying when you were sitting on top of me last night.¡± His tone was that of a wronged woman from a secluded boudoir, but it was Bo Yan who had said it. Xia Siyu felt a shiver of disgust, her face flushed a bright red. She quickly retorted, ¡°You, you¡¯re talking nonsense!¡± Bo Yan lifted his head, his face looking somewhat sorrowful, ¡°Touch your conscience, am I telling the truth or not? Was it not you who said you only wanted to have fun, that we¡¯re both adults and you don¡¯t need me to take responsibility. You only wanted a physical relationship with me, no emotions involved. I know, in any relationship, the one who gives more gets hurt. But I never imagined you could be so completely carefree about it. Clearly, we¡¯ve had something going on for years, and all these years you¡¯ve kept it from your friends, never giving me a chance to be officially with you.¡± Holy shit, this bit of information was huge. Especially that line, ¡°we¡¯ve had something going on for years,¡± indicating that Xia Siyu had been in an intimate relationship with Bo Yan for quite some time. And she was the one who hit and ran after playing around? No wonder she never had a boyfriend these years. With a man like Bo Yan, how could she care for anyone else? No wonder Bo Yan hadn¡¯t been linked to any scandals over the years. Having had a substantial relationship with Xia Siyu, a woman of her caliber, obviously, no one else could catch his eye. So that¡¯s why Xia Siyu had never admitted to having any relationship with Bo Yan. When asked if they were lovers, she denied it, doing so with utter confidence. Indeed, they were not lovers, or it could be that Bo Yan was the only one giving his heart while Xia Siyu just wanted to have fun. Not only did she not acknowledge it, but she also disliked others associating them together. At last, their awkward yet close relationship had come to a head! Wei Jingjing felt her entire worldview shattering. She turned around, her gaze filled with doubt, collapse, and admiration? Yes, admiration. To have had her fun with a top-tier male god like Bo Yan and then to hit and run¡ªtruly thrilling! Xia Siyu also saw Wei Jingjing¡¯s complex look and quickly denied, ¡°It¡¯s not like that, it¡¯s not!¡± ¡°Are you still denying it? Weren¡¯t you the one who said you only wanted to be f*ckbuddies with me, that you didn¡¯t want to invest your feelings in me, that we were only about physical intimacy, and that you would leave without a second thought once you found someone you truly liked? I¡¯ve been with you for so many years, and just last night you were close to me several times, and now you¡¯re denying it all¡­¡± ¡°Enough!¡± Xia Siyu was both furious and anxious, her good reputation squandered utterly by him. She couldn¡¯t hide behind Wei Jingjing anymore. Instead, she marched forward in her high heels, thumping her small fists against his chest, a picture of frustrated rage. Bo Yan let her hit him, a look of despair, humbleness, and deep affection on his face. When she was done hitting, he still hugged her, ¡°Even so, my feelings for you are still¡­¡± Chapter 470 - Chapter 470: Chapter 469 I Love You (5) Chapter 470: Chapter 469 I Love You (5) Xia Siyu fainted with anger. She looked up to curse at him but was cut off as Bo Yan seized the opportunity, sealing her lips with his. He had embraced her tightly before, and now he simply wouldn¡¯t let go. Xia Siyu struggled for a long time but couldn¡¯t overpower him; all she could do was endure his tempestuous onslaught. Wei Jingjing was utterly dumbfounded, feeling that even a ton of heart-saving pills wouldn¡¯t be enough to recover from the night¡¯s shocks. Especially since these two were now flaunting their affection right in front of her, kissing in an entanglement hard to break. Once they parted, Bo Yan swiftly swept Xia Siyu into a horizontal carry. Naturally, Xia Siyu was unwilling, struggling fiercely, but he didn¡¯t care about her scratching and thrashing. Turning his head, he cast a look at Wei Jingjing that was simultaneously resigned and brimming with lonely passion, ¡°My apologies for the spectacle, I¡¯m taking her away.¡± ¡°Who said you could decide on your own? Who allowed you to take me away?¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s protests were futile. Especially since, although Bo Yan had exaggerated earlier, every word he uttered was indeed what she had said earlier, leaving her unable to refute him. Bo Yan pushed the door open with his elbow, and amidst Xia Siyu¡¯s cursing and swearing, he took her out. Xia Siyu was desperate, turning back to Wei Jingjing, ¡°Wei Jingjing, whose assistant are you? Why aren¡¯t you helping me? Please, help me, stop him. Save me¡ª¡± ¡°Bang¡ª¡± The moment the door closed again, Wei Jingjing behind it made no sound at all. My goodness, what did I just witness? Is this a tragic soap opera script that these two are acting out? Except Bo Yan is the deep-feeling male lead, while Xia Siyu is like the classic wicked female antagonist. ** Bo Yan took her back to her door, where Song Fengzhi had already been notified and was now waiting. First, to prevent anyone from seeing, and second¡ªto conveniently open and close the door for him. Half an hour later, Xia Siyu found herself back on the same bed as before. Only this time, the roles were reversed; she had been the initiator before, but now she was at a disadvantage. Bo Yan threw her onto the bed, and Xia Siyu sprung up, attempting to flee. Bo Yan was prepared¡ªwith the rope she had prepared, he pulled her hands up high and deftly tied her wrists with a ¡®Lu Ban knot¡¯: ¡°Remember this; to tie someone up, you have to do it like this. Don¡¯t struggle; the more you struggle, the tighter it gets.¡± He secured her in just a few movements¡ªnot a dead knot, but locked tight. The Lu Ban knot, as its name suggests, like the structures invented by Lu Ban, isn¡¯t a dead knot, but it might as well be one. And the more force used, the tighter it binds. Xia Siyu of course struggled, but it was just as he had said; the more she exerted herself, the tighter it became. Bo Yan also casually took the scarf she had prepared and blindfolded her with it. Yet, it wasn¡¯t so tight she couldn¡¯t see; light blurred through faintly. The feeling was strange; she writhed like an insect, sensing that Bo Yan had removed her robe without rushing to do anything more, but instead patiently began to explore her bit by bit. With her sight covered, her other senses seemed magnified. She felt somewhat angry and a bit afraid, but most strangely, it seemed that her sensations were now more intense. ¡°You bastard, Bo Yan! If you dare, let me go, you shameless man!¡± The time wasn¡¯t right yet; Bo Yan drew closer bit by bit, finally turning Xia Siyu¡¯s cursing into a voice tinged with an unbearable tremor. It was at that moment he invaded, whispering enticingly like the devil at her ear, ¡°Remember, this is the feeling I give you.¡± Chapter 471 - Chapter 471: Chapter 470 I Love You (6) Chapter 471: Chapter 470 I Love You (6) Xia Siyu felt as if she had gone to the seaside and ridden on a banana boat. The boat sped along, and as she sat at the bow, cutting through the wind and waves, clinging for dear life, it was just enough to keep from being thrown off. It was like she was skiing, having taken on a level-three slope, racing down with lightning speed. She had to twist and turn, dodging pedestrians and obstacles¡ªif she made even the slightest mistake, she would tumble off the cliff. She also felt like when she was a child practicing dance, with her mother marking spots on the ground. Swinging to the music, she had to step precisely on the marked points with every move. A single misstep would throw the entire dance off rhythm. Yet, even under such extreme tension and excitement, she was like those people who did extreme sports¡ªwith adrenaline surging suddenly, dopamine starting to secrete wildly, she wanted to scream, to scratch, hesitating between fleeing and continuing. Though in the middle of it all, Bo Yan had untied the ropes that bound her. But it wasn¡¯t until the very end that he removed her blindfold. The moment her eyes were graced with light again, what she saw was Bo Yan¡¯s handsome face up close. As dashing as he was in the beginning, as brave as ever, she was both angry and resentful, yet despite that, she knew deep down: The feelings Bo Yan evoked in her were too profound. Even though her heart hadn¡¯t completely succumbed, from then on, she could no longer hide from this man. Bo Yan continued to embrace her for a very long time. Xia Siyu, quite uncharacteristically, did not push him away, and the two remained in silence, holding each other. When both of them finally moved, Bo Yan looked at her, and she at him. Bo Yan suddenly leaned in close and fiercely sealed her lips with his. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t hit him, nor did she resist. In the moment he closed in, she even cooperated a little. This slight cooperation nearly drove Bo Yan mad; he held Xia Siyu, and they rolled from the head of the bed to the foot, reluctant to part for a long time. After they separated, the first thing Bo Yan said was, ¡°Siyu, marry me. I¡¯m very serious. I really want to be with you, not just to rest together at night, but to share the daytime life, the everyday work. I really want to be by your side, I really do.¡± Xia Siyu looked at him, his eyes shimmering. She didn¡¯t reply as decisively as before, but in that moment, she still refused, ¡°I don¡¯t want to.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Bo Yan grew a bit frantic. She had clearly been truly happy just now, happy enough to scream, cooperate, and even bite him. Their relationship was already so good, why wouldn¡¯t she agree? ¡°No reason, I just don¡¯t want to.¡± Xia Siyu shifted her body, turning her back to him, leaving him only the back of her head. But this time, Bo Yan truly wasn¡¯t willing to let it go: ¡°Tell me what I¡¯m lacking, and I can change.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to change, I just don¡¯t want to. Even if you did, I wouldn¡¯t want to. You don¡¯t like me, it¡¯s just for the body, so why talk about marriage.¡± Her feelings came intensely, but her break-ups were decisive. She could end a relationship as soon as she said it, able to pick up and let go easily. If it weren¡¯t for Bo Yan¡¯s relentless pursuit, they probably would never have had such intimate moments. Moreover, Bo Yan wanted to marry her without even saying he liked her. Why should she? Did she owe him anything? Bo Yan was very serious this time, forcefully twisting Xia Siyu¡¯s shoulder so she faced him: ¡°Are you stupid? Can¡¯t you see what I feel for you? Xia Siyu, I love you!¡± Chapter 472 - Chapter 472: Chapter 471 Archives (1) Chapter 472: Chapter 471 Archives (1) ¡°It¡¯s not because of your body, it¡¯s just because of you! If it weren¡¯t for loving you, would I pester you and bother you every day? Listen up, Xia Siyu, I don¡¯t like you, I love you!¡± Xia Siyu tugged at the corner of her mouth, ¡°Are a man¡¯s words in bed credible at all?¡± Just to satisfy his desire, what wouldn¡¯t he say, what shameless act wouldn¡¯t he do? He loves her? Why can¡¯t she feel it? If he loved her, he should treat her well unconditionally, he should have been tolerant of her all these years, not just get emotional every time he sees her! Bo Yan was furious, how else was he supposed to prove himself, how much more did he need to prove. Initially, when he heard she had entered the entertainment industry, he disguised himself and went undercover in her fan club. Because she entered show business, a star scout noticed him, and he didn¡¯t hesitate to give up his own career and the chance to inherit Bosch, plunging headfirst into the entertainment world, all to get closer to her. When he heard that she was the partner for an arranged marriage, he immediately agreed without a second of hesitation. At that time, she detested him, and even though he longed for her, he didn¡¯t dare to approach her freely, only able to suppress his own emotions. A man might feel a momentary impulse for a woman. But if a man constantly feels an impulse for the same woman, there¡¯s no need to think about it, you definitely like her. What¡¯s more, after the impulse, he kept insisting on taking responsibility, got a marriage certificate, made promises, and swore to take care of her for life until they grew old. If this isn¡¯t love, then what is it? But Xia Siyu¡¯s heart was like a rock, totally unaffected, ¡°Oh, okay, I get it. Just because you love me, I must love you? Sorry, I can¡¯t do that. Bo Yan, I have loved you, but that was in the past. I don¡¯t want to love you now, and I won¡¯t in the future either.¡± Sorry, she isn¡¯t the heroine from some melodramatic CEO romance novel who¡¯s oblivious to the male lead¡¯s feelings, only to have a happy ending once she finds out. She was selfish, and also because of her parents¡¯ failed marriage, she had been cautious about relationships from a young age. After that failed romance with Bo Yan, she never thought about rekindling the past. Even now that they had been intimate, she didn¡¯t want to give away her true feelings. She wouldn¡¯t divorce Bo Yan until she won the Best Actress award and could stand proud before the Xia family. Bo Yan had been pursuing her relentlessly, and considering he was quite good in both personal and technical aspects, and they were physically very compatible, she didn¡¯t mind keeping things as they were. But love was a luxury, and she didn¡¯t want to give that out. She didn¡¯t want to give it to Bo Yan, and for the time being, she didn¡¯t want to give it to anyone else either. No man had yet managed to open her heart and make her accept him unconditionally, both flaws and merits. But Bo Yan was certainly relentless. Xia Siyu, currently feeling disheartened, also didn¡¯t feel anything for Qin Baizhou¡¯s courting. But what if she really learned of Qin Baizhou¡¯s feelings and decided to settle for less, running off with Mr. Qin? Maybe men could separate body and soul, but women should be a little different, right? They were so compatible, so why wouldn¡¯t she give him a chance? ¡°What misunderstanding did we have in the past that you hate me so much? Just say it, I can change. I swear, since I met you, you¡¯ve been the only woman for me. I¡¯ve never liked anyone else,¡± Bo Yan said, and then, as if realizing something, he added, ¡°Is it because of Xia Sicai? The Xia family was planning an arranged marriage with the Bo family back then, and she did pursue me, but I never agreed from the start to the end.¡± Chapter 473 - Chapter 473: Chapter 472 Archives (2) Chapter 473: Chapter 472 Archives (2) Xia Siyu began to recall the past, and in fact, she was indeed troubled by Xia Sicai at the time. Not just initially, but now as well. For her, the real enemy wasn¡¯t Shang Feifei, who competed with her, nor was it Li Yiru, who occasionally wanted to mooch off the spotlight. It wasn¡¯t those jesters on the sidelines like Jiang Bumei and Li Weiyi either. Her real enemy, from beginning to end, was only one, and that was Mrs. Tong and Xia Sicai. It was Xia Family that wouldn¡¯t recognize her and her mother, and even hurt her mother! Anyone who stood on Mrs. Tong and Xia Sicai¡¯s side, no matter who, she disliked. Anyone who didn¡¯t draw a clear line with Xia Sicai and was close to her, was her enemy! Bo Yan indeed had never been involved with Xia Sicai, at least not before they broke up. There were no misunderstandings between them either. But at the time, his not rejecting Xia Sicai¡¯s approach was, to Xia Siyu, a form of betrayal! Maybe in that relationship, Bo Yan didn¡¯t do anything terribly wrong. But precisely, he hit her sore spot. Added with the stimulation of that event, she decisively broke up with Bo Yan. ¡­ Seven years had passed, and time healed everything. She once fell for Bo Yan at first sight, her passion arriving swiftly. But as quickly as love came, it also left. Over the years, she acted in dramas, shot commercials, fought against haters, switched companies; she experienced it all. Those trivial matters of love and affection were already drowned by an endless sea of work. Speaking frankly, if it weren¡¯t for Bo Yan constantly pestering her, if it weren¡¯t for the fact that they temporarily couldn¡¯t divorce, if it weren¡¯t for her need to study acting and perhaps needing something from Bo Yan, she wouldn¡¯t have let him approach her step by step. In the world of adults, there¡¯s not so much lovey-dovey stuff. It¡¯s already quite difficult to have mutual interests. Xia Siyu yawned, turning over, ¡°Talking so much about love, isn¡¯t it tiring? You may not be tired, but I am. Aren¡¯t we good just like this? Anyway, we can¡¯t get a divorce, I crave your body, and you crave mine. Isn¡¯t it nice to maintain a stable, emotionless intimate relationship?¡± ¡°Who says it¡¯s nice? Besides, is such a relationship stable?¡± Bo Yan felt a strong sense of crisis, although he also didn¡¯t think Xia Siyu would so easily have relations with others, but certainly, emotionless relationships change quickly. After all, without emotions, who you¡¯re with doesn¡¯t really matter, does it? ¡°Unless you promise that before you find a man whom you truly fall for, one you¡¯re willing to give your all for, divorce, and completely sever our current relationship, even if it¡¯s just a little flutter, you can¡¯t leave me. Of course, the same applies to me. Unless I find a woman that makes me want to divorce and have a strong wish to spend the rest of my life with her, I won¡¯t leave you.¡± A moment¡¯s infatuation is easy, but after that flutter passes, maintaining a stable and lifelong commitment to love is difficult. Physical relationships are fleeting. If Xia Siyu truly falls head over heels for a man, willing to divorce and spend her life with him, then even if Bo Yan felt miserable inside, he could only smile and wish her well. Xia Siyu frowned, unwilling to speak. But Bo Yan sealed her lips with his, and after a long, deep kiss, he whispered in her ear, ¡°I swear, if there is such a man, one who is even better than me, and he truly treats you well, and you¡¯re willing to divorce and be with him forever. I¡¯ll let go. But if not, please stay by my side. Always.¡± Chapter 474 - Chapter 474: Chapter 473 Archives (3) Chapter 474: Chapter 473 Archives (3) Xia Siyu still hadn¡¯t spoken, but Bo Yan didn¡¯t continue to plead. Actions spoke louder than words. He leaned down and held her very tightly. Xia Siyu unusually didn¡¯t resist him, even feeling that the position was uncomfortable, so she shifted to a more comfortable one, feeling happy and even cooperating. But this kind of cooperation made Bo Yan feel incredibly anxious. In China¡¯s traditional views, after a man becomes intimate with a woman, the woman usually develops a special kind of emotion towards that man. Even though it¡¯s not ancient times anymore, where touching a woman meant you had to take responsibility, there¡¯s still a subtle difference between two people after having a substantial relationship. But not for Xia Siyu. He originally thought that when Xia Siyu said there was no emotional attachment in their intimacy, she was just talking tough. She was just putting on an act, and there still had to be some difference in how she felt about him. But now, she could enjoy it, could even cooperate with him, yet her guard was locked tight, not giving him any crack to show himself. Even now, as close as they were, as intimate as they were, she was happy and even screaming, leaving a few bite marks on his shoulder, but her eyes were still cold, she never got under his skin. He hadn¡¯t thought about controlling her life or possessing her. But he wanted her to accept him, wanted to rely on his own efforts to restore a normal family life for a married couple. But it went against his wishes. Even now, she was still unwilling to accept him. What exactly did he have to do to breach her defenses, to make his way into her heart? There was a moment when Bo Yan even thought, why not let her get pregnant. The bond of blood, the flesh and blood nurtured together by two people, must make a difference, right? But that idea was fleeting and was quickly dismissed by him. She was an artist, and getting pregnant at this time would mean ruining her career, ruining the honors and status she sought for the rest of her life. How many female artists faded out of the entertainment industry because they got married and had children? Even if they managed to make a comeback, they were never the same. Society is harsher on women, especially on female artists. He couldn¡¯t let his selfishness destroy Xia Siyu¡¯s work and her aspirations. He loved her, not harmed her. But at the last moment, he picked her up, making her face him, watching his own reflection become blurred in her pupils. He didn¡¯t kiss her, just embraced her, then whispered in her ear, ¡°What do I have to do?¡± So that you¡¯ll agree to me? Xia Siyu didn¡¯t answer, and he didn¡¯t continue to ask; they both fell back while remaining in the embrace. ** However, a little change came from Bo Yan¡¯s efforts. The next morning, after the two of them got ready, they set off for the archives together. After the embarrassing ¡°retaliation¡± last night, Wei Jingjing was fully aware of these two people¡¯s relationship; seeing Xia Siyu and Bo Yan leaving together, she showed no surprise whatsoever. So did Xia Siyu; since everyone present was a close friend, there was no worry about anyone leaking the information, she no longer rejected contact with Bo Yan, and they both descended the stairs together and rode in the same car. The person in charge of reception at the archives was someone called Director Liu. Bo Yan handed him a letter of introduction, and he readily granted them access. At the archives, the first step was to use the computer to search for the direction of research, look up the approximate catalog, and then find the corresponding shelves. But since the letter of introduction was only for two people, Song Fengzhi and Wei Jingjing didn¡¯t follow. Chapter 475 - Chapter 475: Chapter 474 Archives (4) Chapter 475: Chapter 474 Archives (4) It is widely known that Xia Siyu dropped out of college in her sophomore year and had never even made a PowerPoint presentation. In the years following her dropout, except for checking Weibo to see who cursed at her, she hardly ever used a computer. Now with a smartphone, she hardly ever plays on the PC. Facing the huge list of search entries, she was a bit baffled. She didn¡¯t know what to search for, what books to search for, and then how to read them. She tried entering the system, but she still didn¡¯t know what books to search for; even if she could search, she was somewhat clueless. Bo Yan quickly found the entries he wanted to read, took out his notebook, and wrote them down. Turning around and seeing Xia Siyu still looking confused in front of the computer, he sighed, walked over, came up behind her, and gently placed his head next to her ear. His hand covered hers that was holding the mouse, helping her search, ¡°Here.¡± At this moment, he was just pressing his chest against her back, lowering his head, with one hand holding her hand to operate the mouse and the other slender, well-defined hand leaping across the keyboard. Xia Siyu had been intimate with him too many times; their current kissing and doing things no longer made her feel embarrassed or nervous. But it was precisely this kind of bold proximity in a public area that gave her a sense of closeness beyond awkwardness. This was an archive, there was nobody else around, but it was also a public space. She turned slightly, and Bo Yan, focused, was reliable when he wasn¡¯t messing with her, serious about his work. Sure enough, he quickly found the project and softly said, ¡°Done.¡± Xia Siyu nodded, took a look, and tried to memorize it with her brain. Bo Yan asked her, ¡°Did you bring a pen?¡± Xia Siyu naturally shook her head, ¡°I grew a brain, I have memory!¡± Bo Yan sighed, wrote it down for her, and tore off the page to give to her, ¡°Here.¡± Xia Siyu took the entry, but still felt as if he was making fun of her intelligence, and a bit annoyed, she tapped her shoes walking towards the bookshelves. Finding a book in the archive was much the same as in a library. She took the entry, first found the major category, then searched one row after another by alphabetical order. After much effort, she found the book she wanted, but on looking up, it was on the very top shelf. Xia Siyu tiptoed. Unfortunately, she didn¡¯t wear high heels since she came to read books today. With a height of 168 cm, this was the first time she felt it was not enough; if she was just a few centimeters taller, she could have reached the pages. But unfortunately, there were no stools or footstools nearby; with her height, it was hard to reach the topmost books. She hesitated for a moment, if worst came to worst, she could just take off her shoes and try stepping on the lower shelf. At this time, Bo Yan had already found all the books he wanted and turned back to see Xia Siyu tiptoeing, struggling to find the book. Bo Yan didn¡¯t need any hesitation and came straight up: ¡°I¡¯ll get it for you.¡± Xia Siyu turned to look at him and didn¡¯t object. So Bo Yan put his own books aside and went behind her to help her find books. He was behind, and she was in front, his tall stature enveloped her completely. Though he wasn¡¯t hugging her, he was pressed against her back, arms raised, nearly encasing her entire being. In front of her was the bookshelf, and behind her was him. He blocked the diagonal rays of light from behind, as if she was shrouded entirely by him. The man¡¯s voice was deep and mellow, like a cup of wine, ¡°Is this the one?¡± She turned her head and her gaze met Bo Yan¡¯s. Chapter 476 - Chapter 476: Chapter 475 Archives (5) Chapter 476: Chapter 475 Archives (5) Xia Siyu may have been straightforward, careless, and influenced by Western thought, but she was also a woman. A woman, no matter how rough her temperament may be, is often a little more delicate than many men, more sensitive to touch, and more attentive to small details. Nowadays, society has changed, and many women have embraced a more open perspective toward their personal lives. However, even though many women have become more liberated in terms of their bodies, they still feel moved by the tender, gentle, and caring little acts of their male partners. Of course, being moved is not the same as liking someone, nor is it love, but a little flutter could be enough to melt the ice on her heart. Just like now. No matter how many sweet nothings Bo Yan whispered in her ear last night, she always felt that most of them were spoken to ensure a more enjoyable night¡¯s sleep in the future. Men never skimp on their linguistic talents in these matters, saying whatever sounds nice. But once out of bed and the room, it might not be the same scene as before. But this kind of contact in a semi-public setting, nonchalantly yet attentively, could cause a woman¡¯s heart to race. At least she felt it a little right now. Xia Siyu was usually carefree and sufficiently independent. She not only disliked men micro-managing her or being authoritative, but she also disliked being treated like a delicate plant that required unconditional pampering and care. She was capable of independence, with her own personal needs and dignity. However, being cared for and looked after felt very nice. She raised her head and quickly glanced at the book he was holding. Those archive folders, covered with dust and smelling of ink, were too hard to make out anything with just a brief scan. But the book in Bo Yan¡¯s hand was so close because they were standing so near each other that to examine it carefully, she would have to lean against Bo Yan. ¡°¡­That should be it, I suppose.¡± ¡°Is it?¡± Bo Yan didn¡¯t step back. He just tilted his head slightly and quickly glanced over the subtitles on the archive folder. Actually, he had probably found the right one, based on the entry Xia Siyu had just copied down, but he teasingly said to her, ¡°I don¡¯t think it is.¡± ¡°Then keep looking,¡± Xia Siyu murmured. Perhaps it was because this was an archive, much like a library, where a certain level of quietness needed to be maintained. Archives are not like libraries where just anyone can enter, but even so, this was still a public area. Although the staff responsible for overseeing and managing the archives might be sitting quite far away by the door, possibly enjoying their computer and browsing the internet, she still didn¡¯t want to make any noise here. Bo Yan was right. She did indeed feel particularly elated when there might be others around. It wasn¡¯t just her; he felt the same way. Deep down, people have a bit of a naughty streak, finding more joy in carrying out private acts in public spaces, relishing the thrill of being on the edge of discovery and nondiscovery. Bo Yan nodded. Even though Xia Siyu might not have seen this nod, he did indeed continue looking for the book earnestly. He stepped forward half a pace¡ªXia Siyu was already between him and the bookshelf, and with his step, she was completely pressed against the shelf. Her back was against shelves and books, enveloped in ink and dust. In front, was his body, as solid as steel. She looked around¡ªthere was no one else here. The only archivist was still tapping away on a keyboard and mouse in the distance, apparently not glancing in their direction at all. Chapter 477 - Chapter 477: Chapter 476 Archives (6) Chapter 477: Chapter 476 Archives (6) Bo Yan squeezed over to look and then shook his head, ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like it.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s not, then change it!¡± Even Xia Siyu herself hadn¡¯t noticed that her voice sounded a bit ¡°frustrated,¡± but it was also coquettish, with a slight tremble at the end. It was only now that Bo Yan had understood. In fact, when Xia Siyu said she hated him and didn¡¯t want to open up to him, it was her true inner desire. She was independent enough and had a strong inner self. She was the typical tough on the outside but soft on the inside type, saying one thing but meaning another, not responding to force but to gentleness. The more you forced her, the more she resisted. But if you treated her gently, considered her feelings, and respected her, she could feel the good in you. But just being good to her wasn¡¯t enough, as was the case with Qin Baizhou. His kindness to Xia Siyu was unquestionable, but Xia Siyu, being quite straightforward, would take Qin Baizhou¡¯s kindness as ¡°friendship,¡± not as ¡°boyfriend.¡± Bo Yan had the advantage of having been her boyfriend before. But even if he hadn¡¯t, he would approach her at once, giving her the ambiguous emotions between a man and a woman. He was rattled by Xia Siyu¡¯s ¡°no¡± yesterday, but now, he figured out the strategy and knew how to work on winning her heart in the future. ¡°I can¡¯t change, you¡¯re my wife, how could I change you?¡± Bo Yan also intentionally lowered his voice, which sounded particularly captivating in the quiet archives room. He didn¡¯t make any deliberate moves, even took a half step back, giving her some breathing space. But it was precisely this subtle approach that made Xia Siyu feel even more restless. Xia Siyu felt nervous and worried, but besides the fear of being discovered, there was an inexplicable emotion. Particularly, the staff member, maybe thinking they hadn¡¯t found the book after so long, got up to approach, ¡°Did you find it?¡± But Bo Yan definitely wouldn¡¯t let go, neither moving nor leaving. Hearing the staff member¡¯s footsteps getting closer, Xia Siyu grew anxious. The more anxious she became, the angrier she got. After getting angry, all she thought about was how to escape this situation. And escaping naturally involved her most familiar tactic: A knee jab. The staff member came over, and Bo Yan and Xia Siyu stood quite apart. Bo Yan, with a composed expression, stood upright flipping through the index. Only the sweat on his forehead and his flushed face betrayed the pain. He even had to deliberately steady his voice when speaking, to avoid giving himself away, ¡°It¡¯s fine, we found the book, thank you.¡± What the staff member didn¡¯t notice was that Bo Yan walked with his legs pressed together, like a timid bride, shuffling slowly to the reading area. Xia Siyu turned back to see Bo Yan¡¯s wretched state, and even though she snorted with a scrunched-up nose, ¡°serves you right,¡± she didn¡¯t realize that her snort didn¡¯t sound as disgusted as before, but rather had a hint of schadenfreude. Although Bo Yan was in pain, he felt that she wasn¡¯t as repulsed by him as she was last night. It proved his approach was correct: he had to be considerate of her, care for her, and gradually influence her. Sometimes he had to let himself be sacrificed, to let her vent her frustrations on him. It¡¯s just that, ouch¡ª He hoped that she would choose a different spot next time, as this ¡°part¡± couldn¡¯t withstand the wear and tear. Time always flies when reading. By the time the archives were closing, they hadn¡¯t finished with the books, and they agreed to continue the next day. As soon as they left the archives, Bo Yan was holding her hand when a voice called out from outside, ¡°Siyu.¡± It was Qin Baizhou. Chapter 478 - Chapter 478: Chapter 477 I Like You (1) Chapter 478: Chapter 477 I Like You (1) Xia Siyu was startled for a moment, perhaps because Qin Baizhou had always been the one to guide her, or perhaps because she had always concealed her relationship with Bo Yan in front of him. She reflexively flung Bo Yan¡¯s hand away. With that fling, both she and Bo Yan noticed it, and, of course, Qin Baizhou across from them noticed it too. Bo Yan furrowed his brows. He was aware that they needed to hide their relationship in public, but this was the archive, where hardly any outsiders came. When they¡¯d come out, the entire courtyard was empty, except for their car; there were no outsiders around. Isn¡¯t it said that romances in the entertainment industry can¡¯t be hidden? Because if you truly have feelings for someone, you will inevitably reveal traces. Xia Siyu had not yet agreed to him, it was just Bo Yan unilaterally getting closer, and Qin Baizhou had seen it. But he was still a bit annoyed. After all, the man standing in front of her wasn¡¯t just her manager; he was also a man who liked her, his rival in love. Yet he kept in mind Xia Siyu¡¯s thoughts; even though he really wanted to go up and hold her hand, he restrained himself, respecting her wish to keep their relationship hidden. Xia Siyu was also slightly taken aback; she had rejected Bo Yan¡¯s hand too decisively. Although she was indeed not accustomed to showing her relationship with Bo Yan in front of Qin Baizhou, the force of her push seemed a little too cruel. But it was just a fleeting emotion that quickly disappeared. She nodded at Qin Baizhou and then turned to Wei Jingjing, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me that Qin Ge was coming?¡± Wei Jingjing was also surprised. The night before last, after Qin Baizhou had asked her to keep a close eye on her and Bo Yan, he had not spoken another word. Then today, out of the blue, he called her, asking where Xia Siyu was. She said that Xia Siyu was at the provincial archive, and an hour later, Qin Baizhou¡¯s taxi appeared at the entrance of the archive, waiting with him for Xia Siyu to come out. Wei Jingjing faltered, but it was Qin Baizhou who smiled, ¡°It¡¯s nothing to do with her; I came on my own.¡± On a business trip? With their line of work, indeed there were many opportunities for travel. Although Xia Siyu was a bit puzzled, she did not inquire further. He then said, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you wanted me to take you for hotpot? I happen to be free today, let¡¯s go for some authentic local beef tallow hotpot. The beef and mutton from the Northwest are superb, perfect for hotpot. You¡¯ve finished reading your books, right? Are you free tonight?¡± Xia Siyu nodded, ¡°I am free, it¡¯s just that¡­¡± She still found it strange how Qin Baizhou happened to arrive just in time to catch them at the entrance of the archive. Qin Baizhou also asked, ¡°Is it Director Sun and the others? If they are still around, it might be nice to invite them to join us for hotpot.¡± Xia Siyu shook her head, ¡°No, Director Sun and the others went on a location scouting earlier, they¡¯ve just left.¡± Qin Baizhou smiled again, ¡°You haven¡¯t had dinner yet, right? Come on, let me treat you. I know a really good hotpot restaurant.¡± As he spoke, noticing Xia Siyu¡¯s slight hesitation, his gaze darkened slightly, but then he lifted a gentle smile again, ¡°Would you like to join us, Teacher Bo?¡± Qin Baizhou had just seen them holding hands, and also witnessed Xia Siyu¡¯s firm rejection. That meant these two were not yet at a point where they could be open about their feelings in front of him; she still had reservations. And since the person who flung the hand away was Xia Siyu, it proved that in this relationship, although Bo Yan seemed to be the initiator, the one truly holding the reins was Xia Siyu. Chapter 479 - Chapter 479: Chapter 478 I Like You (2) Chapter 479: Chapter 478 I Like You (2) As long as her heart doesn¡¯t waver, and she isn¡¯t deceived by Bo Yan, he still has a chance! Indeed, after Qin Baizhou brought up Bo Yan, all the people on the scene, including Wei Jingjing, glanced at Bo Yan. There was a tiny bit of worry. Bo Yan, on the other hand, was composed, lifting a smile, ¡°Mr. Qin has gone to great lengths. I shall humbly comply.¡± Although Xia Siyu¡¯s action of breaking free just now made him a little sad, it could also prove in a reverse way that in Xia Siyu¡¯s heart, she wasn¡¯t as nonchalant as she imagined. Their past, their marriage, and the time they spent sleeping together recently must have left some mark on her heart after all. If it were the past, she would face the overwhelming fury of his fans without hesitation and mockingly say, ¡°I have nothing to do with him.¡± But now, she doesn¡¯t have the confidence, unable to utter that sentence. A physical relationship is still a relationship. At least, he¡¯s several steps ahead of Qin Baizhou. If Qin Baizhou wants to see him show off his affection, he¡¯d secretly flaunt it right in his face! So, a group of people silently got into two cars, Xia Siyu with Qin Baizhou, Wei Jingjing, and Little Tang in one, and Bo Yan with Song Fengzhi, his driver in another. After getting in the car, Xia Siyu was actually quite at peace. She knew that as long as Qin Baizhou wasn¡¯t blind, he must have seen Bo Yan try to hold her hand. But she didn¡¯t know if Qin Baizhou was aware of how far things had developed between the two of them now. She didn¡¯t love Bo Yan, but it was a fact that she and Bo Yan had developed a close connection. They couldn¡¯t get divorced, they lived together, she needed his support professionally, and there was also physical intimacy between them. It would be best if Qin Baizhou didn¡¯t find out, but it was only a matter of time before he did. After all, Qin Baizhou was her agent; she could simply explain it away if it came down to that. However, after Qin Baizhou got in the car, he didn¡¯t ask about Bo Yan at all. It seemed as if he deliberately ignored the action of her pulling away her hand earlier and only asked her about the customs of the Northwest, inquiring if she was suffering from any discomfort due to the new environment. Since he deliberately ignored it, Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t be bothered to bring it up. After all, this was her own private matter. Even the contract she had signed with her company did not contain the clause ¡°Love will be punished¡± (because at that time she was already married to Bo Yan), but only ¡°Love must be reported to the company.¡± Qin Baizhou had seen it, and it was up to him to ask or not. But the atmosphere in the car was strange. Xia Siyu chatted with Qin Baizhou about the Northwest¡¯s weather, cuisine, and climate with a calm face, not mentioning what had just happened at all. Little Tang and Wei Jingjing didn¡¯t dare to breathe too loudly, especially Wei Jingjing, who had worked under Qin Baizhou for three years and knew all too well the meaning of the words ¡°smiling tiger.¡± Qin Baizhou wouldn¡¯t dare get angry at Xia Siyu, but he might take it out on her, blaming her for negligent supervision. But when it comes to matters of love, could surveillance really prevent anything? Bo Yan said they had been in touch for years, but it was only recently that signs were caught. Their interactions before had been unknown to the company and her. Upon arrival, Qin Baizhou had booked a luxurious private room. The hotpot here was based on butter, mutton, and seafood. The so-called ¡°fresh¡± literally meant the combination of fish and goat. Once the dishes were served and the waiter left, Xia Siyu sat alone in the center, Bo Yan on her left, Qin Baizhou on her right. Wei Jingjing sat opposite her, a perfect picture of being flanked on both sides, no, a scene of bumbling support! Who knows if Xia Siyu could hold up with two scheming men vying for her attention. Chapter 480 - Chapter 480: Chapter 479 I Like You (3) Chapter 480: Chapter 479 I Like You (3) The entire private room was quiet as a grave, with the exception of Wei Jingjing and Little Tang, even Song Fengzhi and Bo Yan¡¯s driver dared not utter a word. Although Bo Yan poured and drank his own wine leisurely, seemingly at ease, and Qin Baizhou casually chatted with Xia Siyu, presenting an aura of peace, everyone could sense the undercurrents about to erupt at any moment, as if someone was about to flip the table and start a brawl. The atmosphere was tense, ready to ignite. If Shang Feifei or Xia Sicai, those Tai Chi masters adept at subtle influence, were there, they might have been able to smooth over the situation. If Li Yiru was present, she would have humbled herself to soothe everyone. In fact, Xia Siyu really held her own. Not only did she hold her own, she did it with ease, showing no signs of avoidance. Now and then she¡¯d ask Qin Baizhou to pass the dishes, then Bo Yan for a tissue. It was precisely Xia Siyu who seemed completely oblivious to the tension, truly thinking that Bo Yan was quite nice, very quiet, and kept his hands to himself. Qin Baizhou was also good to her; despite witnessing her close interactions with Bo Yan, he didn¡¯t rebuke her, even sharing jokes with her instead. After observing for a while, Wei Jingjing was exasperated. Xia Siyu¡¯s straightforward nature¡­ sometimes it was hard to tell if it was a good or bad thing. She seemed genuinely unaware of the brewing troubles. When the last dish was served, she even said, ¡°I want this lamb! It¡¯s got a milky scent, isn¡¯t gamey, and smells delicious.¡± Qin Baizhou smiled faintly and advised her, ¡°While lamb is good, it can easily cause heatiness. Plus, this type of rich milky-flavored lamb is actually high in fat, which can lead to weight gain. It¡¯s better to eat it with fish, shrimp, and white radish¡ªit¡¯s low in calories and healthy for the body.¡± Xia Siyu ate with her cheeks puffed out, frowning slightly. Xia Siyu loved to eat, but she also gained weight easily. Eating a bit extra usually meant she had to run on the treadmill for two hours sweating buckets. But what did it matter if she ate a little more now? She was about to stay in a village where she wouldn¡¯t even have the chance. Bo Yan, knowing her preferences, silently picked up the cumin lamb that had just been served and hadn¡¯t been touched by anyone else and placed it in her bowl using his own chopsticks. Xia Siyu had grown up in a Western household, accustomed to separate dining. That habit continued after she entered the company. Of course, as a celebrity, she had her own chef and specialized meals, which didn¡¯t generally require sharing with others. However, Qin Baizhou knew that she was slightly averse to others picking food for her. Even if someone did so at a dining event, she wouldn¡¯t eat it. But at this very moment, when Bo Yan picked food for her, she didn¡¯t think twice and stuffed it directly into her mouth. Finding it tasty, she helped herself to several more pieces. She certainly minded other people¡¯s saliva, but Bo Yan was different¡ªthey had kissed countless times after all. Moreover, while living together in Qingcheng Apartment, Bo Yan often cooked food for her, and sometimes she¡¯d even snatch food from his mouth. Qin Baizhou narrowed his eyes. It was well-known that Xia Siyu had poor sleeping habits. Her eating manners, though instructed by her mother, were decent, but due to being a little careless, her face would often end up smeared with sauce. Now, while eating hot pot, sauce unfortunately smeared above her mouth. Qin Baizhou reminded her, ¡°Siyu.¡± He pointed to the spot on Xia Siyu¡¯s cheek. Lifting her head from the bowl, Xia Siyu looked confused, utterly oblivious to what Qin Baizhou was referring to. Qin Baizhou pointed at the same location on his own face, ¡°Here.¡± ¡°What?¡± Still puzzled, Xia Siyu was at an impasse when suddenly, someone reached over from the side and gently wiped the sauce from the corner of her mouth. Chapter 481 - Chapter 481: Chapter 480 I Like You (4) Chapter 481: Chapter 480 I Like You (4) Afterward, a slightly doting but with a touch of annoyance and a hint of haughty voice rang in her ears. ¡°Idiot, over here.¡± It was Bo Yan. Bo Yan¡¯s fingers were slender and fair, with distinct joints. If a piano teacher saw them, their first thought would be that these hands were perfectly suited for playing the piano. Although Xia Siyu and Bo Yan had engaged in more intimate actions in private, in front of so many people, especially in front of Qin Baizhou, his hand lightly grazing her cheek brought a subtle sense of oppression, like a bird skimming over the calm surface of a lake, stirring up ripples. Even though Xia Siyu had just pulled away his hand, at that moment, his proximity effectively confirmed their relationship, even though she hadn¡¯t admitted it. Not only that, after Bo Yan deftly retracted his hand, he also brought the fingers that had just caressed her cheek to his lips. His tongue curled around them as if savoring the taste on the fingertips. Afterward, he lifted his eyelids, and those peach-blossom eyes were looking at her, and then he slightly hooked his lips. The fleeting expression in his brows and eyes clearly showed that he was pleased. Fuck, this guy is flirting again. After Bo Yan finished all this, everyone in the room was looking at him. Their gazes were a mix of surprise, inquiry, and curiosity. Bo Yan, however, remained composed and gestured, ¡°Eat, why aren¡¯t you eating? Wasting food is not good.¡± Xia Siyu was the one who responded to his words. Since everyone in the room probably knew about her relationship with Bo Yan by now, she couldn¡¯t be bothered to explain anymore. Besides, she was hungry, and the cumin lamb needed to be eaten quickly before it cooled down and lost its taste. With her picking up her chopsticks, everyone else also resumed their meal. Wei Jingjing wished she could bury her face in her bowl, even shrink herself down until Qin Baizhou could no longer see her. Only Qin Baizhou kept his smile for a very long time, but it was so prolonged it seemed waxen and stiff. The dinner was quickly over, and Qin Baizhou paid the bill, and the group then walked back. Upon reaching the hotel, Qin Baizhou hadn¡¯t booked a room yet. He went to the front desk, intending to book a room close to Xia Siyu¡¯s, but unfortunately, Bo Yan had booked the entire floor¡¯s rooms, so he had to settle for one on the floor below. Knowing he was booking a room, Bo Yan felt relieved: that was close, it was fortunate he had booked all the rooms on this floor. Not only did it ensure that his comings and goings with Xia Siyu weren¡¯t noticed by others, but he had managed to sneak into Wei Jingjing¡¯s room the night before, and today successfully avoided Qin Baizhou. It was indeed killing several birds with one stone! Once Qin Baizhou finished booking, the group went upstairs, but instead of returning to his own room, Qin Baizhou handed his room card to Wei Jingjing, ¡°Jingjing, help me tidy up and keep my luggage for now. Also, there¡¯s a document in my bag that needs processing. Help me organize it back there. I¡¯ll need to look at it later.¡± Wei Jingjing understood this was his way of sending her away. Qin Baizhou must have something he wanted to discuss with Xia Siyu alone. She nodded and went down a floor ahead of the rest. The rest of the group continued to the same floor. Song Fengzhi and Little Tang opened their room doors one after the other, leaving only Bo Yan, Xia Siyu, and Qin Baizhou at the end. In the corridor, only the sound of their three sets of footsteps could be heard. Xia Siyu then asked, ¡°Qin, do you have something else?¡± Qin Baizhou nodded, glanced at Bo Yan, and added, ¡°Yes, I have something I need to talk to you about alone. It¡¯s very important.¡± Chapter 482 - Chapter 482: Chapter 481 I Like You (5) Chapter 482: Chapter 481 I Like You (5) Xia Siyu saw the look in his eyes turn toward Bo Yan, and she knew what he was about to ask. Frankly, if Qin Baizhou didn¡¯t ask about such a significant matter between her and Bo Yan, that would be strange, given they had known each other for seven years and he was her agent. By all means, both emotionally and logically, he should be aware of the situation. Xia Siyu, however, was quite calm. Even though she still did not want to develop a spousal or romantic relationship with Bo Yan, it would be better for the agency to know. It would make any future issues easier to explain. She nodded and swiped the room card: ¡°Please come in.¡± Bo Yan smiled as well and did not stop her, simply saying, ¡°Good night. Call me if you need anything, I¡¯ll be next door.¡± Xia Siyu did not respond to him, and entered the room first. As soon as Xia Siyu left, Qin Baizhou, who followed her into the room, glanced back at Bo Yan with no trace of a smile on his face. The moment he entered, Qin Baizhou had already felt traces that Bo Yan had been living there. Two pairs of disposable slippers were opened. A look inside the bathroom revealed two sets of toiletries, whose seals had been broken. Although he had not seen any men¡¯s clothing, two water glasses had been used. Clearly, Bo Yan had stayed here before. He actually had a hunch already, being aware of the relationship between Bo Yan and her, and knowing that cohabitation and sleeping together was just a matter of time. Unexpectedly, things had progressed so quickly; they had only been in the Northwest for two nights and were already living together. Xia Siyu appeared very open about it. Upon entering, she took off her high heels, slipped into the hotel slippers, threw off her bag, and twisted open a bottle of mineral water at the minibar. Then, turning around, she asked, ¡°Would you like some water?¡± Qin Baizhou shook his head and sat on the sofa. Seeing the look on Qin Baizhou¡¯s face, Xia Siyu knew what he was going to ask, so she simply answered, ¡°Bo Yan and I are involved. But our relationship is not what you think, or in other words, we¡¯re not yet lovers.¡± Qin Baizhou, abandoning his usual mild demeanor, looked at her with piercing eyes, ¡°Not lovers, just living together, is that it?¡± He just didn¡¯t spell it out clearly, but what he really wanted to ask was, isn¡¯t this essentially a friends-with-benefits arrangement? Xia Siyu did not deny it: ¡°Yes, the Qingcheng apartment is also his. I live there. Initially, I had no such relationship with him; it was just an accident. But now¡­ if I have to be precise, I indeed have no intention of developing a long-term relationship with him. He won¡¯t make it public either and is likely to cooperate with me in continuing to keep it a secret.¡± Normally, Xia Siyu seemed oblivious, but she had a clear set of principles in her mind when it came to major issues. She understood very well where each person stood. In the entertainment industry, these fleeting affairs, these on-set marriages, are far too common. Her purely physical relationship with Bo Yan wasn¡¯t even considered particularly outrageous. Moreover, they weren¡¯t cheating, there were no third parties involved, and they were still, after all, spouses. Bo Yan had long desired her body, and truth be told, she craved Bo Yan¡¯s good physique as well. She was an adult with normal needs and there was nothing shameful about that. At most, it was only because both she and Bo Yan were top-tier celebrities, and outwardly they still put on the fa?ade of mutual distaste. She hadn¡¯t thought about living a long life with Bo Yan, nor did she want to fall in love with him, so for both public and private reasons, keeping their relationship a secret was the best strategy for them both. She was not like Zhou Weiwei, an artist tightly controlled by the agency, without any freedom in her love life. She was the golden goose, someone the company must protect and maintain. When Qin Baizhou came to ask her, she decided to simply tell the truth. Chapter 483 - Chapter 483: Chapter 482 I Like You (6) Chapter 483: Chapter 482 I Like You (6) Qin Baizhou also took a long time to process what Xia Siyu had said. She directly admitted that she and Bo Yan were living together. Or rather, saying they were living together wasn¡¯t quite right¡ªthe right way to put it was¡ªthey were sleeping together. From her mouth, there was no trace of lingering affection for Bo Yan, nor any love. To her, Bo Yan wasn¡¯t a lover, nor a transaction, just an ordinary male companion. But Qin Baizhou still felt uneasy, ¡°Did Bo Yan¡­ threaten you?¡± Xia Siyu shook her head, ¡°No. It really was an accident.¡± Xia Siyu was too embarrassed to say it was her who, in a drunken moment of passion, ¡°took the initiative.¡± It was she who had pushed Bo Yan¡ªhalfway in Sicily, and this time, they went the whole way. But Bo Yan clung to her, pestering her for a long time. Although she initially resisted, she had to admit that Bo Yan was the best choice for a male partner. After all, without any emotional investment, of course, it was best to choose someone tall, handsome, and virile. ¡°The movie you¡¯re working on now, as well as Wang Ju¡¯s ¡®Storm,¡¯ and that variety show¡ªwere they all introduced to you by Bo Yan?¡± Qin Baizhou still couldn¡¯t believe it and asked with difficulty. Although Qin Baizhou was known in the industry as a talent agent, his forte was in creating personas for artists, generating buzz, handling public relations, and negotiating business deals. These types of film and television resources, he actually didn¡¯t have; they were brought by Xia Siyu herself. Traditional agents have connections to pull resources for artists. But he, with shallow experience, could only rely on generating hype and public relations for success. Once the hype raised the artist¡¯s fame, naturally, they would start receiving offers. After managing public relations, scandals could be suppressed, ensuring it wouldn¡¯t affect future opportunities. But top-tier resources, he couldn¡¯t pull in, he couldn¡¯t give to Xia Siyu. That was his weakness and Bo Yan¡¯s advantage. However, this question implied that Xia Siyu was using ¡°unspoken rules,¡± suggesting that she was relying on Bo Yan to obtain resources and advance her career. Xia Siyu¡¯s eyebrows furrowed, feeling somewhat uncomfortable, ¡°What do you mean? ¡®Storm¡¯ was something I fought for on my own, ¡®Spring Light¡¯ is a script I like, and I wanted to take it on. As for the ¡®Flowers and Grass¡¯ variety show, wasn¡¯t it you who suggested I go for it? What does that have to do with Bo Yan?¡± Indeed, out of these three projects, ¡®Storm¡¯ was indeed something Bo Yan wanted to offer her, but he intended for her to be the lead actress; she chose the supporting role instead, and initially, she wasn¡¯t even interested in it. ¡®Spring Light,¡¯ Bo Yan was afraid she couldn¡¯t handle the hardship or perform well, so he didn¡¯t even recommend it to her; it was she who insisted on doing it. She had always held herself with integrity; there were few in the entire entertainment industry as upright and straightforward as her. Qin Baizhou had known her for years; how could he still ask such a question? Wasn¡¯t this insulting? Did he really think she needed a man to get ahead? ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I misspoke,¡± Qin Baizhou also realized he had misspoken and quickly apologized. He added, ¡°I was just afraid that you¡¯d be deceived by Bo Yan.¡± ¡°Nobody can deceive me in what I want to do, and he is least likely to,¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s expression changed, but after all, she had known Qin Baizhou for a long time and didn¡¯t want to fall out with him at this moment. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m very nervous. I¡¯m afraid that you¡¯d be deceived by him, afraid that you¡¯d go with him.¡± ¡°Go with him where? He¡¯s not a scout from another agency trying to poach me,¡± Xia Siyu found it a bit amusing, ¡°The way you¡¯re talking, it¡¯s like you¡¯re really afraid I¡¯d fall in love with him.¡± Unexpectedly, Qin Baizhou nodded seriously, ¡°Yes, I am really afraid you¡¯d fall in love with him. Because I like you.¡± Chapter 484 - Chapter 484: Chapter 483 Family (1) Chapter 484: Chapter 483 Family (1) Within a single day, she was confessed to twice. In the early hours of the morning, after they finished, Bo Yan said to her, ¡°I love you.¡± At night, Qin Baizhou traveled a great distance to tell her, ¡°I like you.¡± It was a complete cycle, truly perfect. Only Xia Siyu was a bit dumbfounded. Lately, she had been feeling something vaguely, always sensing Qin Baizhou getting closer to her. He tried to make time for her even for business and variety shows that didn¡¯t require his presence. But Qin Baizhou explained it was because they needed to renew the contract, and he feared she might leave since she was the most profitable artist in the company; they had to keep a close eye on her. They were very good friends and partners, trusting and relying on each other. But she had never considered that Qin Baizhou might like her. After all, she had known Qin Baizhou for seven years. Over those years, he had helped her deal with numerous scandals, and she had seen female subordinates and artists pursue him, yet Qin Baizhou never showed any interest. Whenever she got into trouble, Qin Baizhou would always help her sort it out with a kind of helplessness, cleaning up after her. When it came to contracts and business dealings, he would patiently help her make carefully considered choices, always operating in a reasonable, older-brotherly, and considerate manner. Having known him for so many years, Qin Baizhou had never overstepped his bounds. Not with her, not with anyone. At one point, the company even speculated whether he preferred men since preferences in the entertainment industry could vary widely. Indeed, there were fearless young men who tested this, but of course, they were politely rejected. It seemed that love didn¡¯t have a place in his life, only work did. But that wasn¡¯t the point. The point was, why would he like her? Was it a spur-of-the-moment thing, or was he afraid she would leave for another company upon contract renewal? Furthermore, She was also a bit worried, she and Qin Baizhou were friends. Once these words were said, whether she responded or not, their friendship would never be the same. Although Xia Siyu usually appeared carefree and bold, that was only with people she was not close to or didn¡¯t like. She was extremely protective and cherished her identified friends and family. It took Xia Siyu quite a while to recover. After all, Qin Baizhou had been her friend for seven years, and their collaboration had always been pleasant. She didn¡¯t want to fall out with him, ¡°Actually, there¡¯s no need for this. I haven¡¯t considered going to another company.¡± Indeed, other companies had tried to poach her, but she was not a greedy person. Although Qin Baizhou¡¯s side didn¡¯t offer strong drama contracts, his public relations skills were excellent. Their collaboration was quite enjoyable and the treatment she received was good, so she wouldn¡¯t easily switch companies. Qin Baizhou caught on to Xia Siyu¡¯s meaning, thinking he was trying to ¡°sacrifice himself¡± to keep her at the company! How could this woman¡¯s way of thinking be so unique? Her first reaction to being confessed to was this? Qin Baizhou stood up, and since the words were already out, there was no taking them back. Better to explain everything clearly. He mustered his courage to confess, not to push her away, but to win her over, ¡°I like you, not because of my role as a partner at Huixing, but for myself. Siyu, I really like you a lot.¡± His gaze was so intense, it wasn¡¯t easy for Xia Siyu to ignore. It took her a long time to ask, ¡°Since when?¡± Qin Baizhou said firmly, ¡°Seven years ago. To be precise, the first time I met you on the street, when I saw your smile, I was already smitten.¡± Chapter 485 - Chapter 485: Chapter 484 Family (2) Chapter 485: Chapter 484 Family (2) Seven years ago, again! Are men nowadays trending towards liking someone and not confessing? It seems research has indeed proven this, that men no longer pursue women, or they give up after a brief attempt. However, Qin Baizhou was dazzled by her appearance. And Bo Yan, that guy was more direct¡ªhe lusted after her body. Thinking about it this way, Bo Yan was even more¡ªdespicable! ¡°At first, maybe I was moved by lust, you are really beautiful, and few men can resist. But I knew back then I was just a small-time Star Scout, with no money and no influence, while you were destined to shine in the entertainment industry, achieving great fame. I didn¡¯t have the qualifications or the power to pursue you. Later, I became your agent and spent more time interacting with you. Even after we switched companies, we always stuck together.¡± Qin Baizhou feared she might think he was moved by lust, so he hurriedly explained, ¡°In our gradual work and life together, I got to know you better. Even though you have an impulsive and short-tempered personality, always making news for various reasons, bringing repetitive issues to our work. But what others don¡¯t understand, I clearly do¡ªyou are not as the reports say. For example, your scandals, over the many years we¡¯ve worked together, some were orchestrated for movie promotions, others pure fabrications. You¡¯ve never been as the rumors say, entangled in scandals, clinging to the rich, picking on the weak, acting like a diva. Maybe at first, I was captivated by your appearance, but it¡¯s no longer the case. I am certain, the person I like is you.¡± He said this, then lifted his head, very earnestly and naturally stating, ¡°But I¡¯ve always been afraid to say it, at first because I had no right, no courage to pursue you. Later¡­ even when I became a partner, even as the company improved day by day, I still didn¡¯t dare to speak up. I am not a coward, nor am I afraid of rejection or anything else. I just fear, if I were to confess, we might not even be able to remain friends.¡± Indeed, because they were so familiar, he was even more hesitant to make a move. Over the years, they had grown accustomed to the relationship between agent and artist. Although Xia Siyu occasionally felt Qin Baizhou getting slightly closer, seeing as they had been peacefully coexisting for so long, she let her guard down. But now he had confessed, he had spoken out. Although it was just a thin layer of paper, once pierced, it¡¯s pierced, and some relationships can¡¯t easily return to square one, pretending nothing ever happened. Even Xia Siyu, who was usually thick-skinned, felt the situation was somewhat awkward. She didn¡¯t have many friends around her, and Qin Baizhou was one. She truly did not want to lose him as a friend. But now that Qin Baizhou had suddenly confessed to her, and so sincerely, she did not harbor romantic feelings for him. It was exactly because his confession was so genuine that she found it even harder to casually reject him. Even if he had said he was moved by lust, she probably wouldn¡¯t feel this awkward. The debt of love has always been the hardest to repay. She, who was usually so carefree, really wasn¡¯t used to such a tangled scene. She waited a while before finally managing to speak with some difficulty, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, why did you¡­ choose to say it now?¡± Was it because she was about to change agencies and he feared she might choose another agency, or was he worried about her relationship with Bo Yan? Chapter 486 - Chapter 486: Chapter 485 Family (3) Chapter 486: Chapter 485 Family (3) Qin Baizhou forced a wry smile, shook his head with a slightly forlorn expression, ¡°I¡¯m afraid, truly afraid of losing you. It¡¯s not just about changing the contract, I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll choose another company. And I¡¯m afraid¡­ afraid that Bo Yan will take you away from me.¡± ¡°My relationship with Bo Yan¡­ is rather complicated,¡± Xia Siyu hesitated for a moment, but still explained to him, ¡°For the time being, there are some reasons why I can¡¯t fall out with him. But my feelings for him are not those of a girlfriend for her boyfriend. I don¡¯t need to rely on him to bring in resources, nor does it involve a monetary transaction.¡± ¡°Then why are you subject to him?¡± Qin Baizhou still didn¡¯t understand, ¡°If he can¡¯t give you anything, why be with him? If it were any other artist, they might not be able to resist Bo Yan¡¯s charm. But you are different. I¡¯ve known you for so long; I understand your character. You¡¯re not the type to indulge in physical sensations. You also detest those men who look at you with lascivious eyes and have improper thoughts about you. You actually don¡¯t like Bo Yan as well, perhaps even hate him, don¡¯t you? Is it that he has something on you?¡± From their relationship, it was clear to see that Bo Yan was the more active and initiating party. Even to this day, Xia Siyu often exhibited a sense of disgust towards Bo Yan. The thought crossed his mind, could it be that Bo Yan had something that could threaten her? Perhaps it was compromising photos of her or some unfavorable information from before her debut. Xia Siyu had been with him since her debut, and he had been involved in nearly all of her affairs, large and small, over the past seven years. But she had had contact with Bo Yan back at N University. Maybe back then, as a naive young girl, she made a mistake, and Bo Yan got his hands on it, now using it to threaten her and force her into being his forbidden fruit. ¡°Tell me, if you have any compromising information that is being used to threaten you, that is forcing you, tell me. I¡¯m your agent, these are things I should handle. Human greed is endless. Right now he¡¯s demanding that you associate with him, later he¡¯ll want even more. I¡¯m afraid that if you continue to be threatened by him, you will degrade yourself, sinking deeper and deeper!¡± Xia Siyu frowned slightly, then shook her head, ¡°No.¡± Qin Baizhou was still worried she was too embarrassed to speak up, scared to say it out loud. Since ancient times, men have been believers in the heroic rescue. If Xia Siyu were to be monopolized by Bo Yan, he wouldn¡¯t look down on her, nor would he despise her. He would only feel useless for not being able to rescue her from her plight. ¡°I know you¡¯re not that type of person; there¡¯s nothing that¡¯s too shameful to say, just tell me, and I¡¯ll help you!¡± Xia Siyu shook her head, ¡°Really, it¡¯s nothing. My relationship with him¡­ Although it started as an accident, I know he¡¯s pursuing me. But we¡¯re not in that kind of relationship. What we have is equal. If he dares to threaten me, I would have knocked his block off long ago!¡± ¡°Then why?¡± Qin Baizhou was a bit perplexed. It surely couldn¡¯t be that Xia Siyu succumbed to Bo Yan just because he was handsome? She wasn¡¯t that superficial! ¡°Could it be¡­ related to your family?¡± Upon saying this, Qin Baizhou looked up at Xia Siyu. Her facial expression remained calm, but there was a definite sinking in her eyes. He had known Xia Siyu for seven years, her work, her life, almost all under the control of the company. The only blind spot was her family. What was the situation with her family, and who were her parents? Chapter 487 - Chapter 487: Chapter 486 Family (4) Chapter 487: Chapter 486 Family (4) Indeed, Xia Siyu seemed to have come out of nowhere; she appeared to have neither a past nor a family, alone and solitary in the world. During holidays, no relatives came to visit her. In her daily life, there were no mentions of her parents or family. She had never sent gifts to any relative, nor had she ever let family matters interfere with her work. Except for Chinese New Year¡¯s Eve, when even celebrities had holidays, Little Tang and Wei Jingjing would not be able to manage her, and they would go back to their own families to celebrate. Xia Siyu usually had nowhere to go and would return to her apartment. But was she truly alone in her apartment? Or could it be that her family was hiding some mysteries? Originally, Qin Baizhou was merely curious, but now, seeing the sudden change in her eyes, he understood. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t want to discuss this topic with him, ¡°In any case, Bo Yan and I are not boyfriend and girlfriend, and I don¡¯t want to leave the company. But I will be in contact with him for a while. We will be very careful and will not let paparazzi or other journalists take pictures of us. I have no intention of going public with him.¡± She wouldn¡¯t normally discuss such private matters with the company. Since Qin Baizhou knew about it, she simply mentioned it in passing. Seeing her avoidance of the subject, Qin Baizhou couldn¡¯t press further and could only nod in agreement. After all, even though Xia Siyu seemed carefree and left everything to the company, she actually had her own firm principles on certain matters. Unless she changed her own views, it was difficult for others to influence her decisions. However, Qin Baizhou had come to one conclusion: the relationship between Bo Yan and Xia Siyu was related to her family. He had suspected as much before, based on Xia Siyu¡¯s circumstances over the years. He felt that she must have come from a wealthy, or at least middle-class family. Her parents loved her dearly but not in an indulgent way, which made her independent and bold. Moreover, there must have been a deep conflict with her family, otherwise she wouldn¡¯t have avoided mentioning them for seven years. Just now, the moment he brought up this point, her expression changed instantly. If she could be connected with Bo Yan, perhaps there was also a significant link with the Bo Family. Furthermore, Qin Baizhou considered that Xia Siyu¡¯s background might be even more distinguished than he had thought. Why do many entertainers who enter the world of showbiz gradually become blinded by the glitz and glamour? Even those who start off unpretentious can hardly resist temptation. That¡¯s because some temptations are simply not big enough. For instance, if you come from a middle-class family and a small business owner gives you a sports car worth two million or a house worth several million¡ªa price you could afford by yourself¡ªyou naturally wouldn¡¯t be swayed. But what if what was offered was a plane? Once, someone in pursuit of Xia Siyu didn¡¯t offer her a plane, but was ready to give her a luxurious yacht worth tens of millions! Yet Xia Siyu didn¡¯t even glance at it and walked away. At the time, he thought highly of Xia Siyu for being incorruptible by riches, capable of withstanding temptation. Now that he thought about it again, perhaps it was because she already had such things at home, and she was unmoved by them, naturally uninterested in others¡¯ gifts. What kind of family was she from then? He would have to investigate carefully. But on the surface, Qin Baizhou retracted his gaze and looked grievously composed, ¡°Siyu, my intention in revealing my feelings to you is not to pressure you or push you away. Liking you is my own affair. You are so wonderful, and there are so many people who like you, I am just one of them. All I hope is that you know my feelings, even if they can never be realized.¡± Chapter 488 - Chapter 488: Chapter 487 Family (5) Chapter 488: Chapter 487 Family (5) ¡°It¡¯s normal for you not to accept me, and I didn¡¯t come here to threaten you or anything. I just genuinely like you, want to make your life better, and help you in your career so you can reach greater heights and go further. You don¡¯t need to feel burdened. Even if you never feel the same way about me, I just hope I can always be by your side.¡± Qin Baizhou had made himself so humble that Xia Siyu found it hard to argue. Seeing the difficulty in her expression, Qin Baizhou added another sentence, ¡°Besides, we have a relationship of agent and artist. If you do well, it makes things much easier for me. You are the cash cow of our company, after all. Taking good care of you means protecting the interests of our company. As a partner, it¡¯s also necessary for me to help your career reach a new peak from this perspective.¡± One moment he lowered himself, saying his affection was his own business, using this tactic to entrap someone like Xia Siyu, who valued loyalty and righteousness. On the other hand, he persuaded her with the prospect of her career. After all, she had a very pleasant cooperation with Qin Baizhou for the past seven years, and she had no reason to leave. Indeed, speaking from these two perspectives made Xia Siyu truly hesitate, and she nodded in agreement. Qin Baizhou backed off to advance further and stood up with a faint smile, ¡°It¡¯s getting late, you should rest well.¡± Xia Siyu was still a bit dazed, and she nodded, ¡°Okay. You too.¡± Hearing this from her, Qin Baizhou felt greatly relieved. He was worried that after his confession, Xia Siyu would fall out with him and never want to get close to him again. But now, with her words of concern, she wouldn¡¯t choose to leave him immediately. When the door opened, outside waiting was Bo Yan. He had estimated that Qin Baizhou and Xia Siyu must have laid their cards on the table by now. Even if Qin Baizhou hadn¡¯t expressed his feelings, Xia Siyu would have told him about their relationship. Then, he had nothing to hide. He was set on declaring his sovereignty directly in front of his rival! But he was actually a bit anxious. Although Xia Siyu was married to him and they had physical intimacy, she hadn¡¯t fallen in love with him. This person, once her heart was moved, she would overcome all odds and would definitely be with the one she loved. But he couldn¡¯t burst in, nor could he interrupt the conversation between Xia Siyu and Qin Baizhou, nor make decisions for her. This was the most passive he had been since his birth, aside from being dumped by Xia Siyu. The fate of him and Xia Siyu was entirely in her hands. If she accepted Qin Baizhou¡¯s confession, she would leave him. If she didn¡¯t accept, then he still had a chance. Even though the possibility of Xia Siyu accepting Qin Baizhou on the spot was extremely small, maybe even less than one in ten, it was still not 100% under his control, which made him uneasy. But when the door opened, and seeing Qin Baizhou¡¯s smile fade instantly upon seeing him, he instead smiled. Bo Yan knew that he had won the bet. If he had recklessly barged in earlier, disturbing Qin Baizhou and Xia Siyu¡¯s conversation, he himself would have been in a passive position. Maybe Xia Siyu¡¯s aversion to him would have peaked and she might have really agreed to Qin Baizhou. But now, Qin Baizhou no longer had a chance. And he would pursue this victory, and pull Xia Siyu back both body and heart, back to his side! ¡°Mr. Qin, goodnight.¡± The triumphant Bo Yan was quite gracious, even offering Qin Baizhou a polite smile. Chapter 489 - Chapter 489: Chapter 488 Family (6) Chapter 489: Chapter 488 Family (6) Qin Baizhou looked at him, his eyes seeming to be poisoned. Even though his gaze was sharp, when he opened his mouth, his voice seemed to carry a smile, a complete ¡°smiling tiger,¡± ¡°Teacher Bo, you too.¡± ¡°Certainly.¡± Bo Yan¡¯s face was full of smiles, the two men passing by each other, one heading in and the other out. As Bo Yan reached behind Qin Baizhou, just about to close the door, Qin Baizhou stopped him, ¡°Bo Yan.¡± He didn¡¯t address him as ¡°Teacher Bo¡±; clearly, he was not using the industry¡¯s way of greeting, he was going to talk private matters! Bo Yan paused, turning back. Qin Baizhou knew that the door was not closed, and Xia Siyu inside could hear. He had even predicted that Bo Yan daring to wait so openly outside Xia Siyu¡¯s door, was not afraid of being photographed by other guests, surveillance, or paparazzi. That meant Bo Yan must have taken measures. Indeed, in addition to booking all the rooms on this floor, ensuring that the hotel service staff could not casually come up here, he also distracted the paparazzi by having them follow the film crew to scout locations. Moreover, he had Song Fengzhi, on behalf of the crew, request that there be no surveillance on this floor. The reason was simple: since the ¡°film crew¡± was staying here, they feared that the hotel¡¯s surveillance might leak something inappropriate. Indeed, there had been several incidents of artists being secretly filmed in hotels before. And besides this stretch of surveillance, all the cameras at the elevator and stairwell were still there, so from a security standpoint, there were no issues, and the hotel agreed to the request. Since Bo Yan had taken measures, Qin Baizhou was not afraid to speak at the door. He said, ¡°I hope Mr. Bo prioritizes Siyu above all else. Refrain from disclosing anything about the two of you and don¡¯t cause her any trouble. Siyu¡¯s journey to her current status has not been easy. But if news regarding a top-tier star comes out now, all the effort she has put in over seven years might vanish into thin air.¡± Xia Siyu, unable to hear, was somewhat moved. Bo Yan, however, was internally assessing and thought Qin¡¯s ability to act like a ¡°green tea man,¡± was indeed not bad. All he did was smile, ¡°That¡¯s not something you need to worry about, Mr. Qin. Good night.¡± After saying this, Bo Yan immediately closed the door. The smile on Qin Baizhou¡¯s face completely disappeared as soon as he was alone, his eyes narrowing as he thought hard about how to deal with the situation. He had already sent someone to look into Xia Siyu¡¯s background, to investigate her family, but with just one day¡¯s time, it was impossible to instantly get results. When handling matters, he always made thorough preparations. Besides having his subordinates conduct the investigation, he also thought of another way that should be able to reveal Xia Siyu¡¯s family circumstances. ¡ª That would be Zhou Weiwei, Xia Siyu¡¯s only friend in the circle and her college classmate. Qin Baizhou lowered his head, apparently having Zhou Weiwei¡¯s WeChat. He pulled it up and sent a message: ¡°Miss Zhou, do you have time recently to have a meal together?¡± Zhou Weiwei has always been neither red-hot nor completely unknown, but he liked that about her, as it left room for manipulation. ** Inside the door. Xia Siyu was still finding it hard to digest. A friend and buddy of seven years had actually confessed to her today. Even though Qin Baizhou had been very humble, it was his very humbleness that instead put pressure on her. Seeing Bo Yan come over, she directly refused, ¡°I don¡¯t want to.¡± Bo Yan did not reply immediately, he just walked over, lightly sniffing her neck, his voice soft, ¡°But I want to.¡± Chapter 490 - Chapter 490: Chapter 489: Coming and Going (1) Chapter 490: Chapter 489: Coming and Going (1) Xia Siyu turned her head to look at him, a slight hook at the corner of Bo Yan¡¯s lips: ¡°I was just kidding.¡± After his interruption, Xia Siyu actually felt a bit more stable. She had indeed been a bit dazed just now, mainly because she hadn¡¯t expected a friend of seven years to suddenly confess his feelings. Before she even had the chance to refuse, Qin Baizhou took a step back, lowering his stance and expressing that ¡°liking her was a matter of his own.¡± What could she say to that? Even if she rejected him, he could still like her in his heart. She couldn¡¯t control someone else¡¯s feelings. Xia Siyu gives off the impression of being fiery and direct, someone who detests evil passionately. She rarely wavers or hesitates. But those who understand her know that Xia Siyu¡¯s heart is actually very tender. As long as she doesn¡¯t hold it to heart, it¡¯s fine, but once she cares, even if there are a few small flaws, she can tolerate them. For instance, regarding the matter between Zhou Weiwei and Li Weiyi, she might be aware of Zhou Weiwei¡¯s little schemes. But for her, such minor scheming isn¡¯t enough to cross the line, so she would lend her help. She doesn¡¯t have many friends by her side, and both Zhou Weiwei and Qin Baizhou count as such, which is why she especially treasures them. However, while she may help her friends, she won¡¯t change her own principles for them. Even if Qin Baizhou hadn¡¯t given in just now, she would have definitely rejected his confession, and she would have made it clear right there and then. The reason is simple, she doesn¡¯t love Qin Baizhou. His step back did indeed touch her a bit, but that was all. Having realized this, she no longer had anything to dwell on. Xia Siyu turned to look at Bo Yan, whose expression was calm. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to ask what Qin Baizhou said to me just now?¡± She had heard the conversation between Qin Baizhou and Bo Yan by the door. Although Qin Baizhou¡¯s words didn¡¯t explicitly reveal his confession, Xia Siyu had the intuition that Bo Yan must know. Bo Yan¡¯s lips curled slightly: ¡°Do I need to know?¡± Well, there wasn¡¯t really any need. Just as Xia Siyu thought this, Bo Yan leaned in and lightly twirled a lock of hair by her ear. ¡°Actually, no need to ask to know, Qin Baizhou definitely confessed to you, but you mercilessly rejected him.¡± Damn, how did he know? Bo Yan smiled as he watched her eyes go round, and stretched out a hand to lightly flick her nose. This silly girl, she¡¯s probably the only one who couldn¡¯t see that Qin Baizhou liked her. But it was probably for the best that she hadn¡¯t noticed earlier. If she had realized Qin Baizhou¡¯s feelings early on, things might have gotten a lot more complicated. But thinking about it, even if Qin Baizhou had confessed to Xia Siyu the moment he met her, back when he had nothing, chances are she wouldn¡¯t have accepted him. By the time he had the confidence, Xia Siyu only saw him as a friend. She wasn¡¯t the type to settle for marriage, nor would she accept a man just because she was moved. So the two of them were never meant to be lovers. ¡°My wife is so beautiful, it¡¯s normal for her to be liked.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s your wife!¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s eyebrows shot up. As Bo Yan watched her temper flare up, he knew she had probably recovered from the shock of the confession. He smiled, ¡°Isn¡¯t she?¡± ¡°No!¡± Their marriage was different from others. Hold on, ¡°How did you know I rejected Qin Baizhou?¡± She hadn¡¯t refused, there hadn¡¯t been time. But indeed, she didn¡¯t want to. Bo Yan looked supremely confident, ¡°Do I even need to ask? If you had accepted him, the one getting handsy with you right now wouldn¡¯t be me, it would have been him.¡± Chapter 491 - Chapter 491: Chapter 490: Coming and Going (2) Chapter 491: Chapter 490: Coming and Going (2) Xia Siyu shook her head, ¡°Qin Baizhou is different from you.¡± At least they had known each other for seven years, he had always been the warm-guy image, always considerate of her, never getting angry or giving her the cold shoulder. Bo Yan disagreed, ¡°That¡¯s because he hasn¡¯t slept with you yet.¡± Men are all the same. When they don¡¯t have the opportunity, some pretend to be aloof (like himself), some are extremely eager (but these kinds often get KO¡¯d quickly), while others act like Romeo. It¡¯s as if the whole world is willing to present something to your face, but he blooms flowers from the dust. But actually, given the chance, would he not sleep with her? How could that be possible. If he doesn¡¯t, he¡¯s not a man. If a man likes a woman, he definitely wants her to be his woman. Platonic love might exist, he believed it did, but it¡¯s only because of various external and internal pressures, forcing it to be platonic. The moment the opportunity arises, he would surely take it to reality. Otherwise, that man might really be ¡°incompetent.¡± Bo Yan even put forward an argument, ¡°Haven¡¯t you noticed that he¡¯s been paying a lot of attention to you recently? Whether joining a variety show with you or accompanying you to events, even for script readings, he insists on coming over and overseeing it. For a partner, his job seems too leisurely.¡± This was something that Xia Siyu had also found strange before, but Qin Baizhou¡¯s explanation at the time was that he feared she would leave when switching contracts. Now that she thought about it, it was actually just his way of pursuing her, and she had failed to realize it. However, these things, she couldn¡¯t be bothered to think about anyway. Since Qin Baizhou had stepped back, it also spared her the trouble of rejecting him and possibly hurting their friendship. Xia Siyu rarely got entangled with these troublesome matters, if things couldn¡¯t be settled by reasoning, then she¡¯d ignore them, cutting the Gordian knot directly. ¡°Let¡¯s get to work, for now, I don¡¯t want to think about these matters of the heart.¡± In fact, Bo Yan had been listening the whole night, just wanting to hear her say this sentence. What he feared the most was that Xia Siyu would show no mercy towards him while having feelings for someone else. Though she claimed not to consider love, she didn¡¯t oppose his advances, and with that, he was confident he could slowly melt the ice in her heart. Originally, when he walked in today, Bo Yan hadn¡¯t actually planned on getting close to her. After Xia Siyu finished talking with Qin Baizhou, her mood was bound not to be calm. Him interfering at that moment would only backfire, provoking her aversion. But unexpectedly, she was so open-minded, quickly letting go, which made him seem somewhat overeager. His fingers gently climbed onto her shoulders, his fingertips caressing her shoulder as he said, ¡°Wife, the night is long, let¡¯s put those troubles behind us. Why don¡¯t we do something we love?¡± After he finished speaking, Xia Siyu didn¡¯t fight back on the other side, and not fighting back meant acquiescence, Xia Siyu, who had been silent the whole time, couldn¡¯t hold back any longer, and suddenly burst out, then a slap flew across, ¡°Big your head, big!¡± Chapter 492 - Chapter 492: Chapter 491: Coming and Going (3) Chapter 492: Chapter 491: Coming and Going (3) Bo Yan had also become accustomed to being hit by her. As she rose to her feet, he quickly withdrew his hand and leaped back a step, just in time to dodge her slap. Xia Siyu tried to hit him again, so he promptly stretched out his hand, pulled her forcefully into his arms, and then locked her back with his arm to stop her resistance. ¡°It was just a joke, look how anxious you are. I just said I wouldn¡¯t touch you, so I won¡¯t. Besides, we played too wild yesterday and the day before, so indeed we need to rest and recover. Tomorrow morning, we still have to go to the archives to read and try to integrate into the group after the location scouting; time waits for no one.¡± Bo Yan¡¯s excuse did not make Xia Siyu feel any better. On the contrary, she felt even more annoyed. ¡°You know that, yet you still deliberately say this kind of thing! And your paws are still groping!¡± Anyway, she had refused Qin Baizhou, so Bo Yan wasn¡¯t afraid of her leaving. He even went up to her and gave her a kiss, ¡°Though we don¡¯t go all the way, necessary SKIN-SHIP is also a guarantee for heating up the feelings between husband and wife.¡± Xia Siyu struggled for a moment, but he held her too tightly, and she couldn¡¯t break free. Xia Siyu was obviously getting angrier: ¡°Will you let go or not!¡± ¡°I won¡¯t let go.¡± Only a fool would let go. With the romantic rival gone, just by spending a bit more time grinding away, wouldn¡¯t his wife be easily won over? They say even the most resolute woman can¡¯t resist a persistent man. Didn¡¯t Xia Siyu slowly come closer and closer into the palm of his hand despite her disgust for him before? ¡°You won¡¯t let go, huh?¡± Xia Siyu was now fully recovered and grinding her teeth, ferociously saying, ¡°Bo Yan, do you know what the ¡®Eighteen Techniques for Women¡¯s Self-Defense Against Wolves¡¯ looks like when used?¡± Bo Yan might have kept a smiling face, but he was actually keeping a close eye on her. Sure enough, Xia Siyu forcefully brought up her knee. Bo Yan, already traumatized by her kicks, quickly released her and protected his parts. He still felt smug: ¡°What ¡®Eighteen Techniques¡¯? It¡¯s just¡­¡± Before he could finish speaking, Xia Siyu stomped forcefully on the top of Bo Yan¡¯s foot. ¡°First move, stomp on the foot!¡± Although she was wearing slippers, such a forceful stomp, accompanied by a left and right roll, still hurt. Bo Yan¡¯s face visibly reddened, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. He took a step back, bending over, and had just said, ¡°How could you¡­¡± Xia Siyu followed up with another kick, hitting his shin exactly where she had kicked before: ¡°Second move, kick the leg!¡± Bo Yan, in doubled pain, hissed, and involuntarily squatted down. His hands, originally guarding his parts, instinctively went to comfort the foot that had been stomped on and the leg that had been kicked. But as his hands reached down, he suddenly felt that something was amiss. Xia Siyu¡¯s third move quickly arrived, another kick aimed at his parts: ¡°Third move, kick the nuts!¡± The whole set of moves were executed as fluid as flowing water, precise and ruthless, targeting his lower body. In truth, what is dubbed ¡®Women¡¯s Self-Defense Against Wolves¡¯ is designed around the idea of ¡°when chickens fly, and eggs get smashed.¡± He usually prided himself on being smart, yet he was defeated by Xia Siyu¡¯s flurry of random punches, getting taken down by a combo. Fortunately, just as he was stretching his hand downwards, he realized something was wrong. Xia Siyu¡¯s final kick came, but a lot of the force was blocked by his arm; otherwise, he would¡¯ve been incapacitated. Now Bo Yan was completely unable to be naughty tonight. He covered his parts and slowly collapsed onto the ground. He swore that if he ever had a daughter with Xia Siyu, he would never let her learn taekwondo! Really, learning boxing costs money, but learning taekwondo costs your life! But in the end, when it was time to rest, Bo Yan still crawled into bed. Chapter 493 - Chapter 493: Chapter 492: Coming and Going (4) Chapter 493: Chapter 492: Coming and Going (4) Xia Siyu usually fell asleep in seconds, but a lot had happened today, and she couldn¡¯t sleep. When Bo Yan came up, she sensed it but was too lazy to bother. Bo Yan crept up stealthily, lifted the blanket, and then gradually moved closer. There was only a faint nightlight in the room, barely enough to make out Xia Siyu¡¯s figure. This guy, sleeping so neatly and securely on his side with his eyes shut, one could tell at a glance he was feigning sleep. Xia Siyu was lying on her side, facing away from him. Bo Yan paused for a moment and then slowly inched over, his fingers lightly tracing her waistline. He even called out softly, ¡°Siyu, wifey?¡± Xia Siyu stopped pretending and spoke up directly, ¡°I think you¡¯re looking for a kicking.¡± Bo Yan, remembering the check-up he had just done in the bathroom on the somewhat swollen part, quickly shook his head, ¡°No.¡± This time, he didn¡¯t dare let his claws rest on the plasticine, instead, he stretched out his arm, hugged her waist from behind, and pressed his whole body against hers, sealing together tightly without gaps. He hugged her properly, and Xia Siyu was too lazy to hit him, so they both stayed quiet in the darkness. After holding her for a while, Bo Yan knew she wasn¡¯t asleep. His hand was still resting on her waist, but his other hand gently lifted a strand of her hair, allowing the tips to twine around his fingertips. Xia Siyu frowned, also unable to sleep, feeling annoyed as he played with her hair. However, before she could speak, Bo Yan was the first to say, ¡°I know you want to improve yourself. You took this role not for fame or fortune, but to perform a great play.¡± The frown on Xia Siyu¡¯s face softened a bit for a moment. ¡°At this stage, in terms of popularity, both you and I have peaked. Wanting more attention would only maintain the status quo. I¡¯m thirty, and you¡¯re twenty-seven. This age is very important for a person, especially for artists. You want to win the Best Actress award, right?¡± Xia Siyu lifted her chin a little. Otherwise, why would she travel all the way to the Northwest ¨C just for a plate of cumin lamb? ¡°I also have a small goal, to one day direct, write, and star in a movie myself.¡± This was the first time Bo Yan had shared his dream with her. As he spoke, he let go of her hair, his fingers tenderly lifting her hand and holding it in his palm, ¡°You want to improve yourself, you win Best Actress, and I will do everything in my power to help you! Then you and I will stand on the award stage together.¡± Xia Siyu turned her head to meet Bo Yan¡¯s eyes. Although the light was dim in the room, illuminated only by the faint nightlight, Xia Siyu could see the light flickering in Bo Yan¡¯s pupils, resolute, gentle, with a hint of a smile. Xia Siyu had known Bo Yan eight years before, and they dated afterward. But back then, they were young and didn¡¯t learn much about each other before breaking up. The marriage was arranged, and for a long time after the wedding, they lived separate lives¡ªlet alone understanding each other; they scarcely even saw each other. Recently, although the two of them had been together, physical interaction far exceeded emotional communication. She even felt that Bo Yan was just lusting after her body and didn¡¯t truly love her. It was only now, when he talked about it, that she realized they shared the same goal. This was his dream. And it was hers, too. As she looked at him, Xia Siyu nodded and murmured an ¡°Mhm.¡± Bo Yan, watching her eyes sparkle, felt bewitched and wanted to draw closer. Chapter 494 - Chapter 494: Chapter 493: Coming and Going (5) Chapter 494: Chapter 493: Coming and Going (5) It¡¯s not about sticking it out to the end, but he just wanted to get a little closer, even closer to her. However. Bo Yan released his grip in an instant, quickly retreating, without a single frivolous thought left. Xia Siyu, pushed away by him, was initially a bit surprised. After her astonishment, she found it somewhat amusing yet pitiable and finally let out a light huff, ¡°Serves you right for bullying people!¡± However, even she didn¡¯t notice that her voice was coy and cheerful, lacking any anger. Although Bo Yan got kicked quite badly, there was no longer any trace of Qin Baizhou¡¯s influence in his wife¡¯s words, and he was still pleased. It was only after he had calmed down that he took a deep breath, still reaching out to pull her close, letting her sleep in his embrace. Then he sighed, ¡°Let¡¯s sleep.¡± No sooner had he spoken than Xia Siyu fell asleep instantly. Bo Yan gazed down at the figure breathing gently in his arms, his eyes reflecting complex emotions. There was no helping it, who asked him to marry her, and what would divorce do? The wife he married, he had to dote on her till the end, even if on bended knee. ** The next morning, after Bo Yan and Xia Siyu cleaned up, they went downstairs for breakfast. After breakfast, they prepared to go to the archives. Qin Baizhou was there too and naturally wanted to sit with Xia Siyu. However, after one night, Qin Baizhou was surprised to find that Xia Siyu¡¯s mood had completely returned to normal. She greeted him very comfortably and then turned to talk to Bo Yan about the archive matters. It seemed as if his confession from the previous day had drifted away with the water, leaving no mark whatsoever. He also sat down, initially wanting to join the conversation. But then, hearing Xia Siyu and Bo Yan discussing what were all highly technical terms or insights about the materials, she had previously understood some content and watched many literary and film works, but only by looking at the archives, the first-hand materials, could one know what some people and things were thinking at the time, how far human goodness and evil could go. Qin Baizhou found that although he had always been in the entertainment industry, when it came to acting, to research, he did not have that profound understanding, and at this moment, some topics Bo Yan and Xia Siyu were discussing were completely beyond his grasp to interject! Most of the entertainers in the circle haven¡¯t studied much. Qin Baizhou, who had formally gone to college and graduated from the Chinese department, usually read books and had good insight and expression. This was the first time he couldn¡¯t join in the conversation! He had originally thought that Bo Yan¡¯s private interactions with Xia Siyu were just the clingy, hormonal type, never expecting that they would actually be discussing acting and academia! After breakfast, Qin Baizhou also booked a flight ticket. When it came time to part ways, Bo Yan still called out to him, ¡°Mr. Qin.¡± Qin Baizhou turned back, and Bo Yan¡¯s expression was earnest, not joking in the least, ¡°Last night, Mr. Qin said you hoped I wouldn¡¯t hinder Siyu¡¯s work, right? I hope Mr. Qin can do the same. Siyu is a talented person. She shouldn¡¯t be rolling around in idol dramas, wasting her ¡®Spiritual Energy¡¯, eroding her acting skills. I know Mr. Qin is a businessman who values efficiency. But movie art cannot be determined by efficiency. One day, she will become a megastar on the altar. Please don¡¯t hold her back.¡± Chapter 495 - Chapter 495: Chapter 494: Coming and Going (6) Chapter 495: Chapter 494: Coming and Going (6) When Bo Yan spoke these words, he was in front of Xia Siyu¡¯s room. The corridor was empty, in accordance with his request, no one but he and Xia Siyu¡¯s team would know. Few people knew about what Qin Baizhou said to Bo Yan last night. But at this moment, Bo Yan was unabashedly confronting him in front of everyone. Wei Jingjing felt a thump in her heart; clearly, Bo Yan was fighting for control over casting! This was a challenge, a declaration of war, and also a way for him to brand Xia Siyu as his own. Qin Baizhou was slightly taken aback, then his face darkened before he lifted a faint smile. Although the smile remained, his eyes were exceptionally sharp, ¡°Me holding her back? I¡¯m her agent. We¡¯ve supported each other to this point. I want her to succeed more than anyone else in the world!¡± ¡°But has she truly succeeded? Ephemeral popularity brings nothing more than a facade of prosperity. Does she want to make money? She doesn¡¯t lack it, nor does she value it highly. Maybe under you, she could maximize her commercial potential, but what of it? Works that stand the test of time are what she strives for. If you can¡¯t help her, at least don¡¯t hold her back.¡± It was rare to see Bo Yan so earnest. He stood tall and straight, his gaze sharp. His peach blossom eyes were calm and steady, and there wasn¡¯t a hint of a smile on his lips. Today, he was dressed in a black casual outfit, a stark contrast to Qin Baizhou¡¯s white shirt. The two men each occupied their ground, neither willing to give in. The onlookers beside them dared not even breathe out loud, watching them with faces full of cautious attention. After a while, Qin Baizhou let out a cold laugh, ¡°You talk a good game, but can you claim artistry just by saying it exists? Efficiency is the foundation of all work. Without efficiency, how can there be success? To say nothing else, you lured her to the ¡®Spring Light¡¯ crew, with a novice director, an immature team, and at least five months wasted. Is this your art?¡± ¡°We do not plan together if our paths differ. It¡¯s still better than you, making her run around in chick flicks, pushing her to take on more variety shows, yet neglecting that acting talent is the essence of an actor¡¯s foundation.¡± ¡°Hey, you two!¡± Xia Siyu, who had been standing in the middle with her head down, finally couldn¡¯t bear it anymore. She said to Bo Yan, ¡°Since when is my work for you to judge?¡± Bo Yan was taken aback, ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree on this last night?¡± ¡°Even if we did agree last night, I should be the one to speak out. Who allowed you to speak on my behalf?¡± ¡°I spoke. What about it? You kicked me.¡± ¡°I did kick you. So what? Do you want to be kicked again tonight?¡± The back and forth between the two seemed, on the surface, to be Xia Siyu defending Qin Baizhou. But in reality, from beginning to end, she didn¡¯t once look back at Qin Baizhou. The two of them argued fiercely, effectively leaving him out in the cold. This feeling of being completely ignored was new to him. Even though Xia Siyu still felt some repulsion towards Bo Yan, she had unconsciously become integrated into his daily routine. They bickered, played around, shot scenes, and even engaged in playful antics at night. Other than standing by and watching, he was completely powerless. It wasn¡¯t until Qin Baizhou was leaving that Xia Siyu turned around, ¡°Have a safe trip.¡± Is it really just a slight delay that has put such distance between us? Is it truly impossible for me to win her back? ** Three days later. A caf¨¦ in Yancheng. Qin Baizhou pushed open the door of the private room, and to his surprise, sitting inside was ¡ª Zhou Weiwei: ¡°I want to know the relationship between Bo Yan and Xia Siyu.¡± Chapter 496 - Chapter 496: Chapter 495 Family (1) Chapter 496: Chapter 495 Family (1) Qin Baizhou began by addressing the issue between Xia Siyu and Bo Yan, which left Zhou Weiwei momentarily stunned. Though it was a bit odd, she wasn¡¯t surprised. It was time for her to renew her contract as well, her five-year contract with her current agency was up for renewal this year. However, her career over the past five years had been lukewarm at best. Of course, she was still young at just twenty-seven and wasn¡¯t thinking about setting up a family yet. It was unlikely that the company would choose not to renew her contract. But, because she hadn¡¯t become a hit sensation over the years, the company wouldn¡¯t give her many drama or variety show contracts, nor would they allocate resources in her favor. Compared to Xia Siyu, even though she was a genuine N University graduate, the entertainment industry is strange like that, even if you¡¯re a top student. If you¡¯re not that pretty, if your acting isn¡¯t top-notch, you won¡¯t get noticed. Show business relies on natural talent, on innate beauty, acting skills, and even personality, spiritual energy. Without that spark, no matter how illustrious your family is, you won¡¯t win the hearts of the audience. She graded herself an eighty out of a hundred, but unfortunately, in the entertainment industry, if you don¡¯t score above ninety-five, you¡¯re automatically overlooked. And at twenty-seven, she was soon turning thirty, not exactly young anymore. Though breaking out wasn¡¯t impossible, the chances were slim, especially when the agency wasn¡¯t providing her with many resources. She had thought about finding connections, but where could she find them so quickly? It was during this anxious time that Qin Baizhou¡¯s call came. At first, Zhou Weiwei thought maybe it was Xia Siyu who¡¯d reached out for her. She and Xia Siyu were university classmates, dormmates, and later, both entered the entertainment industry. During the months when her family was in turmoil, after her breakup with Bo Yan, and before Qin Baizhou found out, Xia Siyu didn¡¯t want to return to the Xia family and had nowhere else to go; Zhou Weiwei had been there for her. For those few months of help, Xia Siyu remembered to this day and would always try to bring her along for any resources and help her with any troubles. This time, she thought it would be the same. Unexpectedly, Qin Baizhou¡¯s first words were, ¡°What is the relationship between Xia Siyu and Bo Yan?¡± But when Qin Baizhou asked, she wasn¡¯t surprised. Xia Siyu was a straight girl who couldn¡¯t see that Qin Baizhou liked her. Although Zhou Weiwei didn¡¯t live with them, she could tell that Qin Baizhou had a favorable impression of Xia Siyu. However, Xia Siyu was a top star with countless admirers, one more like Qin Baizhou didn¡¯t make much difference. Nevertheless, regarding the matter between Xia Siyu and Bo Yan, even if Xia Siyu hadn¡¯t mentioned it, she wasn¡¯t foolish to share it with someone else, even if that person was Xia Siyu¡¯s good friend, her agent. Zhou Weiwei said, ¡°This matter, I think it¡¯s better to ask the person involved.¡± Qin Baizhou replied with a light smile, ¡°Miss Zhou, if I have come to you with this, it is because I have evidence. In fact, Siyu has also told me about her situation with Bo Yan. They are together now. But I just want to know more details. You understand Siyu¡¯s temperament; there are some things she doesn¡¯t want to discuss, even with me. But as her agent, I need to be aware, or else I¡¯ll be unprepared when the time comes.¡± Zhou Weiwei furrowed her brows, still unwilling to speak. Qin Baizhou smiled again, ¡°Of course, I personally have a high regard for Miss Zhou. As far as I know, Miss Zhou is looking to renew her contract, right? I was wondering if you have any thoughts about our Huixing?¡± Chapter 497 - Chapter 497: Chapter 496 Family (2) Chapter 497: Chapter 496 Family (2) Is this a direct ¡°bribe¡±? Zhou Weiwei thought for a while, ¡°Huixing has been on a strong upward trend these past few years. But if Huixing focuses solely on artist traffic and exposure, it isn¡¯t particularly friendly to actors.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. Huixing is also establishing a film and television department, and will specialize in producing its own dramas, or bartering resources with other companies.¡± For an entertainment company, it¡¯s a natural move to make dramas and invest in movies towards the end. Relying solely on developing artists wouldn¡¯t get you far in terms of accounts or capital raising. Thinking of growing bigger and going public, just cultivating artists is too cost-ineffective, of course, it¡¯s best to have an all-in-one service. ¡°If Miss Zhou decides to join us, you shouldn¡¯t have to worry about drama contracts. Huixing has good relationships with other business partners and variety show partners. Whether you want to go luxury or do magazines, our channels are also quite solid. The key is, even though we have top traffic stars like Siyu here, the number and quality of our artists are still too low. As soon as Miss Zhou comes over, the company will tailor-make the most efficient path for you. With Siyu as an example, you shouldn¡¯t have any concerns, should you? Your relationship is so good, being in the same company would also mean you can look out for each other. Isn¡¯t this a win-win situation?¡± Zhou Weiwei fell silent for a moment. Her current agency, which Wang Zisu belonged to, was biased towards idol development. Training young idols and creating traffic, from popular young actors and actresses to good-looking boys and girls who could sing and dance¡ªnone had much acting skill, but they were hot commodities on variety shows and gala events. For someone like her who focused on acting, she was at a disadvantage in her current company. Maybe if she really joined Huixing, things might turn out well. After all, Qin Baizhou had already found out about Xia Siyu and Bo Yan being together, and even though she couldn¡¯t reveal Xia Siyu¡¯s secrets, she could hint a little: ¡°So, what would you like to know? They are already together now.¡± Qin Baizhou had paid attention to Xia Siyu¡¯s variety shows before, and although the variety show in Sicily was shot over a month ago, it had only finished airing not long ago. He naturally watched the first love questioning by Li Yiru and Shang Feifei. At that time, Li Yiru and Shang Feifei were actually about to ask, but couldn¡¯t recall who that first love was. If it was Bo Yan, it matched all the criteria perfectly. Someone from the inner circle, under thirty, from a wealthy family, had worked with Shang Feifei, and she also knew him. ¡°So, she and Bo Yan were boyfriend and girlfriend before, right? Did they date in college?¡± Zhou Weiwei didn¡¯t answer but merely smiled faintly and took a sip of water. Her silence was a confirmation. Qin Baizhou was now sure of it. He had thought he was one of the first to know Xia Siyu, but it turned out she and Bo Yan had met earlier, even before him. Suddenly, he remembered something. Though Xia Siyu had a bad reputation, with others saying she was pretentious and had a bad temper, she rarely snubbed artists she hadn¡¯t cooperated with. But with Bo Yan, it was as if they were completely incompatible, and there had always been incidents of them fighting and arguing on Weibo and in friends¡¯ circles. There must have been some issues with their breakup before, which is why now, even though she clearly disliked him, she accepted his presence around her. ¡°So, have they . . . rekindled their old flame now?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not really a rekindling,¡± Zhou Weiwei said, taking another sip of water. They have been married for three years¡ªaren¡¯t a legitimate couple being together just normal? Chapter 498 - Chapter 498: Chapter 497 Family (3) Chapter 498: Chapter 497 Family (3) Qin Baizhou reacted swiftly, immediately grasping the loophole in Zhou Weiwei¡¯s statement. ¡°You mean, it¡¯s not a case of rekindled old flames because they¡¯ve been together all along?¡± This, this is impossible. If they have been together, how could they only reveal a slight flaw now? For seven years, Xia Siyu has been in the industry for seven years. In all that time, except for the past few months, the name Bo Yan was never associated with her. Zhou Weiwei didn¡¯t answer, but he continued to press. ¡°That doesn¡¯t make sense; the company never forbids its artists from dating. She has no need to hide it, nor any reason to.¡± Xia Siyu places great importance on the protection of her privacy, especially concerning her family. Up to this point, he had never met or even heard her mention any relatives. However, Xia Siyu¡¯s views on love seemed more open. If she liked a man, she wouldn¡¯t need to keep it a secret; she would probably just say it outright. Her behavior toward Bo Yan was even stranger¡ªit wasn¡¯t that of a woman in love, nor did she seem to be threatened by him, so why? ¡°Nothing is impossible. For example, all the years you¡¯ve known her, have you ever heard her talk about her family?¡± Zhou Weiwei initiated the conversation, confirming his suspicion. Qin Baizhou couldn¡¯t help but lean forward, his voice becoming a bit more urgent. ¡°What about her family? She should be quite wealthy by now, right? Is the money she makes not enough for her to spend? And I¡¯ve never heard her talk about any financial crises either.¡± An ordinary person might compromise for a variety of reasons, such as entering the entertainment industry to pay off a huge debt. But Xia Siyu never seemed to have financial issues, nor were there ever relatives showing up out of the blue seeking her help. It would be better to believe that Xia Siyu didn¡¯t do certain things due to a poor family background; rather, he preferred to believe that because she came from a very good background, she had always been so straightforward. Wait, she came from a very good background? Qin Baizhou seemed to understand something; Bo Yan came from the Bo Family, mingling with the rich and noble. It was not for a lack of actresses wanting to hook up with him, but he simply was not interested. Although Xia Siyu didn¡¯t quite fit the image of a well-groomed lady from a prestigious family, with her determination, unwillingness to admit defeat, broad knowledge, outstanding dancing skills, and the ability to speak Italian and English (without being a top student), chances were that only her original family could have nurtured these attributes. A family like that, at the very least, would be middle class, or even higher. Just like in many novels, the daughter of a wealthy family would fall out with her parents, run away from home, and strive to make a name for herself. Although the likelihood was slim, sometimes, when all other possibilities were eliminated, this least likely scenario could indeed be the truth! ¡°You mean, her being with Bo Yan is arranged by her family? Her family¡¯s situation isn¡¯t too bad, but actually too good?¡± Zhou Weiwei did not answer; she simply took a sip of water and then smiled. ¡°Mr. Qin, I know you care a lot for Siyu. But some things are not for you or her to decide. Her connection with Bo Yan is very close; they won¡¯t easily be separated, regardless of whether it involves love. Of course, they¡¯ve been in love before, and there¡¯s nothing wrong with them being together now, right?¡± Qin Baizhou was indeed a bit shocked; he had never considered that the girl he found on the street that day had so many secrets! ¡°As for the contract swap matter, Mr. Qin, you can think it over. I¡¯m not in a rush; there¡¯s still time.¡± Chapter 499 - Chapter 499: Chapter 498 Family (4) Chapter 499: Chapter 498 Family (4) At this point in the conversation, the understanding between the two was clear and unspoken. Qin Baizhou quickly regained his usual composure, ¡°Of course, if we are to cooperate, we will definitely come up with a complete proposal, a detailed plan. When the time comes, we will have a dedicated person to liaise with you, Miss Zhou. You are welcome to give us your feedback.¡± That was the attitude required for a dedicated collaboration. Even when seeking venture capital, it wouldn¡¯t work to just present a concept ¡ª a complete plan was necessary. After Zhou Weiwei left, Qin Baizhou asked his subordinates. Generally, to investigate someone, using big data or personal connections to directly check with the police station could be very quick. Over so many years, a person would usually have secondary accounts and couldn¡¯t resist leaving comments or creating profiles on the internet using similar names across different apps. But Xia Siyu was a special case. She didn¡¯t return to China until her sophomore year of high school and entered the entertainment industry in her second year of university. After joining the industry, all her social media accounts were recorded by the company, so only her activities from sophomore year of high school to sophomore year of university could be investigated. But with high school and college entrance exams, there was almost no time to use the internet during that year. It might have been possible to do so during university, but that was somewhat long ago, and she was low-profile. During those seven years, because Xia Siyu was frequently criticized online, there was a period when she hardly used the internet at all, making it difficult for Qin Baizhou to find anything about her. Her household registration was no different. She had never been registered with the Xia Family¡¯s household; in university, her registration was moved there. After university, it wasn¡¯t hung up at home but at the company instead. Upon checking the company¡¯s records, he found that she hadn¡¯t filled out the section for parents at all. It seemed the trail ended there. But Qin Baizhou was not one to give up so easily and decided to look into Bo Yan¡¯s background next. Upon this investigation, some clues immediately surfaced. Though Bo Yan was also low-profile, he had been the heartthrob of N University since his college days. He stayed at N University until he left three years ago. Even if he wanted to keep a low profile, there would always be some ¡°legends¡± surrounding him. Moreover, there were some people who had pursued him from their youth to the present, like Wu Di. While Wu Di wouldn¡¯t easily go around probing for information, following the connections between Bo Yan and Wu Di revealed some findings. For example, during the time when blogs were still a thing, Wu Di mentioned a name ¡°Xia Sicai¡± in one of his journal entries. And within Wu Di¡¯s writings, it could be discerned that this Xia Sicai seemed to come from a prominent family, and there was a palpable sense of envy in his words. If this had been in the past, hearing the name Xia Sicai wouldn¡¯t have sparked any thoughts. China is vast, and the rate of name duplication is high. There are many similar names in the entertainment industry, some so close that they resemble a game of matching look-alike siblings (like Zhang Yuxi, Zhang Xinyu, Zhang Xinyi, Zhang Yixing, Zhang Hanyu, and so on). But after Zhou Weiwei¡¯s prompting, he began to wonder if this person could be related to Xia Siyu? Then he thought of the time not long ago when Grandpa Bo Yan celebrated his eightieth birthday, which had made the news. However, it was featured in the financial news because it was tangentially related to Bo Yan, with only a brief mention. But Xia Siyu had attended the birthday banquet as well. Of course, quite a few people from the entertainment circle had attended that banquet, like Shang Feifei, Li Yiru, and even Li Weiyi, who was now in custody. Xia Siyu never liked attending such social engagements. She must have gone at Bo Yan¡¯s invitation. But that¡¯s not the main point. The main point was, he saw a report entitled ¡°Bosch Corporation has a successor: Vice President Bo Qiliu Takes Over Full Management of Bosch Internal Affairs.¡± Chapter 500 - Chapter 500: Chapter 499 Family (5) Chapter 500: Chapter 499 Family (5) ¡°` As everyone knows, Bo Yan¡¯s parents had both passed away, and his uncle took over the family business. However, very few people noticed that Bo Yan also had a cousin. And this cousin got married, to a woman named: Xia Sicai. Further research into Bo Yi and Xia Sicai didn¡¯t require much effort. Bo Yi had always thought that Bo Yan¡¯s foray into the entertainment industry was a fall from grace, whereas he himself was unquestionably a favored child of fortune. Little did he know that Bo Yan would leap to the top, becoming an A-lister and an award-winning actor. Although Bosch was a large business conglomerate, sometimes it still had to use Bo Yan¡¯s name as a selling point. Sometimes, when Bo Yi went out to do business, he even had to use Bo Yan¡¯s reputation, something he could hardly accept. So when grandfather handed over the company to dad, and then to him, both he and dad¡ªlike father, like son¡ªappeared on various financial magazines and gave all kinds of interviews. They did not just tell the world that they were the rightful heirs to Bosch. Xia Sicai, as the heiress of Xia Enterprises, was naturally also his asset, so the financial magazines included the background of this granddaughter-in-law as well. Moreover, in some interviews, they subtly recorded the fact that Xia Sicai dumped Bo Yan to marry him. Qin Baizhou had never noticed before, firstly because he had never thought in that direction, and secondly because Xia Siyu never mentioned her family. But now, seeing the two names together, he suddenly had a bold idea. Could it be that Xia Siyu was the heiress of the Xia Family, Xia Sicai¡¯s younger sister? Upon investigating Xia Enterprises further, the names Xia Youbiao, Xia Ju¡¯an, and Xia Sicai were all listed, but Xia Siyu¡¯s was absent. He pondered, perhaps Xia Siyu was an illegitimate daughter or had some other relationship with them? Or even if she wasn¡¯t the heiress, her family background must be quite privileged; it was only because of a major conflict with her family that led to her current situation. A person like Bo Yan wouldn¡¯t easily have a girlfriend. After many years in the industry, none of the countless beauties caught his eye. If he were to choose a girlfriend, it would be someone of an equal social standing. No wonder Zhou Weiwei said, ¡°This has nothing to do with love or not.¡± Indeed, if it were a marriage alliance, it really wasn¡¯t a matter of love anymore. Even if Xia Siyu were stubborn, she couldn¡¯t possibly stand against her entire birth family. Moreover, if it were a marriage alliance¡­ even though he was striving to climb up, his wealth was still illusory before the company went public and achieved successful monetization. But the Bo and Xia families had generations of wealth accumulation, reputation, glory, and the support of the family head. Did he still have a chance? ** ¡°Do I still have a chance?¡± On one side, Qin Baizhou was pondering; on the other side, so was Bo Yan. Xia Siyu had not let him touch her for several days already. After she kicked him last time, he did indeed swell up for a day or two. After the swelling went down, the file review was completed, and they were ready to head to the countryside. In the Northwest, there was a film and television base, with some exterior scenes set there and others requiring a trip to the countryside. Some outdoor scenes at the film and television base needed to be constructed, so they couldn¡¯t start shooting immediately. After discussing it with Xia Siyu, Bo Yan decided not to stay in the houses around the film and television base but to go directly to the countryside and experience the life of the local people first-hand. The cave dwelling they were assigned to wasn¡¯t really in disrepair, not the kind that would collapse as soon as one entered. Of course, the conditions were still difficult¡ªthere was no running water, and apart from her and Bo Yan¡¯s team, everyone else in the ten surrounding villages consisted of elderly stay-behinds and children; it was rare to see young people. One had to walk over a dozen kilometers just to reach the market. Chapter 501 - Chapter 501: Chapter 500 Family (6) Chapter 501: Chapter 500 Family (6) ¡°` However, what they wanted was precisely the remoteness, the simplicity, and to become one with the locals. There was no tap water, only a well, right? Perfect, they could rely on themselves. Especially Xia Siyu, who fetched her own water from the well. Originally, Wei Jingjing and Bo Yan wanted to help her, but Xia Siyu declined. She was there to experience life; what kind of experience would it be if others did everything for her? She also specifically told Wei Jingjing that she wanted to do everything herself, including drawing water, lighting fires, and gathering firewood. You might think experiencing life was all about going through hardships, but in reality, no matter how effective, when one shot is captured on camera, your body language doesn¡¯t lie. Before, a popular idol had to play a mute girl from the lower echelons of society, and when throwing out the trash, she was too squeamish and held her little finger up. That gesture in itself was insignificant, but an unsuspecting girl who worked in a restaurant and earned her living by washing dishes and scrubbing pots wouldn¡¯t be afraid of getting dirty, nor would she have time to be squeamish. That one shot instantly severed her from the character she was playing. And the truly great actors, before playing the role of a rural woman, would spend several months immersing themselves in the locality. Eventually, their postures, the way they ate, the tone of their speech, wouldn¡¯t have half a difference from the local women. Slacking now would all have to be paid back later. The two of them and their team, after several hours of exhausting travel by boat and car, cleaned the house, put things away, and by dusk, it was already evening. The cave dwellings were generally built on south-facing slopes for sunlight, with several dwellings in a row, one layer upon another. Nestled against the mountain, there was a clear space in front. Warm in winter and cool in summer, the interior had it all. At dusk, many elderly people would bring their children to the open space to eat and chat. The children would be playing, and the elders would squat on the side, leisurely puffing on their smoking pipes. Nearby there might be donkeys turning a millstone, maybe one or two trees with birds chirping in them. The firewood used for cooking at night, the water drunk, the cornmeal eaten, all were the result of Xia Siyu lighting her own fire, fetching her own water, and grinding it herself on the stone mill. Since she wanted to experience it, Bo Yan did not help. Wei Jingjing felt sympathy watching her struggle and wanted to help, but was stopped by Bo Yan. He just shook his head, standing by, only occasionally helping her out. Sometimes, letting go appropriately allows her to grow faster on her own. But after everything was done, and she drank a bowl of the corn porridge she had ground by hand, sitting on the kang and stretching out her tired body from the day¡¯s work, the comfort was indescribable. After eating and drinking fully and relaxing a bit, it got dark quickly in the mountains, and there wasn¡¯t much in the way of entertainment activities. After taking a bath and changing his clothes, Bo Yan sneaked into her room again. Ever since Bo Yan was kicked out last time, the effect was significant. Even though they still slept together at night, Bo Yan had been significantly more behaved. Even when his thoughts sometimes ran wild and he wanted to do bad things, unfortunately his body would not cooperate. If he stirred even a little, he would immediately feel pain and jump back, forced into Sage Mode. Days passed, and Bo Yan remained well-behaved. It was okay when they were in the hotel, but now that they had come out here, staying in someone else¡¯s home¡ªeven though the house was only inhabited by their two teams miles around, and even the local elders might not recognize her and Bo Yan¡ªsince it wasn¡¯t soundproof. Even though she and Bo Yan had registered in their respective economic teams, it still wouldn¡¯t be good if someone heard or saw something. In this row of rooms, most of them were interconnected, separated by doors in the middle. When Xia Siyu was ready to sleep, Bo Yan just opened the door and walked in. Chapter 502 - Chapter 502: Chapter 501 Marriage, Love, The Past (1) Chapter 502: Chapter 501 Marriage, Love, The Past (1) Although these past few days, Bo Yan had been very well-behaved at night, and besides their team, there was only the host family here. Yet this place was not a hotel¡ªit was not soundproof at all. Right now, they could still hear the host family coughing. Even though there were doors between the rooms, that also meant that the people next door could come over. Sure, they could lock the door. But by locking it, wouldn¡¯t that imply they were up to no good? Besides, they had just arrived today and were busy all day to the point of exhaustion¡ªcould he not give her a bit of peace and quiet? They had plans to look around the area tomorrow; if he made a fuss and exhausted her to death again, would she ever get any rest? Xia Siyu was somewhat displeased and whispered, ¡°Go back to your own room.¡± Bo Yan looked utterly composed as he sat down on the edge of her bed and took off his shoes, deliberately keeping his voice very low, ¡°That¡¯s right, I¡¯m going back to my room. Isn¡¯t my wife¡¯s room also my room?¡± ¡°Who is your¡­¡± Xia Siyu was just about to retort when a loud cough echoed from next door. She lowered her voice even further, ¡°Couples have separate rooms to sleep in too, you better hurry back to your room!¡± ¡°By saying that, are you admitting that we are husband and wife?¡± Bo Yan asked, suddenly making Xia Siyu at a loss for words. She hesitated for a moment, unsure how to respond. To say they weren¡¯t, well, she truly felt they were not. Though they had registered their marriage, they had agreed it was only a union of convenience, committing to no responsibilities or obligations beyond the marriage certificate. But to deny it, they were indeed legally husband and wife. Moreover, Bo Yan and she now had a substantial relationship. Although she was very reluctant to cohabit with Bo Yan, the fact was that they were indeed living together, and both their agencies were aware of it. People around their team even treated them as a couple. ¡°Actually, I¡¯m particularly happy to be here today. Although the conditions here are somewhat rough, except for our people and a host who doesn¡¯t really follow show business and doesn¡¯t understand us, there are no outsiders. Here, no one knows who we are, and we don¡¯t have to wear a mask all day, worried about being recognized if we step out, let alone casually stroll down the street or hope to run outside¡ªit all seems like a luxury.¡± Back in their college days, even though they seldom went shopping, they could walk down the street without worrying about fans approaching, paparazzi sneaking photos, or passersby asking for autographs. They could watch a movie together, share some cotton candy, or drink from the same cup of bubble tea. But now, that simple life has become a luxury. One can¡¯t even think about wandering in a big city, let alone attend a market in town without being recognized and gawked at like animals in a zoo. It¡¯s only here, deep in the mountains, in a household with only the elderly and children, with no irrelevant people around, that they can truly relax. She fetched water, turned the stone mill, and ran freely, although it was hard work. Yet the simplicity of sweating, the simplicity of exercising, the fresh air¡ªit was all like being released from prison for Siyu. Wei Jingjing wouldn¡¯t understand; Little Tang wouldn¡¯t understand either, and perhaps even Qin Baizhou might not fully grasp it. Only Bo Yan, a fellow artist, could appreciate it. ¡°Siyu, do you actually know what my original dream was? My dream was to marry you, have one or two children together, and build a small home of our own.¡± Chapter 503 - Chapter 503: Chapter 502 Marriage, Love, The Past (2) Chapter 503: Chapter 502 Marriage, Love, The Past (2) ¡°We don¡¯t need to be very rich, just enough to get by. When I come home from work every day, you¡¯ll be at home with the kids, having already made a full table of food. Give me a kiss and say ¡®Welcome home¡¯.¡± Xia Siyu ¡°hmmed¡± loudly, sounding skeptical. Bo Yan immediately corrected himself: ¡°When you come home from work every day, I¡¯ll be at home with the kids, having already made a full table of food. I¡¯ll give you a kiss and say ¡®Welcome back.¡¯ On holidays, we can take the kids to the park to play. We¡¯ll fly kites and play soccer with him. If it¡¯s a girl, we¡¯ll buy her toys, dolls, and get her pretty little dresses. But looking at how high our ¡®visual appeal¡¯ is, as long as we don¡¯t mess up, our children are bound to be lookers.¡± Xia Siyu nodded and ¡°hmmed,¡± feeling that was more like it. But then she thought: ¡°Who wants to have kids with you? And how could any child of mine be ugly!¡± ¡°Right, our Siyu is the prettiest, if anyone were to be ugly, it would be me.¡± Xia Siyu lifted her chin proudly. Of course. Otherwise, what had she been relying on for so many years in the entertainment industry? Did they really think it was because of her scandals? It¡¯s all thanks to this face! Bo Yan also said, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because I never had it as a child that I desire it so much now. I really do long for a family. With a refined father, a loving mother, and if there¡¯s a girl, I would definitely spoil her like a little princess. If we have a boy, I would teach him to protect his mother and sister at home in the future. They don¡¯t need to be very smart or very beautiful. As long as they are virtuous, have smooth sailing, and are healthy, that¡¯s enough. I will always be there for them, wait until they grow up, and then watch them go out independently and build a little home for themselves.¡± He knew that actually, Xia Siyu also yearned for a healthy family, the love of a father and mother, and family relationships that weren¡¯t too complicated. Most importantly, a family that lived together in harmony. The more indifferent she now appeared towards her family, the more it proved that deep inside, she was actually longing for one. She too craved a home, a warm home. On this point, their goals aligned. But although Xia Siyu seemed to be carefree, she was very sensitive about things that touched her soul. Even though he knew that Xia Siyu felt the same way, he couldn¡¯t speak for her, and straightforwardly used himself as an example instead. Indeed, once she heard this, Xia Siyu also fell a bit silent. No one dislikes a warm and loving family, especially for people like them. The impact of one¡¯s family of origin on a child is such that whatever they lacked in their childhood, they will try to make up for it doubly as they grow up. If they can¡¯t make it up, they might end up following the same unhappy family pattern as before, or else, completely eliminate the option for a family. Ask Xia Siyu if she wanted a warm family, of course, she did. But with Bo Yan? She had thought about it, but that was years ago. Bo Yan had disappointed her, and she was timid and stingy with her emotions. Disappointed once, she didn¡¯t want to invest again. All she wanted was to maintain a relationship with Bo Yan devoid of feelings. Bo Yan was pursuing her, but just because he pursued her, did she have to respond? By now, she was probably in the third stage, no longer believing in marriage or love. When she was eventually strong enough to leave the Xia Family, she would probably break up with Bo Yan. Bo Yan clearly saw a glimmer of light flash through her eyes, but it quickly dimmed. She casually brushed his hand away: Chapter 504 - Chapter 504: Chapter 503 Marriage, Love, The Past (3) Chapter 504: Chapter 503 Marriage, Love, The Past (3) ¡°I think things are great now, free and easy. As long as it¡¯s good, we can be together. If we no longer like each other, then we split. Besides, do you like me as much as you say you do? If you really liked me, I didn¡¯t see you cherish me much before we broke up. And after we split, for these seven years, let¡¯s not even mention the beginning. After you got married, you treated me the same way, showing little affection for the first three years. You say you like me, is this your way of liking someone? If I hadn¡¯t slept with you, if I weren¡¯t pretty, if it wasn¡¯t me who dumped you, would you even remember me now?¡± Usually, Xia Siyu is a bit scatterbrained, but when she sees through something, she understands it clearer than anyone else. Her words left Bo Yan somewhat startled. When he and Xia Siyu suddenly broke up, he was surprised himself, not understanding why they were entangled one day and suddenly, he was dumped the next. He was shocked and a little angry too. After Xia Siyu said they were finished, she disappeared, not answering calls, blocking him on WeChat and QQ, and not returning to school. He originally thought that Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t the clingy type. Although passionate and proactive, she didn¡¯t bother him unnecessarily, didn¡¯t try to force her way into his social circle, and didn¡¯t strive to be part of the gatherings with him and his friends. Apart from Han Yifan and Zhou Weiwei, almost no one knew about their relationship. He was reserved by nature and enjoyed this kind of love affair that gave him plenty of freedom and space. When he liked her, she was there, and when he was busy, she never disturbed him. But what he hadn¡¯t expected was that when Xia Siyu disappeared, he also instantly lost all contact with her. It wasn¡¯t until a year later that she became a superstar¡ªmaking a splash across all of China as soon as she debuted. Two years later, when they met again, it was her coming to the school to withdraw. She wore sunglasses, looked serious, and was surrounded by a host of bodyguards who treated him as if he were a stranger. He admitted that his initial liking for Xia Siyu was indeed attracted by her appearance. Bold, passionate, and beautiful¡ªwhat man wouldn¡¯t like that? But beyond the attraction, there was also the feeling of annoyance from being dumped. Men might have that bit of pettiness. If he had been the one to dump Xia Siyu, years later he might just feel a bit wistful. He wouldn¡¯t feel so unsettled, so driven to conquer, to continue to possess her. After their breakup, he had seriously thought about the reasons. In addition to what was previously mentioned, Xia Siyu falls in love quickly while he falls in love slowly. Xia Siyu is accustomed to confessing as soon as she likes someone, while he still needed to observe and proceed step by step. Xia Sicai was also one of the reasons. Once he was committed to Xia Siyu, he wouldn¡¯t cheat, nor would he do anything to hurt her. At the time, Bo was just starting out. Wu Di would pester him, and though he was annoyed, he could not bluntly tell her to get lost because he didn¡¯t want to lose face. Xia Sicai was more prestigious, not as clingy as Wu Di, but she was always there, working alongside him. What he didn¡¯t realize was that his ambiguous behavior was a fatal blow to Xia Siyu. Especially since among his pursuers was her nemesis, Xia Sicai. He indeed hadn¡¯t done anything wrong to Xia Siyu, but as long as he didn¡¯t reject Xia Sicai¡¯s advances, to Xia Siyu, that was a betrayal. Even if she didn¡¯t say it out loud, in her heart, she surely made a note of it in her little book, waiting for the day of the breakup to explode it all at once. Chapter 505 - Chapter 505: Chapter 504 Marriage, Love, The Past (4) Chapter 505: Chapter 504 Marriage, Love, The Past (4) But it wasn¡¯t just that. The breakup between Bo Yan and Xia Siyu stemmed from a multitude of reasons. There was no betrayal, no arguments, and not even a cold war before. But the signs had already appeared. Beyond the two points mentioned above, he thought, upon reflection, that perhaps there was another. Even then, Bo Yan had not paid much attention to his girlfriend. At least, not as shamelessly as he does now, wishing he could stick to her 24 hours a day. He certainly liked her, but since Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t clingy, he didn¡¯t cling to her either. It¡¯s a common flaw among men, thinking that it¡¯s enough to cherish and love their girlfriends. But men have their social circles, ambitions, work, and ideals. It¡¯s not that he valued his friends more, but because his girlfriend was already part of the family, it inadvertently created a blind spot in his vision, making it seem like the boyfriend was growing less considerate. Furthermore, Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t the kind of person to cling or complain. When left alone, she could entertain herself. Bo Yan was too cold, and she too passionate¡ªBo Yan at the time only felt her fiery nature but failed to notice that this blazing flame might have been slowly extinguishing. Additionally, with Wu Di and Xia Sicai occasionally coming over to ¡°disturb,¡± when he couldn¡¯t find a way out, he had to give up the time he would have spent with Xia Siyu to interact with them. Xia Sicai and Lady Tong were Xia Siyu¡¯s vulnerabilities. Once she found out, Bo Yan was pretty much done for. Young love is passionate, yet it rarely concerns itself with the finer details that comes after love. He was unaware of Xia Siyu¡¯s worries and the problems at her home. He also didn¡¯t know that his lack of discretion concerning Xia Sicai was, to Xia Siyu, a cruel injury. Xia Siyu¡¯s love went from noon to sunset, while his love had only just started to rise with the morning sun. By the time his love reached its zenith, Xia Siyu had vanished without a trace. ¡­ ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right. I was indeed very upset then¡­ to be dumped by you. It was my first love, everything was going well with my girlfriend, and then she dumped me. I was astonished and angry, yet I couldn¡¯t stop thinking about her. Perhaps if I had been the one to suggest the breakup, the outcome might have been different,¡± he said with a self-deprecating laugh. Moreover, thinking about it now, although he had been undercover in her fan club from early on, witnessing her rise to sudden fame, then to a low ebb, and finally a comeback. It was Xia Siyu who initiated the breakup, and she was the one who became an overnight sensation post-breakup. After Bo Yan was dumped, besides feeling angry, surprised, and sad, he indeed harbored the attitude of ¡°You take me for granted today; one day, you won¡¯t be able to get enough of me.¡± While he wasn¡¯t proactive with Xia Sicai¡¯s advancements, he certainly didn¡¯t refuse them. He was very clear that, given his family background, education, and looks, Xia Siyu was unlikely to find a boyfriend better than him in the future; she might even spiral downwards. But to his surprise, Xia Siyu leapt to the status of a national idol, with no eligible bachelor in China who didn¡¯t like her. Even when she fell on hard times, there were plenty of wealthy men who wanted to pursue her. Instead, it was he, a wealthy heir without a family business, who became the most inconspicuous among her suitors. On one hand, he wanted to get close to her, on the other, he wanted to defy the arranged marriage set by his family, and furthermore, he wanted to see if he had what it takes, so he too entered show business. Chapter 506 - Chapter 506: Chapter 505 Marriage, Love, The Past (5) Chapter 506: Chapter 505 Marriage, Love, The Past (5) At that time, he had just given up his job at N University and plunged headfirst into the entertainment industry, his future uncertain. Xia Sicai, gauging the situation, got engaged to Bo Yi. At that time, the marriage alliance between the two families had already been set in stone. Xia Sicai dumped Bo Yan and even got engaged to his cousin, and although Bo Yan himself didn¡¯t mind, the elders of both families still felt they had done him wrong. Xia Youbiao, in particular, thought highly of Bo Yan as a son-in-law. Since the family had another daughter, they invited Bo Yan to have a look. Meanwhile, Xia Siyu was besieged by scandals, she returned to the Xia Family because of her mother¡¯s issue, and only agreed to meet the match arranged by the Bo Family as part of a trade-off for benefits. And the unlucky one from the Bo Family, who had been stood up by her sister Xia Sicai before the engagement, was none other than Bo Yan. You see, fate can be so mysterious sometimes. After all that circling, didn¡¯t they end up together anyway? Bo Yan was indeed a bit surprised. But at that time, he was labeled as ¡°the poor sod dumped by Xia Sicai,¡± ¡°the cast-off unable to inherit the family business,¡± and ¡°the rookie who defied convention to enter the entertainment circle.¡± From any perspective, he didn¡¯t have the means to immediately win over Xia Siyu, just as Qin Baizhou had not dared to pursue her back then. So, when Xia Siyu suggested ¡°going their separate ways,¡± he quickly agreed. After many years apart, neither was the same as before. Even if Bo Yan was unwilling to accept this, desiring a reconciliation, Xia Siyu had already become famous, was the precious daughter of the Xia Family, with complicated relationships, and a strong-willed personality. If she was unwilling, he didn¡¯t want to force her. Even after marriage, they were one on the bed, the other on the sofa. They followed the rules, kept their distance, and watched over each other silently. It wasn¡¯t until now, when he had become an award-winning actor and a top-quality idol, overtaking others at the bend, no longer needing the influence of the Bo Family to get ahead, with the Bo Family instead hoping to use his fame for social connections, that he had the confidence to arrange all this¡ªto get close to her, take care of her, and work hard together. Essentially, he was no different from Qin Baizhou back then. That¡¯s why he didn¡¯t resent Qin Baizhou¡¯s kindness towards her. But the only difference between him, and Qin Baizhou¡ªor rather, between him, Xia Siyu, and Qin Baizhou¡ªis that they would place more importance on movies and acting, whereas Qin Baizhou only had eyes for the benefits. So even without him, Xia Siyu and Qin Baizhou were doomed not to end up together. Bo Yan let out a self-mocking laugh. ¡°Maybe I have some other considerations. Beyond liking, there¡¯s also jealousy, anger, pity, or other various emotions. But that¡¯s human nature, isn¡¯t it? Who says love has to be as pure as a diamond? Even a diamond has imperfections. Love and hate, anticipation and memories, body and soul, all these complex emotions intertwined¡ªchoosing to like you after all that, that¡¯s what love is. I know I disappointed you in the past, but from now on, whether you like it or not, I¡¯ll make you want to be my wife, in every way.¡± ¡°Suit yourself,¡± Xia Siyu said indifferently with a humph. Anyway, after all that nonsense Bo Yan said, wasn¡¯t it all just to get close to her in the end? Watching him just now, speaking with such remorse, it seemed as if he had committed some grave mistakes in the past. Yet now, he was undressing her with such ease. She had made up her mind, anyway. Bo Yan kept saying he liked her, didn¡¯t he? If he liked her, so be it¡ªshe was already liked by many, and wouldn¡¯t miss just one more. Chapter 507 - Chapter 507: Chapter 506 Marriage, Love, The Past (6) Chapter 507: Chapter 506 Marriage, Love, The Past (6) He was willing to give when he chose to give, to like when he wanted to like. But she wouldn¡¯t invest much emotion in him. Call her cold-blooded or call her heartless. Unless she really could meet a man who made her want to give her all, chances are she wouldn¡¯t have much hope in love for the rest of her life. What to do with so little feeling? After all, being with someone, does it really matter who? Bo Yan was at least endowed and attractive, and there was the sanctity of the law. He wasn¡¯t into playing around either, so being with him wasn¡¯t so bad. Besides, their goals were somewhat aligned, they could support each other in their careers. However, the reality of a marriage pact, shared wealth, a joint family, raising a child¡ªthese were responsibilities she didn¡¯t want to take on. But Bo Yan had indeed stumped her. Xia Siyu wanted to snatch up two Best Actress awards before turning thirty, not falling behind Shang Feifei. But in truth, she understood that winning an award like that wasn¡¯t something you could just get if you wanted it. Even if your performance was good and your film was decent, if the selection year was a competitive one, or there were other candidates who could influence public relations, you might not win the award. Let alone winning two Best Actress awards by thirty, even one was difficult. Even Shang Feifei herself was desperately trying, so what about her? If she kept failing to win, would she stay with Bo Yan indefinitely? If this deadline extended to her forties, or even fifties, with over half her life behind her, how would that be any different from just living day to day? Although she had two bottom lines, one was love, which she was stingy with and wouldn¡¯t give again. The second was children. Unless she met a man she desired to have children with, she would rather remain childless, even now while married to Bo Yan. She had already suffered enough. Even with loving parents, she couldn¡¯t escape the bonds of family, and her childhood wasn¡¯t a happy one. If she planned to have children, it would only happen if she loved the man and was fully prepared to do so. The hardships she had endured, she would not let her own child go through the same. Though they embraced each other in the most intimate way, they both harbored their own concerns, and afraid of being overheard by their neighbor, they hurriedly wrapped things up. Maybe it was the exhaustion from the day¡¯s travels and the afternoon of fetching water and milling, but with her body completely fatigued, Xia Siyu cleaned up briefly and then drifted off into peaceful sleep. When Bo Yan returned from the restroom, he saw Xia Siyu sleeping soundly, with her eyes gently closed. He walked over on tiptoe and sat on the edge of the bed, silently watching her. She was passionate yet emotionless, her feelings came quickly and left even faster, but people often couldn¡¯t keep up with her pace, only looking up to her from behind. He wanted to keep her, speaking so humbly, yet she remained unmoved. That was the case with him, with Qin Baizhou, and with everyone else. His only advantage might just be that he could still stay by her side. But that didn¡¯t mean anything. He still couldn¡¯t obtain anything. The moonlight flowed quietly like water, casting a serene light over her. His hand gently caressed her body, pale and luminous as jade in the moonlight. The sad truth was, despite how much she despised him, he still longed to embrace her. What if she had a child? What would happen? Bo Yan had contemplated this question before. Xia Siyu valued family so much, if she had a child, she would definitely stay by its side, right? A child that resembled both him and her. Bo Yan felt as though the Demon had taken over his consciousness, and his hand that had lifted the small umbrella hesitated then quietly set it back down. Chapter 508 - Chapter 508: Chapter 507: Observation (1) Chapter 508: Chapter 507: Observation (1) But if he did that, what difference would there be between him and Qin Baizhou? Perhaps he would even be worse than Qin Baizhou, wouldn¡¯t he? Qin Baizhou wanted to control her life, believing that he knew what was best for her, but such actions actually limited her development and hindered her transformation. If he got her pregnant, it was possible that Xia Siyu might compromise for the sake of the child. But a pregnant female artist meant an interruption to her work, and she would be compelled to spend one or two years on pregnancy and childbirth. Even if she returned to the set immediately after giving birth, there was no guarantee the audience would accept her. Moreover, for female artists, especially those in a hidden marriage, having a child was almost equivalent to destroying their career. If she ever hoped to regain her past glory, it would be as difficult as reaching the heavens. Of course, there were female artists who had come back after pregnancy and childbirth only to become hugely successful. But that required even more effort than before their comeback, as well as a great deal of luck. Furthermore, those women who succeeded post-comeback were the ones with a certain degree of accumulation and acting skills. This was not to say that Xia Siyu lacked acting skills, but she didn¡¯t need to waste this precious prime time. If a child were to come, it must be the crystallization of their parents¡¯ love, arriving in this world only when both he and she were fully prepared. If he understood all this, why would he resort to such despicable acts just to keep her around? Moreover, times had changed from the past, even if raw rice were cooked into cooked rice, or even cooked into claypot rice, those who were going to divorce would still divorce, and those who were going to run away would still do so. Xia Siyu was so resolute that she might just angrily ask for a divorce and sever all ties as soon as she discovered a pregnancy, making it impossible to keep the child. Bo Yan put down Xiaoyu¡¯s umbrella, and he didn¡¯t pick it up again. But likewise, he didn¡¯t continue with what he was doing and instead chose to embrace her. The person in his arms was still warm, soft. Even if her heart had turned to solid ice, he was determined to melt the ice surrounding her heart. Rather than possessing her body, he wanted to be closer to her heart, progressing together shoulder to shoulder, working hard as a pair. He believed that as long as they persevered and made an effort, the day would come eventually. ** The sleeping Xia Siyu was blissfully unaware of these calculations. When she woke up, the host family¡¯s grandparents had already gone to the fields, and the children had gone to school. Bo Yan came out of her room, and everyone else acted as if it was all normal, even Wei Jingjing didn¡¯t show any sign of surprise, and she wasn¡¯t clutching her chest either. But having been busy all day yesterday, Xia Siyu felt a bit lost today. Surely they wouldn¡¯t be going to fetch water again, or would they be collecting firewood, or perhaps going to the stone mill? Or would she follow the grandparents into the fields to farm? She turned to look at Bo Yan, who was full of confidence, ¡°Follow me.¡± Xia Siyu nodded and followed Bo Yan out. This time, Bo Yan had her wear a mask, a sports outfit, and a hat. They drove for an hour to the town, where they found a restaurant in the busiest area of the town center. On the second floor with a view of the street, they ordered a table full of dishes. Could it be that he came here just to eat? But Bo Yan didn¡¯t touch anything on the table. He just looked out of the window with seemingly nothing to do, as if he was waiting for someone. Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t be bothered to ask him. She hadn¡¯t had breakfast anyway, and considered it a nice change of scenery. Being in town, there wasn¡¯t much need for formalities. Taking advantage of the fact that no one was around, she took off her mask and ate her share, quickly cleaning up her side of the table. When she looked up, Bo Yan¡¯s dishes were still untouched. Now Xia Siyu felt a bit curious, ¡°Are you waiting for someone?¡± Chapter 509 - Chapter 509: Chapter 508: Observation (2) Chapter 509: Chapter 508: Observation (2) She also looked out the window, gazed for a long time, ¡°Director Sun and the others aren¡¯t here either, who are you waiting for?¡± And if one is waiting for someone, why not let Wei Jingjing and the others come along, it¡¯s just her and Bo Yan in one car. In case of any trouble, it wouldn¡¯t even be convenient to run away. Bo Yan shook his head, ¡°I¡¯m not waiting for someone. I¡¯m observing people.¡± Xia Siyu was even more puzzled, ¡°Who are you watching? Let me have a look.¡± This town only had a few streets. Because of the strong northwest wind and sands, and being on the Loess Plateau, the whole road would be engulfed in dust when a car drove by. Now that people¡¯s lives have improved, there are quite a few cars in such remote areas. But while the cars have gotten better, the road remains a narrow strip with only four lanes and no greenery. And the road was more than half occupied by various vendors. Local dialects were heard all around, and few people spoke Mandarin. Vendors selling vegetables, various foods, and trinkets were shouting back and forth, but it was hard to see who he was observing. It couldn¡¯t be a beautiful girl more attractive than her. Or perhaps a handsome man, far better looking than him, making him feel ashamed. But looking around, there were few people who appeared neat and tidy. Today was a workday, most young people and students had gone to work or school, and those who were out were mostly women with children or elderly people. Where could there be an acquaintance? And hardly anyone looked good. Xia Siyu looked at Bo Yan with a puzzled expression, he lifted his teacup, took a sip, then smiled and said, ¡°That woman down there, she¡¯s a fish vendor with a five-year-old son and a daughter in school. Her daughter¡¯s grades are good, and her husband is a supermarket promoter. The elderly are unwell, probably at the hospital, she¡¯s rushing to go back to cook, to bring lunch to her mother-in-law.¡± Xia Siyu turned her head, ¡°How do you know that?¡± ¡°She has fish scales on her head, and not just one. The clothes she¡¯s wearing feature the logo of a brand from the nearby supermarket on her vest. She¡¯s buying chicken, to make soup for the patient at midday. She¡¯s holding a thermos, used for delivering meals. She mentioned having to care for two children, and her husband is at work, so obviously the sick person is the elderly who helps her with the kids. She¡¯s carrying a backpack, her younger son has one more year before starting school, and her daughter did very well on her test last week.¡± Xia Siyu frowned, ¡°So what?¡± Bo Yan continued, ¡°The writer Gorky and his friends Andreyev and Bunin were in a restaurant in the city, observing a person who had just come in for 3 minutes, to see who could make the most accurate observations. Andreyev and Bunin had their opinions, but Gorky observed the most carefully, ¡®The man is about thirty-five years old, slim, wearing a dark gray double-breasted wool suit, a lilac shirt, and a tie dotted with small yellow flowers. There is something abnormal about the nail on his little finger, and he has a black mole on his neck.¡¯ He concluded: the man is a swindler. Later, they inquired with the restaurant worker, and the man indeed turned out to be a swindler.¡± Bo Yan looked up, ¡°In literary history, there are quite a few writers who experimented with this observational approach. An American writer, to experience the life of slums, disguised himself as a vagrant and entered the slums. He ate and slept with them, blended in, and made many friends. Three months later, he wrote a book called ¡®People in the Abyss¡¯, that man was Jack London. Although literature and acting cannot be equated, many details of life cannot be imagined out of thin air, you need to learn to observe.¡± Chapter 510 - Chapter 510: Chapter 509: Observation (3) Chapter 510: Chapter 509: Observation (3) ¡°Initially, I had you look at archives, read books and watch movies. That¡¯s one form of observation¡ªimmersing yourself directly into their lives and observing from a close distance is another. Of course, observation alone isn¡¯t enough. There are things you need to do yourself, and you also have to learn to do them. For example, yesterday you went to fetch water and operate the stone mill. You felt the sensation of exerting force, right? That¡¯s the experience you need. Once you¡¯ve observed and participated, when the camera captures you, it¡¯s not acting anymore; it¡¯s muscle memory. Acting relies on intuition, but it also requires using your brain.¡± ¡°Do you know why your past performances always seemed a bit out of touch? You followed the script and didn¡¯t act poorly. For instance, if the script describes you chatting with someone in the office, with just a brief scene overview. Some fools would just stand there, upright, then with a 360-degree rotation of the camera lens, you would simply talk to the other person. Doesn¡¯t that feel fake? If you were sitting in a swivel chair, holding a mouse in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other while talking, wouldn¡¯t that be stronger than foolishly standing and talking?¡± They didn¡¯t come here to play or relax; they came to experience life. Everything is according to the script. If it¡¯s not in the script but they¡¯ve seen it in the archives, they¡¯ll do whatever a ¡®sent-down youth¡¯ in the countryside at that time would do. Even if it¡¯s not written in the script, even if it¡¯s just for one shot, they also need to learn to do it. ¡°You say you¡¯re a method actor; then, you have to become that person¡ªnot just in your mind, but your whole being, from clothing and accessories to behavior and movements. Everything must closely align with that person¡¯s life. When audiences see you, they should feel that you are the living character from the movie, entirely natural, without any sense of disconnect.¡± Xia Siyu felt like she¡¯d had an epiphany. The films she¡¯d acted in before were all pure ¡®girly¡¯ films, the modern urban Cinderella Mary Sue types. In those films, as long as she appeared fresh and cute, capable of crying, laughing, and making a fuss, without being too artificial, she generally did well. The only one with some difficulty was in ¡°Storm.¡± But even then, she played a bar owner who could dance, which was still related to her life, and with Wang Ju¡¯s guidance, it was easy to immerse herself. Acting-wise, she was decent enough, handling romance dramas without issue, but depth was a challenge. She had always felt as if she¡¯d hit a ceiling, eager to work hard yet unsure of the direction. But Bo Yan, with his blend of theory and practice, had guided her to shatter that ceiling, and she felt as if she¡¯d ascended to another level. The difference between an ordinary actor and a leading actress lies in these details. The college classes she had skipped were now being revisited with Bo Yan¡¯s help. But she was different from the student who slept during lectures. If left to her own devices, it might have taken her three, five, or even more years to learn these things. However, Bo Yan¡¯s assistance allowed her to instantly grasp some of the subjects she¡¯d missed. Indeed, some actors never attended college, yet they had high natural talent and self-motivation, quickly transitioning from box office poison to genius actors. But how many actors like that existed? Most don¡¯t have talent or the willingness to work hard, deluding themselves into thinking that they could get by on their looks alone. Yet Xia Siyu still had her doubts, ¡°Then why did you come here with me alone? You didn¡¯t even bring Jingjing or Little Tang.¡± Bo Yan smiled, ¡°Because I wanted to spend time alone with you.¡± Chapter 511 - Chapter 511: Chapter 510: Observation (4) Chapter 511: Chapter 510: Observation (4) Bo Yan¡¯s sudden confession caught Xia Siyu by surprise. Recently, it wasn¡¯t the first time she heard him say he liked her. Just last night he talked to her a lot and even gave long-winded speeches. But for some reason, when she heard those words last night, all she wanted to do was sleep. Although she yearned for a family, the condition was that she had to meet a man she was willing to start a family with. They met too early when she was young. Back then, they were both youthful and reckless, and the notion of family was a distant concern. When they met again after breaking up, even though she was married, the feelings were gone. She hadn¡¯t met another man who could stir her heart, let alone one to spend a lifetime with. Xia Siyu herself had already prepared for a life of solitude, but now Bo Yan had entered the scene, forcefully intruding into her life. After all, she had her needs too, and there seemed nothing wrong with satisfying them together. There was no love and certainly no family. No matter how much Bo Yan persuaded, in the end, he still wanted to sleep with her. She had heard enough sweet nothings from men to be immune to them. However, just now, Bo Yan brought her here and patiently taught her; at least she could feel that Bo Yan was genuinely helping her. His intentions weren¡¯t lascivious but to help her act better. He wasn¡¯t avaricious or expectant of any repayment; he might not be a good boyfriend, but he definitely was a good teacher. But Xia Siyu didn¡¯t want to admit she was touched. She could only say, ¡°Typical of a teacher. Your examples even reach America and Russia.¡± Bo Yan smiled faintly, ¡°Of course, you¡¯ve paid your tuition, so naturally, I have to teach you attentively.¡± Xia Siyu, puzzled, ¡°What tuition?¡± Bo Yan lifted his eyelashes, cast a glance over her body, and then silently lowered his head to take a sip of water. Following his gaze, Xia Siyu thought it over and although she was drunk that night, the words ¡°tuition fee¡± seemed vaguely familiar. She always felt this guy was after her body, definitely up to no good! ¡°Damn it, you pervert!¡± Ever since she agreed to be with Bo Yan, she seldom called him a pervert. But Bo Yan always seemed to have a knack for provoking her, making her imagine unspeakable scenarios time after time. ¡°Then do you still want to learn acting? Who told you to spend all your class time sleeping back in the day. The tears you¡¯re crying now are the water that didn¡¯t go into your brain back then.¡± Xia Siyu got angry and was about to slam the table and stand up, but Bo Yan subtly lifted his chin, signaling that someone was watching. Xia Siyu quickly put on her mask but was still annoyed and kicked his leg under the table. Anyway, she wouldn¡¯t let herself be taken advantage of! The two sat from morning until noon and staying too long in one spot always drew curious stares from the staff. Not wanting to leave, Bo Yan ordered more food. Xia Siyu accepted everything¡ªafter all, her purpose here was leisure. But in the afternoon, a waiter came over, ¡°Excuse us, we close at two o¡¯clock.¡± If it weren¡¯t for the lack of a bank opposite, their act of always looking out the window might have stirred more controversy. Xia Siyu instinctively looked at Bo Yan first. If it were before, she would have made all the decisions by herself, but now, she looked at Bo Yan. They had arrived at ten and sat there for four hours. Bo Yan was very calm, pulling out his phone to pay by scanning a code. As they walked downstairs, he looked at her, ¡°Do you want to go shopping?¡± Chapter 512 - Chapter 512: Chapter 511: Observation (5) Chapter 512: Chapter 511: Observation (5) ¡°Observing again?¡± Xia Siyu nodded. ¡°No, I just want to go shopping with you.¡± Xia Siyu turned to leave, but Bo Yan grabbed her hand again, ¡°I was just kidding, since we¡¯re here, of course observation is part of it. Shopping is just incidental.¡± Xia Siyu gave him a look, thinking there wasn¡¯t much else to do if she went back. Other than watching TV or browsing the internet on her phone, there were no other forms of entertainment. Although she had agreed in her heart earlier, she still said proudly, ¡°Since you¡¯ve so sincerely pleaded, I suppose I¡¯ll do you the favor and go shopping with you.¡± Bo Yan smiled faintly, this girl, despite her reluctant words and her feigned indifference, her eyes were actually shining with excitement. The town was not like the county seat, with only a few main roads crisscrossing it. From one end of the street to the other, it could take less than an hour to cover the whole place. The town was tiny compared to Yancheng. But Xia Siyu was shopping with great enthusiasm. As a child in Italy, and during her first two years in China when she was in her last two years of high school, she was busy with revisions and had no time for fun. It was only in university that she had the chance to wander around, but that lasted for only a year, after which she joined the entertainment industry. After she became famous, everyone on the street recognized her. Although it was fame, and an honor, from another perspective, it was also a burden. She could not lead a normal life. Even going downstairs for breakfast was a luxury. If she occasionally went shopping, she had to fully prepare and inform the company to avoid any problems. Yancheng was bustling, but correspondingly, with so many young people watching movies and the news, there were quite a few who could recognize her. In the Northwest, where they stayed, the homeowner might know she was an actress, but could not name her. After all, she acted only in movies, never in TV dramas. The elderly rarely watch movies and don¡¯t look at fashion magazines; they might only see her in advertisements, which didn¡¯t leave a strong impression. Thanks to the pandemic, Bo Yan and she could walk around wearing masks without drawing attention. Aside from work, celebrities could only stay at home, occasionally meeting up with friends. At home, they could only play video games or surf the internet, which was utterly boring. So when Bo Yan suggested going shopping, even though she hesitated a bit, she decided to go with pleasure. Xia Siyu looked around like someone who¡¯d never seen the world before. Today was market day, and there were many stalls. Previously, from above, she had only seen a sea of heads. It was only when she got down amongst the haggling and hustle that she felt the liveliness that seemed like real life. But she and Bo Yan were holding hands. After a few steps, Xia Siyu felt something was off and wanted to pull her hand away. Because the vendors occupied the streets and there was no urban management in the small town, the driving lane was halved. Xia Siyu let go of Bo Yan¡¯s hand, and he gave her a glance but said nothing. Soon, an electric bike approached from behind. Bo Yan immediately pulled her hand, forcefully dragging her over, ¡°There are a lot of vehicles here.¡± Xia Siyu didn¡¯t have time to react before she saw the electric bike that had indeed brushed past them. She looked at Bo Yan, who smiled, and then she lowered her head to look at their clasped hands, intending to let go. Just then, a mother leading a child came towards them. The child wasn¡¯t watching and lightly bumped into her; Bo Yan tightened his grip on her hand and said softly, ¡°Be careful.¡± Xia Siyu blinked her eyes. As he held onto her hand, she didn¡¯t say another word. Chapter 513 - Chapter 513: Chapter 512: Observation (6) Chapter 513: Chapter 512: Observation (6) The two of them strolled down the street hand in hand, and soon Xia Siyu also stopped paying attention to Bo Yan¡¯s paws, looking around curiously. Speaking of which, this was their first proper shopping trip together since they had broken up. Back when they were dating, they had gone shopping as well. However, Bo Yan was busy with his coursework, and Xia Siyu had troubles at home to deal with, so their ¡°shopping¡± trips were simply visit one mall, watch a movie, and have a meal, quite a simplistic affair. Moreover, at that time, Bo Yan was still quite young and cared about his image. Even though they were official, he felt embarrassed about holding hands all the time. But now, after being apart for so long and being able to be together again, if it weren¡¯t for the constraints of being a celebrity, he would have wished the whole world knew they were together. Xia Siyu rarely saw such lively street scenes and was curious about everything. Particularly, the folk customs in the Northwest were different from those in Yancheng. The food, the utilities, and the entertainment, all had distinct differences. She even stood in front of a butcher¡¯s shop, watching people slaughter cattle and sheep, and enjoyed it greatly. There were many snacks in the Northwest, and Xia Siyu, having already eaten lunch, still felt greedy for them. At home, she had too many restrictions, with a nutritionist and personal trainer keeping a watchful eye on her. How much she ate and what she ate was determined by a specific menu. If she overate, she had to go running with the trainer. Xia Siyu tended to gain weight easily and had been teased about it many times. But when she saw the freshly roasted lamb ribs being sold, she found that she could no longer move forward. Bo Yan was walking ahead, tugging at her a little, but Xia Siyu wouldn¡¯t budge. She looked at the lamb ribs, swallowed saliva, then touched her belly, and looked at the portion sizes that other customers had bought, which were quite large. Bo Yan knew that female celebrities needed to be extremely slim to look good on camera. Personally, he preferred Xia Siyu to be a bit plumper, as she felt good to hug. But as a celebrity, maintaining one¡¯s figure was a must. However, Xia Siyu¡¯s eyes were ablaze with desire, like a stray dog longing for food. ¡°Do you want to eat?¡± he asked. Xia Siyu nodded and then bit her lip, shaking her head, ¡°I can¡¯t finish it. Unless¡­¡± ¡°You buy it. If you can¡¯t finish, I¡¯ll eat the rest,¡± he said. He hadn¡¯t eaten much for lunch anyway. Xia Siyu immediately rushed over and ordered the biggest, fattest one, asking for extra chili and cumin! It was handed to her shortly after, aromatic and incredibly enticing. Even though she wasn¡¯t hungry, her appetite was thoroughly whetted. She pulled down her cap, ate half of it, glanced at Bo Yan, took a few more bites, and then reluctantly handed it over to him: ¡°Your turn.¡± ¡°Just eat it,¡± Bo Yan said. Xia Siyu immediately smiled with her eyes squinted and quickly finished the rest. She also wanted to drink milk tea! This super fattening and sweet beverage, strictly prohibited by the company, which she never dared to touch, she ordered at that moment. Bo Yan just let her indulge. If she couldn¡¯t finish, he took over, unabashedly drinking the leftovers. They walked the entire street from start to finish; they might not have observed much else, but her stomach was now pleasantly full and rounded. However, at the end of the street, Xia Siyu saw a stall surrounded by many kids, selling candy figurines, and once again, she couldn¡¯t resist stopping. Bo Yan sighed, then told the vendor directly, ¡°I want the biggest one there is.¡± Once the phoenix was done, Xia Siyu held the candy art reluctantly, carefully licking the tail of the phoenix. ¡°Is it sweet?¡± he asked. Xia Siyu nodded. Bo Yan leaned in and kissed her lips, ¡°Hmm, it is very sweet.¡± Chapter 514 - Chapter 514: Chapter 513 Sweetness (1) Chapter 514: Chapter 513 Sweetness (1) This damn man is taking advantage again. If it were in private, fine, but this is on the main street. Even though this is just a remote small town, it would be troublesome if we were recognized. She quickly pushed him away, taking a small step back. Bo Yan didn¡¯t pursue her; as she stepped back, he bent his head and took another bite from the sugar phoenix¡¯s tail she was holding. ¡°You¡¯re eating my chicken butt!¡± Xia Siyu got angry and hurriedly finished off the sugar figurine in a few bites, crunch, crunch, crunch. Having chewed the last bite and before she could even toss the stick away, Bo Yan moved in once more, wrapping his arms around her slender waist and kissing her. The sugar confection intermingled and melted in their mouths, sweet and silky. The caramel, having been heated in the stove, took on a slightly charred flavor, with a robust, smoky essence and a hint of bitterness. Moreover, the old vendor who sold the sugar figurines said that while others used white sugar, he used brown sugar. It was not only sweet but also rich, dense, and had a bit of a healthful effect. Luckily, this was at the end of the street, and luckily, most of the people coming to buy sugar figurines were children, along with some elderly people accompanying them; not many recognized them. And these days, kissing on the street was perfectly normal, so no one else found it odd or gave it more than a glance. At first, Xia Siyu felt a bit fearful, but as no one around took notice of her, she also began to relax. Well, even though she had made up her mind not to fall for Bo Yan, the guy was good at what he did at night, and his kissing skills¡­ were also quite impressive. But she was still not pleased, and right after they separated, she immediately blew up, ¡°You finished my sugar figurine!¡± ¡°I only took one bite,¡± he replied. ¡°Who allowed you to bite it!¡± she retorted. ¡°Besides, I bought it,¡± he added. ¡°So what if you bought it, once you gave it to me it¡¯s mine! Did I let you eat it?¡± she argued. Even though he had paid for the sugar figurine, since he bought it for her, it was hers! She didn¡¯t even want to eat it, and this guy had taken a big bite right out of her chicken butt. The chicken butt was now unclean, incomplete! Bo Yan sighed in resignation, ¡°I¡¯ll buy them for you, as many as they have here, alright?¡± He spoke with a lavish tone, ¡°Boss, I¡¯ll take all the sugar figurines here.¡± Buying sugar figurines didn¡¯t cost much, and for performers like them, it was just a small amount of spending money. Xia Siyu and Bo Yan didn¡¯t think much of it, but for the kids, these two were considered to be super wealthy! Moreover, the old man selling the sugar figurines hadn¡¯t expected to land such a big customer. He naturally hoped to sell out as soon as possible to close up shop early, so he also got to work with enthusiasm, making whatever commanded the highest price. Soon, Xia Siyu had not only the earlier phoenix but also a set of the twelve zodiac animals. After each set was completed, the vendor carefully wrapped the sugar figures in glutinous rice paper to prevent sticking and dust. In the end, they piled up into a towering stack, attracting the attention of all the nearby children. Usually, when kids came to buy sugar figurines, they¡¯d just get a small animal for a yuan or two, and a fancier phoenix might cost ten or twenty. But no one was like Bo Yan, buying a whole bunch all at once, and buying the most expensive ones at that. To the kids, these two seemed ridiculously rich, and their little eyes were filled with envy. And it wasn¡¯t just the children who were drawn in; some adults also found it interesting and came over to watch. A few of them even cast curious glances at Bo Yan¡¯s and Xia Siyu¡¯s faces. Their looks seemed to carry a hint of inquiry. Chapter 515 - Chapter 515: Chapter 514 Sweetness (2) Chapter 515: Chapter 514 Sweetness (2) Xia Siyu and Bo Yan saw an adult approaching, so they quickly donned masks to cover their faces, fearing they would be recognized. In the end, the vendor wrapped the sugar figures in a bag, filling it with a whole bagful of them. He even used the remaining bit of the base material to make Xia Siyu a small sun: ¡°Take it, it¡¯s my gift to you.¡± This was right up her alley; the sugar figures were too pretty to eat. Now having a small sun, she could hold it and slowly nibble on it. No sooner had she taken off her mask to eat than a parent with a child glanced at her face by chance and was shocked: ¡°Are you Xia Siyu?¡± Xia Siyu was startled and quickly put her mask back on, deliberately altering her voice: ¡°No, no, I¡¯m not.¡± Although she and Bo Yan were dressed plainly, after all as entertainers, they were thin and had a good aura. Being recognized herself was no big deal; the main concern was with Bo Yan. She was currently with Bo Yan, and they had just been locked in an embrace, kissing. If this got out, it wouldn¡¯t even take until tonight, immediately, right away, it would become a viral hit on the entire internet! Never mind whether she could smoothly return to her filming, the whole of China would know about her and Bo Yan. She didn¡¯t care about the other rumors because they weren¡¯t true. But this was a bona fide scandal, and what¡¯s more, it involved a marriage! She didn¡¯t want the news of her marriage to Bo Yan to affect her work, nor did she want to be tied to Bo Yan for life! Bo Yan noticed the man who recognized her was in his thirties, holding a child¡¯s hand and carrying a backpack. He probably wasn¡¯t a fan of Xia Siyu; it was just that he had seen and recognized her when she had just shown her face. He quickly lowered his voice as well and said with a smile, ¡°Many people say my wife looks like Xia Siyu, I guess I¡¯m lucky to have such a beautiful wife.¡± He even used the local dialect. Bo Yan had been studying up on a lot of material lately and learned the local dialect. He never imagined that he wouldn¡¯t be using it in a movie, but instead, here in this situation. The man was taken aback. Xia Siyu¡¯s bare face wasn¡¯t much different from when she wore makeup; she and Bo Yan weren¡¯t made up today either, both in sportswear, with her hair tied up in a ponytail just coming out. But no matter how little the difference, there still was one. Not being a fan, he wasn¡¯t so sure, and hearing Bo Yan speak in the local dialect, he didn¡¯t recognize him either. After all, one may think, what kind of person is Xia Siyu, and why would she appear in their small town? Even if she did, why would she be without assistants and bodyguards, and moreover, out with a man? Seeing his confusion, Bo Yan took Xia Siyu by the arm and quickly walked away. By the time they fetched their car and drove back, they ran into that man again, who seemed to have checked Weibo and was still saying, ¡°Damn, Xia Siyu is recently in the Northwest, could it really have been her just now?¡± What he didn¡¯t know was that Xia Siyu was sitting in the car next to him, behind windows tinted with reflective film. She could see everything outside clearly, but people outside couldn¡¯t see her. It wasn¡¯t until they had left the city and could no longer see the scene behind them that Xia Siyu breathed a sigh of relief. Bo Yan was driving. He actually knew, Xia Siyu didn¡¯t want to be recognized, first, because it was troublesome, and second, because he was with her. It was unavoidable; when you become an entertainer, enjoy the spotlight and the high salary that comes with it, sometimes you have to make sacrifices. The good mood the two had set out with for the day dissipated amidst the tension, leaving a bit of a low-pressure atmosphere in the car, until Bo Yan parked the car. Chapter 516 - Chapter 516: Chapter 515 Sweetness (3) Chapter 516: Chapter 515 Sweetness (3) Xia Siyu looked around, realizing they were still far from their destination. The car was parked by the side of the road, next to a river. On the other side rose undulating hills of yellow earth. Some areas were just depressions, while others were deep valleys. Xia Siyu was a bit puzzled, ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Why had they suddenly stopped? Was there something he wanted to say? As she thought about it, she remembered how Bo Yan had wrapped his arm around her waist and said, ¡°This is my wife.¡± Although there was no issue from a legal perspective, if he was recognized, she and Bo Yan would be even less able to escape attention. But before she could ask, Bo Yan nudged the car forward a bit, then again, turning the vehicle to a new position. Then he turned off the engine, unfastened his own seatbelt, then unfastened hers, and even helped her open the car door: ¡°Come out.¡± Xia Siyu frowned, reluctant to leave the car. Bo Yan reached out to her again: ¡°Come out, trust me.¡± Xia Siyu hesitated for a moment but still extended her hand to him. This man couldn¡¯t be trusted with meat, but besides that, he was very strong in both professional and theoretical terms. Xia Siyu might not say it out loud, but she had started to trust him habitually, to trust his judgment. She took his hand and stepped out; Bo Yan pulled her forward a few steps: ¡°Right here.¡± Xia Siyu still wore a puzzled face as he tugged her along. But when she stood at the edge of the hill and saw the breathtaking view before her, she felt her whole being open up. At their feet was a precipice. Unlike other cliffs, this one wasn¡¯t much rocky or a sheer drop but a steep slope of yellow earth. The river seemed to have been cut by nature itself, flowing deeply in the canyon. The original flatland, eroded by rain, was abruptly interrupted, with ravines crisscrossing and long canyons. It resembled the antennae of a crab, weaving a network of intersecting lines. Further out twisted more of the yellow earth. Although years of planting trees had lent the hills here a tinge of green, they could not compare to the lush ridges elsewhere. A vast expanse of yellow stretched from before them to the horizon, as if endless. There¡¯s a saying that I might be only a hundred meters from you on the Loess Plateau, but to meet, we would possibly have to walk an entire day. It refers to this kind of landscape. However, when you stand on the mountain top and look into the distance, these geographical proximities become completely irrelevant. The hills roll on, barren of inhabitants. Here, one can shout loudly and scream freely. There¡¯s only her, only him¡ªno more jumbles of crowds to disrupt, no spinning top-like work to mind, and no one to recognize and know her. Bo Yan took off her mask in one motion, ¡°You don¡¯t need this here.¡± Without the mask, even breathing became much easier. The air was slightly dry, sunbeams pouring down from the sky. Here, even a tributary seemed so majestic¡ªbeing next to the Yellow River itself would perhaps be even more expansive. Bo Yan encouraged her: ¡°There¡¯s no one else here; you can say what¡¯s in your heart. Anything you want to say.¡± Then he yelled towards the valley: ¡°I am Bo Yan¡ª¡± Quickly, an echo returned: ¡°I am Bo Yan¡ªBo Yan¡ª¡± Bo Yan yelled again: ¡°Bo Yan loves Xia Siyu¡ª¡± As soon as he finished, Xia Siyu was startled and quickly punched him. But Bo Yan was laughing, and the valley carried back the echo: ¡°Bo Yan loves Xia Siyu¡ªloves Xia Siyu¡ª¡± Chapter 517 - Chapter 517: Chapter 516 Sweetness (4) Chapter 517: Chapter 516 Sweetness (4) This place isn¡¯t like the south, there¡¯s very little rainfall throughout the year, and irrigation for farming is quite troublesome. There were never many people living deep in the mountains, and most of the young people have moved out. Even if they don¡¯t go to the big cities, they generally live in the towns. Although the country is working hard on afforestation, this area has yet to benefit from it. There really is no one here. But Xia Siyu still felt scared. Who would have thought that even a stroll down the street here would nearly lead to her being recognized? Bo Yan was still so brazenly shouting that phrase, was he not afraid of dying too quickly? Bo Yan just smiled, ¡°Look, there¡¯s no one.¡± Xia Siyu quickly glanced around and, indeed, there was no one. But better safe than sorry, right? ¡°What if?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I asked the homeowner before we came. He said that within several miles of where he lives, only his family remains; all the others have moved away. You can say whatever you want here. On our way here, did you see anyone? Xia Siyu was stuck for a moment, indeed she had not. Bo Yan¡¯s smile slightly faded, and his gaze became tender, ¡°I didn¡¯t understand before. Only after I entered the entertainment industry did I comprehend many things about you. The industry is a strange circle; you fear not being popular, but also the consequences of being too popular. If you¡¯re not popular, you have no money, no status, and you¡¯re oppressed by others. You might even be forced to accept the unspoken rules, without any say. But if you¡¯re too popular, even stepping out of your door is inconvenient. Celebrities appear dazzling and are recognized by everyone, and it¡¯s precisely because of this recognition that they¡¯re lonelier. What does it matter if others know who you are? The more they do, the more you hide yourself. Friends all over the world, but not a single confidant. You have to perform well, you can¡¯t get angry or frustrated, and you can¡¯t just express any opinions, otherwise, you¡¯ll be attacked by haters. I know you don¡¯t care about these things, but think about it, who is born liking being cursed at? Not caring doesn¡¯t mean you enjoy being cursed at. Celebrities face a lot of pressure too, aside from being verbally abused, you also set goals for yourself, right? And sometimes you feel powerless. Today, with this opportunity and no one else around, say whatever you want. Shout out all the anger and wishes in your heart. No one will hear, only you and me.¡± Xia Siyu wouldn¡¯t fall for his provocation, and yelling like that would be so dumb, like acting a fool. But over there, Bo Yan was grinning and even shouted, ¡°Xia Siyu loves Bo Yan¡ª¡± Damn it, this was blatant fakery; Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t stand it and immediately roared, ¡°Bo Yan!¡± Unexpectedly, her shout tangled with Bo Yan¡¯s previous shout, the two voices entwining lingeringly, endless in their echo. The valley slowly replied, ¡°Xia Siyu also loves Bo Yan¡ªloves Bo Yan¡ªBo Yan¡ª¡± She was taken aback by the echo, then moments later, she shouted again, ¡°Bo Yan is a big bastard¡ª¡± The echo answered back, ¡°Bo Yan is a big bastard¡ªbastard¡ª¡± She continued to yell, ¡°Bo Yan, you dog of a man¡ª¡± The echo also replied, ¡°Bo Yan, you dog of a man¡ªdog of a man¡ª¡± Bo Yan followed her and yelled, ¡°Xia Siyu loves a dog of a man¡ª¡± ¡°Love your head!¡± Xia Siyu, enraged, kicked him and shouted loudly, ¡°I want to be Best Actress¡ªI want to beat Shang Feifei¡ªI want to make my mom proud!¡ª¡± The echo was too prolonged, mingling together, the only words that could be clearly heard were the last few, ¡°To make mom proud¡ªproud¡ª¡± Chapter 518 - Chapter 518: Chapter 517 Sweetness (5) Chapter 518: Chapter 517 Sweetness (5) This was the first time that Xia Siyu had openly spoken her heart in front of others. In fact, she had been working so hard lately partly because of Shang Feifei¡¯s provocation, and partly because she needed to transform herself, but the most important reason was her mother. No one forced her; she was the one trying to measure up to her mother. At twenty-three, her mother won a dance gold medal, at twenty-six, she received the Best Actress award, and by thirty, she was a two-time Best Actress. That¡¯s what a genius looked like. However, such a genius ended up retreating from the industry because of trivial family matters and was suppressed by the Xia Family, so much so that now, unless one is a professional or a die-hard fan, there are very few young people who know of her. She was clearly so outstanding and deserved to be seen by more people, yet she became obscure because of scandals, rumors, and the Xia Family¡¯s oppression. Having or lacking fame doesn¡¯t really matter; what¡¯s worse is that she wasn¡¯t happy. Back in those days, artists really didn¡¯t have money or influence, and she couldn¡¯t fight against Mrs. Tong or the Xia Family. Even if her father loved her, so what? It still led to her living a lonely life and dying in desolation. She had kept these words in her heart for many years, without telling anyone. Firstly, because her mother herself was reserved and didn¡¯t like others passing judgment on her. Secondly, she herself wasn¡¯t strong enough; even if she went public, it would just provoke ridicule. It was no use talking about it if she couldn¡¯t win against the Xia Family. She must work hard and strive, for her mother, and for herself! Ever since Bo Yan found out who her mother was, he also understood some of her behaviors. No wonder she danced and had a talent for acting. No wonder she was so beautiful, unafraid of the camera, yet so careful to hide herself. Fake scandals spread wildly, but she diligently avoided her true feelings¡­ Seven years ago, after Siyu broke up with Bo Yan, he was shocked and angry. He couldn¡¯t understand how she could leave suddenly without any quarrels, cheating, or misunderstanding between them. Latter, when he learned about her background, especially about her and her mother¡¯s past, in addition to reflection, he felt even more heartache. Thankfully, after twists and turns, she still married him, although somewhat unwillingly. They had formed a physical relationship, albeit half coaxed and half deceived on his part. But at least, he was the only one by her side, and he would, for the sake of her dreams, work hard and help her achieve them. He wanted to ensure that she would not live with regrets or feel sorry for having loved him. He also shouted, ¡°Xia Siyu will get the Best Actress¡ª¡± Xia Siyu also shouted, ¡°I will get the Best Actress¡ª¡± Bo Yan then shouted, ¡°Xia Siyu will become a legend¡ª¡± Immediately, Siyu followed, ¡°I will become a legend¡ª¡± After Bo Yan finished shouting, he turned to look at her, his voice deep yet clear and powerful, ¡°I will, help you. Your dreams will definitely come true.¡± Xia Siyu turned her head, just as the setting sun cast its light from behind Bo Yan. Without the scorching heat of noon, it seemed to outline him in a golden hue. The temperature was just right, the weather clear, and the sky cloudless. She looked into Bo Yan¡¯s eyes and nodded earnestly. ¡°And then¡ªafter you¡¯ve achieved your dreams, I also want to achieve my own dreams.¡± ¡°What is your dream? Filmmaking?¡± He had mentioned before that he wanted to be a director and screenwriter, to write, direct, and act in his own films, and win trophies. Bo Yan shook his head, ¡°That is my aspiration. But my dream is¡ª¡± He paused there, looking at her quietly, then held her in his arms. My dream is you. Chapter 519 - Chapter 519: Chapter 518 Sweetness (6) Chapter 519: Chapter 518 Sweetness (6) Xia Siyu and Bo Yan didn¡¯t arrive at the small courtyard until nightfall. Tomorrow they would visit the nearby Hope Primary School. Since they were here, they would definitely take a tour around, visiting schools, nursing homes, and welfare institutions to donate money and goods. This was a nationally recognized poverty-stricken county, and many people were still living on government subsidies. Wei Jingjing and Little Tang had gone out today as well, but not to observe the town like them. Instead, they went to the courier station to transport back the books and supplies Xia Siyu had purchased from the publisher, waiting to be donated the next day. Bo Yan and Xia Siyu came back late, and they didn¡¯t pay much attention to it, but Wei Jingjing noticed that Xia Siyu¡¯s clothes seemed a bit wrinkled, as if the zipper of her sweatshirt had been yanked. Plus, her complexion seemed a tad unnatural. In contrast, Bo Yan appeared relaxed, his clothes also seeming as if they had snagged on something and were slightly pulled. When she was about to go clean up the car, Xia Siyu stopped her, ¡°Let¡¯s eat first. It¡¯s so dark now, what can you see? Let¡¯s clean it up tomorrow.¡± Right, it was indeed late and she might be hungry. Wei Jingjing didn¡¯t think too much about it and joined them for dinner. Dinner was prepared to be very light. Xia Siyu chewed a few bites without tasting anything, and Wei Jingjing even asked, ¡°Is it not to your liking?¡± Xia Siyu blinked and didn¡¯t speak. She had eaten a bunch of snacks in the town that afternoon and wasn¡¯t hungry at all. She glanced at Bo Yan. This scumbag had a calm expression and looked the picture of virtue. You wouldn¡¯t be able to tell at all what a dog he was! ¡°Yelling in a secluded place can relieve stress,¡± was pure nonsense. He clearly took her to a secluded place to mess around! During the act, he even specifically opened the sunroof to let the sunlight in. If it weren¡¯t for the dusty ground which he found dirty, he probably would have gone all the way with her under the open sky! And why would they bring a small umbrella when they were supposed to be inspecting? After a couple of tasteless bites, Xia Siyu put down her chopsticks, ¡°I¡¯m full.¡± Everyone at the table looked up at her. Bo Yan also finished his meal quickly, ¡°I¡¯m full too. You guys take your time.¡± Xia Siyu glared at him as if she was burned, hurriedly stood up, and walked back to her room at a quick pace. Once back in her room, she closed the door and seemed to have locked it. Bo Yan didn¡¯t chase after her but went back to his own room, walking leisurely without any sense of urgency. If not for everyone present knowing his relationship with Xia Siyu, nobody would guess that there was something between him and Xia Siyu. Obviously, they were not on the same page! Xia Siyu also heard Bo Yan go back to his room and finally breathed a sigh of relief. She wouldn¡¯t open the door tonight; she had to dampen his enthusiasm! But when she turned around and saw a small bag of sugar figurines on the bedside table, her mind unconsciously recalled the warmth of the candy in his mouth and remembered him dragging her to the riverside to shout and soothe her emotions. Even though it fell apart in the end, her mood did indeed become much calmer. ** Maybe because the hosts were home, Bo Yan didn¡¯t come to disturb her all night. When it was nearly time to rest, Xia Siyu locked the door, planning to get a good night¡¯s sleep. But what she didn¡¯t expect was that, less than half an hour after closing the door, she opened it herself, and Bo Yan entered so casually, but Xia Siyu¡¯s complexion didn¡¯t look very good, like she was ill. Yet, she was still smug, ¡°Tonight, no, you can¡¯t touch me for the foreseeable future!¡± Chapter 520 - Chapter 520: Chapter 519 Considerate (1) Chapter 520: Chapter 519 Considerate (1) Bo Yan noticed that Xia Siyu seemed proud of what she had said, but her complexion didn¡¯t look good. She was frowning, bending over, as if enduring something. ¡°You got your period?¡± Bo Yan asked, recognizing what was happening in a second. No wonder she had been so irritable lately, and eating so much. Hormonal fluctuations before menstruation could indeed make one both irritable and hungry, couldn¡¯t they? Xia Siyu didn¡¯t say anything and just clutched her lower abdomen as she went to the restroom. Bo Yan waited at the door for a long time, but Xia Siyu didn¡¯t come out for a while. He slightly furrowed his brows and, after pondering for a moment, knocked on the door, ¡°Are you okay?¡± There was no response from inside, so Bo Yan didn¡¯t wait at the door but turned back to boil some water. After waiting a while longer, Xia Siyu finally came out. It was then that Bo Yan noticed she had put on thick clothing, clearly feeling very cold. It used to be that Xia Siyu didn¡¯t feel pain during her periods. Back when they were dating, she would still be jumping around and even eating ice cream. Even in the dead of winter, she dressed quite lightly, nothing like her current condition. ¡°Wait a sec,¡± Bo Yan said as he motioned with his hand and then picked her up in a horizontal carry. Siyu was startled for a moment; the restroom was outside, and they were now in the yard. Although everyone else was asleep, what if the homeowner woke up and saw them? The owner didn¡¯t seem like the kind to go around talking, or even if they did, it wasn¡¯t certain that people outside would see or hear. But Siyu still felt a bit concerned. ¡°Don¡¯t move, you only get this treatment when you¡¯re sick. Otherwise, I couldn¡¯t be bothered to serve you.¡± She was about to retort, ¡°Bullshit, you¡¯re the most eager when it¡¯s time to eat meat, let alone carrying me¡ªyou would carry me on your head if needed.¡± ¡°You can still talk back, so it seems you¡¯re not feeling too bad,¡± Bo Yan said with a smile curving his lips. Then he lowered his head and rubbed the top of her head with his chin, whispering, ¡°If I can¡¯t even carry my own woman in public, what kind of man would I be?¡± Siyu was stunned for a moment before Bo Yan had already carried her into the room, using his heel to close the door behind them. He quickly walked over, placed her on the kang bed, and covered her with the quilt. Once the water was ready, he poured some into a cup to let it cool down and even took a sip himself to make sure it wasn¡¯t too hot before giving it to her. Siyu wasn¡¯t very impressed, ¡°I have medicine in my suitcase, give me that.¡± Bo Yan did as she requested, opening the suitcase to find painkillers. Xia Siyu grew up abroad, where many people first take painkillers when they¡¯re sick rather than anti-inflammatory medicine as in China. In theory, taking painkillers in moderation is fine and much better than antibiotics. But painkillers only relieve symptoms and not the cause, and the pain would return next time. Siyu didn¡¯t think much about it and snatched the medicine from his hand, quickly taking it. Bo Yan frowned, ¡°When did you start feeling pain? I remember you weren¡¯t like this before.¡± Although they had been married for three years, they had really only slept together now. And as entertainers often away on business, they hardly had a long period of living together, so it was only now that he was discovering this. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing much,¡± Siyu said quite calmly after taking the medicine and sipping the warm water, feeling much relieved, ¡°It was during the shooting of my first film. I was still a newcomer then and didn¡¯t dare to offend the director. Whatever they asked for, I did. There was a scene where I had to jump into the water during my period, and I had no choice but to keep jumping into the water, all day long. I didn¡¯t feel anything at the time, but the next time it came, it was like this.¡± Chapter 521 - Chapter 521: Chapter 520 Considerate (2) Chapter 521: Chapter 520 Considerate (2) ¡°It¡¯s not just that, maybe I developed chronic issues, my hands and feet get very cold in the winter,¡± Xia Siyu spoke lightly, but to Bo Yan, it didn¡¯t sound light at all. Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t a particularly delicate person, but she wouldn¡¯t let herself be bullied either. If it hadn¡¯t been for work, she wouldn¡¯t have been so devoted. It was clear that it had taken a toll on her body, which explained why she was now afraid of the cold. Upon hearing this, Bo Yan¡¯s expression became slightly serious. He asked, ¡°Have you seen a doctor? Have you been treated?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the use of treatment?¡± Xia Siyu had seen many traditional Chinese medicine doctors over the years, but although she got better for a while, the problems returned once she stopped taking the medicine. And it¡¯s not like you can take Chinese medicine forever; all medicines have their toxins. Besides, long-term use of Chinese medicine can cause a sallow complexion. She was an artist, after all; sometimes in winter she inevitably wore very little, and even during her period, she inevitably had to film or attend events. Xia Siyu could afford to be delicate in her personal life, but she was always one hundred percent serious about her work. Only now that she had become more famous did she try to take care of herself more during filming, arranging her schedule accordingly. ¡°But it¡¯s really nothing, it just hurts for a few hours; some painkillers will do the job.¡± That was how she had coped all these years. Take a painkiller, stay warm, and after a few hours, the pain wasn¡¯t so bad anymore. Bo Yan fell silent, then he tousled her hair gently: ¡°What¡¯s your cycle like, usually?¡± It was embarrassing to admit that, after three years of marriage, he didn¡¯t even know when his wife had her period and had to ask her. ¡°What do you need that for?¡± Xia Siyu became slightly alert, ¡°You wouldn¡¯t be calculating the time, so you can be out those days, would you?¡± This damn man, he was certainly capable of that! To have his way, he dared to say the most shameless things, doing anything without shame. It was entirely possible that he wanted her to free up her schedule, the old time management master! When Bo Yan saw her questioning him, he was a bit annoyed and amused: ¡°What are you thinking! I just wanted to know when you¡¯ll have it next time, so if I¡¯m free, I can come back early to keep you company.¡± Xia Siyu was skeptical; was he really being so considerate? Besides, ¡°I don¡¯t need you to keep me company, I can handle it myself. I¡¯ve been fine all these years, I¡¯m not going to die.¡± It¡¯s true that she was not a frail person, not used to being waited on. Having grown up in the West, her mother, considering her daughter¡¯s future, trained her to be independent. So even after she entered the entertainment industry, she didn¡¯t get used to treating Wei Jingjing like a servant. They were colleagues, who was to say who was nobler than the other? ¡°It¡¯s not about whether you could die from it or not,¡± Bo Yan was amused by her words, ¡°You are my wife, and it hurts me to see you in pain.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s your wife,¡± Xia Siyu muttered, ¡°Besides, it¡¯s not like you cared much about me before.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I regret it now,¡± Bo Yan also pulled the blanket for her, making sure it covered her, ¡°I was too young and ignorant before. People, you see, only learn their lesson after they¡¯ve made mistakes.¡± Xia Siyu turned her back to him, ¡°You talk a good game. I don¡¯t believe you¡¯d be this attentive if I didn¡¯t sleep with you.¡± Bo Yan looked at the back of her head, poking her gently with a finger and chuckled, ¡°I admit, I like your body. What¡¯s wrong with liking to sleep with you, liking isn¡¯t a crime. But more than that, I like you.¡± Xia Siyu grumbled, ¡°I don¡¯t care about you!¡± Bo Yan didn¡¯t bother to argue, turned off the light, and slid under the covers himself, hugging her from behind, holding her tightly. Chapter 522 - Chapter 522: Chapter 521 Considerate (3) Chapter 522: Chapter 521 Considerate (3) The man¡¯s warm body leaned over, and even without her period, Xia Siyu might have formed a conditioned reflex during this time¡ªher body automatically leaned toward him. As soon as she leaned in, she felt something was a bit off. She wanted to retract. But her body resisted her mind. She was afraid of the cold and felt quite chilly, yet there was a warm furnace behind her, like an electric blanket. All she had to do was cling to him, and her whole body would relax comfortably. Especially when Bo Yan hugged her from behind and placed his palm directly on her lower abdomen. Her body felt lethargic, and her brain was already a bit short on capacity due to blood loss. His warmth and the pressure of his hand managed her slightly swollen lower abdomen quite clearly. When Xia Siyu closed her eyes, she was still thinking that no, she definitely wasn¡¯t compromising. She was just making an exception for the special circumstances. Since he was willing to be her human cushion, she would deign to accept with a strained smile. Once Xia Siyu had come to terms with it, she fell asleep again in a second. Bo Yan hadn¡¯t been holding her for long when he heard her even breathing, and he couldn¡¯t help but smile helplessly to himself. Moreover, the sleeping Xia Siyu, perhaps feeling that the position wasn¡¯t warm enough, adjusted herself in her sleep to face him. She nestled her head under his chin, embraced him and even placed one of her legs over his. Bo Yan glanced at her presumptuous posture and wanted to move her leg off, but he didn¡¯t dare. He was used to being entangled in her octopus-like hold. It¡¯s just that today was a special day, would the blood stain his body¡­ ** Usually during her period, Xia Siyu would sleep very restlessly. Even after taking medicine and getting through the most painful two or three hours, she would still feel a dull ache. This discomfort wouldn¡¯t completely subside until after the first three days, and even with her head feeling heavy, she wouldn¡¯t be able to sleep soundly. But unexpectedly, next to Bo Yan, she slept very soundly. It was like embracing an electric blanket in the depths of winter, warm and comfortable. When she opened her eyes again, it was already bright outside. Now awake, Xia Siyu looked at Bo Yan¡¯s face with ease. He was indeed very handsome, with thick black eyebrows and a high nose. Even though his peach blossom eyes were closed, losing some of their liveliness, his eyelashes were very long. His lips were just right too, neither too thin nor too thick. Hmm, and this guy had pretty good kissing skills. It¡¯s just that jawline, he¡¯d been neglecting it for a few days as there was no need to film; if he didn¡¯t shave, stubble would sprout up quickly, a fine dense patch, a bit like the coarse mane of a dog. This was a face with no flaws, that had charmed countless young girls and also captivated her back in the day. Even now, despite the many entanglements between them, he was still the most handsome man she had ever seen. The care Bo Yan had shown her recently, whether it was sweet nothings, consideration, or his boldness in action, she might play it cool on the surface, but she wasn¡¯t indifferent. Naturally, she took it all in and remembered it in her heart. To this day, she could no longer just view Bo Yan as a scumbag who lusted after her body and didn¡¯t want to take responsibility. Even if it was just a momentary impulse, she could feel that Bo Yan was trying hard, as he said, to settle down with her and be husband and wife. The truth was, finding a man like him wasn¡¯t too easy. If she really couldn¡¯t find anyone else, perhaps she should consider continuing their relationship¡­ Chapter 523 - Chapter 523: Chapter 522 Considerate (4) Chapter 523: Chapter 522 Considerate (4) Just as she was thinking this, Xia Siyu was startled. What was wrong with her, why would she think about being with Bo Yan! Even though they were forced to live together now, it was because she needed something from him, she wanted to learn acting from him. It was he who begged her not to leave, he who begged to live with her. But to him, she was dispensable. Although women have their needs, needs aren¡¯t necessities, and they certainly wouldn¡¯t be like this guy, who seemed to think about it all the time. She could leave him at any time, she wasn¡¯t used to ¡°eating her own words,¡± and what she felt for him now wasn¡¯t love. She had always believed in preferring to lack rather than to have too much; even if it meant ending up alone, it was better than being in an unsuitable marriage full of constant quarrels. She thought she had made it clear, so why did she still have¡­ expectations for Bo Yan? As she was thinking, Bo Yan got up. He lifted his eyelids and saw Xia Siyu staring at him in panic. He first rubbed his stubble-covered chin against her face, then mumbled unclearly with a hoarse voice, ¡°Morning.¡± After dawdling a bit and seeing that Xia Siyu didn¡¯t react, he slightly curved his lips, bowed his head, and captured her lips. Mmm, he had once seen a movie where the female lead said the happiest thing in life wasn¡¯t marrying the male lead, but waking up in his arms every day and saying ¡°Good morning.¡± The moment their lips touched, Xia Siyu also closed her eyes out of habit, thinking indeed it was so; his lips were nice to kiss. But Bo Yan, this bastard, clearly wasn¡¯t satisfied with just a peck, and maybe he wasn¡¯t fully awake, kissing her and flipping over, pressing down on her completely, with one hand cradling her chin and the other gently exploring downward. But just as his hand barely touched her waist, Bo Yan quickly withdrew it. Bo Yan quickly apologized, ¡°Sorry, I forgot you¡¯re not feeling well right now.¡± However, despite his apology, he was still pushed away by Xia Siyu, a bit roughly. Xia Siyu¡¯s roughness was something Bo Yan had grown accustomed to, but even so, to be pushed away by a woman after a deep morning kiss wasn¡¯t something to be pleased about. However, after being rough, Xia Siyu hurried out of bed and rushed to the restroom¡ªshe felt a clot slide out like a fish just a moment ago, how could she not rush to the restroom? But just squatting down, she realized she didn¡¯t bring any spare pads and also didn¡¯t have her phone with her, so she cracked open the door, grabbed the edge, and whispered, ¡°Bo Yan, Bo Yan.¡± Luckily, Bo Yan had sharp ears and eyes, heard the noise, and opened the door. She gestured with her hands, forming a square shape. Bo Yan nodded, went back to the room, and after some time, came back with a few pieces of toilet paper in his hand. Xia Siyu shook her head, ¡°That¡¯s not it.¡± Bo Yan nodded again, went back another time, and returned with her cell phone in his hand. Xia Siyu was infuriated, ¡°Not that!¡± Was this man¡¯s brain made of pig brains, where was the smartness that he was always praised for? As she was speaking, Little Tang came out, ¡°Sister Xia, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Seeing that it was Little Tang, Xia Siyu felt awkward continuing to hold the door open. Unfortunately, if it had been Wei Jingjing who came out, she could have asked her to pass something to her. ¡°Nothing!¡± Xia Siyu closed the door and squatted inside. In the countryside, places usually didn¡¯t have toilets, and squatting on the ground for too long made her legs feel numb. If only she had taken the cell phone Bo Yan handed her, she could have sent a message to Wei Jingjing. The most miserable thing in life isn¡¯t going to the bathroom without toilet paper; it¡¯s not having a pad when you need one! Chapter 524 - Chapter 524: Chapter 523 Considerate (5) Chapter 524: Chapter 523 Considerate (5) She shouldn¡¯t have had any expectations of Bo Yan; the man could preach all sorts of grand principles, but when it came down to the practical stuff, he couldn¡¯t even think of a sanitary pad. After squatting for quite a while, there was a knock on the door. Xia Siyu said irritably, ¡°Someone¡¯s in here!¡± After a short wait outside, Bo Yan¡¯s voice came through, ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Xia Siyu felt even more annoyed, ¡°I¡¯m not opening it!¡± ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the fact that other people need to use the restroom, I wouldn¡¯t care if you squat in there all day,¡± he said in a slow, teasing tone that was asking to be punched. And what about that ¡®other people¡¯? Others were coming over too? Even though she didn¡¯t want to see Bo Yan, it would be even more embarrassing for a third person to find out¡ªespecially if it were a man or the host, she¡¯d be the one to lose face. Only then did Xia Siyu open the bathroom door, cracking it slightly, when Bo Yan slipped a super long sanitary pad through, ¡°I thought you might need this.¡± Xia Siyu snorted; that was more like it. She snatched the pad and still gave him a scornful look. Bo Yan might have really been PUA¡¯d by her, as in the past Xia Siyu used to hit and curse him, claw and scratch him. Now, even though she still gave him scornful looks and occasionally hit or scolded him, he actually felt like she was warming up to him. This feeling continued all the way to their trip to Hope Primary School. For breakfast, Bo Yan said with composure, ¡°The lamb here in the Northwest is quite good, and it¡¯s a bit dry here. I feel like having a bowl of lamb soup tonight. That way, I can enjoy the lamb and the soup¡ªboth are local specialties.¡± Xia Siyu didn¡¯t say anything. She really liked eating lamb, and the Northwest lamb indeed tasted great; she was indeed in the mood for soup at that time. Being quite straightforward, if things weren¡¯t spelled out for her, she might think Bo Yan just wanted to eat it because he liked it. Song Fengzhi and Wei Jingjing exchanged glances and nodded at each other. Apart from the host, there were only their two groups. And since Bo Yan and Xia Siyu had already ostensibly cleared things up with the talent agency, they shared the kitchen and bathroom with everyone. Over the past few days, without any explicit coordination, the two groups ended up cooking and living together tacitly. When he spoke up, he was actually signaling to others to take care of it. Song Fengzhi nodded, ¡°Then I¡¯ll have the driver buy some later, and we can eat it tonight, okay?¡± Bo Yan nodded. Lamb was warming and nutritious; for Xia Siyu, who was going through a special time, a hot bowl of lamb soup was most fitting. The two groups maintained their collaborative facade in front of their hosts and were relatively restrained in public. Once the car set out for Hope Primary School and found itself in a place devoid of people, Bo Yan¡¯s car at the forefront stopped, telling the driver to pull over. Behind them, Little Tang¡¯s car followed suit, with a touch of confusion, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Bo Yan, without a word, got out of the car, opened the door, and sat next to Xia Siyu. The car suddenly had an extra person, and Bo Yan squeezed next to Xia Siyu, which she certainly didn¡¯t like. Thankfully, it was a spacious minivan, but no matter how roomy, crowding two people onto one seat was uncomfortable enough. Xia Siyu had a look of displeasure while Wei Jingjing held back from speaking. She no longer needed to take nitroglycerin; she felt more suited to eating dog food. Is it fashionable nowadays to trick dogs into a trap before killing them? Especially in the car, right in front of her, Bo Yan was about to embrace and get handsy with their agency¡¯s talent, it looked like he was going to kiss her any moment. Chapter 525 - Chapter 525: Chapter 524 Considerate (6) Chapter 525: Chapter 524 Considerate (6) Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t satisfied, even though both of their management companies knew about her and Bo Yan. But wasn¡¯t he being too arrogant? However, her dissatisfaction was futile; she was physically weak, and although Bo Yan seemed like he was going to kiss her, he was actually just touching his forehead to hers to check her temperature. Even though she was displeased being squeezed and held by him, she had to admit, Bo Yan¡¯s body was warm, and when he held her, she felt warmed up as well. But she was still annoyed. This man was too much. Even if the teams of both parties knew they were together, she had made it clear to him that theirs was merely a physical relationship, without emotions involved. Yet Bo Yan always exploited the fact that they were involved to blur the lines, inching deeper into her life. It was useless for her to be unhappy, as hitting or scolding him did nothing to shake him off. What was most bothersome was that she could feel Bo Yan¡¯s care and gentleness. Although she wasn¡¯t too used to having him in her life, sometimes, she would weakly accept his kindness. Like now. Xia Siyu was unhappy. Even though she was weak and her head was throbbing from blood loss, she still refused: ¡°Get away from me, you¡¯re crowding me.¡± Perhaps because she was used to resorting to violence and scolding at the drop of a hat, Bo Yan didn¡¯t think she was repulsed by him at the moment and instead, he took it as a coy invitation. Sometimes, people are just that masochistic, especially after getting used to being PUA-ed. Bo Yan got his wish and squeezed in next to her, placing his hand on her lower abdomen. He didn¡¯t feel there was anything wrong with being scratched a few times and cursed at, instead, he was actually happy. Xia Siyu snapped: ¡°Could you please be mindful, Jingjing and Little Tang are still here? And Song Fengzhi saw you coming over, didn¡¯t he?¡± ¡°What does that matter, Song Fengzhi won¡¯t talk nonsense. Jingjing and Little Tang won¡¯t either,¡± Bo Yan didn¡¯t feel anything was amiss, even rubbing his chin on her hair. ¡°Am I worried about them talking nonsense? I¡¯m saying they¡¯re still here, be mindful!¡± Xia Siyu valued her privacy highly, perhaps truly being born overseas, she felt even the relationship between assistant and artist required privacy protection. Bo Yan was nonchalant: ¡°What¡¯s the matter, aren¡¯t they our friends? Or do you think they are strangers?¡± ¡°Can that be the same?¡± ¡°How is it not the same?¡± Jingjing and Little Tang who were called out sat up straight, not daring to say a word. Little Tang was driving, and Jingjing was in the passenger seat. Neither dared to turn around, interject, or look in the rearview mirror, trying their best to shrink, to shrink. After thinking for a while, Bo Yan quickly figured it out, ¡°You¡¯re afraid of them seeing us, right, I understand now.¡± Xia Siyu thought he was finally leaving when he let go, but to her surprise, he raised his arm and pulled down the partition, blocking the view from the front. ¡°They can¡¯t see now, there, no problem¡­¡± the last few words were muffled between Bo Yan¡¯s teeth. Jingjing and Little Tang in the front seat heard a smacking sound from the back, a sound that was not quite normal, as if something naughty was happening. Especially when paired with Xia Siyu¡¯s soft exclamation, ¡°You still¡­ Are you freaking crazy? You¡­¡± Jingjing and Little Tang didn¡¯t dare speak throughout the ride. The partition, meant to conceal, seemed to make things worse by leaving too much to imagination with the sounds they heard. Chapter 526 - Chapter 526: Chapter 525: From Young to Old (1) Chapter 526: Chapter 525: From Young to Old (1) The car stopped before entering the campus, as Bo Yan and Xia Siyu had to go in separately; they definitely couldn¡¯t let teachers and classmates see them arriving in the same car. When Bo Yan opened the partition and got out, Wei Jingjing and Little Tang could see that this guy¡¯s face was scratched up, courtesy of Xia Siyu¡ªtrails of marks all over. His shirt collar was also damaged, frayed at the seams, with the buttons missing, probably lost beyond hope of finding them. Even if they were found, it would be too late to sew them back on with school starting imminently. Bo Yan, for his part, seemed in good spirits. Despite being clawed up, he maintained a calm expression, and even nodded with a smile when getting out of the car. Wei Jingjing and Little Tang, the spineless sycophants, nodded back at him. Xia Siyu was infuriated by the sight and couldn¡¯t help punching the car seat. ¡°You see him bullying me and you don¡¯t lift a finger to help? Whose assistants are you?¡± Little Tang quickly looked down. ¡°Sister Xia, I need to drive.¡± Wei Jingjing quickly admitted her mistake. ¡°Sister Xia, I¡¯m in the passenger seat, I can¡¯t get over.¡± In their minds, they were thinking, why interrupt the lovebirds¡¯ sweet quarrel¡ªonly a fool would do that. Song Fengzhi, on the other hand, bristled with indignation when he heard Xia Siyu scolding his Brother Yan. After all, Bo Yan was a top star with countless admirers; Xia Siyu was lucky to be the object of his affections, yet she had the nerve to boss him around, to hit and scold him no less. Looking up, Bo Yan seemed impassive, yet his brows were relaxed and the corners of his eyes slightly lifted¡ªit was clear he was in high spirits. After getting into the car, he changed into a T-shirt and called for the makeup artist. The artist, accustomed to covering up his scratches, had the concealer ready without needing any instructions from Bo Yan. Darn, one willing to hit, the other willing to be hit. He even began to wonder if their Brother Yan might be a masochist. Disdainful of the sycophants wooing him, he preferred to do the wooing himself. A little less berating would move him to tears. Though their behavior outside of school might have been morose, once they entered the campus, both Xia Siyu and Bo Yan became dignified. This time it wasn¡¯t for a photo op¡ªneither Xia Siyu nor Bo Yan wanted to issue a press release about it, nor did they want to use this event to shape their public personas. They hadn¡¯t even disclosed the source of the donation to the school, just that they wanted to donate supplies, emphasizing not to disturb the students¡¯ studies or cause any fuss, and certainly not to expect any sort of reception. They didn¡¯t even mention who the donor was. By the time they arrived at the scene, the principal was out dealing with other matters, so only the head teacher was sent to liaise. Xia Siyu and Bo Yan didn¡¯t come out, leaving Wei Jingjing and Song Fengzhi to get out of the car and interact first. The school probably assumed the donation of materials was from Wei Jingjing and Song Fengzhi, and the head teacher accompanied them accordingly. The car drove straight to the library, where they wore hats and were probably mistaken for staff, as no one paid much attention. The librarian, a retired teacher volunteering his time, likely didn¡¯t watch many films and didn¡¯t recognize them. As Bo Yan stepped out, he simply asked, ¡°How do you need these organized, or should we first store them?¡± The teacher, with thick glasses, shook his head, ¡°Just stack them over there for now. We don¡¯t have such strict entry procedures. Thank you so much.¡± ¡°No trouble at all.¡± Not just Bo Yan, but Xia Siyu also helped him move the supplies. Bo Yan protested, ¡°Your health isn¡¯t great, better go rest.¡± Xia Siyu gave him a scornful look and ignored his suggestion, continuing to move books. Chapter 527 - Chapter 527: Chapter 526: From Young to Old (2) Chapter 527: Chapter 526: From Young to Old (2) Women are weak during this period, but there¡¯s never a time when they cannot move. She could accept Bo Yan¡¯s care in private, but this was work. It was her job, and she did not want to rely on anyone or expect any privileges. Bo Yan understood, so he made an offer, which she refused, and he didn¡¯t insist further. The two continued with their tasks. Wei Jingjing and Song Fengzhi, truly treated like wealthy philanthropists, were received by the leaders. Little Tang and Bo Yan¡¯s driver also directed the delivery of supplies. In addition to books, there were also clothes, textbooks, stationery, sports equipment, and such. Little Tang and Bo Yan¡¯s driver went to sort those out, while at the library here, they were actually doing the hard labor of moving things around. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t really mind; she had even moved bricks back in Italy before. Although she might be a bit tired on the second day, she could take a rest if needed. Charity is about goodwill, not compulsion, and certainly not showboating. Throughout, Bo Yan kept an eye on her, and seeing her continue to work after taking breaks, he didn¡¯t discourage her, merely handing her a bottle of water when she was thirsty. What Bo Yan gave her was not a bottled mineral water, but a thermos. She was a bit puzzled when she took it, ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°Song Fengzhi brewed it for me, it¡¯s sweet, and I don¡¯t like it, so I¡¯m giving it to you,¡± he said. When Xia Siyu unscrewed the lid, inside were red dates and goji berries, and from the color of the liquid, it seemed that brown sugar was also added, making it pleasantly sweet. It would be a wonder if Bo Yan drank that. Xia Siyu took a sip and clicked her tongue, ¡°Next time, ask Song Fengzhi to boil a bit more donkey-hide gelatin when making it for you.¡± Bo Yan even nodded with a laugh, ¡°Alright.¡± Though Xia Siyu looked disdainful, she took one sip after another. The water was no longer as hot as at the beginning; it was warmly comforting and just sweet enough. After finishing the water, Xia Siyu felt reenergized, as if she had been recharged, and continued with the unfinished work alongside him. Working together, they quickly arranged the books according to the requirements. After that, the librarian registered them and placed them on the shelves. Despite their quarrels, Bo Yan and Xia Siyu had a good understanding of each other when it came to work. They finished sorting out a whole truckload of books in just over an hour. It was fortunate that most of the books they purchased were world-renowned classics, dictionaries, ¡°Why¡± books, and history books, with a majority of them on popular science, not too detailed, making it easier to log them in and place them directly onto the empty shelves. The finer details of organization would have to be managed by the school itself, and there was not much they could do to help. Once they were done, the bell rang for the end of class, and it was time for lunch. Originally, Xia Siyu and Bo Yan intended to leave after donating the supplies. However, the school leaders were too enthusiastic, especially as they considered Wei Jingjing and Song Fengzhi benefactors. They insisted on having them stay for a meal and even planned to call them often in the future to report on the students¡¯ progression. They even called out several student representatives, intending to have them perform their choir for them, recite poems, and even erect a plaque for them. Unable to decline, they sent a message to Xia Siyu and Bo Yan, who, after pondering for a bit, decided that staying for a meal was acceptable, as they were also interested in witnessing the school¡¯s teaching conditions. However, they firmly insisted that their attendance not be publicized. So, the school leaders, accompanied by a large group of teachers and students, surrounded Wei Jingjing and Song Fengzhi like stars around the moon and headed to the canteen together. Chapter 528 - Chapter 528: Chapter 527: From Young to Old (3) Chapter 528: Chapter 527: From Young to Old (3) After finishing their tasks, Bo Yan and Xia Siyu just casually wiped their faces and combed their hair before heading to the cafeteria. Xia Siyu had hardly worn any makeup during her days in the Northwest, and Bo had just applied some concealer, but now he was sweating so much and, since he had sent the makeup artist to help the driver unload the goods, there was no one around to do touch-ups. ¡ª¡ªActually, even if he hadn¡¯t given the order, the makeup artist would¡¯ve gone to help the driver anyway. Who would be so clueless as to hang around Bo and Xia Siyu and be a third wheel? Nobody in the entertainment industry would be that lacking in tact. But after being busy for more than an hour, both of them were covered in dust. It was early autumn and still somewhat hot, so working up a sweat mixed with dirt gave them both a grimy appearance. However, neither of them cared too much, simply washing their faces and hands, putting on hats, and donning masks before heading straight to the cafeteria. The large cafeteria was already packed with children. At Hope Primary School, there weren¡¯t too many kids, but it was clear there was a shortage of teachers. Each grade had only one class, and some teachers were responsible for two or three grades. Altogether, though, there were about a hundred children in the cafeteria. Under normal circumstances, teachers would accompany the children, but today was an exception because charity work was being done. Most teachers went to greet guests, and a few took care of the younger children. Older students, who were more self-disciplined, were left unattended. Now, during the pandemic, everyone was also encouraged to wear masks in class. Among the supplies donated by Bo were masks and some medical equipment for teachers and children to use in case of emergency. When Bo Yan and Xia Siyu first entered the cafeteria, a teacher assigned them to the main table. The child of the host family they were staying with was also there, so they waved at them. Bo Yan and Xia Siyu exchanged a glance, and without hesitation, they walked over. Although the teacher in charge was a bit surprised, if the two of them were willing to sit there, it was fine. After all, the dishes were allocated, and everyone¡¯s meal was the same. And being just staff, they were free to sit wherever they preferred. The children from the mountains were a bit shy. Even after the two sat down, only a few dared to come over and talk. Forget talking; even making eye contact was too shy for them, so they just sneakily took peeks. Even with hats and masks on, the visible parts of Bo Yan and Xia Siyu made it obvious that they were a handsome man and a beautiful woman. Sitting upright, their skin was as white as milk. Even in sportswear, it was clear they both had good figures. Every now and then, a child looked at them curiously, and even with masks on, their eyes crinkled with smiles. The host family¡¯s child led them to get their food, and they followed suit, taking a tray each. In recent years, the country had invested significantly in education in impoverished mountain areas, and a typical primary school like this one would provide a meal with three dishes and a soup, followed by a box of milk. To ensure the milk was consumed by the children, the school had a policy forbidding taking milk out of the cafeteria; it had to be consumed on the spot. This was to prevent the milk from being taken home for family members to drink or to be sold by families in dire poverty. Once everyone had served their food and sat down at their places, they couldn¡¯t yet begin to eat. Xia Siyu quietly asked the host family¡¯s child, ¡°What are you waiting for?¡± ¡°We¡¯re waiting for the teacher and the kind people to arrive. We can¡¯t start eating until the teacher says so.¡± Chapter 529 - Chapter 529: Chapter 528: From Young to Old (4) Chapter 529: Chapter 528: From Young to Old (4) Xia Siyu turned around and exchanged a glance with Bo Yan, both shaking their heads. Although in recent years, the country¡¯s educational endeavors had improved significantly, Hope Primary School here was no longer the dilapidated buildings seen in pictures but had a small two-story building now. The facilities were incomparable to those of urban primary schools, yet they sufficed for basic teaching requirements. However, some mindsets and styles had yet to be reformed. Though she knew that the school leaders had good intentions, seeking donations from kind-hearted people, they felt they had to provide them with the best hospitality. This was despite Xia Siyu and Bo Yan¡¯s repeated insistence that there should be no fuss, no disturbance to the children¡¯s regular study routines, and no disruption of the teachers¡¯ work. Still, the choir was called upon to sing, the students with good grades to recite poetry, and a number of teachers to accompany them. During mealtime, all the students waited for them. Perhaps their initial intentions were good, and while there were certainly those showing off, only donating to take a few good photos, people like them who genuinely came to help the poor actually wished least to disturb the children¡¯s lives. After a lengthy wait, this group of people finally arrived fashionably late. It was the first time Wei Jingjing was treated like a celebrity, and probably for Song Fengzhi as well. As soon as the two entered the canteen, they began to look around, spotting Bo Yan and Xia Siyu in a corner. Bo gave a subtle nod to her, small but very clear in intention, signaling that they were doing just fine over there and that it was up to them to take charge now. Wei Jingjing felt utterly overwhelmed, but thankfully, Song Fengzhi was somewhat more composed. They and the school leaders and teachers took their seats, and Xia Siyu thought they could finally start eating, but after a brief wait, it turned out the chefs had prepared special dishes for them, brought over on plates. No wonder they had been asked to wait; the dishes were different after all. Once the teachers formally announced the start of the meal, the group of students, already ravenous, eagerly bowed their heads to eat. Being a food lover, Xia Siyu didn¡¯t mind the school canteen¡¯s food even though it wasn¡¯t very tasty, but after moving books for an hour or two and losing some blood, she indeed needed a hot meal to replenish herself. Regrettably, by the time she had her first bite, the food had cooled down a bit. Moreover, as for the canteen¡¯s staples, not tasting bad was already good enough; how much better could one expect? But perhaps because of the long wait today, both Xia Siyu and the students found the food rather delicious. She even asked a student beside her, ¡°What happens if you don¡¯t get enough to eat? Can you get seconds?¡± The students chattered, but, fearing their teachers¡¯ reprimand, kept their voices low, ¡°The food today is so tasty; usually, it¡¯s like swill.¡± ¡°Yes, even though it¡¯s the same food, what¡¯s usually made tastes terrible.¡± Xia Siyu and Bo Yan frowned. In the mountains, unlike the city, if the food isn¡¯t good, there are many ways to deal with it, whether it¡¯s eating at a small eatery near the school, ordering takeout, or cooking at home, all of which can solve the issue of picky eating, but such options are not available in the mountainous area. Even if there were restaurants, they weren¡¯t places these children could afford; they still only had the canteen. Furthermore, even though the classrooms had been replaced with new ones, the desks were in dire need of replacement. The sports equipment and other facilities were also outdated, evidently neglected over the years. There¡¯s no helping it, for the sake of education, everything else must take a backseat. The meal was over, and at this moment, Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t wearing a mask and was seated with her back to the teachers, who couldn¡¯t see her face. But the students could. Chapter 530 - Chapter 530: Chapter 529: From Young to Old (5) Chapter 530: Chapter 529: From Young to Old (5) Even if they hadn¡¯t seen Xia Siyu¡¯s movies, her commercials were everywhere. Practically any TV channel you turned on likely featured products endorsed by her. Even those who rarely watched TV had to admit she was beautiful. Most of her classmates were upperclassmen who already had a fully developed sense of aesthetics. Even if she wasn¡¯t wearing makeup or dressed up, and even though she¡¯d just been moving books and was a bit dusty, she still stood out with her beauty. Not to mention these kids from the mountains, even if you dropped her in the most fashionable center of Yancheng, her looks would still turn heads a hundred percent of the time. Wasn¡¯t Qin Baizhou drawn to her because she stood out on the street for her beauty? A few kids who might have seen her movies suddenly got excited and pointed at her face, ¡°I recognize you, you are¡­¡± Before they could finish, Xia Siyu put her index finger to her lips with a ¡°Shush,¡± then pulled up her mask. But it was too late for her to pull up her mask now, as the students at the entire table and those nearby had seen her. As everyone knows, when one child creates a disturbance, it can spread. One child shouted, and others¡¯ gazes inevitably followed. Even though she ¡°Shush¡±ed them, excited students still exclaimed, ¡°I know you! You¡¯re that celebrity!¡± Xia Siyu shushed again, this time her ¡°shush¡± was loud enough to be heard. But it was no use, another child said, ¡°That¡¯s her, that¡¯s her, I¡¯ve seen the commercials she¡¯s in!¡± ¡°Yes, yes, I¡¯ve seen them too!¡± The dining hall was only so big, and when the children started to fuss, the people sitting at the main table noticed. The Director of Teaching asked, ¡°What¡¯s all the noise about? Is there no discipline left?¡± A teacher from their table, probably the homeroom teacher, looking embarrassed, stood up and said, ¡°Sorry, I¡¯ll go over and calm them down.¡± The male teacher glanced over in Xia Siyu¡¯s direction. He had come to the school through a teaching program in the previous two years, and he was sure when his gaze swept over, even with Xia Siyu wearing a mask, there was still a hint of confusion, ¡°Huh?¡± A little boy pointed at her and said, ¡°Teacher, I recognize her, she¡¯s been on TV.¡± The situation was getting out of control, and Xia Siyu stood up, hitting the table. ¡°You all, what have you seen? Didn¡¯t you see me shushing? Why can¡¯t you just eat quietly without making me angry?¡± There was no hiding it now; Xia Siyu took off her mask, and so did Bo Yan. He stood up and said, ¡°Sorry for the disturbance, I¡¯m Bo Yan.¡± Xia Siyu also spoke up, visibly annoyed, ¡°Xia Siyu!¡± For a few seconds, the room went silent. Then, it was the teachers who were more excited than the students. Bo Yan, Xia Siyu, those were huge celebrities! Half of these teachers were original staff, the others were from a teaching program. The older ones were okay, but the younger ones, who hadn¡¯t heard of Bo Yan and Xia Siyu? They never expected to meet celebrities today, and live ones at that! The teachers burst into excitement, with some of the younger teaching program participants dashing over immediately, while others who were slightly more mannered gave a quick ¡°Sorry¡± to the Director before sprinting over at an 800-meter dash speed. Just moments ago, Wei Jingjing and Song Fengzhi were receiving the VIP treatment, now they were left in the cold. However, they didn¡¯t mind and quickly rushed over to protect the celebrities, shouting, ¡°Don¡¯t push, don¡¯t push!¡± Especially since the majority of teaching program participants were female, the crowd around Bo Yan was impenetrable. Chapter 531 - Chapter 531: Chapter 530: From Young to Old (6) Chapter 531: Chapter 530: From Young to Old (6) Even the director of instruction had seen Bo Yan and Xia Siyu¡¯s films. At first, he tried to be stern, ¡°Quiet, quieter!¡± When he realized no one was paying attention to him, he ran over as well and complained, ¡°Don¡¯t crowd around them!¡± But how was he supposed to squeeze in with everyone already circled around? Beyond that, he was also a bit puzzled. Had Bo Yan and the others come quietly to record some variety show? Had any part of his conduct been inappropriate earlier? It was Bo Yan who stepped in to restore order. He raised his voice, ¡°Everyone! Quiet down for a moment and listen to me!¡± Bo Yan proved himself a true teacher, knowing how to quickly calm a chaotic classroom and take command. A group of fangirls immediately paused, their faces flushed as they looked at him, unsure if it was from excitement or something else. ¡°Xia Siyu and I are filming at a nearby movie center. We heard about Hope Primary School, but the director and crew members didn¡¯t have time to come, so they sent us to show our support.¡± With one sentence, he explained the purpose of their visit and also clarified his relationship with Xia Siyu. Since it was a donation, and they were there on behalf of the crew, there was no show involved, nor was it any singular action on their part. Relieved, the director made his way through the crowd and asked, ¡°Since Mr. Bo and Miss Xia are here, why didn¡¯t you notify us first?¡± Bo Yan calmly replied, ¡°We didn¡¯t want to disturb everyone, so we deliberately kept it low-key. We also ask everyone to please not post about our visit or the crew¡¯s donations on Weibo or WeChat Moments. This isn¡¯t some publicity stunt or promotion; it¡¯s simply a casual visit.¡± His explanation made sense. Many artists show up to give support, often just to build an image or create hype. But acting on it, making donations, and asking for nothing in return, that¡¯s what true support looks like, that¡¯s what good people do! Thinking this, the admiration in the other teachers¡¯ eyes only grew. The director added his instruction, ¡°Did you hear that? Don¡¯t post on Moments or Weibo.¡± Turning back, he asked, ¡°But we can take photos, right?¡± Bo Yan nodded, ¡°That¡¯s fine.¡± The director asked again, ¡°Now that Mr. Bo is here, do you have anything you¡¯d like to say to the students and teachers?¡± Bo Yan smiled, ¡°Don¡¯t call me ¡®Mr. Bo,¡¯ I used to be a teacher too, although it was only for a few months.¡± Bo Yan had once been a lecturer at N University. Although that too was a teaching role, it was quite different from an elementary school, and the crowd humbly responded, ¡°We wouldn¡¯t dare.¡± ¡°Actually, I don¡¯t have much to say. The kids are all great. It¡¯s just that there are some small details that could use some improvement. For example, the children are hungry after their classes at noon, so let them eat first.¡± The director nodded repeatedly and then looked at Xia Siyu, ¡°And what about Miss Xia?¡± Xia Siyu was quite blunt, ¡°Just to say, cut down on the unnecessary talk. Eating and studying are more important than anything else. Don¡¯t bother with that formalistic nonsense, reciting poems and singing songs¡ªbetter to spend that time studying. And the cafeteria, usually the food is deathly bland. Did the chef get an adrenaline shot today or what? Also, how come what you ate just now looked different from ours? What did you have? Different meals? Are you trying to be special?¡± Wei Jingjing tugged at Xia Siyu¡¯s clothes, unimpressed by her rant. ¡°Why are you pulling at me? I¡¯m not done yet!¡± Chapter 532 - Chapter 532: Chapter 531: From Young to Old (7) Chapter 532: Chapter 531: From Young to Old (7) Xia Siyu didn¡¯t have the word ¡°awkward¡± in her dictionary. Since it was the other person who asked me to speak, I would definitely explain things seriously and earnestly, and if it wasn¡¯t for his sincere request for advice, she wouldn¡¯t have bothered to answer! She also spoke with great emphasis, ¡°Study hard not for others, but for yourselves. I often feel that I¡¯ve suffered for my lack of education. I should have continued my studies back then and at least finished college.¡± She spoke from the heart. Her recent interactions with Bo Yan had made her deeply aware of her intellectual suppression. It wasn¡¯t just a feeling of being suppressed, but also realizing what she had missed out on in terms of film theory, methods, and techniques that she could have learned in university courses. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have taken so many detours in her acting career. After going full circle, she came back to realize that she still needed a systematic education. Luckily, Bo Yan could fill that gap. Although some people did mock her for being uneducated, she nonetheless had been admitted to N University. Moreover, she had recently shown her linguistic prowess on a show with her fluent Italian and English. It was just her comparison with Bo Yan that highlighted the vast gap, making her seem quite weak. But you know what, Xia Siyu¡¯s self-deprecating humor was tremendously effective. With her overly beautiful but admittedly somewhat ¡®beauty-with-no-brains¡¯ face, and then looking at Bo Yan, a bunch of students nodded in agreement that they really needed to study more! ** After dinner, Bo Yan and Xia Siyu took photos for keepsakes with the school¡¯s teachers and students. When the bell for class rang, the teachers and students reluctantly left and returned to their classrooms. As she passed by a classroom, Xia Siyu saw students holding their books, innocently reciting Tang poetry. On the playground, fifth graders were learning sports, practicing high jump and pommel horse. The rooms were spotlessly clean, filled with the sounds of reading; the playground a scene of striving, with dust swirling in the air. It was a sensation of vibrant, upward, inherent vitality. Xia Siyu had studied abroad as a child, in small classes where the teacher covered one topic at a time. The modulation of the Chinese language, so different from Italian and English, sounded like a tuneless symphony to her ears. After visiting the students, they went to see the elderly. In Northwest towns, nursing homes are rare. The elderly here still prefer to live at home, and those in the villages even consider moving to a nursing home equivalent to saying their sons and daughters are unfilial and don¡¯t take care of them. Of course, nursing homes also cost money, and some older folks who can¡¯t afford it don¡¯t want to go either. Therefore, to address this situation, the country¡¯s focus is on renovating dilapidated housing. Since most of the working-age labor force from the village has gone out to work, in reality, the elderly left in the villages are mostly living in poverty. Bo Yan had understood the situation of their village during his stay at the host¡¯s home over the past few days. After leaving the school, he visited the poorest households nearby. That¡¯s how rural life is: even within one village or township, two houses could be quite far apart, especially in the gullies of the Loess Plateau. As they left an elderly person¡¯s house, the sun was already setting. Passing by the River Bay they had visited the day before, Bo Yan consciously got off his vehicle to join Xia Siyu in her car. This time, he even shooed Wei Jingjing and Little Tang out, having them squeeze into Song Fengzhi¡¯s car. They had started their day early, visited the elementary school, and then the elderly, witnessing life from young to old. By the time they were heading back, the sun had already set in the west. Chapter 533 - Chapter 533: Chapter 532: From Young to Old (8) Chapter 533: Chapter 532: From Young to Old (8) Within a single day, morning signifies dawn, evening signifies sunset. And in a person¡¯s lifetime, morning signifies childhood and adolescence, evening has already stepped into dusk. From morning to night today, it seemed as though a person¡¯s entire past and future had been lived through. The only thing remaining was the present, the immediate now. Xia Siyu was not one to indulge in sorrowful reflection with the season¡¯s change, especially not the kind of delicate sentiments. But recently, through her interactions, she didn¡¯t know if it was the influence of Bo Yan or because of her acting studies, she also began to think more, observe more. And occasionally, she would even make a summary afterward. There¡¯s a saying, ¡°The nation¡¯s misfortune is the poet¡¯s fortune, tasked with chronicling the turmoil, the verses come to life.¡± It speaks of the poet¡¯s writing being connected to the joy and sorrow of life, national enmities, and family feuds. The more one experiences, the less one indulges in idle laments, the less one needs to force sentiments into new poems. Just as it is with poets, so it goes with actors. Those best actress and actor award winners, apart from integrating into their roles, what¡¯s more important is the delicacy of their portrayal, within mere seconds or even a second, they might need to display extremely subtle changes. Inferior performances are those where emotions are externalized, crying must be loud, laughter must be boisterous. But if emotions are too intense, it starts to look contrived. A slightly better performance will show the layers of acting, displaying different emotional changes. But the finest performances may not require you to cry or to laugh at all, just the slightest twitch of a muscle at the corner of your mouth, a subtle shift in the gaze of your eyes, and the audience can capture through the camera lens all the meanings contained within that single expression. Of course, there are those ¡°acting skills¡± of popular figures who simply stretch their legs, glare, and get dubbed, which are not even worth discussing, because you can¡¯t discuss something that has never existed. At this time, Xia Siyu¡¯s ability to express emotions outwardly was no issue, and her emotional changes were also not a problem, but she needed to develop into deeper levels, indeed she needed to think more, delve into her craft more deeply. She grew up in Italy since she was a child and returned to her home country for high school. Not long after, she entered the entertainment industry. Although her family life might not have been very happy, she had certainly never experienced poverty, not knowing what hunger tasted like. Lately in the Northwest, fetching water required a cistern, making fire needed wood, drinking cornmeal porridge meant grinding it herself, and even bathing meant boiling the water first. She had thought that this was the entirety of hardship, but only after arriving today did she realize just how many poor people there were in the world, living lives of careful cost-cutting. For example, Hope Primary School¡¯s food was unpalatable, but out of ten kids, there would always be four or five who ate with particular relish, unwilling to leave behind even a bit of soup dregs. There was no need to ask; one could tell just by looking at them that their family circumstances must be very poor, that their school uniforms were already their best attire, worn to the point of fraying at the edges. For example, the elderly couple they had visited today, one bedridden with a serious illness, the other having succumbed to pneumoconiosis from working in the mines long ago, lived in a home stripped to bareness. Even though the country had given them subsidies, they still lived a very tight-fisted life. Of course, there could be even more remote, even poorer places in this country, perhaps many more people struggling on the poverty line. But whether they were children or old folks, there was no loss of hope in their eyes. They knew that as long as they worked hard, there would always be a hot meal available, there would always be hope. Whether it was their effort in struggling through poverty or the flame of spirit that always shone in their eyes, all of it stimulated Xia Siyu. These experiences also became her contemplation, enriching her spirit, to be utilized in her roles in the future. Chapter 534 - Chapter 534: Chapter 533: From Young to Old (9) Chapter 534: Chapter 533: From Young to Old (9) The sun rises in the east and sets in the west, and although a day goes by, tomorrow the sun will still rise. Humans experience birth, aging, sickness, death, fortune, and misfortune. You as an individual may suffer from illness and ultimately face death, but as long as there is a legacy, it does not necessarily have to be your own biological child. As long as there is a place to put your hopes, there is still hope. ¡°Look, those clouds over there!¡± Following Bo Yan¡¯s pointing finger, Xia Siyu saw the sky, where the clouds were piled up, vast swaths of clouds enveloping the afterglow of the sunset, looking as if they were scorched, red like blood. The backdrop was tinged with red, the edges glowing with a golden hue, the center of the clouds white, and the slightly darker cloud layers were mixed with the black of the night. This was the Loess Plateau, where it seldom rained and rainbows were rare. But such beautiful clouds were no less spectacular than the vibrant colors of a rainbow. Initially, Xia Siyu had really thought it was all about enduring hardship, that it was to strengthen her resolve, to help her learn acting better. But it was not until she arrived that she realized she had put the cart before the horse. Indeed, Bo Yan taught her how to observe and let her endure hardship, but what was most important was that he allowed her to experience and go through a variety of experiences. Many things could not be felt or imagined unless personally experienced. Perhaps her quick learning over this period might not be immediately transferrable to her acting skills. However, it had expanded her knowledge reserves, observation skills, as well as broadened her mind and perspective substantially. Her initial goal had been only to become a leading actress, to strike a blow to the Xia family, and to not let her mother down. Of course, there was nothing wrong with that. But her vision had been too narrow, attaching too much importance to immediate gains and losses and her own private grievances. It wouldn¡¯t prevent her from moving forward, but the level of advancement wouldn¡¯t be very high. This journey to the Northwest allowed her to witness customs and lifestyles completely different from her own. She understood the lives of many people. She would still strive to be a leading actress, would still harbor dissatisfaction towards the Xia family, and would still work hard to make her mother proud. Yet, she saw that the world was so vast; what seemed like insurmountable mountains of misfortune to her were comparatively minor when considering the greater suffering of others who didn¡¯t live bristling with hostility like she did. And then there was Bo Yan. Even though she had agreed to a friends-with-benefits relationship with him and had dated him before, both in the past and present, she had never truly understood him. Mentioning him beforehand, her default description was a lecherous dog of a man; the notion of being with him stemmed from habit rather than affection. But now, having spent some time with him, even though he never missed a chance to be close to her, he was erudite, upright in character, and good to her and others. Even if she still called him ¡°dog of a man¡±, she was gradually convinced by his wisdom and judgment and had started to develop a slight dependence on him emotionally. Even if it still wasn¡¯t love, she had finally become comfortable in his company. She could physically accept him without her spirit rejecting him. Even if she was reluctant to admit it, at this moment, leaning against him, she felt at peace¡ªa rare moment of stability for her normally restless heart these past few years. The two of them leaned on each other, with Bo Yan gently rubbing his cheek against the top of her hair. Holding her from behind, perhaps due to her menstrual period, his embrace felt especially warm to her. She did not resist; instead, mimicking his gestures, she gently rubbed the top of her head against his chin. Chapter 535 - Chapter 535: Chapter 534: From Young to Old (10) Chapter 535: Chapter 534: From Young to Old (10) Bo Yan was stunned for a moment. He lowered his head again, and gently pecked at the corner of her lips. The movement was very tender, without the slightest hint of sex. It was as if two small animals snuggled together for warmth. After the light peck, his lips slightly moved away, he neither proceeded further nor retreated much, maintaining a two-centimeter distance, just enough for her to touch him if she leaned forward slightly. The proximity was simply because he wanted to be closer to Xia Siyu, to breathe more of each other¡¯s scent. However, unexpectedly, Siyu did lean in, also touching the corner of his mouth gently, like a dragonfly skimming water, before quickly retracting and looking towards the clouds in the sky. Bo Yan watched her profile as she admired the beautiful scene, and inside, he also started to experience a subtle change. Although recently, Xia Siyu had stopped resisting him, her fiery personality and the fact that being with him hadn¡¯t initially been her choice made for a complex dynamic. Even though she agreed to be his ¡°P friends,¡± at any sign of displeasure, she would use her small, sharp teeth to leave marks on his shoulder or wrist. The same went for her nails. Because she had to keep her nails long for filming, she never wasted them not showing ¡°hospitality¡± on his body, sometimes to an extent that concealer couldn¡¯t hide. Despite his enjoyment of her wildness and letting her indulge with him, occasionally, he still hoped that Xia Siyu could show some warmth. He did not need much tenderness, just a little bit of sentiment, and he would be happy. And now, it was indeed so. Since Xia Siyu had declared ¡°P friends¡± mode, apart from work and eating, she hardly showed any signs of clinginess to him. They coexisted in a tasteless manner for some time, to the extent that Bo Yan was getting impatient, contemplating whether having a child might change their current situation. But right now, seeing her take the initiative to respond, even if just a little, he felt very pleased. Bo Yan looked at the clouds, and then at her, ¡°The clouds are beautiful.¡± Xia Siyu nodded. They indeed were beautiful. Although fiery clouds could be seen in any corner of the country, combined with the endless yellow earth here, the crisscrossing valleys, and the addition of a river, it truly was breathtaking. Bo Yan smiled, ¡°You¡¯re even more beautiful.¡± Xia Siyu nodded again, without even the smallest flush of red on her face. I am indeed beautiful, isn¡¯t this something known to everyone around the world? Do I even need to be shy about it? But a man praising a woman¡¯s beauty is never just about verbal compliments. The underlying message is: Can I seduce you? Bo Yan first brushed against her hair whorl, then lowered his head, this time capturing her earlobe, delicately savoring it with his teeth. Xia Siyu¡¯s neck and ears were particularly ticklish, or it could be said that her sense of touch was quite sensitive. At first, when he took her earlobe into his mouth, she didn¡¯t feel much, but his soft breath behind her ear and the gentle rubbing between his teeth would have sent a more dangerous signal if it weren¡¯t for the fact that she was on her period at the time. Bo Yan had no peculiar tastes. All he did was hold her, moving from the earlobe to the cheek, like a puppy sniffing and licking, gently enough not to disturb her cloud-watching; Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t be bothered to care. When he finally lingered back from her shoulder, Bo Yan¡¯s voice was slightly deeper, ¡°Your period¡ªwhen does it end?¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s face instantly darkened. She had thought Bo Yan¡¯s actions were just normal intimacy, but she hadn¡¯t expected this jerk to still be a dog! Chapter 536 - Chapter 536: Chapter 535: From Young to Old (11) Chapter 536: Chapter 535: From Young to Old (11) She said irritably, ¡°One week!¡± After hearing this, Bo Yan expressed his regret, ¡°That still leaves five days!¡± Today was only the second day of her period, so indeed there were still five days to go, right? Five days, which means one hundred and twenty-four hours, felt like such a long time. ¡°What five days, at least eight days later!¡± Xia Siyu quickly roared angrily. This scumbag! She thought he was tender and considerate. Who knew that as soon as she got better, he would be so eager? Normally, after menstruation, she should at least have three days to recover. The wound hadn¡¯t healed yet, and doing it now would harm her. Bo Yan wasn¡¯t a fool, either; when Xia Siyu mentioned it, he immediately nodded, ¡°Of course.¡± His own wife, of course he should be gentle with her. Although the time had just stretched to eight days later, making the whole cycle ten days, he had managed seven years of patience, so what was eight or ten days? He¡¯s not a pervert, nor does he have any strange fetishes. Obviously, it wasn¡¯t just about his own pleasure; he also hoped Xia Siyu could stay healthy for a long time. However. Bo Yan asked cautiously, ¡°How long does your cycle usually last?¡± What if she got her period twice a month, each lasting ten days? Wouldn¡¯t that be dreadful for him? Xia Siyu thought for a bit, ¡°Thirty or forty days, I guess, but I¡¯m not sure.¡± It used to be very regular, but unfortunately, she had to dive into cold water or wear backless dresses in freezing weather for the sake of filming or walking the red carpet. These things couldn¡¯t be helped. Bo Yan nodded, silently pondering. ** But after the visits to Hope Primary School and the nursing home, the relationship between Bo Yan and Xia Siyu had indeed improved. On the third day, Xia Siyu was exactly as she said, not feeling any pain at all and bleeding less than the first two days. Besides taking longer trips to the bathroom and not being able to touch her at night, at other times, she could do anything from climbing mountains to farming without any restrictions. These days, Bo Yan had Song Fengzhi come up with various mutton dishes for her; one day it was mutton soup, the next day it was mutton offal, and the day after it was her favorite, cumin lamb. Mutton was nourishing and warming, but to prevent her from overheating, he also added white radish or similar ingredients to the soup or dishes for balanced nutrition. As the weather turned to autumn, Xia Siyu even went down to the fields with the landlord to harvest corn and wheat. It was backbreaking work, and the wheat bran could make one¡¯s skin itch. Harvesting wheat could also easily result in cuts. However, with her attitude of fully experiencing life, Xia Siyu did not mind at all, and even found joy in it. After harvesting, they also had to dry and thresh the wheat, all of which Xia Siyu learned to do without any complaints. In the deep mountains, there were few who recognized her, so she didn¡¯t need a mask or disguise and could run freely and happily on the field ridges¡ªhappier than she had ever been walking red carpets. The life of an actor is such that if you choose fame and a high salary, you have to give up certain things. But in the Northwest, in the depths of the mountains where few knew her and with only Bo Yan¡¯s team and her own, she could finally let loose. In addition to farming, she also went to the town and county with Bo Yan when they could spare the time. This time she observed with the method Bo Yan taught her and truly discovered many details she had never noticed before. Moreover, as she observed more deeply, she began to form a clearer picture in her mind of how to portray the protagonist of ¡°Spring Light.¡± This time, it was not just her imagination at work, but a fusion with the lives of the people living there. Chapter 537 - Chapter 537: Chapter 536: From Young to Old (12) Chapter 537: Chapter 536: From Young to Old (12) This time, it was no longer her own imagination, but she was fully integrated with the people living here; even though filming hadn¡¯t started, the character seemed already alive in her mind. ** Soon, seven days had passed. Two days ago, Xia Siyu¡¯s period had ended, and she was like a little beast released from a cage, frolicking in the woods. She was incredibly free during this time, able to play however she wanted ¡ª nobody treated her like a star, and she could run freely without having to care about others¡¯ gazes. The only annoyance was that her period was still going on, and going without a pad was always more comfortable than wearing one. Before, Xia Siyu had dared not to enter cold water, but now that restriction was completely gone, and she could play however she wanted. Under the guise of visiting lonely elders, she was actually scampering all over the village. Whenever it was mealtime, Wei Jingjing would look for her everywhere like her mother, shouting, ¡°Xia Siyu, come home for dinner!¡± She also complained to Song Fengzhi, ¡°Why doesn¡¯t your family¡¯s Bo Yan do something about her? She¡¯s just causing a ruckus! There¡¯s something wrong with Siyu here,¡± she pointed at her own head, ¡°and Bo Yan has no issues, so why does he indulge her!¡± Song Fengzhi was also annoyed, ¡°Who can control your family¡¯s Xia Siyu? She¡¯s so wild, absolutely useless except for being pretty! You saw it yourself, didn¡¯t you? Yesterday she bit such a huge mark on my brother¡¯s neck, nearly scratching his face to shreds!¡± ¡°Bo Yan was willing, it¡¯s his fault for clinging to our Siyu! If he¡¯s capable, let him find someone else!¡± ¡°Do you think I don¡¯t wish that? My brother graduated with a doctorate, he¡¯s a lecturer at N University, comes from a prestigious family; what kind of woman can¡¯t he find? I don¡¯t know what he sees in her.¡± ¡°Pfft, our family¡¯s Siyu has even more pursuers, she gets so many flowers and private messages every day that her legs go weak! There are plenty who are better than the Bo Family.¡± ¡°Damn, a classic case of beauty but no brains, my brother really drew the short straw!¡± ¡°Still better than you, you¡¯re flat-chested.¡± Song Fengzhi and Wei Jingjing glared at each other, simultaneously ¡®hmpf¡¯ed, turned their heads away, mutually loathing the sight of each other. Damn, both artists and their assistants are annoying. ** However, Bo Yan and Xia Siyu had already been here for over half a month. They had been in contact with Director Sun over the phone; the film center¡¯s setup was nearly complete, and they could start shooting in another half month. If they were to start shooting, they¡¯d have to stay with the crew, and that certainly wouldn¡¯t be as leisurely and free as now. Moreover, being with the crew, they would have to avoid each other. Although there were many couples within the crew, nowadays, one fears that a careless leak could lead to exposure, which definitely wouldn¡¯t be as relaxed as the current situation. Furthermore, in two days, Xia Siyu had to return to Yancheng for a new episode of ¡°Me and My Agent.¡± Qin Baizhou would come to pick her up personally. This was part of her job, she couldn¡¯t simply skip variety shows. This trip alone would take at least three to four days. Qin Baizhou had arranged brand endorsements and live events for her in Yancheng, and there would be several days where he wouldn¡¯t see her. In short, the gist was to make the most of the time available. That evening, after Bo Yan had finished his meal, he also had to help with threshing the sun-dried grain, clean up, and store it properly. Once all the work was done, he went to the bathroom for a long soak without saying a word, washing himself clean. He had waited ten days, finally reaching today; he definitely couldn¡¯t let it slip away casually. When the night grew silent, and the host family had also turned off their lights, ready to rest, he opened the door to Xia Siyu¡¯s room, and just as he locked it from the inside, a voice came from outside¡­ Chapter 538 - Chapter 538: Chapter 537: The Edge (1) Chapter 538: Chapter 537: The Edge (1) The sound was somewhat faint, and if it weren¡¯t for the countryside, a car starting up like this in the city would likely go unnoticed. But the thing is, this is a ravine. In recent days, Xia Siyu had noticed that although roads were built here, few cars passed by. It was okay during the day¡ªat least there was some activity after everyone got up. But come nightfall, aside from the sound of the wind and water, the cries of birds and insects, and with phones and televisions turned off, there was practically no noise from cars or hustle and bustle, as quiet as if one had traveled back to ancient times. At this time, hearing the sound of a car, although a bit soft, clearly still at a fair distance, was significant because this village was very remote, and most young people had already moved to the city, leaving mostly elderly and children back in the village. Moreover, Bo Yan had experience with racing cars; from the engine sound, likely an off-roader with powerful capabilities, something that an average person wouldn¡¯t have, it was almost certainly someone coming for them. Counting the first few days when they arrived in the Northwest to read at the provincial archives, it had been almost twenty days since they had been here. They originally said they would come to experience life for over a month, but how much longer exactly was unknown. It might be longer if the props team wasn¡¯t ready, or it could be shorter. But he had waited nearly ten days, and he didn¡¯t want to be separated from Xia Siyu at this moment. He thought it over, the residence the crew had found for him and Xia Siyu could only accommodate their two-person team, it was impossible for the crew to cram into a room with them. But since the village would be used for outdoor shooting later, he estimated the crew had rented other houses too, staying close for the convenience of communication. Anyway, they wouldn¡¯t be staying over tonight, so he was at ease. He still wanted to come over for a kiss when Xia Siyu quickly got up, ¡°Did you just hear a car?¡± Since those people wouldn¡¯t be coming over, Bo Yan mumbled vaguely, ¡°You must have heard wrong?¡± No sooner had he finished speaking when the car¡¯s engine revved again, this time more clearly. Xia Siyu immediately said, ¡°I heard it! It¡¯s a car, probably here for us.¡± In these ten miles and eight villages, besides them, there weren¡¯t any other outsiders to come for. In the midst of speaking, Bo Yan had already crept up, lifting the blanket, his fingertips roaming around in the dark: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, our house isn¡¯t big enough, they can¡¯t possibly come over because there¡¯s nowhere for them to stay.¡± When choosing the house at the time, he had ¡°high-mindedly¡± made a point not to pick a house with good conditions but instead insisted on a challenging dwelling, a cave house, saying it was to experience life. But he knew that Xia Siyu would also choose a difficult place, preferably one that wasn¡¯t spacious enough for others to stay in. ¡°But the sound of the car is coming for us,¡± Xia Siyu said, trying to catch his mischievous hands but instead found her wrist grasped by him, pressed to the side of her head, his head dipping slightly, tenderly and densely pecking at her neck, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the village is the location for the outdoor scenes. I¡¯ve already asked Director Sun before¡ªhe said they would stay in better accommodations, not far from ours.¡± For filming, vast expanses of wheat and corn in the village went unharvested. They had only helped the elderly harvest a small patch in their house¡¯s backyard the previous few days. Other corners of the village were also set up by the props team. While it looked close by, and the noise sounded even closer, this was the Loess Plateau; walking through two gullies would take at least two hours for a round trip, and even by car, it would need around fifteen minutes. Chapter 539 - Chapter 539: Chapter 538: The Edge (2) Chapter 539: Chapter 538: The Edge (2) Although Xia Siyu still had doubts, what Bo Yan said she too knew¡ªthe director and the rest coming to stay was not realistic. It just felt like the idyllic life of the past few days was about to be torn apart, and she was somewhat reluctant to let it go. With the crew present, it meant they could no longer say whatever they wanted, do whatever they pleased as they had in the past few days. Where there are many mouths, masks become necessary. She had to return to that glamorous life of a major star, not letting anyone catch on to her relationship with Bo Yan. All these years, she was constantly surrounded by people¡ªassistants, bodyguards, agents, fans, hackers, and camera flashes. Even though she had a fiery personality, known among celebrities for her lack of pretense and living as she wished, she still felt constrained. The issue was, even with so many people around her, there were few she could talk to heart-to-heart. Up to this day, the only time she let out her true feelings was when she shouted by the river with Bo Yan, ¡°I want to make my mother proud.¡± In her seven years in the industry, apart from Zhou Weiwei who knew about her situation early on, she hadn¡¯t revealed a single word about her family situation to outsiders, not even to Qin Baizhou or Wei Jingjing. In fact, it wasn¡¯t that she particularly liked the Northwest, but only in such isolated places with simpler relationships could she truly be herself. Not a superstar, just Xia Siyu. And furthermore. Even though she was still unwilling to admit it, Bo Yan understood her. He understood her and could help her. She had gotten used to having Bo Yan around, to his advice and assistance. And¡ªeven starving for ten days¡ªshe felt a little eager for tonight¡¯s company. But she was still somewhat cautious. ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing to ¡®but¡¯ about,¡± Bo said as he pressed down on her, and lightly sniffed her hair. Recently, the two had been living together, sharing everything from food to clothing. Sometimes Xia Siyu¡¯s pajamas would get accidentally torn by him, and she would brazenly wear only his shirt around the room, just barely covering her lower half. She would even proudly tug on his shirt, pulling off the buttons. Of course, she wouldn¡¯t dare to wear such a sight in front of others, not even in front of Wei Jingjing¡ªmainly, these were her lounge clothes, or what she would wear to grab a drink of water or her phone. The moment daylight struck, she would immediately change back into her own clothes. ¡°Besides, you desire me too, don¡¯t you?¡± The final word lingered ambiguously in his throat, ultimately transforming into a long kiss, as if transferring his voice into her mouth. They were both adults, and had already agreed to be FWBs; she wouldn¡¯t feel embarrassed. Since the interlopers wouldn¡¯t be arriving, naturally, she intended to thoroughly enjoy life! After one kiss ended, her voice, though somewhat unsteady from the kissing, rose in a proud and coy tone, ¡°That depends on how you¡­ perform, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Bo Yan smiled faintly, keeping a slight distance as he asked her seriously, ¡°So, do you want it passionate or gentle?¡± ¡®Passionate¡¯ like that time Xia Siyu said she wanted to ¡°take the initiative,¡± had even bought candles, rope, and high heels, only to end up not succeeding while Bo Yan did. ¡®Gentle¡¯ like now, his approach akin to the soft waves of the Sicilian shore gently caressing the rocks¡ªno towering waves, but a continuous, unending touch reaching deep into her soul. She licked the corner of her mouth, her eyes sparkling in the dark night: ¡°Then let¡¯s¡­ have both!¡± Chapter 540 - Chapter 540: Chapter 539: The Edge (3) Chapter 540: Chapter 539: The Edge (3) Children are the ones who make choices; she is an adult, she wants it all! Bo Yan was startled for a moment, but then the smile on his face widened even more. The twistings, the bashfulness, and the unclear restraint typically exhibited by Eastern women, the tender shyness that comes with merely being flirted with by a man, he reckoned he would never see that in Xia Siyu in this lifetime. This one, although she had resisted him quite thoroughly before, in the end, his face, shoulders, chest, and back were all marked. According to Song Fengzhi¡¯s words, ¡°the face was nearly gouged out,¡± it was thrilling sure, but he wasn¡¯t a pervert, he didn¡¯t like to force anyone, and he could feel Xia Siyu¡¯s revulsion toward him. But once she developed a taste for it, her shamelessness was triggered instantaneously. If they weren¡¯t in the Northwest with limited conditions, he estimated she might have even more ideas than him. Of course, when she didn¡¯t want it, or didn¡¯t have that desire, she would still resist, but when she became passionate and took the initiative¡­ it was truly a taste beyond any celestial imagination. For instance, tonight, he also noticed that actually, Xia Siyu had taken a particularly long bath. Since she wants everything, he must serve her well. ¡°Yes, my dearest wife¡­¡± Xia Siyu usually hated it when Bo Yan called her that, but at this moment, coming from his mouth, it carried an indescribable sensation, as if someone had set a fire in her heart, and the flames were rising gradually. This flame had nothing to do with love; it was an entirely human instinctual response. She had only been with Bo Yan, but whether it¡¯s about the physical or the emotional, Bo Yan made her very satisfied. She had never considered igniting this kind of flame for another man. Up to this point, it had only been Bo Yan. Whispers began to fill the room, growing denser and denser. Just as the two prepared themselves to face the storm, that car sound came again. And this time, they had a feeling, that sound seemed to be headed right for them. The lights outside were very dim, the cave dwelling had glass windows, and the windows were pasted with gauzy screens. Apart from the natural moonlight and starlight, the deep night sky was black and heavy, a quiet and darkness unimaginable for those living in the light-polluted cities. But at this moment, they could clearly feel, although by the sound, it was still kilometers away¡ªthe characteristic of the Loess Plateau, even a hundred meters apart might require a day¡¯s detour, even if the actual distance was kilometers away, it could still take a long drive. However, the sound was getting louder and closer this time. And they could vaguely sense the high beams cast by the car. Bo Yan and Xia Siyu paused for a moment, he lay in the crook of her shoulder, and she reached out to cling to his spine, both of them remained silent. Just as they were listening intently, a phone call came through, and it was Bo Yan¡¯s cell phone. Caught off guard, both of them froze, Bo Yan hesitated whether to answer, but the sound of the car outside became closer and the lights brighter. After thinking for a moment, he got up, picked up the phone, and his voice was clearly a bit displeased, ¡°Hello, what¡¯s up?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Bo Yan.¡± The ones who called him ¡°Bo Yan¡± directly were, other than Xia Siyu, the director Sun Wujiu. Indeed, it was the director who had called. He said, ¡°I¡¯ll arrive in about fifteen minutes.¡± Indeed, the car was coming for them, and the visitor was Director Sun! Bo Yan was a bit displeased, ¡°Director Sun, I was about to rest.¡± Chapter 541 - Chapter 541: Chapter 540: The Edge (4) Chapter 541: Chapter 540: The Edge (4) ¡°It¡¯s only nine-thirty in the evening.¡± Nine-thirty, for many people, especially those in the entertainment industry, is when the night life is just getting started. Who goes to bed now? Bo Yan answered, ¡°Director Sun, you came by car, didn¡¯t you? On your way here, apart from a few street lights, was there any other light? I¡¯m really getting ready for bed, and it¡¯s not just me¡ªothers are preparing to rest as well. We¡¯ll be waking up at five or six in the morning. Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy. Besides, your arrival would disturb the sleep of the host. If it¡¯s not an urgent matter, can we come over and see you after ten tomorrow morning? And think about it¡ªafter chatting until eleven or twelve, you¡¯ll have to find your way back, which is quite a hassle. Better to rest up first. We don¡¯t have that many houses here; surely we can¡¯t expect Xia Siyu to clear out a room for you?¡± He was confident. If Director Sun had something important to discuss, he probably would have called earlier to give him a heads-up, not just before arriving. A last-minute call, in all likelihood, meant that he couldn¡¯t find his way. The gullies here crisscrossed each other, and sometimes what looked close was actually quite a complicated route, plus the houses were exceptionally secluded. On his way here, he would have passed by several households, some of which had agreements with the film crew for accommodations. Director Sun and Bo Yan weren¡¯t working together for the first time. The movie that earned Bo Yan the title of Best Actor was a collaboration with Director Yu Fenfei, and Sun Wujiu served as the executive director. The previous work that launched Shang Feifei to Best Actress, ¡°Moonlight,¡± was also a powerhouse combination of Bo Yan + Yu Fenfei + Sun Wujiu; they were old friends. Therefore, when Sun Wujiu took on the role of director independently, Bo Yan was very supportive. Their relationship was good, and as far as he remembered, although Bo Yan was aloof, he always went all in when it came to work. This was the first time he had outright rejected a request from him! ¡°But¡­ I¡¯m already here,¡± Sun Director said. Before he could finish, Bo Yan and Xia Siyu had already heard the sound of a car getting closer and closer. In less than three to five minutes, it would enter the courtyard. This was serious trouble¡ªif Director Sun caught them, wouldn¡¯t the relationship between him and Xia Siyu be exposed? Even if Director Sun wouldn¡¯t talk, he certainly wouldn¡¯t have come alone; he must have brought several people with him. With so many people in the know, it would be hard to keep things quiet; word was bound to get out. Although, he didn¡¯t have that much of an aversion to going public. Going public was fine; staying private was fine too. Even though he was a top star, his abilities were also recognized now; whether it was fans or the general public, they were all willing to support him. But it was different for Xia Siyu. For the long run, it was still better to go public later. Bo Yan glanced at Xia Siyu, and she immediately responded, ¡°What are you waiting for? Hurry up and go!¡± As she spoke, she stretched out her hand, pushing against his shoulder. Bo Yan was actually ready to leave, but hearing Xia Siyu so forcefully urging him, he suddenly wasn¡¯t in a hurry anymore. He grabbed Xia Siyu¡¯s hand that was pushing him, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t mind leaving, but first, give me a kiss.¡± Xia Siyu didn¡¯t play coy; she directly wrapped her arms around Bo Yan¡¯s neck, and even deliberately gave him a deep French kiss. She knew Bo Yan had a sense of propriety and would definitely exit safely. But since he dared to ask for a kiss, she¡¯d let him have it with no return! Bo Yan¡¯s eyes were shadowy; he was fully aware of Xia Siyu¡¯s little scheme. Initially, he was just unhappy about being pushed away, but he hadn¡¯t expected Xia Siyu to be so forward, so forward that he didn¡¯t want to leave, and yet he had no choice but to leave. Chapter 542 - Chapter 542: Chapter 541: The Edge (5) Chapter 542: Chapter 541: The Edge (5) Xia Siyu was different from the average girl; she didn¡¯t play by the usual rules. You¡¯d expect her to blush at being flirted with, but instead, she took the initiative and entangled him. Although Bo Yan was a bit disappointed as he rarely saw her show a bashful expression when he teased her¡ªlove and hate were both expressed so directly by her¡ªher initiative was truly exhilarating. After a kiss, both of them were breathing a little heavily. Bo Yan even awkwardly stepped back a bit, bracing himself against the edge of the bed to prevent falling over too quickly. He certainly had to back off, and he had no choice but to do so. He had already waited ten days for the chance to be alone with her; it was a shame that they couldn¡¯t go public now and had to strategically retreat. If they continued kissing, Director Sun would probably spend the whole night listening outside the door. ¡°I¡¯ll go back to change my clothes first. Delay them, and you can come out later.¡± It was also his luck¡ªfortunately, he had been sleeping in Xia Siyu¡¯s room this whole time. No one had touched his room, so it would not reveal the presence of any female items. Xia Siyu nodded and tried to calm her breathing as well. The feeling was mutual, and women, just like men, had desires. Especially as her relationship with Bo Yan was getting better¡ªshe enjoyed watching him eyeing her covetously every day, desperate yet unable to make a move during her period. Men enjoyed seeing women flustered, but women also liked to see men¡¯s contrasting cuteness. When Bo Yan pretended to be aloof, Siyu wanted to challenge him, to shatter his composed demeanor. Now that Bo Yan was craving her, she teased him mercilessly, out of reach, just to watch him get frustrated and helpless. Bo Yan was indeed annoyed. He hesitated, then turned back and said threateningly, ¡°You wait and see! After Director Sun leaves, I¡¯ll see how I ¡®deal with¡¯ you!¡± She was not scared at all and retorted. ¡°If you¡¯ve got what it takes, deal with me now. I¡¯ll ¡®deal with¡¯ you first.¡± If it weren¡¯t for the risk of exposing themselves, Bo Yan really would not have left. But without even a moment¡¯s hesitation, seeing her looking so smug, he could only smile, open the door, and head to his own room. As soon as he left, the sound of cars approached from outside. Naturally, it wasn¡¯t just one car; it was the entire director¡¯s team arriving. Even without opening the door, you could faintly hear the noise outside. She had been arrogant just moments ago but had made preparations. During this period, because Bo Yan was resting in her room, he surely left behind many personal items. Although it was unlikely that Director Sun would enter her room, she hid some things anyway. All of this was done in the dark. After finishing, instead of hurrying out, she waited inside the house. True to form, as soon as Sun Wujiu arrived, he called Bo Yan, who, not long after, also stepped out in his pajamas, his hair still messy, clearly having been sleeping. Sun Wujiu saw him and chuckled, ¡°Did you really go to sleep?¡± He then looked around the courtyard. ¡°Where¡¯s Xia Siyu?¡± ¡°She¡¯s in her room,¡± Bo Yan replied calmly, even turning his head to look back, ¡°She should be asleep too. There¡¯s not much entertainment here, so everyone goes to bed early.¡± He bore no resemblance to the man who had been fooling around with Xia Siyu just a few minutes ago. ¡°Should we wake her up?¡± Sun Wujiu glanced over and said, ¡°Let¡¯s talk first.¡± After all, Xia Siyu was a girl; it wouldn¡¯t be quite right to wake her up late at night. Bo Yan invited them inside. The cave house was not very spacious, and the small space was completely filled with just four or five people. Chapter 543 - Chapter 543: Chapter 542: The Edge (6) Chapter 543: Chapter 542: The Edge (6) Xia Siyu could hear too, but since no one had called her specifically, she was happy not to get up. Song Fengzhi woke up shortly after, and Wei Jingjing, who tended to be more alert while sleeping, also woke up. Including Bo Yan, there were a total of seven people. Wei Jingjing and Song Fengzhi just came to deliver water and then left. Bo Yan poured hot water from the thermos for them, while Sun Wujiu looked around. Hmm, patches on the walls, a cramped space, no separate washroom, no bathroom; they had to use the one built outside. The water supply came from a well, there were few electrical appliances in the house, the cave dwelling was warm in winter and cool in summer, so there was no air conditioning. The TV was in the homeowner¡¯s room, and this house didn¡¯t have one either. Although the house was clean, the conditions were indeed somewhat harsh. Sun Wujiu smiled, picked up a cup, and drank some water, ¡°Getting used to living here?¡± Bo Yan nodded, ¡°Pretty good.¡± If you all hadn¡¯t come, I would have enjoyed it even more. After watching Wei Jingjing leave, Sun Wujiu lowered his voice, his chin gesturing toward the direction of Xia Siyu¡¯s room, ¡°And her, getting along okay?¡± Bo Yan took a sip of water and casually ¡°hmm¡¯d¡± in response, ¡°Nothing bad or good.¡± His tone and expression just didn¡¯t seem like he was involved with Xia Siyu in any way. Sun Wujiu was then reassured, ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Even though Xia Siyu initially said she wanted to endure hardship and insisted on coming to a difficult place, he was still a bit nervous about leaving her there. This person had a volatile temper, and if something happened, he would not know how to handle it. Bo Yan thought for a moment and then added, ¡°By the way, I went to Hope Primary School, and visited the orphans and widows in the village to show some love, using the crew¡¯s name. This isn¡¯t for publicity, nor am I trying to create a persona; just letting you know. After all, coming here and not helping out feels wrong.¡± He wanted to clear things up about him and Xia Siyu, so if, in the future, their conduct got too intimate and hit the internet, at least he had something to fall back on. It was a good deed, and no one would refuse to take credit, so Sun Wujiu nodded, ¡°Yes, I didn¡¯t consider that either. Indeed, we have inconvenienced the locals, so we should do what needs to be done.¡± There are many stars who do charity work, and indeed some do it to create a persona or for publicity, but Bo Yan¡¯s explanation seemed reasonable, so he had no suspicions. Sun Wujiu had come today not to disturb him. The props team at the film center was almost ready, and they needed to set up the village for outdoor shots, especially the corn and wheat fields, which had to be arranged in advance. They were here for location scouting for the outdoor scenes. Not only that, but the costume designer had also arrived. In the next few days, they would focus on preparing outfits for him and Xia Siyu and run makeup trials. In the coming days, even though the crew hadn¡¯t officially started filming, the production team would be moving into the village and might often disturb them, ending the quiet days they had before. In fact, Bo Yan was well aware that the days spent there were stolen moments of leisure. Furthermore, Xia Siyu had given up quite a bit of work in Yancheng, squeezing time out from Qin Baizhou¡¯s arrangements. Current stars were busy flying here and there to make money, barely able to find the time or opportunity to experience life. Sun Wujiu and the others didn¡¯t see Xia Siyu until they left that evening, and once they were completely gone, Bo Yan finally pushed open her door. Chapter 544 - Chapter 544: Chapter 543 Disturbance (1) Chapter 544: Chapter 543 Disturbance (1) The house was very quiet, and Xia Siyu was still lying at the head of the bed, probably asleep. Bo Yan first went to the bathroom and then came back to bed, tiptoeing quietly. Even though the house was silent and Xia Siyu made no movements, Bo Yan just knew she wasn¡¯t asleep yet. Actually, it was still early, just past twelve. For them, accustomed to nightlife, it was far from their usual time to rest. But in the Northwest, they had gotten used to going to bed when it got dark and they heard dogs barking, and to waking up with the crowing of roosters at dawn. At this time, if they had just been up to mischief, there would have been enough time for several rounds and even to fall asleep in each other¡¯s arms. Of course, if he was really desperate, they could continue right now. But neither was in the mood, Bo Yan holding her, stroking her hair from top to bottom, his expression slightly somber. After a while, Xia Siyu might have felt a bit uncomfortable in his arms and shifted slightly. Bo Yan gently lowered his head and kissed her on the forehead. Neither of them spoke until, after a long time, Bo Yan finally said, ¡°You heard what they said just now, didn¡¯t you?¡± Xia Siyu hummed a response. Tomorrow, the makeup artist and the props team were coming, which meant their good days were coming to an end. Although they wouldn¡¯t be staying in the courtyard, she had to maintain her star demeanor and learn to be discreet in her dealings with Bo Yan. Bo Yan didn¡¯t say anything either, and after a moment, he smiled, ¡°It¡¯s like we went on a honeymoon, had a blast for a month, and now we finally have to go back to work.¡± Many people, when they have to go to work or school on Monday morning, feel exactly as they do now. The fun couldn¡¯t continue; it was time to return to the stress of studies and work. Due to anxiety, some people even developed depression. ¡°Who honeymooned with you?¡± Xia Siyu muttered softly. Even she hadn¡¯t noticed that in the past, whenever Bo Yan mentioned ¡°wife,¡± ¡°marriage,¡± ¡°husband and wife,¡± or any related term, Xia Siyu would instantly bristle. A confrontation on the spot was considered mild, more often than not it involved scratching and scrapping, kicking and hitting. But now, she only made a token protest and her insults were mild, without the angry rejection of the past. Moreover, she didn¡¯t reject being with him, nor did she reject referring to ¡°us¡± with him. It wasn¡¯t because of the things they did, but because of the time they spent together, their past barriers were gradually being smoothed out. Women and men are different; men often think more about ¡°possessing¡± a woman. But women value the emotional aspects more. For Xia Siyu, who grew up in the West, the physical aspect wasn¡¯t unimportant, but it wasn¡¯t as significant as it is in Eastern culture. Emotion, companionship, soul, communication¡ªthese were, for Xia Siyu, the core of marriage and love. Now, the two of them could finally lie together, talk things over, be wild, and joke around. Although Bo Yan also craved her body, he valued a soul mate more, cherishing their love for each other. ¡°It¡¯s okay, we¡¯ll just be careful. You don¡¯t have to worry too much¡ªif there¡¯s a storm, I¡¯ll stand in front of you,¡± he said. ¡°Who asked you to stand in front of me? Can¡¯t I weather the storm myself?¡± Xia Siyu retorted. Actually, she particularly disliked the chauvinistic idea of men needing to protect women; women could also strengthen their own resolve. Chapter 545 - 544 Disturbance (2) Chapter 545: Chapter 544 Disturbance (2) And more often than not, men not only fail to shield women from the wind and rain, but they also bring storms into their lives. Su Wenyue was momentarily distracted because she was too shocked, finding it incredibly unbelievable that such a thing could happen to her, which caused her to zone out. But this didn¡¯t mean the pain wasn¡¯t real¡ªin fact, it was excruciating, almost like being tortured. Han Yu¡¯s problem was just that, sometimes he was too rough and not at all considerate of her, especially in this matter. He never took her feelings into account, his actions were rough, which made her somewhat scared, and hence she felt a sense of resistance in her heart. It wasn¡¯t just this matter, Han Yu often didn¡¯t consider her feelings in many things he did, instead making decisions based solely on his own will and judgement, which caused her much grievance. That was one of the reasons why she was deceived by that man back then. That man was gentle and affectionate, took good care of her, and on top of that, there was the dazzling wealth and luxury¡ªa normal girl like Su Wenyue taking the wrong path was to be expected. Su Wenyue thought to herself that if Han Yu had not been so indifferent and uncaring back then, if he had been a little nicer to her, a bit more caring and attentive, perhaps she wouldn¡¯t have fallen for someone so easily and made that mistake. ¡°It hurts, be gentle, you bastard, do you want to kill me with pain!¡± Su Wenyue said irritably, still harboring some resentment towards Han Yu that she wanted to vent. But with her hands and body restrained, she lifted her head and bit down on Han Yu¡¯s shoulder, letting out all her frustration with the thought that if he didn¡¯t care about her feelings, making her suffer in his arms, she wouldn¡¯t let him get away with it either¡ªSu Wenyue didn¡¯t hold back at all when she bit him. Han Yu grunted in pain, but instead of stopping the harmonious movements, he became even more vigorous. Su Wenyue was in so much pain that she cried, and coupled with physical exhaustion, she finally passed out. When Su Wenyue woke up the next day, she still felt a surreal haze, as if she couldn¡¯t believe it wasn¡¯t a dream. Moving her body, the pain that felt as if she had been run over by a horse carriage brought her back to reality, yet she wanted to curse out loud. It was still barely light outside, and though Su Wenyue was still sleepy and tired, she didn¡¯t continue to sleep. Instead, she endured the pain and carefully got out of bed. She still felt somewhat clean, which meant that Han Yu had already cleaned her up. It was somewhat different from her previous life, maybe Han Yu knew he had gone too far and had a guilty conscience. Regardless of the reason, Su Wenyue was somewhat pleased deep down. Only after experiencing coldness and pain could someone learn to cherish and be content with what they had. ¡°It¡¯s still early, why are you up so soon? Sleep a bit more,¡± Han Yu, who was alert by nature from his martial training, woke up the moment Su Wenyue turned over, but he had kept his eyes closed until she got up. Although he still sounded cold and detached as usual, there was a hint of concern in his voice. Feeling somewhat ashamed, Han Yu knew he had gone overboard the night before. After all, his wife was delicate and seemed not very tolerant of rough treatment, especially since it was their first night together. He feared she wouldn¡¯t be able to take it, which was probably why she had fainted. Now, she must be extremely fatigued. ¡°No, I need to go to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for everyone. You sleep a bit more. I will call you when breakfast is ready,¡± Su Wenyue said softly, continuing to dress despite speaking. If she was determined to have a good life with Han Yu, she definitely had to make sure to do well in her duties. In her previous life, Su Wenyue, unwilling to marry into the impoverished Han Family, harbored resentment toward Han Yu¡¯s roughness and lack of consideration. So on the first day after the wedding, she not only didn¡¯t get up to cook for everyone as a new bride should, but she also didn¡¯t join in for breakfast. She stayed in bed late into the morning, only getting up reluctantly to offer tea when Han Yu called her, which made everyone in the family dissatisfied with her. Although her father-in-law and mother-in-law didn¡¯t overtly criticize her, they became more distant. Eventually, rumors spread in the village that she was an unworthy wife and didn¡¯t respect her parents-in-law, leading to suspicious and disapproving looks from the villagers whenever they saw her. When Han Yu heard what Su Wenyue said, he didn¡¯t stop her, knowing that establishing house rules for a new bride was a custom of the Daming Dynasty. However, her actions surprised him. He remembered that when he lifted her veil the day before, her first words were, ¡°Your Han Family must have burned high incense for several lifetimes to have me marry in. Don¡¯t expect me to be willing to serve your whole family!¡± So, he didn¡¯t expect much from Su Wenyue and didn¡¯t hope for her to become a virtuous wife. As long as she maintained a decent facade and didn¡¯t talk back to his parents, that was enough. But unexpectedly, after one night, Su Wenyue seemed to have become more sensible. No one hopes for a bad daughter-in-law. Seeing Su Wenyue being sensible, Han Yu was quite pleased, ¡°I made too much of a fuss last night. If you can¡¯t handle it, just rest. There are sisters-in-law in the kitchen, and my father and mother are lenient. They won¡¯t mind.¡± Han Yu usually lacked expression on his face, and it was no different at that moment. Only someone familiar with him would notice the slight awkwardness when he spoke. It was his first time consummating a marriage with a wife, after all. In truth, Han¡¯s parents had long been prepared to dote on Su Wenyue and had no expectations of her to serve them like an ordinary daughter-in-law would. After all, it was their family that had reached above their station to marry her. Su Wenyue was a beautiful girl with a good family background. If it weren¡¯t for the Su Family¡¯s reputation for keeping their word, she would not have been married off to them. Naturally, they should treat her well. Su Wenyue shook her head, ¡°It¡¯s okay. Even though dad and mom are lenient, as a daughter-in-law, and as a new bride who just entered this home, I can¡¯t just lie in bed and let my mother-in-law and sisters-in-law do all the work. I¡¯ll go back to rest after serving tea.¡± Su Wenyue insisted, so Han Yu didn¡¯t go back to sleep. Instead, he got up as well. When he saw Su Wenyue almost collapse while trying to get dressed, walking shakily, he felt a surge of pity and picked her up to place her back on the bed. ¡°Stay here and don¡¯t move, I¡¯ll go boil some hot water for you to soak in,¡± Han Yu said with a stern face and then strode out of the room. Sitting there, Su Wenyue was smiling crescent-moon like. Maybe Han Yu wasn¡¯t so indifferent towards her; it was just his nature, and he wasn¡¯t good at expressing himself. Though his intentions were good, they sounded rough and harsh. If she had been the same Su Wenyue from her previous life, who hadn¡¯t experienced the warmth and coldness of the world, she would not have been able to detect the concern hidden in his words, and she would have been annoyed at hearing such a tone. After soaking in the hot water, she felt much more relaxed, and her aches were significantly lessened. Seeing that time was getting on, Su Wenyue hurriedly got ready and headed to the kitchen. It was getting late to start cooking, but once there, she felt somewhat at a loss about where to begin. ** However, the plans for the next day didn¡¯t keep up with the changes. What Bo Yan thought was that although Xia Siyu would be working during the day these two days, there should still be a chance for them to spend time together in the evening. Chapter 546 - 545 Disturbance (3) Chapter 546: Chapter 545 Disturbance (3) Who knew, although the crew didn¡¯t live in this small courtyard, the Stylist arrived early the next morning. Xia Siyu¡¯s clothes were easy to handle, matching the era, just uniform army green, with just one or two dresses to prepare. Her hairstyle was easy too, a simple long braid was best because the simpler, the better. As a city girl sent to the countryside, and coming from a decent background, she had a certain aesthetic sense, so her makeup was very light; there was no need for gaudiness. But for Bo Yan, besides student uniforms, Sun Yat-sen suits, and green military attire, he also had clothes for working in the fields. His hairstyle needed to have minor differences between the early and later parts of the story, and changes in makeup and hairstyle were necessary as well. He and Xia Siyu shared the same Stylist, ladies first, and Bo Yan after. Xia Siyu was busy until around two in the afternoon before she was done, but Bo Yan tried on makeup and changed clothes on and off throughout the day. It took a long time, cleaning off the makeup over and over, not finishing until late at night. After that, they still had to take the continuity photos to show to the team so the director and producer could give their input. By the time Bo Yan finished removing his makeup for the last time, it was almost midnight. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If it were manual labor, he might not have been so tired. But it was this stop-and-go nature of fitting and waiting that really wore him out. Plus, the small courtyard didn¡¯t have a shower, and being a man, he just splashed well water on himself to rinse off. After removing his makeup, he was shivering from the cold. Xia Siyu had finished her work long ago and had gone to rest, and as he got into bed, he didn¡¯t want to bother her. He was extremely sleepy; the day ended without incident. The next evening, just as Bo Yan was thinking of doing some mischief, unexpectedly, the second male lead and female lead also arrived. He and Xia Siyu had come earlier to experience village life, and finally, their actions had stirred the other actors into coming early if they could. Although they didn¡¯t stay in the same courtyard, they were close by and could drop by any time to visit. With all the actors in place, Sun Wujiu continued with the script reading sessions. They aimed to iron out the details while the props department set up the scene. Normally, a detailed script reading like this would take several rounds. Last time was the first round; now, after more than half a month and with all the actors present, their understanding had deepened and it was smoother to get into the finer points. After the script reading, Bo Yan was thinking of quickly getting rid of everyone to spend some alone time with Xia Siyu, but Sun Wujiu straightforwardly suggested they all get together for a hotpot dinner and some drinks. The meal was secondary, the main point was to bond. Bo Yan couldn¡¯t very well show his eagerness to be alone, so he reluctantly joined them for dinner and chatting. After a hearty meal and drinks, when everyone dispersed to rest, it was already deep into the night. Bo Yan restrained himself again and again, he waited and waited, thinking the third day should be free of interruptions. As far as he knew, Sun Wujiu was occupied with setting up location shoots and wouldn¡¯t have time for him. The second male and female leads were getting acquainted with the local area, apparently visiting the village chief. As for the Stylist, she wouldn¡¯t be back so soon; she was busy in her little dark room with the styling work. Moreover, Xia Siyu was leaving tomorrow to record a program, and wouldn¡¯t be back for three to four days. If not now, then when? After dinner, Bo Yan took a particularly serious bath. With the host around, he started off appearing very proper, but once back in his room, he first picked up a small box of condoms, the kind with three in a box. Then, after hesitating, he switched to a larger box. Chapter 547 - 546 Disturbance (4) Chapter 547: Chapter 546 Disturbance (4) Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t kidding when she said she wanted ¡°gentleness and passion.¡± He had been craving it for almost half a month, and now that she was going to leave, wasn¡¯t this the perfect time to get all clingy with her? But today, Xia Siyu clearly went to bed late. He waited a long time in his room, and the light in her room never went off. When the clock struck eleven, Bo Yan couldn¡¯t wait any longer. Considering Wei Jingjing was still there, he thought for a moment, unwrapped a large box and casually pocketed four or five pieces. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. By the time he pushed the door open, Wei Jingjing was indeed there, helping Xia Siyu pack. Tomorrow she had to return to Yancheng to record a variety show and do a live broadcast, and as a female star, she couldn¡¯t travel light. Clothes and shoes all needed to be matched and packed. Not only did she need to pack a lot, when she came back from Yancheng, she would also take the opportunity to bring a batch of clothes for the changing seasons. It was no longer summer, and she didn¡¯t bring many clothes during her last visit, so she had to prepare more this time. However, the amount of luggage Xia Siyu was organizing seemed excessively abundant. Wei Jingjing was aware that Bo Yan was currently living with Xia Siyu, so she wasn¡¯t surprised to see him and even nodded in greeting. Bo Yan, sitting on the edge of the bed, asked, ¡°Why are you packing so much stuff, aren¡¯t you just going for three or four days?¡± Xia Siyu didn¡¯t speak. It was Wei Jingjing who replied first, ¡°She might have to stay a week. They record two episodes of the show at a time, and after that, it might not be possible for her to come and go freely due to filming. For the two episodes, we¡¯ll have to go to two different places. There¡¯s also the live broadcast and brand endorsements.¡± At this, the timeline stretched out again. What was initially three to four days was now a week, and Bo Yan suspected Qin Baizhou had already been scheming over there, perhaps even managing to extend her stay further. There were still half a month until the official start of shooting. Based on Qin Baizhou¡¯s personality, Bo Yan guessed he would try to keep her there as long as possible. Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t someone who could be easily coerced unless it was for work. Although she could be temperamental, she was always serious and responsible when it came to her work. If Qin Baizhou used work as an excuse to keep her, she would definitely finish all her tasks before considering anything else. Yet, even though Bo Yan knew very well what kind of tricks Qin Baizhou was playing, he couldn¡¯t oppose it and had to send her off with a smile, pushing her right into Qin Baizhou¡¯s arms. He couldn¡¯t even afford to show any dissatisfaction; he had to support her work, otherwise the fragile relationship they had managed to mend could instantly crumble. ¡°Yeah, acting is work, as are variety shows and endorsements. You should work hard.¡± Xia Siyu didn¡¯t respond. Wasn¡¯t that a given? She and Qin Baizhou were still in an artist-manager relationship; she needed work. Just like if Bo Yan also had to film movies and record shows with others, and perhaps even undertake bold scenes in the future, she never interfered. Wei Jingjing then asked, ¡°Bo Teacher, will you continue to stay here?¡± He nodded, ¡°Yes, I don¡¯t have anything on, I might study some directing with Director Sun and seek advice on some matters.¡± Wei Jingjing wasn¡¯t surprised; these days, it seemed like people from all trades were becoming directors. After the suitcase was packed, Wei Jingjing said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave first, Siyu, you should rest early.¡± Just as her voice died away, she was right at the door. Bo Yan immediately closed the door behind her, the sound slightly forceful, as if eager to hurry her out. Then Bo Yan turned around and immediately hugged Xia Siyu: ¡°We¡¯ll be apart for so long¡­ Let¡¯s make the most of tonight.¡± Chapter 548 - 547 Disturbance (5) Chapter 548: Chapter 547 Disturbance (5) Bo Yan was aware that, even though Qin Baizhou had taken her away, Xia Siyu had already clearly rejected him; even if he took her away physically, it was just to spitefully create an unpleasant situation for him. But he would still feel annoyed regardless. This annoyance wasn¡¯t something he could direct at Xia Siyu, on the contrary, he still had to support her work, which meant he would have to vent his feelings in some other way. For example, during their time together in the evening. He had been craving her for a long time already, and now they would be apart for over a week. Wouldn¡¯t he have to make up for it doubly tonight? However, Xia Siyu, who had been very enthusiastic these past few days, seemed a bit tired tonight and even slapped his hand away, ¡°I have to get up early tomorrow, my flight¡¯s at nine. So I need to sleep shortly.¡± The flight was at eight, and it was only eleven now; it seemed like there was still time to make every minute count. But in reality, this wasn¡¯t Yancheng, where a one-hour drive was enough to get to the airport from home. Here in the mountain area, it would take almost three hours to reach the nearby small airport, and with the added need to check in early, she would have to leave by at least five. To guard against accidents, maybe she¡¯d need to set out as early as four-thirty. Updated by ?¡ðvG¡ð.c¡ð From now until four-thirty, she would only get a little more than five hours of sleep. Furthermore, the variety show she was filming required outdoor scenes and she would have to stay outside for several days. It was likely to include physically demanding tasks and would be quite exhausting. If she didn¡¯t get enough sleep or grew tired, she would definitely appear listless on the show. A stiff smile formed on Bo Yan¡¯s face; he hadn¡¯t expected Qin Baizhou to be so ruthless, putting his blissful life in jeopardy once again. But after feeling indignant and angry, he felt a bit heartbroken. Although he was an artist himself and knew that the life of an entertainer could sometimes be nomadic and intense. If Xia Siyu were not in this line of work, or was a bit lazier, he would surely say, ¡°Wife, let¡¯s quit this job and go home, I¡¯ll provide for you.¡± It was okay if he had to work hard, but it pained him to see his wife exhausted. But Xia Siyu loved her job and was very serious about her work ethic; she wouldn¡¯t allow him to interfere. So he considerately nodded, ¡°Then you should rest earlier, don¡¯t worry about anything else, what do you still need to do or prepare, I¡¯ll help you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve almost finished packing,¡± Xia Siyu yawned, changed into her pajamas, and they turned off the light and went to bed together. It was already autumn recently and the weather was cooling down. Especially in the mountain area, where there¡¯s less precipitation and the air is drier, so the difference in temperature between day and night was quite significant. When they first arrived, Bo Yan would hold her, and sometimes she would kick off the covers because it was too hot. But now when she got into bed, Bo Yan realized her hands and feet were a bit icy. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At such times, Xia Siyu was never shy. She would directly press her hands to his chest and rub her feet against his legs, using his warmth to heat herself up. Bo Yan didn¡¯t refuse her and even shifted slightly to make her more comfortable, arranging her so that she could rest in the most comfortable position. Updated by N¡ðvG¡ð.c¡ð They were pressed tightly together, and after a while, Xia Siyu almost felt something was off; his ¡°part¡± was pressing against her leg and seemed about to awaken. In the darkness, Xia Siyu slightly lifted her head and Bo Yan let out a wry smile, ¡°I¡¯ll go to the restroom first.¡± Bo Yan wasn¡¯t gone for long, Xia Siyu felt that he had washed his hands, his own a bit cold. But not too long after, it seemed his ¡°part¡± was again showing signs of revival. Now Xia Siyu was a bit displeased; this darned man, he really just needs to have his way with meat, doesn¡¯t he? Just as she had this thought, Bo Yan indeed shifted his body, as if he was about to make a move! Chapter 549 - 548 Disturbance (6) Chapter 549: Chapter 548 Disturbance (6) Xia Siyu waited here, closing her eyes and pretending to doze to watch his movements. Although their relationship had been harmonious lately, and she had begun to enjoy spending nights with him, she now had neither the time nor the energy for that. If Bo Yan insisted on having his way, she would give him a piece of her mind! She waited for a long time, and Bo Yan genuinely seemed restless, but he didn¡¯t get up. Instead, he endured it a bit, and after Xia Siyu seemed to ¡°fall asleep,¡± he gingerly pulled her off himself and slowly withdrew. Then, he cautiously got up, got out of bed, found his slippers, and went out. It took him more than ten minutes to return, and when he did, although he was extremely careful not to touch her, Xia Siyu felt that his fingertips were damp. That meant he had just taken another trip to the restroom. Xia Siyu knew all too well how eager Bo Yan was; ever since their first encounter, it was as if he had opened the door to a new world. He used to maintain a cold facade at all times, but now he had completely torn off that mask¡ªhe just couldn¡¯t wait to cling to her every moment. If it hadn¡¯t been for his own exhaustion the day before and the day before that, he probably would have made a move already. She had even thought he might take advantage of her while she was asleep. Unexpectedly, he had run off to the restroom instead¡ªnot just once, but twice. Updated by ?¡ðvG¡ð.c¡ð After that, Bo Yan apparently calmed down. He came back after a while and leaned closer, not daring to play with his favorite ¡°playdough.¡± Instead, he placed his hand properly on her shoulder. For some reason, Bo Yan¡¯s behavior struck her as somewhat funny. Looking utterly disheartened and afraid to make a move, she was actually tempted to tease him. But as much as she wanted to, there really wasn¡¯t enough time to even sleep, so Xia Siyu extinguished that thought. She boldly snuggled closer to him, rubbing her head under his chin, and settled into a comfortable position to fall asleep in his arms. After Xia Siyu fell asleep, Bo Yan held her tight and sighed softly. The wait wasn¡¯t long¡ªfor at four o¡¯clock, there was noise coming from next door. Bo Yan, who was a light sleeper, was the first to wake up. Xia Siyu was still deeply asleep when Bo Yan gently nudged her shoulder. She was slightly aware, but unwilling to get up, she hummed a sound of reluctance. If she didn¡¯t want to get up, then so be it; she probably planned to leave at four-thirty, so there was still time. He figured he could let her sleep for another ten minutes. Sure enough, at four-ten, there was a knock at the door, followed by Wei Jingjing¡¯s voice: ¡°Siyu, wake up.¡± Bo Yan woke up again, and Xia Siyu turned over, clearly unwilling to move. Bo Yan sighed and reluctantly said, ¡°Let her sleep for another five minutes.¡± Wei Jingjing nodded and stepped back. At 4:15, she came over again, and Xia Siyu frowned, beginning to rage without opening her eyes, ¡°You¡¯re so annoying! Can¡¯t I just change my flight?¡± Updated by N¡ðvG¡ð.c¡ð Regrettably, she was returning to Yancheng¡¯s small airport, where flights ran only once every two days; changing her ticket meant leaving tomorrow, which was simply too late. Wei Jingjing had experienced Xia Siyu¡¯s morning grumpiness before. It usually involved a lot of pleading and cajoling to finally get her up. Bo Yan was also speechless, sensing Wei Jingjing¡¯s anxiety outside the door. He could only say: ¡°You get ready first; I¡¯ll wake her up.¡± Actually, Xia Siyu was awake by now; she just didn¡¯t feel like moving. But Bo Yan had his ways. He leaned in and whispered in her ear, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to go, then don¡¯t get up. Let¡¯s continue what we didn¡¯t finish yesterday.¡± S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 550 - 549 Farewell (1) Chapter 550: Chapter 549 Farewell (1) He said as much, and did exactly that, reaching directly for the putty and beginning to knead it without any courtesy. Xia Siyu¡¯s eyebrows were furrowed tightly. She was truly tired, and she just didn¡¯t want to move. After all, it was just a small airport, and getting the boarding pass and going through security wouldn¡¯t take much time. It was less than three hours¡¯ drive to the airport from here, and since she was in first class, for a nine o¡¯clock flight, leaving at five would be perfectly fine. It was only four-fifteen now, and she had packed her things yesterday. If she slept for another half hour and took ten minutes to wash and dress, she would be able to leave. With the pandemic going on, she would have to wear a mask the whole time anyway, so there was no need for makeup, and she could do her skincare in the car; she just wanted to sleep a little longer. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But Bo Yan was making quite the fuss on his side. She could barely tolerate his kneading the putty with his hand, but in less than two minutes, that jerk actually began to use his mouth! He was busy with his teeth and wasn¡¯t idle with his hands either, moving down and reaching the edge of her panties, caressing and hovering as if truly waiting for the opportunity to go deeper. Xia Siyu immediately woke up and pushed him away as soon as she did, ¡°Are you a dog or something!¡± Updated by ?¡ðvG¡ð.c¡ð Bo Yan wasn¡¯t really trying to start anything; he was just using this tactic to wake her up, which never failed. ¡°Alright, I know you¡¯re angry, but this is a small airport, and there¡¯s only one flight every two days. What if something happens on the way? This is mountainous terrain, so you need to drive carefully. You can sleep more in the car or on the plane. Just don¡¯t miss the flight.¡± Actually, he was the one who least wanted Xia Siyu to leave. With her departure, she would be returning to Qin Baizhou¡¯s side. Even though Xia Siyu had no interest in him, which man would like his significant other to be around a romantic rival? Even if it was just purely for work, it still bothered him. But there was no help for it; he was an adult and understood the importance of work and responsibility. Xia Siyu knew it too. After getting up and letting out a yawn, she also started preparing to get dressed and wash up. At this time, it wasn¡¯t even light out yet, and the small courtyard was already bustling. Since she had packed the night before, she just needed to wash up, dress, and take a little care of her skin before leaving. Fifteen minutes later, Xia Siyu was all set. She left, and Bo Yan got up as well. He could have used the opportunity to sleep in, but he wanted to take every chance to look at her before she left. Little Tang and Wei Jingjing also got up. Little Tang went to start the car, and Wei Jingjing helped her with the luggage. As soon as her things were taken away, Xia Siyu turned back. However, she wasn¡¯t coming back to say goodbye to Bo Yan but to grab her phone. Bo Yan, aware of this, laughed as she returned, ¡°Did you forget something?¡± Xia Siyu, without even lifting her head, searched the room, ¡°My phone.¡± Updated by N¡ðvG¡ð.c¡ð After finding it beneath her pajamas, she picked it up and was ready to leave. ¡°Wait, you forgot something else.¡± Bo Yan called from behind, and sure enough, Xia Siyu stopped, ¡°What? The charger?¡± It wasn¡¯t a big deal if she didn¡¯t bring it; she could always buy another one when she got back to Yancheng. Bo Yan shook his head, then took a few steps closer, wrapped his arms around her waist, and pulled her to his side, ¡°You forgot to kiss me goodbye.¡± Then, tilting his head slightly, he kissed her lightly. As he kissed her, Wei Jingjing had already prepared her luggage and was about to call her back. She took a couple of steps and saw the two embraced, kissing at the doorstep. Wei Jingjing, very tactful, quickly retreated and then got into the car first, telling Little Tang, ¡°I think our Siyu is about to get married soon.¡± Chapter 551 - 550 Farewell (2) Chapter 551: Chapter 550 Farewell (2) Xia Siyu was like a kite, but Bo Yan just happened to be the one holding her string, able to tightly tie her to his side. No matter how much she resisted at first, with her intelligence, she would never get over Bo Yan¡¯s Five Finger Mountain in this lifetime. After a prolonged deep kiss, Xia Siyu really did get fiery: ¡°Stop it, don¡¯t make me late!¡± sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bo Yan¡¯s lips curved slightly: ¡°Yeah, I want you to be late for the rest of your life.¡± Xia Siyu exploded instantly: ¡°Keep dreaming! I knew you were up to no good!¡± Bo Yan touched his nose to hers: ¡°Since you know, then come back early.¡± Xia Siyu quickly broke free from his hold and stuffed her phone into her pocket: ¡°In your dreams. You can be by yourself. I¡¯m leaving!¡± Bo Yan didn¡¯t chase after her, but as she was about to leave, he called out again: ¡°Xia Siyu.¡± ¡°What!¡± Xia Siyu turned around indignantly, keeping a certain distance from him. Updated by ?¡ð????G¡ð.c¡ð Bo Yan smiled: ¡°Have a safe trip.¡± Xia Siyu ¡°hmphed¡± and walked away in her high heels. Wei Jingjing noticed that after she got into the car, despite looking angry, her brow and eyes were relaxed, clearly enjoying herself. Turning back, Bo Yan was already standing at the doorway, with a look of longing that was simply like the Husband Waiting Stone. In fact, during this period, Qin Baizhou had also messaged her to pay attention to the situation between Bo Yan and Xia Siyu. Wei Jingjing shook her head internally; Qin, just forget it. If it weren¡¯t Bo Yan but any other man, perhaps he might have stood a chance. But this man was Bo Yan, who had an advantage over Qin Baizhou in every aspect; what could he possibly use to compete? More importantly, Xia Siyu, who had been resolutely resistant, seemed to be falling too. Like now, for instance. Bo Yan stood at the doorway for a long time, until the car drove away. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t look back, nor did she roll down the window to say goodbye to him. This heartless woman really just left like that, not even giving him a glance. But that was okay. If she wouldn¡¯t take the initiative, then he would just have to be more diligent. Xia Siyu was in the car, and though she was very sleepy when she woke up, after showering and getting ready, she was quite alert. As soon as the car started moving, her phone rang, with a message from Bo Yan. ¡°Have a safe trip.¡± Xia Siyu responded pretentiously: ¡°Didn¡¯t you just send that?¡± Not at all touched by the gesture. Bo Yan could even imagine the impatient expression on her face through the tone of her voice. He chuckled and replied: ¡°I will miss you.¡± Xia Siyu uttered an ¡°Oh¡± and retorted: ¡°Then go to sleep, dreams have everything.¡± Bo Yan laughed again: ¡°Work hard. I¡¯ll wait for you to come back.¡± Xia Siyu looked at her phone, not sure how to respond for a moment. It took her a while to answer: ¡°Then you¡¯re in for a long wait.¡± At least a week! He had waited seven years, what was another week to him? But, he quite mood-killingly added: ¡°You¡¯ll have to go on a diet after you come back; you¡¯ve been gaining weight recently.¡± When she was with Bo Yan, Bo Yan wished nothing more than to fatten her up a bit, as female celebrities, in order to look good on camera, are actually very thin when they take off their clothes. Director Sun had no specific demands regarding her weight, as long as it wasn¡¯t unsightly, he could accept it. Plus, this place had Xia Siyu¡¯s favorite lamb, which she could eat a plate of every day. Xia Siyu finally got furious at this point in the script, with a majestic air she sent a ¡°SCRAM!!!!¡± along with four exclamation points. Chapter 552 - 551 Farewell (3) Chapter 552: Chapter 551 Farewell (3) But you can¡¯t deny, Bo Yan¡¯s words had diluted her morning grogginess and the gloom of parting. She had slept all the way to the airport and then another three hours on the plane, and by the time she landed in Yancheng, she was fully awake. But as soon as she exited the airport, the person there to meet her was Qin Baizhou. The moment she saw Qin Baizhou, she remembered the time he had suddenly confessed his feelings to her. Although she had rejected him immediately, seeing him again still caused a subtle shift in her heart. Some things, like a piece of paper that¡¯s been punctured, can never return to their original state. Even if she pretended nothing had happened, her heart could no longer revert to what it had been. For instance, although she was not as close to Qin Baizhou as she was to Wei Jingjing, she would have shared certain things with him in the past. But now, she unconsciously held back, especially regarding her private life. Where she would have once made sure to inform Qin Baizhou, she now didn¡¯t want to mention a single detail. Qin Baizhou saw her, his smile unwavering, ¡°You¡¯ve arrived, let¡¯s go.¡± After he spoke, he didn¡¯t approach to greet her as he had done before, to help her with her coat or to guide her with a hand on her back. He probably knew that stepping back slightly was appropriate to avoid any suspicion. They all got into the car, and Qin Baizhou didn¡¯t sit beside her. The MPV had plenty of space, and he chose a seat facing her, then instructed, ¡°This episode of the variety show is a special extended edition¡ªWe will be filming content for two episodes in one. Thus, there will be more guests than before. Moreover, there are arrangements for tonight¡¯s hotel stay. It¡¯s now twelve-thirty in the afternoon; we¡¯ll go have lunch and rest for a bit. After makeup and changing clothes, we¡¯ll check into the hotel arranged by the production team. So, my assistant has brought some of your clothes and belongings. I hope you don¡¯t mind.¡± Updated by ?¡ð????G¡ð.c¡ð He was usually gentle, but never this polite. However, this formality was probably the best way for Xia Siyu to handle their relationship. She didn¡¯t object and simply nodded, ¡°I¡¯ll go with your arrangements.¡± Qin Baizhou smiled, now looking at her intently, ¡°You seem to have gotten quite stronger recently.¡± Xia Siyu, although she had also exercised in the past and even had a personal trainer¡ªboxing included¡ªworked out only to maintain her figure. Due to work, she couldn¡¯t work out every day, so while her muscles were a bit tighter than the average person¡¯s, she was far from being called strong. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But these days, even though she ate a lot, she also engaged in a fair amount of physical activity. Not to mention the daily grind of pumping water and plowing the field, she had to pick firewood and walk several kilometers of mountain roads. Wei Jingjing would feel sorry for her and want to help, but she refused, accepting assistance from Bo Yan only when she truly couldn¡¯t manage on her own. After half a month, she had indeed become more robust. Xia Siyu nodded, ¡°That¡¯s right, I have been quite busy with daily chores; it¡¯s been quite fulfilling.¡± Concerned about misunderstandings, Wei Jingjing quickly clarified, ¡°Siyu has been milling, fetching water, harvesting corn and wheat¡ªall by herself. She¡¯s so tired during the day that she rests early in the evening.¡± Her implication was clear: there wasn¡¯t much time for her to get overly close with Bo Yan. Qin Baizhou caught her meaning but pretended not to, continuing with a smile, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then next time the cornmeal and wheat flour in our house will have to rely on you. Let everyone taste your handiwork.¡± The atmosphere lightened, and Xia Siyu let down her guard. Chapter 553 - 552 Farewell (4) Chapter 553: Chapter 552 Farewell (4) After all, they had known each other for seven years, and she trusted his character. Once the calm was restored in the car, Qin Baizhou turned to send a message, seemingly discussing work. Xia Siyu paid no attention, having spent too long in the mountains, which, although free, really lacked the bustle of Yancheng. She gazed out at the passing scenery, completely oblivious to Qin Baizhou¡¯s cellphone. Had it not been for thorough investigation, he would never have imagined that Xia Siyu could be the wealthy daughter of the Xia Family! After meeting with Zhou Weiwei last time, he followed the thread, looking into the relationship between Xia Sicai and Xia Ju¡¯an. Xia Ju¡¯an was relatively low-key, barely participating in any events beyond necessary company and social interactions. But Xia Sicai resembled her mother a lot. Mrs. Tong was versatile in social situations, and she too enjoyed various salons and parties. Especially after marrying Bo Yi, the couple loved to show off. Although they definitely did not have the star power of Xia Siyu and Bo Yan, they were quite well-known in the upper-class circles of Yancheng. Of course, their renown was limited to their own circle. This circle didn¡¯t easily accept outsiders. To them, the typical popular stars were mere playthings, accessories to show off. No matter how much money the influencers made, these were tycoons with fortunes of tens or hundreds of billions, owning shares in companies. The stars were simply there to make money for them. To be esteemed by this particular group, even for the likes of Bo Yan and Xia Siyu, was challenging unless their invested companies went public and they could cash in a large sum of money. Qin Baizhou only started mingling with these people because Huixing Entertainment was about to go public. Otherwise, he would have been clueless about these matters. Once he entered their circle and paid a little attention, Xia Siyu¡¯s affairs were instantly known to him. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Updated by ?¡ð????G¡ð.c¡ð Despite her discretion, and the Xia Family¡¯s silence on her identity, whispers still leaked out; whether it was when she left Bo Yan seven years ago, or the commotion at the Xia Family residence when she married Bo Yan three years ago. When Qin Baizhou received confirmation, he was stunned. He had suspected that Xia Siyu came from a well-off family, but he had not imagined it to be this prominent¡­ The Xia Family¡¯s furniture brand was one of the top three domestic furniture enterprises. From its inception, the company had stood firm for decades, a truly grand family legacy. He also learned that originally Bo Yan was dating Xia Sicai and only entered the entertainment industry after Xia Sicai married his cousin¡ªessentially being stripped of his inheritance rights. But whether it was one or the other, their relationship was due to family reasons. No wonder Xia Siyu, despite her disdain for Bo Yan, did not leave him and even lived with him, sinking deeper as time passed. Sometimes, ¡°matching social statuses¡± proved to be shackles in a marriage, as well as a threshold. Without this status, no matter how excellent one might be, they couldn¡¯t breach the marriage stronghold. However, Qin Baizhou¡¯s probe this time did not uncover the matters concerning Xia Siyu¡¯s mother, Wen Qunxiao, nor the fact that she and Bo Yan were married. Both the Xia Family and the Bo Family kept a tight lid on these issues, especially since the marriage between Wen Qunxiao and Xia Youbiao was registered overseas, with no marital records at home, followed by a long period of living abroad. Back then, her scandalous reputation was something the Xia Family elders wished to avoid at all costs, reluctant to even touch the topic, let alone acknowledge their marriage. Suddenly, Qin Baizhou thought of something: Could Xia Siyu be an illegitimate child? Was her involvement with Bo Yan just a means to seek legitimacy? Chapter 554 - 553 Farewell (5) Chapter 554: Chapter 553 Farewell (5) She was not short of money or fame, yet the Xia Family wouldn¡¯t acknowledge her presence; it must be due to a problem with her birth, and the associated news about her was unsavory. That¡¯s why she was desperately trying to win the Best Actress award, enduring distaste to continue dating Bo Yan. Frankly, it was all to gain the family¡¯s approval. What about himself? Although he was now one of the partners, Huixing had become a company with substantial influence in the entertainment industry, but until the day the company went public, and he was able to liquidate his shares, he wouldn¡¯t have the right or the confidence to compete with Bo Yan. To be accepted by such a wealthy family that spanned generations, one must either be extremely capable or extremely rich. Huixing was in the process of going public; this was an opportunity. Once he could successfully finance an IPO and liquidate his shares, he would have the standing, a position even higher and farther than Bo Yan¡¯s. So, he was not in a rush. Feeling that he had a grasp on all the intelligence, Qin Baizhou relaxed. For now, the most important thing was to stabilize Xia Siyu¡¯s emotions; at the very least, he couldn¡¯t let her leave his side. Besides, the company needed to go public as soon as possible. Getting that ticket to wealth was the key; afterward, he would be qualified to compete for her. Thankfully, Huixing had already registered with the Securities Regulatory Commission since last year, and if nothing unexpected happened, they should pass the annual review by the end of this year. At the earliest, they could go public at the beginning of the next year. Updated by ?¡ð????G¡ð.c¡ð At that time, Xia Siyu would also be renewing her contract. He had thought it through. Although Xia Siyu had verbally agreed to renew her contract, she hadn¡¯t signed it yet; could she be waiting for the company to distribute pre-IPO shares before going public? Earning money by renewing contracts was a small matter, but if she could exchange for pre-IPO shares, that would translate into capital worth hundreds of millions. If he were to compete with Bo Yan at that time, and he could release her from her shackles, he would of course be willing to share everything he had with her. He even had a feeling that he was like the knight who came to rescue her from her torments. He would certainly help her become famous, help her advance further, and stand taller with more confidence! ** Xia Siyu had no idea about his considerations. True to his plan, Qin Baizhou had the car drive them to a restaurant first, settling down in a quiet and secluded abode for lunch. After lunch, there wasn¡¯t enough time to head home, so they drove off. The shoot for the variety show was located in a small town near Yancheng¡ªit was a three-hour drive. After the bumpy ride to the location, a dedicated makeup artist was there to assist with her makeup. After arriving at the site, they even shot a set of advertisements. Having been away for half a month, Xia Siyu was indeed unfamiliar with how to behave like a celebrity. No matter where she went, people crowded around her. She used to cope with it fine, but now, coming back to it, she felt like an animal in a zoo. Thankfully, she was a more controversial figure than a popular one, with not too many fans, and she had never liked doing things like organizing fan meetings, so there weren¡¯t many fans coming to see her. Even so, it wasn¡¯t as free and easy as it was in the Northwest. On the contrary, Qin Baizhou had always been behind the scenes, and only recently had he emerged into the spotlight by participating in this variety show. Once he was in the spotlight, with his good looks and broad knowledge, he quickly attracted a following of fans. One time, when he was negotiating business with a client outside, passersby recognized him and even wanted to take photos for remembrance. This feeling of being known and affirmed by others was like an addictive poison. He began to enjoy the sensation of being the center of attention, and some businesses even approached him for collaborations. This advertisement was shot as a pair with Xia Siyu. He was the male lead in the advert, and Xia Siyu was the female lead. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 555 - 554: Farewell (6) Chapter 555: Chapter 554: Farewell (6) These things, Xia Siyu and Bo Yan were quite used to, but for Qin Baizhou, it was definitely a new experience. The feeling of being the center of attention greatly satisfied one¡¯s vanity, and he did indeed feel a bit on cloud nine. Although he had done photo shoots for headshots before, shooting an advertisement wasn¡¯t like the finance magazines where a bit of makeup and a snap were enough, it required tension and imagination. Xia Siyu was exceedingly familiar with this; a single reminder from the photographer, and she could quickly get into the right pose and record her lines. But Qin Baizhou was naturally a bit nervous, and several individual shots were not up to par. As time seemed to stand still, the problem was, although they were already at the location for the variety show, such a delay was not good. Qin Baizhou suggested, ¡°How about we do the joint shoot first, then the individual ones?¡± The photographer glanced at Xia Siyu, who didn¡¯t object. However, he thought, if you can¡¯t even take a decent solo photo, now you want to do a joint shoot and delay things even more, won¡¯t that cause Xia Siyu to be late as well? Yet Xia Siyu didn¡¯t mind; after all, her individual shots were already done. If it¡¯s for an advertisement, then let it be an advertisement. The shoot was for a milk advertisement, emphasizing green, healthy, eco-friendly, and efficient concepts. But regardless of the concept, since it was a man and a woman shooting together, there would definitely be some physical contact. Like back to back, or holding hands. Or lying on the ground, head to head. Shooting an advertisement was a piece of cake for Xia Siyu. Such food-related commercials didn¡¯t require as strict requirements for makeup or attire as luxury cosmetics or fashion. Her hair was naturally down; she wore a white base dress with green trim, and Qin Baizhou was styled similarly, simple white with green. Updated by ?¡ð????G¡ð.c¡ð For this fifteen-second clip, there wasn¡¯t much that needed to be recorded. Like him smiling as he softly pressed the milk against her face, then handing it to her. Or him sitting at a desk working, while Xia Siyu warmed up the milk and brought it over. Two simple scenes, after all, the background was all green screen, everything would be edited later. However, considering Qin Baizhou couldn¡¯t even handle the simple solo shots before, and since he was the boss, not some small celebrity, the photographer couldn¡¯t scold him. He only pointed out a few key elements: ¡°The background is imaginary, but act like this is the office, and she is your capable subordinate, good friend, with a bit of intimacy. When you press the milk to her face, smile, but don¡¯t try too hard, just keep it natural. The sound can be dubbed later.¡± Qin Baizhou nodded, the photographer looked at the advertising director, who also nodded: ¡°Roll it.¡± Everyone thought that Qin Baizhou would take a very long time, but surprisingly, when he faced Xia Siyu, the camera immediately captured a look of genuine joy, not the deliberate fake smile, but a joy that came from within. He then got closer, this time not stepping out of frame, and even tried to lean very close to Xia Siyu, using the milk to gently touch her face. When Xia Siyu turned her head, because they were so close, she was truly almost startled, but quickly realized they were filming an ad, and her expression of alarm instantly turned into one of surprise, then she took the milk and sipped it with a full smile. ¡°Cut!¡± It was the advertising director who spoke, the photographer wrapped up, and even they didn¡¯t expect Qin Baizhou to do well in the first take. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But there was a problem again, this time with the photographer, who timidly raised his hand: ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t get that recorded, can we do another take?¡± Chapter 556 - 555 Missing Him (1) Chapter 556: Chapter 555 Missing Him (1) ¡°` If it were anyone else, a couple of curses would suffice, but Qin Baizhou was different. They were short on time, and moreover, Qin Baizhou simply could not pose. This delay could mean that even grinding out a day¡¯s effort might not cut it. Wasn¡¯t this asking for trouble? The advertising director was livid, nearly at the point of hitting him. If they missed today, they¡¯d have to schedule another separate time, and who knows how long that might drag on. But if the footage wasn¡¯t captured, it wasn¡¯t captured. What could they do? They could only continue. Qin Baizhou, however, was good-natured: ¡°Let¡¯s just shoot.¡± Since he said it was okay, Xia Siyu naturally had no objections either. The two of them struck their poses and began filming again. This time, just like the previous shot, Qin Baizhou naturally appeared joyful as soon as he was near her. His eyes, unwavering, were fixed on her, conveying a very intimate feeling. There was no need for modeling poses or pretense, he was just naturally close and naturally joyful. Sure enough, they quickly finished this shot as well. They struck while the iron was hot and also completed the shot where Xia Siyu hands Qin Baizhou the milk. Anyway, as long as he faced her, Qin Baizhou immediately excelled. After they finished these two joint shots, it was time to take solo pictures. The advertising director even jokingly said, ¡°It seems Mr. Qin has gotten used to how shooting works. Let¡¯s aim to pass this quickly too.¡± Updated by ?¡ð????G¡ð.c¡ð But when they started on the solo shots, Qin Baizhou froze again. What were they to do? As the variety show was about to begin filming, Qin Baizhou tried various poses under the photographer¡¯s direction. But whether it was too stiff or too contorted, none of the poses looked good. The director was helpless, and Xia Siyu had finished her shooting tasks early and was sitting off to the side, eating her dinner¡ªa vegetable salad. As the final minutes ticked by, the photographer was left with no option but to say, ¡°Mr. Qin, if it¡¯s not working, we¡¯ll have to ask you to come back in a few days.¡± He wasn¡¯t like Xia Siyu. Although busy, he certainly wouldn¡¯t handle his time like Xia Siyu did¡ªher time was money, and every minute and second had to be calculated in terms of cash. Qin Baizhou, with a good-natured smile, apologized: ¡°Sorry, it¡¯s my fault for holding everyone back.¡± S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As they prepared to wrap up, Xia Siyu got up: ¡°Is it almost over?¡± She had been eating a lot of meat and fish recently, and when she returned, Qin Baizhou had called her ¡°sturdy,¡± which really just meant she had gotten ¡°robust.¡± For a female star, unless it was muscle sculpted beautifully through exercise, ¡°sturdiness¡± was even more terrifying than ¡°fat¡± because it was harder to lose. In the evenings, she could only eat greens, and it was the kind of greens that couldn¡¯t accommodate any salad dressing. Xia Siyu ate a whole bowl of it, especially devouring the chopped chicken pieces without leaving a single one, almost to the point of licking the bowl clean. Wei Jingjing nodded: ¡°Yes, Brother Qin is about to take his last shot.¡± Xia Siyu nodded, elegantly wiping her mouth with a napkin as if she hadn¡¯t just been the one nearly licking the plate. She stood up and walked to the back of the monitor to watch them shoot. Over there, Qin Baizhou was being filmed. The moment his gaze landed on her, his expression immediately relaxed. The photographer was startled and quickly snapped ¡®click-click-click¡¯ several times while asking Qin Baizhou to switch poses. He moved slightly, and although he didn¡¯t pose exactly as the photographer had instructed, all his movements were natural. Luckily, Xia Siyu was standing right behind the photographer, and he kept his eyes on her. His gaze followed her, and the photographer didn¡¯t seem overly surprised. On the contrary, his eyes shone brightly. Even with the lighting not perfectly in place, his expressions naturally exuded joy. The commercial was completed, a close call averted. By the time the commercial shooting was done and they were ready to record the variety show, it was already nine in the evening. Chapter 557 - 556: Missing Him (2) Chapter 557: Chapter 556: Missing Him (2) If the time had been earlier, Qin Baizhou would have probably suggested going out for a meal or grabbing a drink somewhere. But unexpectedly, he had been delayed for too long. With the variety show demanding their presence at ten o¡¯clock, he was very regretful that he couldn¡¯t go out. However, it was okay, as there were still three or four days at his disposal to spend time with Xia Siyu. Moreover, for this shoot, since it was a special episode, although assistants were present, they couldn¡¯t stay too close, lest they affect the filming. This meant he had plenty of time to be alone with Xia Siyu¡ªhe had to make good use of this opportunity! ¡°Sorry, it was my fault for delaying everyone¡¯s time. After we finish recording the show, I¡¯ll treat everyone to a good meal,¡± he said. As Wei Jingjing and Little Tang¡¯s boss, they naturally nodded their heads in anxious agreement. Xia Siyu, on the other hand, was indifferent. Having something to eat would definitely make her happy: ¡°Sure, let¡¯s find a nice restaurant.¡± Her face was devoid of any schemes and full of joy¡ªthe intimacy he desired wasn¡¯t there, but it was the best situation he had achieved so far. After all, no matter how much he and Bo Yan fought, he still hoped Xia Siyu could be happy. ¡°Sure, but you have to diet first,¡± he retorted. With that comment, Xia Siyu¡¯s spirits immediately dampened. Dieting for an artist meant sweating profusely on a treadmill. But most importantly, it required curbing one¡¯s appetite, leaving one to consume nothing but salads. Updated by ?¡ð????G¡ð.c¡ð Qin Baizhou certainly wanted Xia Siyu to be comfortable, but seeing her expression, he still said, ¡°For artists¡ªno, for humans¡ªthe most important quality is restraint. To gain something, you must first lose something. How about this? I¡¯ll have the nutritionist prepare more low-calorie lean meats for you to make your diet richer.¡± Xia Siyu was well aware that she had let herself go recently in the Northwest. She had a constitution that was prone to water retention, so eating just a little more time could easily lead to weight gain. For a female artist, her face was her greatest asset in dominating the entertainment industry. It was only because Director Sun had no strict demands on her body shape and appearance, and with Bo Yan indulging her, that she had allowed herself some excess. But Bo Yan wouldn¡¯t intentionally harm her; being an artist himself, he knew the importance of maintaining one¡¯s physique. Although he let her eat meat freely, he still controlled the intake of oil and salt, allowing only lean meat. Xia Siyu¡¯s palate had become quite spoiled. When talking about low-calorie meats, it actually meant just chicken breast and fish. Even slightly fattier options like chicken thighs and salmon were off-limits. Seeing Xia Siyu¡¯s still displeased expression, Qin Baizhou could only coax her: ¡°I¡¯m doing this for your own good. One must endure hardships to become superior. Only those who are irresponsible towards your life and your career would indulge you.¡± After Qin Baizhou said this, not only Xia Siyu but even Wei Jingjing couldn¡¯t help but glance sideways at him. She thought that after her return, with Qin Baizhou¡¯s gentle demeanor and no mention of ¡°Bo Yan,¡± he might have given up on this relationship. But as soon as he spoke, there was an unintentional hint of jealousy. It was only when Qin Baizhou saw her frown that he changed his tune: ¡°Alright, you can eat meat, both red and white, but you should choose lean cuts. However, there¡¯s a trade-off: if you eat more protein, the amount of carbohydrates provided will be slightly reduced.¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s expression finally brightened a little. The topic of the meal was quickly set aside. Qin Baizhou was smiling on the outside, but inside he felt a shock. How long had she been with Bo Yan, and her heart had already leaned his way again? S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 558 - 557: Missing Him (3) Chapter 558: Chapter 557: Missing Him (3) ¡°` Before there was professional planning and work, now it¡¯s lifestyle, diet, and everyday details. He managed Xia Siyu, of course, for her own good, to help her maintain her figure and beauty. Bo Yan, however, didn¡¯t need to be responsible for Xia Siyu¡¯s career. Perhaps from the perspective of a wealthy family that values ¡°good upbringing,¡± female celebrities in the entertainment industry could collectively be considered long-lived. Being slightly overweight didn¡¯t affect everyday beauty but certainly impacted how one looked on camera. His seven years of nurturing and supporting Xia Siyu were ultimately stolen by Bo Yan with just a few pieces of meat¡ªwhom could he complain to about this? He couldn¡¯t let them continue to develop their relationship. He must cut it off. If he let Bo Yan indulge further, it would not only ruin Xia Siyu¡¯s feelings but also her career! ** The group checked into the hotel arranged by the show¡¯s crew and were informed that there might be activities that night, so they needed to be on call at all times. Then Wei Jingjing and Little Tang waited on the side while he and Xia Siyu took part in a pre-interview. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Me and the Manager¡± featured one of its major attractions: interviews with artists and their managers before each activity, with both pre- and post-event interviews. Some were individual, and others were joint. Updated by ?¡ð????G¡ð.c¡ð This time it was a joint interview with him and Xia Siyu. Since it was an interview and a part of a variety show, it certainly wouldn¡¯t be the serious back-and-forth of a hard-hitting talk show but would include many playful elements that the audience hoped to see about the private life between a big star and their artist. For example, they were asked the same question, ¡°What do you think is the best thing you bring to the other person?¡± Qin Baizhou, who was used to speaking publicly, smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s a clear plan, accurate positioning, and the same discipline day in and day out for seven years.¡± If it weren¡¯t for the context, perhaps no one would have guessed that in saying this, he was actually still expressing his discontent with Bo Yan. Xia Siyu, obviously oblivious, answered more bluntly, ¡°My face.¡± Sister relies on her face to make a living. Her face is worth hundreds of millions, and with her beauty, she is the company¡¯s cash cow. The second question from the crew was, ¡°What is one thing about the other person that you find intolerable, that doesn¡¯t sit well with you?¡± This was clearly meant to stir trouble, deliberately provoking conflict. Moreover, the artist and the manager had to answer on the spot. Qin Baizhou glanced at Xia Siyu and laughed, ¡°She¡¯s too beautiful.¡± This seemed like an official answer. Xia Siyu was very beautiful, and because she was too beautiful, it brought trouble. For example, no matter how she acted, people saw only her beauty and not her acting skills. For instance, many men pursued her, and quite a few women disliked her. But upon deeper thought, this could also be seen as a bittersweet sentiment from a man towards the woman he is pursuing. Because she is too beautiful, she has many suitors, and he feels uneasy as he can¡¯t focus solely on her. However, Xia Siyu obviously didn¡¯t pick up on this. After thinking for a moment, she said, ¡°He won¡¯t let me eat meat!¡± In the world of a food lover, eating is most important. In their seven years of working together, what she found most unacceptable, aside from dieting, was choosing scripts. To vie for ¡°Spring Light,¡± she and Qin Baizhou rarely disagreed strongly. But after she forcefully took the role, she no longer dwelled on these issues and focused on eating. After this statement, Qin Baizhou should have simply laughed it off. But instead, he kept thinking of Bo Yan, and facing Xia Siyu¡¯s straightforward words, he could only smile and say, ¡°I do it for your own good.¡± ¡°` Chapter 559 - 558 Missing Him (4) Chapter 559: Chapter 558 Missing Him (4) This sentence was later accompanied by subtitles that read ¡°Diligent and devoted father.¡± It seemed like Qin Baizhou was making plans, fulfilling the duties of an agent. The audience also found it amusing to watch. However, if viewed from the perspective of the sexes, it was a manifestation of a desire to control. Although Xia Siyu was slow to catch on, after Qin Baizhou¡¯s confession, their relationship subtly changed without them realizing it. Even if Qin Baizhou acted nonchalant, and even if Xia Siyu believed him when he said, ¡°My liking you is my own business and doesn¡¯t require your response,¡± the change wasn¡¯t in their physical relationship, but in their mentality. While Xia Siyu claimed to have a P-friend relationship with Bo Yan, she wouldn¡¯t accept Qin Baizhou, and would ignore his advances. The more he approached, the more she would retreat. As for Qin Baizhou, no matter what he did, he would always think of her and Bo Yan, constantly tormented by uncertainty. Xia Siyu might not have noticed at the time, but as time passed, she would inevitably sense the difference and grow more distant. After finishing the interview, she and Qin Baizhou returned to their hotel room. From the moment the interview began, the following camera was ever-present. Xia Siyu had gotten used to being filmed, and although she initially felt some resistance when they returned, it had become muscle memory for her. She also guessed that since they were notified of evening recording, they wouldn¡¯t be allowed to sleep comfortably; something was bound to happen. As expected, the prank from the show¡¯s crew arrived soon after. At four in the morning, when people are in deep sleep, new guest stars knocked on the doors of each resident guest, and the first to visit Xia Siyu. The crew probably knew that Xia Siyu was a tough cookie and a highlight of the program, relying on her to boost viewer ratings by stirring trouble. Unexpectedly, the guest who disturbed the others, including Qin Baizhou, seemed somewhat disheveled after being woken up, unlike their usual composed selves, not tidied up at all. Updated by ?¡ð????G¡ð.c¡ð Only Xia Siyu was different; she had double-locked her door, pulled the chain, put on earplugs and an eye mask, turned off her phone, and skilfully switched off the microphone. She even left only one camera on, which could barely capture the foot of the bed. These actions were reminiscent of what she did in Sicily. Someone knocked on her door, but she didn¡¯t hear or see anything. After about ten minutes of knocking without any response from inside, the guest star had no choice but to wake up the others. Eventually, everyone gathered in front of her door, and naturally, Qin Baizhou was there too. By that time, it was past five in the morning, the sky beginning to brighten. Fearing others might again misinterpret Xia Siyu as being ¡°pretentious,¡± Qin Baizhou took it upon himself to call her. But as he raised his hand to knock, the door opened on its own. As Xia Siyu stepped out and saw the group of guests outside, she remained calm, ¡°Good morning, what¡¯s for breakfast?¡± S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Good morning, what good morning? They were all up already, and she was the last to rise! Luckily, Xia Siyu didn¡¯t wear makeup, appearing bare-faced on camera, which at least saved some face for the production team. Qin Baizhou offered her his arm, and while doing so, didn¡¯t miss the chance to throw shade at Bo Yan, ¡°You must be exhausted from filming in the Northwest lately. That¡¯s why you slept so deeply and didn¡¯t hear the knocking.¡± Xia Siyu didn¡¯t pick up on his words; she was accustomed to being straightforward, ¡°No, I¡¯ve been getting up around this time lately. There¡¯s not much to do in the village, so I usually go to sleep at nine.¡± While the others were still laughing and joking, Qin Baizhou was still pondering. If she slept at nine, then she and Bo Yan wouldn¡¯t have much time to interact, right? Chapter 560 - 559 Missing Him (5) Chapter 560: Chapter 559 Missing Him (5) ¡°` He knew he was a bit pathological, but ever since Bo Yan had ostentatiously taken Xia Siyu¡¯s hand in front of him, a sense of imbalance had begun to brew inside him. On one hand, he was desperately trying to catch up, wanting to go public a day sooner to earn the right to compete with Bo Yan. On the other hand, he was determined to keep Xia Siyu close by grasping onto her, whether through a contract or by other means. He and Xia Siyu had previously coexisted without issues partly because she didn¡¯t have a very clear career plan. Earning money while still young, easily dominating the trending searches with her online presence and topicality, there was nothing wrong with that. But when she developed a distinct need for acting skills, conflicts with Qin Baizhou were inevitable. Without Bo Yan around, the contradictions between them would gradually surface. They were fine when living in peace, but once a conflict arose, he would try hard to control her, trying to pull her back to his side. The more he did this, the more he would provoke Xia Siyu¡¯s aversion. The feeling became even more pronounced when Wang Zisu was the next guest to arrive. As soon as Wang Zisu arrived, she didn¡¯t care about the other guests and immediately rushed to embrace Xia Siyu, ¡°Sister Siyu, I¡¯ve missed you so much!¡± Ever since that variety show, Wang Zisu and Xia Siyu had kept in touch and maintained a good relationship. Moreover, Wang Zisu had expressed her admiration for Xia Siyu on several occasions, even saying that Siyu was her ideal type. As these two got closer, Bo Yan was a bit jealous usually but understood that the two of them were an impossibility. However, now in front of Qin Baizhou, yet another youngster had expressed their affection for Xia Siyu, he did feel, slightly uncomfortable. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Updated by ?¡ð????G¡ð.c¡ð His response was to reach out his hand for a handshake with Wang Zisu, ¡°Hello, nice to meet you, I¡¯m Qin Baizhou. Xia Siyu¡¯s agent.¡± ¡°Oh, hello.¡± Wang Zisu nodded, said her greetings, then immediately turned back to keep chatting and laughing with Xia Siyu, ¡°I finally convinced my sister to join this program with me just because I knew I would meet you. How¡¯s Bo doing? I heard you two have been filming together recently.¡± As soon as Bo Yan was mentioned, Xia Siyu¡¯s expression instantly soured, and she stiffly replied, ¡°Not good!¡± Hmph, that bastard, he had professed his affection for her over and over. Yet, since she left yesterday until now, a full twenty-four hours had passed, and he hadn¡¯t sent her a single message. What affection or missing her, it was all fake, wasn¡¯t it? If he truly missed her, she was already gone, and he hadn¡¯t even reached out on WeChat. At this moment, her undisguised annoyance towards Bo Yan was actually well aligned with her public image of disliking Bo, so it was of no issue. Xia Siyu asked him, ¡°What about Zhou Weiwei? Why didn¡¯t she come with you?¡± Zhou Weiwei and Wang Zisu were from the same agency and their activities were usually bundled together, which had happened several times before. Before Wang Zisu could reply, Qin Baizhou, who was beside them, coughed, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s rejoin the group. We can talk about these things later.¡± Zhou Weiwei might not have come because she had other engagements, which was quite common among artists. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t ask further and returned with Wang Zisu to the group to continue the program. However, before switching scenes, Xia Siyu went to the restroom and received a phone call from Bo Yan. What, now in broad daylight, he thinks to contact her? Why didn¡¯t he call yesterday? Xia Siyu hung up directly. Bo Yan called again, and she hung up once more. Soon after, she received a message from Bo Yan: ¡°` Chapter 561 - 560 Missing Him (6) Chapter 561: Chapter 560 Missing Him (6) ¡°Are you not convenient to answer the phone? Sorry, I was caught up with Director Sun yesterday, preparing for the filming. Didn¡¯t get to sleep until five in the morning, and I only just woke up.¡± At five in the morning, when she woke up, Bo Yan had just gone to bed. He probably thought that Siyu was still fast asleep at that time, so he didn¡¯t call her. Now it was around eleven a.m., which meant he had only slept for six hours yesterday. Xia Siyu replied with a bit of haughtiness, ¡°Who cares when you sleep or wake up, what¡¯s that got to do with me?¡± Although her words seemed cold and heartless, the furrow in her brow eased somewhat as she typed. Clearly, her anger toward him had gradually dissipated. Bo Yan, probably used to getting scolded, didn¡¯t feel hurt by such words, and he even replied, ¡°No big deal, just that I missed you.¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Xia Siyu paused slightly when she saw those words. When Bo Yan had confessed his feelings before, he had also said, ¡°I miss you.¡± He didn¡¯t ask when Siyu would return; as a fellow artist, he understood the unpredictable lifestyle. He didn¡¯t ask about the specifics of her work hardships, since Siyu¡¯s tone had said it all. She still had the energy to be angry with him, which meant she was doing alright for the time being. Besides, she had Qin Baizhou by her side. While he disliked Qin Baizhou, he had to admit that Qin Baizhou genuinely cared for her and wouldn¡¯t let Siyu be taken advantage of in their work. Even if the work was exhausting, he would fight for Siyu¡¯s best interests. Updated by ?¡ð????G¡ð.c¡ð ¡°Then go miss me,¡± Siyu said, surprising even herself with the tone word she used, indicating her good mood. Unknowingly, her relationship with Bo Yan had steadily moved beyond what she had initially set as friends with benefits, to something deeper. ¡°Make sure to eat well. Even if work is tough, don¡¯t mistreat yourself. Keeping in shape is important, but your health is even more so.¡± One of the main reasons he indulged Siyu in eating lamb during this time was to nourish her. Actors had it easier in the summer, but in the winter, filming and attending events could inevitably lead to catching colds, and Siyu, originally so healthy, was now suffering terrible menstrual pains. But in the depths of the mountains, he couldn¡¯t find a skilled traditional Chinese medicine practitioner to prescribe her medicine, so he could only opt for dietary nourishment. Lamb was warming by nature, and when balanced with cooling foods like white radish or kelp, making soups or mixed salads, it could prevent her from getting too ¡®heaty¡¯ from the nourishment. Though maintaining a certain figure is a basic requirement for an actor, it shouldn¡¯t come at the expense of their health. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Siyu didn¡¯t care about that; she was a foodie. Whoever made her happy with food, she leaned towards them. But now she started to tease Bo, ¡°Qin Ge said I¡¯ve gotten quite plump recently, so I should start eating salads to slim down.¡± Bo Yan understood what Qin Baizhou meant and teased back, ¡°It¡¯s okay, you can gain weight. I like it when you¡¯re chubby; it¡¯s more comfortable to hold. If you really put on weight later, I¡¯ll take care of you.¡± ¡°Who needs you to take care of me!¡± Xia Siyu hated Bo Yan¡¯s overbearing tone the most. She was an independent individual with career aspirations; she didn¡¯t need his financial support. ¡°Alright then, our Siyu is the best, so I guess I¡¯ll rely on you to take care of me in the future.¡± Xia Siyu promptly responded, ¡°Pfft, shameless, expecting a woman to provide for you. How disgraceful.¡± Unconsciously, the gloominess in her heart had been swept clean. Chapter 562 - 561 Missing Him (7) Chapter 562: Chapter 561 Missing Him (7) Bo Yan responded, ¡°Take care of yourself when you¡¯re out. The temperature difference between day and night is getting big, and the weather is starting to get cool. Even though celebrities inevitably have to wear less, make sure to keep warm and don¡¯t catch a cold. Your health is your own; let Wei Jingjing prepare some more coats for you and try not to indulge in cold foods.¡± Xia Siyu pouted. ¡°You¡¯re like my dad. I hadn¡¯t noticed you could be so naggy.¡± Bo Yan continued, ¡°Then I hope I don¡¯t have a daughter like you in the future. Taking care of one of you is tiring enough; having two would be a DOUBLE-KILL.¡± ¡°It¡¯s often said that daughters resemble their dads, and sons take after their moms, right? If that¡¯s true, it would only prove that you¡¯re this type of person!¡± Xia Siyu didn¡¯t realize that in her tone, she had implicitly accepted the idea of having children with Bo Yan. She hadn¡¯t noticed, but Bo Yan did, and he laughed. ¡°Yes, yes, if we had a willful and petulant little daughter, she¡¯d definitely take after me. What can you do then? Once she¡¯s born, you just have to raise her. It¡¯s not like you can put her back.¡± This time, Xia Siyu caught on to the implication and immediately denied it. ¡°Who wants to have kids with you? What does your future daughter have to do with me?¡± Bo Yan retorted, ¡°So, you¡¯d rather I have children with another woman?¡± His direct counter-question made Xia Siyu pause for a moment, then she quickly responded, ¡°Whatever, whoever you like.¡± Then she exited WeChat and stopped chatting. Updated by ?¡ð????G¡ð.c¡ð But after she logged off, she didn¡¯t give it much thought. Her lips curled up, clearly in a good mood. Especially when she thought about the saying ¡°sons take after their moms, and daughters after their dads.¡± If, and she meant if, they really had kids, that little one would definitely be very good-looking. Like her, naturally quite beautiful, and not too bad if like him. ¡°Sister Siyu, Sister Siyu¡­¡± When Xia Siyu snapped back to reality, she saw Wang Zisu waving a hand in front of her eyes, as if summoning her. Xia Siyu realized someone was calling her and asked, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°I¡¯ve been calling you for a while and you didn¡¯t hear me. You¡¯re still on your phone! Luckily, the camera wasn¡¯t rolling. Otherwise, if it had been broadcasted, the audience would have accused you of taking money without doing any work.¡± These days, the viewers are hard to please. If you roll your eyes, curse playfully, glance at your phone during a show, you¡¯re labeled unprofessional. At the slightest disagreement, they¡¯ll troll and mock on forums, as if they expect everyone to be saints, never saying or doing anything wrong, unable to date anyone. Xia Siyu just ¡°Oh¡±ed, put her phone away, and then stretched out her hand to playfully tousle his slightly curly hair, commenting, ¡°You¡¯ve got too much hair wax in there; it¡¯s not soft and fine to the touch.¡± They were about to change locations; in the past several episodes, most of their shooting was done in one city or at a fixed location. But this time was different, traveling through multiple cities and bringing in several new guest celebrities. With the original longstanding MCs teaming up with a new pair of artists and their agents, they had formed a 2+2 combination of old and new members, likely focused on a challenge mode. Wang Zisu had chosen Xia Siyu right away, so the two groups shared a car. Wang Zisu let her mess up his hair, grinning cheekily, ¡°They want me to look cooler.¡± ¡°Cooler? You¡¯re clearly a puppy!¡± And not just any puppy, but the super cuddly, soft and squishy kind. Wang Zisu¡¯s hair was a tousled mess from her touch, and he straightened up at once. ¡°I¡¯m not a puppy. Even if I were a dog, I¡¯d be a cool, handsome one, like a German Shepherd or a Border Collie.¡± Chapter 563 - 562 Missing Him (8) Chapter 563: Chapter 562 Missing Him (8) Xia Siyu snorted in disdain, ¡°Come on, you¡¯re at most an Erha.¡± ¡°I am not!¡± ¡°You are!¡± The two bickered like elementary school students for a long time. Wang Zisu, still unconvinced, asked again, ¡°Then you tell me, if it were Bo Yan, what kind of dog would he be?¡± It was just the driver and their two groups of guests in the car. Qin Baizhou had been silent all along, but when he heard the words ¡°Bo Yan,¡± he couldn¡¯t help but glance over at her. After thinking for a while, Xia Siyu, although she always referred to him internally as a dog of a man, hadn¡¯t ever really considered what kind of dog he would be. The guy seemed aloof on the surface but was actually pretty sleazy inside, always knowing where to find meat. To say he was an Erha wouldn¡¯t be right¡ªhe was too intelligent. To compare him to a Border Collie or a German Shepherd wouldn¡¯t fit either; those breeds were very obedient. He also wasn¡¯t like the warm-hearted Qin Baizhou. If someone was warm-hearted, they could be considered a Labrador or a Golden Retriever. After much thought, she finally said, ¡°He¡¯d be a wolf-dog, I guess.¡± Part wolf, part dog, sometimes arrogant and sometimes fierce, and always hungry for meat! It was a good thing there were no cameras or microphones in the car. Otherwise, if a star¡¯s private backbiting about a fellow actor was broadcast, it could have sparked another round of public outcry. Qin Baizhou heaved a sigh of relief after hearing this. Once Xia Siyu and Wang Zisu moved on from the topic of Bo Yan and began discussing other things, he let his guard down. Updated by ?¡ð????G¡ð.c¡ð Actually, he was quite adept at socializing. However, he felt a bit awkward now, since Zhou Weiwei was under Wang Zisu¡¯s talent agency, and they were negotiating to transfer her to their Huixing company. After all, taking someone from another agency was sensitive, especially with Wang Zisu¡¯s agent right there. Xia Siyu was known for speaking without a filter, and there was a chance she could bring up Zhou Weiwei. He¡¯d be stuck whether he tried to explain or not¡ªit really was a bit awkward. Last time, Zhou Weiwei had provided him with an idea, and thanks to that, he had successfully discovered Xia Siyu¡¯s background. Although Qin Baizhou was cunning, he wasn¡¯t the type to kick someone to the curb once he¡¯d used them. Zhou Weiwei had helped him, and in return, he kept in contact as promised, preparing to sign her under management with his company. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Besides, having another person like Zhou Weiwei would help with the film company¡¯s IPO, as the Securities Regulatory Commission would want to see the financial reports. Zhou Weiwei might not have significant commercial value, and her price was reasonable, but she was well-known after years in the industry, and her addition would be beneficial to the company. Since both parties were willing, the negotiations went rather smoothly. But with an unspoken understanding, neither mentioned it to Xia Siyu until the deal was nearly finalized. Zhou Weiwei had a bit of a refined self-interest about her. One might say she betrayed Xia Siyu¡¯s secrets, but in reality, she hadn¡¯t said anything. She never revealed that Siyu was the Xia Family heiress or disclosed her relationship with Bo Yan. However, she indeed provided Qin Baizhou with an idea. Whether he could find the information or not depended on his own ability. She wouldn¡¯t outright sell out a teammate and wouldn¡¯t leave any evidence behind. It was just like how she dealt with Li Weiyi in the past, letting Xia Siyu handle it because she couldn¡¯t do it herself. Xia Siyu also might not have been completely unaware of her little schemes, but genuine hearts were rare in the entertainment industry. As long as Zhou Weiwei didn¡¯t outright betray her or stab her at a critical moment, Siyu couldn¡¯t be bothered to care. However, once they reached the destination and before the camera caught them, Qin Baizhou went ahead and told her, ¡°Zhou Weiwei¡¯s contract is almost up, and she¡¯s interested in joining our company. She just contacted us, so I didn¡¯t have a chance to tell you.¡± Xia Siyu clearly hadn¡¯t thought that far and even laughed, ¡°Isn¡¯t that a good thing? I¡¯ll go ask her.¡± Chapter 564 - 563: Distance (1) Chapter 564: Chapter 563: Distance (1) Zhou Weiwei soon admitted, ¡°I just wanted to be closer to you, and Huixing seems pretty good. My current company is okay too, but they focus on music, girl groups, and boy groups, and I don¡¯t feel like I have much opportunity.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Xia Siyu put away her phone, and Qin Baizhou added, ¡°Because her contract hasn¡¯t expired yet, and it¡¯s just initial contact without a specific contract, so I couldn¡¯t tell you. It¡¯s just that you asked about this just now, so I¡¯m mentioning it.¡± ¡°Oh, of course.¡± She might be aggressive, but she knew what she should say and what she shouldn¡¯t. Since Zhou Weiwei was planning to leave, the company naturally wouldn¡¯t allocate resources to her. She could originally tie herself to Wang Zisu or someone else, but now she definitely wouldn¡¯t have that privilege. There was no helping it; the company wasn¡¯t a charity after all. Naturally, they would allocate resources to whoever could make money. Without resources, one could either endure the hardship or switch companies. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Her contract was different from Zhou Weiwei¡¯s, and she wouldn¡¯t cause the company to lose money just to help her. They were all adults, and she believed that whatever Zhou Weiwei ought to fight for, she would. If she needed help, Xia Siyu would be willing to facilitate connections, but beyond that, she was helpless. Afterward, the variety show officially began recording. Xia Siyu and Wang Zisu were indeed in the same group, but they were not partners; they were competitors. To provide some benefits for the guest stars, they were allowed to go first, while regulars like Xia Siyu were to start later, deciding the outcome of the first day¡¯s battle before competing tomorrow. As this was a special episode, this time the variety show would approximately create six hours of content, spanning three episodes: beginning, middle, and end, so the shooting would also take more than three days. Considering Xia Siyu¡¯s incident of switching off her phone to sleep late at night, the organizers proposed that the phones they provided to the guests must be kept on for twenty-four hours, ensuring availability for immediate contact. Moreover, after determining the winner tonight, they would need to travel to another city using transportation. The winning group would travel comfortably and with ease, whereas the last place would have to take a train, potentially encountering real passersby under difficult conditions. Everyone fought hard to win. Xia Siyu¡¯s recent training showed its results. The program included competitive elements, requiring all guests to find a pass, a card hidden in any corner of the foothills of this national forest park. Xia Siyu was strong in athletic competition, never dragging Qin Baizhou down. Moreover, Qin Baizhou was exceptional in intelligence, quickly deducing the general location of the cards from the subtle hints provided by the program team. Not only that, but he also found as many as possible. The two cooperated closely, and even though Wang Zisu was young and fast, his partner¡ªa fat agent¡ªwas panting from exhaustion after climbing a hill, making it difficult to find clues among a crowd of tourists and NPCs. For variety shows, it¡¯s all about the entertainment effect. Unreasonable concessions could backfire with the audience. But with Qin Baizhou, a cunning fox with a benign facade, even if he let Wang Zisu win, it was calculated, expecting unconditional assistance from Wang Zisu¡¯s team in the next round. With no other choice as he watched other groups briskly proceeding to the next stage of the journey, he could only accept this unequal treaty. All along the way, Xia Siyu took charge of the brute force, and Qin Baizhou handled the intelligence. Regardless of any hidden agendas, their years of tacit understanding carried them through challenges, leading them to first place. But unexpectedly, the program team required the first-place team to take the train! Chapter 565 - 564: Distance (2) Chapter 565: Chapter 564: Distance (2) But unexpectedly, the show¡¯s requirement for the winning team was to travel by train! And it was a damn hard seat. A second before the results were announced, Xia Siyu was still showing off to Wang Zisu, ¡°You guys are screwed, you have to squeeze in with the passengers!¡± Taking the train was no big deal¡ªthey often took high-speed trains. But this was no high-speed train; it was just a regular green-skinned train with hard seats, the kind that takes seven to eight hours overnight. The production team was ruthless; even regular train tickets are hard to come by these days, yet they managed to find such a route. What they didn¡¯t expect was that this train ride, which no one wanted, ended up being given to Xia Siyu, who came in first. Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t so easily fooled. She immediately expressed her refusal, ¡°Why should we, the first-place winners, have to endure the train?¡± Before the director team could respond, the other guests cheerfully replied, ¡°It¡¯s faster this way!¡± ¡°Right, you¡¯ll have an advantage in the next round!¡± ¡°Do you even want this ¡®advantage¡¯?¡± Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t going to fall for it; she was not so easily swayed. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The production team probably felt they had gone too far and immediately offered a remedy, ¡°In addition to having an advantage in the next round, you¡¯ll also get first pick of breakfast and lunch tomorrow.¡± With good food on the line, Xia Siyu caved in immediately. She even nodded, ¡°And the train tickets? When do we leave?¡± Just as she was about to turn around, she stopped and suspiciously asked, ¡°You aren¡¯t tricking me again, are you? What¡¯s for breakfast tomorrow?¡± She¡¯d start a rebellion if the show tricked her onto the train and then served her only plain rice! The director team, afraid she would change her mind, quickly coaxed her, ¡°Of course there¡¯s good food! In the morning, rice noodles, noodles, fried rice, we¡¯ve got both Chinese and Western dishes! Lunch includes fragrant pork, Australian lobster, and steak! You can pick first.¡± When it came to eating, she was wide awake. She couldn¡¯t help but lick her lips. These past two days, all she could eat was salad, and she was fed up with the blandness. Her palate had become so picky after being spoiled by Bo Yan that she couldn¡¯t bear to live the hard life again. The other artists weren¡¯t as interested in food, and even if someone wanted to set themselves up as a foodie, it was just for show. But Xia Siyu, she¡¯s the one who¡¯s made it onto the trending searches multiple times for gaining weight due to her love for food. She had even had a fallout with Qin Baizhou over food. After two days of hunger, her eyes almost started to spark, and she hastily agreed. So the matter was settled quickly. But to board the train, they needed to go in disguise. Being in a train carriage full of passengers, what if something happened? Qin Baizhou said, ¡°Taking the train is fine, but do we have any measures in place? What if we run into people?¡± The production team would definitely follow, but they wouldn¡¯t provide the kind of seven to eight bodyguard entourage like they do when they pick them up. Xia Siyu, however, was unfazed and even suggested, ¡°No problem, just put on some makeup and tone it down. A good actor should be able to blend into the crowd without feeling out of place.¡± If Bo Yan hadn¡¯t taught her to experience life more, to start browsing her surroundings more attentively, she wouldn¡¯t have been so eager to learn how to stay grounded. Sitting for seven to eight hours wasn¡¯t the hard part; the worst part was that it was an overnight train ride in a hard seat. The other guests were all speechless. No one knew where Xia Siyu¡¯s confidence came from, as she¡¯s not usually known for her acting skills. Only Wang Zisu was very supportive and nodded, ¡°Sister Siyu¡¯s really awesome!¡± Xia Siyu shamelessly patted his head, ¡°Right?!¡± Chapter 566 - 565: Distance (3) Chapter 566: Chapter 565: Distance (3) Whether she was genuinely na?ve or just thick-skinned, the important thing was the show could go on smoothly, and it even continued in such a comedic manner. Both the guests and the production team breathed a sigh of relief. Qin Baizhou hesitated, wanting to help her negotiate better conditions, but Xia Siyu sabotaged herself. However, this was a variety show, and her unconventional approach might actually endear her to the audience, resulting in a top-notch program. Since the production team was prepared to set her up, he would do his best to ensure they edited it well, highlighting her strengths. If she got set up, so be it; as long as she found it fun, that was all that mattered. But it wasn¡¯t during the summer or winter holidays, nor was it the peak time for returning home. Especially on these kinds of green trains, many people would c hoose high-speed rail over this mode of transportation. Even if they did choose it, they would prefer a sleeper berth if possible. Although the show¡¯s crew members who followed onto the train were few, they were aiming to create an atmosphere of mingling with the general public, using hidden cameras for filming. But they didn¡¯t dare to boldly throw Xia Siyu into a crowd of strangers. But Xia Siyu was not the least bit flustered. Just as she did the last time she went out with Bo Yan, she repeated the old trick ¡ª wearing a tracksuit, a baseball cap, and then putting on a mask; no one paid her any attention. And so, she boarded the train openly, finding her seat with pomp. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Speaking of which, Xia Siyu had never ridden on this kind of green train before. Her family was well-off, and she traveled by high-speed rail and plane, usually in first class. She really had very few experiences of being squeezed in with a crowd of people. Moreover, she boarded the train at eleven o¡¯clock at night, at which point many people on the train were already asleep. With the lights dimmed in the carriage, once asleep, no one would care who was sitting next to them. Although high-speed rail had become widespread, there were still quite a few passengers on these green trains. Particularly some farmers and laborers, toting woven sacks or carrying large bags on their backs. There were also mothers holding babies a few months old; the babies, not yet asleep, gazed around with curious big eyes. But Xia Siyu was dressed in a tracksuit, while Qin Baizhou was wearing casual clothes, his stiff fabric clearly expensive, making him stand out from his surroundings. The smell in the carriage wasn¡¯t very pleasant, and people often passed through the corridor. Worried about someone bumping into her, Qin Baizhou offered proactively, ¡°I¡¯ll sit a bit further out.¡± Xia Siyu naturally disagreed. She sat on the outside precisely to observe the crowd. If Qin Baizhou blocked her view, how could she continue observing? Qin Baizhou had no choice but to sit down. Seeing Xia Siyu curiously looking around, he explained, ¡°I used to take these seats quite often. Back when I was in university, there were no high-speed trains, only fast trains, and those tickets were very expensive and hard to come by at the time. During my student days, I often took these hard seats, because I could get them at half price. During the Spring Festival rush, it was jam-packed, even the corridors and washrooms were full. It was dirty, smelled bad, and even using the bathroom was inconvenient. Once, I didn¡¯t manage to get a seat ticket and had to stand for over ten hours, it was like a nightmare.¡± Although he didn¡¯t state it explicitly, it was obvious that he had a disdain for that lower-class life, his tone filled with a sense of superiority about his current comfortable surroundings. If it weren¡¯t for the show¡¯s requirements, he probably would never want to touch this kind of life ever again. Chapter 567 - 566: Distance (4) Chapter 567: Chapter 566: Distance (4) Xia Siyu instead shook her head. ¡°No, I find it quite interesting.¡± The smell wasn¡¯t pleasant, but she was abroad, where the body odor of foreigners mixed with the scent of their perfume created an aroma a hundred times more intense than this. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Moreover, although the train was a bit crowded and some workers might have had a hard day, leaving their clothes a bit dirty, they still knew better than to trouble others, trying their best not to stand or sit too close to anyone. They might have been dirty on the outside, but their hearts were clean. And everyone was working hard, even their exhaustion was just the rest they took after work. She didn¡¯t find them unapproachable at all. Qin Baizhou tilted his head to look at her and saw Xia Siyu with an expression that found everything interesting, not minding the dirt or the chaos at all, but instead full of curiosity. Moreover, she wasn¡¯t pretending just because the cameras were coming over. They were sitting in a row of three seats, with one on the farthest outside still available. The journalists following them, aiming to capture good footage, specifically did not sit with them but bought standing-room tickets and just stood to the side. Their protective measure also included several undercover bodyguards and cameramen, who wouldn¡¯t reveal themselves unless it was absolutely necessary. The passenger opposite them could no longer resist and had fallen asleep on the table. When another station passed, a passenger finally took the seat next to her: a woman holding a child. The child was very young, probably not even a year old, but prone to crying. It was late at night, and everyone was tired. The constant crying of the child irritated the surrounding passengers. The mother kept trying to soothe the child, also turning to apologize with embarrassment, ¡°Sorry.¡± Xia Siyu didn¡¯t mind at all and casually took out a plush toy to place in the child¡¯s hands. This Little Thing would sing when squeezed, performing a nursery rhyme. Infants of a few months old have no resistance to such adorable, singing toys. Perhaps the novelty attracted her attention because the child stopped crying quite soon, tears still clinging to her eyes as she stared at the toy. After watching the toy for a while, she looked up at Siyu and even reached out wanting to snatch the toy to play. Xia Siyu directly and generously handed the toy to the child, ¡°For you.¡± Qin Baizhou glanced over. The toy was a little figure made by her fan club in her chibi image, about palm-sized, styled as a cat-girl, hanging on her backpack. The cat-girl¡¯s tail was even embroidered with her name in cursive. It was too dark for the mother to see clearly, though. Seeing Xia Siyu give the toy to the child, the mother felt embarrassed, ¡°How could I accept this?¡± Xia Siyu naturally didn¡¯t care. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just a toy. As long as the child likes it, that¡¯s good.¡± Soon, the mother gently rocked the child, who clutched the toy and gradually fell asleep. The mother, however, didn¡¯t sleep¡ªshe had to get off after a few more stations and was afraid of oversleeping and losing her belongings, so she instead used a baby carrier to hang the child on her chest, patting the child¡¯s back with one hand while holding her mobile phone and watching videos with her ears plugged. Xia Siyu hadn¡¯t wanted to watch, but glancing over, she noticed the mother was watching Bo Yan and Shang Feifei¡¯s ¡°Moonlight¡± and couldn¡¯t help but sneak a peek herself. The neighbor mother noticed Xia Siyu¡¯s interest and kindly shared one side of her earphone cable with her. Xia Siyu, with the intent of learning, had watched several of Bo Yan¡¯s movies, but she hadn¡¯t got around to ¡°Moonlight¡± yet. Now was the perfect chance to join in and observe. Chapter 568 - 567: Distance (5) Chapter 568: Chapter 567: Distance (5) sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fans watch movies for the good looks. Regular audiences watch movies for the story. And she watches movies for both the story and, of course, the acting skills. She would meticulously contemplate Shang Feifei¡¯s performances, in addition to Bo Yan¡¯s. Shang Feifei won the Best Actress award with this film. But to be fair, her performance was slightly inferior to Bo Yan¡¯s. If it weren¡¯t for the difficulty in securing a second Gold Oscar, Bo Yan would deserve a second Best Actor trophy. Yet, a good actor is capable of bringing their partner into character, and that is exactly what Bo Yan is like. Although Xia Siyu was confident that she had greater potential and more spiritual energy than Shang Feifei, Shang Feifei indeed did well in this film. Her acting was layered, and she truly deserved the Best Actress title. Despite being proud, Xia Siyu was not foolish. She had a clear understanding of those who were more capable than her, like Bo Yan. She truly respected Bo Yan¡¯s professionalism and theoretical knowledge. That was the only thing that could make her bow her head when she was initially hostile towards him. Bo Yan was also quite astonishing. In everyday life, he seemed aloof, as though no one was worthy of his attention. Yet, in films, his peach blossom eyes were expressive and reticent, capable of conveying endless emotions with just a single shot. He could express the joys and sorrows within without needing to cry or laugh. No wonder, after acting in a film with him, Shang Feifei initially had the illusion that Bo Yan might like her, which led her to pursue him, though, of course, it led nowhere in the end. Putting herself in their shoes, when she acted with Bo Yan in ¡°Storm,¡± she was indeed influenced by him. ¡°Spring Light,¡± this film that she had fought hard for after reading the script, might not have been pursued with such determination had it not been for Bo Yan¡¯s presence. With Bo Yan around, it felt as though a Sea Needle had steadied her thoughts. She trusted her own judgment, and even more so Bo Yan¡¯s. Bo Yan was full of confidence in this project, and she found herself unconsciously influenced as well. Today on the train, with cameras following her, Bo Yan knew she was working, and since they had already contacted each other at noon, he would not disturb her now. Although they were far apart and not communicating with each other, through his movie, one acting and one watching, it was as if they were communicating across the void. Qin Baizhou felt a bit jealous, especially when he saw Xia Siyu¡¯s gaze growing more focused and admiring. He coughed once, but since it was the middle of the night and most people on the train were asleep, he didn¡¯t dare to make too much noise and could only remind her in this way. But Xia Siyu was straightforward, and unless you spoke clearly, she truly wouldn¡¯t grasp your hints. She followed along watching the movie next door, which made Qin Baizhou cough many times. Xia Siyu frowned and turned to Qin Baizhou, ¡°Do you have a cold?¡± Qin Baizhou shook his head. ¡°Then why do you keep coughing?¡± Qin Baizhou was at a loss for words. Before he could finish speaking, the movie was still playing, she didn¡¯t say anything else to him, and continued watching the movie. Once the movie had finished, a mother remarked, ¡°Bo Yan is really handsome.¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. Her expression didn¡¯t seem like she was jealous but rather contemplative, ¡°He¡¯s okay, I guess.¡± ¡°Just okay? He¡¯s the handsomest man in the entertainment industry, almost without fault. I wish my child¡¯s father was like that.¡± Xia Siyu thought about this fellow¡¯s lustful behavior and frowned even deeper, ¡°He¡¯s just so-so.¡± Chapter 569 - 568: Distance (6) Chapter 569: Chapter 568: Distance (6) Then the screen cut to black, the movie ended, and an advertisement popped up¡ªit was Xia Siyu¡¯s cosmetics commercial. That mom immediately showed a look of disdain, ¡°This Xia Siyu, she doesn¡¯t have any strengths, just relies on her pretty face.¡± Qin Baizhou¡¯s ears perked up at once, and so did the photographer¡¯s beside him. Xia Siyu, undaunted, nodded in agreement, ¡°She does indeed have a pretty face.¡± The mom seemed to have found some common ground, ¡°Not much acting talent though.¡± Xia Siyu thought for a moment, then nodded again, ¡°Right, not much acting talent indeed.¡± ¡°She doesn¡¯t have any notable works either, or should I say, her notable work is creating hype.¡± These words were quite harsh, leaving the photographer beside speechless. Qin Baizhou¡¯s expression also changed, and he was even about to stand up immediately. Celebrities are usually well taken care of, surrounded by agents, assistants, and bodyguards who always pamper them. Although there are many hackers online, it¡¯s hard to come into contact with the reality on the internet, and even if there are, it¡¯s rare for someone to curse them to their face. And online, the brain-dead fans would also gather. It¡¯s not just about saying bad things about their beloved celebrity, even slightly objective but not very flattering comments would provoke an automatic attack by them. So some celebrities, with terribly poor acting skills, still have an inflated sense of self, precisely because they were brought up spoiled by agents, assistants, and fans around them. But once you strip away that false exterior, they¡¯re actually aware of their own limits. Especially the average people, who mostly represent the opinions of the masses, thus, their honest words can be even more hurtful. However, Xia Siyu remained calm, ¡°Is it because she¡¯s involved in too many scandals?¡± ¡°Having lots of scandals isn¡¯t really a problem, but I¡¯ve heard she always likes to search for wealthy people.¡± S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xia Siyu disagreed with this one, she touched her chin and pondered, ¡°Money is secondary, I think she¡¯s more of a face connoisseur.¡± Ugly guys are categorically turned down, and the only ex-boyfriend Bo Yan, is also a handsome guy. ¡°The kind that makes it to trending searches every day. Changing a hairstyle, also trending, wearing a new outfit, also trending. Every time I scroll through Weibo, it¡¯s like she has a yearly subscription, it¡¯s so annoying.¡± Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t angered in the slightest, instead, she turned to look at Qin Baizhou as if to give a reminder. Being often on trending searches partly means her activities indeed have heat. On the other hand, it¡¯s impossible that her team isn¡¯t operating behind the scenes. She¡¯s a celebrity, unless she has reached an untouchable status, she still needs popularity to maintain her position and commercial value. But if she¡¯s on the trending searches every day of the year, with a subscription that annoys both gods and humans, that¡¯s not exactly a good thing. She needs to undergo a transformation, as actors and influencers are different. ¡°Influencers¡± in this context means needing high exposure, relying on fans to make money. But as actors, there¡¯s a need for a certain level of mystique. If they participate in too much variety, or expose their private life too brutally, it will be hard for audiences to engage with the characters they play. This is why Bo Yan and Shang Feifei seldom come out for promotions, and only dominate the trending searches desperately when they are on movie roadshows or participating in shows. Xia Siyu turned her head and calmly responded, ¡°I agree. After all, looking good can¡¯t feed you for a lifetime, she still needs to work hard to improve her acting skills, strive to shed those impetuous emotions, and work hard to be an actor.¡± Maybe because Xia Siyu spoke too earnestly, the mom also sensed something, ¡°Are you a fan of Xia Siyu?¡± Xia Siyu seriously replied, ¡°No, actually, I¡¯m her hacker.¡± Chapter 570 - 569 Discovered (1) Chapter 570: Chapter 569 Discovered (1) Definitely a ¡°hacker¡± who blackened out of deep love; a professional one at that. The two of them watched a few more movies, and one of them even starred Xia Siyu. Watching her own performance, along with other passengers, could give someone with thin skin the feeling of being executed on the spot. But Xia Siyu had a thick skin, shamelessly watching the movie she starred in along with the other passengers. After finding out that the passenger beside her was a Xia Siyu hacker, the mother became much bolder in her conversation. The movie by Xia Siyu she watched was the one that made her famous. It was with this movie that Xia Siyu shot to fame overnight and became the Otaku Goddess while also being nominated for Best Newcomer. Watching it now, the movie was still quite good. Although it was a youth school film, Xia Siyu was only twenty-one at the time, young and invincible, beautiful and pure, with eyes full of Spiritual Energy. The mother said, ¡°She indeed looks very pretty, and her acting in this movie isn¡¯t bad either.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Xia Siyu was so pleased, her tail was almost wagging¡ªNo shame, that¡¯s me! But she quickly changed her tune, ¡°But after so many years, her acting hasn¡¯t improved. It¡¯s truly a case of peaking at her debut.¡± Xia Siyu: ¡°¡­¡± After enduring the whole night, they were almost at their destination. The sky outside was starting to brighten, and the lights inside the train were turned back on. There was just over half an hour to go before they reached the station, and many who had slept through the night were starting to wake up. The carriage was gradually coming back to life from its slumber, growing noisy once more. Xia Siyu also lasted through the night, with her eyes turning red from exhaustion. After all, it was a hard seat, and although she was very tired, she didn¡¯t want to sleep on the train. She was well aware of her sleeping posture; it was fine when she was alone, but with the camera right next to her, if she fell asleep, her sleeping face might become a dark part of her history. The mother had also stayed up all night. Besides watching movies with her, she occasionally had to take care of her child. And on the train, for fear of losing things, she preferred to endure rather than dare to close her eyes. Neither of them would close their eyes, and Qin Baizhou was used to staying up late to deal with official business, so being up all night was nothing to him. Since they didn¡¯t sleep, the cameraman had no choice but to stay awake, too. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that moment, the child started crying again. The mother picked the child up, soothed him a bit, and then opened his diaper. Sure enough, as soon as she opened it, a foul smell wafted; the little guy had pooped. These trains usually don¡¯t have a mother and baby room, and even if there were a restroom, the corridor and the restroom itself would be crowded with people. Not to mention changing in the restroom, even walking over there would be a challenge with the doors closed. The child¡¯s crying and the smell of his mess made the other passengers frown. But since the child continued to cry, and the mother saw no other options, she had to change the diaper right there and then. She was well prepared, with everything in her small backpack beside her. She even turned around and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, could you help Chapter 571 - 570 Discovered (2) Chapter 571: Chapter 570 Discovered (2) When Xia Siyu reached out her hand, Qin Baizhou couldn¡¯t help himself, ¡°Let me do it.¡± It was both dirty and stinky, how could he allow her to do it. ¡°You¡¯re inside; it¡¯s not convenient for you,¡± Xia Siyu shook her head, ¡°Besides, this is a little girl, there are differences between men and women.¡± She grew up with Western education, believing that once a child was born, they should be treated as separate individuals. Independence where independence was due, clarity where clarity was needed. Qin Baizhou nodded and did not insist further. The mother also wiped the baby¡¯s bottom with a wet wipe; of course, after each wipe, all the dirt was thrown into the trash bag held open by Xia Siyu. Xia Siyu did not frown at all, quickly cleaned up, and replaced the diaper. The baby must have felt comfortable, for she stopped crying. Xia Siyu tied the bag tightly and was also ready to throw it in the toilet. The mother shook her head, ¡°I¡¯ll go.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not in a good position, you still have to hold the child, don¡¯t you?¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s response was a matter of course. She really stood up, carefully sidestepping down the aisle to the trash can to throw away the trash. When she returned, the child was awake and drinking milk. Since there was no nursing room here, the mother had taken a coat to cover herself. Xia Siyu also glanced at the camera and found that Bo Yan had hidden the camera, no longer filming the mother breastfeeding, and she felt a bit relieved. The cameraman beside her had also been wondering whether Xia Siyu was putting on a show. Had she seen the child on the train and deliberately displayed her affability, which was why she had acted that way? But on second thought, if it were truly about show and publicity, why would she not even allow their cameras to be on? After all, changing a diaper is genuinely dirty and smelly, and female artists are quite proud; there was no need to go to such lengths for a stranger they met by chance. So, did this mean that Xia Siyu was kind-hearted, or was it ¡°maternal love overflowing¡±? The inadvertent display of ¡°maternal love¡± could be a hint of something. Or was she trying to express something through this, did she have a boyfriend now, was she planning to get married? However, after Xia Siyu sat down again, she could see that the child was awake by now, gazing steadily at Xia Siyu, and even stretching out her little hand towards her, palm open. Xia Siyu also reached out her hand, pinching the child¡¯s little hand. Soon, the child finished drinking milk and sneezed. Xia Siyu jumped in fright and immediately backed away. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The mother laughed, Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t afraid of the child¡¯s dirty diaper but was scared of her sneezing, ¡°She seems to like you a lot.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Xia Siyu became interested, bowed her head, and made funny faces at the child. She suddenly remembered the discussion she had with Bo Yan that day about children, wondering what it would be like if she had a baby, would it be cuter. Taking advantage of the mother¡¯s inattention, she pulled down her mask. Children also judge by faces, and seeing her features, the little one laughed even more joyously. Xia Siyu quickly put the mask back on again, and the little one, not understanding, thought they were playing a game of hide-and-seek. Many adults do this too, covering their faces with their hands and then separating them, to entertain children. The mother looked at her and laughed, ¡°Is this your boyfriend?¡± She looked towards Qin Baizhou. Qin Baizhou was young and handsome, with an extraordinary demeanor. Although there was a well-mannered pride and aloofness on his face, he was very good to Xia Siyu. Upon hearing the mother¡¯s words, Qin Baizhou felt it was the best thing she had said all evening. Chapter 572 - 571 Discovered (3) Chapter 572: Chapter 571 Discovered (3) Xia Siyu shook her head immediately: ¡°No, he¡¯s my brother.¡± They were all wearing masks, making it hard to discern expressions, but Qin Baizhou¡¯s eyes still flickered a few times. The mother glanced at Xia Siyu and still smiled: ¡°Actually, looking at you both, it¡¯s clear you¡¯re affluent folks. Why are you taking this train?¡± Xia Siyu was alright, dressed in sportswear; though the bag she carried was from the luxury brand she endorsed, it didn¡¯t flaunt the logo everywhere, which was quite low-key. The same was true for Qin Baizhou¡¯s attire. Despite being casual, it clearly was of good quality. Even without looking at these, Xia Siyu and Qin Baizhou sat up straight the whole time, maintaining proper posture. With just this ¡°proper posture whether standing or sitting,¡± to be honest, more than ninety percent of people couldn¡¯t achieve it. During the hours on the train, Xia Siyu sat up straight the entire time; she didn¡¯t slouch, round her back, cross her legs, or fidget, and with her legs together, even when she leaned forward to tease the child, her spine remained straight. This kind of upbringing isn¡¯t something ordinary families can provide; it almost seemed as if wealthy people were trying to experience life. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In fact, that was pretty much the case. Of course, Xia Siyu denied it: ¡°Not at all. I¡¯m actually from the Northwest, I work in the service industry.¡± As soon as she spoke, she adopted the local accent she had learned from the villages in the Northwest with Bo Yan. Bo Yan needed to learn it, and she picked it up by being constantly around him; of course, it wasn¡¯t entirely authentic, but in a different place, being able to speak it at all was convincing enough. She wasn¡¯t lying either; she had indeed come from the Northwest, and being an actress could be considered a type of service industry, right? While they were talking, they were quickly approaching the station. It so happened that they were all getting off at the last stop. Xia Siyu and Qin Baizhou only had a small bag with them; the rest of the luggage had been brought over by their assistants, which included Wei Jingjing and others following behind. Xia Siyu and Qin Baizhou stood up, and the mother holding her child also got to her feet. She had quite a few things with her, and as the carriage was crowded, Xia Siyu saw she was struggling a bit and helped her organize. ¡°Thank you, really, thank you so much.¡± ¡°It¡¯s no trouble at all.¡± She had nothing better to do anyway, and she usually liked to interact with cats and dogs. Now that the little fellow had woken up and took a liking to her, and there were still five minutes to the station, she started to play with the child out of boredom. The little one giggled non-stop, amused by her antics, and the mother turned back: ¡°Actually, your voice sounds a bit like someone, Xia Siyu.¡± As she entertained the child, Xia Siyu froze for a moment upon hearing this. After all, they were on a train surrounded by people; if her identity was exposed, who knows if she would be surrounded by a crowd. She continued with a smile: ¡°Really? Someone else has said the same thing.¡± The mother turned her head again to look at Xia Siyu. She was tall and slender, and even though her clothes weren¡¯t expensive, she had a great sense of style. Her voice was very similar, and she seemed to defend Xia Siyu. But the most crucial point was: she didn¡¯t seem to like Bo Yan very much. As is widely known, Bo Yan and Xia Siyu despised each other. Although the Fable CP was a popular meme on the internet, most of it was just teasing. Xia Siyu was also considered the safest partner by Bo Yan¡¯s fans: because they loathed each other, there was no way they could actually be together! The more this mother thought about it, the more it seemed possible, and as she contemplated it, Xia Siyu played a game of ¡°peekaboo¡± with the child, pretending to take off her mask. When she had her mask securely on again, the little one, giggling, reached out and yanked off Xia Siyu¡¯s mask. Just as the train was pulling into the station and everyone was about to get off, the crowd packed the corridor, and anyone glancing around could see her. Chapter 573 - 572 Discovered (4) Chapter 573: Chapter 572 Discovered (4) ¡°Wow!¡ª¡ª¡± ¡°Ahhhh! Xia Siyu!¡± ¡°Is that Xia Siyu? Really Xia Siyu? A living one?¡± ¡°Fake, right? How could Xia Siyu take a hard seat?¡± ¡­ As Xia Siyu¡¯s mask was removed, she was suddenly exposed in the crowd and immediately surrounded by the excited onlookers beside her. She only had Qin Baizhou by her side, and the camera crew and other staff who hadn¡¯t seated with her, couldn¡¯t reach her and were just anxiously watching. Her first thought upon being surrounded was, fortunately, she had Qin Baizhou with her and not Bo Yan. Otherwise, even if she had mouths all over her body, she couldn¡¯t have made herself clear. The train had arrived at the station, but none of the excited crowd wanted to disembark; they were all surrounding her. After the train arrived, train attendants would usually guide people to orderly exit, but not a single person left this particular carriage, and more and more people were gathering. Thankfully, this was the last stop. Had it been a midway station, she feared the entire carriage would be taken away by the train. Some train attendants squeezed through to maintain order, ¡°Don¡¯t push, let¡¯s exit one by one!¡± The problem was, everyone was indeed pushing, but no one was exiting; instead, they were all squeezing towards her as if she were the center of a circle. Those in the front were somewhat okay, but those in the back probably had no clue what was happening. Yet, our country¡¯s people have a herd mentality, seeing others crowd around, they too wanted to join the spectacle. Some who had disembarked the train even turned back to have a look. Moreover, these green-skin trains were not like high-speed rails; high-speed rail carriages might contain only so many people, but green-skin train carriages could hold several times more passengers than those of high-speed trains. The train attendants had managed to squeeze onto the carriage with great difficulty, all the while asking, ¡°What on earth happened?¡± If there had been some kind of accident, the consequences would be serious. Someone ahead replied, ¡°Don¡¯t know. Something about Xia Siyu or whatever.¡± Last night, when checking tickets, the attendants hadn¡¯t paid much attention. Now hearing someone mention it, they were taken aback for a moment: ¡°Xia Siyu, the celebrity? Why would she be here?¡± Even if she had to take a train, it should be on a high-speed rail. Even for their type of train, it should be a soft sleeper, not a hard seat carriage. Besides, the railway bureau hadn¡¯t received advance notification, and there were no bodyguards or assistants following her, making it obvious that even if she attended any event, it was informal. Could they have gotten it wrong? Just as they pondered this, people ahead cheered, ¡°Siyu, Siyu, give me an autograph!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s take a photo together!¡± ¡°Wow, I touched Siyu¡¯s arm!¡± The train attendant, who was initially confused and stern-looking, finally couldn¡¯t resist: ¡°Me too!¡± ** An hour later, Xia Siyu finally made a disheveled exit from the train station, and it was only with the combined effort of the whole train¡¯s conductors, attendants, and the local ground staff that they managed to rescue her. After all, she was a top star. Although there were many online who criticized her, even those who didn¡¯t like her online, upon seeing her in person and so close nearby, would instantly come up asking for an autograph or such. Half an hour later, photos of her being surrounded on a regular train went viral on Weibo. But the mother holding the child, on the other hand, wasn¡¯t quite convinced that this person was truly Xia Siyu. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After all, not to mention the capricious and temperamental Xia Siyu known for throwing tantrums, even if she were an ordinary celebrity. How could such a celebrity help her change a diaper, or comment on her own movie without batting an eyelid or breaking a sweat? Chapter 574 - 573 Discovered (5) Chapter 574: Chapter 573 Discovered (5) And she even criticized her own acting as not being good enough, claiming that she liked to sensationalize things. Yet, it was only when she saw the toy her child was playing with, the one with ¡°Xia Siyu¡± written on its tail, that she believed it. Originally, this mother who brought her child was just a passerby to Xia Siyu, at most a casual hater who disapproved of her excessive self-promotion. However, after encountering Xia Siyu, who appeared simple, approachable, bare-faced beautiful, and kind-hearted, her opinion changed drastically, turning her from a casual hater to a casual fan. She posted the story about Xia Siyu taking care of her child the night before online, and with Qin Baizhou¡¯s influential promotion, it instantly became a hot search topic. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But when her Weibo post trended, there were many haters mocking her in the comments. Some said she was ¡°bragging¡±. How could Xia Siyu possibly take care of her child, change the nappy, and even take out the trash for her? Many of these haters were Bo Yan¡¯s fans. Bo Yan¡¯s fans and Xia Siyu were always at odds, and this post even mentioned that she still had ¡°hostility¡± towards Bo. Not to be outdone, the mother replied to each comment, and posted the toy Xia Siyu gave to her daughter as proof, only to be ridiculed even more. The haters turned this mother from a casual fan into a die-hard fan. Other Xia Siyu fans were not to be outdone either, and they started posting pictures from other passengers on the train that day. Eventually, the program¡¯s official Weibo account released a video, which showed Xia Siyu helping to take out trash, critiquing movies¡ªnot only did she critique Bo Yan, but she also admitted that she lack acting skills, loved to hype things up, and only had a pretty face. This triple strike entertained the public, especially attracting a large number of casual fans. It¡¯s rare to see such a refreshingly natural, unpretentious, and self-aware tsundere female. Plus, the official video also proved that Xia Siyu really is a beautiful and kind-hearted young woman, and people¡¯s impression of her kept climbing. Starting from the live reality show ¡°Flowers and Grass¡±, to Li Weiyi¡¯s harassment, being detained and awaiting trial, and up to now, Xia Siyu had gradually changed the public¡¯s perception of her. Although there was still a lot of sensationalism, and there were various negative news, at least she was no longer associated with ¡°bad character¡±. From what we can see, she was quite self-aware, realizing that her acting was not good and that she needed to improve. For many viewers, stars are too far removed from their lives. Although they have a desire to peek into the private lives of celebrities, it¡¯s really just a bit of gossip for their leisure time. In truth, how the stars live their own lives doesn¡¯t really matter to them. But when stars fail to do their own job well, many people can¡¯t stand it. Such as acting for actors, singing for singers, dancing for dance performers. They just hope that Xia Siyu can really improve her acting as she has claimed. As for her hostility towards Bo Yan¡­ that¡¯s a private matter between two actors, perhaps due to a clash of auras. ** Of course, Xia Siyu was unaware of all these messy affairs. After fleeing the train station, she still had to take a several-hour ride to the program crew¡¯s designated checkpoint. Xia Siyu, having stayed up all night, fell asleep as soon as she got on the shuttle bus and didn¡¯t wake up even when they arrived at the destination. After getting the card, while waiting for the other guests to arrive, Xia Siyu went back to sleep in the car, completely knocked out. When the other guests arrived, the crew woke them up at noon to start preparing lunch. The moment there was food, Xia Siyu woke up instantly. Chapter 575 - 574 Discovered (6) Chapter 575: Chapter 574 Discovered (6) The production team didn¡¯t dare to be too hard on celebrities; after all, they had promised Xia Siyu a delicious meal. Although the lunch ordering segment was also part of the program activities, they still granted her the priority to choose first. So there was Xia Siyu, in her grimy and wrinkled clothes, slurping noodles from a bowl and keeping a close eye on the various dishes being served, just like a stray dog. She didn¡¯t just eat her own food; Qin Baizhou let her have some, and Wang Zisu did as well. He was very generous and said, ¡°Sister Siyu, I¡¯ve been dieting recently, so if you¡¯re hungry, you can have my portion too!¡± Xia Siyu hadn¡¯t eaten anything that morning and was starving, so she unceremoniously took Wang Zisu¡¯s untouched meal, boldly gulped down more than half of it, and finished the rest in a flash. Qin Baizhou was beside her, wanting to say something but holding back, finding it both amusing and heart-wrenching, but after all, they were filming a show, so he couldn¡¯t keep emphasizing that she should diet. If she wanted to eat, then let her eat. However, during the subsequent activities, whether by the program team¡¯s intentional direction or unintentionally, Xia Siyu¡¯s tasks always seemed to relate to ¡°eating.¡± Shooting the variety show took place in a large theme park, famous locally for its delicious street food. But these snacks were all from roadside stalls, such as sausages, barbecued meats, spicy hot pot, fried chicken cutlets, fried skewers, stinky tofu, and the like. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xia Siyu had never tried these roadside stalls before; she was abroad before and had debuted not long after returning to her home country. Today¡¯s variety show task happened to be taste-testing different street foods, and there was no way she would pass that up. From both a diet and health perspective, Qin Baizhou felt overwhelmed when he saw all the street food in her hands. But beyond these two concerns, what Qin Baizhou himself didn¡¯t even realize was that his words carried an underlying aversion to this kind of ¡°street cuisine.¡± It wasn¡¯t just that he found it dirty and unhealthy; mainly, he disdained the plebeian lifestyle. He himself had been poor before, and now, even more so, he wanted to leap into high society to pursue Xia Siyu, and was determined to distance himself from his past. But Xia Siyu was different; she didn¡¯t have these concepts in her mind at all. The Western education she received emphasized ¡°equality.¡± Whether feasible or not, since her childhood, she¡¯d been taught accordingly. After returning to her home country, when the Xia family and other so-called aristocratic families looked down on her mother and her, she felt no affection for these intricate rituals of the elite. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that being a celebrity prevented her from roaming streets and eating at roadside stalls, she probably would¡¯ve lived even more carefreely. After Qin Baizhou stopped her from eating barbecue for the N+1th time, Xia Siyu murmured an ¡°oh,¡± silently walked away from the food stall, but couldn¡¯t help looking back after a few steps. As she left, she turned off her microphone and seemed to complain, whether intentionally or not, ¡°If it were him, he would definitely let me eat¡­¡± Although the microphone was off, Qin Baizhou clearly heard her. He stopped in his tracks, and his face changed color immediately. If it weren¡¯t for the presence of the camera crew, he probably would have come up to explain himself on the spot. It turned out that his seven years of devotion couldn¡¯t compare to a few skewers of barbecue from Bo Yan. He really couldn¡¯t understand; Xia Siyu hadn¡¯t always been this way. He had devoted himself entirely for her sake; how could she change her heart so easily? But not clarifying things wasn¡¯t Qin Baizhou¡¯s style. He stepped forward and after a long pause, he finally began to explain: Chapter 576 - 575: Distance (1) Chapter 576: Chapter 575: Distance (1) ¡°You ate too much too quickly just now, be careful or later when we participate in the activities, you might have stomach problems.¡± Xia Siyu actually had a quick temper, but it faded even faster. She would complain if she couldn¡¯t eat something, but the thought would vanish instantly and she wouldn¡¯t dwell on it. After all, they were recording a variety show. They relied on the show to satisfy cravings, but even if the cravings weren¡¯t satisfied, it wasn¡¯t a big deal¡ªthe work was what mattered most. But Qin Baizhou wasn¡¯t like that. His nickname ¡°Smiling Tiger¡± really meant that he appeared calm on the surface but was turbulent inside. When Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t do something, she would forget about it immediately and move on to something else. He, however, would remain fixated on it. This fixation lasted until they finished recording the variety show that night. The variety show had been recording for a full two and a half days, ending tonight at midnight. Once it wrapped up, everyone would go their separate ways. Others were okay with this, but Wang Zisu was rather reluctant, holding onto Xia Siyu¡¯s arm and shaking it back and forth, ¡°Sister Siyu, my flight is early tomorrow morning, I am about to leave for the airport. I don¡¯t want to go, I don¡¯t want to leave you.¡± Xia Siyu stroked his curly hair with her hand, speaking affectionately, ¡°How about you come with me to the Northwest? I could really use someone to help out in the fields.¡± Wang Zisu also quickly flexed his biceps, ¡°I can do it, I¡¯m up for it!¡± Xia Siyu was pleased, ¡°Carrying water, chopping wood, plowing fields, harvesting wheat, picking corn, and maybe even cleaning out the cattle sheds¡ªyou pick one.¡± Wang Zisu immediately let go of her arm, ¡°Sorry to bother you. I feel that I haven¡¯t been focused enough on my music recently, I haven¡¯t even finished writing the chorus for my latest score.¡± The two separated with laughs. But while Xia Siyu¡¯s words were without intent, Qin Baizhou heard something meaningful. Carrying water, chopping wood, plowing fields, harvesting corn, and even cleaning out the cattle sheds¡ªshe actually did all these dirty and tiring tasks herself? Although Wei Jingjing had reported to him that Xia Siyu did everything hands-on, he hadn¡¯t imagined she would go this far. He turned to Wei Jingjing with a serious expression, ¡°The tasks Siyu just mentioned, has she really done them all?¡± Wei Jingjing nodded, ¡°Yes.¡± Qin Baizhou felt pained, ¡°Did you guys help her?¡± Wei Jingjing shook her head, ¡°Siyu wouldn¡¯t let us help.¡± ¡°Nonsense!¡± Qin Baizhou sternly admonished, ¡°It¡¯s fine if she wants to try, but how could you let her do it all alone? What if something happens, who would take the responsibility?¡± It was rare for Qin Baizhou to be so serious. Known as the ¡°Smiling Tiger,¡± even when scolding someone, he normally did it with a smile. Wei Jingjing, being reprimanded, hung her head and kept apologizing. But Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t ignore it, ¡°Isn¡¯t this a trivial matter? Besides, it was my own choice. Jingjing and the others weren¡¯t just standing by either¡ªthey were either helping me with tasks or focusing on cooking. During this time, Jingjing and the others have greatly improved their cooking skills, they make really delicious lamb.¡± S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He was fine until the subject of food came up, but once mentioned, Qin Baizhou felt a twinge of hurt inside. Especially since it was connected to Bo Yan, and his irritation surged, ¡°Siyu, you are a celebrity after all. Today was for the variety show, and wanting to eat more is one thing, but in the future, you absolutely can¡¯t overindulge. You are in the rising phase of your career right now, and you can¡¯t afford to make a small mistake that leads to a big loss. You need to maintain your figure, keep in shape, you must not overeat, you must not get fat.¡± Xia Siyu was not one to take grievances¡ªshe was like a mule that goes easier if stroked the right way, and she would listen to a gentle, persuasive voice. But she could not stand being scolded and would not listen to a single word of it. Chapter 577 - 576 Distant and Close (2) Chapter 577: Chapter 576 Distant and Close (2) ¡°What I eat is my business, how is it any of your concern? I¡¯m not without restraint, so what if I indulge myself just this once?¡± came the roar from a food lover. After saying that, Xia Siyu just stomped into the room with her shoes on, slamming the door of the inner suite at the hotel. With a ¡°bang,¡± the sound was like a warning to him, as well as a silent rejection of something. Outside, Wei Jingjing and Little Tang didn¡¯t dare to move, let alone speak. They couldn¡¯t bring themselves to leave either, waiting until a long time had passed, so long that Qin Baizhou¡¯s anger had subsided and he became aware of his own faults, wanting to make amends, but he didn¡¯t dare to knock on the door. He said, ¡°You guys go ahead and leave first.¡± Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Wei Jingjing and Little Tang, as if pardoned, quickly scuttled away. Only after they left did Qin Baizhou approach the door, wanting to knock on the inner room. He knew he had been a bit impatient lately. Xia Siyu¡¯s feelings for Bo Yan had grown deeper, especially since both families were pushing for a match, and they had become intimate. In order to please her, Bo Yan continued to cater to her preferences. Qin Baizhou believed he was acting in Xia Siyu¡¯s long-term interests, and thus had to impose some restrictions on her. But Bo Yan, he was only after her body, and would prefer to deceive her into leaving the industry and marrying him. Truthful advice is unpleasant to the ear, but even though he was acting in her best interest, she wouldn¡¯t appreciate it, and seemed to lean more and more towards Bo Yan, which caused him more pain. He thought about it, didn¡¯t knock, but just stood at the door and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯ve been under a lot of pressure lately, and I took it out on you. My apologies.¡± Xia Siyu indeed had the kind of personality to ignore people once she got angry. Qin Baizhou said many things outside the door, but there was no response from inside. Qin Baizhou thought for a while, and added another sentence, ¡°I did it for your own good, but I won¡¯t do it again in the future.¡± ¡°I did it for your own good¡±¡ªthe phrase felt like the standard line from Chinese parents to their child. Although Xia Siyu knew that Qin Baizhou advising her not to eat at street stalls and to maintain her figure was indeed for her best interest. But she was already in her twenties, not without self-control. What¡¯s wrong with indulging just once in a while? Yet he kept reminding her, which was really disappointing. Furthermore, upon knowing that he had feelings for her, she reevaluated the ways he was managing her and felt a vague sense of rejection. Even without those, she always felt that Qin Baizhou was not a good match for her. For instance, their views¡ªQin Baizhou strived to distance himself from his former impoverished self and also sought to separate from the impoverished class. Whereas Xia Siyu did not see rich or poor, but only what was suitable or unsuitable. Yet, they still had to continue their collaboration, and with seven years of friendship, she was mature enough to control her emotions. She wouldn¡¯t continue to be angry with him, she simply didn¡¯t want to deal with him for the time being. Qin Baizhou probably knew this as well as he lowered his head, ¡°Then you rest well. You worked hard today, good night.¡± The door didn¡¯t budge, Xia Siyu still gave no response. Right after Qin Baizhou left, almost as if by coincidence, Bo Yan¡¯s phone call came through. Xia Siyu hesitated for a moment, then answered. She was very tired today, and actually didn¡¯t want to talk about her train experience with Bo Yan, nor did she want to discuss her conflict with Qin Baizhou. If Bo Yan had directly asked her, she wouldn¡¯t have answered, and would have even hung up the phone in annoyance. But Bo Yan did not ask about these matters. Instead, he talked about his own experiences assisting Sun Wujiu with directing and camera work, and shared some interesting stories about being a director. Chapter 578 - 577: Distance (3) Chapter 578: Chapter 577: Distance (3) Xia Siyu was originally very tired, her body was tired, and so was her heart, but when she heard him talk about her day, speaking vividly and interestingly, it was as if she could travel back to the Northwest, back to the scene, and her mood relaxed instantly. Moreover, Bo Yan didn¡¯t ask what had happened to her or when she would return. But Xia Siyu felt that he must have seen the trending topics on Weibo and that he knew about her encounter on the train, he just chose not to ask. Xia Siyu turned out to be the one who couldn¡¯t hold back first, and she opened her mouth, ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask what happened to me today?¡± Bo Yan said with a smile, ¡°Is there a need to ask? Isn¡¯t this just the daily life of a celebrity?¡± Xia Siyu was stunned for a moment, indeed, even for celebrities who are slightly more famous, appearing on a train like this would probably cause a commotion, it was really nothing special. Furthermore, her not mentioning it meant that there must be nothing wrong, and since there was nothing wrong, there was no need for him to bring it up. This guy, he really was too smart. Usually, she might call him a dog man, but at that moment, the thought that he was a bit smarter and could see through many things without the need for explanation indeed made her feel that many things were simpler. Thinking of this, the tensions in Xia Siyu¡¯s face eased, and she began to order revengefully, ¡°I want to eat lamb! I want a big bowl of lamb soup! I want cumin lamb! A big plate of it, no, a big plate every day!¡± If Qin Baizhou wouldn¡¯t let her eat, then she was determined to eat her fill. Bo Yan, of course, also knew she was a little glutton, and he was aware of the importance of maintaining a figure for a celebrity. But he didn¡¯t know about the conflict between Xia Siyu and Qin Baizhou, he just laughed, ¡°If you eat like this, how will I be able to afford to keep you in the future!¡± ¡°Who asked you to provide for me? Can¡¯t I earn my own money? If you won¡¯t buy it for me, I¡¯ll buy it myself!¡± Xia Siyu huffed. As if she was afraid! ¡°I¡¯ll buy it, is that not okay? The wife I took for myself, I¡¯ll spoil her even if I have to kneel, otherwise, are we going to divorce or something?¡± Bo Yan didn¡¯t know what Xia Siyu had gone through, but he could tell from her tone that there was a hint of discontent. These kinds of words that took advantage of her were naturally not accepted by Xia Siyu, ¡°Who is your wife? And be careful, I might really go through with the divorce!¡± S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°I dare not, the wife is the boss.¡± Bo Yan joked around, and believe it or not, Xia Siyu really did feel more at ease. Arguing with Bo Yan, she didn¡¯t need to be careful, she could say whatever she wanted, and if she could not win the argument, she could start a fight; Bo Yan would never fight back anyway. It was strange, when Bo Yan clung to her, she found it annoying. But when they were apart, even though she did not miss him all the time, recalling the moments they shared together, apart from this guy being a dog in certain aspects, there was actually nothing that really hit her sore spots, it was a very comfortable feeling. Maybe it was because he learned from the past, that even if one likes another person a lot, without companionship, without expressing it, love would only drift farther away. Perhaps, one day in the future, her feeling toward Bo Yan might not be love, yet she could be confident that she could continue to live with him. Isn¡¯t that what marriage, what life is all about? Not hating each other is already enough to support the time spent together. With this thought, she yawned, ¡°I¡¯m sleepy.¡± ¡°Good night.¡± He hadn¡¯t hung up the phone yet when he already heard Xia Siyu¡¯s even breathing as she fell asleep within a second. Bo Yan was left with a silent chuckle, holding the phone, he really wanted to see her! Chapter 579 - 578: Distance (4) Chapter 579: Chapter 578: Distance (4) Over the next few days, Xia Siyu was engulfed by work. She didn¡¯t head straight back to Yancheng but went to Shangcheng first to make an appearance for a brand. Then she went to a charity dinner in Nancheng called ¡°New Stars Night.¡± Nowadays, audiences had wised up; they knew that if you were attending a charity event, you¡¯d have to cough up some cash. Xia Siyu, being someone who¡¯d lightly drop a fortune just for a laugh without a real sense of money, casually bid two million yuan for a painting by a contemporary calligrapher and painter, becoming the biggest spender of the evening in terms of charity donations. Of course, she paid with her own money; the company didn¡¯t contribute a cent. However, even though she had spent so much, Qin Baizhou still gave her a little push, helping her trend on the hot search. Using charity for marketing, although there would still be trolls cursing her, as long as the money was right, most onlookers were pleased to see it. But because of that incident on the train, Xia Siyu hoped the company would change its strategy¡ªnot to overhype or expose too much anymore, especially with charity. The more earnestly she engaged in charity work, the less she wanted it to become a point of hype. Of course, she also knew that she had been arguing with Qin Baizhou a lot lately and that the company was willing to spend money to get her on the hot search, which was good for her. But she really hoped to be an actress and didn¡¯t want too much exposure of her personal life. She just hoped to appear on the hot search when her work was released; at other times, she needed to film, to reflect, to live her own life. But Qin Baizhou wanting to maintain her popularity wasn¡¯t a problem either. Ninety percent of stars rely on their youth, and even if they continue to act in films or television as they age, very few can reach their past heights, and most of them eventually fade from the limelight. To fade away meant that you would start losing roles, get overshadowed by other artists, and be both elevated and put down. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She wasn¡¯t wrong, and neither was Qin Baizhou; it was simply that their methods had begun to diverge. Qin Baizhou was afraid that if he said too much, he would push her further away, so as long as she didn¡¯t openly object, he would silently carry out his plans behind the scenes. And Xia Siyu, naturally lazy to argue, let him do anything as long as it didn¡¯t affect her filming. The two unspokenly avoided discussing each other¡¯s affairs, which, on the surface, seemed more harmonious, but only they knew any underlying disagreements. The next day, Xia Siyu still had tasks to attend to, with an interview during the day, followed by a live broadcast in the evening. But this time the live broadcast was in Yancheng, so after the interview, she didn¡¯t even remove her makeup before taking a flight back. This sort of jet-setting life was something Xia Siyu had long grown accustomed to. For celebrities, it¡¯s not the insults that are feared but the lack of them. It¡¯s not being busy every day that¡¯s dreaded, but having nothing to keep busy with. After finishing the live broadcast, with three days left before the start of shooting, Xia Siyu could start preparing to head back to the Northwest. But Qin Baizhou seemed intent on her picking up a few more business deals before the shoot began, with three advertisements and a magazine feature awaiting her. He had packed her three days full to the brim. When Qin Baizhou informed her at the last minute, Xia Siyu indeed felt a bit annoyed. An artist¡¯s schedule was usually arranged well in advance. It¡¯s not that ads and magazine shoots couldn¡¯t be squeezed in, but they shouldn¡¯t be crammed to the point of exhaustion. After all, there¡¯s a limit to human energy, and for several days in a row now, she hadn¡¯t had a good night¡¯s sleep or a day of peace. But since the work had all been scheduled, what else was there to say? Get on with it, for who wouldn¡¯t want to earn the money? Chapter 580 - 579: Distance (5) Chapter 580: Chapter 579: Distance (5) When people get busy, sometimes they neglect many things. Take Bo Yan, for example. While she was shooting one advertisement after another, Bo Yan hadn¡¯t been in touch for several days. Initially, the plan was for her to return after seven days, but now, three more days had passed since the seventh day, and she had brought this up with Director Sun, who naturally agreed to it. After all, production hadn¡¯t started, and technically she had no obligation to stay in the Northwest all the time. But when she reported to Director Sun, she didn¡¯t ask about Bo Yan, nor did Bo Yan call her back. However, through Director Sun¡¯s words, she could feel that they were also busy with intense preparations over there, seemingly quite arduous. Xia Siyu knew that Bo Yan¡¯s involvement in ¡°Spring Light¡±, apart from playing the male lead, was more importantly about learning how to direct and be behind the camera. Both of them were so busy that they had no time to care for each other, so busy that even a single phone call was a luxury. However, that was probably for the best. If Bo Yan had clung to her during her busiest times, Xia Siyu wouldn¡¯t have appreciated it; instead, she might have found him annoying. Their relationship wasn¡¯t that kind to begin with. Although they had become somewhat more dependent on each other recently, she still didn¡¯t want to take their relationship to the next level. It seemed to her that by agreeing to date him, to become his wife in a normal sense, she would need to fulfill duties and responsibilities. Becoming emotionally involved meant the risk of getting hurt if they eventually separated. She¡ªdidn¡¯t have the confidence. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yet, when the high-intensity work took its toll, she did feel a bit worn out. Shooting advertisements wasn¡¯t hard, but the traveling took its toll, as did the quiet when she returned to Qingcheng Apartment alone after all the commuting. Xia Siyu never used to feel lonely when she lived by herself. But these days, she had grown accustomed to having Bo Yan by her side. Whether it was arguing, hugging, or matching wits, she didn¡¯t have to come home to a pitch-dark house every day. Even when he was quietly present without uttering a word, at least he was there, breathing. And then there was tomorrow. Tomorrow would be the last advertisement. Once she got through that, she could fly to the Northwest first thing the next morning. Actually, Xia Siyu had never been so eager to start a film project before. Filming was work, and so was shooting ads; moreover, ads were quicker to make money and more relaxed. Stars didn¡¯t mind wearing a few more endorsements. But this time, she didn¡¯t know why, she just wanted to leave Yancheng sooner and start filming. Today, when the shooting of the advertisement finished, Xia Siyu¡¯s smiling face in front of the camera cooled down in an instant. Qin Baizhou also came today and clearly noticed her somewhat gloomy expression. Knowing that Xia Siyu was working hard, he wanted to make amends, ¡°Everyone¡¯s worked hard today. I¡¯m hosting, let¡¯s go relax and have a drink.¡± Usually, at this time, Xia Siyu would enthusiastically agree with both hands. But today, she shook her head directly, ¡°No, thanks. I have to get up early tomorrow, and I want to rest.¡± Wei Jingjing already had a ¡°sure¡± ready on the tip of her tongue but had to hold back at this point. The group looked at each other in dismay, and Xia Siyu added, ¡°You guys go ahead, don¡¯t worry about me.¡± If the star herself wasn¡¯t going, the rest of them, mere buy-one-get-one-free add-ons, naturally went home to rest. All along the way, Xia Siyu leaned against the car window for a bit of rest. When they arrived, she got out of the car, her eyes full of fatigue. Qin Baizhou said, ¡°You get some good rest.¡± Xia Siyu nodded, not even having the strength to say ¡°good night,¡± and turned straight to press the elevator button. But as soon as she got home, she noticed something was wrong¡ªthe lights were on in her apartment! Had she forgotten to turn them off, or¡ªhad Bo Yan come back? Chapter 581 - 580: Distance (6) Chapter 581: Chapter 580: Distance (6) S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Her suspicion was confirmed within two seconds. Looking down, although there was no suitcase, there was a pair of men¡¯s leather shoes by the door¡ªBo Yan¡¯s shoes. Then, footsteps quickly approached from the room, followed by Bo Yan¡¯s tall figure. He must¡¯ve just taken a shower, droplets of water still clinging to his hair, already dressed in pajamas. His eyes sparkled upon seeing her. He was taking big strides at first, but after two steps, he quickened his pace even more, and in an instant, he was by her side, scooping her into his arms. Xia Siyu was a bit surprised, and when she was held by him, she was still stunned, ¡°Why are you back?¡± She would leave early the day after tomorrow, which meant she could only stay in Yancheng for one day. She thought for a moment and asked, ¡°Do you have an emergency?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Bo Yan nodded, ¡°I missed you.¡± Missing her was the most significant matter. Xia Siyu was stunned again. These days, both Xia Siyu and Bo Yan had been incredibly busy. However, Bo Yan¡¯s busyness was to make time to come here, desperately squeezing the originally scheduled work into two days less than planned so that he could fly over earlier. Moreover, he only mentioned his visit to Song Fengzhi, took a leave of absence from Director Sun, and came alone. He didn¡¯t bring any luggage and didn¡¯t inform anyone. Both he and Xia Siyu had jobs, and he didn¡¯t want his personal affairs to affect their work. But he missed Xia Siyu very much. So the best approach was to clear his tasks early by cramming them in, and only after he was done with his work, would he have the confidence and time to come and see her. Xia Siyu then said, ¡°Actually, you didn¡¯t have to. After all, shooting starts the day after tomorrow, and I¡¯m definitely going back.¡± ¡°It¡¯s different. You¡¯re coming back the day after tomorrow, but that¡¯s around noon. From now on, that¡¯s thirty-six hours when we can¡¯t see each other,¡± Bo Yan counted very precisely, ¡°Besides, after you arrive, we¡¯ll have to film, and there won¡¯t be much time to be alone. Even if we are together, we will have to do it behind others¡¯ backs since it¡¯s not good to be seen when there are too many prying eyes.¡± There was no helping it. Being celebrities meant sacrificing some privacy. If they wanted to maintain a low-profile life, they had to meet like underground party operatives. Originally, Xia Siyu didn¡¯t feel it, but after a series of recent events, she realized that although Bo Yan was sometimes annoying, he was the most comfortable to be with. She didn¡¯t need to hide any trace of her negative emotions or dissatisfaction. To fight if she wanted, to scold if she wanted; they understood each other at their darkest times, down to the core. Even if they weren¡¯t lovers but just friends, they would still have a pleasant relationship. However, Bo Yan was indeed annoying. After just a brief embrace, Xia Siyu could already feel his breathing getting a bit hurried. She had felt a touch of emotion just a moment ago, but seeing his current mood, all her feelings dissipated in an instant. She rolled her eyes in speechless resignation, ¡°I¡¯m a bit tired today and need to get up early tomorrow.¡± Bo Yan came back indeed to be with her. There are many forms of togetherness, and intimacy is one of them. Nonsense, thinking about it carefully, it had been more than twenty days since her last period, and he had been craving her badly. But he had been worn out from traveling all day, heading straight to the airport after finishing his work in the afternoon. From four in the afternoon until just recently, he had been on the road, arriving home only less than a half-hour before Xia Siyu. Holding her, he nuzzled his head into the crook of her shoulder, ¡°Okay, then let¡¯s rest tonight. Maybe we can take a bath together or something.¡± Chapter 582 - 581: Peaceful (1) Chapter 582: Chapter 581: Peaceful (1) Xia Siyu was speechless. When he spoke of ¡°taking a bath,¡± it was clear it wasn¡¯t just as simple as ¡°taking a bath together.¡± Bo Yan never treated himself poorly, especially at times like this. She continued to refuse, ¡°No need, I can go by myself. Besides, didn¡¯t you already take a bath?¡± Saying this, she struggled to get down from Bo Yan. Bo Yan bent down once again, this time to lift her horizontally into his arms, ¡°It¡¯s okay, I have a kind heart. I¡¯ll take you with me, and I¡¯ll take another bath with you.¡± Bo Yan carried her to the bathroom, where she showered first, while he filled the bathtub with water. By the time she had finished bathing, the bathtub was full. Whenever he soaked in the bath, Bo Yan would feel dissatisfied with the size of the tub at home; it was too small. If it were like that round massage bathtub at the hotel they last stayed in, bathing would have been so much more enjoyable. Yet, every time he squeezed into this bathtub with Xia Siyu, he felt its size was just right. If it were any larger, she wouldn¡¯t be leaning against him as she was. During this time, not only Xia Siyu was exhausted, but Bo Yan was equally tired. The two of them leaned against the bathtub, steam rising around them, and Bo Yan had even started an aromatherapy diffuser in the bathroom. This natural aroma was different from the chemically concocted ones; it was fresh and natural. Moreover, he had thoughtfully brought a bottle of ice wine! Ice wine is a type of white wine, made only after the grapes have frozen in winter, and served chilled in an ice bucket. With its low alcohol content and sweet taste, it was perfect for sipping in a bath like this. Before, when Qin Baizhou suggested treating them, she did not want to go. But now, soaking in the bath and sipping the cool, sweet wine at home seemed to dissolve all her fatigue, leaving her body feeling lazy and warm. Bo Yan could naturally see her gradually easing brows and increasingly relaxed demeanor. Even though he didn¡¯t ask, the dark circles under Xia Siyu¡¯s eyes and the weariness in them after she removed her makeup weren¡¯t fake. Sometimes, watching artists with only one engagement a day, but inconveniently located in different cities, means exhausting travel. Like him today, traveling from the Northwest back to Yancheng, spending eight or nine hours on the road. Being an artist, unless one really scrimped and saved, was mostly exhausting, often running on overdrawn energy just to keep up with work. He too had not understood before, only after immersing himself in the industry did he realize how hard it was. Though Xia Siyu had a fiery temper, her work ethic was exquisite. She had even fainted from exhaustion before while in Sicily; and during the last few times they worked together, she had been very dedicated. As much as he wanted to be close to her, he wanted even more for her to be happy. If she felt that work brought her joy, he wouldn¡¯t force her to leave the industry but would continue supporting her journey. Some things didn¡¯t need to be asked, some words didn¡¯t need to be said; just seeing the result was enough. The result was, without Bo Yan making any moves, Xia Siyu had a bit of wine and comfortably fell asleep in the bathtub, her head resting on his shoulder. He tilted his head and could see her eyes peacefully closed in sleep, her breathing even. Bo Yan didn¡¯t disturb her, instead, he gently lifted her up. It was a good thing she had already finished washing up and removed her makeup. After leaving the bathroom, he dried her off with a towel, and changed her into pajamas. Xia Siyu was truly exhausted; she didn¡¯t wake up even with all the movement. Once he changed her into the most comfortable position, she fell into a deep sleep. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 583 - 582: Peaceful (2) Chapter 583: Chapter 582: Peaceful (2) Bo Yan quickly finished his own clean-up, drained the bathtub, and cleaned the bathroom a bit more. He had already freshened up earlier, so after a quick tidying, he returned. When he closed the door, turned off the lights, and lifted the covers, Xia Siyu automatically moved closer to him, wrapping around him like an octopus out of habit. She even found the most comfortable position and drifted into a secure sleep. Bo Yan watched the person sleeping in his arms, his eyes filled with tenderness. Even he hadn¡¯t anticipated that, although they had been apart for some time recently, their relationship had grown closer. This natural familiarity and the comforting feeling of being able to rely on him made him incredibly happy. Maybe she hadn¡¯t fallen in love with him yet, but she had already begun to depend on him, trust him, and get used to having him in her life. With dependency and trust, that¡¯s enough to sustain a marriage. He was confident that no matter how resolute Xia Siyu seemed in her words, her heart was still that of a soft and passionate girl. ** Before coming home, Xia Siyu never imagined she could sleep so comfortably. She had been traveling around in recent days. Being busy with work was one thing, but what was more exhausting was the toll it took on her heart. Even though she and Qin Baizhou had no conflicts, nor was it because of a confession, she always felt there was an invisible restraint oppressing her, preventing her from working and living freely. She thought she would be extremely fatigued that night, but unexpectedly, after Bo Yan came back, she slept very soundly, waking up only when it was already daylight. When she woke up, Bo Yan was still not awake. Xia Siyu was tired, and so was he. As the start of filming approached, he was busy studying on the side, with many tasks to handle. A director is different from an actor; an actor only needs to perform their part, but a director, even with assistants, needs to oversee the whole project and control many details. Xia Siyu was wearied from travel, while he was working on set for twenty-four hours a day, apart from the time spent sleeping. Especially since he also had to carve out time to come back, his daily sleep never exceeded six hours. Xia Siyu turned to look at him. In his sleep, Bo Yan was really handsome. His profile was perfect, his features seemed chiseled with precision, defined but not overly sharp. She used to be beguiled by that face, chasing after him of her own accord. After they broke up, she had tried hard to block out his face. Even after they got married and when he began to get close at the start, she strived to reject him. But once she let go of her prejudice and obsession and looked back, Bo Yan indeed had a face that could make someone fall in love at first sight, impeccable in both appearance and physique. Especially since he wasn¡¯t just good-looking; he was also incredibly impressive in that department¡­ S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. There¡¯s a saying, ¡°After satiety comes desire.¡± She was really tired last night, truly very tired, and aside from resting, she didn¡¯t want to do anything else. But once she had enough rest, her thoughts began to stir. Food and sex are basic human desires. Women do have those little ripples too. It¡¯s just that, compared to men, those ripples aren¡¯t as urgent. But with her and Bo Yan, it was a process of giving and taking. When Bo Yan used to play it cool, she wanted to tease him. When Bo Yan stopped doing that and became more direct, she found him annoying. But after they had been apart for quite a while, and since he was really well-behaved last night and didn¡¯t touch her, Xia Siyu¡¯s innate tendency to tease and flirt was acting up again. To be honest, even though she had used it plenty of times and had occasionally glanced over, she had never really taken a good look at his ¡°equipment.¡± Today, she was going to take a close look! Chapter 584 - 583: Peaceful (3) Chapter 584: Chapter 583: Peaceful (3) Of course, Xia Siyu herself didn¡¯t want to be caught by him. The essence of sneaking a peek lies not in the act of looking, but in the ¡°sneaking,¡± which is to do it quietly, without detection. Before she began to pull down Bo Yan¡¯s pants, she took a stealthy glance. Bo Yan lay flat, his hands on his lower abdomen, peacefully closing his eyes in slumber. His breathing was steady, his eyes tightly shut, showing no signs of waking up. Xia Siyu observed for a long time, and seeing that Bo Yan was in deep sleep, she stealthily moved down and gently lifted the quilt. As soon as she lifted it, she looked back warily, but Bo Yan remained motionless, seemingly in a deep sleep. Bo Yan wore no pajamas at night, covered only by a pair of shorts from head to toe. The moment she lifted the quilt, she saw his solid and full muscles. His upper chest was full, the central seam pronounced, and even in a dormant lying state, the contours were very distinct. His legs were long and sturdy, lacking the obvious bulging calf muscles that tend to look rough, instead showcasing beautifully defined lines and slightly flexed tendons. Of course, the most eye-catching part was definitely the area beneath his shorts. That¡¯s where this man¡¯s provocativeness lay¡ªin sleeping without pajamas and in those particularly tight shorts. Xia Siyu scanned the area briefly, not moving her hands directly but turning her head back to look at Bo Yan. He was still sound asleep, seemingly oblivious to all her actions. Perhaps a bit nervous, Xia Siyu licked her lips. When her hand reached the edge of the shorts, she looked back again to see if Bo Yan was pretending to sleep, to see if he had already woken up. If there was the slightest rustle or movement, she would immediately tactically retreat, determined not to fall under his control. For now, everything seemed fine. Xia Siyu was indeed a bit nervous, fearing that he would wake up while she was in the midst of ¡°unpacking,¡± her movements were extremely careful and delicate. She used the gentlest strength to slide them off smoothly. Sometimes the creator really does play favorites. It¡¯s like the goddess N¨¹wa, who carefully crafted some people to be brilliant and valiant, while carelessly formed others ended up as lumpy and misshapen. Bo Yan, whether in terms of height, appearance, or physique, seemed to be meticulously made in all aspects, But don¡¯t let his current quiet and peaceful appearance fool you; he¡¯s like a sleeping lion. Once he becomes aware, it will provoke boundless fury. Moreover. Don¡¯t think that just because their relationship has improved recently, she could get over the hurdle in her heart reminding her of his despicable behavior at the beginning. So what if he looks good? He might be very handsome, but once you strip off that fa?ade of detachment, underneath is just a canine, a wolfhound at that¡ªpart wolf, part dog! Suddenly, she felt like punching him or kicking him, to pay him back for bullying her! But such an action would probably end with her being invited for a ¡°chat,¡± and besides, it was too harsh and unnecessary. Thinking it over, she glanced at the nightstand where her unfinished glass of room-temperature water stood. Can¡¯t hit, can¡¯t scald, so maybe I can splash some cold water, right? Let¡¯s see how you deal with that, Mr. Arrogant Bully! As she was entertaining these thoughts, suddenly a soft voice came from beside her: Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 585 - 584: Peaceful (4) Chapter 585: Chapter 584: Peaceful (4) ¡°Does it look good?¡± sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xia Siyu¡¯s whole body jolted, and without even turning her head, she knew the owner of that voice had to be Bo Yan! Bo Yan had actually woken up early, before Xia Siyu did. As she was coming to, he, as if blessed by a stroke of fortune, immediately closed his eyes and pretended to sleep. He was only feigning sleep to tease her a bit, planning to scare her when she got up, perhaps by making a funny face from behind her. Unexpectedly, she began by throwing off the covers. It was no longer summer, and even though the room had central air conditioning to control the temperature, autumn¡¯s cool breeze made it a bit chilly. He wasn¡¯t sure what Xia Siyu was preparing to do; he just felt her sit up right next to him. Even with his eyes closed, he could sense her breath, and it felt as if his own eyes followed the path of her breathing downward, sliding from his chest to his belly, and lower. It seemed to graze past his legs and then slowly ascend. Xia Siyu paused there for quite a while, and honestly, he didn¡¯t expect this girl would be bold enough to actually dare to pull down his pants. With his eyes closed, he could feel her fingers barely touching the edge of the fabric. Then she paused, as if observing or making up her mind, before swiftly and decisively stripping it away. Her breath grew closer, and even though he couldn¡¯t see, he could feel her face nearing, then stopping. If she hadn¡¯t been afraid of waking him up, she probably would have just gone ahead and touched him. When the sound of her breath started to fade again, he guessed she was about to flee the scene of the crime. If he didn¡¯t act now, she would certainly pretend like nothing had happened, and then he¡¯d have missed out. Bo Yan¡¯s sudden voice made Xia Siyu jump. Just as he expected, Xia Siyu¡¯s first instinct was to run! Without time for explanations or to tidy up, she quickly turned around. But it was no use; Bo Yan grabbed her fleeing wrist and pulled her back. Xia Siyu had anticipated this and didn¡¯t fall over when he tugged her at first, instead, she immediately started to resist. Bo Yan was gripping her strongly, she couldn¡¯t escape for the moment; and since she had stripped him, it was also too embarrassing to turn around, so she could only bluff with a shout, ¡°Let go of me!¡± How could Bo Yan possibly let go? Last night, he and Xia Siyu were indeed exhausted from their travels. She was unwilling, and he didn¡¯t want to force her. After a journey like that, a hot bath followed by a beautiful rest was indeed more refreshing than anything. But now that he was well-rested, he was full of energy. Xia Siyu was probably buzzing with energy too, lively enough to come and provoke him. As Xia Siyu tried to flee, Bo Yan quickly got up. His hand that had caught her arm didn¡¯t let go, and his other arm quickly wrapped around her from behind, as his head came forward to rest on her shoulder, gently sniffing her neck, ¡°You haven¡¯t answered my question yet, does it look good?¡± ¡°Good my foot, it¡¯s hideous!¡± Even if it actually wasn¡¯t ugly, at that moment, Xia Siyu would definitely say it was. She struggled again but only ended up held even tighter. Bo Yan snorted: ¡°You say that, but your body tells the truth.¡± Her face was completely red, not from shyness but from annoyance at being caught after sneaking a peek. Deciding to just break the jar and spill the beans, she dug in her heels and turned her head, ¡°So what if I looked? What are you going to do about it?¡± Chapter 586 - 585: Peaceful (5) Chapter 586: Chapter 585: Peaceful (5) ¡°Not only did I see, I also don¡¯t want to use it, to make you jealous!¡± Indeed, life needs to be noisy and bustling to forget many worries. The exhaustion Siyu felt in the previous few days vanished, and she couldn¡¯t even recall the issues with Qin Bozhou and work. It was only now, during her fallout with Qin Bozhou and the subtle dissonance with the company¡¯s business strategies, that her bickering with Bo Yan felt especially real. Bo Yan let her hit and scold him, but there was one point on which he was adamant¡ªhe was determined to eat meat. ¡°That won¡¯t do, I¡¯ve been seen by you all over, you need to take full responsibility!¡± ¡°Take what responsibility, get away from me!¡± Siyu was also adamant in not compromising, although they were arguing, this contention felt more like a playful marital tiff than previous anger and rejection. In the midst of their struggle, Bo Yan brought her down on the bed headfirst, both falling together. Siyu quickly turned around, extending her hand to punch his chest. Bo Yan didn¡¯t stop her, instead he leaned in to kiss her, to which she responded with a kick, hitting his calf. Although Siyu was kicking and punching, the force wasn¡¯t strong. Compared to the past, when a kick from her could make Bo Yan hurt for half a day, this was more like tickling. As the two of them were messing about, a phone call abruptly came in, interrupting their entwined moment. It was Bo Yan¡¯s ringtone. Siyu said to him, ¡°Are you not going to answer the call?¡± Bo Yan rolled over, sealing her lips with a kiss, and murmured deep in his throat, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± It was probably Director Sun. Bo Yan had taken leave from Director Sun yesterday, but he hadn¡¯t mentioned where he was going. Maybe Director Sun, unable to find him, decided to call. But Bo Yan wasn¡¯t worried. Before coming here, he had already instructed Song Fengzhi to stay in the Northwest and cover for him. Anyway, he was only leaving for two days and would return tomorrow; there likely wouldn¡¯t be any big issues. The phone rang a few times, then stopped. Bo Yan was all ears even though he wasn¡¯t panicking; but if there really was an emergency, he would feel awkward continuing to be affectionate with his wife, certainly prioritizing work. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fortunately, the phone did not ring again, and he breathed a sigh of relief. Lowering his head, this time he not only went for the left side of her neck but also slowly moved his hand under her pajamas, gently caressing. Previously, not being able to have it was one thing, but ever since their relationship improved, this was the longest they had been apart. More than twenty days without intimacy made his heart itch. In fact, Siyu felt the same. Men have needs, and so do women. She wasn¡¯t against it; it was just the annoyance of being caught peeking just now, which made her feel as if she had been tricked by him, everything arranged so clearly. After several caresses from Bo Yan, she was also feeling a bit of it. After all, they were husband and wife, as well as P-buddies; enjoying life wasn¡¯t wrong. Even though Jingjing was supposed to come pick her up for an advertisement shoot after eleven, the clock had just struck nine in the morning. Playing around for a while wouldn¡¯t hurt. But she just didn¡¯t want Bo Yan to succeed so quickly, wanting to tease him. Despite breathing heavily, she still refused, ¡°I¡¯ve just gotten up and haven¡¯t freshened up yet.¡± Bo Yan, too, looked dazed and replied, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, I don¡¯t mind.¡± ¡°Well, I mind, is that okay?¡± Siyu stretched out a hand, preparing to push him away, but as they pulled and tugged, the phone rang again. This time, it was Siyu¡¯s phone. Chapter 587 - 586: Peaceful (6) Chapter 587: Chapter 586: Peaceful (6) Xia Siyu was not like Bo Yan; when her phone rang, she didn¡¯t just lie there but pushed him away immediately and fumbled on the nightstand for her phone. She had to answer the call, and Bo Yan couldn¡¯t stop her; he watched as she went to pick up her phone. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. When Xia Siyu saw it, damn, it was the bank calling her, probably with some investment or financial product promotion again. Xia Siyu hung up the call, but she still opened WeChat to see if there were any messages left for her. While Xia Siyu was dealing with her phone, Bo Yan naturally checked his own calls. Just as he thought, it was Director Sun calling about a prop. Bo Yan had spoken to him and even left a message, ¡°I have something going on today, heading into the city. I probably won¡¯t be able to meet until after filming starts tomorrow.¡± Director Sun didn¡¯t mind; after all, Bo Yan was a star with a busy schedule, and it was already great that he had stayed in the Northwest for the early part of the shoot. After greeting Director Sun, Bo Yan contacted Song Fengzhi. He had sneaked back to Yancheng alone. Besides his phone and ID, he had hardly brought anything else. He would be returning tomorrow, just in time for the start of filming, with no time to visit the small mountain village; he had to go directly to the film studio. He would have to change into his costume, possibly encountering media and fans in the process. Therefore, Song Fengzhi needed to pick him up from the airport in advance and have everything ready in the car. He also had to avoid being recognized with Xia Siyu. After giving all the instructions, Xia Siyu too had finished replying to her messages. Nothing important was going on for her at that time; Wei Jingjing wouldn¡¯t come looking for her this early, knowing she loved to sleep. She usually notified her to come pick her up at eleven, with the call coming at around ten-thirty. But after the interruption, the atmosphere between the two had dissipated, and even though they both put down their phones and looked at each other at the same time, Bo Yan didn¡¯t continue. After a while, Bo Yan and Xia Siyu both laughed again. Xia Siyu¡¯s smile held a hint of distaste as she said, ¡°You better hurry up and put your pants on!¡± ¡°Do you have the nerve to say that? It was you who pulled them down,¡± Bo Yan wanted to tease her, but Xia Siyu had already jumped out of bed and rushed into the bathroom like a wisp of smoke. Bo Yan followed her to the bathroom; fortunately, the house had two bathrooms. He let the water run, then returned to Xia Siyu¡¯s bedroom. Even though his own room also had a vanity, he still wanted to squeeze in and brush his teeth and wash his face with her. There¡¯s an old saying; loving him means having the courage to brush your teeth with him. On one hand, brushing teeth together is proof of closeness between two people. On the other hand, the grimacing that comes with tooth brushing isn¡¯t attractive, and being comfortable showing the least perfect side of oneself to the other person is the true face of love. However, Xia Siyu wouldn¡¯t think there was anything imperfect about herself; she smugly felt she looked quite beautiful, even while sitting on the toilet. But brushing teeth together, with him being taller and her shorter, performing identical actions and postures, looking at his reflection and him looking at hers in the mirror, that sensation wasn¡¯t about a sudden throb of the heart but was more about a gentle, continuous flow. After they both gurgled to rinse after brushing, they reached for towels to wash their faces. Through the gap in her towel, Xia Siyu watched him in the mirror, still looking at her. Xia Siyu got annoyed; ¡°What are you looking at me for?¡± Bo Yan laughed; ¡°Why, can¡¯t I look at your face?¡± ¡°No, you can¡¯t.¡± After saying that, Xia Siyu played with the faucet on purpose, splashing water onto him, soaking Bo Yan completely. Chapter 588 - 587 Awareness (1) Chapter 588: Chapter 587 Awareness (1) Bo Yan didn¡¯t expect Xia Siyu to behave like such a child: ¡°You dare splash me with water?¡± ¡°I splashed you, what are you going to do about it?¡± Siyu replied triumphantly. As she spoke, she sprinkled some more water on Bo Yan, drenching the lower half of his body. Bo Yan was not to be outdone and immediately snatched back control of the tap, engaging in a water fight with her. Although he hadn¡¯t said anything when she had drenched him, when Bo Yan splashed a few drops of water on her, she immediately started hopping mad: ¡°Ah, Bo Yan! You still dare, do you?¡± S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°If you dare, I dare!¡± In that moment, Bo Yan abandoned all pretenses of being the cool and aloof character he usually showed in public. He reduced his own IQ to match Siyu¡¯s level, then using his greater strength and his longer arms and legs, he overpowered her. The two of them splashed each other like it was the Water Splashing Festival. As things progressed, neither of them continued splashing water, with Siyu slowly retreating in mock defeat. As Bo Yan turned off the tap before leaving, he quickly caught up to her and grabbed her hand. Siyu naturally tried to resist, but before she could do so, Bo Yan leaned into her, sealing her lips with a kiss. Siyu put up a symbolic struggle, but she quickly gave in, her hands reaching up to cling to his back. She had peeked at him because she was interested in him, which was why she did it. Though she was a bit infuriated when he caught her, she didn¡¯t dislike being with him; she was just a bit too proud to admit it. She had never imagined that she would have such a day with Bo Yan, playing with water and frolicking together. Whether in the past or present, he always seemed so high and mighty, looking down on everyone. The more he did that, the more she detested it. Then he started acting like a dog, maybe not as cold but still, what woman likes emotionless intimacy? Even if she herself found the simplest physical relationships the most relaxing, deep down she still wished the other person didn¡¯t just want her for her body, but actually liked her a little. That¡¯s how Bo Yan was with her now, there were feelings, but not like at the beginning when he forced her to take responsibility, which put a lot of pressure on her. The previous night she wasn¡¯t willing, and he didn¡¯t continue forcing her. Though a bit dog-like, he was handsome. She herself had been a little willing; otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have tried to pull down his trousers. She hadn¡¯t expected that, in just a few short months, their relationship would progress to this stage. And yet, she didn¡¯t dislike it, didn¡¯t resist, and even wanted to keep this unburdened interaction going. After a kiss, Bo Yan and she gently parted, a thread of emotion lingering in both sets of eyes. He looked at her intently and sincerely, while she also looked back with a love-struck expression. Then, with a dip of his head and a swoop of his arms, he lifted her horizontally. Siyu instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck, helping him carry her to the edge of the bed. Bo Yan carefully set her down. Quick on his feet, he kicked Siyu¡¯s cell phone onto the floor. His own phone had been muted after replying to a message a moment ago. Anyway, no matter the situation, nothing was going to stop him from getting his fill! Though he was eager, he also understood the importance of ambiance and didn¡¯t come on too strong; instead, he slowly built up her emotions. Only when the mood was right did he whisper in her ear, ¡°Is it okay?¡± Siyu didn¡¯t respond directly but simply said, ¡°What was it you said last time? Gentle, passionate, I want it all.¡± Chapter 589 - 588 Awareness (2) Chapter 589: Chapter 588 Awareness (2) She was quite righteous about it; after all, having come this far, she wanted to enjoy it! Since Bo Yan was so handsome and had a great body, and he was offering his services for free, she could command him and make various requests, not worrying about him being disobedient! Bo Yan couldn¡¯t help but laugh; Xia Siyu always had the ability to switch from being deeply affectionate to being comical in a second. But that¡¯s life, he thought. He sometimes found himself boring, always following the rules to a tee. That¡¯s why he was suitable for a quirky little wife who didn¡¯t play by the rules. Since the wife had placed her order, Bo Yan had to make sure she got everything she asked for. ¡°Dear guest, let¡¯s start with a gentle one. Our shop prides itself on fair competition and integrity,¡± he said. ¡°Integrity? You don¡¯t even spare the elderly and children¡­¡± Although Xia Siyu complained, her actions were quite cooperative¡ªshe even lay down with her back to him: ¡°Then give me an aromatherapy SPA massage. If it¡¯s not good, no tip for you, and I¡¯ll complain about you to your supervisor.¡± Since he was already playing the role of the massage boy from the corner shop, she definitely planned to take advantage of it. Bo Yan smiled, ¡°And if I do it well, will you tip extra? I don¡¯t need a tip, just give me an aromatherapy SPA massage in return next time.¡± Xia Siyu humphed, her face expressing a clear preference for comfort over hardship: ¡°Are you going to do it or not? If not, I¡¯ll find someone else.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do it, do it. How could I entrust such a small matter to others?¡± Bo Yan first pulled down the lining of the curtains. The windows were made of special glass, and even without the external curtains drawn, warm sunlight filtered through the sheer lining. ¡°Moreover, I had a hard time pushing out other certified contenders; if someone wants to take my place, they¡¯d need to get certified too,¡± he quipped. Bo Yan¡¯s double entendre amused him. Xia Siyu humphed but didn¡¯t respond. She lay with her face down near the head of the bed, rubbing her cheek against the blanket. They even had essential oils at home. Some for burning as incense and some for the body. After all, they were celebrities, and protecting their skin was synonymous with protecting their livelihood. Bo Yan and Xia Siyu had their own endorsements, and there was no lack of gifts from promotional events. Bo Yan turned up the air conditioning first. Even though the curtains weren¡¯t drawn, the ¡°massage¡± would be chilly later on. He then turned to wash his hands again in the bathroom before turning back. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xia Siyu had already settled down quietly, her head resting on the pillow. Bo Yan carefully removed her clothes, then, imitating the procedure of a professional masseuse, he even seriously draped a towel over her hips, covering her private areas. ¡°Well, dear guest, I¡¯ll begin now,¡± he announced. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t reply, instead nuzzling the pillow. Bo Yan really did rub essential oil on his hands, warmed it up a bit to better absorb, and then placed his palms on her back. Xia Siyu was slender, but thanks to her small frame, she still had curves; she didn¡¯t resemble some celebrities who were so skinny they looked like nothing but bones. At least when Bo Yan applied the oil and started smoothing it over, it didn¡¯t feel like he was performing a service, but rather enjoying a treat. Her skin was too pale, soft, with bluish veins faintly visible underneath. At twenty-seven, she was at the peak of a woman¡¯s life, her skin smooth and elastic. Even without the oil, just touching her skin directly would feel perfect. Chapter 590 - 589 Awareness (3) Chapter 590: Chapter 589 Awareness (3) She also trained in boxing. Although women don¡¯t build as solid a physique as men when they box, their muscle lines are beautifully defined, with a waist that¡¯s both slender and firm, devoid of any excess fat. Skin like hers, he couldn¡¯t bear to touch it at moments, but at times, he felt an urge to bite it hard. Bo Yan¡¯s touches alternated between light and heavy, causing Xia Siyu to have a poor impression of his technique, ¡°Are you trying to swat a mosquito?¡± ¡°So should I apply more force?¡± Xia Siyu didn¡¯t respond, simply turning her head away again with a huff. Although Bo Yan had never learned massage, he had studied Sanda as a child, and later trained regularly in fitness under a coach. He knew which muscles needed relief and which acupoints required firm pressure. He tentatively increased the pressure on Xia Siyu¡¯s shoulders. With his fingers pressing down, Xia Siyu felt so comfortable that she let out a pleasant ¡°Mmm,¡± even curling her toes. Initially, Bo Yan was just playing around¡ªpretending to massage but actually touching her. However, seeing Xia Siyu genuinely enjoying it, he seriously started to study how to massage properly. First, the shoulders, then the arms, fingers, and back to the back; he applied some essential oil and continued his diligent work. After finishing with the back, he professionally massaged her legs and feet. The legs contain the stomach and liver meridians, while the feet have numerous reflex zones. While massaging her back, Bo Yan could still control himself. But when he applied essential oil and began kneading her feet, he thought he would be disgusted. Yet, he didn¡¯t feel any aversion at all. Xia Siyu had taken a bath the night before and even applied body lotion to her feet. As an artist, she paid great attention to her personal grooming, not just her face, but also her body, hands, and feet. In addition to body lotion, she regularly exfoliated, making her feet white and smooth in his palms¡ªlike little soup dumplings that seemed ready to eat with just a touch of vinegar. Her feet were not too large, a standard size thirty-six, with delicate ankles. They had no odor, and due to the body lotion, they naturally emitted a fragrance. Kneading them felt like touching clouds. Bo Yan never understood why so many people had a ¡°foot fetish,¡± or the saying that a beauty¡¯s charm can be judged by her feet. Once, when he touched her feet, he felt the impulse to kiss them, but now it was different. He not only wanted to kiss but also to nibble on them, as if even the bones were soft, chewable, and ready to be swallowed. Fortunately, she was his wife, and he had the privilege to enjoy. He had started with a genuine massage, but as he worked on her feet, it was as though he had received a massage too, feeling a warm flow coursing through his body, eventually converging in his lower abdomen. His parts involuntarily began to activate. But no, first, he wasn¡¯t a pervert, he couldn¡¯t truly hold her FOOT and nibble on it, even if he liked it. Second, after serving her for such a long time, she¡¯d better take the initiative later to offset his current efforts! S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Struggling to suppress his emotions, Bo Yan bent down again. With difficulty, he finished massaging her feet and moved up from the ankles. Her legs were thin, long, and straight, thankfully she hadn¡¯t practiced Taekwondo, or she would have developed bulky calf muscles. In her daily life, she didn¡¯t wear high heels either, so her toes and calves were very pretty. But that wasn¡¯t the point. Bo Yan applied some essential oil, following the liver meridian up to the upper part of her legs. Chapter 591 - 590 Awareness (4) Chapter 591: Chapter 590 Awareness (4) The liver meridian runs along the inner side of the leg, and not far above, is the area covered by the towel¡­ The closer he got to this spot, the more Bo Yan had to keep his composure. He had waited seven years, and he had waited these twenty some days; he couldn¡¯t rush at this moment. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He wanted to wear her down, to make her take the initiative, to make her want to get closer to him. Thinking this, he became even more serious. Originally, the massage was just for fun, but now he was putting all his effort into it, earnestly kneading for her. After all, Bo Yan had learned Sanda, and he knew many acupoints and meridians. He turned around, applied essential oil, and began to massage her seriously and vigorously. As is well known, massaging the meridians of the legs should be done from bottom to top. The liver meridian starts at the big toe, goes up along the ankle, crossing the knee, and then moves upward. Bo Yan¡¯s strength was just right, neither too painful that she would cry stop, nor too light that it felt like there was no massage, almost like tickling. However, the end of the liver meridian in the leg is at the groin. More specifically, it¡¯s located towards the center of the groin¡ªthat is to say, every time he massaged, the back of his hand would unintentionally rub against her sensitive spot. Especially the raised little finger, which might accidentally brush against something. Xia Siyu found it a bit odd on one hand, but on the other, she was drawn to his skilled technique and his perfect pressure, and she didn¡¯t question him. Although Bo Yan was spot-on every time he kneaded, despite the slight awkwardness, there was no deliberate teasing at all. Still, the constant friction on her leg was indeed a bit uncomfortable for her. But her discomfort didn¡¯t last long. Soon, Bo Yan applied more oil to his hands and pulled away the towel covering her. Xia Siyu thought, is it finally happening? This guy can¡¯t hold back anymore, can he? She wasn¡¯t opposed to getting closer to him, anyway, and his massage had been genuinely good, so soothing that she had hummed in pleasure. Even if he wanted a tip, she was okay with that. Who knew, Bo Yan earnestly kept on massaging, and his movements were not indecent¡ªindeed pinpointing the ¡°Huanjiao¡± acupoint on her right buttock, pressing on it to produce a sour and swollen feeling, due to one sitting too much and stiffness in the body. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t expect that he was still massaging her and was slightly surprised for a moment. Quite unusual, the dog is abandoning bones for vegetables. It was not until Bo Yan¡¯s hand pressed down along the spinal line, all the way to the ¡°Huiyin¡± acupoint, that she gradually felt something different. ¡°Huiyin¡±, just by the name of the acupoint, one knows it¡¯s not far from the sensitive spot. Bo Yan, ever earnest, skilled in technique, did not touch what should not be touched, but because the acupoint was so close, the repeated pressing and stimulation made her feel a growing heat and restlessness in her body, even if he did nothing. Especially as Bo Yan was very precise, there was strength in his touch, and with every press, the acupoints would feel slightly sour and swollen. After the sourness, there came a tingling sensation. This complex interwoven feeling made her feel like an insect whose leg had been pinched; she wanted to struggle, yet feared he would notice, so she could only bow her head and bear it. ¡°You, don¡¯t¡­¡± she suddenly spoke, and then suddenly realized her voice was almost melting. Bo Yan pretended not to know and intentionally added a bit more strength. As he pressed, his curled middle finger inadvertently brushed past her critical point. Xia Siyu felt pain and soreness along with an unbearable stimulation, and she almost wanted to twist along with his hand. Chapter 592 - 591 Awareness (5) Chapter 592: Chapter 591 Awareness (5) ¡°Oh, that needs to be gentler.¡± He slowed down his strength again; this time, it didn¡¯t feel like a massage but more like a caress. A gentle breeze wafted through, stirring ripples. From above, he could clearly see Xia Siyu¡¯s body slightly shudder. Xia Siyu did not want to continue being dominated by him, so she quickly turned over, ¡°Stop, the back has been massaged enough.¡± ¡°The back is done, huh? Actually, the front side also has many reflex nerves, especially the chest and abdomen. A full-service treatment is essential, of course. Lie down, I¡¯ll help you.¡± Bo Yan was dead serious, his face showing not even a hint of wanting to take advantage. But Xia Siyu had been deceived by his previously aloof appearance¡ªshe wasn¡¯t going to fall for it easily, ¡°No, that won¡¯t be necessary.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter, are you scared? Afraid that you¡¯ll throw yourself at me, begging for my love? Or maybe, you¡¯re scared you¡¯ll fall deeply for me and end up at my mercy in the future?¡± Bo Yan knew Xia Siyu¡¯s weak spot well¡ªshe couldn¡¯t stand being provoked! Sure enough, Xia Siyu immediately glared, ¡°Who says? Bring it on. Do you think I¡¯m afraid of you?¡± She wasn¡¯t even afraid of having something real happen with him, why would she fear his spa treatment? Was this guy joking? After speaking, she really did lie down face-up, with a righteous and indignant look, ¡°Come on, then!¡± Her expression wasn¡¯t like someone about to receive a simple massage, nor like someone about to do something naughty¡ªit was akin to facing her execution with bravery. Bo Yan smiled, turned his head, and applied more essential oil. He had said he would give a proper massage, and he intended to follow through. In the past, Bo Yan loved to knead clay, but this time, his technique was clearly not about kneading clay¡ªit really seemed as though he was performing acupressure, aligning her body. Bo Yan certainly wasn¡¯t going to work out her knots like a professional masseuse, but he wasn¡¯t handling her carelessly as if she were clay either. His hands, slightly rough from practicing Sanda in the past, still betrayed the entwined lines in his palm despite the essential oil applied. Yet, this slightly rough texture, combined with the heat from his palms and his just-right force, gave her a strange sensation. Bo Yan followed the midline downwards, the lower abdomen receiving the same treatment. Without any overtly sexual implications, the warmth and pressure of his palm instead gave her a cozy feeling¡ªrecalling her menstruation times, when Bo Yan had taken care of her. His palm was like a small, attentive heating pad, bringing her so much comfort that she sighed. Seeing her relax her guard slowly, Bo Yan continued to circle her abdomen for a while before exploring further down. Having pressed on the Huiyin Point earlier, Xia Siyu was a bit reassured with him. Yet, compared to her back, the acupoints on the front were more numerous, more complex, and more¡ªsensitive. At first, Xia Siyu didn¡¯t feel much, but later, as his movements travelled downwards, even without any deliberate teasing, she started to become restless. Initially, it was Bo Yan¡¯s palm warmth that made her abdomen warm. Now, she felt the heat from her entire body converging towards her abdomen, leaving her whole being warm yet light, tinged with an indescribable sense of hidden longing. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Especially when he reached the Pubic Bone Point¡ªthe very end of the midline in the front, just above the vital area. The continuous stimulation from Bo Yan caused her toes to curl up; she didn¡¯t even dare to move or speak, fearing that any sound she might make would be beyond her control. Chapter 595 - 592 Awareness (6) Chapter 595: Chapter 592 Awareness (6) As soon as his hands moved up, she couldn¡¯t help but cry out in surprise. With the groundwork laid beforehand, she was no longer the person with a still heart and a mind free of dust. Xia Siyu felt as if all her blood had pooled in one place, making her hypersensitive to even his slightest movement. She wasn¡¯t averse to Bo Yan in the first place, and his teasing now was like adding fuel to the fire, igniting her completely. Earlier she might have refused, not wanting Bo Yan to continue. But just now, she had been provoked by Bo Yan and agreed to let him massage until the end; stopping halfway now would seem like admitting defeat to him. This was something Xia Siyu would never consent to. Moreover, although she was finding it hard to bear and was squirming, strangely, she didn¡¯t dislike it much, nor was she strongly resistant. Perhaps because she had a close relationship with Bo Yan and they had done more intimate things before, her resistance was not so vehement. ¡ª¡ªAnd there was another point: she had experienced massages before, whether the strong ones from a blind masseur, the good and affordable Thai style, or the therapeutic Chinese medical massage. Just when Bo Yan had her in a state of pleasurable agony, no longer playing hard to get and starting to cooperate by turning onto her side, he voluntarily withdrew his hand. Not only did he withdraw his hand, but he also turned around calmly, ready to cap the essential oil container. If possible, he even wanted to wash his hands, take a shower. Xia Siyu opened her eyes, confusion and surprise in their depths, as if she had fallen into a fog. It took her a moment to locate his direction, and she was somewhat displeased, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Guest, your service time is up, please give me a five-star rating,¡± Bo Yan said with a smile, even pulling out a wet wipe to clean his hands. With displeasure on her face, Xia Siyu said, ¡°Do I need that tip? Extend the session!¡± And what was this man pretending for? He might look composed, but parts of him were eagerly waiting. Bo Yan pretended to be in a dilemma, ¡°But there are only so many services listed. There are special services, sure, but this time, I need to get a tip in advance before continuing to service you.¡± Xia Siyu declared confidently, ¡°Fine, just tell me how much?¡± When it came to this topic, he was no longer sleepy. Bo Yan said with a smile, ¡°My requirements are low, just a fair exchange. You massage me as well. Rest assured, I don¡¯t expect any skills from you, but I also want you to service me. While you service me, I¡¯ll service you too.¡± ¡°As long as you¡¯re not afraid of death, I don¡¯t mind,¡± Xia Siyu came over in a hurry. Bo Yan lay down in the bed sprawling like he was offering himself to be picked, with an expression full of expectation. One could imagine a classic movie line, ¡°Come on, don¡¯t spare me because I¡¯m a delicate flower, go hard!¡± Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°This was your request,¡± Xia Siyu got up quickly, not even stopping to put on clothes, ready to wreak havoc on him. Chapter 596 - 593: In the Name of Husband and Wife (1) Chapter 596: Chapter 593: In the Name of Husband and Wife (1) Xia Siyu first imitated Bo Yan¡¯s manner, kneading his shoulders. Shoulders were easy; a little fist pounding on your shoulder socket was all it took. Of course, when Xia Siyu¡¯s little fists pounded, they truly did so with force¡ªafter all, she had trained in boxing. But as for the massage, it¡¯s supposed to have some strength to it. As long as she wasn¡¯t really smashing with all her might, he let her be. A bit more force was actually better for the effects. After executing a set of ¡°Return My Pretty Punches,¡± Bo Yan remained unflustered, while Xia Siyu was the one who got a bit tired. She didn¡¯t rest, immediately switching to his arms and palms. She knew nothing of meridians, pressing down hard without hesitation. But he had a good amount of muscle, and usually didn¡¯t feel pain from her hits, so when she pressed hard, his expression didn¡¯t change, but it made her quite tired. Next were his legs. Xia Siyu selectively ignored Bo Yan¡¯s feet and began to knead his legs without any method. She knew nothing of stomach or liver meridians, only that her fists should keep pounding all the way up. When she finished, Bo Yan even asked, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you hitting here?¡± He pointed at himself. Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t foolish; she stared for a moment and then looked up with a serious face, ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s forget it,¡± Bo Yan quickly interjected, circling around her. ¡°Thanks for the hard work, wife. Since the tip has been paid, I naturally have to show my ultimate skills and let my wife fully experience the charm of a massage.¡± This time, he wasn¡¯t being reserved. He turned his head to apply the essential oil to himself and got right to her. He stroked, rubbed, lifted and picked not as seriously as the last time, but neither as casually as one might knead putty. Instead, it was with a bit of strength and a bit of skill, instantly making her whole body stiffen. Then, it was the abdominal acupoints, followed by the sides of the waist, then the legs again. Each area he pressed was one of her sensitive spots. The varying pressure¡ªsometimes light, sometimes heavy¡ªrepeatedly stimulated her delicate nerves. Once everything was in place, Bo Yan moved towards her again. This time, unlike the previous two, there was not just pressing; there was an obvious bit of teasing involved. The strength wasn¡¯t as great as before, but the effect was unparalleled. Xia Siyu¡¯s body curved like a shrimp, constantly writhing and curling up. She no longer needed to endure, but she didn¡¯t immediately cry out either; she swayed on her own. It was only at this moment that she realized that, putting everything else aside, she was truly in sync with Bo Yan physically. His handsomeness, his great physique, and his skills were just objective factors. Subjectively, she was increasingly accepting him, influenced by him at work, and becoming more dependent on him in life. She cooperated with his techniques, even wanting to join him in playfulness. Maybe this wasn¡¯t love, after all, it was nothing like the love at first sight she had for Bo Yan in the past, an obsession she couldn¡¯t forget. However, if things continued like this, she might accept Bo Yan¡¯s proposal to become his wife. Of course, there would be no love, but apart from that, in every other aspect, they were a perfect match. Since the marriage certificate had already been obtained, she wouldn¡¯t choose to divorce for the time being. Except for having children, she wouldn¡¯t compromise. She was determined to have a child out of love with the man she loved, and wouldn¡¯t let a child be born into a family without love. But excluding the matter of having children, she was willing to live with Bo Yan, as husband and wife. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 597 - 594: In the Name of Husband and Wife (2) Chapter 597: Chapter 594: In the Name of Husband and Wife (2) Bo Yan¡¯s stimulation finally reached a critical point, and Xia Siyu felt as if the door to a new world had opened for her. Her whole body began to twitch slightly, ¡°Faster, faster!¡± ¡°Faster, what?¡± Bo Yan¡¯s tone was also quite unsteady. But he knew he had to hold his ground for the final step of the long march. Xia Siyu glared at him, her eyes were well-shaped, round and almond-like. When she smiled, they would squint into crescent moons, when she was angry, they would widen like a cat¡¯s, and when she cried, they would mist over, as if they were created specifically for acting. At this moment, she resembled an angered kitten, her eyes big and round but devoid of any deterrence, and instead exuded an adorable quality, tempting one to tease her even more. Bo Yan knew he had to tease her with measure, as she was not like other girls, her sense of shame placed low in her priorities. Yet, she possessed unparalleled confidence and self-esteem, and was quite full of herself. If you pet her the right way, she would most likely agree, but if you contradicted her, she would rather die than speak up. He could only guide, and in such a way that wouldn¡¯t anger her, yet would still draw her closer to him, ¡°Do you want it faster with my hand or with something else?¡± Xia Siyu was indeed infuriated; she didn¡¯t want to answer and turned around with a frown. While Bo Yan talked to her, he continued to press her acupoints. Xia Siyu pursed her lips, not speaking, but the occasional sound she made betrayed her true feelings. She looked forward to Bo Yan, liked Bo Yan, at least physically. But she was also arrogant and wanted to maintain the upper hand, expecting others to acknowledge their fondness for her first, before she would give a nod. Without an expression from the other side, she wouldn¡¯t foolishly confess her feelings like she might have in the past. ¡°Use your sister! I¡¯m getting up!¡± Xia Siyu certainly wasn¡¯t going to compromise, and there was an impatient urgency in her annoyance. She got up abruptly; Bo Yan was not giving her satisfaction, wanting to boil the frog in warm water, well, no way! She was the impatient sort, absolutely the kind who couldn¡¯t wait for hot tofu. Seeing her getting up to leave, Bo Yan quickly pulled her back. This woman, she truly couldn¡¯t wait even half a minute, okay, he would concede, wasn¡¯t that enough? While he was still contemplating playing hard to get, he feared that she would fly away the moment he let go. He opened the drawer, found the condom, tore the packaging, and hurriedly got ready, performing all actions in one smooth sequence, taking no more than twenty seconds. And Xia Siyu was direct, connecting seamlessly as soon as he was prepared. Having been apart for twenty days, they both missed each other deeply. He missed her, and so did she. Especially since Qin Baizhou had been controlling her a bit too strictly lately; with the contract in hand, she couldn¡¯t outright refuse, but she also harbored some resentment, which she now took the opportunity to vent. As the two were in the midst of their struggle, what they feared happened¡ªXia Siyu¡¯s phone rang again, even though it was kicked to the foot of the bed by Bo Yan. But Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t be bothered to answer it. What was there to answer? It was probably a call to wake her up for the advertisement shoot. It was only ten o¡¯clock now; Wei Jingjing would come at eleven. The current call was likely to get her out of bed, but anyway, she was already wide awake, and freshened up; all she needed was at most a five-minute shower later. The two hugged each other, paying no mind to the phone, but soon, Xia Siyu¡¯s phone rang again. This time she frowned and, being right next to the bed, she picked it up easily, and saw that it was, heh, from Qin Baizhou. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 598 - 595: In the Name of Husband and Wife (3) Chapter 598: Chapter 595: In the Name of Husband and Wife (3) When Qin Baizhou¡¯s call came through, Bo Yan naturally saw it, but he didn¡¯t say anything. He didn¡¯t intentionally interrupt, nor did he simply toss her phone away. Adults, even when facing a rival in love, must maintain elegant demeanor. Because his real opponent is never the rival, but the affections of his partner. Not to mention their somewhat difficult relationship, but even couples with a very good relationship must allow each other a certain degree of choice and space. Artists, in particular, are pursued by countless fans; in China, several hundred million people call them ¡°hubby.¡± If they had to explain to each one, could they possibly do so? The same goes for Xia Siyu; despite her fame, she still has wealthy and powerful young men chasing her. Indeed, Xia Siyu straightforwardly picked up the call and answered, ¡°I know, I am awake, I¡¯ll leave at eleven.¡± Then, without waiting for the other party to speak, she promptly hung up the phone. They had woken up at nine, and morning grooming and the recent massage took up some time, but that was okay¡ªthey still had time to spend together. Bo Yan didn¡¯t ask if Xia Siyu had work today, nor what kind of work it was, nor how much time it would take. He simply asked when she would be returning to the Northwest. After learning the time of her return flight, he booked himself on the same one. Since his wife had made her stance clear by hanging up the phone, Bo Yan naturally took the hint. If it was gentle before, it was time for some passion now! Bo Yan was enthusiastic, and Xia Siyu also stretched out her arms around his neck, her legs hooked around his waist. Bo Yan paused for a moment before the smile at the corner of his mouth grew bigger and bigger. Intimacy between men and women should involve give-and-take, and it¡¯s best when both parties cooperate. Apart from those with particular preferences, what man likes to force a woman every day? Xia Siyu¡¯s cooperation was like an adrenaline shot for him. Both refused to give in as they wrestled for the moral high ground. After a joyous morning exercise, he didn¡¯t continue to cling to her. While Xia Siyu got up to shower and get ready, he went to brew coffee and prepare breakfast. By the time Xia Siyu was done showering and ready, sitting at the table, a hot breakfast and steaming coffee were served. He had made two types of sandwiches, one with beef and lamb, the other with egg and shrimp, then split everything in half¡ªhe took one half, and Xia Siyu took the other half. Of course, as an artist, she had zero-fat salad dressing. Although it sacrificed a bit of flavor, it was the most suitable for Xia Siyu, who needed to control her figure. The coffee was black, with low-fat creamer, ensuring low calories while satisfying her desire for taste as much as possible. Indeed, being a foodie, Xia Siyu was very satisfied with such a flavorful breakfast. It is said that to capture a man¡¯s heart, one must first capture his stomach. The same applies to women. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even when she was initially quite averse to Bo Yan, she still liked to accept his feeding. Now that their relationship was improving, the food had played a role. After finishing the meal and cleaning up, Wei Jingjing¡¯s call came, saying she would arrive downstairs in five minutes, and asked Xia Siyu to prepare to head down. Xia Siyu drank her last sip of coffee, casually wiped her mouth with a piece of paper, then turned to grab her bag, ready to leave. ¡°Wait a moment. There¡¯s something you haven¡¯t prepared yet.¡± Bo Yan stopped her. Xia Siyu looked puzzled. What thing? Chapter 599 - 596: In the Name of Husband and Wife (4) Chapter 599: Chapter 596: In the Name of Husband and Wife (4) ¡°What¡¯s the matter now?¡± sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This time, Xia Siyu was genuinely a bit impatient. It was already past eleven, and she guessed that Wei Jingjing must be waiting for her downstairs. Bo Yan looked at her and smiled, ¡°You look so pretty today.¡± Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t be bothered to even glance at him, wasn¡¯t it normal for her to look good? It would be big news, rather, when she didn¡¯t look good. She didn¡¯t bother to exchange pleasantries with Bo Yan and directly pushed the door and walked out. The moment the elevator doors began to close, she saw Bo Yan in the room smiling and saying to her, ¡°Wait for you to come back, love you.¡± Then, the elevator doors closed with a ¡°ding¡±. During the descent, Xia Siyu mumbled, ¡°What the heck.¡± She thought it was something important, but it turned out to be just that. However, when she got into the car and saw that Wei Jingjing, Little Tang, and Qin Baizhou were all there, with Wei Jingjing saying with a smile, ¡°Siyu, you seem to be in a good mood today,¡± Xia Siyu also smiled, ¡°Not bad.¡± She added, ¡°Slept well last night.¡± Qin Baizhou saw the smile playing at the corner of her mouth and guessed that she must have had a good night¡¯s sleep at home, so naturally, she was in a good mood. He even brought up the pocket, ¡°Here are soy milk and shaomai, and youtiao. Don¡¯t you love the snacks from Huiji? This is their breakfast, although it¡¯s not very early now.¡± He reflected for a moment, thinking he might have been pushing her too hard lately, which backfired and made Xia Siyu drift away from him. Usually, he would definitely not buy Xia Siyu something as fattening as youtiao, even though she really liked them, he wouldn¡¯t let her eat them. But now, he thought that maybe he should let her relax a bit, at least not to be annoyed with him. Xia Siyu laughed, ¡°Thanks, but I¡¯ve already had breakfast. You guys go ahead and eat this.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve eaten already?¡± Qin Baizhou was stunned. When he called her at ten, Xia Siyu hurriedly hung up, obviously a bit impatient. It had only been an hour since then, so how had she eaten so quickly? If it weren¡¯t for the fact that Bo had posted updates from the Northwest yesterday, he would have suspected that Bo had come back again. Thinking about it, Bo had sent messages in the afternoon yesterday, and at that time, he was still in the Northwest. Although technically he could have come back to Yancheng by now, with filming starting tomorrow, he wouldn¡¯t need to wait until now to meet Xia Siyu, would he? The fact was, that it was indeed now, and indeed today. ** In the afternoon, Xia Siyu went to make a public appearance. She attended a boutique in front of the high-end Hanhai Shopping Center in Yancheng, which was celebrating its anniversary. It happened to be the weekend, and spending half an hour there, participating in a small event, also helped boost the crowd. Back in the day, when Xia Siyu¡¯s reputation was at its worst, she would get eggs thrown at her during brand endorsements. Now, times had changed. Although she still had her controversies, the airing of two reality shows in succession had shown the public the real Xia Siyu, and they were not as hostile towards her. Still, when making a public appearance, she had to say a word or two and interact with the host. She couldn¡¯t just stand there silently. The host interviewed her, and perhaps seeing that there were quite a few men in the audience, asked a question about relationships, ¡°This year¡¯s autumn and winter fashion show is said to include many new items for men, is there anything you want to buy?¡± But who would have known that Xia Siyu, the straightforward woman, wouldn¡¯t play along. She looked puzzled, ¡°Why would I buy men¡¯s clothes?¡± Chapter 600 - 597: In the Name of Husband and Wife (5) Chapter 600: Chapter 597: In the Name of Husband and Wife (5) ¡°What about women¡¯s garments? Did you have any favorite clothes this year that you wished a relative or a friend would buy for you?¡± The host was digging one pitfall after another for her, essentially trying to hint at and ask about her current relationship status. Xia Siyu found it even stranger, ¡°If I like something, I can buy it myself. Why would I need someone else to buy it for me?¡± The host was even more flustered, wasn¡¯t it agreed that Xia Siyu was a gold digger? Although this luxury brand wasn¡¯t like Herm¨¨s, which requires matching offers, a bag costs tens of thousands, and a dress can cost several hundred thousand. Xia Siyu was very dedicated: when attending events, she would always wear clothes from this brand, from head to toe. The clothes, bags, and shoes she wore were the brand¡¯s new collection for the year, which money couldn¡¯t buy yet as they were specifically provided by the brand. If the items weren¡¯t too expensive, the brand would often just gift them to her, allowing her to wear them to events as a form of free promotion. If she wore specially tailored haute couture dresses, she wouldn¡¯t take advantage of anyone¡ªshe¡¯d pay if money was due. The host, as expected, scanned her outfit with a glance, ¡°And this outfit of yours?¡± Xia Siyu didn¡¯t indulge her, responding directly, ¡°Isn¡¯t this provided by your brand?¡± Asking her? How ridiculous. Having failed to dig a pit, the situation turned awkward, and everyone apart from Xia Siyu felt a bit embarrassed. It was just a lousy host; Xia Siyu was already doing her a favor by acknowledging her, there was no need to bestow extra attention on a Joker. However, before leaving, she took off the watch and earrings provided by the brand and placed them in the host¡¯s palm, ¡°These are sponsored by your store, so take good care of them. If you break them, that¡¯s fifty thousand yuan.¡± Then she put on her own rose gold bracelet and waved at the audience, ¡°This one I bought myself. Do you all want it?¡± A crowd shouted, ¡°We want it!¡± ¡°You want it? I¡¯m not giving it to you; earn your own money and buy it,¡± Xia Siyu said mercilessly as she turned and walked away. Whatever scolding the host might receive from the brand, it wasn¡¯t her concern. She had always done things her own way. She wasn¡¯t going to pander to passersby with some lucky draw giveaway. Why should she conduct a giveaway? Maybe you were just cursing me yesterday. Am I an idiot to give you money? If it were true fans who supported her, like Shengxia Yanyu, she was willing to spend money, time, and thought to maintain those relationships. As for other noble passersby, forget it. After she got into the car, Qin Baizhou, who was also attending a brand¡¯s runway event that day, had come with her. He hadn¡¯t gotten out of the car but had watched the entire live stream of Xia Siyu¡¯s brand endorsement event. Once in the car, he began to speak, then hesitated, ¡°In the future, let me deal with such idiots; you don¡¯t need to confront them yourself. I¡¯ll make sure they can¡¯t stay in Yancheng. But there¡¯s no need to offend the brands either.¡± He paused, then added, ¡°And there¡¯s no need to provoke the onlookers.¡± Xia Siyu knew he meant well; Qin Baizhou was accustomed to dealing with interpersonal relationships differently from her¨Cshe was someone who lived for immediate joys and grievances. Whoever wronged her would get an instant retort from her. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As for holding back and playing dirty later, it would make her so angry she¡¯d get mammary gland hyperplasia. It was Bo Yan, however, who left her a message, ¡°The clothes are beautiful. And the bracelet looks good too.¡± Xia Siyu had changed into a new outfit, clearly, Bo Yan had watched the live stream too. Xia Siyu was feeling indignant and decided to tease him, ¡°I¡¯m so pitiful, my bracelet and clothes are all bought by myself, no one has gifted me anything.¡± Chapter 601 - 598: In the Name of Husband and Wife (6) Chapter 601: Chapter 598: In the Name of Husband and Wife (6) If Bo Yan dared to say, ¡°What do you want? I¡¯ll give it to you,¡± believe me, she would have definitely put him in his place within the next second, leaving him unable to fend for himself. Sure enough, Bo Yan said with a smile, ¡°Then I¡¯ll give you a gift.¡± Xia Siyu sneered inwardly, there you go, fishing success. She continued to ask, ¡°What gift? I don¡¯t want anything cheap.¡± Bo Yan assured her by patting his chest, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s expensive, at least five hundred thousand.¡± As expected, all men are the same, thinking they can win a woman¡¯s heart with some gifts. Although Xia Siyu despised this, she still replied, ¡°Alright, I¡¯m looking forward to seeing what gift you will give me.¡± After hanging up the phone, she huffed, feeling both angry and anticipatory; let¡¯s see what kind of stuff you can come up with. ... Qin Baizhou saw her fluctuating between feeling wronged, angry, and then scoffing, her emotions changing drastically. Suddenly, it was as if he and Xia Siyu were strangers. In the past, even when her moods shifted rapidly, he could guess a bit of what she was feeling. But now, facing him, Xia Siyu showed nothing but weariness and frustration related to work, and she didn¡¯t want to talk to him about anything else. He was truly looking out for her best interest; how could things have turned out this way? ** This time coming to the event, she also ran into Shang Feifei, whom she hadn¡¯t seen for a long time. Shang Feifei had made a harsh vow last time, determined to win another Best Actress award before turning thirty, and she wasn¡¯t just speaking empty words. Lately, Xia Siyu had been tied to Bo Yan in the public¡¯s eye, while Shang Feifei had also received a decent script, working with a well-known veteran actor from Hong Kong and Taiwan on a cops-and-robbers film. For the sake of convenience in filming, she even cut her long hair, so now, attending the event, she sported a neat and tidy short hairstyle, clad in a slightly masculine suit, looking quite dashing. This fashion show could boast having Xia Siyu and Shang Feifei support the event at the same time, which was a pretty good look. To stir things up, the two big names were even arranged to be together. The journalists attending the event kept on shooting pictures of them from the sidelines. This was their first encounter since they had a direct confrontation last time. Although they were each silently competing, having exposed the root of their competition, they were unlikely to have an open fallout. What use would making a fuss be? Would making a fuss let you win two Best Actress awards by thirty? Would it help surpass one¡¯s mother? Acting skills and impressive movies had to be earned through their own efforts, not by bringing the other person down to win accolades. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even if Shang Feifei had intentionally lied to deceive her, it didn¡¯t hinder Xia Siyu from striving to emulate her mother as a role model. When they met, not only did they not argue, but they even started to exchange thoughts. It was Shang Feifei who spoke first, ¡°How¡¯s the movie going?¡± Xia Siyu nodded, ¡°Are you also going abroad?¡± ¡°Got my visa. I¡¯m waiting for the crew to set everything up, then I¡¯m off.¡± The photographers shooting them thought the two were just putting on an act. They were seasoned showbiz professionals; who would be so foolish as to have a fall-out face to face? If they had any complaints, they could deal with them behind each other¡¯s backs, with cunning schemes while still being polite on the surface. However, soon there came someone both of them knew: Han Yifan. The moment he saw Shang Feifei, his eyes lit up. Without saying another word, he squeezed his way through to her. He also saw Xia Siyu and immediately greeted her, ¡°Ah, you¡¯re here too. And him? Oh right, he¡¯s ¡®eating dirt¡¯ now.¡± Shang Feifei glanced at Han Yifan, then at Xia Siyu. Chapter 602 - 599: Mask (1) Chapter 602: Chapter 599: Mask (1) She recognized every word spoken by Han Yifan, but when strung together, she didn¡¯t understand. First off, she didn¡¯t know if this guy was greeting her or addressing Xia Siyu. Secondly, even if he was speaking to Xia Siyu, who was the ¡°ta¡± he mentioned in his words? It sounded like a gentleman; was it Bo Yan? Ever since Han Yifan fell for Shang Feifei at first sight in the banquet hall last time, he finally stopped holing up in his bar playing heavy metal music. He ran back to the Han Family, asking to work in the company. His old man, seeing this wayward son finally starting to get back on track, was beyond thrilled. He thought of 108 jobs for him to do, but this guy was determined to work in the company¡¯s advertising department. He even grandly declared, ¡°I want to expand my networks.¡± Just let him go; after all, that department was just there to promote them, a sinecure. If he wanted to gain experience, let him go. The first thing Han Yifan did upon taking up the reins was convince the family to find a spokesperson for their enterprise, which turned out to be Shang Feifei. There was business to be made, so why not? Shang Feifei nodded in agreement, and he naturally managed to get her personal contact information, her WeChat and the like. Once he got WeChat, the first thing he did was to spy on her Moments, only to discover that Shang Feifei had set her Moments to be visible to friends for three days. A person with character, understanding the importance of privacy protection, admirable! ... He then delved into the archaeology of Shang Feifei¡¯s Weibo and even donned a disguise to blend into her fan club, but currently, due to a low level, he couldn¡¯t get any effective information. Most of Shang Feifei¡¯s Weibo was business-related, and the really old ones, probably personally posted by her, she had deleted them all. She hardly left any privacy out there. Even after they made contact, she was water-tight, giving off a polite and gentle vibe during their interactions, but one could clearly feel the sense of detachment in her behavior. Apart from not being as aloof, she was an exact copy of Bo Yan. Or rather, a Xia Sicai without any ill intentions. She had Xia Sicai¡¯s savvy, but not Xia Sicai¡¯s scheming. The only thing that was certain was that unlike Xia Siyu, who was riddled with scandals, she had not had a single boyfriend since she entered the industry. Previously, she had a bit of a crush on Bo Yan, and was mercilessly rejected, overall in a relationship hiatus. Shang Feifei was considered top tier, having seen plenty of wealthy heirs. She wasn¡¯t lacking in money nor was she materialistic; all she wanted was to win the Best Actress award and surpass her idol, Wen Qunxiao. Han Yifan¡¯s princely pursuit tactics were utterly ignored by her. He had boldly claimed in front of Bo Yan that he would bed her within a month. Now, half a month had passed. Yet they were still only at the stage of WeChat greetings such as ¡°How are you,¡± ¡°Have you eaten,¡± ¡°How was your day¡± ¡ª the kind of awkwardness that didn¡¯t even qualify them as friends. However, Han Yifan was not one to give up easily; wherever Shang Feifei attended an event, as long as he received notification, he followed her, which was why he ran into Xia Siyu this time. Seeing Shang Feifei¡¯s confusion about his relationship with Xia Siyu, he hurriedly explained, ¡°She¡¯s my junior, and also a friend of my brother¡­ my friend¡¯s friend.¡± The group didn¡¯t chat for long before the fashion show started. First the female models, then the males. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The theme this time was ¡°Masquerade and Reality.¡± She looked at several male models, wearing masks, all with exceptionally good physiques. Especially one model, with a bronze complexion and an outstanding figure, Xia Siyu silently compared, even better than Bo Yan. Chapter 603 - 600: Mask (2) Chapter 603: Chapter 600: Mask (2) The fashion show typically hires professional models. Female models might be okay, they could look too thin for the sake of looking good in clothes. But male models, every one of them has a robust and well-proportioned physique. What¡¯s more, model agencies are now employing a part of Europe and America models¡ªthe advantage of white people¡¯s height, with their broad shoulders and long legs, they exude sexual tension thoroughly. This time, in addition to ¡°masquerade,¡± the remaining elements have a tinge of primal wildness. For example, both male and female models would paint some oil colors on their bodies, and some garments and hair accessories would be decorated with feathers. Some trims would also make use of fur. In the name of environmental protection, these feathers and furs would also be labeled artificial or bred for specific use. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Many male and female models wear half masks, like ones that only cover the eyes, or that cover either the left or right side. The remaining blank areas are perfect for painting on the oil colors. However, only that male model with bronze skin wore a mask that covered his entire face, and it also featured a fearsome green face with fangs, which looked particularly intimidating. Those who come to watch the fashion show are generally quite proper, and many supermodels can¡¯t be said to be very beautiful or handsome, they can only be described as having a good figure and being tall. Some supermodels don¡¯t even associate with ¡°pretty,¡± especially East Asian models, who in the traditional aesthetics of many white people, have big faces and small eyes¡ªif you¡¯re forced to compliment, you could only say ¡°sophisticated beauty¡± or ¡°has charisma.¡± The aesthetics of white people also influenced the fashion industry, especially models, so many domestic female models also choose the so-called ¡°cold and sophisticated beauty.¡± But male models are different. The aesthetics for men are universal, with high nasal bridges and deep-set eyes. Plus, the standards for men and women are different. A woman has to be very beautiful to be praised as good-looking, but for a man, just being tall and lean, and clean is enough to surpass seventy percent of other men, not to mention models know how to dress themselves. ... But among these male models, that bronze-skinned male model stood out even more. Even though his face was not visible at all, his physique was simply too good, with not a single superfluous or excessive line, making people believe that his face, hidden behind the mask, must be stunningly handsome. Many women sitting below and watching the show looked on with appreciation, and Xia Siyu even more so. She never hid her interest in admiring handsome men, she¡¯s a true aficionado of good looks. Although there are quite a few handsome guys in the entertainment industry, there are not many with such fiery and tall figures, so of course, she needed to take the time to appreciate them thoroughly. With handsome guys around, she had even less interest in making small talk with Shang Feifei, her eyes constantly fixed on the gorgeous men on stage. Especially that bronze-skinned male model, who attracted all her attention. First, there were trench coats, and the handsome guys looked pretty stylish in them. Then came some slightly more form-fitting clothes like sweatshirts, T-shirts, and trousers. Finally, to everyone¡¯s surprise, there was even an underwear show. The underwear show wasn¡¯t as flashy and flamboyant as Victoria¡¯s Secret, of course, and many of the designs were closer to concept pieces that regular people wouldn¡¯t really wear outside. Since the themes were ¡°masquerade¡± and ¡°wild,¡± many parts also reflected these elements, with furry edges, leopard prints, crocodile skin materials, and patterns resembling primitive totem worship. But that¡¯s not the point! The point is the person wearing the clothes! And, allegedly, during the fashion show, audience members would be randomly invited to join them on stage for a turn, as part of the proceedings. Isn¡¯t this similar to being asked to dance? Chapter 604 - 601: Mask (3) Chapter 604: Chapter 601: Mask (3) The scene instantly boiled over. Especially for someone like Xia Siyu, who was all about the looks, she was just dying to join them for a stroll on the catwalk. However, she had her standards; she wouldn¡¯t just go up there with any ordinary man who invited her, unless he was that hunk with the bronze skin! After all, this event wasn¡¯t exactly a formal runway show, but more like an interactive brand launch event. Sitting in the audience were not only fashion designers, magazine editors, and corporate executives, but also celebrities and rich second generations. Inviting anyone of them up wouldn¡¯t result in a loss. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Of course, it also depended on the person doing the inviting, and the willingness of the invitee, as an unwilling participant wouldn¡¯t make a good show if they went up. The fashion show continued. One model after another took the stage. It was a lingerie show, and each model got to showcase two sets of outfits, women first, then men. When they weren¡¯t undressed, it was hard to tell, but now that everyone was scantily clad, one could easily spot the good and the bad figures. ... Some girls were tall and thin, but ¡®tall¡¯ and ¡®thin¡¯ seemed to be the enemies of the S-shape, especially among the national models, where it was rare to find one with a full bust. There were also those whose body flaws became apparent. For instance, a particularly long waist could make the proportions look off. Or less than straight legs, or no neck to speak of. But the male models were at a bit of an advantage in this respect, as most of those who had trained had a chest stacked with abs. Especially the last male model with the bronze skin who came out, he aroused cheers from the entire audience. Those lines, those muscles, that figure, simply perfect. The only flaw might be that the first set of clothing he wore was a bit conservative. His chest was smeared with paint, and his abdomen was also decorated with a design. The pants were adorned with feathers and fluff, so one couldn¡¯t really see anything clear. But looking at that physique, why did Xia Siyu feel it looked so familiar? If it weren¡¯t for the bronze skin, the texture of his skin, the shape, those lines, it felt just like that scumbag! But then again, that scumbag shouldn¡¯t be here, right? First of all, he¡¯s the spokesperson for a competitive luxury brand. Last time he attended a high-end dinner here, he was exposed and almost had his endorsement contract revoked by the management of the rival company. Moreover, if he did come, he would have been invited to sit down below, not go up, and how would he have gotten up there in the first place? To know that for this kind of fashion show, although it¡¯s not as formal as the international fashion week catwalks, it also requires rehearsal in advance. Bo Yan had been in the Northwest before; how could he have had the time to come here for rehearsal? Despite her doubts, she still sat down and continued watching. Well, say what you will, even though the entertainment circle has many handsome guys, there are plenty whose physique really isn¡¯t all that. Some influencers don¡¯t even reach the height of 175 cm, not to mention competing with this bunch of broad-shouldered, long-legged hunks. After one set, the second set began. Of course, it¡¯s a fashion show, not some R-rated venue, so even though it was a lingerie show, the clothing was still quite aesthetically pleasing, considering both artistry and practicality. And some of the models also started to invite guests from below the stage. At first, of course, the senior management of the brand would extend their hand, followed by editors of fashion magazines. There were fewer invitations for artists like Xia Siyu and Shang Feifei. Which made sense after all, because for the models, the brand and the fashion industry was their main battlefield. Although Xia Siyu and Shang Feifei were top-tier artists, precisely because of this, it would actually be quite awkward for them if they didn¡¯t go on stage. Last of all, the male model with bronze skin walked out. Chapter 605 - 602: Mask (4) Chapter 605: Chapter 602: Mask (4) Xia Siyu this time, with Shang Feifei on her left and Qin Baizhou on the other side. Qin Baizhou had been tied up with her in many events recently, as he was also an entertainment company owner, and Huixing was preparing to go public. His future was limitless, and he himself enjoyed socializing, so he received many invitations as well. Once the fashion show started, Xia Siyu¡¯s gaze never left that group of male models. Not just one, but a whole group. She was a sucker for good looks, a true one at that, and she never hid this fact. She ogled men openly and without shame. Qin Baizhou didn¡¯t show much reaction, until he noticed that several male models had been casting glances at Xia Siyu, trying to invite her onto the stage¡ªparticularly those from abroad. There was no denying the beauty of Xia Siyu¡¯s face. Standing at 168 cm, she was bordering on model height. Under Qin Baizhou¡¯s strict regimen, she had spent most of her time eating virtually nothing but greens and had slimmed down considerably. She might seem a bit fuller compared to a model, but she was definitely slender among ordinary people. ... S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Key was that her look was nothing like Shang Feifei¡¯s gentle and graceful one. Untouched by makeup, she retained some innocence, but once made up, with bold red lips and eyeshadow applied, she radiated a compelling presence¡ªa kind of aggressive beauty. This ravishing allure would compel anyone, whether they liked her or not, to take a few extra glances, especially the Europe and America models who knew nothing of her scandals. Moreover, in Europe and America, a woman having a bit of scandal was hardly a matter for disdain, but was instead often seen as a sign of ¡°high popularity¡± and everyone wanted to invite her up to the stage. However, Xia Siyu directly ignored the gazes of those around her, remaining as still as a statue. She waited until the last tanned model came out, fixing her eyes on him. In fact, this model was dressed quite conservatively compared to several others who wore tight shorts that outlined their figures provocatively. He was quite modest by comparison. His pants were adorned with a beautiful plume on the front, exactly covering his shape. The back had leaves attached to it, vaguely and appropriately concealing those potentially mesmerizing areas. Still, despite the good cover, from the position of the plume in front, it was apparent that this man was certainly not lacking in size. Xia Siyu was still okay. Some girls nearby were already so transfixed that they couldn¡¯t take their eyes off the man¡¯s lean limbs, well-developed muscles, and the plume on the front of his pants. And then, as expected, this male model threw a glance her way. This was already the fifth male model to look at her today. With groups of ten female models and ten male models, half the male models had their eyes on her. Not only the guests but also the reporters were turning their spotlight on her. ¡ªThere was no helping it, when it came to beauty, she, Sister Xia, wasn¡¯t boasting for nothing¡ªshe was truly unique! And it wasn¡¯t just beauty¡ªshe was also arrogant and domineering. She didn¡¯t want to be reserved and demure like Shang Feifei; she wanted to live as herself! Afterwards, unlike the other male models, if she didn¡¯t show interest and remained as still as a statue, most would understand that she had no intention of going up on stage. Besides, Qin Baizhou was sitting next to her, looking like her bodyguard with a friendly smile, warding them off. But this tanned-skinned male model was different. Not only did he look at Xia Siyu, but when he came in front of her, he actually reached out his hand toward her! Chapter 606 - 603: Mask (5) Chapter 606: Chapter 603: Mask (5) Qin Baizhou¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, he was indeed a bit surprised, and it wasn¡¯t just him. All the guests, staff, and journalists present were shocked. After all, previously it took no more than a glance, given everyone there was experienced in such events. If Xia Siyu had not accepted, wouldn¡¯t it have been embarrassing? Moreover, it would have caused a delay and could spoil the entire show, a major stage mishap that no one would want to be accountable for. But this male model didn¡¯t care about that at all, not even fearing that his gesture might upset Xia Siyu, drag down the whole show, and result in him losing his job and being blacklisted in the modeling industry. Although he kept wearing a mask, one could sense his confidence from the slight uptilt of his chin. Then. In the astonished gazes of everyone, Xia Siyu actually stood up, straightened her clothes a bit, then stepped onto the stage in her high heels, extending her hand into his palm! The whole place was astir! ... There had been quite a few models who had invited guests from below the stage to join them on the runway, but whether it was a fashion magazine editor, designer, or brand marketer, none were celebrities. Xia Siyu was a top star¡ªif she did nothing she would still draw attention, let alone accept an invitation to step onto the stage! However, before ascending, Xia Siyu glanced at the organizer of the show¡ªthe person in charge of the luxury brand she endorsed for the Asia-Pacific region. That look seemed to tell others that it wasn¡¯t because of the male model¡¯s invitation that she went on stage, but as part of her duties as an endorser! But once onstage, she lowered her voice and said, ¡°Bo Yan, what the hell are you up to!¡± Don¡¯t think I won¡¯t recognize you just because you¡¯ve tanned your skin; even if you bleached your skin and then dyed it black again, I would still know who you are! Luckily, she wasn¡¯t wearing a microphone at that moment, and naturally, neither was Bo Yan. Even if someone captured her leaning in and saying something to the male model, they might have thought she was just exchanging a few words, and no one would suspect anything amiss. After she said that, Bo Yan didn¡¯t respond, but he just chuckled softly, holding her hand and squeezing it tight. Then the two of them walked forward together, all the way, stepping along the runway. This was Xia Siyu¡¯s first time on the T-stage. She had been on many red carpets and seen lots of shows. Although she often watched fashion shows, she had never been on one. While her height was at the fringe for a model¡ªwith most fashion models being over 170 cm¡ªthe world of modeling, although part of the entertainment industry, seemed to naturally have a barrier against those who acted or sang. Apart from attending shows and shooting for fashion magazines, there was hardly a chance for interaction. It was more common for models to cross over to the film and television industries than the other way around. It was rare to hear of an actor later going on to walk the runway. The T-stage was long and narrow, and aside from the illuminated walkway, the rest of the world was almost completely invisible. The multitude of faces below were hidden in darkness, with even the far front enveloped in black. Even though she had never walked the T-stage, Xia Siyu was always brimming with confidence. Even if her steps were a bit off at first, she quickly adjusted her pace with Bo Yan¡¯s help. Although she didn¡¯t walk with the precise regularity of a model, her posture, honed through practice, was certainly that of a poised and graceful presence among ordinary people. Spotlighted, she appeared even more radiant. Moreover, Bo Yan was holding her hand, clinging tightly as if offering her support and strength. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 607 - 604: Mask (6) Chapter 607: Chapter 604: Mask (6) The two of them moved forward together, reaching the set point where they struck a fixed pose. The most taboo thing for a model is to appear fidgety and affected, they need a bit of an attitude that looks down on everything, a pride that implies everyone else there is trash, both of which Xia Siyu naturally possessed. Their set point involved Bo Yan leaning toward her, Xia Siyu naturally pressing against him, placing her hand comfortably on his chest, her left leg slightly bent, leaning on his leg, but her face was turned toward the audience, her chin slightly raised, with an expression that said she looked down on everyone. Another fixed point was a pose that was almost back-to-back, but no matter the pose or the stance, Xia Siyu and Bo Yan¡¯s hands never parted. After completing the two set points, they walked back, pausing briefly in the middle for another set point. This time Bo Yan simply stopped her briefly, then, still hand in hand, they walked towards the backstage. When they returned, there was one last curtain call, where all the models and the designer would take to the stage together, circle the stage, and then bow before exiting. After the curtain call, those who are meticulous about it would go for an interview. For someone like Xia Siyu who was invited to watch the show, there would be photographs, hand-printing, and a few sets of street-style photos. Afterward, there would be a cocktail party, typically an event where the brand invites their spokesperson, other guests, and models to mingle. ... The time was just right at six in the afternoon. Once the models freshened up and changed out of their clothes, they could attend the banquet. Qin Baizhou naturally wanted to attend with Xia Siyu, but he hadn¡¯t found her yet when he received a message from her: ¡°I have some things to take care of, I¡¯m heading home first. Just come to pick me up for the plane tomorrow.¡± Qin Baizhou was taken aback; he never expected to receive such a message. He turned to Wei Jingjing and asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on with Siyu? Did she tell you anything?¡± Wei Jingjing answered, ¡°She just called me, said a good friend is picking her up, and told me and Little Tang to head back on our own. She¡¯s going to prepare her luggage at home.¡± ¡°Confused!¡± Qin Baizhou immediately interrupted her, ¡°What if she¡¯s being threatened? What if she¡¯s being coerced? What if someone used her phone and imitated her voice? Besides, she¡¯s the spokesperson for this brand. Is it really ok for her to leave like this?¡± Wei Jingjing scratched her head. It was a call from Xia Siyu¡¯s phone, and it was her voice; how could it be fake? Not just a call, but she also sent a voice message, which sounded like she was in a car, and didn¡¯t seem particularly anxious, but it did sound like she was a bit out of breath. Qin Baizhou called again, and this time Xia Siyu answered. She spoke quite naturally, ¡°Brother Qin, sorry, I have some private matters at home, I need to leave for a bit. I won¡¯t be late for the start tomorrow in the Northwest, just come to pick me up at the scheduled time.¡± She spoke calmly, though her speech was slightly hurried, and from the background, one could hear the sound of traffic, suggesting that she was already on the move. Hearing there was a family emergency, Qin Baizhou, who had done some investigation on her, knew she was the Xia Family¡¯s heiress. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Xia Family owned one of the top high-end furniture companies in the country, wealthy for several generations, and a true definition of a noble family. Once Qin Baizhou heard this, his concern diminished quite a bit, but he still added, ¡°Then take care of your family matters properly. I¡¯ve got things covered here for the brand.¡± Chapter 608 - 605 Possessiveness (1) Chapter 608: Chapter 605 Possessiveness (1) Xia Siyu was clearly consistent to the end, and she explained, ¡°They were too bullying, asking all those disgusting questions to a random salesgirl in the afternoon. If I couldn¡¯t answer them and embarrassed myself, would that be my fault? Their own brand couldn¡¯t save face either.¡± She was talking about the difficult time she had at Hanhai Shopping Station¡¯s stand, and without a doubt, it was trending again. ¡°I¡¯ve been very professional. Going up on the catwalk tonight would probably get them on the trending list again. I didn¡¯t even charge extra for walking the catwalk, and I have to smile and socialize tonight? What the hell!¡± Work is work, but Sister Xia has a temper too. Don¡¯t think that just because she ignores the random insults online, it¡¯s okay to bash her. She¡¯s in a good mood, broad-minded, and can¡¯t be bothered to argue with these idiots, not a reason for them to trample over her and slander her at will! ¡°Alright.¡± Hearing how lively Xia Siyu sounded, Qin Baizhou finally breathed a sigh of relief. He wanted to say something else, but Xia Siyu hung up the call swiftly and decisively. ... This move was exactly like how she hung up the phone in the morning. ¡°Qin¡­ brother¡­¡± Wei Jingjing turned her head to look at him, appearing somewhat timid. Qin Baizhou shook his head. Since Xia Siyu had an emergency, he would not disturb her further. However, he needed to explain things to the brand side. He turned around, ¡°Let¡¯s go eat first. After finishing here, we¡¯ll head straight back and pick her up tomorrow morning.¡± After giving the instructions, he turned to enter the venue, only to be met by a man in a black suit coming out, who was yelling, ¡°Damn it you fickle bastard, you have me make arrangements and then you scram? Not even a word of goodbye? Weren¡¯t you the one who said you¡¯d help me connect with her? Where are you now?¡± Qin Baizhou wasn¡¯t planning on answering the call until he recognized the voice; as he brushed past, he had a feeling the man speaking was¡ªBo Yan? He turned his head, only catching a few words like ¡°What¡¯s the rush?¡± before the man in black hurriedly left. It wasn¡¯t easy for him to make out the conversation. Qin Baizhou stopped in his tracks, unlocking his phone to check Bo Yan¡¯s Weibo. The latest post was still from yesterday; there had been no updates today. Of course, not all celebrities update their Weibo daily and Bo Yan naturally wouldn¡¯t either. But somehow, he had this nagging feeling¡ªDid Xia Siyu go with Bo Yan today? But that seemed impossible. He had been with her all day and hadn¡¯t seen her use a phone, let alone contact Bo Yan. He was far away in the Northwest, and with a shooting schedule tomorrow, it just didn¡¯t seem plausible that he would return. Even if he did come back, there was no chance for them to meet. ¡°Qin brother, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Wei Jingjing, who was walking ahead, suddenly realized Qin Baizhou wasn¡¯t following and quickly stopped to wait for him. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing.¡± Qin Baizhou¡¯s expression was troubled. He had been planning to ask Wei Jingjing to keep an eye on things while they shot tomorrow. But then he thought better of it¡ªif Wei Jingjing could keep a close watch, their relationship wouldn¡¯t have progressed so rapidly. Better to focus on getting ready for the IPO and strengthening his own position. ** sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Meanwhile, Bo Yan was indeed on the phone with Han Yifan. After hanging up his Bluetooth headset, his car raced home at lightning speed. Xia Siyu was in the passenger seat, and both were skillfully clearing their schedules. As soon as they arrived home and the elevator doors closed behind them, the two immediately embraced each other. Chapter 609 - 606 Possessiveness (2) Chapter 609: Chapter 606 Possessiveness (2) Xia Siyu pulled off Bo Yan¡¯s mask. Beneath it, Bo Yan had also applied a bronze foundation and several strokes of oil paint. Clearly, he was afraid that if there had been a small accident on stage and the mask had come loose, he wouldn¡¯t be easily recognized. His original skin, although not porcelain white, was still fairly clear. Achieving this bronze look must have taken a lot of effort. But, to be honest. She had always thought that a man looked good with a darker complexion, and now that his face had turned into Bo Yan¡¯s, his male hormones seemed to explode instantaneously. Especially since he had just gone on stage and wanted the lighting to make his muscles more visible, he had applied something similar to eyeshadow on them, highlighting the edges. It made his muscles look fuller, the lines smoother, and gave him a more masculine vibe. Xia Siyu snorted, ¡°Bo Yan, you really have no respect for ¡®male virtue.¡¯ Wearing so little and exposing yourself in front of everyone, who are you trying to impress? Didn¡¯t you notice all those women in the audience staring at you? A man should be gentle and modest, upright in behavior. Look at what you have done.¡± ... As she spoke, she also pulled open Bo Yan¡¯s jacket. Sure enough, he hadn¡¯t had time to change, and beneath it was his body with the deliberately applied bronze foundation, along with those tiny shorts: ¡°Men should adhere to the ¡®three obediences and four virtues,¡¯ otherwise, how will you manage if you are so undisciplined!¡± Of course, Bo Yan knew she was deliberately provoking him, purposely teasing him. He wasn¡¯t angry and even played along with her words, ¡°The ¡®three obediences and four virtues¡¯ apply within a marriage. Are you admitting that you and I are husband and wife?¡± In fact, after spending some time together recently, she was no longer so resistant to their marriage. She might not be able to fall in love with him again yet, but Bo Yan, in all aspects, was the prime candidate for a perfect partner. She knew there were several forms of marriage, one of which was the state they were in now¡ªliving life together. Dating is about finding someone you like, marriage is about finding someone suitable. If it hadn¡¯t been for Bo Yan¡¯s relentless pursuit these past days, it¡¯s likely she would have remained single indefinitely, preferring to miss out rather than settle. But Bo Yan insisted on getting close, and although she found him annoying after being in contact, she didn¡¯t hate him as much. If she didn¡¯t find a man she liked beforehand, teaming up with him wasn¡¯t a bad idea, especially since they had a common goal (the movie) and common enemies (Bo Yi and Xia Sicai). Of course, it was just about living life together, nothing more. She wouldn¡¯t even think about having kids, she was not going to give birth. Only with someone she truly loved would she consider children; that was her bottom line. But aside from children, she was of course going to make the most of the rest of her life! Especially with Bo Yan. Strip away everything else, and he was handsome with a great physique. Now smeared with color, he looked even manlier. Xia Siyu, who was both a face-junkie and a bit of a pervert, didn¡¯t hesitate to reach out and grab the feathered part of his shorts, frowning on purpose, and raising an eyebrow: ¡°Then it depends¡­ on how well you perform.¡± The tone might seem quite stern as if she was scolding, but it would be a bit more convincing if her fingers were at that particular spot. Bo Yan¡¯s pupils shrank abruptly, not only because of her hand, but also because of that phrase! His gaze darkened slightly as did his tone, ¡°Then you should¡ªinspect thoroughly!¡± Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 610 - 607 Possessiveness (3) Chapter 610: Chapter 607 Possessiveness (3) Bo Yan bent down and lifted her up sideways. Though his face remained calm, his footsteps were incredibly fast. Not only that, but even with makeup on, one could see that his face and neck were flushed. Given how thick-skinned this guy was, he definitely wasn¡¯t shy; it was pure excitement. Bo Yan, holding her, kicked open the bedroom door but didn¡¯t go straight to the bed. Instead, he turned and headed for the bathroom. Even though he was eager, he knew he had to clean up properly to avoid getting dust and stains from the outside on himself and his partner. But just as he was about to enter, Xia Siyu stretched out her leg, blocking the doorway. Bo Yan paused and looked down at her; Xia Siyu lightly traced her hand over the paint on his chest, ¡°Is this costume waterproof?¡± She liked this color, liked Bo Yan in this outfit. ... Life needed a splash of color. Just as men enjoy trying new things when playing around with their partners, Bo Yan¡¯s occasional changes intrigued and amused her. After all, it was all for the sake of happiness, of course, as long as it didn¡¯t violate any morals or laws, one should pursue joy in any way possible! Bo Yan hesitated for a moment. His foundation was indeed waterproof and sweat-proof, but that day he had sought Han Yifan, stepping in last minute for a male model who¡¯d fallen off stage during rehearsal, using their makeup team¡¯s products, which probably weren¡¯t of any special material. ¡°Do you like it?¡± Xia Siyu didn¡¯t reply, but her finger drew a circle over the paint on his chest. Bo Yan hesitated. When they were together, he was very careful about safety. Go to ????????????????????.co But sometimes, it was okay to be recklessly indulgent. Besides, Xia Siyu was also in full makeup. Her skin was naturally good, and even the heavy stage makeup didn¡¯t cake or flake. Her red lips were full, and the eyeliner and eye shadow looked beautiful. Of course, the makeup products Xia Siyu used were definitely not like those in the modeling team; they were not only specially made but also natural, with minimal residue and very long-lasting. Even though Xia Siyu¡¯s usual plain appearance was attractive enough, it was only when she was this flamboyant that she resembled the image others had of her. Dazzling and exquisitely beautiful. He was a man. Of course, he understood that purity stood no chance in front of sexiness. He immediately set her back down on the edge of the bed and equipped himself as quickly as possible, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t¡­ do this anymore!¡± Xia Siyu was not about to concede. She even pinched the decorative feather sticking to Bo Yan¡¯s shoulder, ¡°I actually find it very interesting. And one more thing¡­¡± Bo Yan paused. Xia Siyu said earnestly, ¡°From now on, this outfit is not for anyone else to see!¡± Bo Yan froze. Xia Siyu continued, ¡°Just now when you came out in shorts, the people next to us, whether women or men, kept staring intensely! Like a machine scan, it was very annoying!¡± She was expressing possessiveness over him! She didn¡¯t want other women or even men to see him! When she hadn¡¯t planned on being with him, she didn¡¯t care what he did, even if he went out with seventeen or eighteen girls; she would not have bothered. She wouldn¡¯t even manage to care if he posted selfies of his eight pack abs on Weibo; she might even have gone to give it a like. But now things were different. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Until their relationship ended, Bo Yan was her man and had to wear her tag. Other women could just go away; she didn¡¯t want them watching! Chapter 611 - 608 Possessiveness (4) Chapter 611: Chapter 608 Possessiveness (4) Bo Yan froze again, he could certainly hear the implication in Xia Siyu¡¯s words¡ªshe had developed possessive feelings toward him, and their relationship had really moved a step closer! ¡°Are you serious?¡± He just brought up ¡°husband and wife¡± with Xia Siyu, and she didn¡¯t object, now she even proactively demanded that he not distribute any perks. Could it be that if they kept developing their relationship, they would eventually become the most ordinary couple? Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The most ordinary couple, for others, is nothing unusual. But for them, artists, for the heirs of powerful unions like theirs, it was the ultimate happiness. Xia Siyu, hearing his doubt, thought he had some concerns. As artists indeed, there are some scenes in plays and some advertisements that one can¡¯t avoid shooting, and the same goes for magazines, which might require shoots with greater exposure, like men¡¯s fashion photography. To be fair, if it were her, she wouldn¡¯t refuse as long as there was no intentional groping involved and it was genuinely for the sake of the work. After all, some movies are truly artistic in nature, and art shouldn¡¯t be measured by ordinary standards. ... But she could differentiate between work and life, would keep things professional at work, and certainly wouldn¡¯t bring the emotions from work into her private life. After thinking it over, she replied, ¡°Sure. But if you shoot a kissing scene later, you¡¯ll have to contribute once to the public grain when you return. With a bed scene, it¡¯ll be a week¡¯s worth of public grain. If you shoot a large-scale advertisement or photos, it¡¯s the same as above. But if you dare to fool around outside of work, watch as I break your parts! If you dare to cheat on me, I¡¯ll definitely cut off your tool of the crime and then divorce you!¡± Bo Yan froze again, and with his head slightly lowered, Xia Siyu thought he disagreed due to his silence, immediately feeling displeased, ¡°What¡¯s the matter, you afraid your life roots will be snipped?¡± Bo Yan still didn¡¯t reply but just gave a restrained laugh. Then he looked up, leaned in, and kissed her, smearing the brilliant lipstick into a mess, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll pay the public grain right away, ensuring the quantity and the quality. And there¡¯s more¡­¡± ¡°What else?¡± Xia Siyu cocked her head. Bo Yan shook his head. Actually, Xia Siyu¡¯s words had already made her stance clear; there was no need for any further explanation. Go to ????????????????????.co Even though their relationship might never become just an ordinary couple, or perhaps she might never fall in love with him again in this lifetime. But that¡¯s okay. As long as she stays by his side, as long as she¡¯s willing to trust him, he will definitely hold her hand tightly and never let her face the storms alone again. ¡°Continue.¡± Bo Yan shook off his head and without any hesitation, moved forward. Xia Siyu, not playing coy, began to reciprocate. Sometimes marriage is just like that, no grand vows or dramatic passions, just two people of matching status who suit each other, supporting one another through life. ** The next day. When Qin Baizhou came to pick her up, he was somewhat nervous. He didn¡¯t know what the emergency was when she had to hurry off yesterday, claiming there was something going on with her family. He could speak up about matters in the entertainment circle and might even be able to help out a little, but with a family like the Xia Family, he was completely out of his depth and could only worry. However, arriving on time according to the schedule, he vaguely saw a Maybach in the garage and a bad feeling started to settle in his heart. Then he saw Bo Yan and Xia Siyu coming down the elevator together, hand in hand. Chapter 612 - 609 Possessiveness (5) Chapter 612: Chapter 609 Possessiveness (5) Qin Baizhou felt a sudden rush of blood to his head, and all his worries turned into a joke, especially when he saw the two of them walk out as if nobody else was around. To think he had worried about her all night long, only to find out that she really went to Bo Yan! Maybe her hurried return yesterday was due to her family arranging a marriage with Bo Yan. Looking at her now, it seemed she had already accepted it! Bo Yan was unaware that Qin Baizhou had come to see her off again because he was in Xia Siyu¡¯s nanny car, complete with specially designed privacy glass coatings to prevent peeping and paparazzi. When the two of them went downstairs together, Bo Yan never thought to ride in the same car as Xia Siyu, considering he was an artist and it wouldn¡¯t look good if the company arranged for fans to send her off at the airport or if there were shoots happening there. He would drive himself there, and they would board the plane separately. Once on the plane, he and Xia Siyu had seats in the same row, so they could meet up again then. Of course, once back in the Northwest, they would still have to separate upon arrival and maintain a distance when going to the film set. ... Now that their relationship had been confirmed, he didn¡¯t need to be anxious. Even though he knew Xia Siyu hadn¡¯t completely opened up to him, their future together was certain, and he wasn¡¯t one to fret over trivial issues. He and Xia Siyu had a more distant future to look forward to, which they needed to plan carefully. Once down the stairs, he quickly let go of her hand, and Xia Siyu became alert too. She had been worried about being recognized while coming and going with Bo Yan, though she wasn¡¯t afraid before because they had no intimate relationship and thus no fear of gossip. But now, having agreed to be with Bo Yan, it was different than just being friends with benefits; they had implicitly accepted marriage to each other. In the future, they would support each other and have corresponding rights and duties. Except for a tacit understanding not to bring up children and love, those two sensitive topics, there was no difference from any ordinary married couple. If the paparazzi caught them, she didn¡¯t have the talent for lying and would probably have to admit to the relationship. However, at this stage, public disclosure was not the best option for her or Bo Yan. She didn¡¯t want her future achievements to be credited to ¡°Mrs. Bo Yan with Bo Yan¡¯s help.¡± Instead, she hoped for a day when people would proudly announce, ¡°Bo Yan is her husband!¡± Despite Qingcheng Apartments being the safest residential complex in Yancheng with a selling price that no other could match and attracting countless elites from the moment it went on sale, leading to a swift sellout, Xia Siyu remained cautious of being seen by others. Go to ????????????????????.co As she was about to quicken her pace to her own car, Bo Yan called out to her, ¡°Wait a minute.¡± Xia Siyu frowned slightly, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Not a farewell kiss from this guy again, surely? Xia Siyu¡¯s first reaction was to quickly scan the surroundings, making sure there were no paparazzi in hiding and no hidden cameras. Only then did she turn back cautiously, her expression not too pleased. However, Bo Yan approached her casually, adjusting her collar for her: she had rushed out the door, and her collar was tucked in a bit. Bo Yan¡¯s fingertips were slightly cool, and his movements were swift. He quickly fixed her collar and straightened her clothes. Looking up to see Xia Siyu¡¯s startled face, he also raised his hand to tuck her disobedient hair neatly behind her ear, ¡°There you go.¡± The moment his fingertip brushed past her earlobe, she felt her ear start to burn slightly. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 613 - 610 Possessiveness (6) Chapter 613: Chapter 610 Possessiveness (6) She had felt nothing for Bo Yan before, even a bit of a desire to hit him. But since she had decided to accept him, not just as a friend with benefits but as her husband, she quickly adjusted her thinking. It wasn¡¯t just that Bo Yan had to wear her dog tags, making sure he wasn¡¯t easily seen by other women, he had to learn to avoid suspicion! Moreover, since she had learned to accept him, naturally, she would also begin to see his good qualities. Although the contact this time was only a normal reaction¡ªafter all, being touched by a member of the opposite sex who isn¡¯t your spouse would definitely elicit some response, unless it was as mundane as the left hand touching the right hand¡ªbut Xia Siyu and Bo Yan both distinctly felt a slight burn in the depths of each other¡¯s eyes. Bo Yan indeed saw the moment her eyes softened, and he really wanted to come over to kiss her, to give her a tender hug. But he also understood the principle of disconnecting. Reluctant as he was, he could only say softly, ¡°Get in the car, we need to catch the flight.¡± Xia Siyu ¡°hmm¡±ed in response. She wasn¡¯t one to dwell on things; she promptly turned her head, her hair whipping across his face. Bo Yan was taken aback for a moment before his lips curved into a faint smile. ... He, a man, was not more free and easy than his wife, nor could he let go more easily. He curled his lips in a smile and turned to go to his own car, opening the door. Xia Siyu got into the car and saw Qin Baizhou. Without even a hint of surprise, she was not flustered that he had witnessed her intimate moment with Bo Yan, ¡°Good morning, Brother Qin.¡± Qin Baizhou¡¯s expression changed slightly¡ªhow could Xia Siyu be so calm? Last time, she had readily admitted to her relationship with Bo Yan, the only complication being that when he had confessed his feelings for her, she had paused briefly. And even now, there was a slight, almost imperceptible, sense of distance from her. So, was her growing closeness with Bo Yan a reaction to his own provocation? Was it his confession that inadvertently assisted her relationship with Bo Yan, pushing her further away from himself? ¡°You and Bo Yan¡­¡± S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co ¡°Oh, don¡¯t worry. He and I share the same thought that now is not the right time to go public. We¡¯ll also avoid causing suspicion in public places; such intimate gestures won¡¯t happen again.¡± She was relying on the excellent security of Qingcheng Apartments; at other times, even if she stayed with Bo Yan in the small courtyard in the Northwest where his family was present, she barely interacted with Bo Yan. Was this what Qin Baizhou wanted to ask? Although it was indeed one of the issues, the most important thing was, when had she and Bo Yan gotten so close? He couldn¡¯t help asking with a hint of sourness, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say yesterday that there was something going on at home?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Xia Siyu replied with straightforward dignity and without any evasion. She and Bo Yan were a married couple¡ªa family¡ªand being with him meant dealing with marital affairs; wasn¡¯t that a family matter? Qin Baizhou knew her well and was aware she never lied. Since Xia Siyu was so certain, it must indeed be a family matter she was referring to, probably concerning her marriage to Bo Yan. With this in mind, he felt a blockage in his heart. However, he could not directly ask about her relationship with Bo Yan and resorted to a roundabout approach, ¡°You¡­ seldom mention your family.¡± Discussing other topics was fine, but as soon as her family was mentioned, Xia Siyu immediately turned cold. She responded indifferently with a ¡°Hmm¡±: ¡°There¡¯s nothing much to say.¡± A wealthy family¡¯s disputes, Qin Baizhou thought. He assumed Xia Siyu was the illegitimate daughter, a child not acknowledged by her family, and now she might be entering into a marriage of convenience for the sake of the family¡¯s interests. And before that, she probably disliked Bo Yan. Perhaps all she did was for the family¡¯s acceptance, and she might not like Bo Yan that much after all. Chapter 614 - 611: A Second Bloom (1) Chapter 614: Chapter 611: A Second Bloom (1) He still had a chance, he must endure. After all, as things stood, Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t planning to make her relationship with Bo Yan public. If they were ever to go public, it would probably be when they formally got engaged or married. She represented the Xia Family, and Bo Yan the Bo Family. Once the two families united, those messy rumors and scandals would no longer cling to her¡ªafter all, the prevailing impression of Xia Siyu¡¯s private life was that she was scandalous and materialistic. What a joke! Would a billionaire heiress from a third-generation wealthy family covet your petty cash? As long as they hadn¡¯t gone public, as long as they hadn¡¯t registered their marriage, he still had a chance! Qin Baizhou had risen from the bottom rungs of society and certainly knew the importance of patience. The closer it came to such times, the more he needed to remain calm. He had succeeded in his career, and he was sure he could do so in his love life as well! After all, Xia Siyu hadn¡¯t fallen in love with Bo Yan; it was just for the sake of family reasons. ** The car journeyed to the airport, where, as expected, there were fans seeing her off. Following her recent variety show rehabilitation, Xia Siyu had gained a new batch of fans. Qin Baizhou, with his expertise in running the fan club and managing trends and reputation, had indeed greatly improved her public image. ... But to completely turn her image around, she still needed a big film. After all, actors are ultimately judged by their acting. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bo Yan, true to his word, rode in a separate car from Xia Siyu to the airport. Xia Siyu had an airport filming obligation; he, on the other hand, discreetly went through security and entered the first-class lounge ahead of her. Xia Siyu arrived early as well and, wearing a mask, even though both of them wore masks and sat in corners, they were still very cautious, not interacting or communicating with each other. It wasn¡¯t until they boarded the plane that the two sat in the same row, but not in adjacent seats. Both Bo Yan and Xia Siyu sat next to windows. Fortunately, Xia Siyu had purchased first-class tickets for both Little Tang and Wei Jingjing, so actually, this entire row was familiar faces. Although flight attendants in first class typically receive information about passengers to provide better service, they¡¯re all seated in the same cabin, and it¡¯s difficult not to be recognized¡ªunless the attendants aren¡¯t particularly attentive. Thankfully, it was the pandemic period, and masks were worn most of the time. Upon boarding, Bo Yan unapologetically swapped seats with Little Tang and sat next to Xia Siyu. Even if they were recognized, it wouldn¡¯t matter; they could just say they were traveling together to film a movie. Today was their filming commencement ceremony, so appearing on the same flight was not an issue. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co But to avoid awkwardness, Bo Yan and Xia Siyu limited their interactions and conversations. Even during meal service, they casually chose a dish. Bo Yan, who once didn¡¯t mind being recognized and made efforts to approach her in public places, did so to force her to acknowledge their relationship. Now that the relationship was confirmed, he began to fulfill a husband¡¯s duty to protect his wife, avoiding causing her any trouble. Thankfully, the journey was uneventful. Xia Siyu dozed off with an eye mask as soon as she boarded, never removing her mask throughout the flight. Bo Yan immediately started to study the script intensely, and they looked like temporary seatmates who accidentally sat together, unknown to each other and never conversing. Once they deplaned, Song Fengzhi came to pick him up. He and Xia Siyu separated: unsurprisingly, there were fans waiting for Xia Siyu, while he discreetly made his way to Song Fengzhi¡¯s car in the parking lot. The two vehicles proceeded one after the other toward the film and television center. Chapter 615 - 612: A Second Bloom (2) Chapter 615: Chapter 612: A Second Bloom (2) This time for the shooting, we started with exterior scenes near the small courtyard, because outside scenes are very time-dependent. In a short while, all the corn and wheat in the fields would be harvested, and then it wouldn¡¯t be possible to film. However, the interiors and street scenes in the movie studio can be set up, and we can shoot there anytime. But of course, the kick-off has to happen at the film center. When Xia Siyu and Bo Yan drove there, they found a sizable number of reporters clocking in. Normally, the start of a movie wouldn¡¯t attract so many reporters, especially when it¡¯s a new director at the helm. But both Bo Yan and Xia Siyu were top stars, and not only was Bo Yan an idol-type actor but also an actor of great prowess. Xia Siyu, the Queen of Topics, had recently seen an improvement in her public popularity. The two were collaborating for the second time. Although it was a new director, they had the support of the esteemed director Yu Fenfei, who had even flown in specially to attend the opening ceremony. The combination of Yu Fenfei, Bo Yan, and Xia Siyu alone was worth a look. Because of the support from Yu Fenfei and Bo Yan, and with Xia Siyu joining in, what was originally going to be a loss-making movie project had surprisingly attracted a considerable amount of investment. With the new investment, Bo Yan finally didn¡¯t have to sell his villa to fund the film. At most, he would invest his acting fee into the project, taking no fee for the shoot. Of course, if there was a box office bonus later on, he would be able to take a share of that. ... Following the opening ceremony, there was, as usual, a brief interview session. The last interview featured Bo Yan, Xia Siyu, and Shang Feifei. This time, Xia Siyu was the definite lead actress, so naturally, the focus was on her and Bo Yan. As everyone knew, Xia Siyu and Bo Yan had a relationship that was ¡°not harmonious.¡± Just a few days ago, she and Qin Baizhou had been on a train for a variety show, and along the way, she kept complaining that Bo Yan was ¡°just okay.¡± Although it seemed like progress from her past behavior of rolling her eyes, such progress was negligible. Yet Wei Jingjing was still very nervous about this interview. Because Xia Siyu really didn¡¯t lie. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co Just like that live-streamed variety show in Europe where Shang Feifei and Li Yiru had double-teamed her, nearly prying out the relationship between her and Bo Yan. She never lied; if she truly didn¡¯t know an answer or couldn¡¯t respond, she would just remain silent. If the reporters really asked her about her relationship with Bo Yan, even if she didn¡¯t respond, it could stir up discussion, and that would be a problem. Sure enough, as soon as she opened her mouth, a reporter pushed a microphone close to her face, ¡°Siyu, this is your third collaboration with Bo Yan. You had said before that you didn¡¯t want to work with Bo Yan, is this situation within your expectations?¡± Wei Jingjing breathed a sigh of relief, thankfully the reporters were just trying to challenge her inconsistency. Xia Siyu was taken aback: ¡°Three times? Is there?¡± She turned to look at Wei Jingjing, suddenly recalling the variety show: ¡°Oh, that¡¯s right.¡± She was honest as well: ¡°No. When choosing projects, especially movies, I first look at the script and the director, then the project. Who I act opposite is a very secondary factor for me. After all, the actors who are chosen for roles initially may end up not joining the crew due to various unforeseen circumstances. This time with ¡®Spring Light,¡¯ I decided to take it because the script was well written, the director was well prepared, and the cast was good too; it had nothing to do with Bo Yan.¡± S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Of course, the reporter wouldn¡¯t miss the opportunity for provocation, and immediately turned to Bo Yan: ¡°Bo Yan, previously you also expressed that you didn¡¯t want to work with Siyu. How do you view these multiple collaborations?¡± Bo Yan¡¯s answer was even more direct: ¡°Actually, at the beginning, Xia Siyu was not the first choice for the female lead.¡± Chapter 616 - 613: A Second Bloom (3) Chapter 616: Chapter 613: A Second Bloom (3) The two were happily stabbing each other in the back, to the delight of the reporters. For Bo Yan and Xia Siyu, it was just everyday communication. Besides, he wasn¡¯t wrong; initially, he really didn¡¯t want to pick her for the role. First, because her salary was too expensive, and second, because he feared she couldn¡¯t endure the hardship. But the reporters didn¡¯t know this and thought Bo Yan was dissing her because he was unhappy about what Xia Siyu said about him. ¡°It was her own strong desire. She proactively reached out, which is why she was chosen.¡± Although Xia Siyu was used to stabbing Bo Yan in the back, having him speak of her like that in public was a bit much. Didn¡¯t she have any face to save? She wasn¡¯t someone to be messed with either! Before the reporters could even ask a question, she snatched the microphone and retorted, ¡°I hope you can perform well and not screw up and drag me down.¡± Bo Yan too gave a slight smile, ¡°Likewise.¡± In the photos that followed, the two of them looked left and right, obviously displeased with each other. ... Well then, nothing had changed, and their antagonistic relationship remained. The interview was live, and of course, Bo Yan¡¯s fans and Xia Siyu¡¯s fans began to argue in the live chat room. Xia Siyu may have had her loyal fans, but compared to Bo Yan¡¯s fiercely combative fans, they were no match. They were essentially getting slaughtered by Bo Yan¡¯s fans. A few more rational fans commented: ¡°I¡¯m dying of laughter, you dare say that Bo Yan will perform poorly and drag you down? All that¡¯s coming right back at you!¡± S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Exactly, just look at your own acting skills. Why don¡¯t you wait until you get a Best Actress award before you taunt others, big sis!¡± And some fans were quite aggressive right off the bat: Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co ¡°Get lost¡± ¡°Idiot, get out¡± ¡°Go break your grandma¡¯s leg¡± ¡°I came in here just to give a roundhouse kick¡± Yet, there were some who actually expressed relief: ¡°Actually, it¡¯s pretty good, I feel at ease with her collaborating.¡± ¡°Xia Siyu could never be out of Bo Yan¡¯s league, even if there were bed photos of her with Bo Yan, I wouldn¡¯t believe it.¡± ¡°The female artist least likely to be involved in a scandal with Bo Yan: Xia Siyu¡± ¡­ The chat room was buzzing while Wei Jingjing and Song Fengzhi finally breathed a sigh of relief on the side. Generally, after the start-of-filming ceremony, shooting begins immediately. Xia Siyu, although she took several days off recently, had also spent half a month in the Northwest, so she was already well-acquainted with the plot and her character. As soon as the ceremony was over, she went to change clothes. Bo Yan did the same, stepping out to get makeup and change clothes. Both were quite familiar with the routine, and didn¡¯t find anything amiss about the crowd surrounding the set. Some reporters who had not left started preparing for set visits; even if they couldn¡¯t capture the actual filming scenes, they should be able to photograph the leads after they changed into their costumes and makeup. Sure enough, once they changed outfits, there was nothing new. Because it was a specific era, everyone wore military green clothes and caps. Xia Siyu¡¯s long hair was braided into a thick plait hanging simply behind her head while Bo Yan¡¯s costume was also kept simple, representing a time before they had been sent to the countryside. However, both Xia Siyu and Bo Yan had superior looks; dressed like this, they still exuded a natural, fresh authenticity and attractiveness. The light makeup was like a de-aging magic tool. With this attire, as soon as they appeared, it was as if they were instantly pulled back into their eighteen or nineteen-year-old selves, when they first met. Their eyes were bright, their smiles dazzling, full of longing for the future. Xia Siyu and Bo Yan shared a glance, a simple look brimming with emotion, like the most natural couple imaginable. Chapter 617 - 614: A Second Bloom (4) Chapter 617: Chapter 614: A Second Bloom (4) It was impossible to tell that these two people had just been dissing each other and backstabbing each other. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Moreover, before the shooting started, when Director Sun Wujiu was explaining the scene to the two actors, Xia Siyu and Bo Yan seemed to have a quarrel over a trifling matter, and even their assistants started to join the fray. Anyway, Wei Jingjing and Song Fengzhi also didn¡¯t see eye to eye. Song Fengzhi felt that her own ¡®Brother Yan¡¯ came from a well-off and upright family and was better than Xia Siyu in every way. How annoying it was for her to use the fact that she was a girl to stir up trouble every day. Wei Jingjing, on the other hand, was more self-aware, knowing that Xia Siyu was simple-minded and hot-tempered and not easy to provoke. But so what? Her own daughter was, of course, outstanding in every way. All the other pigs coming to hog the cabbage¡ªno matter how handsome¡ªwere still pigs. They could dream on if they thought they could bully her daughter! Moreover, both Wei Jingjing and Song Fengzhi knew about the relationship between their artists and the other party. Out of old grudges as well as considerations for the hidden relationship, it was beneficial for them to appear hostile on the surface. But as soon as filming started, all those emotions automatically retracted. Bo Yan and Xia Siyu seemed to instantly forget about these arguments and immediately got into character. At the beginning of the film, the two find themselves on the day of great change, where initially everyone proceeded in an orderly manner. ... Xia Siyu and Bo Yan were both students from the same university. He was the ¡®Golden Phoenix¡¯ that flew out of a mountain village, and she was the daughter of an intellectual family, both studying under her parents who were university professors. Young men and women, in the prime of their lives, talked not of romance, but of political consciousness and building the country. Despite having a common goal, they actually had a fondness for each other. The film studio had set up a campus scene, in an era that was in late spring, with flowers blooming like brocade and trees lush and green. Flowers were easy to handle; they could be cultivated in a greenhouse and then transplanted. The first scene was very simple. Under the warm sunshine, Bo Yan and Xia Siyu encountered each other on campus. Without a single line of dialogue, they just looked at each other in the crowd, exchanging a slight smile. Of course, while it seemed simple, in addition to the two of them, the scene required cooperation from other actors and extras. Sun Wujiu, having a background in cinematography, had a natural knack for camera movement and composition. The first scene had to captivate the audience. How the camera was handled, how the shots connected, and the cuts required meticulous arrangement. Moreover, this scene was likely to set the tone for the entire film. After that initial smile, the whole film would descend toward a nadir. How to go about capturing this pivotal opening became particularly important. Despite perhaps needing only a few minutes of screen time in the final film, it might take a week to shoot. However, Sun Wujiu had long been prepared. Bo Yan and Xia Siyu might have prepared for this film for several months, but for Sun, since he started writing the script, he had already been preparing for decades. He had a very complete vision of the camera shots in his mind and had long drawn out the storyboards. When it came time to shoot, all they had to do was follow his directions. This also leveraged the advantage of having actors and the props team prepare in advance. As soon as shooting commenced, all the extras, actors, and props were in place. Even the flowers were brought in with several pots in full bloom, making the scene design exceptionally perfect. But for the same scene, even if the actors¡¯ performances were perfect, many takes were needed. However, no matter which take, the moment in the crowd when Bo Yan spotted Xia Siyu and their eyes met was absolutely radiant and filled with tender affection. Chapter 618 - 615: A Second Bloom (5) Chapter 618: Chapter 615: A Second Bloom (5) ¡°` It seemed as though there was no distance between these two, just like a couple deep in love. The adoration, joy, excitement, and contentment in their eyes were impossible to conceal, oozing out of the screen with thick affection. However, as soon as the director shouted ¡°Cut,¡± that gaze instantly turned to one of disdain. The first day of shooting finished safely, and they stayed at the hotel within the film and television center that night. Bo Yan didn¡¯t stay next to Xia Siyu; there were several rooms between them, but both had the best accommodations on the same floor. The film city in the Northwest was rather small, unlike Hengtian Film and Television Center, where twenty or thirty productions would be shooting at the same time, bustling with actors all gathered together. Here at this film center, including ¡°Spring Light,¡± there were at most three or four productions, none as high-profile as ¡°Spring Light.¡± The production had a limited budget, and even though Bo Yan and Xia Siyu¡¯s joining brought in considerable investment, it was only enough for shooting the film. If they wanted to stay in nicer rooms, they would have to pay out of their own pockets. ... Previously, when checking the information in the provincial city, only Bo Yan and Xia Siyu were staying on that floor, and it was still the same now. He arrived early, a month in advance. In Xia Siyu¡¯s absence, when she took leave to return to Yancheng, he had Song Fengzhi rent out the entire floor. When they returned to the hotel in the evening, Director Sun and other crew members first met in Bo Yan¡¯s room. Midway through the meeting, they called Xia Siyu from her room, which was four or five doors down. After discussing the requirements for the next day¡¯s shoot, the two went back to their rooms separately. The whole separation process was smooth, and none of the staff suspected anything about their relationship. After they left, Bo Yan confidently walked into Xia Siyu¡¯s room. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Since he had rented out the entire floor, he wasn¡¯t worried about the paparazzi sneaking in. But the paparazzi were not a problem, nor were the film crew. The problem was Xia Siyu. She was very annoyed about Bo Yan¡¯s backstabbing during the interview that day. Even though she was the first to ¡°stab,¡± and she knew that Bo Yan¡¯s remarks were to distance their relationship, she was just not pleased! At first, Bo Yan didn¡¯t notice her anger. After finishing up in the bathroom, he emerged wearing only a bath towel and saw Xia Siyu still sitting with her back to him, which he thought nothing of. It wasn¡¯t until he placed his hand on her shoulder and Xia Siyu shook it off ruthlessly that he sensed something was amiss. Xia Siyu not only shook off Bo Yan¡¯s hand but also moved away when he tried to sit beside her. Bo Yan paused, seeing her scowling, looking as if she had a deep grudge, pouting and puffing up like a little goldfish, which was somewhat amusing but also vexing. He quickly moved closer, but as he shifted his position slightly, Xia Siyu moved away again. Bo Yan squeezed in closer, and Xia Siyu shifted again. She was almost at the edge of the bed, ready to fall off before she finally turned her head, her gaze sharp: ¡°Don¡¯t touch me, go away!¡± She said, extending her hand to push him away. Bo Yan caught her hand and promptly apologized, ¡°My fault.¡± Xia Siyu lifted her chin slightly, ¡°What exactly did you do wrong?¡± Bo Yan couldn¡¯t remember what had annoyed her, so he simply said, ¡°I¡­ didn¡¯t abide by the ¡®three obediences and four virtues.''¡± Mentioning that of all things actually broke Xia Siyu¡¯s anger, and she burst out laughing. She quickly felt that it was inappropriate to laugh and coughed to regain her sternness: ¡°Are you going to do it again in the future?¡± ¡°` Chapter 619 - 616: A Second Bloom (6) Chapter 619: Chapter 616: A Second Bloom (6) Bo Yan actually couldn¡¯t quite remember what exactly he did wrong, but since his wife mentioned it, he hesitated for a moment, ¡°If I mess up again, you¡¯ll just¡­ keep educating me?¡± Xia Siyu was never one to dwell on things, and the moment Bo Yan apologized, she actually felt her anger dissipate. Now, her stern attitude was just to tease him. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She knew that Bo Yan¡¯s words were not without cause; she hadn¡¯t given him face, and he was simply responding in kind. It was a matter of face; you give me face, I give you face. You respect me, and I respect you. They were not a loving couple but rather together because it seemed suitable for the time being, so of course, they should emphasize equality. It was okay to be a bit temperamental, but just a little show of it was enough. Being stubborn and argumentative wasn¡¯t in her nature. However, putting on an act to a slight degree was still acceptable. She lifted her chin a little, ¡°That will depend on how you behave.¡± ... When Bo Yan saw the smile in her eyes, he knew she was no longer mad at him. A man will willingly cajole the woman he likes, but there must be a limit. If a woman is indulged unreasonably, it might be novel at first, but as time goes by, no one can tolerate such eternally submissive behavior. No one is obligated to be kind to someone else for a lifetime, even parents and children can have estrangements, let alone spouses and lovers. Love may just be a momentarily caught cold, and marriage is, frankly, a relationship. The quality of that relationship has to be worked out. In this regard, Xia Siyu was truly a treasure. She knew how to act spoiled and willful with him, but not excessively. Deep down, she was independent and wouldn¡¯t endlessly build her self-esteem by demeaning others. ¡°If I don¡¯t behave well, you must tell me.¡± Reflecting on the seven years they had missed, his greatest mistake was keeping everything to himself, never expressing likes or dislikes. This was an issue with his personality. Orphaned at a young age and dependent on others, there were many things he didn¡¯t want to tell anyone, only to let them rot inside. When he dated her back then, he continued this approach and almost lost her. But not anymore. Although he wasn¡¯t doing very well at it now, he would definitely try harder to express himself, even if the final outcome was still a disastrous defeat, at least he wouldn¡¯t lose unclearly. ¡°That¡¯s more like it.¡± Xia Siyu, who was rightfully akin to a simple amoeba, quickly moved on after he capitulated, her attention effortlessly shifting to the next day¡¯s script, ¡°We only shot that smile today. Tomorrow is the big scene, I¡¯m afraid I might not perform it well.¡± The great upheaval began with a broadcast, and after the national announcement, the onset of a major shift began. One second there was a smile, the next second, panic, change, separation. People were violently divided into two sides, and those on the left, claiming the mantle of righteousness, dragged out those they deemed ¡°bad¡± and beat them one by one. Although she had learned a lot in the Northwest recently, she still had little experience with the panic that came with such upheaval. Bo Yan was used to her sudden leaps in thought and came to sit beside her, looking at the script with her, patiently teaching her, ¡°You need to ¡¯empathize.¡¯ Think back, do you have any memories of such panic?¡± Chapter 620 - 617 Hatred (1) Chapter 620: Chapter 617 Hatred (1) ¡°` Are you panicked? Xia Siyu frowned slightly and began to ponder. Yes, she was. At first, she was bewildered, until she realized what was happening. There were screams, pleas for mercy, desperate begging, crying, and finally, complete breakdown. However, the scattered items on the floor and the fresh blood on her mother¡¯s head were not what frightened and enraged her the most. What angered her the most was that the mastermind behind the violence came from China! ... Xia Siyu¡¯s gaze sharpened in an instant. She nodded and her body tensed up. Bo Yan was right beside her and immediately felt her change. He quickly reached out to hold her, ¡°Siyu, Siyu?¡± sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He saw the sharpness in Xia Siyu¡¯s eyes. That look, he had seen it before, cold as ice, completely different from her usual sunny and straightforward attitude, even more glaringly sharp. There was a time during the shooting of ¡°Storm¡± when they had to act in a scene disrupted by hooligans, and Xia Siyu knocked a bald man out with a beer bottle. Her eyes back then were just like now, icy, fierce, sharp. If glares could be knives, she¡¯d definitely have stabbed without hesitation! From her birth to the present, she had never hated anyone so much. She knew her parents had a troubled relationship and could only see her father for a short time when she was young. But she also knew that her parents actually loved each other very much and had to separate because of circumstances. She was just past her first year of high school, sixteen years old. She still remembered that summer when her father came to Sicily and happily told them that he had finally convinced his family to bring them back to China, to officially join the Xia family. He wanted Xia Siyu to recognize her ancestors and claim her lineage, promising that from then on, no one would dare to disregard them anymore. But as soon as her father had left, that year Italy erupted in protests due to refugee and other issues. Some people took advantage of the chaos to target their home, destroying and ransacking the place she and her mother had lived in for over a decade! She remembered her mother trying to protect her, getting hit in the head with a stick, blood streaming down, and during the chaos within the rubble, she remembered the glimpse of a fleeing person¡¯s half-exposed face¡ªit was of Asian descent. They had masqueraded under the guise of a protest march, not heading to the commercial streets or staging a demonstration in front of institutions, but instead headed to the Chinese District far from the city center to loot, smashing and destroying their home! Perhaps those behind had signaled to them not to be too violent¡ªaside from hitting her mother who was protecting her, they didn¡¯t assault them further. After wrecking the entire house, they immediately fled. Even with a police report, there was no way to trace their origins. The mastermind behind this¡ªwhether it was Mrs. Tong or relatives from the Xia family¡ªwas definitely targeting them! It wasn¡¯t to kill them; it was a warning! Even if they went back to China, they were not to stir up any trouble! What infuriated her the most was that after learning about this incident, her father immediately flew over to take them back. Maybe he also investigated, maybe he fought back? But what use was that? In the end, they were made to live separately, and the Xia family still did not acknowledge her and her mother. They had to endure Mrs. Tong¡¯s contempt and Xia Sicai¡¯s hostility! What use is a man¡¯s love if he cannot protect his mother and daughter? ¡°¡­Siyu, Siyu?¡± Bo Yan, seeing the hatred in her eyes, hurriedly came to comfort her. Chapter 621 - 618 Hatred (2) Chapter 621: Chapter 618 Hatred (2) Comfort was to no avail, nor did calling her yield any fruit. He gently cradled her face and gave her a fine kiss. When Xia Siyu came to, she averted her eyes, ¡°I understand how to act it out now.¡± She was talking about acting, but Bo Yan knew that her emotions just now were not about that. The anger in her eyes was so earnest, it definitely wasn¡¯t something about acting; to perform panic, there was no need to exert so much effort. The only emotion that could cause violent turmoil in Xia Siyu¡¯s heart must be related to her family. Her family, her mother, was her greatest weakness and her deepest secret. She didn¡¯t wish to speak of it, and he didn¡¯t want to force her. But he also wanted to tell her that she was no longer alone; he would fight alongside her. Gently rubbing her cheek with the tip of his nose, Bo Yan said, ¡°No matter what difficulties we encounter in the future, feel free to tell me. We are husband and wife, a shared destiny. Whether it¡¯s facing work, life, or family.¡± ... Upon hearing the last word, Xia Siyu turned back to look at him. Bo Yan¡¯s eyes were sincere, and she believed he was telling the truth. Indeed, she and Bo Yan now shared a common enemy: Bo Yi and Xia Sicai. This was also why she was willing to trust him and to be with him now. Perhaps their marriage would still not be one of love, but a natural alliance and a common goal would make it incredibly strong. ¡°All right.¡± She nodded, then lowered her head, ¡°Continue.¡± Bo Yan smiled, certain things indeed did not need further clarification if both of them understood. He followed her gaze to the script, but this time, he reached around from behind her, grasping the back of her hand, and they flipped through the pages together. Xia Siyu was a bit uncomfortable at first, but soon, engrossed in the script that Bo Yan explained with great expertise and detail, she moved past it. When tired, she rested. The meeting had already ended late, and after studying the script for a while, Xia Siyu¡¯s eyelids began to droop. She had woken up early that morning to catch the flight and had been traveling all day. Now her head grew heavier and heavier, and she was on the verge of falling asleep. Gently sniffing her cheek, Bo Yan asked, ¡°Tired?¡± Xia Siyu nodded with the slightest movement, her eyes too drowsy to keep open. She had already washed up earlier, so there was no need for another cleanup. Bo Yan took the script from her, but she struggled up to fold a corner of the page she was on, so she wouldn¡¯t lose her place later. But as soon as she set down the script, her head tilted, and like a malfunctioning robot, she collapsed in an instant. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bo Yan found it both amusing and heart-wrenching, with a slight sense of satisfaction. He picked her up, placed her by the bed, and covered her with a blanket. He was about to go to the bathroom when suddenly Xia Siyu caught his hand with a soft call, ¡°Mommy.¡± Bo Yan was taken aback, guessing she must have recalled some dreadful scene just now. He bent over, gently kissed her forehead, and reassured, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, I¡¯m here.¡± Perhaps the gesture of kissing her forehead was exactly like the goodnight kisses her mother used to give before bedtime, because without speaking, she wrapped her arms around his arm, affectionately rubbing her head against it, and then settled into a comfortable position, drifting into deep sleep. Watching her peaceful sleeping face, Bo Yan felt a mixture of joy and pain. The joy was that she had finally let down her guard with him. But the pain was: he still wanted to go to the restroom. Chapter 622 - 619 Hatred (3) Chapter 622: Chapter 619 Hatred (3) The next morning when Xia Siyu woke up, Bo Yan was already not in his room. She got out of bed a bit late and it was almost time to shoot. After quickly freshening up, Wei Jingjing, who was in a great hurry, came rushing in to take her to get makeup and change clothes. Today¡¯s shooting task was quite heavy and they needed to finish the school scenes as quickly as possible, at least film the ones where the extras were present. The time for the autumn harvest was drawing nearer, and time waited for no one. They had to complete the filming here as fast as possible and move on to shoot the exterior scenes near the previous courtyard ideally within these few days. Sun Wujiu was collaborating with Xia Siyu for the first time and had heard rumors about her being a diva and unprofessional. However, she was willing to come a month early to familiarize herself with the environment and took script readings very seriously, which put his mind at ease. Since the start of filming, although Xia Siyu almost arrived late for today¡¯s shooting, she was still very dedicated throughout the process. Moreover, she was quite humble, and her attitude was very good. If a shot wasn¡¯t done well, she would quickly check the footage, see where she fell short and try her best to correct it during the next take. Director Sun knew that many people were doubtful of his project, and the more they doubted it, the more he wanted to make a good film. Initially, he really didn¡¯t hold much hope for Xia Siyu, only wishing that she would perform adequately and help with the box office. ... But when she changed into her makeup and deeply immersed herself into the character, she instantly seemed to merge with the role from the film. It could be said that while Sun Wujiu was writing the script and preparing for the film, because he wrote the female lead too well, he actually didn¡¯t have a real-life prototype for the character. Even though the female lead has some minor flaws in the middle, nobody¡¯s perfect, and these flaws actually enriched and made the character more three-dimensional, without significantly impacting her character development. Yet when Xia Siyu took on the role, even though it was just one day, she achieved the image, temperament, and understanding of the character that he had envisioned in his mind. Most importantly, when she interacted with Bo Yan, they were always full of contradictions, but once they started acting, the feelings of love turning into hate in the movie were spot on. Even though they had only filmed the first smile, the chaos after the huge change in the second scene, and the third scene where the female lead learns her parents were crippled by a group of students led by the male lead and starts to detest him. In just three scenes, the female lead didn¡¯t have a single line. Perhaps recorded at the beginning of the film, these few minutes of storyline might not seem like much, but he felt confident that this character, in just these three scenes, had firmly established herself, with her personality, changes, layers, and backbone all present. At first, he actually didn¡¯t have much confidence and talking about awards was just that ¨C talk. But now, he actually harbored a bit of ambition to win some. Perhaps, Xia Siyu was truly a talent with great potential. Xia Siyu and Bo Yan spent three days quickly finishing the scenes at the film and television center. After that, the crew would be split into A and B groups, with group A continuing to shoot in the film city, while group B, including him, Xia Siyu, and Bo Yan, would go to the small courtyard to rush the exterior scenes. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bo Yan¡¯s rented room was still available, considering they would have to return after shooting in the courtyard. For a small place like this, long-term hotel room rentals didn¡¯t cost much, and he could easily afford it. In the evening, he and Xia Siyu went to bed early. The next morning, they set off to pack up and return to stay in that little courtyard. Chapter 623 - 620 Hatred (4) Chapter 623: Chapter 620 Hatred (4) Although the film and television center had facilities that were undoubtedly many times better than those of the small courtyard, it wasn¡¯t convenient to bathe, use the restroom, wash up, or even cook here. But in this small courtyard, only the teams of Bo Yan and Xia Siyu were staying, along with the homeowners who didn¡¯t know much about the entertainment industry. Even if Bo Yan had booked the entire floor of the hotel, she still felt that a reporter could pop up from anywhere, or some artist or director might come over for a visit, and the act would be blown in minutes. However, by the time Xia Siyu and the others arrived at the small courtyard, it was already noon; they had no time to rest and went straight to the set to start filming. The only advantage was that here, they only needed to shoot during the daytime. There were almost no night scenes, and most of the evening content could be shot back in the studios of the film and television center. Since they were filming day scenes, that meant they had plenty of time in the evening to go back to the courtyard and rest. Today was their first day, and Director Sun didn¡¯t arrange any difficult scenes. It was just running and walking through the cornfields and wheatfields. Passing through the golden wheat fields, over the vast yellow plain. ... sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In short, she walked ahead, and Bo Yan followed. There was no plotline, and it didn¡¯t need one, but it was all about physical endurance, and that was exhausting. Just like the famous ¡°drama run¡± in Japanese dramas, where the male and female leads would run after arguing, run after breaking up, and keep running once they got back together. It wasn¡¯t about running for the sake of it; it was about a certain state, a change. Fortunately, both Bo Yan and Xia Siyu regularly exercised. For the past couple of days, Bo Yan hadn¡¯t done any sports with her in the evening, so they both had plenty of physical and mental energy. The two walked one after the other. The female lead didn¡¯t need to shine too much here since at this point her character was supposed to despise the male lead. The male lead was filled with regret and confusion, loving her yet not daring to pursue, so he could only follow her constantly. Bo Yan only needed to show careful cherishing, utter regret, and a sense of confusion about the future. This was far too easy for him; he had felt this way about Xia Siyu for seven years before. He followed her footsteps, stepping in the puddles she had stepped in and jumping over the stones she had sidestepped. When she was tired and rested by the field, he would stay ten meters away, not daring to come closer, waiting for her to leave before he would linger at her spot for a while, touching the grass she had picked on a whim, breathing the air she had breathed. This kind of subdued acting wasn¡¯t even acting; it was his genuine reaction. Even now, although they were ¡°mutually in love,¡± they couldn¡¯t make their relationship public due to their respective statuses. For a man, being unable to acknowledge his deeply loved wife, unable to give her an official status in public, was a manifestation of repression and impotence. At this moment, he too needed to find various ways to express his love for her. Some subtle details, even Director Sun had not thought of, but Bo Yan did. Within the camera¡¯s lens, he was like the heroine¡¯s shadow, wanting to embrace her yet fearing her dislike and scorn, deep down feeling unworthy of her. But the more entangled he was, the deeper his love grew. Not only Director Sun but other crew members who were not in on the secret would not think he harbored any special feelings for Xia Siyu; they would simply think his acting was incredibly powerful. Of course, to be worthy of such a silent adoration from Bo Yan, Xia Siyu herself had to be exceptional. Just like the heroine in ¡°The Beautiful Legends of Sicily,¡± she had to be remarkable, an object of desire for all the men on the island and the envy of all the women, for her character to stand strong. Chapter 624 - 621 Hatred (5) Chapter 624: Chapter 621 Hatred (5) From what she could see, she¡¯d exceeded the task by a wide margin. Both of them had performed excellently. Originally, Director Sun had a few ideas he wanted to add, but Bo Yan and Xia Siyu did so well that he found himself with nothing to add, aside from feeling a bit sore in the legs. When he called ¡°cut,¡± he even patted Bo Yan on the shoulder with a sentimental touch, ¡°You two coming a month early to get familiar with the surroundings was truly a great decision.¡± Their coordination was simply perfect! If one didn¡¯t know that Bo Yan and Xia Siyu weren¡¯t on good terms, just by looking at their performance, one would think they were madly in love. By this time, the sun had set and the light was no longer sufficient, so the crew could pack up for the day. Director Sun even suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s go have a drink together. We¡¯re not shooting tonight anyway, and you¡¯ve worked hard today.¡± ... Xia Siyu was the first to object, ¡°Director Sun, I want to go back and rest. There¡¯s no shower in our courtyard, and heating water for a bath is very time-consuming and laborious.¡± Director Sun didn¡¯t insist; he turned to Bo Yan. Bo Yan gave a wry smile, ¡°Director Sun, spare me, please. Do you know how far I walked this afternoon? How about letting me rest and gather my energy for shooting tomorrow?¡± When it came to their afternoon shooting, Director Sun laughed too, ¡°You boy, even the girls didn¡¯t complain about being tired; what are you fussing about? Alright, alright, seeing your condition, I¡¯ll let you off tonight, but we¡¯ll come back for drinks in a few days!¡± Bo Yan nodded. In public, he and Xia Siyu appropriately maintained their distance, getting into their separate nanny vans to go back, one following the other, without any private conversations. But the moment Xia Siyu arrived back at the courtyard, even before getting out of the car, she caught the rich aroma. It was lamb, her favorite cumin lamb, lamb soup, spicy lamb spine! S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xia Siyu quickly jumped out of the car and saw that the cook in the courtyard was an assistant from Bo Yan¡¯s team. He smiled, ¡°Brother Yan had me go to the market this morning to pick out some premium lamb meat; it should be ready soon, just wash your hands and you can eat.¡± Although initially too tired to walk, the scent immediately revived Xia Siyu. She hurried to change her clothes and wash her face, looking incredibly eager. When Bo Yan arrived, she was already obediently seated on a small stool with her bowl and chopsticks ready. The host was there too, but Bo Yan was calm. He didn¡¯t say anything intimate but instead turned to the chef to discuss, ¡°You didn¡¯t buy any fatty parts, did you? Though we need to replenish, we can¡¯t eat too much; it¡¯s too fattening. If I hadn¡¯t walked such a long distance today and wasn¡¯t so tired, I wouldn¡¯t have chosen this.¡± Liar, he had sent someone to pick the meat in the morning, long before he knew he¡¯d have to walk so far in the afternoon. He had actually prepared it for Xia Siyu. However, no one in the courtyard called him out, and when everyone sat down to eat, Xia Siyu grabbed several pieces of meat and stuffed them into her mouth, feeling utterly blissful. To hell with all that body sculpting and dieting; she¡¯d almost turned into a rabbit. However, Wei Jingjing still kept an eye on her, and after she grabbed her eighteenth piece of meat, Wei Jingjing resolutely removed all the meat dishes from the table, leaving her with only vegetables to eat. Xia Siyu was utterly resentful. If she¡¯d known she¡¯d be left with nothing but vegetables for her last bite of meat, she would have grabbed more. Now, she didn¡¯t even have soup¡ªit was downright cruel! When she looked up, she saw that an extra dish with several chunks of meat had appeared next to Bo Yan! While others were not paying attention, she snatched a few pieces, then a few more. Bo Yan acted as if he saw nothing, continuing to chew his food slowly. Chapter 625 - 622 Hatred (6) Chapter 625: Chapter 622 Hatred (6) By the time they had put down their chopsticks, Xia Siyu was patting her round belly with full satisfaction, feeling half the fatigue of the day already gone. And the other half, of course, was to be solved with a bath. She discovered that during the time she had taken off, Bo Yan had bought a super-large bath tub! The house here didn¡¯t have a bathtub installed, but this large wooden bath could accommodate two people, almost like a bathtub. Moreover, he had spent money to install plumbing for running water during Xia Siyu¡¯s absence, as well as a solar water heater and shower facilities. He gave the excuse, ¡°It¡¯s quite embarrassing to live at the host¡¯s home; anyway, we need to use it, so I just helped install it on the side.¡± Xia Siyu was very happy and comfortable, asking someone to get the water ready. When she entered the bathroom, she found rose petals and essential oils all prepared. ... But seeing this setup, she knew that later it wouldn¡¯t merely be a simple bath. Indeed, just as she had finished filling the bathtub, just as she entered, just as she had locked the main door from inside, Bo Yan jumped in through the side window. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He even had the gall to say, ¡°I¡¯m very environmentally friendly, conserving water resources. As everyone knows, the Northwest is short of water, and it¡¯s even worse here. Using one bathtub of water for two people, we save as much as we can.¡± Xia Siyu didn¡¯t believe him for a second, ¡°Then you could just use my bathwater after I¡¯m done.¡± Bo Yan didn¡¯t pay attention but continued undressing while saying, ¡°Another virtue of mine is kindness. I can help with the places you can¡¯t reach.¡± ¡°Who needs your help? Buzz off!¡± If it weren¡¯t for fear of the host hearing them, Xia Siyu really wanted to kick him out. Taking a bath with Bo Yan was definitely not just about cleanliness. It was an hour later when they came out of the bathroom. Xia Siyu was so tired she didn¡¯t want to move. Taking advantage of the host not being around, Bo Yan wrapped her in a bath towel and carried her out. When Wei Jingjing came to tidy up, my goodness, had they been having a water fight inside? The tub was two-thirds empty, and the entire bathroom was flooded, the water so high the slippers were nearly floating. Once they were in the room, Xia Siyu then playfully demanded a massage from him. Bo Yan first locked the door, and then meticulously massaged her from head to toe, especially her legs and feet. They had walked too far that day, and if they didn¡¯t properly massage those muscles, their legs would likely be sore for days. However, too much massage could lead to wandering thoughts, for both men and women. Especially since Xia Siyu had just come out of the bath, her body slathered with lotion, fragrant and soft. Bo Yan, while previously massaging, felt his heart racing just from holding her feet, and now, with her all clean, she was like a juicy peach, irresistible. He couldn¡¯t help but lower his head and take a nibble. That one action sent a jolt from Xia Siyu¡¯s toes all the way up her spine to the crown of her head. Startled, she thought, this freak, he actually kissed my foot! She quickly tried to get up to kick him away, but Bo Yan caught her foot and pulled her back with force. The two of them started off fighting and teasing, and gradually, the sounds of anger turned into soft gasps and then into suppressed, muffled moans because they feared being overheard. But playing rough did have its consequences. And indeed, it turned into a big mess. It wasn¡¯t until they were about to rest and tidy up that Bo Yan realized the ¡°little umbrella¡± he¡¯d bought was punctured. When they saw the hole, both he and Xia Siyu were stunned. Things got out of hand. Now it¡¯s really out of hand. What if they ended up with a baby! Chapter 626 - 623 Husband and Wife (1) Chapter 626: Chapter 623 Husband and Wife (1) Actually, it¡¯s not such a peculiar phenomenon for things to go wrong. There is emergency contraception ready at home just in case a situation arises, so it can be dealt with. The problem is, this is the Northwest, a mountain village, this godforsaken place, where can you even buy emergency contraception? Especially since it¡¯s not her safe period, if his little swimmers are incredibly vigorous and actually hit the target, they¡¯re screwed! ¡°This is what you get for being indulgent, for playing around, for being willful.¡± Xia Siyu pounded with her tiny fists, but before she could land a few blows, Bo Yan lifted a finger and made a ¡°shush¡± gesture at his lips. Xia Siyu also lowered her voice from eighty decibels to thirty decibels, almost whispering, ¡°What do we do now!¡± Having a child is out of the question, it¡¯s not about being responsible or not. Both of them are legally married, and Bo Yan is not the kind of person who shirks responsibility. If his beloved wife were carrying their child, he would of course be delighted. ... But he knew very well that Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t possibly have a child at this moment. Many women after marriage inevitably face conflicts between work and family, which is even more pronounced among artists. Female artists especially, not only daring not to marry, but also fearing pregnancy, find even dating fraught with difficulties. It¡¯s not just because getting married and having children would mean about a year of downtime, but also because East Asian society¡¯s beauty standards for women still focus on ¡°youthfulness.¡± sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even if they are married and have children, they try to downplay ¡°the roles of wife and mother¡± to maintain ¡°youthfulness.¡± It¡¯s the fear that once you¡¯re typecast, many scripts won¡¯t come your way, and many roles would no longer be offered to you. It¡¯s not just the agencies who think this way; it¡¯s a societal attitude. Many talented middle-aged female artists get typed as a ¡°wife,¡± and subsequently, can only play the mother of the female lead or the grandmother, unable to showcase their talent anymore. Of course, the same is true for male artists. Many fans don¡¯t want their idols to marry, and even a serious relationship could lead to a mass unfollowing, as they regard male artists as their own ¡°boyfriends,¡± thinking, if not to themselves, to not let another woman get him easily. Although Bo is already an accomplished artist, he still has many fans. Once outed, it could significantly impact his career. So his agency didn¡¯t want it publicized either. However, if Xia Siyu was ready, or if a situation arose where he needed to stand out and declare his stand, he would spare no expense to protect her and their child. ¡°We¡¯ll have to ask Song Fengzhi to buy it tomorrow. No worries, taking it within 24 hours is effective, and there¡¯s even a bit longer window, 72 hours works as well.¡± Although taking medication is harmful to the body, an unwanted pregnancy leading to an abortion would be even more damaging. ¡°Alright then.¡± That was the only option. Before thirty, or at least until she won Best Actress, she had never even contemplated having children, hadn¡¯t even thought about it. And her relationship with Bo was nowhere near that stage yet. Maybe after she turned thirty, if her mindset changed and she felt that having her own child was the most important thing, even if she still hadn¡¯t fallen in love with Bo, she might consider it. But for now, absolutely not. ¡°Next time, don¡¯t take such huge risks,¡± Siyu couldn¡¯t help but complain, even though the issue was resolved. Bo remained unfazed, ¡°Doesn¡¯t this indirectly prove how formidable I am?¡± Chapter 627 - 624 Husband and Wife (2) Chapter 627: Chapter 624 Husband and Wife (2) So the last time Li Weiyi got publicly humiliated by her when she said ¡°no can do,¡± he was enraged and embarrassed. Moreover, this thing is mysterious; some handsome young men who work out regularly are just not up to par. Others, rough and ugly, might be surprisingly satisfactory. Xia Siyu might be self-important, but she can¡¯t stand others being pretentious, especially Bo Yan. She sneered disdainfully, ¡°Really? Just so-so, I guess.¡± What does ¡°just so-so¡± mean? It¡¯s as if she herself, surrounded by scandals, is a veteran in love. Bo Yan leaned in closer, Bo Yan, for all these years, according to himself, hadn¡¯t dated anyone. But it seemed he had learned more new tricks lately. If not self-taught, then he must have definitely looked up some resources to study. That was during their separation, when even after getting married, they had agreed not to interfere with each other¡¯s affairs. Siyu wasn¡¯t one to dredge up the past. But regardless of which it was, indeed, their life together was exceptionally harmonious. This harmony was also one of the reasons she had agreed to be an ordinary married couple with Bo Yan. ... ¡°You¡¯re just the same, weren¡¯t you just all amazed, saying dancers are incredible? I can box too. Do you want to give it a try?¡± She¡¯d lose a fight but never concede defeat¡ªSiyu would never admit he was amazing. If anyone was going to be amazing, it¡¯d be her first! Bo Yan wasn¡¯t stupid; boxing was a death wish. At this point, just showering her with flattery was the way to go: ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re incredible, my wife is the best.¡± Xia Siyu knew he was deliberately flattering her: ¡°Your praise doesn¡¯t come from the heart! It¡¯s insincere!¡± But she was still quite proud, her eyes slanted upwards with pride, tails up in the air. Bo Yan quickly continued to lavish praise: ¡°What do you mean, insincere? Look into my sincere eyes! My wife is not only gorgeous and capable but also hardworking, simply perfect. Anyone who doesn¡¯t like my wife is the one with the problem¡ªhe has poor taste!¡± Xia Siyu, indeed, responded well to flattery, shamelessly nodding in agreement: ¡°Of course, how could it be otherwise? It¡¯s not my fault my mother gave birth to such a beauty, I can¡¯t help it.¡± After his compliments, Bo Yan started to look out for his own benefits sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xia Siyu knew this guy was up to no good; having him do one good deed would cost her hundreds in return. She was unwilling: ¡°I¡¯m tired.¡± She¡¯d walked several kilometers this afternoon, soaked in a bath in the evening, and even did exercises twice, too exhausted to move even her fingertips. ¡°No worries, you.¡± Bo Yan had more energy, quickly lifting her up. Xia Siyu faintly felt something was off, feeling that not only her body but also her soul was starting to depend on him: ¡°Bo, Bo Yan?¡± Chapter 628 - 625 Husband and Wife (3) Chapter 628: Chapter 625 Husband and Wife (3) Bo Yan didn¡¯t understand why and thought she might have a problem, so he turned his head to kiss her, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Siyu?¡± Xia Siyu also turned her head, looking directly into Bo Yan¡¯s eyes. Although there wasn¡¯t much light in the Northwest, she could still make out Bo Yan¡¯s profile. The closer she got, the more handsome she found him to be. Bo Yan was of course very handsome, but up close, he appeared even more so. Moreover, from this angle¡ªunlike those of teammates, fans, or photographers¡ªno one could see the affectionate look on his face. His eyes were originally like peach blossoms, but at this moment, they were almost overflowing with Peach Blossom Pool, thousands of feet deep, as if one glance would drown her in them. His peach blossom eyes were the very symbol of flirtation, yet his gaze at her at this moment was so passionate. It was as if in the depths of his eyes, in the bottom of his heart, there was only room for her. ¡°No, nothing,¡± she hurriedly lowered her head, unable to bear the sight of his eyes. It felt like one more glance would suck her in. ... The more she avoided him, the more curious Bo Yan became. He stretched out his finger to lift her chin, forcing her to face him. Xia Siyu tried to look away, but he simply leaned in and covered her lips with his in a gentle motion, seemingly filled with endless affection. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But it was precisely this affection that Xia Siyu feared. She was used to living freely and had only felt attraction in a romantic sense towards Bo Yan. Back then, her feelings for Bo Yan were driven by his good looks¡ªit was liking, but it hadn¡¯t reached the point of pledging eternal love. She always loved herself the most, of course, unless her mother was around, then it was her mother she loved most. But it was undeniable that her only romance had been with Bo Yan, and it had ended in a dismal failure. Although she withdrew quickly, it left shadows in her heart, and she couldn¡¯t allow herself to fall easily ever again. But why did she feel that¡ªright here, right now¡ªshe was falling for Bo Yan again? ¡°Wife, wife,¡± Bo Yan too sensed a change in her mood, but after all, he wasn¡¯t a worm in Xia Siyu¡¯s belly, and couldn¡¯t possibly guess what she was thinking exactly. He loved Xia Siyu; as a friend, as a comrade, as a lover, and also as a spouse. If she wasn¡¯t happy, he wanted to be even more tender, to make her happy. But the more tender he became, the more fearful Xia Siyu grew. She was afraid that she really had started to like Bo Yan again, for a second time. But how could it be Bo Yan? She had always believed it was not good to retread old ground, even though she was now married to Bo Yan, it was just suitability; it did not involve love, and she could control her own heart. She was human, consumed the five grains like everyone else, and could fall ill, and of course, she could fall in love with someone. She just hadn¡¯t anticipated that this person would still be Bo Yan, again Bo Yan. However, thinking about it, she was good-looking and had high standards for herself. If she truly fell for someone, it definitely wouldn¡¯t be an unattractive man. Boys have to be handsome; besides a face, they need height, physique, fashion sense, social skills, and eloquence. It seems she had no real demands, yet in reality, she wanted someone handsome, who could dress up, and came from a somewhat wealthy background. Moreover, when getting along, he couldn¡¯t be petty-minded, but needed to be insightful. So all this roundabout pondering turns out to land on Bo Yan as the only one who fits the bill, right? She wouldn¡¯t be interested in anyone less appealing than Bo Yan. And someone better than Bo Yan, she hadn¡¯t met yet. She initially disliked Bo Yan because of the dark shadows of the past. Now that the shadows are dispersed, it¡¯s only normal that she likes him again. Chapter 629 - 626 Husband and Wife (4) Chapter 629: Chapter 626 Husband and Wife (4) But that person is Bo Yan! How can one fall into the same pit twice, how could she have fallen for Bo Yan again? S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The panic and confusion in Xia Siyu¡¯s eyes were all seen by Bo Yan. He didn¡¯t quite understand her thoughts, all he could do was to treat her even more gently, even more considerately. At this moment, Xia Siyu felt as if her body was in heaven, but her mood was in hell. He then gently lowered his head and tenderly sealed her lips. In the Northwest, resources were limited, and it was not feasible to take another bath or anything like that, so they just did their best to clean up. Xia Siyu wanted to do it herself, but she was too exhausted to even move her fingertips and could only let him take care of her. Once everything was in order, he changed into his pajamas and came back to bed. He meticulously tucked her in and kissed her on the corner of her mouth, ¡°Wife, goodnight.¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s expression was complex, wanting to refuse, wanting to move away, but she was unable, allowing him to hold her until she woke up the next day. ... Bo Yan woke up earlier than she did, as they had to start work very early in the morning. When Xia Siyu woke up, he had already gotten out of bed and was dressed. Seeing that she was awake, Bo Yan leaned in, gave her a deep kiss, and even made a ¡°tsk¡± sound, ¡°Good morning.¡± Xia Siyu was bewildered by his kiss, especially as she watched his handsome face move close and then away, her heart pounding fiercely. It¡¯s over, it¡¯s over, what should she do if she found him even more handsome!? It was the same during meal times. Bo Yan was born into an aristocratic family, and despite the inevitable scheming and rivalry, his upbringing was still quite disciplined. Even when he ate, he did so unhurriedly, a pleasing sight to behold. The coffee was also brewed by him personally¡ªsupposedly it was top-quality Manting coffee beans, and he had specially brought in a coffee machine and cream whipping equipment. In the small yard, everyone got a cup, except for the hosts who didn¡¯t drink, so Xia Siyu had the chance to enjoy two cups herself. Holding the cup, Xia Siyu thought Bo Yan was handsome, cooked tasty meals, and even made coffee, and this coffee was very delicious. Just as she was thinking, she was suddenly stunned, wondering how her thoughts had drifted to Bo Yan again. Frightened, she began to cough frantically. Just then Wei Jingjing was tidying up in the room and didn¡¯t hear her cough. Given they were outside, Bo Yan couldn¡¯t be too close to her, but he still frowned, looking seemingly displeased yet was actually very considerate in helping her catch her breath, softly chiding, ¡°Look at you, coughing just from drinking coffee, I don¡¯t know what else you can do.¡± Xia Siyu lifted her head, their eyes met, and her face turned red again, leading to an even more earth-shaking cough. Later they went to the film set. Coincidentally, the scene they were shooting was where the female protagonist actually still loves the male lead, yet hates him for hurting her parents, with mixed feelings of love and hate. Xia Siyu¡¯s expression¡ªshe wasn¡¯t boasting¡ªdidn¡¯t require acting, she felt exactly like that towards Bo Yan now! Chapter 630 - 627 Husband and Wife (5) Chapter 630: Chapter 627 Husband and Wife (5) Just as she had finished thinking, Xia Siyu lived up to everyone¡¯s expectations by coughing several times, almost spitting out the medicine she had swallowed. Of course, Bo Yan didn¡¯t know about all her inner turmoil, he just realized that Xia Siyu was a bit off today. The film crew was even more clueless. But what they did know was that they had struck gold. They had initially thought that Xia Siyu¡¯s involvement was just for bringing in fans and as long as her acting wasn¡¯t terrible, it was enough. They never expected her to actually shine. Even though she had been nominated for Best Actress many times without ever winning, it was considered no more than a consolation prize. But this time, looking at Xia Siyu¡¯s performance over the past few days, her endurance to hardship was one thing, but what was key was her excellent grasp of the female lead¡¯s character. The attention to small details, some of the plot design, and the subtle changes in facial expressions, he wasn¡¯t boasting, but she wouldn¡¯t be outperformed by any current actor. However, with both actors performing so well, Director Sun felt fortunate, yet the weight on his shoulders grew heavier. Their performances were so brilliant that if he couldn¡¯t direct the story well, it would truly be a great sin. For a while, everyone on set worked hard. They were all desperately doing their best for the film, and no one paid attention to the issues between Xia Siyu and Bo Yan. ... ** In the evening, Bo Yan made the excuse that he had to memorize more lines for tomorrow and needed to go back to study them, so he wouldn¡¯t go out for drinks. This was actually nonsense, as his lines for today were just a few, at most a page. Tomorrow¡¯s lines were a bit more, but only three pages worth, not difficult to memorize. Director Sun and Yu Fenfei shared a style, disliking verbose and convoluted dialogue. They preferred silent expressions, relying on actors¡¯ gazes, expressions, body language, and actions to convey meaning. Even when dialogue was necessary, it was simple and easy to convey. However, since he and Xia Siyu had been doing a lot of emotional and facial expression scenes that were very brain-intensive and had turned out so well, Director Sun did not insist on keeping Bo Yan there and agreed to let him go. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bo Yan went back, obviously to get intimate with his wife. But this time Xia Siyu was wiser, locking all the doors and windows while showering, leaving Bo Yan with no recourse but to wait for her to finish. Men shower quickly, he was out in less than ten minutes, and as a guise, he first went to his own room. Once he saw the host had gone to bed, he immediately barged into Xia Siyu¡¯s room. But Wei Jingjing was still in Xia Siyu¡¯s room, and Bo Yan walked in nonchalantly, not paying Wei Jingjing any heed. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t pay attention to him either and continued chatting with Jingjing. However, when Jingjing saw Bo Yan, she remembered the morning-after pill Song Fengzhi had given her that afternoon, and her gaze involuntarily moved from his handsome face to the area below his waist¡­ Bo Yan didn¡¯t disturb their conversation; Xia Siyu was actually talking about her recent work schedule with Jingjing. After finishing that topic, she started discussing her skin care routine, mentioning how the autumn climate was dry, especially in the Northwest, and after changing locations, her usual skin care products weren¡¯t working as well. But this conversation went on for over an hour, and during that time, Bo Yan even went to the restroom while the two were still chatting. He noticed something was off but knew Xia Siyu¡¯s personality too well. If he forcefully interrupted their conversation, it would only make her resent him. But he had his ways. Three minutes later, Song Fengzhi knocked on the door, ¡°Is Miss Wei here? Miss Wei, I need to talk to you about something.¡± Jingjing was taken aback; this was the first time Song Fengzhi had come looking for her so late at night. Chapter 631 - 628 Husband and Wife (6) Chapter 631: Chapter 628 Husband and Wife (6) She hadn¡¯t thought much of it; after all, both teams were there to assist the artists. Bo Yan trusted Song Fengzhi more, and most matters were managed by him. As for Xia Siyu¡¯s side, Xia Siyu herself was a bit of an airhead, so it was already good enough if she didn¡¯t make any mistakes. She even had nitroglycerin pills on hand all the time. With Qin Baizhou away, Siyu oversaw all the small and large affairs, which she arranged in perfect order. This time too, it was probably due to some official business. Especially since Song Fengzhi had so openly knocked on the door, audible throughout the entire courtyard, there wasn¡¯t any privacy left. She could only say, ¡°Wait a moment.¡± Then Wei Jingjing stood up, ¡°It¡¯s getting late, you should also rest early, we need to get up early tomorrow.¡± Xia Siyu nodded. ... Before Wei Jingjing left, her gaze swept over Bo Yan, who looked calm, holding a script in his hand, as if he was earnestly reading it, not having time to pay attention to them. But as soon as Wei Jingjing was gone, Xia Siyu stood up, ¡°I¡¯m going to the restroom.¡± She had hardly reached the door when Bo Yan put down the script, quickly strode forward, and pushed the room door shut with one hand. Then, with practiced ease, he pulled down and secured the door bolt. Bowing her head and ignoring him, Xia Siyu said, ¡°I need to go to the restroom.¡± ¡°What restroom do you need, in the hour you were talking just now, you ran off to the toilet three times,¡± Bo Yan knew immediately this guy was just making an excuse, not because he actually needed to go, but to avoid him. Just as Xia Siyu turned around, Bo Yan moved in close, ¡°Why are you ignoring me? Have I done something wrong?¡± ¡°No, I just¡­¡± Xia Siyu lowered her gaze and didn¡¯t meet his eyes. ¡°You¡¯re lying,¡± Bo Yan¡¯s intellect was crushing. He could distinguish the slightest difference in her behavior in front of him with just a glance. But Xia Siyu didn¡¯t want to talk, only pursing her lips and puffing up her cheeks. It would be okay for someone else to do this, but Xia Siyu was usually the type who made noise whether there was a reason or not. The more she pouted without speaking, the more Bo Yan knew she was harboring little schemes. But if she resented him, she wouldn¡¯t even cast him a glance and would have left already. That she was still willing to act petulantly with him showed that, although somewhat capricious, she didn¡¯t hate him. Bo Yan sighed inwardly, helpless because he liked Xia Siyu. Sometimes he even felt like he treated her as if she were his daughter. This kid would insist on not leaving and moan in pretense, getting riled up at any time and anywhere, but her temper would vanish just as quickly as it came, forgetting all about it in an instant. You couldn¡¯t even feel right about taking her seriously. By the time you¡¯ve built up enough emotions to talk things out with her, she might have already turned the page on whatever had upset her. ¡°Sometimes I really wish I could just¡­¡± Bo Yan ground his teeth and uttered a hum, then swiftly lifted her and threw her onto the head of the bed. Naturally, Xia Siyu was not pleased; she feared her heart wouldn¡¯t be under her control, and that she might grow even fonder of Bo Yan with more contact. ¡°I was too tired yesterday, I don¡¯t want to today,¡± Xia Siyu pushed him away, ¡°And I took medicine, it¡¯s very upsetting to my stomach.¡± ¡°Upsetting?¡± Bo Yan was momentarily taken aback. If that was her reason, it might indeed be valid. He had been a bit¡­ reckless the previous night. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to, then we won¡¯t. I wouldn¡¯t force you if you¡¯re feeling unwell,¡± Bo Yan said, then approached and began to rub her, ¡°Does it still hurt?¡± What to do, his gentleness made her like him even more, even more than when they were intimate. Chapter 632 - 629: Liking You (1) Chapter 632: Chapter 629: Liking You (1) Women are emotional creatures, easily moved by others. Even a heart of iron, when cared for tenderly year after year, will eventually soften. Once moved, the heart involuntarily softens, evoking gentleness towards the other person. Initially, Xia Siyu had no particular intentions towards Bo Yan, but she couldn¡¯t withstand his relentless pursuit. At first, she was annoyed, but later, circumstances forced her to give in. Now, looking down as Bo Yan earnestly massaged her stomach, his large hands were warm and his movements gentle. As he kneaded, it was as if he were caring for a rare treasure. In a moment of emotional turbulence, she didn¡¯t know how to face her feelings. When she disliked him, she chose to be blind to all his good qualities and only magnified his flaws. But now that she liked him, his strengths seemed to sprout up like bamboo shoots after rain, showing off in front of her, making her head and heart dizzy with admiration. ... sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Though brusque in nature, Siyu had been the one to confess her feelings back then. She was young and only knew that Bo Yan was handsome and tall, and she wanted him to be her boyfriend. It was true affection, but love couldn¡¯t be spoken of yet. But now, after having weathered countless trials and meeting again, to be entangled with one another once more, she found herself liking him anew. Even if it hadn¡¯t reached the point of love, it was different from her simplistic, superficial crush of the past. Many things about Bo Yan moved her, and she really struggled to maintain her composure. Bo Yan, right by Siyu¡¯s side, knew her thoughts all too well. He looked up to see Siyu¡¯s cheeks flushed, her lips red, and her eyes glossy, no signs of discomfort on her face¡ªshe was no longer in pain. Being so close to each other and with her not pushing him away, he guessed she was no longer angry with him. Bo Yan tried to turn his head and slowly leaned in, then kissed her lips. At first quite tender, he waited until he felt no resistance from her, and then took her down to the bed, before turning off the light. She really wanted to cry; what could she do? She couldn¡¯t even push him away. Her hand had reached his shoulder, intending for him to leave, but by the time she regained her senses, her hand was already cradling his head, her fingers lightly threading through his hair, pulling him even closer to her instead. She really wanted to slap herself. Why was it always Bo Yan? It was as if Bo Yan was an insurmountable obstacle in her life, and now she had even married him, her body conquered, her heart also lost. Xia Siyu had never encountered such a situation before. Back when they dated, if she liked him they were together, if not, she would kick him to the curb. Now, she¡¯d started to feel conflicted. This wasn¡¯t like her, truly nothing like her. It had to change. Afterward, Xia Siyu sobbed a little. He quickly came to console her, ¡°Wife, if I did something wrong, just tell me. Don¡¯t suffer in silence.¡± He was her very mistake, and he had the audacity to ask. She didn¡¯t respond, and Bo Yan became even gentler. The gentler he was, the more she suffered. Chapter 633 - 630: Like You (2) Chapter 633: Chapter 630: Like You (2) Bo Yan dared not get too close to her anymore, but instead held her gently and kissed her, also tenderly pressing on her ¡°sick¡± stomach and intestines, while softly apologizing, ¡°I won¡¯t do this anymore, truly, I won¡¯t. If you don¡¯t like it, I won¡¯t touch you. You are my wife, not just any woman. I want you to be well more than anyone else in the world. Don¡¯t be upset, tell me if anything bothers you in the future, and I¡¯ll help you bear it.¡± Xia Siyu wanted to say that she didn¡¯t want him to share the burden; she could handle it alone and that he should get lost. But as soon as she opened her mouth, Bo Yan kissed her, and all the objections she had just melted away inside her. However, after that, Bo Yan indeed didn¡¯t touch her anymore but just held her and showered her with kisses, calling her ¡°dear wife¡± with every kiss, which made Xia Siyu¡¯s legs and heart go weak. ** The next day when filming, Xia Siyu was still in a state of fear and relief. ... How else could it be said, but she really was lucky. In the drama, the male and female leads liked each other; only the male lead had done something wrong and wanted to make amends. The female lead, due to the male lead¡¯s actions at the time, had mixed feelings of love and hate, unwilling to deal with him. At that time in the story, the female lead goes to the countryside, where everyone must earn work points through laboring in the fields or contributing labor in other ways. The female lead was originally pampered, attended to by maids at home, not even knowing how to cook, let alone do heavy labor. All the skills Xia Siyu had learned before, such as collecting firewood, drawing water, turning the millstone, lighting fires, and harvesting wheat and corn, were now coming into play. Of course, she had to start off looking inept, which wasn¡¯t difficult; she just needed to be a bit clumsy. Then the male lead would appear, silently helping her with the work. The female lead both resented him and knew she couldn¡¯t handle it all on her own, not even able to take care of her own basic needs, let alone work in the fields for work points¡ªshe¡¯d definitely starve. The male lead, on the other hand, asked for nothing in return and would silently help her before leaving. The female lead¡¯s eyes conveyed a mix of conflict, hatred, and melancholy. Back then, Bo Yan was worried she couldn¡¯t play the part well, couldn¡¯t understand it. But now that Xia Siyu herself was in love, she instinctively mastered all of the female lead¡¯s skills and emotions, delivering a performance brimming with heartfelt sincerity. Because she performed so well, that day¡¯s filming ended quickly. Director Sun once again invited Bo Yan to drink. Three invites could not be refused, and after the third day, Bo Yan couldn¡¯t decline, so he went. Of course, Xia Siyu would certainly go as well. A large group cheerfully headed to the lamb restaurant, ordering a whole roasted lamb along with some barbecue and several cases of beer, eating joyfully. Xia Siyu, however, was quite preoccupied. As the female lead and one of the few female actors in the drama, renowned for her volatile temperament, no one dared to get her drunk. Xia Siyu poured her own drinks. After she had finished a bottle of beer, Wei Jingjing hurried over to keep an eye on her. Xia Siyu felt a slight buzz and, looking at the bustling scene, she asked, ¡°What do you think of Bo Yan?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Wei Jingjing didn¡¯t understand why she suddenly brought this up and after thinking for a moment, said, ¡°Very handsome.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± otherwise, why would I have chased after him back then, ¡°Anything else?¡± sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Actually, Wei Jingjing didn¡¯t have much contact with Bo Yan; even though they lived in the same compound recently, he was very distant towards strangers and only affectionate around Xia Siyu, something nobody else had witnessed. Chapter 634 - 631: Liking You (3) Chapter 634: Chapter 631: Liking You (3) ¡°` Moreover, Xia Siyu and Bo Yan are a couple. Even if they have something to criticize about each other as a couple, it¡¯s not the place of an outsider to comment. ¡°Very smart.¡± ¡°Psh, that¡¯s not being smart; that¡¯s being downright bad,¡± Xia Siyu said with disdain. She wanted to drink more and poured herself another glass, ¡°I¡¯ll tell you, he is especially rogue. He bamboozled me. All he does is coax me into sleeping, and then he says I initiated it. I initiated my foot I did.¡± Wei Jingjing was speechless, thankful that her voice was very low and that everyone else was constantly rowdy, so no one paid attention to her words. Otherwise, if Xia Siyu¡¯s drunken confessions were to get out, it would cause an earthquake in the entertainment industry. After finishing her drink, Xia Siyu went on: ¡°He pesters me every day, so annoying. Sometimes I really want to kick him out. But then I look at his face¡­ and I can¡¯t bear to do it. You say he¡¯s such a bad person, but why does he have to have such a handsome face?¡± ... Wei Jingjing was even more speechless. She understood, though; with Bo Yan being so handsome, not to mention him actively pursuing someone, even if he just stood there doing nothing, there would be a horde of women crying and shouting to sleep with him. Xia Siyu had already been quite strong-willed, it¡¯s been half a year since they started filming, and only now she¡¯s starting to realize Bo Yan is handsome and feeling a little joy about it. If it had been her, she might have run over and clung to his legs the moment Bo Yan crooked his little finger at her. While Wei Jingjing was musing, she suddenly realized something was amiss. Oh my, Xia Siyu had just finished another bottle of beer! And, this one still wasn¡¯t enough for her; she was getting ready to grab another bottle! As everyone knows, Xia Siyu¡¯s alcohol tolerance is half a bottle of red wine and one bottle of beer. If she exceeds this amount, she¡¯ll be completely drunk! If she¡¯s only half-drunk, that¡¯s still okay; she might just sit here and giggle foolishly. But, if she gets too wasted, she¡¯ll spill everything without a filter! If she drinks too much and lets slip everything about her and Bo Yan, that would mess everything up! Though this is a film crew, it¡¯s relatively secluded, there are still dozens of people in the room; who knows if someone might slip up? Wei Jingjing hurried over to snatch the drink, but who knew that Xia Siyu, now a powerful drunk, was quick and managed to grab the third bottle of beer first, gulping it down. By the time Wei Jingjing finally wrestled the beer away from her, all that was left was a bottle. In front of her, Xia Siyu¡¯s eyes were glazed, her cheeks flushed, delicately indignant, staggering in her steps. It¡¯s over, she¡¯s downed three bottles, three! S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Moreover, when it rains it pours, as the room¡¯s atmosphere was also at its peak, most people were gleefully devouring skewers, getting high on alcohol. Director Sun saw Xia Siyu¡¯s peachy face, slightly tipsy, and chuckled, ¡°Siyu, you¡¯ve had a bit too much to drink.¡± ¡°Nonsense! I can still drink!¡± The last thing a drunkard can tolerate is someone saying she¡¯s drunk! Xia Siyu immediately slapped the table and stood up, but her limbs couldn¡¯t keep up with her ambition, and she soon toppled back down. Surrounded by laughter, someone in the crowd started egging her on, maybe seeing Xia Siyu was drunk, they purposefully asked her, ¡°Siyu, what¡¯s your opinion of Bo Yan?¡± Wei Jingjing¡¯s heart shot to her throat! Not just hers, but over at Bo Yan¡¯s side, Song Fengzhi was also nervous as hell. However, the person in question, Bo Yan, showed no particular change in expression and was just quietly watching her. ¡°` Chapter 635 - 632: Liking You (4) Chapter 635: Chapter 632: Liking You (4) ¡°` If Xia Siyu admitted it, he would stand up and come forward. It actually didn¡¯t matter much if people inside the entertainment circle knew because there are many rumors and secrets in this industry, and artists are human too, capable of all kinds of emotions. News could break at any moment, but as long as it was managed well, it would be difficult for internal news to leak out. Even if the news really did get out, he wasn¡¯t afraid. He and Xia Siyu were legitimately married, and he had never publically pretended to be single; he simply never talked about his private life. On Xia Siyu¡¯s side, it might be a bit more troublesome, but it wasn¡¯t a big deal either, since she was planning to transition to a serious actress. An actress of her caliber needed to hone her acting skills, not her persona. But no matter what the situation was, he would never let Xia Siyu face the storm alone. But what he never expected was that Xia Siyu would deliver the hardest blow. Her eyebrows furrowed, her gaze sharp, ¡°Who, who said I liked him? I don¡¯t like him at all, I won¡¯t like him for my entire life!¡± ... It was as if she had drunk too much, desperately denying her own inner words, and she said it extremely loudly¡ªas if the louder she spoke, the more correct she would become. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Her words provoked roaring laughter throughout the house. Everyone on set knew about her conflicts with Bo Yan; onscreen they shared deep affection, offscreen they threw heavy punches. They truly were actors, with a completely different world before and after the director called ¡°cut¡±. There¡¯s a saying, ¡°In vino veritas!¡± Xia Siyu seemed to have had too much to drink, and her words couldn¡¯t get any truer. Some looked at Bo Yan. He stood with his hands behind his back, slightly lowering his eyes with a calm demeanor. He appeared not at all surprised, nor angry¡ªas if nothing Xia Siyu did could affect him in the slightest. Director Sun laughed heartily, ¡°Even if anyone in the circle could end up together, the two of you are impossible! Now I can rest easy filming your love scenes! You better act well!¡± Xia Siyu, who was already drunk, sat down immediately, resting her head on her arm and collapsing asleep. Bo Yan remained non-committal, his expression indifferent. ** When they returned, Xia Siyu was supported by Wei Jingjing and Little Tang. Bo Yan boarded his nanny van with a clear expression, and from start to finish, didn¡¯t glance back at a certain someone. Several cars headed back, and at the intersection where the road branched, they split into two groups: Bo Yan and Xia Siyu to the left, everyone else to the right. Upon entering the courtyard, the host had already gone to sleep. Bo Yan got off the car first, and when he went to the bathroom with his toiletries, he saw Wei Jingjing and Little Tang still struggling to drag someone into their room. He didn¡¯t glance their way, heading straight for the bathroom. After washing up, he heard Wei Jingjing¡¯s complaints from the next room as he returned to his own, ¡°Letting you drink! You drank too much again! And you¡¯ve gained weight too! You¡¯re so heavy to pull!¡± Xia Siyu hummed a response without answering, perhaps a bit more sober after Wei Jingjing had washed her face. She struggled to get up and take a bath. As an artist, how could she sleep without removing her makeup and bathing? Even if she was going to sleep, she had to look beautiful. Bo Yan sat in his room for a while, hearing her stagger to the bathroom, followed soon by the sound of running water. He sat for quite a while, then got up irritably, ¡°Xia Siyu, I really owe you one!¡± Even though he was mad that she spoke her true feelings, mad that she didn¡¯t like him, he still couldn¡¯t help going to help her, worried she might fall while bathing. ¡°` Chapter 636 - 633: Liking You (5) Chapter 636: Chapter 633: Liking You (5) Upon arriving at the bathroom, Xia Siyu really had drunk too much this time, even forgetting to lock the door. Fortunately, the small courtyard was full of acquaintances who knew she was going to bathe and wouldn¡¯t dare to approach, otherwise, she would have been completely exposed. As soon as Bo Yan entered, Xia Siyu had already stripped and was standing dizzily under the shower, not even knowing how to use the shampoo. Maybe disliking the taste in her mouth, she looked up and guzzled the water from the shower head, then spat it out, as if rinsing her mouth. Bo Yan watched for a while and frowned, then finally couldn¡¯t help but step forward, ¡°Xia Siyu, I really deserve this!¡± Although he cursed himself, he couldn¡¯t help rolling up his sleeves and stepping forward, actually preparing the body wash and shampoo for her and washing her as roughly as one might wash a pet at the pet store. At that moment, Xia Siyu was very cooperative, just standing there obediently letting him wash her. After Bo Yan had finished washing her, she stood there allowing him to wrap her in a bath towel, and then he picked her up. When Bo Yan looked down, he saw her blinking at him with sparkling eyes, watching him without blinking. That expression was both innocent and enthusiastic, making Bo Yan feel so irritated¡ªhe was furious with her, but at that moment he actually found her adorable. ... After carrying her back to the room, the bath towel slipped from Xia Siyu¡¯s body, and she didn¡¯t even know to pick it up, just sitting bare on the edge of the bed. Bo Yan turned to get the hair dryer, carelessly drying her hair while she just sat there blankly. After drying her hair, Bo Yan mixed her skincare products together, applying everything to her face indiscriminately as if a mother putting on lotion for a child, carelessly smearing it on until she made continuous muffled noises. After finishing everything, Bo Yan didn¡¯t have the heart to rest with her, tidied up the cosmetics, and said with a stern voice, ¡°You sleep by yourself, I¡¯m leaving!¡± However, just as he turned around, a small hand gently tugged at his sleeve. Bo Yan was startled for a moment, then turned back to see Xia Siyu. She tilted her head and looked up at him, her body bare, with eyes that were both pure and desirous. That look could melt any man. He indeed felt a bit melted, but each time he thought of this heartless Little Thing who had said she would never like him, he felt his efforts were meaningless. When a man liked a woman, he would be willing to do things for her. But feelings can change. If one never gets even a bit of response for too long, people get tired, they slacken, they let go. He was angry at Xia Siyu, even more at himself. Why had he fallen for her? Why did it have to be her? Moreover, she didn¡¯t love him¡­ Bo Yan harshly shook off her hand, ¡°You sleep by yourself, I¡¯m going back.¡± Just as he was about to turn away, he heard a pitiful sound like a little puppy behind him, ¡°Don¡¯t go.¡± S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bo Yan turned back. Xia Siyu rarely looked like a droopy-eyed puppy; she was normally the one charging ahead, freely making a splash. Even if he forced her, she would still kick and hit him after being upset, never letting herself be aggrieved. But her voice at that moment was so plaintive, like a little puppy about to be abandoned, her voice trembling faintly, making him feel both furious and resentful. Bo Yan steeled his heart, still prepared to leave. This time, Xia Siyu didn¡¯t grab his clothes, but her voice lowered even more, ¡°Don¡¯t go, don¡¯t leave me.¡± Bo Yan was one hundred percent certain she was drunk. She was like this the last time she was intoxicated. But what did this Little Thing really want after all? On one hand, she didn¡¯t like him, and on the other, she didn¡¯t want him to leave? Chapter 637 - 634: Liking You (6) Chapter 637: Chapter 634: Liking You (6) Bo Yan was in turmoil for half a day, but ultimately couldn¡¯t harden his heart, he lowered his head and asked, ¡°Do you know who I am?¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s eyes blinked, as if she was trying hard to focus, and it took a while to lay her eyes on him before she said, ¡°You¡¯re the hateful ghost.¡± Bo Yan was instantly infuriated, damn it, he shouldn¡¯t have expected anything from Xia Siyu! She annoyed him when she was sober, and even more when she was drunk. He was going to leave tonight, far away! But then. Xia Siyu burped from the alcohol, looked at his face, and said, ¡°You¡¯re handsome.¡± Wasn¡¯t it normal for him to be handsome, was that really the reason she agreed to be with him just because of his good looks? ... Bo Yan was taken aback for a moment, and thought about it¡ªseemingly no problem there. At the time, he also used his charm to seduce Xia Siyu for a while, which was extremely effective. To Xia Siyu, who was a sucker for good looks, even when their relationship was at its worst, she still found him handsome. But they had lived together for so long, was that his only good point? Bo Yan couldn¡¯t stand it and turned back to ask her, ¡°What else?¡± Was there anything else good about him? Was that the only reason? Then, the next second, Xia Siyu finally moved, reaching out her hand to grab his palm, ¡°I like it when you¡¯re beside me.¡± Bo Yan was stunned. He was genuinely stunned. She didn¡¯t like him, but she liked having him by her side? What kind of logic was that. He lowered his head again, ¡°Then do you like me?¡± Xia Siyu finally frowned, glanced at him, and started to whimper, ¡°I can¡¯t like you.¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t you?¡± Bo Yan went from initial anger to surprise now. Liking was just liking, what was this about can or can¡¯t? They were not like the male and female leads in movies, with vendettas like avenging a father¡¯s death. They weren¡¯t blood relatives, why couldn¡¯t she like him? However, Xia Siyu¡¯s drunken mind couldn¡¯t think of or answer such a complex question. She just repeated, ¡°I can¡¯t like you.¡± It was cannot, not do not like. Bo Yan¡¯s mood somewhat settled down for a while, and he continued to ask, ¡°Do you want me by your side?¡± ¡°I do!¡± Xia Siyu agreed, and perhaps feeling that her words weren¡¯t heartfelt enough, she nodded her head vigorously. Bo Yan¡¯s expression was complex beyond words, torn between wanting to pull away and wanting to get to the bottom of things. But Xia Siyu didn¡¯t give him a chance. She propped herself up for a long time until she finally couldn¡¯t resist the heaviness of her eyelids, and her head drooped bit by bit. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She fell asleep. Bo Yan didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or cry. His little wife, truly, couldn¡¯t be hit or scolded; she would get angry when sober, and turn aggrieved when not, making it hard to bear seeing her upset. His heart melted into a puddle, only able to sigh helplessly and pull her into his embrace. The moment he reached out his arm, Xia Siyu instinctively drew close, comfortably finding the most comfortable position in his arms, and drifted off to sleep. Bo Yan wore a complex expression, and at that moment, he experienced the sweet burden. Both sweet and a burden. But, this girl finally, in her heart, had made a spot for him to stay in, and at last was touched by him. Maybe it wasn¡¯t love yet, but dependence and trust were gradually seeping into her marrow, fusing into her flesh and blood. The most complicated part was when Xia Siyu, lying down, carelessly placed her hand, and accidentally grabbed hold of his¡­ part. Chapter 638 - 635 Children (1) Chapter 638: Chapter 635 Children (1) She had fallen asleep, and he wasn¡¯t in much of a mood either. Perhaps this was the sweet burden of love, as if his soul and body were severed from each other. Part of him missed her dearly, while another part wanted to be loved by her before he could continue to long for her. Forget it. Ignore her hand and just get some good sleep. ¡­ However, a bit later in the night, Bo Yan still got his wish. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xia Siyu had drunk too much beer. It hadn¡¯t seemed like a problem when she went to bed, but a few hours of sleep later, she got up to go to the bathroom¡ªafter all, three bottles of beer, 1500 milliliters¡ªthat called for a bathroom break, didn¡¯t it? ... And since the aftereffects of beer weren¡¯t strong, she was pretty much sober after relieving herself. Realizing she hadn¡¯t brushed her teeth, she quickly rinsed her mouth. When she returned, Bo Yan was also groggily waking up. Being groggy or fully awake made little difference to Bo Yan. In any case, as soon as Xia Siyu lifted the blanket, he rolled over and pinned her beneath him, starting with tender caresses that gradually heated up, leading him to yearn for even closer intimacy. A study has shown that stability in a marital relationship isn¡¯t due to children, but rather the sexual life between spouses. A stable, high-quality marital relationship is the cornerstone of marital affection. If that reasoning holds, then the marital bond between Bo Yan and Xia Siyu was exceptionally solid, virtually indestructible. Bo Yan had always been slow to catch on in matters of love. It wasn¡¯t until Xia Siyu decisively dumped him that he realized how deeply he loved her. But she left so decisively, and then quickly became famous, rising to someone he couldn¡¯t easily reach. He could only bide his time, seize the opportunity to register their marriage first, and then draw her into his territory. And Xia Siyu, who once swore never to revisit old flames, was helpless when faced with Bo Yan. After he pulled her into his sphere of influence, she kept losing her defenses, and now even her heart had succumbed. Fortunately, Bo Yan showed more restraint, quickly grabbing a small umbrella for protection. In the darkness, he felt a hint of relief. At least the woman in his arms didn¡¯t utterly despise him. She relied on him, yearned for him, and was moved by him, instead of engaging in emotionless, mechanical exchanges. But still, when she had drunkenly declared ¡°I don¡¯t like him; I will never like him in my entire life¡± in front of so many people, it had still pricked his nerves. When he came to his senses, he became more forceful. Bo Yan had always been considerate of her feelings during their intimate moments, even when Xia Siyu wanted it to be more ¡°passionate,¡± he had held back. With his strength really increasing, and Xia Siyu being delicate, she would become unhappy and reflexively kick back at him without any mercy. But tonight, he suddenly didn¡¯t feel like holding back; he wanted to vent all his dissatisfaction. The passionate Xia Siyu seemed a little overwhelmed, but thankfully, she had drunk a lot that day, and her tolerance was at its MAX. Although slightly uncomfortable, it was still within a bearable range. After it was over, Bo Yan felt that he might have gone too far, silently cleaning up and then gently saying, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t too affected, but when he rested again, she reached out to embrace his arm, ¡°I need to hold something to fall asleep.¡± As a child, she hugged a pillow; later on, it was her mother¡¯s arm. Now, it had become Bo Yan. Bo Yan paused, a tang of bittersweetness filling his heart. He nodded, letting her hold him, and kissed her forehead, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Chapter 639 - 636 Children (2) Chapter 639: Chapter 636 Children (2) Xia Siyu frowned, her drunkenness had worn off, and her unpleasant character traits emerged as she complained, ¡°So noisy.¡± Bo Yan was left speechless with a wry laugh, deliberately joking with her, ¡°Annoyed by my noise, then? Shall I take my arm away?¡± He pretended to pull his arm back, but Xia Siyu held on even tighter, muttering with puckered lips, ¡°Dream on, this is mine!¡± ¡°Alright, alright, it¡¯s yours, it¡¯s all yours.¡± I¡¯m yours too. Xia Siyu ignored his words and just clung tightly to his arm, quickly falling into a deep sleep. ... Bo Yan laid back down, adjusting his position to make her more comfortable, and wrapped his arm around her in return. This must be what a sweet burden is like! ** Having come to terms with herself, Xia Siyu finally discovered a powerful ¡°Ostrich Ability¡±: If I don¡¯t admit to liking Bo Yan, then it means I don¡¯t like him. After all, Bo Yan doesn¡¯t know, and neither does anyone else. It¡¯s as if admitting to liking him is a kind of innate disadvantage. It would be like giving him the power to control my life, making me go soft on him in the future. Just like the female lead in the play, who clearly likes the male lead yet cannot forgive what he has done. Moreover, the male lead later forces himself on her. Today, they were to shoot the scene where the male lead forces himself on her. The female lead, with her outstanding looks and big-city background, naturally attracted the attention of many men in the village. Although the local customs were simple at the time, there were scoundrels who harbored ill intentions upon seeing her, knowing that she was alone and without support, and wanted to take advantage of her. The male lead arrived just in time, driving off the thugs as they were about the act. The problem is, in that era, there were no short skirts, no bikinis, and certainly no indecent images. When the male lead rescued the female lead, she was disheveled, which at the time was an unmatched thrill. The male lead, who had loved without reciprocation for a long time and was in the prime of youth, rescued the female lead and was then provoked by her words, leading him to¡ªmake a mistake. In that era, there were no ¡°little umbrellas¡± and no morning-after pills. Just by chance, that one time led to pregnancy, and soon the female lead¡¯s belly began to swell. Unmarried pregnancy was seen as extremely scandalous during that time; although she wouldn¡¯t be drowned in a pig cage, the scandal was enough to be socially drowned in spit and vitriol. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Furthermore, the ruffians who had previously harassed her added fuel to the fire, tarnishing her reputation even further, and even spread rumors that she had been involved with several men. In her most difficult time, the male lead stood by her, moving in with her against his parents and family¡¯s objections. But the female lead had not a shred of affection for him; most of her suffering was his doing. Yet she loved him, and the more she loved him, the more she hated him, including their mutual child. When the child was born and she was humiliated and pressured, the female lead steadfastly refused to admit the child¡¯s father was the male lead, and she would never admit her love for him. Xia Siyu¡¯s performance was incredibly smooth, perfectly embodying whether misunderstood and abused by the villagers or her love and hate for the male lead. The filming process was greatly accelerated, but since there was a baby, they would need to hire a temporary infant actor. While there were many adorable babies, finding one that both resembled Xia Siyu and Bo Yan wasn¡¯t easy. In the end, they had to settle for a cute baby, preferably twins, so they could substitute for each other. During the last few days of shooting on location, they actually found such an infant. Chapter 640 - 637 Children (3) Chapter 640: Chapter 637 Children (3) Bo Yan and Xia Siyu, playing the child¡¯s parents in the drama, had to at least learn how to hold a baby. Unfortunately, twins are hard to find, and cute twins even harder. The script called for a baby boy, but those are not easy to find either, so the production ended up casting a little girl. Anyhow, boys or girls, you can¡¯t really tell at the infant stage; nobody knew what she would look like. And the child couldn¡¯t come alone; her mother came with her as well. This child wouldn¡¯t be newly born either; the youngest one auditioned was already over two months old, and that was this little one. But a two-month-old was still very small. When she was brought to Bo Yan and Xia Siyu, they didn¡¯t even dare to hold her. Especially Siyu, who circled around the little one, looking at her with extreme curiosity. ... Last time on the train, that baby had been nine months old, able to babble, to stand, to grasp, and to sit. This one was so small that it seemed as if poking her cheek might burst it like a bubble. Plus, the mother held that one the whole time; this time, not only did Siyu have to hold her, she had to interact with her and act with her, which felt completely different. Xia Siyu had never handled such a small child. She had been in the entertainment industry for seven years, but her innocent and pure look typecast her into playing naive ingenue roles in campus romance films, always about love, love, and more love, with none involving married life with children. None of her contemporaries in her own social circle were married with kids either. This circle seemed to naturally reject the image of children. Within it, women, whether artists or assistants and agents, were forever branded as either ¡°young girls¡± or ¡°strong women.¡± Even if they were married with children, they would downplay the image of a ¡°housewife¡± to avoid being stereotyped and hinder future film opportunities. Except for those special few who used their kids to show off a loving family and gained fame as ¡°milk dads and moms,¡± but these were rare and negligible. Moreover, because the country opposed children participating in shows to protect their physical and mental health, it curtailed the income paths of these milk dads and moms quite a bit. In short, this was the first time Xia Siyu came into contact with such a tiny child, and she was both intrigued and shocked, barely daring to hold the baby. The child¡¯s body was so soft, and she was afraid she might harm her if she wasn¡¯t careful. ¡°Let me hold her for a moment,¡± Bo Yan bravely volunteered, and the child¡¯s mother passed the little one into Bo Yan¡¯s arms. The little one was still sleeping ¡ª infants sleeping for more than a dozen hours a day isn¡¯t unusual; they¡¯re actually awake for very little time. Bo Yan was stiff all over, and the sleeping infant didn¡¯t seem too comfortable, her little eyebrows knitted as if she was facing a great injustice. From childhood, he excelled at everything he learned, but when it came to caring for children, he was one hundred percent a novice. The child¡¯s mother was still instructing him, ¡°Mr. Bo, like this, one hand under the child¡¯s bottom, the other supporting her head.¡± Bo Yan followed her instructions, gingerly shifting his arms until he finally settled the child into a comfortable position. After holding her for a while, the little one didn¡¯t show any signs of discomfort. Instead, she sucked her lip as if savoring the sweet taste of milk, then blissfully fell back asleep. While holding the child, Bo Yan excitedly said to Xia Siyu, ¡°Quick, take a look at the baby!¡± For that moment, it felt as if the little one was not just an actor in their drama but actually their own child. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 641 - 638 Children (4) Chapter 641: Chapter 638 Children (4) Xia Siyu was also very curious, she had always wanted to touch the child¡¯s little cheeks, and even wiped her hands with a wet cloth before poking them. However, as soon as she poked, the little one, who was asleep, seemed to feel something, pursed his tiny mouth, and burst into tears with a wail. Xia Siyu stared at her own finger helplessly, knowing it was her finger that had caused the trouble; she turned her head and looked at Bo Yan for help, ¡°What should I do? I didn¡¯t mean it!¡± She felt like crying too! Would the baby¡¯s mother come and beat her up? Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Oh, baby, baby, don¡¯t cry, don¡¯t cry.¡± Bo Yan carefully patted the little infant¡¯s body with his finger, gently shaking the body, afraid too much movement could hurt the baby. ... Believe it or not, the child was indeed soothed by his soft and deep voice, the crying gradually subsiding until it stopped. Gazing with his eyes wide like black grapes, he watched Bo Yan without blinking. ¡°Come, the child is awake, take a look.¡± Bo Yan presented the baby to Xia Siyu like showing off a treasured find. Initially, Xia Siyu was a bit scared, but eventually, the temptation to play with the child was too strong, and she also leaned in. The child¡¯s eyes were black and big and round. Initially, he was staring at Bo Yan, but when Xia Siyu came closer, he followed her gaze. The little guy, who wasn¡¯t crying or fussing, was like an angel. This child was almost three months old and had started to suck on his fingers. While he looked at Bo Yan and Xia Siyu, he stuffed his chubby little paws into his mouth, munching joyfully as if his paws were some rare delicacy. Generally, when women interact with babies, they automatically secrete estrogen, also colloquially known as ¡°overwhelming motherly love.¡± Especially this baby girl who, after careful selection, was particularly cute. She had a chubby bun-like face, soft and fragrant little body, eyes as big as black grapes, and her tiny paws were pink and tender. Xia Siyu moved a bit closer, made her laugh, and the little one chuckled merrily. Watching her, Xia Siyu¡¯s heart bloomed with joy, and her expression brightened up, ¡°She¡¯s so cute!¡± ¡°You hold her,¡± Bo Yan teased her, ¡°try holding her.¡± ¡°I dare not.¡± As tough as Xia Siyu was, there were times when even she dared not. She was really afraid of being too rough ¡ª what if she hurt the child? What if she accidentally didn¡¯t hold her steady and caused the baby to fall? Bo Yan was still smiling, ¡°You¡¯re going to have to hold her for the shooting, you have to dare even if you don¡¯t. Come on, try it, the baby is very well-behaved and cute; she won¡¯t fuss with you.¡± ¡°I¡­¡± For the sake of the shoot, Xia Siyu gritted her teeth and went for it. The baby¡¯s mother also told her, ¡°Remember, just support the baby¡¯s buttocks and head with your hands.¡± Usually supporting the buttocks and head meant that the arms would also cradle the baby¡¯s back and legs, allowing the baby to feel more comfortable. Xia Siyu carefully took the child from Bo Yan¡¯s hands as if she had been struck by a freeze spell, not daring to move an inch. Although she was stiff and didn¡¯t dare to move, she still held the baby steadily. ¡°Look, look, the baby is smiling,¡± Bo Yan teased the child a bit, and the little one laughed very happily. The baby¡¯s mother even said, ¡°Mr. Bo is so fond of children, he will definitely be a good father in the future.¡± After she said this, Bo Yan and Xia Siyu exchanged a look, with a rare warmth in their eyes, and then were both drawn back to the little one¡¯s laughter as they bent down together to play with the baby. Chapter 642 - 639 Children (5) Chapter 642: Chapter 639 Children (5) Although Bo Yan was the first to hold the child, for him, taking care of, holding, and playing with a child were all still novel experiences. Since the shooting schedule for the day had already concluded, he and Xia Siyu used the excuse of ¡°needing to bond with the child to develop rapport for better acting¡± to circle around the child as soon as they wrapped up. The child¡¯s mother was originally a fan, especially of Bo Yan. She came to sign up when she heard the production was recruiting, and that it was Bo Yan¡¯s crew, immediately running to register. To her surprise, she was successful. Seeing how Bo Yan was so attentive to the details of child care, but with a rather calm demeanor, she thought he was learning to play with the kid only for the sake of acting and didn¡¯t think much of it. During filming, the child didn¡¯t need to appear much, just needed to be teased into laughter, cry when the female lead left, and be quiet and sleep well without causing a fuss. All other matters of eating, drinking, and changing diapers were left to the child¡¯s mother. So, what Bo Yan and Xia Siyu saw was the child at their most adorable moments, looking like an angel on one hand and a devil on the other. ... However, whether the child was more of an angel or a devil mainly depended on whether there was money. With money, people can hire several nannies to look after the child 24 hours a day, and even the mother doesn¡¯t have to breastfeed. She can go back to work immediately after giving birth since there are others to take care of the baby, no need for chaos. Even for future upbringing, they could get into the best schools and hire the best teachers, and parents wouldn¡¯t need to put in much effort. But even so, Xia Siyu and Bo Yan couldn¡¯t casually talk about having children. After all, their careers were special. Having a child is easy, but the real problem starts after the birth. Nevertheless, Bo Yan asked many detailed questions, like how to mix formula milk, how to warm it to a baby-friendly temperature, the most comfortable positioning to feed without causing choking, how to burp the baby after feeding, and how to change diapers. Xia Siyu naturally followed along, as their roles in the movie required interacting with a child. Especially Xia Siyu, who, even though her character didn¡¯t like the child, had to learn how to take care of infants. She brought over a small stool, with a face full of curiosity, watching the child¡¯s mother prepare and feed the baby with a bottle. Watching this, Bo Yan was slightly irked. In the movie, Xia Siyu was supposed to feed the child. He hadn¡¯t even tasted Xia Siyu¡¯s milk, nor had his daughter or son, so why should some random kid get the privilege first! Bo Yan had been in a very good mood that day, happily playing with the child when he arrived, but as they parted ways to enter the little courtyard, his expression had clearly darkened. Xia Siyu was still clueless during dinner, animatedly talking about the child. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Particularly because she was to interact with the baby tomorrow. Even if it was only for one or two shots, she wanted to make it look beautiful. This low pressure mood persisted until they took their baths and returned to their room. But Bo Yan¡¯s low pressure was no different from usual; to outsiders, he always carried a cold and aloof demeanor, as if keeping people at bay. But once in the room, with the lights out, Xia Siyu could still sense his mood was off. She slapped him: ¡°Are you a dog or what, why do you keep sucking¡­ sucking¡­¡± She felt embarrassed to continue, even though she often teased Bo Yan for being too dog-like, she didn¡¯t expect him to be on this level. Chapter 643 - 640 Children (6) Chapter 643: Chapter 640 Children (6) ¡°Siyu,¡± Bo Yan lifted his head from her embrace, his gaze slightly profound. Xia Siyu had grown accustomed to being with him and could sense that something about his aura was a little off today, though she couldn¡¯t quite put her finger on what it was. Just as she was about to ask, Bo Yan sealed her lips with his, pressing in deeply. Since Xia Siyu had accepted him, they had been in complete harmony. Whether it was tender or passionate, the two were indeed a perfect match. However, tonight, in addition to their simple contact, she couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that there was something sentimental about Bo Yan¡¯s words and actions. It felt as though a simple matter had been imbued with a thread of gentleness, thereby becoming somewhat different. After it was over, he held her and didn¡¯t want to let go, kissing her tenderly again and again. Xia Siyu looked at the ceiling, unconcerned with the affection of this dog of a man, and laughed, ¡°Tomorrow I¡¯m going to be with the kids again.¡± Bo Yan responded with a noncommittal ¡°Hmm¡± without giving his opinion. ¡°She¡¯s so cute! When she reached out and grabbed my hair, it was as if she had seized my heart!¡± Xia Siyu described with animated eyebrows. ... Now at twenty-seven, though she was extremely cautious about having children, that didn¡¯t mean she was cold-hearted. On the contrary, it was precisely because she cared so much about children and family that she was reluctant to have a baby so readily. She might not be keen on having a baby, but when she saw a cute child, she couldn¡¯t help but play with them as if coaxing a cat or teasing a dog. Bo Yan gave another nonchalant ¡°Hmm,¡± still offering little response. Xia Siyu found it strange because when they were previously with the child, Bo Yan had been even more enthusiastic than her. He had practically clung to the child, wanting to take care of them in place of their mother. Was it just for show? Before acting, he indeed used to do a lot of preparation. ¡°Do you not like kids?¡± she asked. ¡°Not at all,¡± Bo Yan replied indifferently. He quickly realized that Xia Siyu had a keen interest in this area and tried asking, ¡°Do you like them?¡± With a hum of agreement, Xia Siyu replied, ¡°I do. Her eyes are so big, dark and bright, and she loves to laugh. When she giggles, her small hairs stick to her cheeks, and without teeth, her tiny mouth chuckles. She¡¯s so determined when feeding, and she doesn¡¯t cry much. A little soothing, and the tears stop.¡± Engaged in this topic, Bo Yan was no longer sleepy. He turned his head and said, ¡°She¡¯s a little girl. Once she wears small dresses and has her hair braided, she¡¯ll be even more adorable.¡± ¡°Speaking of dressing up little kids, I also had a set of Barbie dolls at home when I was little. Dressing the little one feels just like changing clothes for my own Barbie dolls.¡± Bo Yan also smiled, ¡°I like girls as well. If we ever have a daughter, I¡¯ll make sure she has the best environment, dress her beautifully, and protect her so she can run wild in her own world. If she grows up and becomes a bit bratty or challenging, that¡¯s okay. Her dad¡¯s job is to appreciate the beauty he has given her. It¡¯s the very reason she can afford to be capricious! Let her be as difficult as she pleases, but if any scoundrel dares to bully her, I¡¯ll make sure he¡¯d regret it!¡± People are inherently hypocritical creatures; one¡¯s own daughter being a bit wild is fine, but if someone else¡¯s child is wild with one¡¯s daughter, then they should crawl back to their own house! S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xia Siyu laughed as well, ¡°What, you don¡¯t like boys?¡± ¡°Boys? If we have one, so be it, we¡¯ll care for him. What else can we do, shove him back?¡± After saying this, Bo Yan asked Xia Siyu, ¡°Do you prefer boys or girls?¡± Chapter 644 - 641 Jealousy (1) Chapter 644: Chapter 641 Jealousy (1) Xia Siyu thought for a moment, ¡°It¡¯s not really a matter of liking or not liking; you can¡¯t actively select that. Boys should be slightly tougher, girls slightly more delicate. I¡¯m not asking for them to be very ambitious, but they should be safe and healthy, just be good, gentle-hearted children who understand manners.¡± Bo Yan hadn¡¯t expected that Xia Siyu had actually thought about the matter of children. But with a change of tone, she shook her head, ¡°However, that¡¯s a far, far away thing.¡± Her tone softened a bit, clearly, she had dreams about children and a family in her heart. It¡¯s just that her current situation limited her dreams. Bo Yan also nodded easily, ¡°Our situation, it¡¯s not suitable to have children. We both need to work, and if we had children, it would disrupt our work plans and delay our career paths. Anyway, with the advancement of modern medicine, being an older parent isn¡¯t much of an issue anymore, it¡¯s better to have them later.¡± Xia Siyu immediately sensed something amiss, ¡°What did you just say? Who¡¯s having kids with you?¡± ... Bo Yan also quickly followed up, ¡°Why, you don¡¯t want to have kids with me, then who would you want to have them with?¡± Xia Siyu grinned, realizing that she would automatically block out topics about children, families, and couples before. But now, because she liked Bo Yan, she wasn¡¯t particularly against it, she just habitually retorted, ¡°Well, who can say? What if I meet an exceptionally outstanding man, fall head over heels for him, and he just happens to like me too? I¡¯d definitely pursue my own happiness. If he accepts me and wants to start a family, and it happens to be the right time for me to retire, of course, I¡¯d want to have children with him.¡± Bo Yan couldn¡¯t help but laugh in irritation, knowing that Xia Siyu was joking. If she were serious, she would have dumped him and chased after a new life long ago. That was what she did seven years earlier. Still, he couldn¡¯t help feeling annoyed, even if Xia Siyu was just joking. He immediately pressed her, his voice carrying a hint of danger, ¡°What, you¡¯re thinking of divorcing and remarrying? Did you even ask your legitimate husband?¡± Xia Siyu was far from scared; she boldly puffed out her chest, ¡°What husband, didn¡¯t we sign a prenuptial agreement back then? We each mind our own business, and neither of us can interfere with the other. We also had a verbal agreement recently, our relationship is that of FWBs. Friends with benefits, got it? No feelings involved.¡± Bo Yan knew Xia Siyu was deliberately teasing him, but it still vexed him, ¡°Friends with benefits, huh? Then let¡¯s ¡®benefit¡¯ each other right now.¡± Xia Siyu immediately struck a coquettish pose, ¡°I don¡¯t want to, it¡¯s exhausting. I need to sleep so I can get up early tomorrow to play with the kids.¡± As soon as the topic of kids came up, Bo Yan immediately thought of the scene in the play where she was supposed to breastfeed a child; his expression instantly turned sour. He clung to her, ¡°No, what¡¯s so fun about kids? Play with me instead.¡± Then, regardless of whether she was happy about it or not, he started to toy with her. Especially upon thinking about the breastfeed, he swiftly changed his strategy; previously, he could only mold clay, but now he discovered a new function. He decided to have his own fun first, regardless of consequences. ** S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, the next day, Bo Yan still suggested to the director, ¡°The female lead doesn¡¯t like the kid, she hates that the male lead uses the child to tie her down. Having her breastfeed the child directly is not suitable; it would be better to leave everything to the male lead. Let the male lead make rice paste for the child to drink; it fits the female lead¡¯s character much better.¡± Chapter 645 - 642 Jealousy (2) Chapter 645: Chapter 642 Jealousy (2) Director Sun thought it over and admitted that Bo Yan was indeed correct; the small change wouldn¡¯t affect the development of the plot, so he agreed to it. Watching Xia Siyu, who was still playing with the child behind him, Bo Yan breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, he and his daughter¡¯s territory were defended, no way was he going to let outsiders get a taste! ** When filming, Bo Yan was quite serious. In the story, the female lead didn¡¯t have any affection for the child and even harbored hatred toward it. When the male lead wasn¡¯t around, she had no choice but to take care of the child alone. But as soon as the male lead was present, she would 100% toss the child over to him and would definitely not glance at the child again. The male lead naturally played the role of both dad and mom. When the child was hungry, he couldn¡¯t bear to eat rice paste himself, saving it to make porridge for the child instead. When the child peed, he personally changed the diaper. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... In the story, the male lead was incredibly enthusiastic about the child, whereas the female lead was rather indifferent. But off-screen, it was the complete opposite. After a day, Xia Siyu learned how to hold the baby and how to play with the child. Her nature was to like coaxing cats and teasing dogs, and if it weren¡¯t for her unsettled living situation these past few years, she probably would have adopted a cat or a dog. Now with a child thrown her way, as long as she only had to play with it and not take care of it, she was of course happy. Off-screen, Bo Yan, aside from showing a little enthusiasm when the child just arrived, now stood rather calmly aside. But a child isn¡¯t a toy. Aside from laughing, they also cry and fuss. For instance, now, Xia Siyu was holding the baby, and the baby was crying so hard it couldn¡¯t catch its breath. Coincidentally, the child¡¯s mother was not on set due to some matters. Holding the crying baby, Siyu felt like crying too, ¡°Bo Yan, Bo Yan, what do we do!¡± Although Bo Yan was a bit jealous that she liked the child so much, he still came over when she asked. He was like a dog with an especially sharp nose. ¡°It stinks.¡± Xia Siyu checked the diaper, and sure enough. Bo Yan had initially thought to call the child¡¯s mother to handle it, but Director Sun said, ¡°The two of you have a scene where you change the child¡¯s diaper. Learn to do it.¡± Xia Siyu held the baby, and the two looked at each other. After a while, Bo Yan said, ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± ¡°No need. Let¡¯s do it together. I should also learn a little.¡± Bo Yan was worried about getting Siyu¡¯s hands dirty. ¡°It¡¯s dirty.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s just a baby.¡± Xia Siyu, who hadn¡¯t minded on the train before, was even less concerned now. Plus, she was a bit curious; she always thought that changing a baby¡¯s diaper was a mighty task that she needed to learn. Bo Yan hadn¡¯t expected her to respond so straightforwardly. He had also paid attention to Xia Siyu¡¯s dealings, of course knowing the story of how she had helped that mother on the train. Although Xia Siyu¡¯s public image had improved somewhat, most people still thought she was that petulant and wilful person, spoiled and ignorant, who also liked to stir up scandals. On the surface, she also armed herself to appear extraordinarily strong, so strong that it was difficult for others to approach her, and thus no one dared to bully her. In reality, beneath that tough exterior, there was a soft heart that would inadvertently reveal itself. ¡°Alright, then let¡¯s do it together.¡± After saying that, he was worried that others in the crew might see something, so he added, ¡°I also have a scene where I change the child¡¯s diaper in the story.¡± Luckily, the child¡¯s mother had left everything here before she left. The last time, Xia Siyu had watched closely how the child¡¯s mother did it, and this time she imitated her, firstly pulling out the dirty diaper, then using baby wipes to clean the baby¡¯s bottom, and after cleaning it, how to put on the diaper was a challenge. Luckily, Bo Yan took over. ¡°Let me do it.¡± Chapter 646 - 643 Jealousy (3) Chapter 646: Chapter 643 Jealousy (3) He consulted the baby¡¯s mother and watched some videos, and although his technique was still somewhat unpracticed, he finally managed to get the baby¡¯s diaper on. Once the diaper was changed, the baby¡¯s demeanor transformed instantly, and she stopped crying right away. Just a moment ago, she was wailing like a little demon, but now, as she sucked on her tiny paws, she smiled like an angel. Xia Siyu, holding the baby, showed her to Bo Yan, ¡°Look, she¡¯s smiling at me.¡± Bo Yan felt a twinge of jealousy and said indifferently, ¡°If you feed her well, she¡¯ll smile even louder than you do.¡± Xia Siyu quickly took the baby away and turned to smile at the child, ¡°Don¡¯t mind him, he¡¯s just being weird.¡± Although Bo Yan was a little jealous on the inside, he still took very good care of the baby when it was his turn. When he held the baby, he did so with genuine affection, to the point that anyone who didn¡¯t know better would think she was his own daughter. ... The baby didn¡¯t have many scenes. Her part at the outdoor shooting location was finished in one day, and some scenes still needed to be shot in the film center. They could return the baby to her mother and call her back once they finished shooting outdoors and returned to the film center for studio shots. Without the baby around, Bo Yan felt like he could breathe easier. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t like children; he was just a little jealous. Xia Siyu had never smiled at him like that, never cooed over him or teased him with such glee! If it had been his own child it wouldn¡¯t have mattered, but it wasn¡¯t. He himself was over the moon taking care of the baby, but he wasn¡¯t pleased when Xia Siyu did it. The evening brought another dinner, this time featuring hotpot. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The outdoor shoot would be over in a day or two, and there was a slight reluctance to leave the place. Everyone decided to have a small gathering and chose hotpot for the meal. Wei Jingjing learned from her last mistake, cautioning repeatedly, and only allowed Xia Siyu to taste a single bottle of beer. However, Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t in the mood to drink. She happily flipped through the photos she had taken with the baby and even flaunted them to Bo Yan, ¡°She¡¯s super cute, I want to pinch her cheeks again!¡± ¡°Her hands are so small, just the length of my thumb joint.¡± ¡°Sigh, I¡¯ll have to wait a few days to see her again for the shoot. I wonder if she¡¯ll remember me?¡± Bo Yan was already not in the best of moods, and now he watched her laugh and joke around. Xia Siyu¡¯s antics were one thing, but she even shoved her phone in his face, forcing him to look. Bo Yan, having no choice, took her phone and glanced at it. He vaguely remembered that her previous phone had broken, and this was a replacement, ¡°Your phone?¡± Xia Siyu had not yet realized what was happening, ¡°I changed it a while ago, Qin Baizhou bought it for me.¡± Oh no, a double whammy, the phone was a gift from Qin Baizhou, and the screen displayed the child. Bo Yan¡¯s expression turned chilly, and his hand slackened. Then, Xia Siyu saw her phone fall from his hand, landing perfectly in the hotpot in front of him. With a ¡°plop,¡± countless splashes erupted, startling everyone nearby. They only saw the phone bobbing up and down in the hotpot, quickly going dark. Fearing an explosion, many hurried to turn off the heat. But the phone had already become a spicy hotpot relic, evidently beyond use. Bo Yan turned calmly, ¡°Sorry, my hand slipped. I¡¯ll compensate you with a new one.¡± Although his words were apologetic, the expression on his face was far too composed, almost as though he took pleasure in the disaster. After a few seconds of stunned silence, Xia Siyu charged toward Bo Yan in anger, ¡°Bo Yan you bastard, I¡¯m going to kill you!¡± Chapter 647 - 644 Jealousy (4) Chapter 647: Chapter 644 Jealousy (4) In the evening during rest time, Bo Yan sat honestly on the edge of the bed, hung his head, and admitted his fault, ¡°I was wrong. I shouldn¡¯t have been so careless.¡± ¡°Was that really carelessness?¡± Don¡¯t assume that Xia Siyu is always naive and actually treat her like a fool. Xia Siyu¡¯s intuition was very sharp. She could distinguish whether Bo Yan had been careless or had done it on purpose. Bo Yan glanced at her and added, ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have thrown your phone into the hot pot.¡± Xia Siyu was furious, ¡°Why did you throw my phone!¡± Bo Yan dared not admit it was because he was angry about the gift from Qin Baizhou, so he could only say, ¡°I was jealous.¡± ¡°You were jealous my ass! Tell me, why would you be jealous of a phone?¡± ... Bo Yan defended himself staunchly, ¡°You refuse to have children with me, yet you adore someone else¡¯s baby so much, flaunting pictures, even saying you might have a baby with another man in the future.¡± Xia Siyu, enraged, rushed over and yanked his hair forcefully, turning his sleek black hair into a tangled mess, ¡°Are you sick! Don¡¯t you know what our situation is right now? I¡¯m twenty-seven now, my goal is acting, how could I possibly consider having children? I don¡¯t want to give up my career, my career is my top priority, only when I have succeeded without any worries will I consider leaving the industry to have children!¡± Bo Yan remained calm, ¡°I know, I¡¯m not in a rush, I¡¯m just hoping you can give me a chance. Whether it¡¯s five years, ten years, or fifteen years, I¡¯m willing to wait.¡± Xia Siyu bluntly said, ¡°Bo Yan, I know you really like me now, but I haven¡¯t made up my mind to be with you for sure. We¡¯re just allies right now. We have a common goal and a common enemy. Of course, I must admit, we get along well in many ways, so I don¡¯t mind maintaining this relationship with you. But as for children, I haven¡¯t even thought about it, it¡¯s completely not in my plans. Even in the future, I will consider it very carefully. You really like me now, but will you still like me in five years, ten years, or fifteen years? Don¡¯t rush to make commitments; I know that today you like me, but tomorrow you might like someone else. You like me now because I¡¯m beautiful, right? But what about when my youth is gone? I might say that even at eighty years old, I¡¯d still be the most beautiful old lady. But that might not be true in your eyes.¡± Love is fluid, hormonal, dopaminergic, not everlasting and unchanging. Love has its peaks and valleys and can change over time, with every argument, big or small. She couldn¡¯t guarantee someone else¡¯s affection for her, but the one thing she could guarantee was that she would always love herself the most. Even if others looked down on her, she would never look down on herself. She couldn¡¯t even promise that even if Bo Yan still loved her in five years, ten years, or fifteen years, would she still like him the same way she does now? Enjoy the moment while it lasts; they were happy together now, wasn¡¯t that enough? Why bother thinking about the distant future and a child? She enjoyed playing with kids, but that was because they were other people¡¯s children. She only needed to have fun with them. But if they were her own, it wouldn¡¯t just be about having fun; it would be a responsibility. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xia Siyu¡¯s pessimism about family and children was also because of childhood trauma. So what if her parents were in love? Didn¡¯t her mother¡¯s life still end in tragedy? And her relationship with her father, Xia Youbiao, wasn¡¯t that irreconcilable? Chapter 648 - 645 Jealousy (5) Chapter 648: Chapter 645 Jealousy (5) S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°So, you like me,¡± Bo Yan gleaned this piece of information from her lengthy discourse. If she didn¡¯t have him in her heart, she wouldn¡¯t be thinking about such long-term issues. She certainly wouldn¡¯t consider situations ten or fifteen years from now. Others might, but Xia Siyu definitely wouldn¡¯t; as a simple, single-celled organism, she wouldn¡¯t harbor such far-reaching worries unless it pertained to her personally. Xia Siyu was stunned for a moment. She hadn¡¯t expected her own analysis of marriage and children to give away her feelings to this perceptive man! ¡°You, you¡¯re talking nonsense!¡± Xia Siyu had been ready to criticize him, but instead, he caught her out. Although angry, Xia Siyu found that Bo Yan had precisely poked at the thoughts she held inside; her eyebrows stood on end, and her apricot eyes widened in a perfect circle. Bo Yan placed a finger to his lips and made a ¡°shh¡± gesture. Immediately, her momentum seemed to diminish, but she still refused to admit it easily, ¡°I do not!¡± ... But in her heart, she thought, damn, had Bo Yan eaten the Immortal Pill? She had liked him for just a few days, and he¡¯d already uncovered it? Men being too smart was definitely not a good thing. Damn it, she couldn¡¯t even deceive him for two days! But she wouldn¡¯t admit it, not even if she died! Bo Yan¡¯s smile grew wider as he looked at her. He admitted that he had been jealous today. Not just of Qin Baizhou, but also of the little baby. He was jealous because Xia Siyu had never admitted to liking him; that day, she even said in front of so many people, ¡°I don¡¯t like you.¡± Although later, when she was drunk, she let slip that she didn¡¯t want him to leave, he still had a small shadow in his heart. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t realize that her lying skills were incredibly poor. The more she denied liking him, the more it revealed to him that she had, in fact, liked him for a long time. The girl he liked also liked him. There was nothing in the world that made him happier. He truly wanted to have a child with her, to share a normal happiness. But if she didn¡¯t want that, he wouldn¡¯t force her. Because what he wanted was always her; a child was just an added bonus. A child would be the icing on the cake, but he wouldn¡¯t insist on having one if she didn¡¯t want it, as long as she liked him. ¡°Okay. I got it.¡± Knowing that Xia Siyu liked him, Bo Yan felt his suspended heart finally settle. He looked at her, his smile growing brighter, making Xia Siyu flustered; she lowered her lashes and dared not meet his gaze, yet she denied recklessly, ¡°I don¡¯t like you, you¡¯re mistaken!¡± ¡°Okay, you don¡¯t like me.¡± Bo Yan didn¡¯t care about these superficial issues as long as she had him in her heart. Happy, he stretched out his arms, lifted her onto his lap, and leaned in to kiss her. She was as fragrant and soft as the baby, so fragrant that he couldn¡¯t stop smelling her, and so soft that he couldn¡¯t stop pinching her tenderly. Xia Siyu was made so frantic by his actions that she hastily denied, ¡°I really don¡¯t like you.¡± ¡°Okay, you really don¡¯t like me.¡± Bo Yan was in an exceptionally good mood; the seven years of pursuit seemed to finally settle down in this moment. She was his lover, his wife, his comrade-in-arms, his partner, and she liked him too. Heaven had indeed been good to him, bringing back what was once lost. Fortunately, it was not too late for everything. Xia Siyu turned to mush under his kisses, her body softened, and so did her heart. The only thing hard about her was her stubborn mouth, ¡°I won¡¯t have a child with you¡­ mmm¡­¡± Chapter 649 - 646 Jealousy (6) Chapter 649: Chapter 646 Jealousy (6) Xia Siyu was bewildered to find herself kissed into submission at the head of the bed, with Bo Yan continuing to peck at her as if he wanted to mark her entire body as his own. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But this time, he didn¡¯t pursue further intimacy. Instead, he held her with a smile, hugging and kissing her simultaneously, ¡°Wife, I¡¯m so happy.¡± ¡°Are you stupid or what? I don¡¯t even like you, and I¡¯m not willing to have kids with you, what¡¯s there to be happy about?¡± Xia Siyu refused to admit it and even petulantly turned her head away, back towards him, ¡°I¡¯m not talking to you anymore!¡± However, Bo Yan also laughed softly, wrapping his arms around her from behind, the two of them fitting tightly together. His breathing was steady, and the warmth of his breath played in the fine hairs at the back of her neck, ¡°Siyu, it¡¯s you that I like. Even if we really had a child, it would be ¡®love the house and its crow.¡¯ It¡¯s not because the child is mine that makes me happy, but because the baby is ours that fills me with joy. If you don¡¯t want one, then we won¡¯t have one. Life is full of uncertainties, and nobody knows what will happen in the future. But I can promise that from today on, I¡¯ll always like you one day more than you like me. As long as you don¡¯t leave me, I will never betray you.¡± Xia Siyu did not respond, but in the darkness, her face visibly softened. ... She had originally thought that if Bo Yan discovered she also liked him, he would be so proud that his tail might stick up to the sky. He would be so smug, always trying to prove himself to her. She didn¡¯t want promises either. Even though they were already married and living together, she was reluctant to admit anything. As long as she could keep her heart guarded, no storm could bring her down. She could stand up on her own because she was strong inside. But to her surprise, Bo Yan let her be, unconstraining her, only asking for her affection without expecting anything in return. In this world, is there such a thing as affection that asks for nothing in return? Yes, the love of parents for their children is like that. But even parents might have preferences among their children, resulting in unequal love. But the love Bo Yan was offering now was the kind that asked for nothing back. Such love is the most dangerous because he also expected her to love him. But Xia Siyu was proud and haughty. Some people have pride; others have backbone. Xia Siyu had both, pride that could reach the sky, and she huffed, ¡°That still depends on whether I¡¯m willing or not.¡± Yet, knowing that she likes him, anything she says now, no matter how unpleasant, sounds like sweet nothings to Bo Yan¡¯s ears. How wonderful his wife is, so naive and cute, so beautiful and gentle, he really has found a treasure, ¡°Wife, you¡¯re absolutely right.¡± Grinning and laughing, he couldn¡¯t help but lower his head to kiss her, murmuring between kisses, ¡°My wife is just too good.¡± ¡°Good my foot!¡± Xia Siyu exclaimed angrily, and immediately after she realized he was complimenting her, she, of course, wouldn¡¯t deny her own goodness. ¡°Sleep!¡± Xia Siyu grew angry, pushed him away, ignored him, and rolled over taking most of the blanket with her, wrapping it tightly around herself. Hmph, now that it¡¯s autumn and the nights are cool, let him freeze without his blanket! Bo Yan, as if he hadn¡¯t heard a thing, happily cuddled up to her again, showering her cheeks with kisses, ¡°Wife, you¡¯re truly wonderful.¡± Hmph, of course, I am, no need for you to say it. Xia Siyu thought to herself, and although she furrowed her little brows, the corners of her mouth involuntarily curled up. Chapter 650 - 647 Divergent Paths Converge (1) Chapter 650: Chapter 647 Divergent Paths Converge (1) With newfound confidence, Bo Yan was no longer jealous. Early the next morning, he had Song Fengzhi buy her a new phone. Bo Yan knew how sharp the netizens¡¯ eyes were, so to prevent them from noticing, he even bought the same model as Qin Baizhou¡¯s, the same one that Xia Siyu had previously lost in the hotpot. It was a sly switch, replacing it with the one he gifted. Xia Siyu had a phone again, but she was still picky and difficult to please, seeming unimpressed no matter how he looked, acting overly complicated. Bo Yan simply smiled slightly and didn¡¯t argue with her. But with friction between the two artists, their assistants also found each other unbearable. Song Fengzhi thought straight as an arrow, ¡°My brother treats you so well and likes you so much, and yet you still put on airs.¡± Wei Jingjing, of course, staunchly defended her own girl, ¡°My Siyu is such a treasure, what¡¯s wrong with her showing a little attitude? If you don¡¯t like it, don¡¯t chase her. There are enough people lining up from Yancheng to Shangcheng anyway.¡± Each tried to sabotage the other, none taking a liking to one another. This irritation continued from the outdoors filming location to the film and television center. ... After the child actor left, they filmed for two more days on location, and, on the clear morning of the third day, they were set to say their final goodbyes to the place. Xia Siyu and Bo Yan had lived there for two months, gotten used to the freedom and simple local customs, which she found hard to leave behind. Bo Yan felt the same. Although it was under the guise of ¡°assistance,¡± they had installed tap water and a full set of bathing facilities for the area, but he knew full well that it was also for himself. They glanced at each other, and since both were not petty people and had developed affection, they were sure to leave something behind for the locals. Money couldn¡¯t be given directly. As the saying goes, to get rich, build roads first, so Bo Yan and Xia Siyu used their own money to renovate the village roads. Having already donated to Hope Primary School, this time they anonymously donated to Hope Middle School, and they even established a scholarship for impoverished students at a university in the provincial capital where they had once visited the archives. All of these acts were done anonymously, and they had informed their management company, not wanting to use it to gain any fame. Especially Xia Siyu, she had firmly instructed, over and over again, not to let Qin Baizhou buy her any ¡®charity hot searches¡¯; she didn¡¯t want to promote herself in that way. However, after finishing their shoot the next afternoon and preparing to leave the next day, Director Sun invited both of them for a meal, but Xia Siyu and Bo Yan both refused. Xia Siyu grumbled, ¡°I want to go back and take a bath. I¡¯ve been rolling around in the sand all day, and I¡¯m very dirty.¡± After all, as a female artist, he understood her being slightly fussy. Besides, Xia Siyu might be finicky in her daily life, but she was very dedicated when it came to work. She hardly used a stunt double for the shoot, handling almost everything herself, which granted her some leeway to be fussy. Bo Yan also said, ¡°I don¡¯t drink alcohol.¡± With that simple sentence, he brushed off their invitations, as Bo Yan never enjoyed eating out with the Tiger Sect because he never drank. ¡°Alright, alright, off you go then!¡± Sun Wujiu was well acquainted with him, and Bo Yan had not only acted for him but also helped him pull in investments and assisted in various ways. Their friendship spanned several years, and they got along like brothers. Bo Yan certainly was not going to simply go back and rest. He and Xia Siyu left the courtyard one after the other. It was still early; first, they took showers and changed clothes. Then Bo Yan asked Song Fengzhi for the car keys, didn¡¯t call anyone to accompany them, and tacitly went out with her. The drive was a short one, leading them to the River Bay. Bo Yan found the best spot and opened the sunroof. Together, they watched the sunset. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 651 - 648 Divergent Paths Converge (2) Chapter 651: Chapter 648 Divergent Paths Converge (2) Today the sky is clear and cloudless; the blazing fiery clouds from that day are nowhere to be seen. However, this sunset casting its brilliance in rays over the western hills is a sight that is still remarkably expansive. A month ago, when they watched the sunset together, even though Bo Yan had already figured her out, their relationship was still somewhat awkward. But at this moment, Xia Siyu was leaning comfortably against him, showing not the slightest hint of resistance. With the mountains high and the sun low, water receding to reveal the stones, their hearts had opened up quite a bit, ¡°The view is really beautiful.¡± Bo Yan nodded, acknowledging that beyond this river, the setting sun, and these mountains, the most important thing was that no one recognized them. They didn¡¯t need to wear masks, didn¡¯t have to disguise themselves, and could breathe freely. Freedom, for ordinary people, is something taken for granted, as simple as eating and breathing. Yet, for Xia Siyu and Bo Yan, it was a rare luxury. ... Xia Siyu thought that she liked Bo Yan, not only because they shared a common enemy in Bo Yi and Xia Sicai or because they were aligned in their work objectives, but also because she did not have to pretend at all around him. They understood each other¡¯s circumstances and could fully grasp each other¡¯s thoughts. Others, even Qin Baizhou, who typically worked behind the scenes, could not fully understand her thoughts. Even if she did not want to admit it, she had to acknowledge to herself that meeting Bo Yan was quite fortunate for her. ¡°Why did you decide to enter the entertainment industry?¡± Xia Siyu was somewhat curious. Bo Yan was not the type to seek the limelight. Although he studied ¡°Film Culture and Art¡± at university, it was more on the theoretical side. When they were dating back then, Bo Yan was determined to do theoretical research and wanted to establish his own school of thought, tirelessly studying into his old age. A year after Xia Siyu left, she rose to fame with a single film, becoming a super-newcomer. The next year, when she went to N University to handle her withdrawal process, Xia Sicai was courting him. When Xia Siyu arrived, she happened to see Xia Sicai and him discussing academics. Although Bo Yan¡¯s heart was stirred at first, he kept a calm expression. He didn¡¯t want to seem too flustered in front of his ex-girlfriend. And look, how popular I am, another girl with good family background is chasing after me. When Xia Siyu went to the art department to withdraw, her expression was as indifferent as Bo Yan¡¯s, tranquil as ever. But in the next moment, she clenched her fists upon hearing her ¡°good sister¡¯s¡± voice. Then, with a cold laugh, she turned her head and left. Bo Yan thought he would be very happy, having finally won one over her. But instead, watching her back and the crowd of assistants and bodyguards around her, along with the students there to watch the drama, his feelings were indescribable. He wasn¡¯t happy at all; such childish comparisons were signs of immaturity. He couldn¡¯t manage to date any other woman successfully; no one would do except for her. But he still had to bridge the gap of two years apart. He wanted to understand Xia Siyu better, so he started to go undercover in Xia Siyu¡¯s fan groups and began working with long-term investigative paparazzi to look into Xia Siyu¡¯s social network. At first, he was just a low-profile silent fan, inconspicuous and ignored. Later, by splurging on box-office tickets, he caught the attention of the fan club¡¯s upper echelons. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Later on, Xia Siyu was framed, her reputation plummeted to rock bottom, and all sorts of vile rumors were heaped upon her. What Bo Yan thought at the time: he felt utterly powerless. Chapter 652 - 649 Divergent Paths Converge (3) Chapter 652: Chapter 649 Divergent Paths Converge (3) He had investigated Xia Siyu¡¯s background before, knowing full well that those scandals and smear campaigns were baseless rumors. But his words held little weight, and even as the second son of Bosch Corporation, no one would believe him; no one. The only thing he could do was to spend money to boost the box office, to support her. However, if Xia Siyu ever found out that the money came from him, she would likely return every penny and not accept his help. But that wasn¡¯t enough, nowhere near enough. He began to crave fame and fortune. Without money and power, he couldn¡¯t even protect the woman he liked. However, he no longer had the chance to inherit Bosch Corporation. At home, his granduncle Bo Qiliu and his cousin Bo Yi guarded Bosch Corporation as if it were the apple of their eye, absolutely forbidding him to have a share. His grandfather, in order to quell family disputes, could only sacrifice him. He chose to become a teacher, and his grandfather agreed. At least, being a university teacher sounded respectable and wasn¡¯t shameful to admit. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... There¡¯s nothing wrong with being a teacher, except maybe for one thing: it¡¯s poor. Bo Yan thought he might just end up spending his life immersed in books within the ivory tower. It was just when he attended an academic event at the film academy and got photographed by reporters. Strangely enough, while the day was actually the freshmen¡¯s entrance ceremony of the film academy, which included some child stars with numerous journalists around, the most famous shot turned out to be of Bo Yan. A photo of Bo Yan walking through the campus in a white shirt while holding a book went viral on social media, exploding online in an instant. Soon people traced the image back to him, learning about his family background, his education, and that he studied film. Even talent agencies were extending their olive branches to him. During that period, the hottest news on Weibo was Xia Siyu¡¯s scandal and Bo Yan¡¯s photo. Having an idea, he signed with an agency as if it were the logical next step. Ignoring his family¡¯s objections, he was determined to enter the entertainment industry. Then, Xia Sicai ¡°dumped¡± him and got engaged and married to Bo Yi. After that, feeling guilty, the Xia Family introduced him to their younger daughter¡ªXia Siyu. He agreed instantly, as though a dreamer offered a pillow. Xia Siyu nodded just as quickly; at the time, he thought it was because she was entangled in scandals, and the Xia Family was attempting to salvage her reputation, hence her reluctant agreement. Now he realizes she was never someone afraid of trouble; no amount of public slander could hurt her in the least. He guessed that her agreement probably had a lot to do with her mother. But at that time, Xia Siyu had agreed to meet him in private, specifying it to be a private meeting without managers, assistants, or bodyguards. The moment she spoke, she brought up ¡°After Marriage Contract¡±¡ªeach would maintain their independence and not interfere with each other. Being a man, having such a blatant contract thrown in his face was an insult. But he also knew it was the only legitimate chance to get close to Xia Siyu, so he agreed and hurriedly signed his name. After the marriage, having studied film arts and dabbled a bit in acting, he didn¡¯t expect that, upon his debut and thanks to decent acting skills, he would become even more popular than Xia Siyu. Later, he rigorously studied acting and finally reached where he is today. But he never regretted it, truly, he felt it was the most correct step he¡¯d taken in his life. Becoming a celebrity indeed sacrificed some of his personal life, but it allowed him to be close to her, both in work and spirit. Although he entered the entertainment industry for Xia Siyu, it was also the only time he defied his family¡¯s wishes, stepping out of the path they had set for him, and living for himself for the first time. Chapter 653 - 650 Divergent Paths Converge (4) Chapter 653: Chapter 650 Divergent Paths Converge (4) Moreover, once he entered the entertainment industry, his career soared. He had started to formally explore directing, fulfilling his true dream: to make a movie of his own. He became a celebrity for her and for himself. What a story it was. Bo Yan looked down indifferently, ¡°It¡¯s nothing special. If you like it, just go for it.¡± Xia Siyu didn¡¯t believe him, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say before that you wanted to do research?¡± Bo Yan never cared for the flashy world of fame and fortune. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have turned down the competition at Bosch Corporation. To be an actor, honestly, you can¡¯t be one without a bit of vanity. She admitted frankly that she chose to be an actor partly to continue her mother¡¯s profession, and partly to spite the Xia Family. The more the Xia Family looked down on actors, the more determined she was to become one. But she had her little vanities too. The taste of being the center of attention and adored by many was addicting after getting a taste. Bo Yan lifted his chin slightly, chuckling, ¡°I can still do research now. Research on you.¡± ... ¡°Damn it, I¡¯m done with you.¡± Xia Siyu didn¡¯t take his nonsense seriously, and if he didn¡¯t love talking, she loved listening even less. Bo Yan laughed and buried his head in her shoulder, ¡°I wasn¡¯t lying. I really did it because I liked it.¡± It¡¯s just that, after the word ¡®like¡¯, it needed the object ¡°you¡±. As he caressed her, night slowly descended. Bo Yan¡¯s fingertips were cool as they glided from her neck to her chest. They had spent the previous night in pure innocence, so exceptionally pure, that now, with no one around, Bo Yan felt a little restless. His gaze flickered, his voice dripping with seduction, ¡°We¡¯re about to leave. Shouldn¡¯t we leave something behind here?¡± ¡°Leave something my ass!¡± Did he really take her for a fool? He just wanted to have his way with her. Did he think she didn¡¯t know? Even if she liked him, she wasn¡¯t willing to yield to him in everything. She quickly pushed him away, ¡°Let¡¯s head back early. Although Director Sun said he won¡¯t invite you for dinner, who knows if he might make a sudden visit. If we are both missing, it would be hard to explain.¡± Moreover, she had a nagging feeling that something was about to happen, but suddenly, she couldn¡¯t quite grasp it. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Bo Yan said, turning his head to kiss her, ¡°I¡¯ve already informed Song Fengzhi that if someone from the crew comes looking, we have gone to the village to do charity.¡± S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With so many households in the village, finding them wouldn¡¯t be easy. ¡°Wife, you look particularly beautiful today.¡± Bo Yan always flattered her at times like these. No wonder they say not to trust what a man says in bed. Although the fact that she was good-looking was true, such insincere praise obviously had an ulterior motive. ¡°Unwarranted courtesy, either a rogue or a thief!¡± Bo Yan kept smiling, ¡°Right, I am showing courtesy. Forget about being a thief, the other option I quite like.¡± Such a man, having the nerve to make it so obvious on his face, she really should record this and show it to his fans. The noble and cool idol they adore is actually a sly dog! Bo Yan had even specifically chosen a car whose seats could lie flat to facilitate his schemes. Moreover, when he test-drove it, he made sure to lie down on the flattened seat to ensure it was comfortable before making the purchase. With the sunroof open and the seats flat, the car was quite roomy, easily accommodating two people lying down. However. After less than five minutes, Bo Yan said with a serious face, ¡°Siyu, let¡¯s not watch the sunset anymore, shall we?¡± Chapter 654 - 651 Divergent Paths Converge (5) Chapter 654: Chapter 651 Divergent Paths Converge (5) Xia Siyu looked at him, and Bo Yan¡¯s serious face turned a bit sorrowful in an instant, ¡°Last time we watched the sunset together, you got your period after we got back. This time we watched the sunset, and while doing so, you got your period again. We¡¯re like the epitome of ¡®sunset red.¡¯ From now on, we should watch the sunrise!¡± Xia Siyu found it both funny and exasperating. She just said that she kept feeling like she had forgotten something earlier, and only when Bo Yan was dawdling did she realize that she had gotten her period. Her menstrual cycle used to be very regular, about forty days or so, and this time it just happened to coincide. Although Bo Yan was not happy about it, he still considered her health and hurriedly drove them back. After Xia Siyu changed her clothes and took the necessary precautions, she entered the house to find that Wei Jingjing had already boiled water for her and handed her a sweet and warm cup of ginger tea. The warmth of the ginger tea mixed with brown sugar went down her stomach, warming up her entire body. Xia Siyu, happily holding the cup, took another sip, and Wei Jingjing said, ¡°It¡¯s strange this time. It came so suddenly.¡± ... ¡°Right, I usually have such terrible pain.¡± Xia Siyu had just finished speaking when she suddenly remembered that recently Bo Yan had always made her eat mutton, drink lamb soup, and take baths. He forbade her from eating anything cold, ice cream was forbidden, and so were cold drinks. The human body may seem tough as iron or copper, but if one doesn¡¯t pay attention, illness can strike as suddenly as a collapsing mountain. Previously, due to filming and attending events, Xia Siyu inevitably got cold. Wei Jingjing and Qin Baizhou couldn¡¯t always keep an eye on her, and you need to drink herbal medicine for a long time for it to be effective, which she had to stop because it was affecting her complexion, something unimaginable for an actress. With Bo Yan around, she indeed had more discipline. He also made sure to feed her only lean meat, and after two months of filming, she hadn¡¯t gained weight; instead, her body became firmer without looking too bulky. Bo Yan often gave her deep tissue massages, and even though sometimes they ended up rolling together, those massages genuinely relaxed her tense muscles, preventing them from growing unappealingly. Good food, good living¡ªsometimes, whether you¡¯re compatible with someone can be determined by living together and sharing meals for a while. If you can share a plate, you¡¯re unlikely to split apart. So you see, love may be a moment of hormones, but a lasting marriage must be built on a strong foundation of everyday life. It was the same when it came to sleeping at night. Although Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t experiencing pain in her stomach anymore, the bleeding still made her feel weak, but she didn¡¯t want to sleep, so she just lay there and chatted with Bo Yan. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Although Bo Yan could be utterly ridiculous at times, he was very reliable in eighty percent of the instances. For example, right now he knew that being ridiculous wouldn¡¯t help, so he set aside those mischievous thoughts and seriously discussed the filming with her, and about living there. This was their last night in the courtyard, and both felt a bit reluctant to leave. The owner had treated them well, and though he was old and had his grandchildren around him, the house was still quiet most of the time. With Xia Siyu and Bo Yan living there, the place was lively, and the owner didn¡¯t mind the noise. The grandchildren were adorable too, and even though Hope Primary School was a boarding school and they only returned once a week, every encounter was pleasant, and she liked them very much. ¡°You like it here,¡± Bo Yan said with certainty. Of course, Xia Siyu nodded, ¡°Hmm, don¡¯t you like it?¡± Bo Yan rubbed his cheek against her ear, ¡°I like it.¡± Who wouldn¡¯t like a life of freedom and unconstraint? Besides, he had her by his side. Chapter 655 - 652: Different Paths to the Same Goal (6) Chapter 655: Chapter 652: Different Paths to the Same Goal (6) Xia Siyu turned to look at him, and with just a glance, he quickly understood her meaning, ¡°When we have time in the future, we can come back for a visit. The family head is very kind and won¡¯t spread rumors for no reason.¡± Xia Siyu and Bo Yan had been staying here for two months, and the host family had never said a word about them outside. This included all the teachers and students at Hope Primary School, who also did not publicize their visit. Of course, trending searches aren¡¯t something you can just appear on whenever you want. Even for top stars like Xia Siyu and Bo Yan, without something very bizarre or explosive happening, this kind of occasional charity work wouldn¡¯t make the hot search unless they bought the exposure. But she still felt very moved, last time she went to Hope Primary School, she asked the teachers and students not to post on Weibo, TikTok, or any social media, and they really didn¡¯t. The local customs were simple and honest, a place worth continuing to contribute to. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, upon further thought, Bo Yan, this guy, with one glance, he could read all of her thoughts¡ªthis guy must be the worm in her stomach! Back in their university days when they were dating, she heard Bo Yan say that he had taken a course in psychology. Indeed, if he hadn¡¯t studied psychology, his acting wouldn¡¯t be so exceptional, a micro-expression enough to make countless film critics desperately analyze it. ... This guy, fortunately he became an actor; if he had become a villain, he¡¯d probably be an adept hand at it. She wasn¡¯t angry or scared, just teased him, ¡°How do you know me so well? You¡¯re not spending every day figuring me out, are you?¡± Bo Yan looked at her indifferently, ¡°Do I need to figure you out? Your emotions are written all over your face, it¡¯s just short of you announcing them to the world with gongs and drums.¡± Guessing other people¡¯s thoughts wasn¡¯t very difficult for him, but that didn¡¯t include Xia Siyu. Qin Baizhou thought that after a few years of ups and downs in the entertainment industry, he had seen it all. But Bo Yan was different; he had endured a lot since childhood, with both parents deceased, and had experienced the warmth and coldness of human relationships within the affluent circles. Reading people¡¯s expressions and words had become his most basic survival skill, as simple as eating and drinking. Could Qin Baizhou, no matter how capable, be stronger than him with nearly thirty years of honing? He was cold to outsiders, merely out of disinterest, not that he couldn¡¯t see through them. On the contrary, it was because he saw too clearly that he couldn¡¯t be bothered to comment. Xia Siyu was different; though her family affairs were complicated, she grew up cherished by her parents, with a clear mind and a genuine heart. Such a her could attract Qin Baizhou, and of course, even more so attract Bo Yan. Thank goodness they met first, thank goodness they were already in love. Xia Siyu wouldn¡¯t have it, she immediately stood up, ¡°Nonsense! I am not a fool! Director Sun said that I¡¯ve made great progress now, that my acting is super good, I¡¯m not that girl who can be seen through so easily!¡± Bo Yan glanced at her again, deliberately contradicting her for fun, ¡°You? Acting? Director Sun can¡¯t judge something that doesn¡¯t exist.¡± ¡°How dare you say I can¡¯t act!¡± Xia Siyu was furious; she was working hard now to improve her craft, all to win the Best Actress award sooner, following her mother¡¯s example. Bo Yan could say anything else, but he couldn¡¯t criticize her acting! She certainly knew she had shortcomings; Bo Yan deconstructed a character from a psychological perspective, while she would stick the character¡¯s experiences onto herself. If the experiences matched, she could sometimes unleash an exceptionally dazzling brilliance; if not, her acting¡­ well, let¡¯s just say it wasn¡¯t bad to watch. Xia Siyu was certainly going to hit him when she was angry, even if she was weak due to her period today, she wouldn¡¯t show weakness, her little fists thumping against his chest. Chapter 656 - 653: Exposure (1) Chapter 656: Chapter 653: Exposure (1) Bo Yan was just playing around with her, and after she punched him a couple of times, he immediately pretended to be ¡°repaired¡± by her and begged for mercy, ¡°Stop hitting me, stop hitting me, I was wrong, I was wrong. My wife is the best actress, the strongest in the universe!¡± ¡°You¡¯re still joking!¡± The more he did this, the angrier Xia Siyu became, wishing he would just confront her directly. ¡°Whether it¡¯s good or bad, it¡¯s you, otherwise, you tell me what to say.¡± Bo Yan spread his hands, feigning a helpless look. Xia Siyu was annoyed by his attitude, as if his sweet nothings were all meant to coax her. And why wasn¡¯t he coaxing her today? Because they couldn¡¯t do it. This damn man, utterly shameless¡ªunable to do it, he immediately stopped trying to wholeheartedly sweet-talk her. Now it was still fresh, so he¡¯d still throw in a couple of phrases. What about later, when he got sick of it? Would he even stop bothering to pretend, and instead expect her to flatter him? And to still say ¡°I love you, definitely a day more than you love me¡±, what a joke, I¡¯d never believe your nonsense! ... sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xia Siyu was on her period and tended to get overly emotional; instantly, sadness overwhelmed her. It hadn¡¯t been that long, had it? Barely two months of being together, and he was already tired of her. She knew she could be willful at times, but that was just her personality, and she didn¡¯t want to change for him. ¡°Bo Yan, I hate you the most.¡± Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t be bothered with him, turned around, and gave him the cold shoulder, leaving him only the back of her head. Oops, he had messed up. Bo Yan was also somewhat amused; he knew Xia Siyu had a temper and could only be soothed, not opposed. But marriage, well, if it was all smooth sailing without any ripples, that would be boring too. He just hadn¡¯t anticipated that an offhand joke could make her this angry. He approached her and asked, ¡°Wife? Wife? My dear wife?¡± ¡°Who¡¯s your wife, get lost!¡± This sentence was delivered with full force, clearly packed with resentment. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Bo Yan shook his head, knowing she was truly mad, and then reached out again to shake her shoulder, ¡°Siyu, wife, my dear, baby?¡± Xia Siyu shrugged her shoulder to shake off his hand, ignoring him, only letting out a stern ¡°hmmph¡±. Bo Yan was initially stunned for a moment, but very soon, he started to laugh. The laughter began very quietly, but it became apparent he was delighted, his chest resonating with joy. Xia Siyu became even angrier. She was sulking, and he had the nerve to laugh! She turned and glared at him fiercely, pushing him away hard, ¡°This is my house, my bed, you get out! Go to your own room! Stay at least two meters away from me, I don¡¯t want your presence within two meters!¡± She recalled this line, as Bo Yan had used it against her before, she¡¯d written it down in her little notebook! Women always liked to bring up the past during arguments, and she was no exception. Bo Yan laughed even louder, not only laughing but also embracing her tightly, kissing her repeatedly, ¡°I¡¯m so happy!¡± Xia Siyu was furious, ¡°You have no shame! Get off, get away from me!¡± Bo Yan quickly hugged her, ¡°Wife, I¡¯m really so happy. Are you this upset because you care about me so much?¡± He really wasn¡¯t mad at all, truly. For Xia Siyu, her world was black and white¡ªif she liked someone, she went all in, and if she disliked someone, she¡¯d show it immediately. It was the same with love. But now she felt jealousy, envy, and even displayed her little tempers. They were becoming more and more like a real married couple, and she cared more and more about his feelings, how could he not be happy? Chapter 657 - 654: Exposure (2) Chapter 657: Chapter 654: Exposure (2) ¡°Who fancies you? Stop flattering yourself! Get lost, get lost!¡± Xia Siyu struggled to push him away, but since she was on her period, she was weak and powerless, and ended up being held in Bo Yan¡¯s arms, receiving a kiss that filled her with warmth. Bo Yan was very enthusiastic, so enthusiastic that he seemed to want to transfer all his warmth to her. One was pushing away while the other eagerly pressed forward. In their intimacy, there was a slight sign of revival. Unable to move any further, Bo Yan became cautious; Xia Siyu was on her period, and he didn¡¯t want to take advantage of her even if he was an animal. Holding her gently for a while to calm his emotions, he returned to kiss her, ¡°Sleep well, sweetheart.¡± ¡°If you hadn¡¯t disturbed me, I would¡¯ve been asleep already!¡± Xia Siyu, still angry, turned her head, presenting him with the back of her head. Bo Yan couldn¡¯t help feeling both annoyed and amused, yet his heart was even sweeter. He hugged her from behind and deliberately placed his hand on her lower abdomen, ¡°I am proud of my wife. I act opposite you every day, so I know your progress best. You really are incredible.¡± Xia Siyu certainly didn¡¯t appreciate her work being unrecognized. She was aware of her shortcomings and knew success wouldn¡¯t come overnight, but she was very serious about her job. ... Bo Yan thought that any shortcomings could be addressed, but it was unacceptable to deny her efforts. ¡°I don¡¯t like it when people speak carelessly about my work.¡± Bo Yan was taken aback for a moment, quickly nodding, ¡°Okay.¡± His wife was not like those pampered wives of CEOs, appearing strong and independent but actually living in a golden cage fashioned by their husbands. Without the support of their husbands, their careers would lack sustenance and support. Xia Siyu was different. She aimed to win the Best Actress award, and although he could help, it primarily depended on her. Otherwise, even if they used money to secure the award, she wouldn¡¯t be able to face her mother with pride. She fought through thorns and obstacles, moving forward, and although he could support her, he couldn¡¯t walk the path for her. She wasn¡¯t a trumpery flower raised in seclusion, she was a true warrior. He was the one who was wrong. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, it won¡¯t happen again,¡± Bo Yan said, immediately apologizing as soon as he realized this. At the same time, he felt proud; he truly liked her for being seemingly capricious and headstrong, yet with a clear set of principles at heart. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hearing the remorse in his words, Xia Siyu finally hummed, ¡°That¡¯s more like it.¡± As the night deepened and dew formed, soon they ran out of topics, and Bo Yan, holding her close, drifted into dreams. This was their own Peach Blossom Spring, but one day they would have to step out of the garden. Fortunately, they were no longer alone. ** The next day, after an early breakfast and a brief goodbye, they returned to the film city by car. Upon arriving at the film city, there were many more people coming and going, and Xia Siyu and Bo Yan restrained the affection they shared in the privacy of their small courtyard, treating each other with a reserved seriousness. Even though Bo Yan had rented all the houses on that level of the film city, it was, after all, a film city. There were always some paparazzi who didn¡¯t follow the rules trying to sneak pictures, so he had to be careful. As the two deliberately kept their distance in the public eye, unable to show affection, they had no choice but to throw themselves into filming. During the process, fans also visited the set, and they saw the tender and sweet interactions between Bo Yan and Xia Siyu in the play, but as soon as ¡°cut¡± was called, the two separated faster than rabbits. Occasionally, snatching the opportunity, their secretive meetings became even more thrilling. For example, today, Xia Siyu completed the shooting of ¡°Spring Light,¡± ready to wrap up production. After a few drinks, their eyes were full of affection for each other. Unaware that a camera had already targeted them¡­ Chapter 658 - 655: Exposure (3) Chapter 658: Chapter 655: Exposure (3) Filming often doesn¡¯t see everyone wrapping at the same time. Some actors, due to their contracts, may not even have their roles secured when shooting begins, and they might leave once they¡¯ve completed their parts, even if the whole film isn¡¯t done yet. In the entire film, Xia Siyu and Bo Yan had the most parts, and they were the artists who stayed the longest in the production crew. But no matter how long one stayed, there were always different scenes to shoot. ¡°Spring Light¡± was about to wrap up, with Xia Siyu finishing her scenes first. She had the movie ¡°Youth 2¡± lined up, as well as a variety show with her agent Qin Baizhou, both of which she had already signed contracts for and couldn¡¯t be delayed. Besides that, she had several other variety shows, but they were mostly studio shoots, so she could do them once she was back in Yancheng. ¡°Youth 2¡± had already started filming a week ago. She was the female lead but didn¡¯t want to conflict schedules. Xia Siyu seamlessly transitioned; after wrapping up ¡°Spring Light,¡± she flew straight to Hengtian Film and Television Center to continue shooting. Luckily for her, ¡°Youth 2¡± was an out-and-out commercial film, a city drama that she was familiar with. She could pick up the script and perform right away, almost effortlessly. ... Bo Yan was in a similar situation. After he finished filming here, he would take a brief break before heading to the Southwest to shoot a mainstream blockbuster. Although he wasn¡¯t the lead and didn¡¯t have many scenes, it was a significant project that required his full attention. After that, he had a narration job for a documentary and another urban comedy film lined up. In other words, starting from tomorrow, Xia Siyu and Bo Yan wouldn¡¯t be able to see each other for about three months. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Three months, to the past Bo Yan and Xia Siyu, wouldn¡¯t have been anything significant. They were actors, and it was common for actors to be apart during filming; it was impossible to have all their projects together. They had the same routine during the three years they were married. They only had very brief periods together, and when the time came, one would go left, the other right, throwing themselves into different projects. However, this was also a test for Xia Siyu and Bo Yan. She wasn¡¯t foolish; she knew she was now in love with Bo Yan. However, she couldn¡¯t distinguish whether their relationship was just a so-called ¡°set romance,¡± or if it was true affection. Although both she and Bo Yan were professional actors and kept their work and personal feelings separate¡ªan issue all actors must face¡ªit was undeniable that one significant reason their feelings had intensified was due to spending so much time together over the past six months on two films and a cohabitation variety show, gradually getting to know each other. And since they were both attractive, it was only natural for them to be drawn to each other. But what about after they separated? The actors she would work with were also handsome, and the actresses Bo Yan would work with were also beauties. They would have to play romantic roles. After interacting back and forth, could they really stick to their principles and boundaries? If Bo Yan could hold his ground, their relationship would continue. If not, they¡¯d split, and frankly, given Bo Yan¡¯s good looks, fit body, and decent skills, she wouldn¡¯t be at a loss. She wasn¡¯t one to nitpick, but if Bo Yan dared to truly cheat, then sorry, they¡¯d be seeing each other at the Civil Affairs Bureau! Cough cough, of course, the same applied to her. If a man better than Bo Yan appeared, she would definitely run off with that person! But that was a matter for the future. The present concern was that Xia Siyu was wrapping up her filming. The young couple had been good for just over a month, right in the midst of their honeymoon phase. Usually, they endured it; with many people around on set, they didn¡¯t dare to get close, and it had been a long time since they¡¯d spent the night together. But today, they were tacitly thinking of indulging themselves a bit¡­ Chapter 659 - 655: Exposure (4) Chapter 659: Chapter 655: Exposure (4) S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xia Siyu finished her filming in the afternoon, and her part in the production was wrapped up. However, in a film crew, where it¡¯s rare to gather together for such a long time, a big group of people living and eating together, crews with good relationships usually arrange a wrap party, also known as a farewell feast. In reality, it¡¯s just an excuse to eat and drink under the guise of saying goodbye. Although celebrities usually maintain their figures, the intensity of rushing to complete filming is so high that sometimes they can only sleep for two or three hours a day. Under such high-intensity shooting, the occasional indulgence is regarded as a ¡°cheat meal,¡± and most people would not refuse it. Xia Siyu had been with their crew for more than three months, spending one month gathering materials and experiencing life, one month on location, and a little over a month on set. If you add in the time spent on pre-production, it was even longer. Before this, Xia Siyu had only worked on fast-food productions like youth and urban schoolgirl movies, which didn¡¯t require such prolonged life experiences in pre-production or complicated shooting in post-production, usually being wrapped up in about a month. The last time, ¡°Storm¡± took two and a half months to film, which was considered a long time. This stay in the Northwest for three months was her longest experience in the industry since she started her career. And although Xia Siyu was sometimes demanding, she also put in a lot of effort. Despite her short temper, she was straightforward, speaking her mind, and more like a boy in that sense. Initially, it wasn¡¯t easy to get along, but after spending more time together, she had become good buddies with the entire crew. She was also the only leading lady in the crew, the sole female protagonist in ¡°Spring Light.¡± The second female lead was her mother in the film, and the third was the male lead¡¯s mother, leaving hardly any age-appropriate young women to compete with her for the limelight in the movie. ... As for age-appropriate young male actors, led by Bo Yan, there were actually a few. In the script, the second and third male leads were, one, a refined classmate who grew up with the female lead as childhood friends, and the other, a brigade leader who helped her in the countryside. If you included the bully who tormented her, there were several male characters. Unexpectedly, the Mary Sue character despised by thousands of young girls was brought to life by a male director, who even turned Xia Siyu into the darling of the masses. However, based on her performance and appearance in the film, she was indeed up to the task. The second male lead had a girlfriend outside the industry, and the third male lead had a wife, but Xia Siyu was beautiful. Men, even if they had no ill intentions or the courage for it, still always liked to look at beautiful women. And after spending more time together, those rumors of her ¡°dating tycoons¡± and having ¡°numerous scandals¡± were all found to be false, which naturally made her even more liked. Xia Siyu was treated exceptionally well in the crew, not only loved by everyone on set but also off the set. Except for Bo Yan. When Xia Siyu and Bo Yan were filming, they were all lovey-dovey, but as soon as the filming ended, they would pick on each other. It wasn¡¯t just them, their assistants didn¡¯t get along either, with Song Fengzhi and Wei Jingjing getting into tiffs more than once. Little couples, although they¡¯re very sweet when together, always have their moments of anger. Especially Xia Siyu, who was delicate, and even more so with a boyfriend. Bo, being a straightforward guy, really didn¡¯t intend to keep his distance sometimes; it was just the couple brooding over a spat. Sometimes when they argued, the second male lead would hold back Bo Yan, the third male lead would coax Xia Siyu, and Director Sun would personally mediate. His mediation skills had some flair to them; first, he would approach Xia Siyu with a smile and say, ¡°Don¡¯t be angry, I¡¯ll scold him for you!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Then, turning around, his face would darken, and he would begin to chastise Bo Yan, ¡°Are you even a man, picking on a woman like that? Go apologize to her right now!¡± The whole crew would join in to support the effort, leaving Bo Yan caught between laughter and tears. In front of her, he remained aloof and proud, but as soon as he turned around, he would immediately start pleading with his wife. Chapter 660 - 657: Exposure (5) Chapter 660: Chapter 657: Exposure (5) Xia Siyu was delicate but not capricious, and she knew she was being moody with Bo Yan. As soon as Bo Yan softened a bit, she couldn¡¯t be bothered to stay petulant. However, Bo Yan, compelled by the entire crew to apologize, was somewhat reflective, ¡°I really never thought that one day I¡¯d be forced by others to apologize to my wife.¡± Puffing out her chest with pride, Xia Siyu declared, ¡°Of course. I¡¯m good-looking, I¡¯m nice, and everyone loves Xia Siyu.¡± Bo Yan was speechless; this girl¡¯s confidence was through the roof, claiming everyone loved her when she had the most haters among female actors! But amidst his happiness, he felt a twinge of jealousy. Forget about Wang Zisu, that brown-noser; even Director Sun joked, ¡°If I weren¡¯t married, I¡¯d definitely pursue you!¡± Bo Yan had countless female fans, with many fantasizing about being Mrs. Bo every day. As for Xia Siyu, she was the same; people who liked her really liked her, and those who didn¡¯t, particularly hated her. ... Having a wife too attractive was also a kind of helplessness. ** The day she finished her scenes, everyone in the crew felt melancholic. Genuinely melancholic. Although the second and third male leads, as well as Bo Yan, were still there, with the drama¡¯s leading flower gone, the flavor just wasn¡¯t right without a male and female lead together. Moreover, Xia Siyu was no ordinary flower; her beauty was impeccable, second to none in today¡¯s entertainment industry. If it weren¡¯t for her beautiful face, she wouldn¡¯t have remained unshaken despite having so many haters. Thus, Director Sun hosted the dinner, with the second and third male leads taking the lead, and everyone had a good meal together. Although Bo Yan was usually aloof, he wouldn¡¯t miss out on such an occasion. After a few rounds of drinks, a bunch of repressed male actors started toasting to Xia Siyu. Xia Siyu, bold and generous, refused no one ¡ª after all, she only took a sip for each toast, and it was just beer. Bo Yan watched from the sidelines, all too aware of Xia Siyu¡¯s tolerance. This girl would be tipsy on one bottle, drunk on two, and ready to ascend to the heavens with three, like a skyrocket monkey. The other male artists also knew Xia Siyu¡¯s limits and wouldn¡¯t force her to drink under normal circumstances. But as she was leaving, they weren¡¯t going to get her drunk maliciously, but they did want everyone to have a good time. The second male lead lamented sorrowfully, ¡°It¡¯s so sad, why can¡¯t I chase after you in the drama, nor catch you in real life?¡± The third male lead pushed him aside and toasted Xia Siyu, ¡°I¡¯m the true tragic one, okay? You were born before I was, I was born when you were already old. No chance in this lifetime.¡± Bo Yan also took a sip, his temple throbbing. Xia Siyu was younger than you, what¡¯s this ¡®I was born when you were already old¡¯? No wonder Xia Siyu doesn¡¯t like you guys but likes me, a scholarly student. Go read more books. Then there was Director Sun, who spoke more practically, ¡°I¡¯ll look for you when I have a good script in the future.¡± That was the real deal. Yu Fenfei and Sun Wujiu were from the same camp and liked to stick with familiar faces. Xia Siyu left a good impression this time, and they would think of her in future opportunities. After everyone in the crew had their turn, Director Sun didn¡¯t forget to nudge Bo Yan, ¡°Bo Yan, go and offer a toast.¡± S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was common knowledge that Bo Yan and Xia Siyu were on bad terms. Everyone thought he wouldn¡¯t budge, but to their surprise, he lifted his eyelids, walked over calmly, and clinked his glass with hers properly, ¡°It¡¯s been a pleasure working with you.¡± Xia Siyu looked up at him, her dewy eyes blinking, then she also raised her glass and downed her drink in one go. This was their unspoken agreement, a sign that tonight, Bo Yan would be staying over. Chapter 661 - 658: Exposure (6) Chapter 661: Chapter 658: Exposure (6) The other people were not willing to let it go. Second male lead wailed, ¡°Why is it that when we toast to you, you only take a sip, but when Bo Yan toasts, you finish the whole glass!¡± The third male nodded, ¡°Yeah, we want to toast too! You must finish mine as well!¡± The scene instantly turned chaotic. Fortunately, these people had no ill intentions. Although they insisted that Xia Siyu should drink the whole glass, in the end, they let her finish it sip by sip before dispersing. Bo Yan didn¡¯t intervene, just sat by calmly. If it was a well-intentioned social interaction, he certainly wouldn¡¯t prevent it. Both he and Xia Siyu were not lovestruck, and even though they cared for each other, they wouldn¡¯t force the other to comply, nor would they meddle in each other¡¯s work and friendships. ... Xia Siyu¡¯s menstrual cycle had just come full circle, having ended a couple of days prior. Tomorrow they would part, and the next meeting would be several months away; naturally, he would come to be with her tonight. And with her period just over, generally, this would be the safe period, when they didn¡¯t need to be as cautious as usual. But only for this day. Although Xia Siyu¡¯s cycle was quite lengthy, around forty days, and theoretically, there wouldn¡¯t be a risk of pregnancy within five days after her period, he was quite cautious. Worried about the suffering Xia Siyu might face from a miscarriage, he wouldn¡¯t let himself get too carried away. The two had an unspoken understanding: one fluttering around like a butterfly gathering friends, while the other sat silently on the side, not making any contact. After finishing the drinks and ready to return, Bo Yan still took a separate car from Xia Siyu. Right before boarding their cars, Song Fengzhi and Wei Jingjing had a tussle over who should leave first, each standing their ground for their bosses. From any angle, Xia Siyu and Bo Yan seemed an impossible match. In the beginning, Song Fengzhi and Wei Jingjing were not enemies, only assistants of artists who were rivals. As their celebrities stood in opposition, it was natural for them to be on opposite sides as well. However, after Bo Yan miraculously won over Xia Siyu, the celebrities made up, but not their assistants. Their ongoing squabbles were partly to separate the image of Xia Siyu and Bo Yan, but also, they truly didn¡¯t get along. Even though Bo Yan and Xia Siyu were the stars, that wouldn¡¯t force their assistants to make nice. And so, the two continued their stand-off. Finally, Little Tang, with superior driving skills, managed to get a jump and squeeze Bo Yan¡¯s car off, leaving Wei Jingjing smugly rolling down her window and giving Song Fengzhi a taunting ¡°loser¡± gesture. Song Fengzhi, on the verge of passing out from rage, had to remind himself that ¡°a real man doesn¡¯t fight with women,¡± and watched as Xia Siyu¡¯s car drove off first. The other artists and Director Sun following behind were speechless: ¡°This Bo Yan and Xia Siyu¡­,¡± having played a couple in two dramas, were still at odds. When the cars reached the hotel, Song Fengzhi followed Bo Yan and Wei Jingjing supported Xia Siyu. Even when crammed into the same elevator, they remained apart. Inside the elevator, Bo Yan wouldn¡¯t act affectionately toward her, given the cameras. They made their way to their room doors. Bo Yan had booked the entire floor; he didn¡¯t choose the biggest and most luxurious rooms but those that were just out of the surveillance cameras¡¯ reach. Bo Yan remained cool the whole way, his expression aloof, tall and straight-backed. Wei Jingjing supported a staggering Xia Siyu, while he walked smoothly ahead without a backward glance. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But the moment they reached a blind spot, Bo Yan immediately turned around, strode up to Wei Jingjing, and swept up his own wife in a horizontal carry. In front of the room doors, he completed the ¡°transfer of power.¡± Chapter 662 - 659: Separation (1) Chapter 662: Chapter 659: Separation (1) Song Fengzhi unlocked his hotel room door and immediately swept his wife inside. Once his foot moved away, the door shut behind him, Song Fengzhi and Wei Jingjing glanced at each other, huffed heavily, and retreated to their respective rooms. A few doors closed behind them, as if no one had noticed their affairs. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡ª¡ªExcept for a camera a hundred meters away. The arrangements Bo Yan had made were actually quite adequate, the curtains of both his room and Xia Siyu¡¯s room were drawn tightly. He had booked the entire floor, so it was unlikely that any outsiders would intrude. He had also chosen a room without a camera in front of it. As long as they were within the hotel, nobody would see him and Xia Siyu together, not even the surveillance cameras. The hotel¡¯s diagonally rear side was a property developed by a local developer, about a hundred meters from the hotel. A hundred meters is usually too far to see anything clearly, but it¡¯s a different story with an ultra-high-definition telephoto camera. The worse luck was that the paparazzi stationed in the property were not there to photograph him and Xia Siyu at all. This film city in the Northwest, though not as famous as Hengtian, still attracted a few crews to film. Besides ¡°Spring Light,¡± there were several others. Moreover, another crew was staying at this hotel. ... The paparazzi had received tips: the first was that the male supporting actor of ¡°Spring Light¡± had his girlfriend from outside the circle visiting the set, and they wanted to capture a few shots of her. The second was about a young heartthrob from another crew. Moreover, this heartthrob played rather fiercely¡ªhe was involved with men, and was gay. The paparazzi, although snooping, would not necessarily publish everything they captured. After taking the photos, they would blackmail the celebrities, demanding money in exchange for the images and videos. If negotiations fell through, they would then consider revealing the scoop. This group of paparazzi truly lived up to their name, keen-eyed as dogs. The footage of Bo Yan holding Xia Siyu lasted only a few seconds, and it flashed by quickly. But someone among them really recognized him: ¡°Is that man Bo Yan?¡± Bo Yan was facing away from the camera as he held Xia Siyu, his back to the lens. Xia Siyu¡¯s clothes were indistinguishable, but his could be discerned. Although the telephoto lens was used, the distance was too great and it was nighttime, so the images were not clear. The remaining paparazzi, after some discussion, could only recognize Bo Yan. But that was enough. As everyone knows, Bo Yan was the hardest artist for the paparazzi to photograph. Born into the Bo Family, he was aloof, a rumor-repellant. Countless female stars tried to connect with him, but he wouldn¡¯t even give them a glance. Women could not catch his attention, and neither could men. Moreover, not only was the outside world devoid of any news about him, even within the entertainment industry, he was a blank slate¡ªno record of any scandals whatsoever. But the paparazzi were not like those fans who truly believed their idols were chaste for their sakes. To them, a thirty-year-old man staying celibate indicated only two possibilities: one, he was ill, psychologically incapable of accepting others (regardless of gender); or two, he was ¡°impotent.¡± Yet, Bo Yan had never given anyone any leverage. Far from having current liabilities, even if one looked into the past, they could only vaguely trace back to Xia Sicai, who eventually married his cousin. The Xia Family and Bo Yan desperately concealed the relationship, unwilling to confirm any ties. Looking further back, Bo Yan and Xia Siyu¡¯s romance was a secret, unknown to even their families and friends, let alone the paparazzi. Now, however, the finest ¡®wild boar¡¯, Bo Yan, had started to ¡®dig up cabbages¡¯ as well, though it was still a mystery who this fresh and juicy ¡®little cabbage¡¯ was. Chapter 663 - 660: Separation (2) Chapter 663: Chapter 660: Separation (2) They hadn¡¯t expected the little cabbage to be Xia Siyu. After all, Xia Siyu and Bo Yan had always been at each other¡¯s throats, from Weibo to Moments, and then onto the set. A team that was there to photograph the second male lead and his girlfriend also incidentally captured Xia Siyu arguing with Bo Yan¡¯s assistant, with both parties wearing cold expressions. These two beauties, the fairest of China¡¯s entertainment industry, were ironically the most incompatible pair, a fact known to the entire nation. They got the photos but couldn¡¯t capture the female lead. It was like you slept with someone in the dark, not knowing whether you¡¯d bedded a beauty like Diao Chan or a sow. Moreover, this photo was only of Bo Yan¡¯s back, so he had every reason to deny it. The paparazzi boss, unwilling to give up, rubbed his hands together and said, ¡°Since he¡¯s got a woman, even if it¡¯s just a one-night fling, as long as he¡¯s got the heart to sleep with a woman, we¡¯ll be able to catch him! From now on, we must keep a close eye on Bo Yan!¡± Whether it¡¯s a romance doesn¡¯t matter; even a one-night stand would do. As long as they could capture solid evidence, they could demand money from Bo Yan with full confidence! If Bo Yan refuses to pay, releasing the photo would reap them millions! You see, this is why, if there¡¯s a romance, it will inevitably be discovered. ... When in love, you yearn to meet like a moth to a flame. Couples will carry various matching items, like clothes, shoes, backpacks, and accessories. Your words will inadvertently confess your feelings, and messages will slip out unintentionally. It¡¯s not like during a time of war where even family members might pretend not to recognize each other. Even the strongest will slip up occasionally. ** Meanwhile, in the hotel, Bo Yan was completely unaware that he was being watched. After the door closed, Xia Siyu wanted to jump down. She hadn¡¯t drunk too much, just two bottles of beer, which had her feeling buoyant, but not completely out of control. She wriggled in Bo Yan¡¯s arms, and he had no choice but to put her down. But Xia Siyu, with a giggling embrace around his neck, refused a princess carry but instead jumped onto him. Last time Bo Yan discovered Xia Siyu also liked him, and although she verbally denied it, her body was honest. As a healthy adult with ideals, morals, and desires, she had been reserved when she didn¡¯t like Bo Yan, but now that she did, she was quite unrestrained. Being demure be damned, I need to enjoy myself! Moreover, he was her legitimate husband, her boyfriend, so of course, she felt no mental burden at all. With Xia Siyu clinging to him like a koala, Bo Yan¡¯s handsome face flushed. He still intended to carry her to the bed, undress her, take a bath, and begin clean and fresh. They had all night, no need to rush. ¡°I¡¯ll carry you to take a shower.¡± S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xia Siyu glanced out of the corner of her eye. She still had her makeup on, her eye corners slightly tilted upward, hooked him with a look, capturing all his attention. Her lips curved slightly, ¡°What, you¡¯re repulsed by the dust on my body?¡± ¡°It¡¯ll be better for you if you¡¯re clean.¡± It wasn¡¯t that Bo Yan was overly obsessed with cleanliness, but rather, being unclean could cause gynecological issues. Bo Yan tried to calm his restless heart, ¡°Behave, come down first.¡± Xia Siyu did jump down. Not only that, but she also let go of his neck, blinked, and asked, ¡°Come down? Down where? Is here okay?¡± Chapter 664 - 661: Separation (3) Chapter 664: Chapter 661: Separation (3) Bo Yan¡¯s pupils darkened abruptly, and even his breathing became urgent. He was two months short of thirty, and in those thirty years, it was only these recent few months that he could finally taste the forbidden fruit. Moreover, he had to be mindful of his young wife¡¯s reluctance to be open about their relationship, so he dared not be too intimate with her in public. Xia Siyu¡¯s menstrual cycle was forty days, which was pretty good, as it¡¯s said that women with slightly longer cycles age slower. Bo Yan didn¡¯t know whether they really aged slower, but one advantage of a longer cycle was that he had thirty days each cycle to enjoy being close to her. The downside was that they would also be apart for almost ten days. He had held back for nine days, no, for thirty years he had been like dry tinder. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t even need a lighter; a slight breeze and he would be aflame. At this moment, as she reached out her hand, how could he not know what she meant? Bo Yan unbuckled his belt at lightning speed and reached to strip her of her defenses. ... ¡°Next time, don¡¯t be¡­ so eager!¡± After he spoke those words, the two armies had already triumphantly met. The enemy attacked fiercely, and Xia Siyu was not willing to surrender easily. The two of them fought and retreated, instantly reaching a stalemate. Xia Siyu knew her gene for teasing was not good, especially when she provoked Bo Yan, this bastard of a man, who would gnaw so fiercely that not even bones would be left. But she just loved to watch Bo Yan rip off his own aloof mask, fierce and intense, his face flushed and struggling to maintain self-control. The greater the contrast between his public composure and his private behavior, the more fun she found it. When a man and a woman are in love, they yearn to merge each other with themselves completely, especially in cases like theirs where they must pretend not to know each other publicly and can only compensate in private. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the beginning, Bo Yan employed both soft and hard tactics, half offering and half forcing, and even used a bit of coercion to deceive her into being by his side. However, once they got along well, it was Xia Siyu who took the initiative. Bo Yan hadn¡¯t had a girlfriend or any experience in the past seven years. His skills definitely came from observation. But he was not the sleazy type to hide in his room watching something like Tokyo¡¯s steamy scenes; over the years, because he was making movies, he had seen quite a few action art films. After all, movies are art, and there are many forms of artistic expression, one of which involves the human body. Not only art films, but he also studied literature in college, naturally becoming well-read. In the period around the Ming and Qing dynasties, there were many books on customs, and abroad there were works like ¡°Decameron.¡± Even without specifically looking for banned novels, just reading ¡°Three Words and Two Shots¡± would leave one astounded by its descriptions. However, whether it¡¯s adult films or books, those were all ¡°indirect experiences,¡± and Bo Yan couldn¡¯t possibly be self-taught; he learned everything by exploration. Xia Siyu was different; she was bold, had thought of indulging herself before falling in love, and now that she had fallen for him, who could hold her back? After their first wave of offense ended, Bo Yan held her and went to soak in the bath. In the bathtub, she sat in front, he was behind her, and during their rest, Xia Siyu even turned on an action art film for them to watch together¡ª it was meant as a learning experience. Bo Yan never imagined that one day he would be watching an intimate movie with his wife in his arms, which was somewhat eye-damaging. Of course, Xia Siyu, as a woman, would not watch something plotless like Tokyo¡¯s hot scenes; although the main point was the action, she could only bear to watch if the film was beautifully shot, with a poignant story and good-looking actors. Chapter 665 - 662: Separation (4) Chapter 665: Chapter 662: Separation (4) Xia Siyu had even ¡°tsked¡± before reaching one hand out of the bathtub, fumbling around the edge while holding her cell phone in the other. Bo Yan knew what she wanted, and he handed her a glass of iced wine, which she sipped slowly before speaking, ¡°The cries are so fake, and the acting is terrible. That blush on her face is definitely from rouge.¡± Despite having watched the movie, she still felt the need to comment, leaving Bo Yan somewhat speechless as he responded, ¡°It¡¯s not real, it¡¯s a movie, it¡¯s obviously acted.¡± Xia Siyu even turned to look at him, ¡°But didn¡¯t this movie win an award? The lead actress became famous because of this film.¡± Bo Yan was even more at a loss for words, ¡°The film itself won the award, not the two leads. And indeed, the performance of the leads in the face of the nation¡¯s ruin was not bad. It was very popular at the time, and many big directors have made similar films. Although it was also for the box office, you can take a look at the set design, the camera movement, and the narration ¨C they are absolutely masterful. To produce such an effect in that era was quite remarkable.¡± Bo Yan had outgrown lowbrow tastes, especially since he was considering becoming a director, he watched movies mainly for the films themselves. But Xia Siyu didn¡¯t care, she watched movies to see handsome men and beautiful women. Of course, if the acting was too cringeworthy or the filming too poor, she couldn¡¯t bear to watch it. ... She deliberately teased him, ¡°However, the set design is indeed nice. Aren¡¯t historical dramas always equipped with a fake mountain, a swing, and a bathhouse?¡± Bo Yan, catching her hint, took Xia Siyu¡¯s wine glass, put it to his lips, and downed it in one go. Under the influence of the bath and the alcohol, a flush quickly spread across his face. Xia Siyu, grinning broadly, set her cell phone down on a stool next to the bathtub, turned around, and sat on his lap. She then reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck, looking him over from left to right, and seriously critiqued, ¡°Hmm, it¡¯s mediocre at best.¡± Bo Yan also casually wrapped his arms around her waist, but Xia Siyu, who had been so enthusiastic just moments ago, now played coy and refused to play along. Still smiling cheerfully, she said, ¡°That won¡¯t do, if it¡¯s acting, then it¡¯s ¡®acting,¡¯ and acting isn¡¯t real. You have to perform for me to critique you.¡± She even went on to belittle him, ¡°Besides, even if you¡¯re not acting and are actually being sincere,¡± ¡°Then tell me, how should I perform to get a high score above ninety from you?¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s eyes rolled around as she pondered, ¡°Well¡­ have you ever heard of the saying ¡®fake it till you make it¡¯?¡± Just as Bo Yan was about to get up, the sound of water splashed as Xia Siyu firmly pressed him down, her laughter filled with triumph, ¡°But still, we must follow the procedure, how did they perform it in the movie just now?¡± S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 666 - 663: Separation (5) Chapter 666: Chapter 663: Separation (5) This woman! Bo Yan felt an itch in his heart, a stronger itch in his body. If she were in ancient times, she¡¯d definitely be a devastating beauty capable of causing the downfall of a nation! But isn¡¯t that the dream of all men? To have a lady on the outside, a dancer on the inside. Pure and innocent in public, but accustomed to the ways of the world in private. There has to be a bit of fun in marriage; otherwise, the same dish every day gets tiresome. She was just right¡ªexactly to his liking. Bo Yan¡¯s adam¡¯s apple bobbed, he looked up and, with the slightly dramatic tone of a movie line, said, ¡°Miss, I greet you with respect. My name is Zhang Gong, with courtesy name Junrui. I hail from Central Zhou Luoyang, 23 years of age, born on the seventeenth day of the first lunar month. My late father once served as the Minister of Rites, living a life of integrity; hence, our family circumstances are humble, and I have yet to marry¡­¡± Xia Siyu grew up overseas, only returning to her home country at sixteen or seventeen, and dropped out after just a few years of schooling. Her acting roles were entirely in youth campus films, which is to say¡ªwhen it comes to classical literature, she¡¯s illiterate. ¡°What?¡± she exclaimed. ... ¡°The ¡®Romance of the Western Chamber,¡¯ aren¡¯t we performing it? The ancient Chinese used in those romantic films is really just plain language. It certainly doesn¡¯t have the rhythmic flair of the original text.¡± ¡°What ¡®Romance of the Western Chamber¡¯? Weren¡¯t we just watching ¡®The Carnal Prayer Mat¡¯?¡± she asked. Bo Yan shook his head earnestly, ¡°It¡¯s not the same. There¡¯s a fundamental problem; I can¡¯t bring myself to play that role.¡± ¡°What fundamental problem?¡± she inquired, having not read the original novel and thus unaware of its content. Bo Yan calmly replied, ¡°The male protagonist in the movie, Weng Yangsheng, was a eunuch from birth¡ª¡¯incapable.¡¯ It was only after seeking the aid of a master and undergoing a transplant that he could claim power. How can I possibly play him? I¡¯ve been outstanding from birth. And I simply cannot empathize with such a scoundrel. He had such a gorgeous wife and still went out stirring up trouble, causing his wife to suffer retribution and end up in a brothel. I¡¯m different. With a stunning wife like you, I¡¯d never be unfaithful. That¡¯s my ideal.¡± In truth, he could tell that the reason Xia Siyu was so excited today was because they were about to be apart the following day. For the past six months, they had always been together. Although they couldn¡¯t stay in the same room every day due to the numerous people around during the film shoot, at least they worked together and saw each other daily. Even Xia Siyu, with her lack of common knowledge, knew that ¡®Romance of the Western Chamber¡¯ ended with a happy reunion, the male and female leads ending up together. However, Bo Yan hadn¡¯t told her about the original source of ¡®Romance of the Western Chamber,¡¯ ¡°The Story of Yingying,¡± written by the Tang dynasty poet Yuan Zhen. In the book, the male lead Zhang Sheng begins with deception and ends with betrayal. As a destitute scholar, he seduces the daughter of the prime minister, Cui Yingying, and after achieving the title of top scholar, he reneges on his promises and leaves. The most disgusting part was when he claimed Cui Yingying deserved to be abandoned for not upholding female virtue. Yuan Zhen himself was a despicable man, having cast aside the famous courtesan Xue Tao, the one known for creating Xue Tao paper. But what of it? Yuan Zhen carefully crafted the story of that licentious scholar, yet centuries later, people have long forgotten the original. What they remember is the story of undying love and loyalty¡ªnever parting until white-haired. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°How do I know if you¡¯re telling the truth?¡± Xia Siyu teased lightly, her face flushed. When in love with someone, naturally, she loved to hear all kinds of sweet nothings. Her brows and eyes were smiling, yet she feigned seriousness, ¡°Since you¡¯re so familiar with ¡®Romance of the Western Chamber,¡¯ do you know what they said when they committed to each other for life?¡± Chapter 667 - 664: Separation (6) Chapter 667: Chapter 664: Separation (6) Bo Yan wrapped his arms around her slender waist, his face tinged with a faint blush. His peach-blossom eyes hooked slightly, brimming with endless waters, as if holding limitless affection, ¡°You want to hear? I¡¯ll tell you. The name of that poem is ¡®Dreamlike Melody¡¯¡­¡± ¡°A night of wild winds and rain, thick with revelry, not knowing when dawn will come; dew drips onto peony hearts, tender joints melt, unable to stir. Affection deepens, affection deepens, all within a dream of Hua Xu.¡± The poem is good, the story is good, and the person even better. ** Bo Yan felt that Xia Siyu still had much to learn. Although it wasn¡¯t necessary to hunker down in school, if she wanted to go further, some knowledge was essential. Acting, besides one¡¯s own insight, required studying to portray richer, more layered characters. Especially for ancient roles, it wasn¡¯t enough to just learn the appearance, one also had to gain a deeper understanding of the inner aspects. ... For instance, she could watch more of ¡°Romance of the Western Chamber,¡± ¡°Peony Hall,¡± ¡°Three Words and Two Shots¡±¡­ However, the ladies in these dramas are always shy and bashful, waiting in their boudoirs for the scholar to climb the wall. But Xia Siyu is different, she would carry a knife, like a swordsman, and if she saw a handsome man, she¡¯d climb the wall herself. Just like today. Xia Siyu¡¯s flight was early, taking off at 7:30 am. It took an hour from the hotel to the airport, plus time for washing up and preparing, and considering traffic jams and other factors, she had to get up at 4:30 am. For a star, rushing between places is very normal. Last time it was Xia Siyu shooting a variety show, and this time it was for wrapping up a shoot. Bo Yan always woke up before her. She had grown accustomed to it now; she would tell Bo Yan her schedule, he would arrange everything, and Xia Siyu could always stay in bed until the very last second. As expected, when the alarm went off at 4:30 am, Xia Siyu didn¡¯t budge. Or rather, she was already awake, just that she could dally a bit longer and didn¡¯t want to leave yet. Last night, the two of them started playing around as soon as they got back to their room, from nine o¡¯clock straight through to the early morning. They hadn¡¯t packed anything, and their clothes were scattered all over the floor. Bo Yan had no choice but to get up first. After washing up, he started packing her luggage. Though aloof, he had been taking care of himself since he was young, and was more meticulous than the careless Xia Siyu. Moreover, he packed quietly and didn¡¯t turn on the main light, so as not to disturb her beautiful dreams. When it was 4:50 and Wei Jingjing came to hurry them, he bent down to kiss her, ¡°Time to get up, if you don¡¯t we¡¯ll really miss the flight.¡± Only then did Xia Siyu get out of bed, stretching languidly and extending her arms. That meant she wanted to be hugged; she didn¡¯t want to get up herself. She was his own wife after all, so what could he do but dote on her? Bo Yan picked her up and carried her to the restroom, making her sit on the toilet seat, and even squeezed the toothpaste for her. As she brushed her teeth, he took the opportunity to step out, turned on the main light, and made one more round in the room to check if anything was left behind. She often tossed things around carelessly, so even the corners had to be checked meticulously. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Once Xia Siyu had washed her face, her mind began to clear. She casually applied some skincare products and was ready to leave, too lazy to put on makeup. With the standard outfits for going out nowadays being a hat plus a mask, nobody would see her face anyway. Bo Yan, like a worried old father, packed her suitcase and made sure she had everything. When Wei Jingjing knocked on the door again, Xia Siyu, pulling her suitcase and ready to leave, was asked by Bo Yan, ¡°Are you forgetting something?¡± Accustomed to the routine, Xia Siyu turned around without a word, forgetting she was still wearing a mask, and ¡°smack,¡± planted a kiss on him. It was then that Bo Yan realized how he seemed like a young wife sending off her husband, while Xia Siyu appeared more like the husband setting off on a journey. Chapter 668 - 665 Crisis (1) Chapter 668: Chapter 665 Crisis (1) ¡°What else?¡± What else was there, hadn¡¯t she already given him a farewell kiss? Xia Siyu felt a bit lost. Bo Yan let out a soft sigh, removed her mask, and gave her a firm kiss before saying, ¡°This time we¡¯re apart, I¡¯ll come to find you when I have time. But we cannot make our identities public, so I won¡¯t personally visit the set. I¡¯ll book a room in your hotel and we¡¯ll get in touch then.¡± Xia Siyu nodded. Actually, she didn¡¯t want to be apart from him during this passionate phase of their relationship either, but there was no helping it¡ªit was necessary for work. ¡°Read more books, I¡¯ll compile a list of some books and send it to you. You don¡¯t need to study them deeply, but it¡¯s always good to know a bit.¡± Xia Siyu hadn¡¯t expected that, though previously she was a pure underachiever, now that she wanted to become an actor, she had to pick up books again. ... But learning some Classical Chinese could be beneficial, and she wanted to take on historical dramas anyway. Her husband was a college professor with a Ph.D., so teaching her, who was half-baked in her knowledge, would be no problem at all, and she nodded. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Also, acting roles are fine, but don¡¯t be involved in love scandals with other men, not even for promotional buzz. And don¡¯t get too close to other men.¡± He had realized that not all of Xia Siyu¡¯s rumors were necessarily false. Or rather, they might be false on her side, but not necessarily on the male actors¡¯ side. Take the two movies and one variety show they collaborated on, for instance. ¡°Storm¡± aside, as it lacked a second male lead and only featured two women and one man, the variety show introduced Wang Zisu and the second and third male leads in ¡°Spring Light¡± also showed her a lot of favor. What if the second and third male leads had no girlfriends or wives? Would they make a move on her? In short, he wanted to nip in the bud all the buzzing, flirtatious men potentially throwing themselves at her! Xia Siyu also had something to say about that, ¡°Look who¡¯s talking! Aren¡¯t you the same? You charm someone new with every film you shoot. You¡¯re going to play a romance this time, right? If you dare harbor any bad intentions, do you believe I¡¯ll castrate you?¡± Bo Yan found that amusing, ¡°If you castrate me, you¡¯ll have to live a widow¡¯s life.¡± ¡°Pfft, whoever wants to live like that can go ahead. Just remember, if you dare put a green hat on me, even just one, I¡¯ll find ten men! I¡¯ll turn your head into a field of green grass!¡± Xia Siyu meant what she said; she was not one to be timid or afraid. If he made the first move, she¡¯d double down. If they divorced, she¡¯d find herself some young hunks just to spite him! Far from being angry, Bo Yan was actually delighted. Xia Siyu talking this way meant she really cared about him. If she didn¡¯t care, it would have been like before; as they were friends with benefits, they would get together if it suited them and part ways if it didn¡¯t. If he took interest in someone else, they would simply break up peacefully without any fierce resistance. He was truly happy and kissed her on the face, ¡°Then it¡¯s settled.¡± Xia Siyu was stunned for a moment. Was this guy still half-asleep? She had just said she would make him a cuckold, and he was cheerful about it? ¡°Work might be hard, but don¡¯t neglect yourself. Although being in shape is important, your health is also vital. Eat when you should eat, drink when you should drink, but avoid alcohol. You can¡¯t hold your liquor well, and when you¡¯re away from home, you need to know how to protect yourself.¡± Xia Siyu retorted, ¡°You¡¯re a boy, and you need to know how to protect yourself when you¡¯re away from home too.¡± ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll both protect ourselves.¡± As they were speaking, Wei Jingjing came to knock on the door again. Xia Siyu picked up her small luggage to leave, but Bo Yan called out to her again, ¡°Siyu.¡± Xia Siyu turned around. Bo Yan smiled and said, ¡°I love you.¡± Chapter 669 - 666 Crisis (2) Chapter 669: Chapter 666 Crisis (2) Amidst the conversation, the door had already opened, and Wei Jingjing was waiting outside, helping her take out the luggage. Xia Siyu¡¯s steps also followed outward for a couple of steps, and although she was moving away, her gaze kept looking back. She watched Bo Yan, and Bo Yan was watching her, too. It wasn¡¯t until the door closed between them, obscuring Bo Yan¡¯s face, that she somewhat snapped out of the sleepwalking-like trance. Wei Jingjing, not understanding, still said, ¡°Siyu, there¡¯s not enough time, we need to hurry to the car.¡± Although it was only an hour¡¯s drive from the hotel to the airport, what if something happened on the road? It was just past five now, and it would be almost six-thirty by the time they got to the airport. Check-in procedures couldn¡¯t be handled forty-five minutes before the flight, so of course, they needed to be prepared early. Xia Siyu was pushed gently by her, as if her soul had not yet returned to her body. The group reached the elevator, and while waiting, Xia Siyu came to her senses and couldn¡¯t help but step back a couple of times. ... Wei Jingjing was a bit surprised, ¡°Siyu, did you forget to take something?¡± Something? Nothing. She didn¡¯t know what it was, but she just felt absent-minded. It was as if she needed to keep looking at some annoying guy to feel at peace. During her hesitation, the elevator ¡°dinged¡± and arrived. Little Tang and Wei Jingjing entered the elevator first, with Wei Jingjing turning back to call out, ¡°Siyu?¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s expression quickly cooled, and she turned resolutely, waiting for the elevator doors to close, ¡°You go ahead, I left something behind, I¡¯ll catch up immediately.¡± Wei Jingjing had just said, ¡°Wait a sec,¡± when the elevator doors closed in response. Xia Siyu walked back calmly, her pace neither fast nor slow. She was in luck; today, when Wei Jingjing first came to knock on the door, the window where the voyeur had been peeking the night before hadn¡¯t been closed. The chill of the early morning breeze whistling in, Wei Jingjing went to close it. After she closed the window and knocked on the door again, nothing could be seen clearly through the frosted glass. Even if Wei Jingjing was caught on camera, it wouldn¡¯t matter. After all, it was known to the whole crew that Xia Siyu and Bo Yan were staying on the same floor, and piercing that bubble wouldn¡¯t provoke any reaction. The paparazzi, of course, were on a 24-hour stakeout, only able to see vague shadows through the glass. But they could see that the door to Bo Yan¡¯s room had opened, as if someone was waiting. Then the door closed again, and the woman who had been with him all night left just like that! What were they waiting for? Hurry over there! Time was money, and if they managed to capture it, they would strike it rich! Even if they didn¡¯t get a picture, just finding out who the woman was would be a win for them! As the paparazzi sprang into action, Xia Siyu, at this end, knocked on Bo Yan¡¯s room door again, and they didn¡¯t see her. As soon as Bo Yan opened the door and saw it was Xia Siyu, he was taken aback for a moment. However, the next second, Xia Siyu took off her mask and immediately stepped forward, looping her arms around his neck, tiptoeing to plant a kiss directly on his lips! If she liked someone, she wanted to express it. She used to confess directly, but now she had learned to be smarter. She didn¡¯t want to verbally say ¡°I love you too,¡± but her actions were faster than words! Bo Yan was taken aback for a moment, firstly in surprise and secondly fearing they would be seen. He immediately wrapped his arms around her slender waist, leading her to the side and turning in a circle, allowing the door to close automatically. Only then did he boldly deepen the kiss. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 670 - 667 Crisis (3) Chapter 670: Chapter 667 Crisis (3) Xia Siyu kissed fiercely, and at first Bo Yan was slightly unable to fend her off; he was directly pushed against the wall. It was the exact opposite of the scene when they entered the room last night. But quickly, Bo Yan caught up and immediately brushed off the slump, tangled up with her. Until they both were gasping for breath, she said viciously, ¡°This is mine, understand? You¡¯re not allowed to let anyone else use it!¡± His lips were his, his chest and abs were hers too; only she could touch them, and nobody else was allowed to! Even if it was required for a movie role, he had to report to her in advance. If it was genuinely for work, then fine, but if he dared to harbor any improper thoughts, she¡¯d see if she wouldn¡¯t castrate him! At first, Bo Yan was surprised, then somewhat touched; at this moment, he was simply speechless with a mix of laughter and tears. If he wanted someone else, he would have had countless opportunities in these seven years; there was no way he¡¯d betray her now. ... But Xia Siyu was now seething with a murderous aura, this angry, worried, and affectionate look was something he had never seen before; he found it novel and amusing. Once Xia Siyu got assurance, she huffed, ¡°That¡¯s more like it.¡± Then she immediately withdrew, turned her head, opened the door, and just walked out so coolly! She came quickly and left even quicker! Bo Yan, who was left behind, was at first stunned; but as he heard her footsteps growing fainter and then the sound of the elevator doors opening and closing, his initial feelings of separation anxiety were diluted. This Xia Siyu, she really didn¡¯t play by the rules! She clearly was desperately in love with him, yet stubbornly refused to say ¡°I love you.¡± However, to confess in such a threatening yet ambiguous way was indeed fresh and thrilling. Xia Siyu went downstairs, first to the basement; Wei Jingjing checked out, and Little Tang forgot her ID and had to run back up to get it. By the time they were ready to leave, it was already 5:30 a.m. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The paparazzi had been waiting at the main entrance for about ten minutes when they saw a black nanny car drive out. Those in the business study the license plates of some key celebrities; they naturally recognized Xia Siyu¡¯s car as well. Seeing that it was Xia Siyu¡¯s car, the paparazzi were slightly surprised. The relationship between Xia Siyu and Bo Yan was publicly known to be poor; however, who knew if there was something fishy going on? Even though the chances of her being with Bo Yan were slim, they couldn¡¯t let their guard down. Most paparazzi are organized and connected, with major outlets having their own stakeouts. Although they considered the likelihood very low, the team leader still reported to the superior, who hesitated for a moment before saying, ¡°Keep a close watch.¡± Which meant that they didn¡¯t need to regard Xia Siyu as the artist worthy of the most attention, but she still required extra observation. Moreover, they could approach the hotel, offer some money, and get the surveillance footage. If there was something going on between her and Bo Yan, it should be traceable through the videos. Xia Siyu had no idea she was being watched. Just as she turned the corner, a WeChat message came through; it was from Bo Yan. Xia Siyu looked down and saw that it was the list of books she had asked Bo Yan for. Chapter 671 - 668 Crisis (4) Chapter 671: Chapter 668 Crisis (4) This guy, as she was about to leave, he sent her a message about classical literature. Bo Yan knew that if he started off by giving Xia Siyu those convoluted tomes to read, she wouldn¡¯t be able to get through them and would probably fall asleep after scanning a few pages. So, with the principle that she could still learn some ancient bedroom techniques, he recommended worldly novels to her. Most were written in semi-classical vernacular, which shouldn¡¯t be too hard to understand. Plus, the titles sounded quite impressive, such as ¡°Romance of the Western Chamber,¡± ¡°Peony Hall,¡± and ¡°Peach Blossom Fan,¡± as well as ¡°Three Words and Two Shots.¡± Oh, and don¡¯t doubt it, most are about scholars and brothel women, scholars and ladies of distinguished families, scholars and the charming widows next door¡ªstories of their assorted affairs. Fearing she might not understand them, he specifically told her to find the classical Chinese to vernacular Chinese translation editions, even specifying which versions to pick. If not from China Bookstore, then it should be from People¡¯s Literature Publishing House, or else The Commercial Press. And most importantly, the ¡°uncensored¡± version! Bo Yan had explored a myriad of books, and his teenage enlightenment on matters of both genders had come through these literary masterpieces. He vividly remembered picking up a book, reading with eagerness to the thrilling parts only to be greeted by a series of small squares filling the page, squares that continued for two full pages. Flipping further, there were several more pages filled with squares. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The story in question followed a married woman who mistakenly entered a temple¡­ This must be one of the earliest instances of ¡°writing nothing below the neck,¡± right? The list Bo Yan sent was meticulous, almost to the point of being old-fashioned. But through this long list of book recommendations, Xia Siyu could still discern the earnest hopes Bo Yan harbored for her beneath all those little tricks. He truly wanted her to read more, learn more. Knowledge can¡¯t solve everything, but it can address most issues. ... It could meet her needs and enrich their marital life¡ªa perfect case of killing two birds with one stone. Although he didn¡¯t write words like ¡°I love you,¡± ¡°I miss you,¡± or ¡°have a smooth trip,¡± the length of his message revealed his sentiments. Xia Siyu smiled and forwarded Bo Yan¡¯s message to Wei Jingjing, ¡°Buy these books for me. I want to read them.¡± Looking at the long list of books, Wei Jingjing¡¯s first impulse was to check if the sun had risen from the west that day. Xia Siyu, who was usually so indifferent to learning, had suddenly started reading books? She turned her head quizzically, seeing the slight curve at the corner of Xia Siyu¡¯s lips, clearly in a good mood. Watching her, Wei Jingjing smiled once, then again. She cautiously asked, ¡°The temperature variation has been quite drastic recently¡­ if you catch a cold, be sure to tell me.¡± I¡¯m worried you¡¯re feverish and delirious. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t reply, and the car continued on its way. ** Five hours later, they arrived at the filming location. This time, Xia Siyu joined the set seamlessly. ¡°Youth 2¡± had already been shooting for seven days before the leading actress arrived. Thankfully, it was the same crew and actors, and no changes had been made to the main cast and director, so there was no need for acclimation. Xia Siyu had already reviewed the script on the plane. Given that she had just arrived and her scenes weren¡¯t many¡ªplus it was an urban drama, not a period drama that required changing into heavy costumes and hairdos¡ªshe acclimated herself to the environment, tried on her makeup, and was ready to head to the set as soon as she put down her luggage. ¡°Youth 2¡± was filmed in reverse order, starting with the lead characters as adults trapped in corporate life, burdened with mediocrity and helplessness, before filming the college years. From the moment Xia Siyu arrived, she skilfully grasped and portrayed the complex emotions of feeling powerless, deflated, yet still desiring love despite being hesitant due to past hurts resulting from an exquisite lifestyle. Chapter 672 - 669 Crisis (5) Chapter 672: Chapter 669 Crisis (5) ¡ª¡ªOf course, she tried her hardest not to think about Bo Yan, but he was in her eyes, in her heart, and even in her dreams. Wasn¡¯t this the feeling of anxious yearning, of being dejected and powerless? It was exactly the same. They had only been apart for less than half a day, yet why had she started missing him? The director had been afraid she wouldn¡¯t make it in one try, and told her to take it slow, choosing scenes with few lines. However, Xia Siyu¡¯s first take was outstanding, and her subsequent ones continued to be of a high standard. Xia Siyu was originally an actress with natural talent; she loved to have fun, and although the final cuts were quite good, they were the result of the director¡¯s painstaking efforts. Unexpectedly, it was as if she had opened up her governor and conception vessels now, and her acting skills surged as if she had activated a cheat code, allowing her to finish scenes that were supposed to take several hours in no time. But shooting a movie is different from other things; it¡¯s not about just finishing one scene and seamlessly moving on to the next. Lighting, set design, actors, makeup, and hairstyling¡ªall had to be in place. Since Xia Siyu finished all her scenes for the day, the remaining time was treated as a welcome party for her, and they all went out for drinks. Xia Siyu had only just had her farewell party yesterday, and here she was at a welcome party today. Although she had a fiery character, she wasn¡¯t foolish, knowing there were some social niceties she couldn¡¯t ignore. Still, she mentioned, ¡°I caught a cold today and have already taken cephalexin, so I can¡¯t drink.¡± ... Bo Yan had said, when you¡¯re away from home, don¡¯t drink if you can avoid it. She herself wasn¡¯t fond of boisterous socializing, and being in the entertainment circle, she would encounter many situations she feared others would use against her. Therefore, unless it was a team she was very familiar with, she wouldn¡¯t go out drinking. Cephalexin and alcohol, a small life at stake. The crew was in agreement on this point. Besides, she had just arrived after a long journey; not drinking was no big deal. After Group B also finished shooting, actors from both units gathered for a meal. Although Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t drinking, she knew the etiquette and simply smiled, saying, ¡°Today, I¡¯ll pick up the tab. Everyone, drink up without worries, even if you want 15 or 30-year-old Moutai, I¡¯ll make sure there¡¯s enough for everyone!¡± S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With her statement, the atmosphere was still quite lively, and indeed, someone asked the hotel to prepare Moutai¡ªthough they didn¡¯t have the 15-year-old, they brought out a whole case of the standard variety. The drinks flowed and the mood was good, except Xia Siyu noticed¡ªamong those dining with them was Shang Feifei¡¯s crew. This time, Xia Siyu hadn¡¯t gone to Hengtian, as she was shooting a city drama and had gone to Shangcheng instead. Shang Feifei was also shooting there, causing the two crews to bump into each other. Xia Siyu and Shang Feifei were like oil and water, starting with their mutual interest in Bo Yan, from whom Shang Feifei developed animosity toward her. Later, they shared the same goal: to surpass her mother, Wen Qunxiao, making them even more like enemies. Upon seeing each other, Shang Feifei was still poised and versatile, while Xia Siyu was as direct and uninhibited as always. Moreover, Shang Feifei, now armed with the aura of a Best Actress winner, contrasted with Xia Siyu, who always sported a mix of fame and infamy, constantly compared by fans and passersby, making it strange for them to be on good terms. In the hallway, encountering each other, both crews happened to be dining in the same restaurant. Xia Siyu was surrounded by stars, while Shang Feifei stood out from the crowd. One like a vibrant peony, the other like a delicate orchid in a secluded valley, heading in opposite directions. Although Shang Feifei didn¡¯t like Xia Siyu, she maintained her composure, ¡°Long time no see.¡± The response she got was a haughty ¡°Hmph¡± from Xia Siyu. Chapter 673 - 670 Crisis (6) Chapter 673: Chapter 670 Crisis (6) Shang Feifei¡¯s assistant saw this and was very displeased. Over at Xia Siyu¡¯s side, Wei Jingjing had just rushed over and said, ¡°Siyu, I went to the bookstore to look for those books. Apart from ¡®Startling by Each Step,¡¯ I found the other versions. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll have Little Tang go to the bookstore again when she¡¯s free.¡± The so-called ¡°Three Words and Two Shots¡± refers to the collection made up of ¡°Stories to Caution the World,¡± ¡°Stories to Wake Up the World,¡± ¡°Stories to Enlighten the World¡± by Feng Menglong of the Ming Dynasty, as well as ¡°Astonishment at a First Glance¡± and ¡°Second Surprise¡± by Ling Mengchu. These works, which are a compilation of five books, are romances set during the Ming and Qing dynasties. They are straightforward and accessible, making for an easy read. Xia Siyu gave a nonchalant ¡°hmm,¡± while Shang Feifei was a bit taken aback on the opposite side. As everyone knows, Xia Siyu was a complete academic slacker, 24K pure at that. The last time they filmed together, during the script read-through, she had no suggestions to offer, nodding along to anything anyone said, obviously exhibiting an utterly uneducated demeanor. However, Xia Siyu was quick-witted, and her comprehension and talent were very high, even for Shang Feifei, it was hard to suppress those brilliant moments when Xia shone so brightly. Shang Feifei herself had suffered, trying to take advantage of Xia Siyu¡¯s lack of culture only to end up being fiercely slapped by her, a slap so painful that she could not even voice her grievances. ... And now, how long had she been with Bo Yan, and she was already being trained to be particular about which editions of books she read? Or was it that, stimulated by her own words from last time, she also wanted to act well, to live up to Wen Qunxiao¡¯s reputation, and had thus begun to exert herself? Whichever it was, Shang Feifei couldn¡¯t care less. Only with a strong opponent could her own talent truly be showcased. The Best Actress she wanted was not one that could be bought, and certainly not earned in a time ¡°with no heroes, making a mediocre figure famous.¡± She sought a reputation like her idol, Teacher Wen, whose acting alone could achieve eternal fame! The stronger Xia Siyu¡¯s abilities, the more they could stimulate Shang Feifei¡¯s potential. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The two parted ways at the main entrance, each getting into their own cars. Xia Siyu was quite carefree while Shang Feifei, more attentive, noticed that there seemed to be a few more paparazzi around than usual. Celebrities like them were used to being followed, and as long as it wasn¡¯t too excessive, there usually wouldn¡¯t be any direct confrontation. Still, it was better to be cautious. Xia Siyu returned to her hotel and actually flipped through the books Bo Yan had told her to read. The first story in ¡°Three Words¡± was about a merchant¡¯s wife having an affair and running off with another man. That man later got into trouble, his own wife remarried to the merchant, and the merchant¡¯s original wife came back to become a concubine, ending in a morally complex drama with one wife and one concubine by his side. And wow, the part about the affair was written quite vividly. At that moment, her phone chimed. Xia Siyu looked at it, and it was Bo Yan¡¯s moments update. He had just posted about today¡¯s shooting progress and what had happened, including that in his update. Although he didn¡¯t mention her by name, Xia Siyu knew that Bo Yan was reporting to her in his way. So, Xia Siyu also took out ¡°Three Words¡± from her legs, took a selfie with it, and posted it to Weibo. Bo Yan didn¡¯t reply to her message, but it stirred up her super fan, Shengxia Yanyu, who enthusiastically liked the post. After doing all this, Xia Siyu closed the book contentedly, took a bath, got ready, and ended another happy day. ** The sets of Shang Feifei and Xia Siyu¡¯s productions were really next to each other, even sharing a wall between their studios. The two crews usually wrapped up their filming at the same time, and even their boxed meal orders were combined. Chapter 674 - 671 Guest Appearance (1) Chapter 674: Chapter 671 Guest Appearance (1) Making a film, some might not pay much attention to the minor roles, but others would go to great lengths just to get in, even fighting for a chance to play a passerby. But that happens for big directors, big investments, big projects. Shang Feifei and Xia Siyu¡¯s films don¡¯t fall within that scope. Of course, for some minor roles, it wouldn¡¯t be a bad idea to cast some less famous actors or those who are recurring collaborators with the director for cameo appearances, right? However, if Shang Feifei and Xia Siyu could make cameo appearances in each other¡¯s films, that would be ideal. But Xia Siyu and Shang Feifei, they didn¡¯t even have that kind of friendship, let alone cameo appearances for each other. The two crews were close by, so they would order boxed meals together and film together. For example, after Shang Feifei had finished filming and was resting, she could casually watch Xia Siyu¡¯s shooting. Xia Siyu¡­ she wouldn¡¯t bother watching Shang Feifei. She had always been focused on her mother, on trying her best, on improving herself¡ªthat was all it took. Shang Feifei¡¯s acting, to say it was experienced would be a stretch. She was from the Dance Academy affiliated high school and had an undergraduate degree from a film college, a genuine school-trained actress. Although a bit too rigid in her acting on set, she wasn¡¯t like some juniors who just enrolled in the film college to have their names on the list and never really attended school, instead spending all their time out networking. Her performances were solid and consistent, not outstanding, but at least she was reliable, and occasionally she would deliver some brilliant moments. In today¡¯s generation of young entertainers, that was considered quite good already. Unlike Xia Siyu, who was completely unpredictable. On a good day, even Bo Yan thought she was stunningly brilliant; on a bad one, she could flub dozens of takes in a row, completely unable to get into character. ... At this moment, having completed a take, Shang Feifei was resting. Her assistant poured her a cup of tea, but she didn¡¯t drink it. Instead, she paced over to the neighboring set. After a few months, Xia Siyu had improved tremendously, practically making leaps and bounds. Originally, although she took her acting seriously, she only saw it as a job that needed to be done and her investment hardly felt sufficient. ¡°Storm¡± was no exception. Despite her eagerness to change her image and her proactive efforts in securing the role of the second female lead, she still lacked techniques, knowing little beyond what the script offered about how to express her character. But this time, she was noticeably different. Playing a simple role of a corporate drone, one could feel that as soon as she made her move, she assumed a poised and confident stance. It was like stepping on stage to perform a play; with one appearance, the type and style of the character were clear to anyone observant. Surely, someone had coached her. Thinking of such a technique, Shang Feifei could only think of Bo Yan. From the books Xia Siyu picked yesterday to the way she was performing today, Bo Yan¡¯s influence on her was deeper than Shang Feifei had imagined. Generally, even when lovers are deeply in love, they don¡¯t want the other to meddle in their work, nor do they wish for them to interfere too much. But it was clear that Xia Siyu had absolute trust in Bo Yan, believed in him, depended on him, and of course, was working hard herself. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Shang Feifei had stopped chasing Bo, and her competition with Xia Siyu was fair and square, with no need for underhanded schemes. But it wouldn¡¯t hurt to learn more about her competitor. So she called her assistant over and asked, ¡°When can I take half a day off from my scenes? Help me find out.¡± Thus, on a drizzly autumn afternoon, Xia Siyu saw Shang Feifei enter their studio, asking their makeup artist to help her remove and reapply makeup¡ªshe was coming over to make a cameo in ¡°Youth 2¡±. Chapter 675 - 672 Guest Appearance (2) Chapter 675: Chapter 672 Guest Appearance (2) Xia Siyu had just finished lunch, strolling over with a toothpick dangling from her mouth. Seeing Shang Feifei calmly changing her clothes, she felt slightly offended, ¡°Did your crew disband?¡± ¡°What are you talking about!¡± Their director came over, ¡°Teacher Shang is here for a cameo.¡± Xia Siyu had just casually made that remark. Next door, the production crew was well-funded; even their boxed lunch orders were a notch above ¡°Youth 2,¡± and their investment attraction was quite impressive. Even if ¡°Youth 2¡± flopped, the crew next door would not. However, Shang Feifei had worked with Xia Siyu on a show before and lived together for 20 days filming a variety show. Knowing that she always spoke so bluntly without filters, Shang didn¡¯t take it to heart. Shang Feifei could be said to be as popular as Xia Siyu, a top star with significant fan following. With her joining, the crew of ¡°Youth 2¡± was overjoyed. Even though it was just a cameo, a single scene, they didn¡¯t want to waste it. When they had settled on her to make an appearance, the directors grabbed the scriptwriter to add a small scene on the spot. To maximize the impact of her special appearance, they even made sure she had interactions with Xia Siyu, and the male lead. ... Xia Siyu was indifferent; she would just do as the script required, and there was no need for moral coercion. If Shang Feifei came for a cameo, just let her do a cameo, that was all. Today, Shang Feifei was to play a superior of Xia Siyu¡¯s character. There wasn¡¯t much screentime, even fewer lines¡ªmainly relying on action, makeup, and emotion to perform. One of Xia Siyu¡¯s advantages was that she didn¡¯t sweat the small stuff and handled business professionally. She had worked with Shang Feifei in a serious movie, so she was naturally not intimidated by a simple cameo. For such a fleeting movie clip, there wasn¡¯t a need for Shang Feifei to have much interplay with her; following the script¡¯s rhythm was enough. Despite their private discord, once the ¡°Action!¡± call was made, their underlying professionalism was there. Xia Siyu shed her usual arrogant demeanor, transforming into a sorry figure reprimanded by her superior, frantically busy and even covering for her bumbling colleagues. Shang Feifei also deviated from her usual diplomatic persona, imperiously commanding and dictating, vividly portraying a talentless yet haughty superior. At the point of being scolded the worst, the male lead appeared, leading to a negotiation with her and Shang Feifei. The scene ended, and the three of them performed well. The director even laughed, ¡°Teacher Shang, why don¡¯t you join our cast? We actually have a female N role that we haven¡¯t found someone to play yet.¡± The two crews had been shooting together for many days and had become as close as brothers. It just so happened that the director next door and the director of ¡°Youth¡± were college classmates and good friends, so after wrapping up their own shoot, they came over to observe. The director from next door joked, ¡°Then you¡¯ll have to send over the male and female leads to us!¡± While they were talking, someone outside came to deliver support gifts. The car drove up to Shang Feifei¡¯s side, where staff efficiently unloaded items¡ªit was coffee from a certain brand. With several hundred cups of coffee, one for each person, a staff member commented with a smile, ¡°We¡¯ve been relying on Teacher Shang these past few days; there hasn¡¯t been a shortage of coffee and milk tea.¡± Receiving support like this was a common occurrence, generally from fan clubs, relatives of the actors, or the actors themselves digging into their own pockets. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, when the coffee was presented to Shang Feifei, there wasn¡¯t a trace of joy on her cold, indifferent face. Chapter 676 - 673 Guest Appearance (3) Chapter 676: Chapter 673 Guest Appearance (3) Xia Siyu was puzzled when a man with an air of casual sophistication, dressed in a casual suit, got out of the car behind her. As he stepped off the car, someone in front called him ¡°President Han,¡± and the so-called President Han nodded his head, eagerly scanning the film set. A smile appeared on his face when he saw Shang Feifei and then turned his gaze to Xia Siyu. Then his face lit up with a brilliant smile, ¡°Hey, long time no see.¡± Xia Siyu: ??? Isn¡¯t that Han Yifan? Han Yifan immediately turned around, ¡°Order the same coffee for Miss Xia¡¯s crew as well, two hundred cups just like before.¡± After giving the order, he jogged over to Xia Siyu with a grin, speaking to her but his eyes stayed on Shang Feifei, ¡°Siyu, when did you get here? How come Bo¡­ didn¡¯t even tell me.¡± Xia Siyu looked at him and then at Shang Feifei, who had already turned to leave, and clicked her tongue, ¡°You have no chance with Shang Feifei.¡± S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... ¡°Why?¡± Han Yifan finally turned his head to look at her. ¡°She has a boyfriend now.¡± Having shared living spaces with the two crews for a while, Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t help but notice a thing or two about Shang Feifei, even if she didn¡¯t want to. And even if she didn¡¯t notice, others in the crew would gossip. ¡°What?¡± Han Yifan was shocked, ¡°Who is it?¡± Xia Siyu thought for a moment, ¡°It¡¯s a tall, thin guy with glasses, he looks quite refined.¡± ¡°It¡¯s that four-eyed guy!¡± Han Yifan gritted his teeth, clearly someone he knew. Han Yifan was the investor of Shang Feifei¡¯s film, which was the one next door. The director of ¡°Youth 2¡± always complained about the wealth next door, that they could still manage to secure an investor just before filming began. Of course, this investor was none other than the real estate under the Han Family. Over the years, Han Yifan hadn¡¯t been without girlfriends; he liked those pure and lovely girls, moonlight-like in their innocence. But aside from the very first college girl who had ¡°one-hour room rentals¡± and left him to study abroad, the rest, without exception, quickly changed their tune upon hearing that he was the second son of Han Enterprise. Han Yifan was naturally carefree, but he wasn¡¯t foolish with his money. He detested living in the shadow of the Han Family¡¯s fame the most. As soon as those girls showed their true colors, he would break up with them without hesitation. Little did he expect that the only woman he ever fell for at first sight, Shang Feifei¡ªwhom he would have preferred returning to being the Han Family¡¯s second son to pursue¡ªhad rejected him without mercy. Shang Feifei was also a top star, having ascended the ranks through her acting talents, not lacking in resources, and earning quite a bit herself. Moreover, her reputation was better than Xia Siyu¡¯s, and more scions of great wealth pursued her. But she was determined to emulate her idol Wen Qunxiao and strive for the best actress award, uninterested in marrying into wealth and becoming a tycoon¡¯s wife. She had liked Bo Yan before; firstly, because Bo Yan was handsome, secondly, his character was good, plus his impressive family background and great acting skills. But Bo Yan ignored her, and she had her pride. There were plenty of others pursuing her, why hang on to a single hope? Han Yifan came chasing after her, and worse, in the way she detested the most¡ªflaunting his wealth. Although she couldn¡¯t reject him as a financial backer professionally, personally, that only drove her further away. And the four-eyed gentleman Han Yifan mentioned was an advisor from her last film. Her previous work was about a medical family, and this advisor happened to be the son of that medical family. He had a doctorate in medicine, experience studying abroad, and was the picture of cultured, scholarly gentleness and thoughtfulness¡ªa far more reliable prospect than Han Yifan. Chapter 677 - 674 Guest Appearance (4) Chapter 677: Chapter 674 Guest Appearance (4) Originally, Shang Feifei didn¡¯t have plans to find a boyfriend so quickly, especially since she had given up on Bo Yan just four months ago. However, Han Yifan kept pestering her and, as he was the financial backer, she couldn¡¯t reject him too forcefully, so she simply opted to have this glasses-wearing guy fill the role. Of course, they agreed beforehand that it was just for appearances, and in reality, they were only friends. But after spending some time together recently, Shang Feifei actually began to feel a bit of affection for the man. She genuinely preferred guys like Bo Yan¡ªeducated and refined¡ªand wasn¡¯t into the frivolous and smiling type like Han Yifan. When Shang Feifei came here to film, the man would also come over on Saturdays and Sundays to spend the weekend with her. Of course, Shang Feifei was also twenty-eight, and while she wasn¡¯t prudish to the extent of waiting until marriage to get intimate with a boyfriend, she had had boyfriends before. But as of now, their relationship was still just one of mutual fondness, and they hadn¡¯t progressed to sharing a room. Spending the weekend together was just as innocent as it sounds, simply dating in a pure sense. Well, today is Friday, and just when Shang Feifei made a guest appearance, Xia Siyu heard her talking on the phone, which probably meant that the man was coming to see her. And what about Han Yifan? Normally, he also had to work¡ªhe held a position at Han Enterprise and couldn¡¯t just slip away at any time to be with her, so he also came on Fridays and left on Sundays. ... Han Yifan had once boastfully claimed he would bed her within a month, and now, four months had passed without even holding hands. He was falling deeper and deeper, now finding everything about Shang Feifei perfect, except that she just didn¡¯t like him. Sure enough, Han Yifan¡¯s second wave of support¡ªthe coffee for Xia Siyu¡¯s crew¡ªarrived along with that legendary ¡°four-eyes.¡± Xia Siyu had been with the crew for just five days, perfectly missing the previous visit from ¡°four-eyes.¡± This time she saw a well-mannered man with glasses coming down from the car, holding an umbrella, looking quite genteel. Xia Siyu, who prioritized looks, saw his face first. In terms of appearance, he was no match for Bo Yan and was quite below Han Yifan. But his tall and lean figure, coupled with his profession as a doctor and a decent family background, gave him an impressive and clean aura. In fact, men don¡¯t need as many attributes¡ªtall, lean, clean, and generous can already outshine most other men. Well, if he¡¯s not as handsome as Bo, then I¡¯m relieved. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Because it¡¯s raining today, the outdoor scenes that were planned couldn¡¯t be filmed, so Xia Siyu could also pack up and leave. However, before she could depart, the director grabbed her, ¡°Today, it¡¯s rare for Shang Feifei to make a guest appearance, such a big favor. I¡¯ll host, let¡¯s have a meal together with both crews.¡± When the director said this, he glanced at Xia Siyu. Shang Feifei and everyone from the ¡°Youth 2¡± crew hadn¡¯t worked together, except for Xia Siyu. She made an appointment for a guest appearance, and although she didn¡¯t say anything, it seemed she came specifically for Xia Siyu. But Xia Siyu ignored it and refused to also make a guest appearance next door. Nonsense, it¡¯s Shang Feifei¡¯s wish to come, what does it have to do with me? She wouldn¡¯t be morally blackmailed into going next door and sacrificing herself. Having no choice, the director decided to invite both crews to dine together. But the glasses guy smiled gently, ¡°Thanks to the director and the crew for considering Fei¡¯er. It¡¯s rare that I visit, and I haven¡¯t supported yet. This time, let me host the dinner for everyone.¡± Clearly, he had seen Han Yifan¡¯s support and had come to ¡°assert his presence.¡± Chapter 678 - 675 Guest Appearance (5) Chapter 678: Chapter 675 Guest Appearance (5) Shang Feifei was taken aback. Their true relationship had not yet been revealed, but Han Yifan always pestered her. He had sent coffee twice, and She was getting a bit unhappy. So, she tacitly accepted the invitation from the glasses-wearing guy and smiled gently. This was equivalent to confirming their relationship¡ªit was just a matter of when they would go public, depending on their plans. The glasses guy still smiling said, ¡°However, I¡¯d like to ask everyone to keep a low profile about my relationship with Fei¡¯er. I need to work even harder to deserve Fei¡¯er.¡± They understood. For celebrities, going public with a romance was troublesome; there was a whole bunch of issues to deal with. Even if caught by journalists, and no matter how undeniable the evidence, some celebrities wouldn¡¯t respond, letting the rumors swirl until they were ready to go public. He also very ¡°graciously¡± glanced at Han Yifan, inviting him with a smile, ¡°This must be the second young master Han. I¡¯ve heard you¡¯re the investor for the drama. If you don¡¯t mind, please join us.¡± Join them for what promised to be an interesting banquet. Was Han Yifan afraid of him? He glanced at Shang Feifei, then back at him, and nodded his head. ... Xia Siyu smacked her lips and piped up, ¡°And this little brother, are you inviting us too? We¡¯re from the drama crew next door.¡± The glasses guy turned his head and caught sight of Xia Siyu¡¯s beauty, a flicker of amazement crossing the depth of his eyes. Shang Feifei was certainly beautiful too, with a beauty that was more about aura and elegance. But Xia Siyu¡¯s face was the kind of stunning that took everyone by surprise at first glance. Even Bo Yi, who was madly in love with his wife Xia Sicai, would take a few extra looks at her. But the glasses guy was not the type to act on impulse. Xia Siyu, experienced in the entertainment industry, could read the look in men¡¯s eyes like the back of her hand. His gaze clearly held a bit of lingering desire, but he restrained himself from extending a handshake and simply nodded, ¡°You must be Miss Xia, right? I¡¯m Xi You.¡± Xia Siyu was straightforward, ¡°Xia Siyu.¡± Glasses guy smiled, ¡°Miss Xia and Fei¡¯er have worked together quite a bit, and it¡¯s fate that the two drama crews are here together. Since I¡¯m inviting, naturally I¡¯m inviting everyone.¡± Snagging a meal was always good, and Xia Siyu didn¡¯t care about the details. Recently, she had been eating less every day due to missing Bo Yan. She used to eat one and a half bowls, but now only managed one. This little brother didn¡¯t look poor either, so naturally, she was going to take advantage of a free meal! So, the two drama crews along with Han Yifan, a whole crowd, made their way to the restaurant in grand style. The glasses guy had some connections; he had booked an entire floor of a famous Shangcheng restaurant for themselves, except for one private room adjacent that had been reserved by other customers and could not be canceled. That floor was theirs alone. The glasses guy had some confidence after all. He came from the Medical family, running a pharmaceutical factory, and was quite wealthy. The restaurant he chose was renowned, guaranteeing quality. It was famous for its crayfish, a high-protein, low-fat dish considered to be on the healthier side. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, although she was there for the free food, Xia Siyu was feeling a bit unhappy. To be precise: she was feeling jealous. Glasses guy was especially considerate towards Shang Feifei. When the crayfish arrived, He didn¡¯t eat any, but painstakingly peeled them for her. The plump, white crayfish meat was piled into Shang Feifei¡¯s bowl. Shang Feifei smiled faintly, ¡°It¡¯s oily, I¡¯m afraid of getting fat.¡± Glasses guy also poured her a cup of hot water, suggesting she rinse her mouth before eating. The lovey-dovey vibe emanating from them was so cloyingly sweet, it made the crayfish in Xia Siyu¡¯s mouth taste less delicious. Chapter 679 - 676 Guest Appearance (6) Chapter 679: Chapter 676 Guest Appearance (6) Fuck, Bo Yan never even peeled shrimp for his old lady! Now that she thought about it, ever since she moved into Qingcheng Apartment, all he did was make the simplest sandwiches and coffee, and the biggest expense was just those sugar figurines he bought that time at the Northwest market. With such little favors, he had fooled her completely. After he got her, aside from making her a long reading list and forcing her to focus on her studies, everything else was crap, always crap. She was also a fool, sleeping with him just because he was handsome, without getting any real benefits in return. Truth be told, it wasn¡¯t that she needed Bo Yan to be super wealthy, powerful, or have high status. She knew that Bo Yan was as busy as she was, that he also had work to do. But occasionally, she just wished her boyfriend could be by her side. Even if it was just to peel shrimp or share a meal together, that would be better than being far apart. What made her the angriest was that yesterday, Bo Yan¡¯s Friends Circle was filled with posts of him and another actress in a romantic scene. Of course, the movie he was filming was a mainstream film, without kisses, hugs, or any steamy scenes. But with Bo Yan saying ¡°I love you¡± and ¡°forever¡± to other women and not being able to dine with her, she felt really annoyed. The one feeling similarly irritated was Han Yifan. He was so enraged he wished he could just kick the spectacled guy away and take his place. ... For his whole life, he had never experienced such failure, it was like getting slapped right in front of his own face. He had a lot of grace, never causing a scene right there and had no interest in scheming behind the scenes, but he just didn¡¯t quite understand, he didn¡¯t think he was inferior to anyone, why couldn¡¯t Shang Feifei see that? Xia Siyu had a few bites of her food before setting down her chopsticks and wiping her mouth, clearly indicating she had eaten her fill. Wei Jingjing was a bit puzzled, ¡°Where are you going?¡± Xia Siyu stood up, displeasure written all over her face. ¡°I¡¯m full. I¡¯m going to get some air in the hallway.¡± After all, they had the whole floor to themselves. Wei Jingjing looked appreciatively at her, ¡°Siyu, you finally understand the importance of dieting!¡± Although she had eaten less recently due to missing Bo Yan, she never stopped having hearty seafood meals, especially loving to drink milk tea. Every time Wei Jingjing saw her happily sipping on milk tea, she couldn¡¯t help but remind her, ¡°That¡¯s five hundred calories.¡± Xia Siyu rolled her eyes. She was already so miserable, with her boyfriend not by her side; what was wrong with drinking a cup of milk tea! She stood up to leave, and the spectacled guy glanced over her, before quickly looking away and continuing to sweet-talk his girlfriend. Xia Siyu walked to the end of the corridor; even though it was already autumn, the weather wasn¡¯t particularly cold yet, especially with the fiery hot crawfish in the restaurant being both spicy and piping hot. Looking down at her phone, ever since she and Bo Yan parted ways, she had gotten into the habit of checking his Friends Circle every time she looked down at her phone. He had posted in his Friends Circle earlier today, around noon. It was a handsome photo of him in military attire. His uniform was immaculate, his gaze strong and determined; the dust and dirt not only failed to conceal his good looks but actually added to his masculine appeal. Overall, he was a very handsome man; it was just that he wasn¡¯t by her side, that¡¯s all. In the past, whenever Bo Yan updated his Friends Circle, she would go post on Weibo. There were reports on Weibo every day lately; it had become their tacit understanding. Her fans marveled at Xia Siyu¡¯s ¡°diligence,¡± eagerly awaiting her posts every day, like her major fan Shengxia Yanyu. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But today, she didn¡¯t want to post on Weibo. She was just¡ªjealous. If Bo Yan didn¡¯t call to coax her, she was going to ignore him! Just as she finished thinking this, Bo Yan really did call her. ¡°Wife.¡± Xia Siyu ¡°hmphed¡± and didn¡¯t want to talk to him. Yet, why did it feel as though there was an echo in his voice? Chapter 680 - 677: The Golden Houses Concubine (1) Chapter 680: Chapter 677: The Golden House¡¯s Concubine (1) Xia Siyu was a tiger, not a fool; her phone was fine¡ªit was a new one Bo Yan had just replaced for her. How could a new phone echo? She hadn¡¯t even had a chance to throw it yet. She looked down at Bo Yan¡¯s moments on his phone, noting that he usually only posted before going to bed at night, but today, he posted at one in the afternoon. Such a sudden switch to midday was definitely fishy. She suspected Bo Yan had sneaked over here; after all, Han Yifan was here, and Han Yifan was in cahoots with him. Asking where she was eating or staying would have been a piece of cake to them. She asked again, ¡°Are you still filming?¡± While walking back, she kept an eye out. If Bo Yan were coming, he could only hide in the only private room on this floor. She headed back and found the room, standing at the doorway. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Indeed, from inside the door and from her own phone, she heard Bo Yan¡¯s voice, ¡°Guess.¡± Xia Siyu might have missed that sorry excuse for a man just now, but his sudden appearance without telling her, playing these little tricks, annoyed her. With one hand on the phone and the other on her hip, she stood at the door, ¡°Bo Yan, get out here!¡± ... Instead of calling, Bo Yan simply said from inside, ¡°Come in, it¡¯s not convenient for me.¡± Damn it, still playing games with her¡ªdid he think she was a three-year-old? Xia Siyu marched in, ready to playfully scold him, but then she saw Bo Yan wearing gloves, peeling shrimp. The lobster shells were greasy, and when he¡¯d called her, his phone was to the side, encased in a protective cover smeared with grease. Seeing Xia Siyu come in, he just smiled, ¡°Come on, eat the shrimp. I¡¯ve peeled a whole plate.¡± For a foodie, the best attack is through their stomach. Xia Siyu pouted, far from convinced, ¡°Don¡¯t think you can fool me with this. I¡¯m telling you, I¡¯m super angry!¡± Having said that, she marched over in her high heels, assertively sat at the table, and picked up a prawn with her chopsticks, eating it as if to swallow her anger. One after another, she ate them, and soon, the small bowl of shrimp was empty, and her anger subsided. Bo Yan then pulled off his gloves, wiped his fingers carefully with a wet napkin, removed his phone¡¯s protective cover, and slipped the phone into his pocket. He poured her a cup of tea to cleanse her palate. After drinking the tea to cleanse her palate, Xia Siyu berated him again, ¡°You sneak over here and don¡¯t even tell me¡ªdon¡¯t think a small bowl of shrimp will calm me down!¡± As soon as she finished speaking, Bo Yan¡¯s fingers, holding the wet napkin, gently rubbed her cheek and corner of her mouth, wiping away the smudges. Bo Yan even smiled and said, ¡°My wife is so beautiful.¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s face flushed in an instant, and she didn¡¯t understand why her heart started pounding so fast. She felt like an irate balloon, seemingly ready to burst, yet with merely a poke from Bo Yan¡¯s little finger, all her pent-up anger deflated. ¡°Hmph,¡± she still had her pride and wasn¡¯t going to be bought off by a small bowl of shrimp, turning her head haughtily, ¡°Who¡¯s your wife. Don¡¯t forget, I haven¡¯t promised you anything.¡± She spoke thus, but her eyes and the corners of her mouth were smiling, her lips curving upward. Bo Yan leaned in, wrapped his arms around her, and while Xia Siyu resisted at first, his tight embrace meant she half-heartedly stopped resisting. When Bo Yan kissed her, she even reached out to wrap her arms around his neck, reciprocating. They kissed until they were both breathless before pulling apart, Bo Yan exclaimed, ¡°Wife, I¡¯ve missed you so much.¡± Chapter 681 - 678: The Golden Houses Concubine (2) Chapter 681: Chapter 678: The Golden House¡¯s Concubine (2) Xia Siyu actually wanted to as well, but at that moment, she was unwilling to admit it, so she hummed again, ¡°Then go if you want.¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s why I came, didn¡¯t I?¡± Bo Yan found her prideful little demeanor both amusing and endearing, pinching her cheek, ¡°You ungrateful little thing, I haven¡¯t slept well the past few days, rushing day and night, just to see you sooner. I have three days to spend with you.¡± Xia Siyu had arrived on Monday morning. Bo Yan finished filming two days after her, and right after wrapping up, he skipped the wrap party and flew directly to the Southwest to shoot a mainstream patriotic film. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He had a friendly cameo, but it wasn¡¯t a small part either¡ªoriginally scheduled to take five days to shoot. He rushed through the work, managing to finish in three days, and when he posted on social media that afternoon, it was practically the wrap for his part. So, he hurried on a flight over. As soon as he reached Shangcheng, he received a call from Han Yifan, saying they were going to eat crawfish there, and Bo Yan headed straight over without even dropping off his luggage. On the way, he also reserved a private room ahead of time. However, this time he came alone with hardly any luggage, just carrying his ID and phone, as you can buy anything else on the go nowadays. His other luggage was all with Song Fengzhi. He had agreed to spend time alone with Xia Siyu and didn¡¯t want any irrelevant people to disturb them. Besides, he had recently felt that the paparazzi were paying him too much attention and wanted to shake them off a bit. ... ¡°I don¡¯t have the time to be with you, I have to shoot.¡± Stars don¡¯t have the concept of weekends and holidays; sometimes, they can¡¯t even go home for the New Year. Being busy with work often means working around the clock, staying up late, and flying all over the country is a common occurrence. Even if Bo Yan could accompany her, it would only be to sleep at night. And truly just sleep, as they were too exhausted for anything romantic on a daily basis. Moreover, she and Bo Yan weren¡¯t public yet. He couldn¡¯t visit her on set like Brother Glasses, nor could he cling to her like Han Yifan. Although it was regrettable, she didn¡¯t want to go public too soon either, as it wasn¡¯t good for her work. ¡°Okay, my wife is the best.¡± Bo Yan of course understood. Love is only part of life, whereas their careers are the pillars of their existence. He also asked, ¡°How are you doing on set?¡± ¡°I¡¯m doing great with my acting, the director is very happy, constantly praising me.¡± Xia Siyu puffed up her little chest proudly. Her acting had indeed improved, which Shang Feifei also noticeably acknowledged during her guest appearance today. However, she was proud, not stupid. She also recognized the solid foundation of Shang Feifei¡¯s acting skills. It was her fault for dropping out of college and suffering from the lack of education. Now she had to work hard to make up for her early slackness. Bo Yan was of course pleased, and just as he wanted to say something more, Xia Siyu¡¯s phone rang. It was Wei Jingjing calling, ¡°Siyu, where are you? We¡¯re about to leave.¡± Xia Siyu nodded, ¡°Got it, I¡¯m coming out.¡± She had been out for quite some time, so she guessed that it was time for the gathering to wrap up since everyone would have had their fill. Bo Yan didn¡¯t make it difficult for her either, letting go of her. Standing up, Xia Siyu touched up her makeup using the mirror in the private room, and when she stepped out, there was no sign that she had just been kissed. Just as she was about to leave, she suddenly remembered something, ¡°Oh right, Han Yifan seems to be pursuing Shang Feifei, but unfortunately, although Xiang Wang is willing, the goddess has no dreams. And the goddess¡¯s taste isn¡¯t that great either.¡± Bo Yan heard her choice of words and asked, ¡°What books have you been reading?¡± Chapter 682 - 679: The Golden Houses Concubine (3) Chapter 682: Chapter 679: The Golden House¡¯s Concubine (3) Xia Siyu immediately perked up, ¡°Not at all. Just because I didn¡¯t study hard back then doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m not smart. If I had focused on my studies, I¡¯d have my Ph.D. by now.¡± This guy, give him a ladder and he¡¯ll climb right up, not a hint of modesty. Bo Yan couldn¡¯t help but suppress his laughter, ¡°Exactly, my wife is especially smart, it¡¯s me who has been dragging her down.¡± Feeling extremely proud, Xia Siyu had already given the reminders she needed to, so she felt no worries or burdens, ¡°I¡¯m going now, be careful, don¡¯t let anyone else see you.¡± Bo Yan nodded, then opened his hand to her, ¡°Your room card.¡± Xia Siyu paused for a moment, then Bo Yan said, ¡°I sneaked over here. If I checked into a room as well, it would be very easy to be discovered. I¡¯ll stay in your room, it¡¯s like you¡¯re hiding your beauty in the golden house.¡± S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... On hearing this, Xia Siyu also felt it made sense. Since her room was registered under her and Wei Jingjing¡¯s names, she could give him a card and still get another from Jingjing. The room card had a protective case, with the hotel¡¯s name, phone number, and room number on it. Bo Yan took the room card and then said, ¡°Siyu.¡± As Xia Siyu turned back, Bo Yan leaned in and smeared all her lipstick, ending up with his own lips also brightly colored, ¡°It¡¯s quite dry this autumn, I¡¯m borrowing a bit of your lipstick.¡± Pfft! Borrow a bit of her lipstick? He just took the chance to take advantage of her and wanted to taste the rouge on her lips! Xia Siyu quickly checked herself in the mirror, and thankfully, Bo Yan knew not to overdo it and hadn¡¯t smudged her lipstick too much, it was just much lighter in color. She wanted to touch up her makeup when suddenly Wei Jingjing called out, ¡°Siyu, where are you?¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯m coming out now.¡± In her urgency, Xia Siyu immediately responded and turned her gaze back to Bo Yan, ¡°I¡¯m leaving.¡± Bo Yan nodded, ¡°I¡¯ll go back and wait for you.¡± He then brandished the room card in his hand. Xia Siyu¡¯s face blushed slightly as she nodded and hurried out. Wei Jingjing had been squatting on this side of the restroom, waiting forever without success; instead, Xia Siyu came up behind her, tapping her on the shoulder, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°How come you¡¯re behind? Didn¡¯t you go to the restroom?¡± Xia Siyu shook her head, ¡°No, let¡¯s go.¡± Although Wei Jingjing found it strange, she didn¡¯t have time to inquire further as the crew members arrived. A large group of people crowded downstairs, each production crew naturally going their separate ways. Shang Feifei was the center of attention, flanked by her boyfriend with glasses, and Han Yifan at the side. However, Xia Siyu hoped to keep a low profile; she was eager to reunite with Bo Yan. While they chatted, she noticed a tall man emerging from another side door, wearing a coat, his collar up, donning a fisherman¡¯s hat and a mask. She immediately recognized him as Bo Yan. Bo Yan also glanced at her, from far away and masked, it was impossible to discern their expressions, but after sweeping a brief look in her direction, he got into a taxi and drove off. Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t help but wanted to follow, taking half a step before retreating, saying anxiously, ¡°Can we go now? It¡¯s a bit cold.¡± Her voice was clear and melodious, and as she finished her sentence, glasses guy glanced over at her. Xia Siyu was wearing a long dress and a trench coat that evening. With the cold outside, she had tied her coat¡¯s belt tightly. Though nothing was visible, her slender waist and alluring figure were accentuated, more appealing than if she were wearing just a bikini. Chapter 683 - 680: The Golden Houses Concubine (4) Chapter 683: Chapter 680: The Golden House¡¯s Concubine (4) Men, huh? Who doesn¡¯t like checking out a beautiful woman, even Han Yifan sneaks a few extra glances at her. But Xia Siyu isn¡¯t Han Yifan¡¯s type. Despite looking, she¡¯s taken, and ¡®don¡¯t covet your friend¡¯s wife¡¯ is a rule he understands. Han Yifan¡¯s looks are just that of appreciation, whereas Glasses Guy¡¯s look always seems to carry a hint of lechery. Though Xia Siyu is used to all sorts of gazes, she¡¯s actually a bit displeased. Your girlfriend¡¯s right beside you, and you¡¯re ogling another woman. Does Shang Feifei mean nothing to you? Shang Feifei¡¯s judgement seems to be lacking; why pick a philanderer? She¡¯s in for it now. Xia Siyu can¡¯t be bothered with Shang Feifei and Glasses Guy¡¯s personal affairs; after all, it¡¯s none of her business. As for who Han Yifan likes, that doesn¡¯t concern her either, so long as she has warned Bo Yan. Soon the two groups went their separate ways, but unexpectedly, Han Yifan, perhaps saddened to see Shang Feifei walking away with Glasses Guy, ended up getting into Xia Siyu¡¯s car. Xia Siyu smacked him right away, ¡°Hey, what are you doing?¡± ... Han Yifan ignored her and ducked into the car before saying, ¡°I know Bo Yan is here.¡± That single sentence gave Wei Jingjing and Little Tang quite a scare. Luckily, Han Yifan had the sense to speak inside the car; otherwise, if others had heard, Xia Siyu would¡¯ve been finished. ¡°Hey, I¡¯ve just been rejected. Let me ride in your car,¡± Han Yifan said, hugging the seat defiantly, not willing to be dragged out no matter what. Xia Siyu was speechless, ¡°Do you realize paparazzi are tailing me?¡± In fact, Xia Siyu herself hadn¡¯t noticed the paparazzi; it was Little Tang and Wei Jingjing who had. Especially Little Tang, while driving, noticed a black Volkswagen constantly passing by the set and the hotel, which was not a crew vehicle. The day before yesterday, when Xia Siyu went to the convenience store and took a detour, that car followed her too. That¡¯s how they confirmed it. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter; Bo Yan won¡¯t mind,¡± Han Yifan said, acting as if he couldn¡¯t care less. ¡°He might not mind, but I do! My agency cares too,¡± Xia Siyu retorted and then opened the door to promptly kick Han Yifan out, ¡°Get lost!¡± Immediately after, she shut the door, but rolled down the window and shouted, ¡°Damn it, if you want to chase her, go do it yourself. Don¡¯t think just because I¡¯m your junior and acting with her that I¡¯ll help you pass messages. Don¡¯t even think about it!¡± S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She knew there were paparazzi nearby; she was deliberately being loud. Already plagued with too many rumors, the last thing she needed was to be entangled in baseless gossip with him. If she had let Han Yifan stay in her car, who knows what the paparazzi might have said if they got photos, but with her forceful kick, hopefully, no scandal would land on her. Besides, anyone in the crew could confirm that Han Yifan was after Shang Feifei, not her. Han Yifan was also just momentarily downhearted. Over the years, it was rare for him to truly pursue someone, and after several months, it ironically culminated in setting her up with someone else. How could he stand it? But he soon picked himself up and called for a car as well, following Shang Feifei. It just so happened that both Shang Feifei and Xia Siyu were staying in the same hotel¡ªthe closest five-star hotel to the set, chosen for the convenience of filming. Glasses Guy was staying there too, to accompany his girlfriend and Han Yifan had also checked in. Including Bo Yan, who had grabbed Xia Siyu¡¯s room card early in the morning, all two women and three men were gathered. Chapter 684 - 681: The Golden Houses Concubine (5) Chapter 684: Chapter 681: The Golden House¡¯s Concubine (5) Xia Siyu, as usual, wanted to stay in the best luxury suite. She never skimped on herself, always making sure she lived the best life within her means. Today she returned a bit early, which should have left plenty of time to spend with Bo Yan. Her car made its way into the hotel driveway, and she noticed that today the nearby parking seemed unusually full. Usually, there were quite a few spots available, but today the parking lot was packed, and she couldn¡¯t find a spot even after several rounds. Fortunately, they were guests and the hotel had reserved parking spots for them in the dedicated parking area. When they arrived in the lobby, Shang Feifei and Glasses Bro had just gotten there. They had left before Xia Siyu¡ªShang Feifei worried about paparazzi following, so they took a few detours before arriving. Although Glasses Bro and she hadn¡¯t shared a room yet, who knows what the paparazzi might write¡ªbetter safe than sorry. The elevator ascended, and when it reached the lobby level, it paused for a while. As the doors opened, Han Yifan stepped in. ... Han Yifan was the last to arrive, since he had taken a cab and didn¡¯t need to look for a parking spot or take any detours. Unexpectedly, the group converged together, all in the same elevator. Xia Siyu and Wei Jingjing were not on the same floor. She took her room card from Wei Jingjing¡¯s hand. On one side were Shang Feifei and Glasses Bro, and on the other was Xia Siyu, with Han Yifan in the middle. He said cheerfully, ¡°What a coincidence.¡± What coincidence¡ªit was obvious he had asked Bo about which floor Xia Siyu and Shang Feifei were staying on and had deliberately booked the same one. None of the three people in the elevator paid any attention to him. He wanted to chat with Shang Feifei, but feared she might dislike him even more. It wasn¡¯t possible to strike up a conversation with Glasses Bro, so he addressed Xia Siyu instead, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for getting into your car earlier. If the reporters took any pictures, I¡¯ll explain.¡± This was also an explanation for Shang Feifei, to avoid any nonsense from the paparazzi suggesting he was two-timing, which would be the end of him. Earlier, Xia Siyu was furious when Han Yifan acted shamelessly, but once he apologized, her anger dissipated, and she became calm, ¡°Let the paparazzi snap away, just so long as there are no misunderstandings.¡± ¡°No misunderstandings¡± could also mean ¡°Don¡¯t let Bo misunderstand,¡± and both Han Yifan and she were well aware of that. Han Yifan added, ¡°When did you arrive here, and how long are you planning to shoot? I didn¡¯t see you when I came last week.¡± Xia Siyu replied, ¡°Probably another month, I only came this week.¡± Han Yifan nodded, ¡°I¡¯m leaving next Monday.¡± Xia Siyu responded immediately, ¡°I don¡¯t have time to hang out with you.¡± ¡°I know, you have¡­¡± Han Yifan almost let something slip, but Xia Siyu turned and glared at him, prompting him to change the subject, ¡°You have filming to do.¡± The two of them went back and forth, and Glasses Bro became curious, ¡°Miss Xia, do you know each other?¡± As he asked this, his gaze lingered on Xia Siyu. Han Yifan smiled, ¡°She¡¯s my junior. We¡¯re both from N University. Bo and I were classmates, we shared a dorm room.¡± As soon as Bo¡¯s name came up, even Shang Feifei turned to look at him. Although she had lost interest in Bo, she knew that Bo and Xia Siyu were an item. Seeing her turn around, Han Yifan quickly steered the conversation back to Bo, ¡°He used to sleep in the bunk above me. During our studies, this guy was always reticent and focused solely on his books. A lot of girls chased after him. Every Valentine¡¯s Day, he would receive boxes and boxes of chocolates and love letters. Whenever he signed up for an elective course, the class would suddenly fill up because of him.¡± S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 685 - 682: The Golden Houses Concubine (6) Chapter 685: Chapter 682: The Golden House¡¯s Concubine (6) ¡°Was there really?¡± Xia Siyu thought about those university aesthetic education classes where she used to sleep as soon as the lecture started, and Bo Yan was the teaching assistant at that time. Everyone was clearly sleeping during class. ¡°There really was, especially from freshman to junior year. He was the famous campus prince of N University, known far and wide. There were even girls from other schools who came over just to see him.¡± ¡°Are you talking about Wu Di?¡± It wasn¡¯t just Wu Di; it was also Xia Sicai. However, Xia Siyu didn¡¯t even want to utter that name. Han Yifan was about to describe more flamboyantly when he suddenly remembered that Xia Siyu was Bo Yan¡¯s wife and that the two of them were currently on good terms. He felt a thump in his heart. He wanted to explain, but just at that moment, the elevator reached the floor, and Xia Siyu, looking like she was still interested, turned back with a calm face and said, ¡°Your story is quite interesting. Tell me more next time; I want to continue listening.¡± ... The implication was that she wanted to hear more about Bo Yan¡¯s ¡°amorous adventures¡±! Han Yifan shivered, especially when Xia Siyu¡¯s sly gaze swept over him, her expression indescribable. Shang Feifei knew that Xia Siyu and Bo Yan were dating, so it was natural for a girlfriend to want to know about her boyfriend¡¯s past love life, and she wasn¡¯t surprised. Whereas Glasses Guy thought that Xia Siyu and Bo Yan were ¡°enemies¡±, disliking each other, so getting a hold of a little leverage would be ideal. Glasses Guy and Shang Feifei left first, and Han Yifan followed behind. Xia Siyu tugged on his sleeve: ¡°Tell me about him, and I¡¯ll keep an eye on Shang Feifei¡¯s whereabouts for you.¡± Han Yifan¡¯s eyes lit up instantly. The kind of thing where you stab a brother in the back for a woman, he was an old hand at that, almost without needing to think, he immediately nodded, ¡°Deal!¡± Xia Siyu nodded in satisfaction and walked to her room. Her room was next to Shang Feifei¡¯s, both being the best river view rooms. Glasses Guy dropped off Shang Feifei first, smiling and saying, ¡°Rest early tonight. I¡¯ll also come to watch you act tomorrow, hope I won¡¯t disturb you.¡± Actually, Shang Feifei had not established a relationship with him; it was just that Han Yifan was meddling alongside, and by comparison, she chose the lesser of the two annoyances by default. But acting and working were most important in her eyes, so she frowned and refused, ¡°During the shoot, it¡¯s best not to have outsiders come.¡± Han Yifan heard her refusal and his expression immediately brightened. He was an investor¡¯s son, not an outsider, so he could go! Seeing Han Yifan¡¯s smile, Shang Feifei quickly changed her words, ¡°However, after the shooting, we can have dinner together.¡± Han Yifan¡¯s smile disappeared in an instant, and Glasses Guy laughed, ¡°All right. Then you get some rest so you can work in the best state tomorrow.¡± Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°I will.¡± Shang Feifei said, and swiped her room card. Glasses Guy didn¡¯t dwell any further, said ¡°Good night,¡± and went into his own room. A sense of loss naturally appeared on Han Yifan¡¯s face. He turned to look at Xia Siyu, but she was much quicker to react, entering her door immediately and slamming it shut just as he thought to come in, with a ¡°snap¡±. Rubbish, she didn¡¯t want to listen to an old man¡¯s tales of lost love. Bo Yan had finally come, and every minute was precious; of course, she had to spend it well with her husband! Han Yifan was furious, just about to knock on the door when suddenly it opened, and it was Bo Yan who pulled the door open and gave him a slip of paper, ¡°Buy these, and I won¡¯t hold the college stories against you.¡± Han Yifan was startled, seeing the slip filled with various brands of umbrellas¡­ Chapter 686 03-25 - 683: Joy for Some, Sorrow for Others (1) Chapter 686: Chapter 683: Joy for Some, Sorrow for Others (1) Jesus, the same thing used to threaten me twice, Xia Siyu threatened to trade this information for Bo Yan¡¯s ¡°past,¡± and Bo Yan was even more ruthless, outright making him buy Xiaoyu umbrellas! The key is, if you¡¯re going to buy, you buy, but you really have to get several different brands! A sweep and you¡¯ve got at least thirty, have you no shame! Bo Yan had no choice, the stash of Xiaoyu umbrellas he had bought previously when he lived in the old house had all been used up. If Song Fengzhi were around, he could have asked Song Fengzhi to figure out a way to purchase them on his behalf. But now he¡¯s come alone and it¡¯s not convenient to order delivery nor to go buy them himself even with a mask on, so he could only have Han Yifan run the errand. But Bo Yan had his ways to make him obediently comply, ¡°Do you want to pursue her or not? If you help me, I¡¯ll help you too.¡± S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Han Yifan usually prided himself as a ¡°Casanova,¡± yet whenever those young girls saw Bo Yan, they couldn¡¯t see any other man. Just when Bo Yan, who was usually so popular, fell into a big hole in front of Xia Siyu and Han Yifan thought Bo Yan was to be tied down for life, who would¡¯ve thought that guy was still one step ahead. Just look at those various Xiaoyu umbrellas, it seems their married life is certainly ¡°colorful¡±! Han Yifan didn¡¯t know that Shang Feifei had once briefly fancied Bo Yan, but even if he did, it wouldn¡¯t matter. That Bo Yan, always full of tricks, has never failed to get what he wants since childhood. They¡¯ve known each other for over ten years, since high school, and Han Yifan really admires him to the ground. ... If he really has to help him win his lady, running some errands wouldn¡¯t be too bad. Even if Han Yifan was to help, he had to tease Bo Yan a bit. He snatched the piece of paper with a reluctant face, ¡°You want me to run errands? Then just wait! Waiting for an hour or two¡­ it¡¯s not impossible¡­¡± With a ¡°smack,¡± Bo Yan heartlessly closed the door, cutting off his complaints right outside. This kind of person, ditching you once they no longer need you! How did he ever get to know such a rotten friend! Han Yifan felt angry, but then he thought, this Bo Yan guy is in such a rush, huh? Probably they¡¯ve gotten to the middle of it and realized they¡¯re unprotected! Fine, I¡¯ll buy it for you, but when I¡¯ll bring it back, well, that¡¯s uncertain, you¡¯re going to have to wait for me. Maybe even for an hour. Bo Yan and Xia Siyu indeed got started, but not on anything bad, just taking a bath. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í¨À?.§ã¦Ï After finishing the bath, removing the makeup, and completing the skincare routine, Han Yifan still hadn¡¯t arrived. But Bo Yan wasn¡¯t in a hurry; he was well-prepared and directly said, ¡°I¡¯ll give you a massage.¡± Xia Siyu, who had recently been filming, improved her acting skills and reduced the NGs significantly, but working day and night was pretty exhausting. Bo Yan offered her a massage, and of course, she was willing. She changed into a nightgown, lay down at the head of the bed to stretch out, and let him help her. Bo Yan applied the essential oil and massaged while looking around the room. He had arrived just about ten minutes earlier than Xia Siyu, the room was still a mess, but the already flipped ¡°Three Words¡± book at the head of the bed stood out conspicuously. Besides, there were several other books scattered around the room, clearly indicating that she indeed read a lot. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t read books to please Bo Yan; she did it for herself. But even so, this pleased Bo Yan immensely. How happy it is to have a wife with similar interests, he realized at that moment. After some kneading, he intentionally leaned close to her ear and imitated the tone from the book, ¡°My lady, you¡¯re in the prime of youth and alone in this room; don¡¯t waste the lovely moments.¡± Chapter 687 03-25 - 684: Joy for Some, Sorrow for Others (2) Chapter 687: Chapter 684: Joy for Some, Sorrow for Others (2) Xia Siyu was no ignoramus. Having read books for several days, she gradually understood the clich¨¦s in ancient literature. With a sorrowful expression, she said, ¡°If not for the cruel stepmother of mine, who sold me for a few pieces of silver to the landlord. Seeing that I was youthful and beautiful, he tried to force himself on me without success, and his wife wanted to sell me to the brothel. I had no choice but to sneak out when they were unguarded, hoping the young master would take me in. I dare not offer myself to share your bed.¡± Bo Yan was stunned for a moment. He hadn¡¯t expected Xia Siyu to catch on so quickly, let alone weave such a scenario. Were they roleplaying? S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the past, he had seen some people play games, but ancient costume versions were really uncommon. Bo Yan joined in, ¡°Young lady, do not belittle yourself. Based on your appearance (ample bosom and lifted buttocks), this young man can tell you¡¯re well-endowed.¡± While saying that, Bo Yan patted her body, appreciating its elasticity. ¡°If the young lady is willing to be with this young man, naturally, you will be well taken care of. But if you refuse¡­¡± Xia Siyu quickly turned her head back, ¡°And what if I refuse?¡± Bo Yan bowed his head and kissed her deeply on the lips, ¡°Then this young man must¡­ pay his respects first.¡± They both had already taken baths, and there was no need to wear any clothing for a massage, so Xia Siyu was stark naked, which made it more convenient for him to push on her back. Bo Yan was also just wrapped in a bath towel, and as he leaned down, the towel quickly fell off. ... Xia Siyu still had to pretend, so she turned her head and pushed him away, ¡°Help, help! I still have a dear cousin back home, please spare me, young master!¡± ¡°You have a cousin?¡± Bo Yan narrowed his eyes. Knowing she was pretending, he was still a bit irked. He lowered his head and wrapped his arms around her waist, his voice slightly dangerous, ¡°May I know of your cousin¡¯s distinguished self?¡± Xia Siyu said cheerfully, ¡°His family name is Bo, with a single given name, Yan.¡± At that moment, Bo Yan paused, and following that, the smile on the corner of his mouth grew wider, ¡°Your cousin must be a talent that matches heaven and earth, with the looks of Song Yu and Pan An. The night is late; let us rest, young lady.¡± He drew closer, and Xia Siyu, now addicted to the act, cried out plaintively, ¡°I don¡¯t want to, I don¡¯t want to!¡± But he really couldn¡¯t have her, after all, Han Yifan still hadn¡¯t returned! Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Their bathing and skincare had already taken quite some time, and the subsequent massage had required some effort. It had been an hour since the earliest time he ordered. Han Yifan couldn¡¯t possibly have gotten lost; he had an excellent sense of direction. Also, there was a convenience store nearby the hotel, just around the corner across the street; walking there and back wouldn¡¯t take more than fifteen minutes. That guy must be annoyed with his orders, deliberately delaying his return. The mood was just right, and Bo Yan didn¡¯t want to disappoint Xia Siyu. He was about to order some takeout when, finally, the doorbell rang. Bo Yan gave Xia Siyu a kiss, ¡°I¡¯ll go check.¡± He quickly draped on a robe and tied the sash, standing by the door for a while, peeking through the peephole. Outside the peephole was Han Yifan, who had been missing for an hour. Indeed, Han Yifan had deliberately taken a bit of time, casually lounging for half an hour before lazily heading downstairs to the convenience store to buy umbrellas for Xiaoyu. After purchasing his items, he dawdled back, but as he entered the elevator, he encountered Shang Feifei. The director had made some last-minute changes and asked her to come over to discuss the details, so she ended up returning with him. Han Yifan wanted to greet her, but as he raised his hand, a hole had just ripped open in the plastic bag, and all the colorful umbrellas jumbled out, scattering across the floor¡­ Chapter 688 03-25 - 685: Joy for Some, Sorrow for Others (3) Chapter 688: Chapter 685: Joy for Some, Sorrow for Others (3) The naughtiest little box had landed right at Shang Feifei¡¯s feet. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. When it fell at first, Shang Feifei hadn¡¯t seen what was inside the bag; she simply bent down, good-heartedly, and picked up the little box that had fallen by her feet. Han Yifan had just started to say ¡°wait,¡± but before he could finish his sentence, Shang Feifei saw the huge string of English words ¡°dulex¡± written on it. And damned if it wasn¡¯t the spiral dotted version. Looking around, she saw a whole bunch of colorful little ¡°umbrellas¡± scattered at her feet¡­ Shang Feifei: ¡°¡­¡± ... Han Yifan: ¡°¡­¡± For a second or two, the air grew quieter. A few seconds later, Shang Feifei¡¯s face turned red as she shoved the thing into Han Yifan¡¯s hand. Han Yifan hurriedly explained, ¡°This isn¡¯t mine! I mean, I bought it, but it¡¯s not for me!¡± As he spoke, he also reached out to take the box, lightly brushing Shang Feifei¡¯s fingers. Her fingers were soft and her fingertips slender. As they exchanged the box, he couldn¡¯t help but caress the back of her hand with his fingers. Shang Feifei: ¡°¡­¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Han Yifan: ¡°¡­¡± This time, it was Han Yifan who reacted first. He quickly apologized, ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t mean that, I¡­¡± ¡°Get away, get away!¡± Just then the elevator reached their floor. Shang Feifei, deviating from her usual cool demeanor, jumped aside as if burned, her entire face a mix of anger and embarrassment, completely flush. Han Yifan wanted to say something, but he had to pick up all the little boxes on the ground first. By the time he rushed out with his hands full, Shang Feifei had already bolted like smoke, dashing to her own door, swiping her card with lightning speed and slamming the door shut with a bang. Han Yifan was on the verge of tears behind her. This really wasn¡¯t for him! How could he buy so many for himself, it¡¯s not like he could use them to blow up balloons! If he had known, he would have gone downstairs earlier, bought the stuff sooner, and given it to Bo Yan earlier. Now everything he said was too late! So, don¡¯t harm others because in the end you harm yourself. He originally thought he could outsmart Bo Yan, but everything backfired on him¡­ What would Shang Feifei think of him now? This lousy scumbag, lecher that he is, was clearly pursuing her yet had bought such a huge stash of little umbrellas! She wouldn¡¯t possibly get involved with him, so with whom was he planning to use them? Han Yifan truly had no way to explain himself. He couldn¡¯t betray Bo Yan by saying that he bought them for Bo Yan and Xia Siyu! Now he was done for; even without that bespectacled guy in the picture, Shang Feifei wouldn¡¯t accept him. Still, Han Yifan ended up giving the bag of little umbrellas to their rightful owner, feeling incredibly aggrieved. Bo Yan¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. He could vaguely sense something from Han Yifan¡¯s dejected look, but at that moment, he had no mind to worry about his brother¡¯s affairs, offering a word of comfort: ¡°I¡¯ll help you tomorrow.¡± Then he closed the door, continuing the story of ¡°little mistress¡± and ¡°young master¡± with Xia Siyu. Han Yifan walked a few steps, then turned around, unwilling to give up. He went to Shang Feifei¡¯s door, knocked, and said, ¡°The thing just now was a misunderstanding, not mine. I¡¯m sorry.¡± Shang Feifei¡¯s door didn¡¯t budge, no one responded from inside. Han Yifan wanted to knock and explain, fearing to trouble her, afraid to implicate his brother Bo Yan. He could only vaguely explain again, ¡°It really isn¡¯t mine.¡± Chapter 689 03-25 - 686: Joy for Some, Sorrow for Others (4) Chapter 689: Chapter 686: Joy for Some, Sorrow for Others (4) There was still no response from inside. Han Yifan had no choice but to retract his hand, reluctantly leaving with glances back at Shang Feifei¡¯s door. He worried that if he stayed any longer, someone might see him, and being a celebrity, it wouldn¡¯t bode well for Shang Feifei. So, he unlocked his own door and walked in, dragging his tired body. As soon as Han Yifan¡¯s door closed, Shang Feifei also let out a sigh of relief. Initially, she was indeed shocked and felt¡ªit was a bit dirty, a bit messy. Although there were wild parties in the entertainment industry, she was not one to participate or wish to be involved. Of course, Shang Feifei had her experiences. Her first boyfriend was someone she met in high school, both from the affiliated high school of the Dance Academy; they were childhood sweethearts. But later, she entered the Film Academy, and her boyfriend continued his studies at the Dance Academy, now part of the Central Song and Dance Troupe. Though his job was not bad, how could the Central Song and Dance Troupe compare to the celestials in the entertainment industry at the height of their popularity? She and her first love parted ways peacefully two years after graduation as the disparity between them grew too large. Since the breakup, they remained friends, sending blessings during holidays and even liking each other¡¯s social media posts. Her second boyfriend was from three years ago until the beginning of last year, lasting a year and a half. She learned from her past, choosing a fellow celebrity in the same agency with rising potential. Their breakup wasn¡¯t due to infidelity, abuse, or any other dramatic issue, but simply because both were on the rise, busy filming day after day, which led to more time apart and feelings fading away. After they split up, her second boyfriend quickly found a rich girlfriend, and Fei¡¯er simply laughed it off. And then there was now. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The entertainment industry indeed was filled with temptations and opportunities. She was an adult now, and it was normal for her to be intimate with her boyfriend, which naturally led to relationships; but when feelings faded, they would break up. Apart from being in the entertainment industry, her dating life was no different from that of other normal men and women. When she saw all the little umbrellas Han Yifan dropped, she indeed felt repulsed¡ªnot just repulsed, but a bit disgusted. With so many of them, at least twenty or thirty, Han Yifan must have been¡ªhow active? But now that she calmed down and thought about it carefully, it probably wasn¡¯t for his use. Han Yifan wasn¡¯t always here, he had work and only came on weekends. He didn¡¯t have a regular companion either; with twenty or thirty umbrellas, even if they were all his, he couldn¡¯t possibly use ten a day during a three-day weekend, could he? If they really were his, she would have to acknowledge him as quite the stud. But if they weren¡¯t for his use, Han Yifan could be buying them for someone close to him who has a steady girlfriend, someone who might stay here for several days¡ªan answer seemed imminent: Bo Yan. And who would Bo Yan use them with? No need to even think about it; naturally, it would be Xia Siyu next door. Even though Shang Feifei figured this out, she still didn¡¯t open the door. After all¡­ The sight of Han Yifan¡¯s little umbrellas scattered on the floor and her picking them up was just too awkward. With Han Yifan pursuing her, anything she said would be wrong, so better to say nothing at all. She couldn¡¯t very well make small talk: ¡°I know they¡¯re not yours because you couldn¡¯t possibly use so many/you don¡¯t have a partner to use them with/I¡¯m not going to use them with you¡­¡± And moreover. Han Yifan was just too annoying, taking the opportunity while handing over the little umbrellas to touch her hand! Chapter 690 03-25 - 687: Joy for Some, Sorrow for Others (5) Chapter 690: Chapter 687: Joy for Some, Sorrow for Others (5) sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She had been through ups and downs in the entertainment industry for many years and hated men who liked to take advantaged most! If she could use this opportunity to make him back off, that wouldn¡¯t be so bad. That night, truly, some families rejoiced while others were in sorrow. ** The next morning, Xia Siyu went to shoot the film with an indifferent expression on her face. Her part today was about pure first love in high school and college. Although Xia Siyu had already starred in several movies and was very experienced, the director still worried about her condition. However, unexpectedly, besides some dark shadows under her eyes¡ªprobably from staying up late reading the script the night before¡ªthe naive and adorable shyness she portrayed was just right. In their ¡°Youth 2,¡± the theme is retrospection, but the most critical aspect will still fall on their high school and college ¡°youthful affairs,¡± so the state of being young is the most crucial element. Initially, they shot the adult scenes before shooting their youth. There wasn¡¯t really any difficulty in shooting per se, but capturing the essence of youth was the only challenge. Don¡¯t assume that the feeling of youth can be achieved by simply changing a hairstyle, outfit, or make-up. The most critical aspect of youthfulness is that ¡°feeling¡±¡ªthe sensation. The expressions, movements, and gaze of young people are entirely different from those who have been weathered by society. If it were not for the other actors¡¯ scheduling constraints, they would have shot the youth period first before circling back to the adult phase, but unfortunately, due to scheduling conflicts, they had to do it backward. Recapturing that lively and cheerful vigor was not so easy. Take the leading actor, who began shooting first, for example; his hair was cut slightly shorter by the hairstylist, his clothes changed into a simple white shirt, and the makeup on his face was exceptionally light. From the outside, he looked quite young, but his eyes were very tired and not at all bright. Even the youthful signature smile seemed like it was a deliberate attempt to please. To act as a young person, bouncing and hopping around won¡¯t work; it looks rather fake. But doing nothing at all makes one seem beaten down by society, devoid of any trace of youth. The director had no choice but to let the leading actor rest for a while to find that feeling. Soon, Xia Siyu came out. She wore a simple ponytail. At twenty-seven, she maintained her looks well enough that, without any makeup, she still resembled the youthful girl that Qin Baizhou had spotted on the street. Her outfit was also simple¡ªa plain shirt and pleated skirt paired with Converse sneakers took at least five years off her apparent age. Though the dark circles under her eyes were noticeable, her gaze was bright and her expression gentle, resembling someone well-protected by their family, happy and untouched by society. The dark circles were not really an issue since she was playing the role of a ¡°top student¡± and wearing a pair of thick black-rimmed glasses perfectly concealed the slight fatigue. Moreover, a bit of dark circling made her seem like the good girl who had stayed up late studying the night before, an image that couldn¡¯t be more fitting. She didn¡¯t need to act too lively, just a slightly brisker walk made her seem vibrant. The director was utterly satisfied to death; it had been two years since he worked with Xia Siyu. Had she taken some Immortal Pill in that time? Not only did she seem to have rejuvenated, but her acting skills also made great strides. Xia Siyu swayed her little skirt from side to side, causing the hem of her pleated skirt to swing along. She also looked towards a coffee shop not far away¡ªBo Yan was surely there; he must have seen her too. Or else, for tonight¡¯s role-play, how about playing teacher and student? Chapter 691 03-25 - 688: Joy for Some, Sorrow for Others (6) Chapter 691: Chapter 688: Joy for Some, Sorrow for Others (6) ¡°` Speaking of which, Bo Yan was inherently a teacher, and she was inherently a student. Unfortunately, even Zhou Weiwei had taken Bo Yan¡¯s classes, but due to dropping out, she no longer had the chance. As she was thinking, Xia Siyu¡¯s phone rang. She picked it up and saw that Bo Yan had sent her a message, ¡°Very beautiful.¡± Xia Siyu immediately swelled with pride. Her little chin tilted even higher, and she felt even happier. Bo Yan said with a smile above, ¡°Work hard. I¡¯m waiting for you to finish shooting early today so I can see you tonight.¡± Xia Siyu nodded, replied with an ¡°Okay,¡± then immediately turned around and, as if nothing had happened, handed her phone to Wei Jingjing and went to film. Bo Yan saw it and shook his head with a smile. Han Yifan had asked him before why, of all the women in the world, he was infatuated with Xia Siyu. Was it just because of her face? At the time, Bo Yan didn¡¯t answer. Thinking about it now, Xia Siyu¡¯s face was indeed part of the reason, but what attracted him more was her personality. It¡¯s funny to say, but Xia Siyu¡¯s fiery temper scared off many pursuing gentlemen¡ªnot because of her messy scandals, but because of her temper. Xia Siyu¡¯s life was simple: if something worked, it worked; if it didn¡¯t, it didn¡¯t. She was upfront about everything, doing things out in the open, never being underhanded. But the most important quality, which they failed to see, was that despite having already endured hardships and having a family as complex as his, she remained clean, pure, and always seemed happy, like her original self. Being with her was like being infected by her spirit, feeling invigorated and full of fighting spirit. Even in moments of disappointment, she could quickly smile again and bounce back. She was his little sunshine. Seeing her lifted the excessively gloomy aspects of his personality, as if catching sight of the sunlight. It was not that Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t do without him but that he couldn¡¯t do without the light in his life. Bo Yan saw her begin to get busy. Today involved shooting outside of the studio, with some scenes set on campus, so the crew rented part of a school to film. After all, it wouldn¡¯t look right to shoot high school and university scenes without a school setting. Xia Siyu quickly got in the car with the crew and drove off. But he chose not to follow, instead continuing to sit by the window. He was reading a book about directing. Of course, his theoretical knowledge from university was already rich enough, but this book was special¡ªit was a collection of director¡¯s notes from Yu Fenfei and Sun Wujiu. Xia Siyu had to study, and so did he. As long as one has a goal, it¡¯s always possible to continue acquiring knowledge. However, his reason for not leaving was also an important one. When noon came around, Bo Yan had drunk two cups of coffee and read dozens of pages from the book. Finally, the person he anticipated arrived belatedly. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Han Yifan. Unlike his exuberant self from the night before, today he was like a frostbitten eggplant, wilted and droopy. Yesterday, he intentionally delayed by over half an hour buying an umbrella for Xiaoyu to cause trouble, only to run into Shang Feifei spilling things everywhere. Shang Feifei looked at him with both scorn and disgust. Having such a ¡°stain¡± witnessed by a woman he was pursuing¡ªwhat would she think of him? And since it was for a friend, he couldn¡¯t abandon loyalty and had to just accept it. Seeing his state, Bo Yan both understood his thoughts and promptly ordered him a cup of coffee to help him wake up. Han Yifan was still listless, his chin resting on the table, unable to lift his head. Bo Yan said, ¡°You want to pursue Shang Feifei, don¡¯t you? Let me help you.¡± ¡°` Chapter 692 - 689: The Immortals Trick (1) Chapter 692: Chapter 689: The Immortal¡¯s Trick (1) Han Yifan still rested his chin on the tabletop, his lackluster appearance conveying disinterest, ¡°No need. She already imagines me as a bad man who conquers dozens of women at night, she hates seeing me, my chances are already gone.¡± After he finished speaking, he sighed with the look of a man deeply in love yet spurned. Bo Yan was speechless, ¡°It¡¯s just a misunderstanding; I can help explain it to her.¡± In fact, Shang Feifei had already guessed the previous night that the little umbrella Han Yifan bought might be for Bo Yan to use. Naturally, Bo Yan also guessed that she might know he came to visit Xia Siyu. Although he didn¡¯t have a very good impression of someone as overly shrewd as Shang Feifei, she, although shrewd, wouldn¡¯t scheme against others like Xia Sicai, and knowing that he was with Xia Siyu, she did not leak any information. She barely passed the test. Han Yifan liked her, and it wasn¡¯t a mistake. As his brother, he couldn¡¯t be the only one basking in romance; he had to help Han Yifan a bit as well. ¡°But she doesn¡¯t like me, and she already has a boyfriend.¡± Even Han Yifan could see that after yesterday¡¯s incident, Shang Feifei¡¯s attitude toward the guy with glasses had changed significantly. Annoyingly, he and Glasses Guy started liking Shang Feifei at the same time. He watched helplessly as Shang Feifei cared more and more about Glasses Guy, while he looked like an idiot, even assisting his rival in love. The harder he tried, the more he pushed Shang Feifei to the other side. He had never experienced such failure in his life, and the harder he tried, the worse the failure, which was absolutely devastating to him. Bo Yan was composed, ¡°If the problem can¡¯t be solved, solve the person who can solve the problem. Since Shang Feifei chose Xi You over you, then just take down Xi You. Look for evidence, especially regarding his debts, lawsuits, his family situation, and him personally. Especially him personally, I think he¡¯s not as genteel as he pretends to be on the surface, he might be a beast in human clothing.¡± It was Xia Siyu who had told him this. They had a spat the night before, and while Xia Siyu lay in his arms acting coquettishly, she mentioned the guy with glasses looking at her. She was actually joking when she mentioned it, implying that Shang Feifei usually acted so noble but had poor taste in men, ending up with a perverted boyfriend. As for evidence, she had none, but the way Xi You looked at her was openly malicious, just like some at parties, and she really didn¡¯t like it. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This was unacceptable to Bo Yan. He knew Xia Siyu was involved in many scandals and that many men were attracted to her, like the CEO of Jin Su Tires, which had gone bankrupt due to quality issues and resulting lawsuits. Now that Xi You had the audacity to provoke him, even if it wasn¡¯t for helping Han Yifan, he would find a way to take his revenge. ¡°Really?¡± Han Yifan perked up at this. Just a moment ago, he had the lowly stature of a man who had lost at love, but now he suddenly perked up, ¡°I¡¯ll start looking into it right away!¡± Bo Yan carried the air of a wise adviser, ¡°Actually, other things are not that important, especially romantic relationships. Shang Feifei has only just started dating him, and she¡¯s very wealthy herself, unlikely to be after his family fortune. The most important breakthrough is their romantic relationship.¡± When it came to romantic relationships, Han Yifan¡¯s spirit deflated again, ¡°But I¡­ I had several girlfriends before, and although I¡¯ve never cheated or anything, if we use this against him, I might get implicated as well¡­¡± Chapter 693 - 690: The Immortals Trick (2) Chapter 693: Chapter 690: The Immortal¡¯s Trick (2) Han Yifan now regretted not having slapped himself several times. Bragging felt good at the moment, but fixing the mess was like trying to extinguish a fire at a funeral. He indeed liked to boast about his past pursuit of older women, and the most famous story was the one about the ¡°one-hour hotel room¡± with a female college student. It had been his longest relationship; if she hadn¡¯t gone abroad, perhaps they would still be together now. He owned a bar where all sorts of people from all walks of life gathered. Although he did not always go with the flow like some of them, he did join in on the fun occasionally. After all, he was single and had broken up by then; enjoying himself wasn¡¯t a crime. But if one were to dig into Xi You¡¯s background, he wouldn¡¯t come out clean either. Bo Yan looked at Han Yifan with an expression of speechlessness. What could he say to this guy? Sure, he had his fun back in the day, but now he wanted to find a decent person to marry, as if it was that simple! Han Yifan then assured, ¡°But I genuinely like Shang Feifei, I want to pursue her, with marriage in mind. You know me, when I start a relationship seriously, I am very serious, it¡¯s not just for fun. If she hadn¡¯t gone abroad back then, my child would already be in primary school by now.¡± sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bo Yan couldn¡¯t be bothered with his nonsense. After some thought, he opened his mouth to say, ¡°That Xi You, he¡¯s also been overseas, so it¡¯s probably going to be hard for you to dig up any dirt on him for a while. If there were ready-made cases of him cheating, womanizing, or having peculiar habits, that¡¯d be the end of it, but if not, you¡¯ll have to create the conditions yourself. Get a woman to seduce him, pull a honey trap. If he hasn¡¯t changed his lecherous ways, he¡¯ll surely take the bait.¡± Han Yifan looked enlightened and immediately went to prepare. Bo Yan called him back, ¡°Come back.¡± Han Yifan turned around and came back like a dog wagging its tail. Bo Yan asked, ¡°Do you know what kind of woman he likes? If you get it wrong, you¡¯ll startle the snake and make your image even worse.¡± This stumped him, and Han Yifan immediately shook his head, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Bo Yan, speechless, continued, ¡°He¡¯s from an aristocratic medical family, and he studied medicine himself. As a doctor, he¡¯s likely to be a bit cleaner than people in other professions. Watching him peel shrimp for Shang Feifei yesterday, his movements were meticulous and careful; he even cleaned the shrimp¡¯s claws thoroughly, suggesting he¡¯s a bit of a perfectionist. Doctors abroad are well-compensated, yet he chose to return. He wasn¡¯t on a government scholarship, so there was no need for him to come back. Either he didn¡¯t perform as well as expected and couldn¡¯t get good offers, or he didn¡¯t want to work hard and preferred to earn easy money in his own country. I guess he must¡¯ve had some issues abroad, but unfortunately, it¡¯s difficult to find out. However, considering everything, he must see himself as rather superior, a bit of a clean freak and somewhat obsessive-compulsive. You can¡¯t just pick any woman from the pleasure district. He¡¯d prefer someone intellectual, classy, ideally with an ***-shape figure, and a stunning appearance.¡± The last point was based on Xia Siyu¡¯s characteristics. Shang Feifei was renowned in the entertainment circle for her beauty, and aside from Xia Siyu, she hadn¡¯t really lost to anyone. But Siyu had told him that the guy with glasses had first stared at her face intently and then greedily ogled her figure. If he hadn¡¯t been with Shang Feifei, he¡¯d probably have hit on her next. Han Yifan nodded, ¡°I understand.¡± He then looked at Bo Yan, who was sipping his coffee with a nonchalant air. A sense of relatedness washed over Han Yifan, ¡°It¡¯s a good thing I¡¯m your friend. If I were your enemy, I might never know how you¡¯d cunningly plan my demise.¡± Chapter 694 - 691: The Immortals Trick (3) Chapter 694: Chapter 691: The Immortal¡¯s Trick (3) Bo Yan smiled faintly, ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± ** The ¡°good guy¡± Bo Yan didn¡¯t forget to treat Han Yifan to a lunch. But Han Yifan couldn¡¯t sit still for a moment, as if he had springs in his seat, and the moment he received Bo Yan¡¯s hint, he shot out of the place. He wished he could arrange a woman right now to seduce Glasses, so that Shang Feifei would break up with him by tomorrow. Bo Yan didn¡¯t care much; he merely provided a direction. As for how to execute it, it wasn¡¯t his responsibility. If Han Yifan could really get a woman to set a trap for Xi You, it would prove that the man was flawed and couldn¡¯t resist temptation. Even if it weren¡¯t Han Yifan, someone else would come along eventually. If Xi You resisted, well, then, blessings to him. If his character was good and it was true love, Shang Feifei wouldn¡¯t be at a loss for being with him. However, it had nothing to do with him. He just wanted to avenge himself for being spied on by Xia Siyu. He ordered a casual lunch, ate leisurely, read a book for a while, and waited until the sun was low in the sky before he packed his books into his backpack and headed to the school where Xia Siyu was filming. Bo Yan left the house in his usual disguise. This was Shangcheng, bustling and busy. He walked through the streets with a mask, a hat, and a thick coat that concealed his figure. Sport pants were a must-have, and he also brought along black-framed glasses, the same model as Xia Siyu wore today, and carried a backpack. He didn¡¯t look like a middle schooler, but he did resemble a college student. The location for Xia Siyu¡¯s shoot was at a middle school. Today was Saturday, and the crew took advantage of the empty weekend at the school to film. She had changed into another set of clothes, this time wearing an oversized school uniform. But the good thing about school uniforms was that they didn¡¯t require too much embellishment; natural was best. Bo Yan wanted to be a director, and the script was his own creation. What to create? A box-office hit that was suitable for newcomers, not too difficult, and even relatively easy to snag awards with¡ªa youth film. Current youth films were filled with pain, abortion, mistresses and even multiple affairs. If you could add some school violence, it would be considered very trendy. But these conflicts, for most kids, weren¡¯t distant, yet they were still somewhat novel. He just wanted to write a simple story about the love, academics, youth, and aspirations of a boy and a girl. The most important thing was that during the best years, he met her, the one in his life. Bo Yan also arrived at the school gate where Xia Siyu was filming. Even though it was the weekend, the place wasn¡¯t open to just anyone. But just as Bo Yan got there and was about to find a nearby caf¨¦ to sit and wait, Xia Siyu and her team unexpectedly came out. And judging by Xia Siyu¡¯s look, it seemed they had finished shooting for the day. She stood at the school gate calling him. Bo Yan hid at the entrance of a nearby alley and picked up, ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve finished shooting for today. Where are you?¡± Bo Yan, with his body turned and the brim of his hat lowered, watched her from across the street. He smiled and instructed, ¡°Shake off everyone else and then come over to the other side of the street.¡± S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xia Siyu glanced over this way immediately, and Bo Yan ducked out of sight, ¡°I¡¯m at the coffee shop on this side, in the alley. It¡¯s a bit winding; let me tell you how to get here.¡± Xia Siyu nodded. She turned her head to say something to Wei Jingjing and the others, and after the main group left, she headed across the street by herself. She was still on the phone, asking, ¡°How should I walk to get to you?¡± ¡°All you need to do is turn around, and you¡¯ll see me.¡± This phrase came simultaneously through the phone and in real life, and then Bo Yan emerged from behind and wrapped his arms around her. Chapter 695 - 692: The Immortals Trick (4) Chapter 695: Chapter 692: The Immortal¡¯s Trick (4) Autumn had arrived, and the weather was getting cooler. Xia Siyu, a female actress, dressed in less layers than the average person. Despite wearing a long coat outside, underneath she wore regular T-shirts, jeans, and sneakers¡ªyesterday, the guy with the glasses had made her uncomfortable with his gaze, so today she had deliberately chosen a loose-fitting outfit that concealed her figure. But with the arrival of autumn, even a slight breeze felt a bit chilly. However, Bo Yan was tall and imposing; when he hugged Xia Siyu from behind, it was as if a warm current flowed from her back. It was not just his body heat but also his scent and his deep voice that lingered behind her ears, surrounding her completely. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Under the autumn sunset, a few strands of wind arose. The tall French plane trees and slightly shorter ginkgoes at the roadside, one with leaves turning red, the other with leaves turning yellow, made the entrance to the autumn alleyway extraordinarily peaceful and enduring. Behind them, there was the hustle and bustle of traffic and people, but further back from the mouth of the alley, there was tranquility, as if frozen in time. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t turn around, but she asked happily, ¡°When did you get here?¡± She had thought Bo Yan would still be waiting for her at the cafe outside their film set and had planned to drive there later. She didn¡¯t expect him to arrive so soon. Bo Yan just laughed, ¡°I missed you, so I came over.¡± As he spoke, he rubbed his head against the back of her neck. Though he was wearing a hat, the soft fisherman¡¯s hat didn¡¯t block much, and a few strands of his mischievous bangs rebelliously peeked out from under the brim, gently tickling the fuzz behind her ear with his movements, making Xia Siyu¡¯s ears itch. He then asked, ¡°Why did you come out so early?¡± According to the original plan, although Xia Siyu and her team could only film at the school during the day, as not many would traverse a dark campus at night¡ªsuch scenarios were reserved for ghost stories. However, there were night scenes to shoot as well, including scenes of the male lead and her riding a bicycle together. He thought for a moment, ¡°Do you still have scenes to shoot tonight?¡± Xia Siyu shook her head, ¡°Not anymore. Everyone was off their game today, so the director preferred to have us go back and rest for a while.¡± After all, they were making a movie, not a TV series, and each shot of a movie required fine-tuning. Even though technology has advanced and post-production can fix many things, the spirit and appearance of the main actors cannot be faked. Since the day¡¯s shooting had already ended, it was better for them to regain their focus and get a good night¡¯s rest before continuing tomorrow. ¡°What about you?¡± Xia Siyu proudly puffed out her chest, ¡°I did great! The director said I was the best.¡± Perhaps she hadn¡¯t completely grounded herself yet, but Xia Siyu was simple-minded with clear eyes, and being with Bo Yan made her very happy. Her natural state emerged effortlessly, requiring no extra fine-tuning. ¡°But you still need to ground yourself, right? After all, it¡¯s a domestic youth movie.¡± Indeed, this was something the director had mentioned. Although Xia Siyu played the brightest kid in the alleyway, she had lived abroad since she was a child, only returning to China in her sophomore year of high school. Despite not being acknowledged by the Xia Family and always being chauffeured around, she couldn¡¯t really grasp the feeling of Chinese kids racing their bikes along the riverside and through the streets. Even riding a bike was something she had picked up while filming a movie. Xia Siyu was indeed a bit troubled, and she nodded her head. Bo Yan let go of his embrace, but took her hand, interlocking their fingers, ¡°How about we experience the day-to-day life of ordinary students today? Just the two of us, together.¡± Chapter 696 - 693: The Immortals Trick (5) Chapter 696: Chapter 693: The Immortal¡¯s Trick (5) Is this a date? This is a date! sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xia Siyu immediately nodded excitedly. The last time they went shopping together was in the Northwest¡ªboth in disguise. Back then, she hadn¡¯t fallen for Bo Yan yet; she just had a slight crush. But now, things were different. He was her FWB, her husband, and also her boyfriend. Although they were married, their dynamic was more like a couple than a typical married couple. They had dated before, but they were both so busy with their studies that they didn¡¯t spend much quality time together. Now, she had fallen for him again, but they hadn¡¯t been together long before being separated by distance. Furthermore, things were different from the past. Back then, their young passion was all about looks. Now, her renewed affection considered both of their backgrounds, interests, hobbies, goals¡ªall their life experiences mixed together. And she was still moved. This love was much stronger than the infatuation of her teenage years. But precisely because they had fallen for each other, and they had to be apart for work, they cherished the time they had now even more. Yep, and it was all sneaky sneaky, wearing masks and wandering the streets with faces hidden¡ªit really felt like high school students dating behind their parents¡¯ backs. Xia Siyu walked happily, holding his hand. Bo Yan¡¯s fingers were long; he had learned to play the piano before, and his palms were warm, with intertwining lines on his palm. They navigated through the streets, with residential areas on both sides of the alley, low-rise buildings, neighbors riding bicycles, walking, children wearing red scarves and school uniforms, chasing each other, the smell of someone cooking wafting throughout the street. Luckily, it was already dusk, and they were wearing masks and glasses, dressed in loose-fitting athletic wear, so they weren¡¯t recognized. They hadn¡¯t walked far when a breeze picked up, and Xia Siyu, who hadn¡¯t worn a hat, felt a little cold. Bo Yan saw this and paused, ¡°Wait a second.¡± Xia Siyu nodded, and he went to a nearby shop, casually picking out a hat similar to his own but thicker and put it on her when he came out. The hat effectively blocked the cold air from her head, instantly warming her up. Bo Yan then continued leading her by the hand, and after a short walk, they found a skewer restaurant. The place was a true hole-in-the-wall, with only a few ¡°Chenji BBQ¡± signs hanging above; unassuming from the outside, but buzzing with activity inside. ¡°I know you¡¯ve been eating healthy lately, but it¡¯s okay to indulge once in a while.¡± They arrived early and there were still empty seats. Bo Yan pulled her inside and found them a relatively clean spot to sit down. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t seem averse at all¡ªin fact, she was curious. After she came back to China, she was in her second year of high school, her mother was strict, and she rarely had the chance to go out to eat, let alone at a hole-in-the-wall like this. Then, after less than two years in university, she entered the entertainment industry, making it even less likely to encounter such grassroots gastronomy. The stools here were plastic, the tables folding ones, and the white walls were somewhat yellowed and blackened by the smoke of barbecues¡ªat least it was comparatively clean. At the nearby table, people were loudly cheering and drinking beer, creating a lively atmosphere. Wave after wave of delicious scents hit her, and Xia Siyu, having eaten ¡°grass¡± for days, instantly had her mouth watering. Once the menu arrived, Bo Yan ordered a few items, then let Xia Siyu pick some for herself. Everything looked delicious to her and she wanted to try it all. After ordering, she was curious, ¡°How did you know about this place?¡± Chapter 697 - 694: The Immortals Trick (6) Chapter 697: Chapter 694: The Immortal¡¯s Trick (6) Bo Yan looked unperturbed, ¡°Gourmet food APP.¡± Indeed, in this day and age, whatever you want to do, there¡¯s an APP that can provide references, look at reviews, check out photos, and even navigation is easy as they come with integrated maps¡ªjust follow the directions. He had chosen a restaurant near the school, and since Xia Siyu wanted to experience life, of course, this was the best kind of place to come to. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°This place has high ratings, the cost per person isn¡¯t high, but with a high school, a university, and a residential area nearby, it does quite a good business.¡± Bo Yan looked around, ¡°It¡¯s a little dirty and noisy, though. If you don¡¯t like it, we can switch to a better environment.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, let¡¯s stay here.¡± Xia Siyu saw that there were indeed students wearing the same uniform as her, brought by their parents for a meal. She was worried about not being able to observe enough, and this place was simply perfect. Moreover, the aroma wafting through the air here was truly irresistible. Seeing the people at the next table eating heartily, tears uncontrollably streamed from the corners of her mouth. Xia Siyu herself was fond of little street eateries. When she was in Sicily Island, she was enthusiastic about going out and looking for different kinds of delicacies. Before, she had taken Bo Yan to a small restaurant that specialized in Sicilian rice balls. After returning to her country, she hadn¡¯t yet had the chance to sample the street food before she entered the entertainment industry, a place abuzz with activity. Unless surrounded by bodyguards, she wouldn¡¯t dare go even if she wanted to. She hadn¡¯t expected Bo Yan to bring her here. In a strict sense, this was their first date after getting back together. However, compared to those places with great ambiance, soothing music, and waiters who are extremely attentive, where a huge plate contains only a tiny bit of food adorned with all sorts of fancy garnishes, she¡¯d rather choose this place. Furthermore, here, she could observe the myriad facets of life. Bo Yan had said that she need to learn to ¡°observe.¡± Since she was shooting nearby, wasn¡¯t this a godsent opportunity? Bo Yan found a really good spot, both secluded in the corner and offering a view of the surroundings. The middle-aged men at the next table, either from the beer or the grilled food, had flushed faces and were discussing everything from recent stocks to foreign trade, and onto the international situation, occasionally shouting, ¡°Boss, bring the food!¡± At the table beside them, parents with their children in school uniforms were inquiring about the kids¡¯ school performance. Behind them were a group of university students talking about recent club activities and group assignments. The hustle and bustle of the mundane world was indeed a life experience she hadn¡¯t gone through. Like Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden, Xia Siyu found everything novel and interesting. In observation, the food arrived soon after. The owner first brought the stove and charcoal, followed by the meat for grilling. The meat was semi-cooked¡ªthat¡¯s to say, literally half-done; it was already grilled to medium-rare, and the guests had to manage the rest of the cooking themselves. While Bo Yan grilled the meat, Xia Siyu finally had no energy to look around, her eyes glued to the grill. Bo Yan skillfully took beef and lamb and various offals; the sizzling meat was the most pleasing symphony. Seasoned expertly with chili, cumin, and Sichuan pepper, having lived together, they had similar tastes. Bo Yan didn¡¯t need Xia Siyu to tell him specifically; he could adjust it to her satisfaction on his own. When Bo Yan nodded, saying ¡°It¡¯s ready,¡± Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t resist anymore and took off her mask. With a skewer of lamb in her left hand and a skewer of squid in her right, the delicious taste made her squint her eyes like a contented cat. Chapter 698 - 695: Date (1) Chapter 698: Chapter 695: Date (1) After just one bite, the greasy, fragrant flavor instantly filled her entire mouth. The meat, freshly grilled, was a bit hot, but even so, Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t bear to wait any longer. Blowing on the hot meat, she stuffed various kinds of barbecue into her mouth. ¡°Don¡¯t rush, no one is fighting you for it.¡± Bo Yan, who knew his way around, picked up a spring pancake from the side, rolled a few lamb skewers off the stick onto the pancake, and then added shredded green onions, a pinch of coriander and sesame to make a roll similar to a Peking duck wrap, and handed it to her. Xia Siyu took a bite, her mouth bursting with the essence of oil, which also contained a hint of onion and green pepper, both already soaked through with the juices and cooked sweet, offsetting the greasiness of the barbecue. The flavor was simply amazing. Adding a bottle of soda¡ªsince she was a celebrity, she could only drink zero-calorie cola¡ªbut the fizzy drink with the meat made it seem like tasting heaven, an experience only those who tried it would understand. No wonder this little restaurant was so crowded; it was indeed delicious. There was no gamey taste to the lamb; grilled halfway before being served, it just needed a bit more flame to become exceptionally tender and juicy. The seafood, other meats, and offal were clean and fresh; no wonder, hidden deeply in the alley, it still had a full house of distinguished guests. It was truly a full house. They arrived earlier and found a spot, but by now, there was already a queue forming outside. The spot Bo Yan picked was indeed excellent, in a corner inside where nobody would notice that China¡¯s top celebrity couple was sitting in this restaurant. But Xia Siyu didn¡¯t care about that anymore. Following the meat came the offal, and she wasn¡¯t averse to it at all, enjoying the fatty pork skin and intestines immensely. Then came the seafood and vegetables. Bo Yan grilled continually while she ate without stopping, a rare indulgence on his part not to make her stop when she was 70% full. It was only when Xia Siyu felt she could eat no more, as if the food was almost reaching her throat, that Bo Yan leisurely began to grill his oysters, lamb kidneys, chives, and the like. Rolling them in pancakes, gripping the vegetables, he would snack on a few bites and follow with a sip of cola; happiness was just that simple. He quickly finished up, elegantly wiping his lips clean and even taking a wet wipe to carefully rub his hands. Xia Siyu snatched a wet wipe too and haphazardly scrubbed her face. The more Bo looked at her, the more he smiled, ¡°Stay still.¡± He moved from the opposite side of the table to sit next to her, and with the wet wipe, he delicately wiped the stains from her face. They were so close together that her little face, flushed from the grilling, looked redder, and since today she had played a youthful role, with hardly any makeup on, her natural, unembellished appearance seemed even more endearing. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With their back to the door and in a corner, Bo¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He slowly leaned towards her, intending to kiss her cheek. Unexpectedly, just as Bo approached, Xia Siyu, unsurprisingly¡ªlet out a burp with the scent of barbecue. She also showed her disdain, ¡°Go away, go away, you just ate chives!¡± Bo couldn¡¯t help but laugh. The restaurant was thoughtful, providing mints for customers. He took two, unwrapped one, and passed it over to Xia Siyu. Eagerly reaching for it, she didn¡¯t expect Bo to twist his hand around, popping the candy into his own mouth first. Xia Siyu got angry, ¡°Bo Yan, you¡¯re stealing my candy!¡± As soon as she spoke, Bo unwrapped another piece of candy and stuffed the mint into Xia Siyu¡¯s mouth. The mint was cool and refreshing. With one candy, not only was it reviving but also it filled her mouth and heart with a sweet taste. Chapter 699 - 696: Date (2) Chapter 699: Chapter 696: Date (2) Bo Yan also tapped his own cheek, and Xia Siyu, puzzled but pausing faintly, thought Bo Yan was hinting for a kiss and leaned toward the direction where his finger pointed to kiss him. Bo Yan was startled, then said, ¡°No, it¡¯s a small sesame seed on your face.¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s face reddened for a moment, but she wouldn¡¯t admit that she had misunderstood. Annoyedly, she said, ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you say so earlier! You just pointed at your face¡ªwho would know!¡± As she spoke, she tried to rub the sesame seed off her cheek with the back of her hand. Bo Yan hurriedly pulled her hand down, ¡°That¡¯s filthy.¡± Then, the next second, his lips accurately pressed against the small sesame seed on her face, his tongue sweeping over it. The sensation of warm, moist softness spread, and Xia Siyu felt a jolt, as if electrified. She stepped back and, with a feigned casualness, adjusted her hair. Her eyes blinked rapidly, clearly a bit flustered, ¡°And what was that for?¡± ¡°A return for a favor,¡± Bo Yan said with a slight smile. She had kissed him, so he returned the gesture. Bo Yan was a polite boy; he wouldn¡¯t let Xia Siyu feel short-changed. ¡°Also,¡± he continued while admiring her profile, ¡°My wife is really beautiful.¡± Under his gaze, Xia Siyu¡¯s cheeks, ears, and neck turned red in an instant. She quickly glanced at him, seeming to have something to say, but when the words reached her lips, they wouldn¡¯t come out. She just slightly lowered her head, turned around, and, with her back toward him, humphed softly, ¡°Of course, I¡¯m beautiful.¡± Bo Yan wanted to take a few more glances at her, but there were quite a few customers waiting for their meals. He stood up to pay with his phone, handed her the mask, ¡°Let¡¯s go, there are other customers waiting outside.¡± Xia Siyu hummed a response, her hand naturally entwining with his. Both wore masks, hats, and glasses, and dressed simply. When they left, nobody recognized them. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bo Yan walked with Xia Siyu through the alleyways, a bright moon hanging above, the lanes lit with multitudes of household lights¡ªpeaceful and warm. When a car passed by¡ªthe alleys being rather narrow¡ªBo Yan walked on the outer side, extending his arm to protect her. No need for grand vows or sweet nothings, just walking hand in hand made them feel overwhelmingly happy. Xia Siyu also knew why Bo Yan hadn¡¯t stopped her from eating more earlier, because he had planned to walk home with her the entire way. Under the streetlights, the outlines of French sycamores and gingko leaves interlaced; they walked on, hand in hand, as if the road stretched on without end. Bo Yan said he wanted to share life experiences with her¡ªnot just eating at roadside stalls or meandering through the streets¡ªbut once they reached the main road at the end of the alley, he didn¡¯t call for a car. Instead, he pulled her to take the bus. It was the weekend, the bus was fairly crowded, and Bo Yan led her inward to a spot by the window, standing with one hand on the handle and the other arm around her. Xia Siyu leaned into him wholeheartedly. The bus swayed and stopped, cozy and intimate. While waiting at red lights, they could gaze at the surrounding streets and the passing crowds. After passing a few neighborhoods, the bus became half empty. Bo Yan immediately said, ¡°Take a seat.¡± Xia Siyu shook her head within his embrace. Although indeed tired, she wanted to stand with him, so they could lean on each other and watch the moonlight outside the window. Chapter 700 - 697: Date (3) Chapter 700: Chapter 697: Date (3) The bus stop was still some distance away from the hotel where they were staying, yet neither of them mentioned taking a cab, preferring to walk through the tranquil streets instead. It was unexpected that their first date after getting back together consisted of street food and bus rides, but both Xia Siyu and Bo Yan were very happy and cherished the opportunity. Halfway through, Xia Siyu acted coquettishly, ¡°I¡¯m so tired, I can¡¯t walk anymore.¡± Bo Yan checked his phone, which showed there was only one and a half kilometers left to the hotel. The distance wasn¡¯t too far; it probably wouldn¡¯t even take five minutes by car, but walking would require twenty minutes. Bo Yan guessed she didn¡¯t want to call a cab either, but since they had walked a long way already, and she had been shooting all day, it was normal for her to feel tired, ¡°Do you want me to carry you on my back?¡± Xia Siyu immediately nodded, quickly positioning herself on the edge of the road with her arms outstretched, ready for him to carry her. There was no helping it, she was his wife. He couldn¡¯t just leave her there, so he could only say, ¡°I can carry you, but don¡¯t squirm around.¡± Xia Siyu agreed with a nod. However, as Bo Yan approached, she took a running start and leaped onto his back. Xia Siyu was trained in dance and had always kept up with physical exercise, so her leap landed her squarely on his back, causing Bo Yan to stagger two steps, ¡°Be gentle!¡± Though he was chiding her, his hands were still honestly sliding beneath her knees to hoist her up securely. Xia Siyu giggled without paying attention to his complaint, playfully swinging her legs up and down in the air. This wasn¡¯t the first time Bo Yan had carried her. Back in Sicily, when Xia Siyu had fallen asleep walking at night, he had, albeit reluctantly under the pressure of the program team, picked her up. But that time, Xia Siyu truly had been asleep, whereas now she was wide awake and spirited. Judging by her running start and leap just now, she was probably not as tired as she claimed and was merely acting spoiled to get a piggyback. Bo Yan teased her, ¡°You¡¯re so heavy.¡± In truth, she wasn¡¯t as heavy as in Sicily, when she had been completely asleep. Now, although she was fidgeting, at least she cooperated. No sooner had he spoken than Xia Siyu knocked on his head, ¡°Dare to call me heavy? Did I eat anything more than a few of your lamb skewers?¡± Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In fact, her weight had increased recently because she had put on weight during the three months in the Northwest, fed by Bo Yan. But how could a Little Fairy be called fat? Besides, even though her weight had gone up, her body hadn¡¯t become fat. The physical exertion from her daily work burned off most of her energy, and even though she didn¡¯t go to the gym every day, her figure hadn¡¯t grown chubbier, just more muscular. Bo Yan laughed as well, ¡°Yes, yes, you¡¯re beautiful, and you¡¯re right about everything.¡± Xia Siyu gave a hmph, ¡°That¡¯s more like it.¡± Bo Yan continued, ¡°Actually, I hope you can put on a bit more weight. When we got married, you were too thin. It might have looked good on camera, but it wasn¡¯t good for your health.¡± It¡¯s common for men to want their wives a bit plumper; ideally, gaining weight only in the chest and hips while staying slim elsewhere. However, most entertainers are too thin, looking as if their clothes are hanging on racks, empty and devoid of shape. When they got married, that was when she faced the harshest criticism, upon leaving her former company. Although Xia Siyu didn¡¯t care about criticism, no one likes being inundated with negative reviews, so it had certainly affected her. Moreover, changing companies represented the first crisis of her career. Chapter 701 - 698: Date (4) Chapter 701: Chapter 698: Date (4) And now, the second crisis had arrived. But this time, she was luckier, because he was there. Xia Siyu snorted, she was quite satisfied with her current figure, but body shape and delicacies are the two major pursuits for a woman, as well as mortal enemies that couldn¡¯t coexist. She would worry about getting mocked and trending on social media another time, for now, she was still the most beautiful Little Fairy! It wasn¡¯t very early anymore, and the shops on the commercial street were starting to close. This was an alley behind the bustling area. It was okay during the day, but now it was deserted. The dim streetlights outlined the shadows of the two of them overlapping each other. Even though it was already autumn, even though the leaves on the trees were turning red and yellow, he still felt so warm. Xia Siyu hummed a tune slowly, Bo Yan listened carefully and realized it was a nursery rhyme. Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t someone who adored children; even during shoots that involved charming babies, he had never heard her sing a nursery rhyme before. For some reason, Bo Yan suddenly thought of her mother. Compelled by an uncanny force, he blurted out, ¡°Your mom sang this to you, didn¡¯t she?¡± Xia Siyu was in a good mood today and hummed an affirmation, ¡°Yeah!¡± Bo Yan knew that her mother was her Achilles¡¯ heel, always meticulously treasured, never to be brought up until she could hold her head high in triumph. She was afraid of embarrassing herself, afraid of attracting the vitriol of her haters towards her. He dared not directly ask about her parents, so he could only broach the subject from his own angle. Bo Yan sighed with emotion as well. ¡°That¡¯s nice. My parents left me when I was in elementary school. To this day¡­ I can only remember a blurry image of them, even the nursery rhymes my mom sang to me, and the wooden horse my dad crafted for me, I can only recall them through photos and videos.¡± Xia Siyu paused; she, of course, was aware of Bo Yan¡¯s family circumstances, but likewise, rarely heard him talk about it. She might appear careless on the outside but was actually tender-hearted inside. In the old house, Xia Siyu had been moved by the secret cabin where Bo Yan hid his past. Children with unhappy families, their entire lives are spent redeeming the misfortunes of their childhoods. Meeting someone with a similar fate exerted an inexplicable attraction. She didn¡¯t know how to comfort him, just as Bo Yan didn¡¯t know how to ask about her mother. But Xia Siyu was much more straightforward than Bo Yan, she asked, ¡°Do you still remember them now?¡± Bo Yan nodded, ¡°Although I have forgotten many things, occasional flashbacks in my mind do remind me of many significant moments. Like spending Christmas with my parents, baking cakes with my mom, assembling model planes with my dad. I remember writing about my dream in elementary school; my ambition was to become a man like my dad, upright and honorable, and then to marry a virtuous wife like my mom.¡± Xia Siyu immediately took offense, ¡°So, you haven¡¯t realized your dream, have you?¡± She was so upset that she wanted to get down immediately, twisting and struggling, ¡°Let me down!¡± Bo Yan said, ¡°Just hear me out. When I turned eighteen, I had an ambition too: to make a contribution in academia and then to marry a wife with shared goals. Then at twenty-two, my dream was to make a contribution in academia and marry Xia Siyu. And now, my dream is to make my own movie, with Xia Siyu as my leading lady. And marry Xia Siyu.¡± S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 702 - 699: Date (5) Chapter 702: Chapter 699: Date (5) Xia Siyu¡¯s mouth had already curved into a particularly sharp arc, yet she still argued, ¡°But I heard that dreams are what can¡¯t be realized, and ideals are things you can achieve if you work hard enough.¡± Bo Yan immediately changed his tune, ¡°Then, my ideal now is to make a film of my own, with me as the male lead and you as the female lead. My dream is for us to be together forever.¡± Xia Siyu was about to respond, but Bo Yan cut her off, ¡°Don¡¯t speak yet, listen to me finish. In a person¡¯s life, there are many joys and sorrows, unions and partings. Even if I swear by the mountains and the seas here, various circumstances may arise in the future that could prevent us from being together. If I were to leave this world tragically, like my parents left me, then you need not consider my feelings. If there¡¯s a better choice for you in the future, you must choose it. Because I¡¯m not selfishly trying to hold on to you, I just want what¡¯s best for you.¡± Xia Siyu paused for a moment. A few simple sentences warmed her heart more than any promise of ¡°living and dying together, never changing our hearts.¡± In the past, she chose Bo Yan simply because he was handsome, and she was drawn to his looks. Recently, she chose Bo Yan because he was the best option so far. Whether in terms of appearance, family background, character, or their work and adversaries, they were a perfect match. It was less about how much she liked Bo Yan, and more about how compatible he was with her. But at this moment, she had a direct feeling, a sense that Bo Yan loved her much more than she loved him. Bo Yan was so possessive that he would get jealous even when she used Qin Baizhou¡¯s phone or looked at other people¡¯s children. But when it came to life choices, he always respected hers. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Why do you like me so much?¡± Xia Siyu felt a bit suffocated and leaned on his shoulder as she spoke. Indeed, when she reflected on their past, aside from the ambiguous relationship Bo Yan and Xia Sicai had back then, and the fact that he was rather dog-like, there really wasn¡¯t much else to criticize. Bo Yan was taken aback, ¡°Does liking someone need a reason?¡± He liked that she was beautiful, had a great figure, enjoyed her cheerful personality, loved her passion for work, admired her perseverance. He liked her straightforwardness, not bound by fans. He appreciated her self-awareness, knowing her flaws and working hard to improve. And she was also very kind. To this extent, she gave him courage. In very clich¨¦ terms: It started with looks, deepened with talent, and was cemented with character. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t respond. Bo Yan carried her on his back, walking all the way to the hotel. Just before they arrived, she murmured, ¡°Apart from my mother, no one has ever been so good to me.¡± Bo Yan slowed his steps slightly, his voice becoming incredibly soft, like the night wind, like the dim yellow glow of the streetlights, ¡°Can you tell me about your mother? She must have been a very gentle and strong person to have raised you so well.¡± Xia Siyu was silent for a long, long time, until they arrived at the hotel lobby. Bo Yan set her down, and they took separate elevators. They returned to their rooms one after the other, and it wasn¡¯t until she was through the door that Xia Siyu finally spoke, ¡°My mother¡¯s name is Wen Qunxiao.¡± Bo Yan nodded, ¡°I know, she¡¯s a two-time best actress winner and has also won a dance gold award. A very impressive person. No wonder you take her as your role model and aim to win the best actress award before you turn thirty.¡± Xia Siyu let out a bitter laugh, ¡°She was very strict, but she also loved me very much. However, I¡¯ve always felt that her life might have been better without me.¡± Chapter 703 - 700: Date (6) Chapter 703: Chapter 700: Date (6) Wen Qunxiao and Xia Youbiao had a shotgun wedding. At that time, Wen Qunxiao was still caught in the maelstrom of her ex-boyfriend slinging mud at her. Although she had won two Best Actress awards, the public sentiment back then was too conservative; a scandal could bury someone¡¯s career in the entertainment industry, and now, it has even become a tool for hype. A woman, a famous woman, as long as someone pins the label of ¡°a messy private life¡± on you, countless ¡°righteous bystanders¡± will emerge to verbally and writingly attack you. Even all the hard work you put into your career is attributed to sleeping your way to the top. You¡¯re only thirty years old, you¡¯ve only left dance for acting a few years, you don¡¯t have any background, so how could you achieve so much? It must have been gained through your body! Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Her relationship with Xia Youbiao was kept a secret, and the Xia Family, being quite a conservative and prominent household, didn¡¯t want their descendants to get involved with actors from the entertainment circle. Wen Qunxiao had two Best Actress awards, and her reputation was good at the time, so there weren¡¯t many concerns when the two of them were together. She had just gotten pregnant, and they were preparing to tell their parents when slander hit. The Xia Family, naturally, wouldn¡¯t accept a daughter-in-law with such a poor reputation. The usually compliant Xia Youbiao did the most daring thing in his life, standing up against his family¡¯s pressure to register their marriage with Wen Qunxiao, both of them looking forward to the birth of Xia Siyu with great expectation. But what Xia Youbiao didn¡¯t foresee was that, even though they were now husband and wife, even though they had a child, they still could not gain the acceptance of the Xia Family. Xia Youbiao wasn¡¯t afraid of being disowned, knowing that lost wealth could be regained, and he could earn money for his wife and daughter by himself. However, he did not want to sever ties with his parents and family, especially fearful that Xia Ju¡¯an and Xia Sicai, the two children, would not acknowledge him. Wen Qunxiao understood his dilemma, and she had her pride too, preferring to take their child across the ocean rather than wage war with her husband and his family. So what good is love, thought Xia Siyu, who grew up fearing men who all love without responsibility and commitment. When she grew up, she somewhat understood her father, after all, one can¡¯t live solely on love in life. But understanding did not mean forgiving. She always thought her mother was such a wonderful person, that without her being tied down by the Xia Family, even if she had to flee far away, she could have had a better life. She could have had her own career, and now, with the social environment improved, she wouldn¡¯t have to carry the burden of her past reputation. She actually didn¡¯t believe in love. Even though she liked Bo Yan, it was just a fondness, a quick thrill, and she would leave even faster, never allowing love to entangle her heart. But Bo Yan was too good to her, and although she still couldn¡¯t fully accept him due to the unresolved issue in her heart, she was beginning to open up to him little by little. That night, Xia Siyu lay flat, while Bo Yan lay on his side, not doing anything particularly intimate, but for the first time, they opened up to each other, starting to communicate genuinely. Thus, although Xia Siyu didn¡¯t say it outright, Bo Yan vaguely guessed that their breakup seven years ago was because of the Xia Family, because of her mother. But he was also happy; this was the first time Xia Siyu calmly spoke about her unspeakable secrets and her parents¡¯ past in front of him. No wonder she wasn¡¯t afraid of cyberbullying; her mother was the first victim of verbal violence. Rumors destroyed her mother, destroyed her family; she learned her lessons and considered the haters as nothing. ¡°So, I don¡¯t like the Xia Family at all, I hate my dad, I hate Mrs. Tong, I hate Xia Sicai, I hate everyone who wronged my mother.¡± Chapter 704 - 701: Swimming (1) Chapter 704: Chapter 701: Swimming (1) ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Suddenly, Bo Yan said in a muffled voice. Xia Siyu turned her head to look at him, and his eyes were full of remorse. He didn¡¯t know she had been through all this. Now, looking back, he realized their relationship had begun to sour when Xia Sicai came to the school to look for him. Xia Siyu wouldn¡¯t cause a scene, and he never felt he had mistreated his girlfriend. Although Sicai was close, he had always regarded her only as a friend and had never been ambiguous with her. The problem wasn¡¯t just closeness with someone else, even Wu Di, but specifically with Sicai. ¡°At that time, I didn¡¯t know about your relationship with Sicai, so I didn¡¯t avoid her either. But I assure you, I¡¯ve never wronged you,¡± he said. If it were the other way around, if Siyu had continued to associate with Bo Yi while dating him, he would have been unable to bear it too. ¡°Mm,¡± Siyu simply nodded. Those days were in the past, and she wasn¡¯t someone who liked to dredge up old grievances. Now, she and Bo Yan were natural allies. If it weren¡¯t for being destined to stand opposite Bo Yi and Sicai, she wouldn¡¯t have dared to fall for him. Bo Yan shifted his body closer to her. He propped up his head with one arm while lying on his side and gently smoothed her disheveled hair with the other hand. His fingers grazed her cheek, making her eyes gleam brightly. ¡°I don¡¯t want to recite sweet nothings, and I don¡¯t think vows are that important. But from now on, I will try hard to work towards the same direction as you, whether it¡¯s in our careers or family life. As for everything else, we¡¯ll leave it to fate.¡± Love isn¡¯t a reliable foundation for a relationship¡ªcommon interests are. She and Bo Yan shared the same interests and enemies, which was the basis for their marriage. As long as they shared the same interests, it would be hard for a couple to fall apart. Just like her parents, who lacked common interests; even if they stayed together, they were nothing but a resentful couple. Of course, if love were part of the equation, that would be even better. ¡°I believe you,¡± Siyu said. For the present Siyu, trust was more important than love. With those simple four words, Bo Yan¡¯s lips curled into a smile. He inched closer again, this time not propping up his forehead with his arm, but wrapping it around her head, allowing her to rest against his arm as his fingers gently weaved through her hair at the back of her head. Siyu obediently snuggled closer and rubbed her head against his arm to find a comfortable position, ¡°Let¡¯s sleep.¡± And then she fell asleep within a second. The time was just past eleven, early for night owls, but late for those who had to get up early for filming. But Bo Yan wasn¡¯t concerned; he had eaten his fill today, indulging in foods like lamb kidneys and oysters with chives, which left him feeling rather frisky. But Siyu was already asleep, and she slept so sweetly that, more than blatant communication, tonight¡¯s quiet talk had pleased him even more. Perhaps their start hadn¡¯t been all that glorious, beginning with the physical aspect. But now, they were gradually adding trust, aspirations, and love to their relationship. In the near future, they should be just like any other loving couple in the world. That day shouldn¡¯t be too far away. ** The next day, having had a good night¡¯s sleep and having spoken her mind, Siyu was visibly more relaxed and in a better state than the day before. Even the gray shadows under her eyes from overindulging the night before had disappeared. Apart from being less light-footed due to eating more, she was practically a schoolgirl. Today¡¯s main filming was still at the high school, taking advantage of the weekend when the students were off to get the outdoor scenes shot quickly. On Monday, they moved to a new location, a swimming pool, to shoot a scene where the male and female characters take swimming lessons. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 705 - 702: Swimming (2) Chapter 705: Chapter 702: Swimming (2) Since swimming was involved, it was natural that they had to wear swimsuits. This had been written in the script a long time ago, including the scene where the male lead and his buddies went to admire the beauties (mainly the female lead). This was also a key scene in the movie, which they would probably use for the poster later on. To prepare for the swimsuit shoot, Xia Siyu had strictly forbidden Bo Yan from touching her the night before. She was worried that a slight lapse in his attention could leave a mark, which wouldn¡¯t be good for the film. Bo had abstained for two days, saving his energy. Originally, he was supposed to leave today, but because he got nothing, he decided to stay one more night. Plus, his wife shooting in a swimsuit would easily draw attention. Bo was very aware of how good Xia Siyu¡¯s figure was, seeing it every day. If any frivolous suitor came to leave their mark, it would be more trouble than it was worth. Not to mention, he could see the first ¡°frivolous suitor¡± from a distance ¡ª Glasses Guy. The two crews had been filming separately these past days, and he hadn¡¯t seen Glasses Guy in a long time. Not only Glasses Guy, but Han Yifan had also been busy arranging things after he had given him a ¡°tip¡± and hadn¡¯t appeared either. Today they were at a university swimming pool, and unexpectedly, he ran into Shang Feifei. She was also here to film, playing tennis. Since both were sporting activities, the tennis courts were right next to the swimming pool. With two big stars suddenly appearing on campus, the students of Shangcheng University were in an uproar! Of course, it would¡¯ve been better if they could see the one in the swimming pool, but since the pool was an enclosed space, they couldn¡¯t see anything unless they used high-powered binoculars from the next dormitory building. But it was different for Shang Feifei. The tennis courts were usually outdoors, and no matter how desperately the crew tried, they couldn¡¯t keep everyone away. Glasses Guy was rarely available on a Monday like today, but Feifei didn¡¯t want to make it public, and it would be too conspicuous if he lingered nearby. Just as Feifei was getting ready, the bus from the ¡°Youth 2¡± crew drove in. The moment Glasses Guy saw them heading into the swimming pool, his eyes lit up. He coughed and said, ¡°I¡¯ll watch you from the bleachers.¡± Shang Feifei didn¡¯t think much of it, and besides, she and Glasses Guy were not that close. It was better if he chose to keep a distance. Glasses Guy lingered around for a bit longer before heading to the swimming pool. As soon as he entered the swimming pool, an exclamation was heard from across the way. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t need much adornment either. Swimming even required wearing a swim cap, which completely covered her long black hair. But she had a beautifully shaped head, with symmetrical features and a full forehead, which, even tightly wrapped by the swim cap, did not detract from her beauty; on the contrary, it accentuated her fresh and natural charm. Some people who were not very white needed to apply foundation over their entire body, but she needed none of it. Xia Siyu was naturally pale and had long legs with not an ounce of extra flesh on her body. Not to mention her well-defined curves. In short, wrapped in a towel and wearing a somewhat conservative one-piece swimsuit, she captivated everyone the moment she appeared. Even with the second and third leading ladies by her side, her extraordinary beauty made her stand out. She possessed the innocence of a young girl and the charm of a woman. After all, having been famous for so many years, if she hadn¡¯t had the skills, she would have long been weeded out by the ruthless entertainment industry. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the face of pure beauty, all talent, acting skills, and scandals had to stand aside. Bo wasn¡¯t opposed to her filming in a swimsuit; after all, it was legitimate work. If other people admired her, he wasn¡¯t jealous; he just felt good about his own discerning eye for having won her over early on. The only pity was that he wasn¡¯t the male lead. Chapter 706 - 703: Swimming (3) Chapter 706: Chapter 703: Swimming (3) Bo Yan managed to get in, thanks to Xia Siyu. He had Wei Jingjing get him a staff ID, and grandly became Xia Siyu¡¯s assistant, blending in naturally. Anyway, with the pandemic going on, he was wearing super baggy work clothes that hid his physique, along with a baseball cap, a face mask, and even large black-rimmed glasses with lenses as thick as the bottom of a beer bottle. In the world of showbiz, where attractive people abound, he didn¡¯t show his face and made himself look a bit scruffy, blending completely into the crowd. During the pandemic, wearing a mask all the time was a bit odd, but it didn¡¯t attract special attention. On the other hand, there was Glasses Guy, who had registered with both the adjacent film crew and this one, confidently using his work badge to come in and, upon arrival, ogling Xia Siyu¡¯s figure. If one must say, men, as long as they have a normal orientation, like women with good curves. In a strict sense, Xia Siyu¡¯s figure wasn¡¯t top-notch compared to some naturally endowed Europeans and Americans with truly impressive busts. However, Xia Siyu already had a rare good figure in East Asia, and coupled with her looks, she was an absolute killer. Glasses Guy, taking advantage of his high vantage point and unnoticed by others, looked at her with an eye so direct and hot. No wonder Shang Feifei had to rely on an ¡°actress¡± title to be barely on par with Xia Siyu¡ªgenuinely, I¡¯m too envious of her rumored boyfriends. If the rumors are true. It was clearly autumn, yet they had to portray the sweltering heat of a summer day, with the sun shining in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, giving the impression that heat was still radiating off after a swim. But what was even hotter were the figures of the female characters, especially Xia Siyu¡¯s. Filming began. ¡°Youth 2¡± was not some R-rated film. Even in swimsuits, they were all conservatively designed, and there was no clich¨¦d scene where the heroine drowns and the hero jumps in to save her. Instead, the rich and beautiful heroine was a good swimmer, while the hero, encouraged by his brothers, managed a few doggie strokes. But the heroine beautifully dove in with a sleek curve, performing crisp breaststrokes and freestyle before turning back with an arrogant, mocking smile. Then it was the hero who ended up drowning and being rescued by his brothers. For Xia Siyu, who grew up by the Sicilian Sea, swimming and diving were as simple as eating and breathing. To avoid getting wet before the shoot, the scenes on shore were filmed first. Xia Siyu simply walked over with a few friends, her dazzlingly white skin and the natural sway of her chest as she walked already making eyes swirl. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. When it was time to actually get in the water, whether it was finding angles to dive, displaying various swimming strokes, or the scene of her wet hair sticking to her cheeks after swimming, along with her pure, unpretentious smile¡ªshe wore no makeup, completely bare-faced. This bare-faced look would be one of the selling points of the movie. Xia Siyu had absolute confidence in her natural beauty and didn¡¯t hesitate to flaunt her charm. From initially admiring her, Bo Yan gradually began to frown, and eventually, he almost wished he could drag a certain someone out of the water and give them a good thrashing. That guy must have known Bo Yan was watching from the sidelines and deliberately twisted his attractive body toward him, even directing him, ¡°You, bring me some water, I want to drink.¡± When Bo Yan handed her the water, he intentionally pinched the palm of her hand, ¡°Wait for it tonight¡­ just wait.¡± Chapter 707 - 704: Swimming (4) Chapter 707: Chapter 704: Swimming (4) Xia Siyu was not shy about it at all. She even deliberately twisted her body around, presenting her back to Bo Yan and said, ¡°Help me adjust this, I feel that the clothing is a little tight against my back.¡± In front of so many people, she did this with such boldness and grace. Though Xia Siyu was wearing a conservative one-piece swimsuit, it still revealed a bit of her back. A large expanse of dazzlingly white skin and evenly proportioned muscles were indeed tempting to the point of criminality. Although he had seen her beautiful curves and physique countless times at night, the feeling was completely different in broad daylight, under the big sun, and under the gaze of so many people. It wasn¡¯t an exaggeration to say that his parts began to engorge instantly, and if it weren¡¯t for the roomy clothing and pants, it would have been nearly impossible to conceal. Bo Yan knew that she was doing this on purpose. As he didn¡¯t move, she deliberately twisted her body again. That twist accentuated her slender waist and perky lower half, an undeniable temptation to sin! Although it was a one-piece swimsuit, the bottom was a bikini-type, allowing for a clear view of the swimsuit¡¯s hemline tracing a fine arc, with the lowest point tucked into her private areas. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bo Yan hadn¡¯t made a move yet, but a bunch of young wolves around him was already preparing to pounce. The male lead, who initially didn¡¯t have much interest in Xia Siyu, now looked at her with serious appreciation after the swimsuit change, and despite having swum to the opposite side, he said with a sincere face, ¡°Let me do it! I¡¯ll help you!¡± A few other supporting male actors emerged as well, ¡°There¡¯s no need to bother him, I can do it.¡± Xia Siyu smiled gracefully, the image of unaffected ease. What is a seductive calamity? This was it! No wonder her scandals were so vividly discussed! Then it was Bo Yan¡¯s turn. At first, he dared not make a move, but now, hearing the chaotic voices around him, he hurriedly pretended to adjust her clothing, even politely bowing at her as if saluting or reporting something before swiftly retreating. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t look back, treating Bo Yan as if he were just an ordinary staff member not worth extra attention. The director was full of praise for her on-shore, diving, and subsequent swimming shots. The only part he wasn¡¯t completely satisfied with was the scene where she emerged from the water. Many directors love the image of a beauty emerging from a bath. The moment when the body surges out of the water, splashing droplets everywhere, the natural and unadorned beauty, alongside a perfectly timed expression of innocence and charm, is simultaneously alluring and pure, suitable only for distant admiration, not for wanton play. A bit too much and it¡¯s considered artificial; any less, and it¡¯s bland. How to capture that moment correctly relied not only on beauty but also on acting skills. The ideal was to see the sparkle in her pupils at that instance, not allowing the reflector boards to get too close to avoid ruining that raw, natural essence. The director filmed several takes, and Xia Siyu professionally submerged herself numerous times in the water. Once she emerged too rapidly and even choked on water, coughing continuously in the water. Bo Yan felt a bit heartbroken, but having just appeared earlier, it would be inappropriate for him to approach again. Yet if Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t recover her good condition, they wouldn¡¯t be able to shoot the following scenes. But soon, Xia Siyu adjusted her mindset, and this time she emerged from the water facing the distant Bo Yan. Through the hazy mist, she saw Bo Yan. Even though she couldn¡¯t see clearly, she bit her lower lip coyly, her face full of genuine joy and a touch of shyness. The director¡¯s camera captured this moment perfectly. Chapter 708 - 705: Swimming (5) Chapter 708: Chapter 705: Swimming (5) S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Sometimes, classics are just like that, they come into being almost inadvertently. Even when the state of everything seemed off before, it was precisely in that moment of sudden inspiration that everything clicked into place. This time, the director truly appreciated Xia Siyu. While filming ¡°Youth 1,¡± Xia Siyu was at the nadir of her career. Moreover, her previous company, in an attempt to spite her, had sold her contract to this company for a pittance. After the movie was wrapped up, due to a lack of funds, there seemed to be no money for post-production, which delayed the release for two years. To everyone¡¯s surprise, the box office returns were not bad. Even so, when it came time to film the sequel, with the production somewhat more financial secure than before, they offered Xia Siyu a higher salary. Since it was a series, Qin Baizhou decided to take it for her. At first, both the production company and the director were afraid they wouldn¡¯t recoup the costs, but Xia Siyu¡¯s performance now¡ªshe was worth every penny! The swimming pool scenes had to be finished during the daytime, and the crew had only rented the facility for one day. Siyu even joked, ¡°Does that mean we can go back early today?¡± She had intentionally called Bo Yan over just to entice him. If they could finish shooting early in the evening, she could rest up for the next day¡¯s filming. The director smiled slightly, then shook his head, ¡°No.¡± Xia Siyu looked disappointed. The director added, ¡°We have night scenes scheduled for tonight. We¡¯ll be shooting in the alleys and lanes, but you can go back and rest a bit after dinner.¡± What good would a little rest do? All the leads had been in the water and would surely need to go back to take a shower and redo their makeup. Siyu didn¡¯t want to waste any time. Bo Yan would be leaving tomorrow, and she was determined to spend the evening with him. ¡°Then let¡¯s go straight to filming after dinner. The sooner we finish, the sooner we can rest. I¡¯m exhausted from all that swimming earlier.¡± The director, aiming for perfection, had her repeatedly fine-tune that emerging-from-water shot, aside from the diving and swimming scenes she had filmed earlier, for at least an hour or two. That meant she had spent three to four hours in the swimming pool today, in addition to the scenes shot on the poolside, the entire day¡¯s effort had been consumed by the swimming pool scenes. It was fortunate she exercised regularly, as this level of intensity was equivalent to a regular two-hour workout at the gym for her. But it was clear to see that the male actors were struggling, despite the male lead being a former idol, who had neglected his practice for quite some time and was now visibly tired. The director seemed a bit troubled, ¡°But those guys¡­¡± Siyu smiled and said, ¡°They are all quite formidable, working out regularly with great physique. You guys can do it, right?¡± At that moment, none of the gentlemen could admit to being ¡°unable¡±, so they all nodded in agreement. Siyu¡¯s eyes crinkled with mirth, ¡°Then it¡¯s happily decided.¡± When it was time to part ways, Bo Yan walked a different path from Xia Siyu; he pretended to be packing up his things and didn¡¯t follow her to her car. There were many assistants around a star, and it was not unusual for one or two to not follow the main group. However, it wasn¡¯t just Bo Yan, who was deliberately taking a detour to avoid suspicion, but also another person¡ª the guy with the glasses who had left earlier to meet up with Shang Feifei. To avoid raising suspicions, Siyu went back to the hotel with the main group, dined with them, spent less than thirty minutes showering and getting ready, then came out to do her makeup and film again. They kept filming until ten o¡¯clock at night before wrapping up for the day. Siyu also returned with the main group to the hotel. Once there, she could barely contain her excitement and was about to rush upstairs to reunite with Bo Yan when the director stopped her to revise a scene. By eleven o¡¯clock, she finally headed upstairs. As soon as the elevator doors opened, she ran directly into someone. Chapter 709 - 706: Swimming (6) Chapter 709: Chapter 706: Swimming (6) ¡°Miss Xia, good evening.¡± Xiay Siyu looked up and recognized the guy with glasses. He was wearing a casual white shirt, looking quite genteel, seemingly having taken a special effort to bathe, as his body exuded a faint scent of shower gel and shampoo. Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t be bothered with him; they weren¡¯t close, so what was there to say? Besides, he was still Shang Feifei¡¯s rumored boyfriend, and she needed to avoid any semblance of impropriety. Moreover, Bo Yan was waiting for her in the room. They had agreed that she would return early, but now it was already eleven o¡¯clock. She still had to pretend to be highly diligent, humbly accepting the director¡¯s walkthrough of the scenes, not uttering a single unpleasant word, for fear of giving herself away. It was just a relationship, but it felt like a secret underground party meeting. Still, she had her basic manners, so she lightly replied, ¡°Good evening.¡± sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Without giving him another glance, she intended to bypass him. Having taken just a couple of steps, the guy with glasses called her, ¡°Miss Xia.¡± Xia Siyu simply shook her head, ¡°Any matters, let¡¯s talk tomorrow, I¡¯m a bit tired now.¡± Having said that, she hurried along in her high heels, rushing to her door like she was on fiery wheels. At her room¡¯s entrance, Xia Siyu slowed down, took out her room card, and gently swiped the door open; the room was dark, as if unoccupied. After Xia Siyu inserted the room card into the power switch, the electricity came on, and the room was tidy with the curtains drawn and the air conditioner starting up, looking as though no one was there. Xia Siyu even peeked into the bathroom, hmm, no one there either. Feeling a bit puzzled while walking forward, she prepared to call Bo Yan. Where could he possibly have gone late at night? It couldn¡¯t be that he went looking for another woman, right? Just as she reached the room via the corridor, Bo Yan, who had been hiding on the side, waited to scare her deliberately. Xia Siyu indeed jumped in fright, nearly dropping her phone. Once she recovered, she began to pound his chest with her little fists, ¡°Why are you so annoying, so annoying! You scared me to death, do you know that? I thought you had left.¡± While Bo Yan endured her punches, he embraced her; and by the time she finished speaking, he held her tightly and even kissed her, ¡°Who told you to make me wait so long? I¡¯ve been waiting so long the flowers are wilting, okay?¡± Xia Siyu was still hitting him, ¡°But you can¡¯t just scare me! Are you wrong or not?¡± Bo Yan smiled, ¡°I¡¯m wrong, I¡¯m wrong. My dear wife, I¡¯m at fault.¡± He stooped down and picked her up sideways, taking a deep breath. But suddenly he paused and asked, ¡°Wife, did you come into contact with a dog outside?¡± ¡°What?¡± Xia Siyu was taken aback, and Bo Yan added, ¡°I mean someone else. Did you meet someone just now?¡± He did have a nose like a dog¡¯s, having participated in a survival summer camp in Europe and America as a child, and was very sensitive to scents. Xia Siyu carried the smell of cigarettes and beer, and also men¡¯s cosmetics and perfume. This was normal, as she went straight to the director after filming, with neither she nor any of the male actors or director having had the chance to take a shower. But beyond that, there was a hint of the aroma of shower gel and shampoo. After thinking for a moment, Xia Siyu nodded, ¡°I saw Shang Feifei¡¯s boyfriend when I got out of the elevator just now.¡± It was that guy with glasses¡ªBo Yan took note. He wasn¡¯t about to let a messy person ruin their lovely evening. He immediately carried Xia Siyu to the bathroom, ¡°There isn¡¯t any scene at the pool tomorrow, right? Then, can I be a bit happier tonight?¡± Chapter 710 - 707: New Scandal (1) Chapter 710: Chapter 707: New Scandal (1) Xia Siyu still wanted to act coquettishly as she wriggled and said, ¡°I don¡¯t want to go to the bathtub, I¡¯ve soaked in the water for too long today, I don¡¯t want to go to the bathtub.¡± Such a small matter, Bo Yan, as her husband, certainly could satisfy her. He carried her to the shower, closed the glass door of the shower, and planted a kiss on her shoulder with a smile, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll definitely satisfy you. I¡¯ll wash you clean and fragrant, inside and out.¡± ¡­ An hour later, Xia Siyu was carried limp onto the bed by him. She knew she would have been better off in the bathtub, what with standing like that, lifting her legs, or hanging on him¡ªit was just like practicing dance. She didn¡¯t even have the chance to sit or lie down and rest. Bo Yan was well-fed and quenched, and right then he was exceptionally obsequious, saying in good-heartedness, ¡°How about I give you a massage?¡± Xia Siyu immediately agreed and quickly lay face down. Bo Yan skillfully took out the essential oil, rubbed it evenly in his palms, and began to knead her. Under the dim light, Xia Siyu chatted sporadically. Bo Yan had to catch the early morning flight tomorrow, and there was a live broadcast tomorrow night. The day after tomorrow, he was to start shooting for a film. The two of them each had their own activities, and this time Bo Yan might not be able to come see her so easily. Also, in half a month it would be Bo Yan¡¯s birthday. He would turn thirty this year, a significant milestone, but it seemed he could only spend it on set, and at that time Xia Siyu also had to shoot her film, totally incapable of freeing up any time. Regarding his birthday, Bo Yan never brought it up. He was a man, and birthdays were something only very young children or the elderly cared about. Even turning thirty was just another experience for him; he had no desire to waste time on it. He had spent his previous birthdays on set, and back then his relationship with Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t good¡ªthey had no interaction whatsoever. He didn¡¯t even know if Xia Siyu was aware that it was his birthday on that day. Halfway through their massage, Xia Siyu suddenly turned her head. Her movement was so abrupt that Bo Yan, with nowhere else to put his hand, instantly grabbed her Play-Doh. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t mind, and she said, ¡°I think there¡¯s something off about Shang Feifei¡¯s boyfriend. It seems like he¡¯s interested in me.¡± Bo Yan was momentarily stunned, initially thinking she had finally remembered his birthday and feeling a twinge of excitement, but he hadn¡¯t expected it to be about this. He had already smelt her scent and figured it out long ago. But it didn¡¯t matter, as arrangements had already been made with Han Yifan. This guy might not be good at other things, but when it came to spotting all sorts of women, he was an expert. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, this guy with the glasses was really too bold. Shang Feifei was staying in the same hotel, and he dared to flirt with Xia Siyu! Did he think that because she¡¯d had a lot of scandals before, she seemed like someone who was casual in relationships, so he could just act recklessly? It seemed that a single Han Yifan was not enough to teach this jerk a lesson. He should leverage other connections to check if there¡¯s anything amiss with the pharmaceutical company behind him, such as regulatory violations, a shortfall in the capital chain, false advertising, or the like. If you¡¯re going to hit him, you¡¯ve got to hit him hard! Bo Yan was furious, but he didn¡¯t let it show, ¡°Today, you were flirting and twirling around in the swimming pool. It¡¯s no surprise that bad peaches attract all sorts of bees and butterflies.¡± His hand was still on her Play-Doh, and his big hand could just about grasp it perfectly; it felt so good that he couldn¡¯t help but give it a squeeze. Xia Siyu, feeling annoyed, prepared to swat his paw away, ¡°I¡¯m talking about a serious matter.¡± ¡°I¡¯m also dealing with a serious matter,¡± he retorted. Chapter 711 - 708: New Scandal (2) Chapter 711: Chapter 708: New Scandal (2) Xia Siyu was no easy target; she was hot-headed and would insist on finishing one task before starting another, refusing to multitask. She slapped away Bo Yan¡¯s hand, clearly displeased. In fact, with her reputation and looks, there was never a shortage of admirers chasing after her. She used to not even bother looking at them, let alone return their glances. Whether he was Shang Feifei¡¯s rumored boyfriend or her actual boyfriend made no difference to her. She had seen plenty of rich and powerful men who juggled multiple relationships and still bothered her. But Bo Yan was her husband, eh? Weren¡¯t men supposed to be possessive? How could he not be angry at all? ¡°Someone¡¯s harassing your girlfriend, eh, and you¡¯re not angry?¡± Xia Siyu pushed Bo Yan away, her face still showing her annoyance. ¡°Who says I¡¯m not angry? I¡¯m very angry,¡± Bo Yan said calmly, not struggling when she pushed him away. ¡°You¡¯re angry my ass.¡± She could never be happy with such a dismissive response. It was said that a man only disregards his partner¡¯s suitors if he doesn¡¯t care much about her in the first place. Bo Yan immediately made a ¡°gnashing teeth¡± grimace, and even chuckled, ¡°Is that better now?¡± Xia Siyu was initially very annoyed, but when she saw his ferocious expression, she ended up laughing. She turned her head saying, ¡°Pah, you¡¯re not sincere at all.¡± Despite her words, the curve of her lips was genuine. When Bo Yan said he was going to ¡°take action,¡± he was just joking; he had already had his fill and was not in such a hurry for amorous activities. He wrapped his arm around Xia Siyu¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re just too impatient. It¡¯s not like my showing off will make him back off. Besides, if he dares to hit on you while he¡¯s still Shang Feifei¡¯s boyfriend, it¡¯s clear he doesn¡¯t take either of you seriously. Of course, you still need to reject him. But don¡¯t worry about the follow-up measures.¡± As soon as Xia Siyu heard this, her eyes lit up. She sat up and turned to look at him, ¡°What kind of measures?¡± Bo Yan watched her bouncing silhouette with her movements, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbing, ¡°You want to know?¡± Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t going to let his threats affect her; she quickly turned away, ¡°Hmph, don¡¯t say it then. I don¡¯t want to listen.¡± As she turned her head, her silhouette swayed even more vigorously, making Bo Yan a bit dizzy. Her prideful demeanor may have repelled some admirers, but it was also somewhat challenging. Like a rose, beautiful yet thorny. But on the other hand, if there were no thorns, smooth sailing, that would be quite dull. She was just right. If she wanted to listen, he was, of course, willing to teach her. There was no need for Xia Siyu to change her temperament and personality; it was just that in the face of such scoundrels, she needed to be a bit more strategic. For instance, the low point she experienced three years ago was partly due to these very scoundrels scheming behind her back. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Don¡¯t want to listen, huh? Then forget it, let¡¯s sleep.¡± Bo Yan made a show of getting up, pretending to go turn off the bedside lamp. That¡¯s when Xia Siyu turned to face him, an accusing expression on her face. ¡°Sometimes I really don¡¯t know what to make of you,¡± Bo Yan sighed, extending his arm to wrap around her shoulder, moving forward himself, leaning against the headboard along with her. ¡°Actually, it¡¯s nothing much. To deal with that kind of person, you need to find his weak spot, hammer it hard. Go in for the kill, don¡¯t give him any chance to recover. Whatever he relies on, hit it hard, and knock it down.¡± Chapter 712 - 709: New Scandal (3) Chapter 712: Chapter 709: New Scandal (3) Xia Siyu said, ¡°He seems to be a doctor.¡± ¡°He¡¯s in the pharmaceutical industry. To be precise, he did study medicine, but not any particular medical specialty. Instead, he studied marketing and development in the pharmaceutical field.¡± These past few days, Han Yifan had shared with him the information he¡¯d gathered during his investigation. The guy with glasses came from a publicly-listed company. A check on the shareholders, corporate structure, and legal representatives would reveal almost everything. In the pharmaceutical industry, as long as there aren¡¯t any issues, things are fine. But once a problem arises, it¡¯s a major one. Han Yifan used his connections to see if he could find any issues with the pharmaceutical company. On the public relations front, Bo Yan could definitely help create momentum. The brothers were clear on their roles; even if they couldn¡¯t bring the company down in one fell swoop, they could at least cause significant trouble for the family of the guy with glasses. Bo Yan had already used the same method to wreak havoc on Golden Plastic Tires, a company that once harmed Xia Siyu and was owned by Li Weiyi¡¯s father, causing them heavy losses. Golden Plastic was already in decline. Finding some pretext to question their product quality and, once their cash flow was interrupted, acquiring them was the plan. Li Weiyi, in particular, was still in detention awaiting his verdict, and due to the grievous nature of his case, netizens dug into his background on their own accord and media followed up, exposing all the regulatory violations his family¡¯s company committed. With shareholders pulling out, they were left in utter disarray. Even if the company survived, it took a severe hit. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As for this guy with glasses, other matters like two-timing were minor issues. And since Xi You wasn¡¯t married, it didn¡¯t hit a nerve with most women. At most, people could criticize him for being promiscuous, and some men might even envy him: having the opportunity to be with two top female celebrities from the entertainment industry was pretty much considered a life goal achieved, right? Honestly, in this day and age, what successful company doesn¡¯t have its skeletons? It¡¯s just a matter of whether or not someone is keeping an eye on you. Even if the leaders don¡¯t have any issues, can you guarantee that all their employees are upright? Even in Han Yifan¡¯s Han Family, the cutthroat competition for land among real estate developers and the courting of powerful allies was an open secret. Those with the capability and the right connections could skirt the term ¡°bribery¡± and instead be said to receive ¡°policy support.¡± Just a hint of future policy from those in power could benefit a company greatly for years. Bo didn¡¯t want to discuss these filthy tactics with her. He simply said, ¡°The fact that he provoked you is a testament to his own character flaws. However, he does have his confidence, and that comes from his family background. But you also have the strength to reject him¡ªstrength you¡¯ve earned over the years. Unless you want to play his game, he¡¯s not even worth your consideration. But it¡¯s better to offend gentlemen than villains. Close by, you have Li Weiyi, and further back, there¡¯s the boss of Golden Plastic Tires. Although with your status today, there¡¯s no need to fear them or be overly polite. However, you¡¯re too hot-tempered, so in the future, if anyone treats you badly, make sure to tell me about it.¡± Xia Siyu first nodded, then asked with a puzzled face, ¡°Who is Golden Plastic Tires?¡± Bo Yan said, ¡°Three years ago, when you were smeared, he was the one behind it. It seems he had unrequited intentions toward you, which you coldly rejected.¡± ¡°Damn it, someone in the tire business dares to provoke me? Does he think I¡¯m just some rubber toy for him?¡± Even though Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t remember any tire company owner she had rebuffed, that didn¡¯t stop her intent to curse someone out. ¡°However, I¡¯m somewhat grateful to him. If it weren¡¯t for him, maybe you wouldn¡¯t have chosen to marry me three years ago.¡± Chapter 713 - 710: New Scandal (4) Chapter 713: Chapter 710: New Scandal (4) ¡°When I chose to marry you back then, it definitely wasn¡¯t because of those damn tires.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Bo Yan nodded. If she agreed to nod, it must have had something to do with the Xia Family, with her mother. However, ¡°At that time, I had just come out of college, just starting out in the entertainment industry as a no-name actor. If it hadn¡¯t been for you hitting rock bottom, I might not have had the chance, nor the courage, to be with you.¡± Although Bo Yan was successful now, and had even won Best Actor at a young age, surpassing Xia Siyu¡¯s status, choosing this path back then was a gamble with his life on the line. After all, whether one becomes popular really depends on luck. Minor celebrities rely on promotion, major ones on fate, and over-promotion invites disaster. Fortunately, he had good looks, acting skills, high emotional and intellectual intelligence, plus his family background ¨C he quickly made a name for himself. But had he not succeeded, he would have remained a third-rate actor, and the gap between him and Xia Siyu would have grown even wider. If he hadn¡¯t made it, without money, status, or power, he couldn¡¯t have stooped to use the Bo Family¡¯s influence to force her to comply. They would have missed each other forever, with no chance to start over. However, when Bo Yan brought this up, it reminded Xia Siyu of something, ¡°Was it you who took care of Li Weiyi¡¯s matter?¡± S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He was suspected of criminal offenses, and initially, those girls he had forced and drugged wouldn¡¯t dare to sue him ¨C either because he had bribed them or because they felt ashamed. And now, he was already behind bars, a fallen prisoner. Bo Yan¡¯s quick downfall had initially made Xia Siyu feel a sense of justice served, but now, hearing Bo Yan mention it, she suspected that it was his doing, wasn¡¯t it? Bo Yan didn¡¯t deny it; he simply said, ¡°One must not harbour intentions to harm others, but one should always guard against others. I was merely acting in self-defense.¡± ¡°Self-defense my ass, if anyone should be defending, it should be me,¡± Xia Siyu complained, but her eyebrows were so raised with delight they almost took flight. ¡°As husband and wife, my defense is your defense,¡± Bo Yan asserted righteously. ¡°Wait a minute,¡± Xia Siyu suddenly thought of something, ¡°Have you been watching me all the time? You even know who¡¯s been harming me.¡± Although she knew that Bo Yan had been thinking of her ever since they broke up seven years ago, she never imagined that Bo Yan observed her every word and action. He even silently learned everything about her, knew who she had offended, and how ¨C some of whom she had even forgotten herself, but Bo Yan remembered them all. Bo Yan was unfazed, ¡°Because I like you, I care about everything to do with you. Those who treat you well are fine, but for those who don¡¯t, you may not care, but I¡¯ll help you remember.¡± If they weren¡¯t in love, this would be the template of an obsessive fan trying to get close to their idol. Even though everything Bo Yan had done was well-intentioned, without breaking the law, and using decent means, from another point of view it was like being silently monitored long-term by someone, quietly eliminating rivals. ¡°What if I don¡¯t like you, and keep rejecting you? Would you secretly get rid of the men around me?¡± Bo Yan was speechless: ¡°I¡¯m not a psychopath. I only target those who hurt you. Men who like you but haven¡¯t harmed you, I¡¯ve never laid a hand on them. Like Qin Baizhou, Wang Zisu and the rest.¡± Only then did Xia Siyu brighten up, ¡°That¡¯s more like it.¡± She thought of something else, ¡°Have you been spying on me? Reading my Weibo messages, infiltrating our company, haven¡¯t you! Have you bribed someone close to me, have you sneaked into my fan club!¡± Chapter 714 - 711: New Scandal (5) Chapter 714: Chapter 711: New Scandal (5) Hearing the initial part was fine, but when he got to the last sentence, Bo Yan¡¯s pupils involuntarily shrank. He smiled faintly, ¡°What are you thinking about all day? Your news is already flying everywhere, do I need to go out of my way to check? As for that Gold Plastic Tires, and the matter with Li Weiyi, the Bo Family occasionally needs my help, and both my brother and your sister are well-informed. Getting news isn¡¯t difficult.¡± Xia Siyu seemed half-believing, ¡°Really? Wait a minute, you haven¡¯t answered me yet. What if I never choose you? How do you know I¡¯ll fall for you?¡± ¡°Impossible. You will definitely choose me,¡± Bo Yan declared with certainty. ¡°Why should I choose you?¡± Xia Siyu snorted with disdain. Even if she chose him now, it didn¡¯t mean she didn¡¯t have other opportunities before. Bo Yan explained to her that even if he indeed felt inferior in front of Xia Siyu, he couldn¡¯t say that to her: ¡°Look, I¡¯m handsome, tall, and have a great body. Finding a man who¡¯s both better-looking and better-built than me won¡¯t be easy.¡± Xia Siyu was about to snort disdainfully again, but Bo Yan stifled her: ¡°Don¡¯t pretend you¡¯ve never coveted my body. Back when our relationship wasn¡¯t good, you were eyeing me like a hawk. You were quite enthusiastic about touching my pecs and six-pack.¡± Xia Siyu certainly wanted to refute: ¡°I admit you¡¯re pretty handsome. But as for having a good body, there are many male models, many bodybuilders, who are neither inferior in height nor physique compared to you.¡± Bo Yan shook his head: ¡°Those with good bodies don¡¯t look as good as I do, and as for those better-looking than me¡­ I haven¡¯t found any so far. Why don¡¯t you find one to show me?¡± She really couldn¡¯t find one. Bo Yan indeed was very handsome, just like her¡ªit might not be the best of all time, but in the current entertainment industry, he was irreplaceable. Bo Yan added, ¡°And I¡¯m well-educated, not conservative at all.¡± Then he leaned in close, his voice low, ¡°But most importantly, I¡¯m amazing~¡± The last word came with a bit of a rise, matching his naturally deep and mellow voice, creating a strangely fascinating thoracic resonance. For Bo Yan, it was an absolutely flippant tone. Xia Siyu would not concede. She promptly shook her head: ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it. That¡¯s because I¡¯m kind, not wanting to burst your bubble. In reality, you¡¯re terrible.¡± Bo Yan didn¡¯t believe it for a second: ¡°That¡¯s not what you say when you cry and cling to me every day.¡± Actually, many men don¡¯t consider their partner¡¯s feelings at all when it comes down to it, crashing through without any finesse, leaving most girls unable to experience much pleasure. But Bo Yan was different. Already well-endowed, he was willing to study and explore, constantly seeking feedback from users to ensure service quality. Now the two of them were in perfect harmony. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s exactly why I was crying, wasn¡¯t it? Why on earth would I cry when I¡¯m happy?¡± Xia Siyu certainly wouldn¡¯t admit to her embarrassing moments. Bo Yan was indignant and turned to pin her down, his voice dangerous: ¡°Is that so? Then I¡¯ll have to conduct some after-sales feedback, see what the customer is dissatisfied with, and make lots of improvements for the future¡­¡± ** S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xia Siyu was caught up in yet another scandal. She was filming that day. After ending one scene, there was already buzz among the people around her. And the looks they gave her were somewhat peculiar. Wei Jingjing quickly pulled her aside, ¡°Siyu, is this guy Shang Feifei¡¯s boyfriend? He¡¯s got a scandal with you!¡± Chapter 715 - 712: New Scandal (6) Chapter 715: Chapter 712: New Scandal (6) Xia Siyu was a bit bewildered, ¡°What¡¯s that about? Who¡¯s with whom?¡± ¡°You, with Shang Feifei¡¯s boyfriend, the one with the glasses, yeah him.¡± Wei Jingjing was afraid she wouldn¡¯t believe it, so she showed her the photo, ¡°Look, it¡¯s this one.¡± Xia Siyu craned her neck to take a glance. Hmm, it was indeed that guy. From the angle, one shot was taken while she was filming the swimming scene with the glasses guy in the stands watching, and the other shot was of that evening when glasses guy cornered her at the elevator entrance where they talked for a while. Taken from the side, it almost looked like Xia Siyu was embracing him. Moreover, after Xia Siyu returned to her own room, glasses guy also headed in her direction and entered a nearby room not too far from hers. Obviously, the two lived very close to each other. After looking at it for a moment, Xia Siyu spoke with an indifferent expression, ¡°Boring.¡± In the past, whenever she had rumors about her, Qin Baizhou would come to verify them, but this time, not only had Qin Baizhou not brought it up himself, but it was Xia Siyu who called him and said, ¡°I have nothing to do with that four-eyes.¡± Qin Baizhou nodded, ¡°Hmm, got it.¡± His voice was slightly unsteady, as if he had been drinking. After a pause, Qin Baizhou asked, ¡°How have you been recently?¡± ¡°I¡¯m good, filming every day.¡± Xia Siyu answered very formally. After that, silence fell between them. Qin Baizhou didn¡¯t know how to start, and Xia Siyu didn¡¯t know how to respond; neither of them spoke. Just as Qin Baizhou¡¯s breathing became a little quicker, as if he was about to say something to her, someone called out to him from behind, ¡°Qin¡­ Mr. Qin, come and have a drink.¡± It was still broad daylight, at noon, but Huixing Company was preparing to go public, and lately, besides running the business, Qin Baizhou had been liaising regarding the listing details. He also knew Xia Siyu didn¡¯t want him to get involved; the more he did, the more she would get annoyed, so he could only keep tabs on her through Wei Jingjing¡¯s reports. ¡°You¡¯re busy, I have nothing special going on,¡± Xia Siyu was about to hang up when Qin Baizhou suddenly called out, ¡°Siyu.¡± Xia Siyu hesitated, vaguely sensing that he might want to say something, but she was hesitant to ask directly and instead inquired, ¡°What is it?¡± Although Qin Baizhou was quite drunk, he quickly recovered and shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, busy yourself.¡± ¡°Alright then.¡± Xia Siyu was originally going to suggest he drink less in the spirit of friendly advice before hanging up the phone. But she decided against it. Firstly, saying such a thing could come across as ambiguous, and secondly, Qin Baizhou had strong self-control, stronger than hers. With his current status, he had no need to prove anything at the liquor table. Some social engagements couldn¡¯t be avoided, so her advice would be pointless. Afterwards, Xia Siyu hung up the phone, while Qin Baizhou continued to stare at the handset, listening to the ¡°beep beep¡± sound on the other end, somewhat lost in thought. Such a trivial matter, Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t even be bothered to consider it. She didn¡¯t think about explaining anything to Shang Feifei, and Shang Feifei didn¡¯t come to question her either. Bo Yan was the same; he had already gone to the film set, and upon seeing the news about Xia Siyu, he just smiled and even felt like giving it a like. However, by the evening, the rumors escalated. Some enthusiastic netizens dug up Xi You¡¯s identity ¨C the only son of a listed pharmaceutical company¡¯s owner, a graduate of an American medicine doctoral program, young and handsome, fitting perfectly the stereotype of a wealthy boyfriend that Xia Siyu was rumored to desire. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xia Siyu clicked her tongue and, for the first time, logged into her official Weibo account to make a clear statement: ¡°I have no romantic relationship with this gentleman.¡± Chapter 716 - 713: Serial Scandal (1) Chapter 716: Chapter 713: Serial Scandal (1) It¡¯s strange, really, when the scandal was at its peak, this guy with glasses didn¡¯t come over to talk. Instead, the afternoon after Xia Siyu clarified the situation, he waited at the entrance of the film set, ready to apologize with great care, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I had no idea the reporters outside would make up stories. That day, you and Fei¡¯er both visited that university, and she was at the outdoor tennis courts. There were too many people crowding around, so I had to come to the stadium. That evening, when I stopped you in front of the elevator, I intended to explain this matter to you. I just didn¡¯t expect they would take such ambiguous photos and cause you trouble.¡± Xia Siyu didn¡¯t really want to have anything to do with him, nor did she want to be labeled with any ¡°scandal¡± tags. She said directly, ¡°If there¡¯s news like this in the future, I will respond directly at the first moment.¡± As the glasses guy looked at her, true to her name, Xia Siyu was straightforward, acting and speaking directly from her own perspective, never beating around the bush. Usually, for a topic like this, shouldn¡¯t she also inquire about his situation and whether his girlfriend would mind? She had no interest whatsoever in such tedious formalities, not even the most basic courtesy. She was indeed the complete opposite type from Shang Feifei. However, being straightforward also meant that if she took a liking to someone, she would not waver, making it easy to pursue her. Unfortunately, this probe did not achieve the desired effect and only managed to startle her. Judging by Xia Siyu¡¯s response, she had no interest in him at all. But Xia Siyu never responded to scandals, whether they were true or false; she ignored them all. This was the first time she publicly denied one without hesitation. The guy with glasses had an intuition that Xia Siyu might have a boyfriend now. Although her last rumored love interest was Li Weiyi, that had been proven false¡ªit was almost a year ago. Compared to the past when Xia Siyu seemed to change scandal partners every few months, she appeared to have quieted down a lot. She was not one to be careful of her reputation; she didn¡¯t even rush to deny her connection with Li Weiyi at first, capitalizing on the news of their fight to stir up publicity. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Only if she truly had a boyfriend would she promptly refute any unreliable scandals. ¡°Is it because your boyfriend is aware, and there¡¯s some inconvenience? If so, I¡¯m willing to explain,¡± the guy with glasses decided to step back in order to advance, looking for another way to make his point. Xia Siyu wrinkled her brow in impatience, ¡°There¡¯s no need.¡± Her voice was unusually firm. But she didn¡¯t deny the assumption that she already had a boyfriend. Ah, what a pity. If only he had known earlier, he wouldn¡¯t have had to put on such a big show to chase Shang Feifei; maybe he could have won Xia Siyu as well. ¡°Hey, isn¡¯t that Dr. Xi? Not going to the neighboring film set?¡± Xia Siyu was talking with the glasses guy right at the busy entrance of the film set, deliberately making sure not to give anyone the impression she was trying to avoid suspicion. That¡¯s why she chose this place to make things clear. The person speaking was Han Yifan, his voice so relaxed it was clear he had caught Dr. Xi¡¯s family in a bind. And thanks to the glasses guy and his recent probe that blew things out of proportion, bringing things from behind the scenes to the forefront, countless onlookers began digging into his family affairs. Initially, they only found out he was a second-generation rich kid, but his family¡¯s foundation was not so clean, with some regulatory breaches. And since his family ran a pharmaceutical company, a minor violation in that field could mean injuries, a major one¡ªfatalities; either way, it was a big problem. Chapter 717 - 714: Serial Scandal (2) Chapter 717: Chapter 714: Serial Scandal (2) Violations such as selling expired medications were rife. Some storage facilities for drugs had been flooded; logically, they should have been discarded. Instead, after being aired out, they were still unlawfully added to pharmaceuticals. Consuming these wouldn¡¯t be lethal, but it might lead to ineffective medicines or maybe cause other pathological changes. As a listed company, there were also issues with false financial reporting. This news had been reported by some local newspapers, but it was quickly managed by public relations, never sparking widespread discussion. After all, the enterprise was a pillar of a certain city in the Southwest. He had already handed over this information to Bo Yan, leaving it to Bo¡¯s side to arrange. How to generate attention on major forums, how to build momentum on Weibo, how to contact cyber armies to buy popularity¡ªall these were his slick moves. But this alone wasn¡¯t enough. This was only his family¡¯s problem. He dared to fabricate a scandal with Xia Siyu himself, which showed that this kid was a habitual offender of two-timing. He had to expose this side of him to Shang Feifei! ¡°I¡¯ve come specifically to explain about the rumors with Miss Xia.¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to explain, Siyu wouldn¡¯t like you.¡± Han Yifan had no good feelings toward him, cutting off his words abruptly. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t say anything and left with Han Yifan. That evening, two major events occurred. First, an ¡°enthusiastic netizen¡± deeply exposed the situation of this Dr. Xi¡¯s family company, and brought to light the issue of selling expired drugs online. These days, food and drug safety were of utmost concern, and the post quickly skyrocketed to a towering height, like a skyscraper with seven to eight hundred floors. The forum where this ¡°enthusiastic netizen¡± posted was a hotbed for marketing and gossip accounts, with several taking action to spread the word on Weibo. Bo Yan began to warm up the topic over there¡ªthough initially not very high on the trend list, only making it to the top ten before quickly dropping off. But the fact that it made it to the top ten and then fell spurred the curiosity of the onlookers, thinking it was ¡°managed¡± by public relations. Afterwards, another wave of ¡°netizens¡± started digging on Weibo, uncovering the unlawful use of flood-soaked medicinal materials. This stirred a hornet¡¯s nest. Practically treating patients¡¯ lives as a joke, with Bo Yan adding fuel to the fire, the issue instantly shot to the number one spot on the trending searches. By the time the pharmaceutical company started to manage the situation the next day, Bo Yan had thrown out the issue of false financial reports, bringing the subsided news back into the limelight on the trending searches. Then, truly enthusiastic netizens, in the evening, exposed several shareholders of the enterprise, some involved with financial default and not repaying debts, leading them to be listed as untrustworthy individuals¡ªsuddenly making things extremely lively. As the situation unfolded layer by layer, within just two days, several rounds of negative reviews caught the company off-guard. When the market opened, their stock price immediately plummeted by twenty percent. The higher authorities issued a direct order for a thorough investigation, with the Food and Drug Administration, the Securities Regulatory Commission, and others also sending ¡°congratulatory telegrams¡± and starting a comprehensive rectification and inspection. In just a few days, a large pharmaceutical enterprise began to teeter, and Xia Siyu hadn¡¯t seen the bespectacled guy coming to look for Shang Feifei for several days. However, she wasn¡¯t too happy either, because not long after, she found that her scandal subject had changed to Han Yifan. Chapter 718 - 715: Serial Scandal (3) Chapter 718: Chapter 715: Serial Scandal (3) It was truly unexpected to her that it would turn out to be Han Yifan. The photo was taken on that day when Glasses Guy approached her to talk, and Han Yifan interrupted them. Lately, Xia Siyu had been plagued by an extraordinary number of paparazzi. Bo Yan always kept a low profile every time he appeared. Moreover, he dressed just like an ordinary crew member, and with no bodyguards or assistants around him, and no car, no one recognized him. But Han Yifan was different. Since the two of them had no relationship, he was actually quite open about it. Shang Feifei didn¡¯t accept him, so it wasn¡¯t good for him to hang around her crew all the time, but he still wanted to ¡°run into¡± her coincidentally, so he would just come over to Xia Siyu¡¯s set next door. As he came and went, the paparazzi caught more glimpses of him, and so the rumored boyfriend changed¡ªit became him. To avoid the embarrassment of misidentification like last time, the paparazzi actually did some homework and researched Han Yifan¡¯s family background before confidently publishing their article. Han Yifan was Xia Siyu¡¯s senior at N University. He came from the Han Family, involved in the real estate business, and he was the second son of the family. He owned a bar that played heavy metal music. Maybe because of that, he and Xia Siyu ¡°had more in common.¡± Moreover, they were close, and he was often seen visiting Xia Siyu¡¯s film set. Rumors had it that Han Yifan originally tried to pursue Shang Feifei from the neighboring crew but was unsuccessful. He then turned to Xia Siyu for comfort. Unexpectedly, they hit it off, and the two even dined together. Paparazzi captured him getting on Xia Siyu¡¯s trailer. Sometimes, when Xia Siyu was off duty, she was seen laughing and talking with Han Yifan, looking rather close. Xia Siyu held the seemingly credible rumors in her hand, frowning. Then she looked at Han Yifan, who was munching happily beside her in the car. Well, she thought, this rumor was much more reliable than the last one, at least the dining together part was true. But she was still a bit annoyed, ¡°This paparazzi is disgusting. How can they make me look so ugly! Especially this one, I was eating, with my mouth open and he just sneakily took a picture. Who is this paparazzi? Damn, deduct their pay!¡± However, Han Yifan was somewhat nervous, ¡°If Fei¡¯er sees this, she won¡¯t really think we are together, will she? How could I possibly be into you? Do you think I need to explain to her that I have absolutely no interest in you?¡± ¡°Explain my foot,¡± Xia Siyu wanted to knock him on the head, ¡°And why couldn¡¯t you be into me? What¡¯s wrong with me?¡± After a pause, she then said, ¡°Shang Feifei is very astute. She probably already knows about Bo Yan and me. As for you, she never liked you in the first place. No matter who you¡¯re rumored with, she wouldn¡¯t care.¡± Both she and Han Yifan just laughed it off, neither of them taking the rumor seriously. Bo Yan, likewise, wouldn¡¯t take this news for real. All of them were well aware that Han Yifan was pursuing Shang Feifei, although he did so in a roundabout way. Xia Siyu certainly wouldn¡¯t have a change of heart, as she was still in contact with him every day. But just because the concerned parties didn¡¯t think there was a problem didn¡¯t mean that other onlookers wouldn¡¯t be anxious. For instance, the rumors about her and Han Yifan blew up in Xia Youbiao¡¯s face. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ever since Grandpa Bo Yan¡¯s birthday, Xia Siyu hadn¡¯t bothered with Xia Youbiao anymore. Even though she had unblocked her father from the blacklist, she still muted his messages. Xia Youbiao didn¡¯t dare to randomly send voice or video messages either. His profound parental love had no way to manifest. Chapter 719 - 716: Serial Scandal (4) Chapter 719: Chapter 716: Serial Scandal (4) He didn¡¯t know that Bo Yan and Xia Siyu had completely made up, and he still thought the two were in a standoffish, cold war. And Han Yifan, he knew, the second son of the Han Family, was also considered quite a catch and well-matched with Xia Siyu. It was precisely because he knew that he felt it was dangerous. After all, on the surface, Xia Siyu and Bo Yan were always in a state of mutual rejection. Only the Xia and Bo Families knew that the two were officially married. However, that changed nothing¡ªno matter how many filters he used to look at their relationship, he knew that they were neither affectionate nor had any understanding, not resembling a normal married couple. Previously, the rumors about Xia Siyu were fierce, but he had investigated them privately, and they were all fake. Some rumor-mongers shamelessly boasted about their relationship with Xia Siyu, and Xia Youbiao just thought to himself, with your wild boar looks, you want to court my little cabbage. If anyone is to court her, it should be someone like Bo Yan, not some nobody like you. But Han Yifan was different. Although his abilities were slightly inferior to Bo Yan¡¯s, they weren¡¯t bad either. Moreover, the Han Family only had two sons, and both he and his brother were of the same mother, and their father was quite fond of him. Just by listening, he sounded somewhat reliable. If Xia Siyu and Bo Yan were just dating, it wouldn¡¯t matter so much if she wanted to find someone else, but she was already married, and although the form far exceeded the substance, she was still a married woman. Moreover, Han Yifan and Bo Yan were said to be good friends, which didn¡¯t seem quite appropriate, did it? S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this moment, Xia Youbiao couldn¡¯t restrain himself anymore and made a voice call to Xia Siyu. When Siyu picked up her father¡¯s call, she was doing her makeup, preparing for the next scene. Xia Youbiao didn¡¯t usually call her, so a call from him surely meant something big. She hesitated for a moment, then answered, ¡°Hello?¡± It had been several months since Xia Youbiao last heard his daughter¡¯s voice, and he felt quite sentimental. But very quickly, he got to the point, ¡°I saw the news about you today.¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± Xia Siyu usually spoke quickly and to the point. It was only when facing Xia Youbiao that she seemed to become silent. There was a time when she loved clinging to Xia Youbiao, calling him ¡®Daddy¡¯ incessantly, and chattering about her latest experiences. But now, the father-daughter affection was so indifferent it was truly lamentable. ¡°Are you busy?¡± Xia Youbiao heard the noisy background on her end. ¡°I¡¯m on set.¡± ¡°How have you been feeling lately?¡± ¡°Pretty good. And you?¡± ¡°Not bad.¡± The two exchanged dry, curt sentences, probably less engaging than mere acquaintances. Xia Youbiao didn¡¯t want to beat around the bush and got straight to the point, ¡°So your relationship with that son from the Han Family¡­¡± ¡°He¡¯s here too,¡± Xia Siyu glanced at Han someone who had just gotten out of the car, full and content, and was craning his neck trying to peek at the neighboring film crew. In fact, the more involved the crews of the two productions were, the more baffling they found the rumors. Clearly, Han Yifan was pursuing Shang Feifei, but Shang Feifei already had a boyfriend and ignored him. Xia Siyu, considering that he was a senior colleague, helped him out in a roundabout way by getting him a staff pass to freely visit and observe the neighboring set. Two scandals in one week, both nonsensical, made one wonder a bit about conspiracy theories¡ªwas someone targeting her? Yet, Xia Siyu¡¯s sentence seriously scared Xia Youbiao. His daughter actually allowed him to visit the set! Even someone with a bit of knowledge about the entertainment industry knew that such set visits were meant to declare one¡¯s claim, weren¡¯t they? Chapter 720 - 717: Serial Scandal (5) Chapter 720: Chapter 717: Serial Scandal (5) And just when Xia Youbiao still wanted to confirm with Xia Siyu, her director called her. Xia Siyu replied with a, ¡°Got it.¡± Then she looked down and added, ¡°I need to get ready to shoot.¡± Xia Youbiao uttered an ¡°Oh,¡± and Xia Siyu hesitated for a moment before turning back to say, ¡°Take good care of yourself.¡± After that, she hung up the phone. Just that sentence made Xia Youbiao¡¯s eyes brim with tears, deeply moved. Between daughter and him stood over twenty years of estrangement, especially since her mother¡¯s death, which directly detonated this mine. From then on, Xia Siyu saw him as a scourge and was reluctant to speak more. But she still cared about him in her heart. In the years Xia Siyu struggled in the entertainment industry, Xia Youbiao was always behind the scenes, pulling strings to protect her. This time was no different. After thinking, he, as an elder, figured it wouldn¡¯t be quite proper to confront the situation directly. Instead, he made an inside call and summoned his son. ¡°Dad, what do you need me for?¡± Xia Ju¡¯an had already joined the company, working in furniture design. He studied engineering; unlike his versatile sister, he was straightforward in his work. At the company, he focused on ergonomic science, on using the most skin-friendly yet comfortable materials, all the while maintaining a sense of design, incorporating Northern European, Japanese, and traditional Chinese styles. Some of their collaborative limited editions were extremely luxurious. Even though pricey, they were popular among the middle and upper classes due to their comfort, durability, and aesthetics, and their market share was steadily increasing. ¡°Do you have time this coming weekend?¡± Xia Ju¡¯an thought for a moment, ¡°It¡¯s nothing big. I can free up some time. Dad, do you have something important for me to do?¡± ¡°It¡¯s very important, and only you can do it,¡± Xia Youbiao said. ¡°It¡¯s about Siyu¡¯s scandal. How do I put it, I had you investigate before. But this time, I am seventy percent sure that Siyu might be cheating.¡± S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xia Ju¡¯an was taken aback. He had been busy with a sofa design project recently and hadn¡¯t had time to pay attention to entertainment news. Xia Siyu cheating? What was this all about? ¡°Dad, aren¡¯t you overthinking it? Every time you¡¯ve heard rumors about her, you overreact,¡± he said. When he saw those messy scandals, his first thought was to wish he could take out those who spread such rumors if they were false. And if they were true, he wished he could take out the men harming his sister. ¡°This time, it could really be true. You know Han Yifan, right? Bo Yan¡¯s classmate, that second son from the real estate Han Family, who also studied with Siyu. It¡¯s him. And he even visited the set, and he¡¯s still there! I suspect that after some inexplicable rumors a few days ago, he went there to assert his dominance.¡± ¡°Since he¡¯s Bo Yan¡¯s classmate, why not just ask him?¡± Xia Ju¡¯an was about to make a call when Xia Youbiao pressed down on the phone: ¡°Are you dumb? You want to confirm with the victim? What men fear the most is being cuckolded! From the phone call I just had with Siyu, the situation hasn¡¯t escalated to the worst step. As long as she and Han Yifan haven¡¯t crossed that line yet, everything that happened before can be discussed. Even if Siyu and Han Yifan are truly in love, they have to properly divorce me first. But before that, don¡¯t go discussing with Bo Yan, and don¡¯t provoke him. If things get out of hand, you¡¯ll need to help mediate in the middle. The best outcome would be to persuade Siyu to pull back from the brink!¡± Chapter 721 - 718: Serial Scandal (6) Chapter 721: Chapter 718: Serial Scandal (6) ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll go now,¡± Xia Ju¡¯an nodded and immediately turned to leave. Although he didn¡¯t know where Xia Siyu was filming, a simple search for her recent scandalous news would reveal the location of the hotel involved in the rumors with the Glasses Guy. Xia Ju¡¯an booked a ticket and flew there first thing Saturday morning. He decided to stay in that hotel, waiting for an opportunity. It wasn¡¯t until ten in the evening that Xia Siyu returned, dragging her tired feet. She was accompanied back by two crew members, which naturally included Shang Feifei, Glasses Guy, and Han Yifan. Shang Feifei had met Xia Ju¡¯an once before but hadn¡¯t interacted with him, only knowing he was another rich young master, not connecting him to Xia Siyu¡¯s brother. Han Yifan definitely knew him, but they weren¡¯t close, he just greeted him. Shang Feifei didn¡¯t like Han Yifan much. Han Yifan wanted to get close but didn¡¯t dare, so he just followed Xia Siyu. The two seemed to have a particularly close relationship. Xia Ju¡¯an, dressed in black casual wear, managed to give off an air of formality as though he wore a suit. He looked directly at Xia Siyu and said softly, ¡°I need to speak with you.¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s identity as a member of the Xia Family was hidden, even her talent agency didn¡¯t know about her family situation, and it was only when Qin Baizhou recently investigated that he learned about her family. Wei Jingjing looked at Xia Siyu and then at Xia Ju¡¯an. This man also seemed affluent, exuding more confidence than the frivolous types like Glasses Guy or Han Yifan, clearly someone with genuine talents who had risen to an executive position. Xia Ju¡¯an bore a resemblance to Madam Tong, while Xia Siyu more closely resembled Wen Qunxiao. Although they were siblings, they didn¡¯t look much alike. Wei Jingjing hadn¡¯t realized it at first glance. Afterward, she saw Xia Siyu nod her head, not explaining her relationship with Xia Ju¡¯an, but turned back to say, ¡°Same time tomorrow, and if I don¡¯t wake up, just call me.¡± Wei Jingjing nodded, watching somewhat dazed as Xia Siyu and Xia Ju¡¯an stepped into the elevator together. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was only after they were gone that she remembered to take pictures to show to Qin Ge. The people behind were startled. Glasses Guy thought that must be the man behind Xia Siyu. He indeed looked somewhat significant, no wonder she was so self-assured. He also suspected that after his ¡°scandal¡± broke out and netizens immediately began a ¡°thorough investigation¡± against him and his family, it might have been Xia Siyu¡¯s man causing trouble behind the scenes. Shang Feifei was somewhat perplexed, but she turned to look at Han Yifan. Since he was Bo Yan¡¯s close friend, if he acted impulsively, it would mean there was definitely a secretive relationship between Xia Siyu and this man. Yet, Han Yifan¡¯s expression was calm, showing no sign of surprise. Although still unsure of their relationship, she felt slightly relieved and turned back calmly, instructing, ¡°Get some rest early, we still have a shoot tomorrow.¡± The group behind almost craned their necks, wanting to peer into the elevator to see the truth. But there was nothing else they could do but nod and say, ¡°Okay.¡± As soon as Xia Ju¡¯an got upstairs, he followed Xia Siyu to her room. Walking in, he didn¡¯t speak but immediately checked the shoe cabinet at the entrance¡ªhmm, no men¡¯s shoes. Then he turned to the restroom, glanced at the array of cosmetics¡ªhmm, no men¡¯s products. Finally, he turned to inspect the room. Although it was a double room, it was evident that only one pillow was in use¡ªhmm, she wasn¡¯t sharing with anyone. Chapter 722 - 719: Chains of Traps (1) Chapter 722: Chapter 719: Chains of Traps (1) He was reassured, ¡°I suppose you know why I came this time. Dad is worried about you and asked me to check on you. You and Han Yifan don¡¯t have any relationship, do you? If not, that¡¯s best. But if there is something going on and you are really preparing to date, tell the family first, bring up divorce with Bo Yan, and negotiate with the Han Family. Don¡¯t act impulsively. The family will get you a very good lawyer to make sure your interests aren¡¯t compromised.¡± Though the Xia Family and the Bo Family had a marital alliance, with Xia Sicai and Bo Yi around, even if she and Bo Yan got divorced, it wouldn¡¯t affect the relations between the two families. And fortunately, Bo Yan didn¡¯t hold power, and Xia Siyu, being an ¡°outsider,¡± had a certain degree of autonomy. Should a divorce really happen, both he and Dad would support her. Xia Siyu was speechless, ¡°What¡¯s all this about?¡± She added, ¡°I don¡¯t need the Xia Family¡¯s kindness. Even if that day comes, I have lawyers hired by my agency to take care of it. I can handle my own affairs without basking in the Xia Family¡¯s favor.¡± Xia Siyu knew that Xia Ju¡¯an, compared to his biological sister, was still relatively kind to her. But no matter how kind he was, he couldn¡¯t value her over his own mother and biological sister. Should something happen, he would still stand by the side of Mrs. Tong and Xia Sicai. Therefore, reconciliation was impossible; they were natural enemies. Xia Ju¡¯an knew this too and sighed inwardly. After a while, he suddenly smiled, putting the official speech aside. Now, he wasn¡¯t Xia Ju¡¯an; he was just an ordinary brother, ¡°I¡¯ve been here for quite some time, aren¡¯t you going to offer me a cup of tea?¡± Xia Siyu replied directly, ¡°It¡¯s right behind you, can¡¯t you pour it yourself?¡± She paused, then said, ¡°Drinking tea late at night, aren¡¯t you afraid of not being able to sleep?¡± Although her tone was still brusque, he could feel the care hidden beneath her words. Xia Ju¡¯an actually turned around to prepare the water. He unscrewed two bottles of water, poured them into the kettle, then turned to find a clean glass and washed it at the sink. Coming back with the glass, he saw a tea box placed next to the kettle, containing early spring Longjing tea. Green tea, in comparison with Pu-erh, black tea, and oolong, is lighter and won¡¯t be too stimulating even if consumed in small quantities at night. Turning his head, he saw Xia Siyu playing with her phone on the couch, not even glancing his way. His sister, oh, she was so proudly indifferent, clearly caring about him yet still maintaining that ¡°I detest you¡± expression. He remembered the time when her mother brought her back to China and he saw the sixteen-year-old Xia Siyu, fresh and tender like the new sprouts in March. And her mother, although Wen Qunxiao was already in her forties at that time, was indeed striking in appearance but had a cold demeanor, a large scar on her forehead, and seemed emotionally unstable, as if she had been traumatized. And just like that, ten years had slipped by. Soon, the water boiled, the kettle whistling and steaming. Xia Ju¡¯an also washed a teapot, a fair cup, and another tea cup. After setting up the green tea and brewing it, he placed a cup next to Xia Siyu. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t even look, she just picked it up and drank it as if she knew he would pour her one. Xia Ju¡¯an finished a cup of tea before leaving. Before he went, he said, ¡°If you have time, come home for a visit, Dad misses you a lot.¡± S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xia Siyu did not respond until he had left. But when Xia Ju¡¯an returned to his room, he received a notification on his phone¡ªit was Xia Siyu¡¯s Weibo, where she had posted: ¡°Mr. Han and I have been friends for many years.¡± Chapter 723 - 720: Chains of Traps (2) Chapter 723: Chapter 720: Chains of Traps (2) ¡°We¡¯re just friends.¡± As soon as he saw her response, he knew Xia Siyu had made her relationship with Han Yifan clear, and he guessed his father could finally get a good night¡¯s sleep. He immediately called his father, not expecting that it was almost half past eleven by now. His father usually had a very regular lifestyle and would never go to bed after 10:30 unless there was work to do. But that day, when he called Xia Youbiao, it was clear that Xia Youbiao was still very awake. Obviously, he hadn¡¯t rested yet. ¡°Dad, I met with Siyu,¡± he said. ¡°She said there¡¯s nothing between her and that Han Family kid. I just saw that Han Family kid actually prefers another female celebrity, so you can rest easy now.¡± Xia Youbiao clearly wasn¡¯t that surprised; he probably had been secretly following Xia Siyu¡¯s Weibo. However, with his son¡¯s confirmation, he indeed felt much calmer. But once he calmed down, he felt slightly annoyed¡ªwhat made Han Yifan think he could look down on my daughter? My daughter is a thousand times better than others! He couldn¡¯t help it; Xia Youbiao actually felt guilty about his youngest daughter. Not only did he love her mother more, they had lived apart since she was young, and as she grew up, she was ostracized by the Xia Family. Although Xia Youbiao handed over the family company to Xia Ju¡¯an, he had indeed left a safety net for Xia Siyu. In addition to silently watching over her, he had made provisions for his fortune a long time ago. Ms. Tong had been scheming for years but failed to realize that Xia Youbiao had secretly drawn up a will, leaving sixty percent of his fortune to Xia Siyu. The rest would go to Xia Ju¡¯an and Xia Sicai. But Xia Siyu currently didn¡¯t lack money at all; she could earn her own. After finishing the call, Xia Ju¡¯an immediately booked the earliest flight back for the next day. He still had an unfinished project, and coming here today was already squeezing time out of his schedule. Even if he wanted to ease his sibling relationship with Xia Siyu, they both were clear that they stood on opposite sides of interests, and maintaining a peaceful coexistence was already good. The earliest flight was at five-thirty in the morning. Good thing Xia Ju¡¯an was quite diligent in his work; he set an alarm for three, and as soon as the time came, he quickly got ready and left. It was a good thing he came quickly and left quickly, bringing no luggage with him, so he didn¡¯t need much packing; after checking out, he was gone. After posting on Weibo, Xia Siyu didn¡¯t have time to think much and went to bed after washing up. What she didn¡¯t expect was to be woken up an hour later by a series of urgent calls from Wei Jingjing. Xia Siyu was already grumpy when she woke up; she had shot late into the night and only managed to get to bed at midnight. Now it was four in the morning, when a person is sleepiest. Xia Siyu was so irritated she could explode. She didn¡¯t even look at the caller ID, simply declining the call. Just as she was about to drift back to sleep, Wei Jingjing came knocking on her door. Getting no response, she took out her room card and swiped it to open the door¡ªunfortunately for her, Xia Siyu had used the safety chain and locked it from inside, so Wei Jingjing had to shout, ¡°Siyu, Siyu, wake up!¡± Only then did Xia Siyu get up, her hair a mess like a bird¡¯s nest, and she was so angry she was about to blow up: ¡°What¡¯s all this rushing for, is the house on fire?¡± Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Wei Jingjing was in a panic too: ¡°If the house was on fire, I wouldn¡¯t call you. Just check out the messages on Weibo.¡± When Xia Siyu looked, oh boy, her rumored boyfriend had changed again¡ªthis time it was Xia Ju¡¯an. Chapter 724 - 721: Chains of Traps (3) Chapter 724: Chapter 721: Chains of Traps (3) Moreover, the timing of the video was superb; they had installed a high-powered camera that was focused on the window of their hotel corridor. There were also hidden cameras in the hotel corridor, no idea from what angle they were filmed, but they just happened to capture her room entrance. It began with Xia Ju¡¯an coming to look for her, waiting in the lobby. Many people saw this; she followed Xia Ju¡¯an into the elevator, then entered her room. About half an hour later, Xia Ju¡¯an came out¡ªwell, he had made a pot of tea in her room and chatted for a while. Half an hour is enough time for something to happen, although it would be rather quick. Then the man left Xia Siyu¡¯s room and returned to his own, leaving several hours later. His arrival was swift, and his departure just as quick. If the cameras weren¡¯t constantly watching, it¡¯s likely nothing would have been captured. The man looked quite distinguished; although the camera was too far to capture his facial features clearly, it was evident he was tall and well-dressed with a good posture, clearly someone with good breeding. The other two scandals, which were already denied by the parties involved, were with Xi You and Han Yifan. At least there was no footage of them entering Xia Siyu¡¯s room, but in this case, it was confirmed that both had entered the room and stayed for over half an hour. A man and a woman meeting in the depths of night¡ªwho would believe nothing happened? Xia Siyu was so annoyed she could only laugh; what kind of mess was this? She had to clear up rumors one after another lately, and even she was getting irritated. She snapped her phone shut: ¡°I don¡¯t care anymore. I need to sleep.¡± These past few days she had been working especially hard on set, just waiting to finish her filming tasks a day early so that she could head over to Bo Yan¡¯s place to celebrate his birthday. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If you really like someone, you¡¯ll investigate everything about them. But Bo Yan¡¯s birthday wasn¡¯t new information for her. Back when they were dating, it was Xia Siyu who pursued him, so naturally she meticulously learned about him. However, they hadn¡¯t had a chance to spend his birthday together before they broke up. Throughout the years, she never sent Bo Yan any birthday wishes. But now that they were back together, even if Bo Yan didn¡¯t mention it, she knew when his birthday was. After all, turning thirty is significant, and it¡¯d be odd not to spend it together. Anyway, her family knew what the relationship with Xia Ju¡¯an amounted to, so there was no need to explain. She had no wish to acknowledge her connection with the Xia Family, and she reckoned the family didn¡¯t want to recognize such an offspring who wasn¡¯t quite illegitimate but might as well have been; she couldn¡¯t care less. With the time spent clarifying rumors, she¡¯d rather shoot more scenes and reunite with Bo Yan sooner. This time when she visited, she was determined to give Bo Yan a surprise. But Xia Siyu knew, and Wei Jingjing didn¡¯t. Not only was she unaware, but aside from Qin Baizhou, probably no one in the company knew about her situation with Xia Ju¡¯an. Wei Jingjing became anxious all of a sudden: ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to explain? After all, many people saw you getting close with this man in the lobby yesterday, and you even took the elevator and entered a room with him. Although we all know you and Bo Yan are the real deal, others don¡¯t know that.¡± ¡°If they don¡¯t know, then so be it, as long as Bo Yan knows. I live my own life, why should I care so much about what they think.¡± Xia Siyu had no intention of responding and even rushed her guest out: ¡°Leave, I need to sleep. I still have to shoot later.¡± Chapter 725 - 722: Chains of Traps (4) Chapter 725: Chapter 722: Chains of Traps (4) Wei Jingjing was speechless, dealing with someone so irresponsible. Whatever she said was useless, ¡°Then I¡¯ll go tell Brother Qin.¡± Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°You go ahead,¡± Xia Siyu waved her hand, lifted the blanket as she lay down, and immediately sat up again. Wei Jingjing thought she had come round and looked hopeful. Xia Siyu said, ¡°If the company is going to issue a statement for me, remember to sue the hotel. There¡¯s a camera on the facade that¡¯s obviously installed in the hallway for secret filming, maybe they just used the surveillance. Invading my privacy, what kind of shoddy hotel is this that still talks about safety? Also, I want to move out tomorrow, don¡¯t want to stay here anymore. There are plenty of five-star hotels around here, we¡¯re not lacking this one.¡± Damn it, being secretly filmed time and again, the first time caught with Glasses Guy was disgusting enough, but it happened over and over. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that she was busy filming and didn¡¯t have the time, she would have revolted long ago. ¡°Oh, and when moving hotels, we need to make a big show of it, move right in front of those paparazzi, just from here to next door.¡± Wei Jingjing felt helpless and quickly contacted Qin Baizhou. Qin Baizhou had indeed been woken up by the news at this moment. He glanced at the sneaky photos of Xia Ju¡¯an and understood that this was her biological brother. The Xia Family¡¯s situation was rather complicated, she didn¡¯t wish to go public with it herself, so he wouldn¡¯t elaborate. He just asked, ¡°What did she say?¡± ¡°She doesn¡¯t care. Just said that she wants to sue the paparazzi and the hotel. Said the paparazzi invaded her privacy, the hotel can¡¯t guarantee safety. Also mentioned that she wants to move hotels today, and make a big show of it.¡± ¡°We can sue the paparazzi, leave the hotel be, making a big show of moving is all right,¡± Qin Baizhou understood Xia Siyu¡¯s personality too well. If she felt aggrieved, she had to let it out and wouldn¡¯t keep it to herself. The hotel was an international five-star chain, suing them would be a drawn-out process, but making a big show of changing hotels was okay. They could even imply the hotel¡¯s poor security in a Weibo post. Wei Jingjing did not expect Qin Baizhou to let the matter slide so easily and was a bit confused, ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± ¡°If she doesn¡¯t want to deal with it, just write a subtle denial. She probably has her own difficulties, unwilling to mention them. As for the paparazzi, get a lawyer to draft a letter, review it before posting on Weibo.¡± Wei Jingjing nodded and hurried off to make arrangements. Once she had contacted the lawyer, drafted the legal letter with the official seal, and prepared a Weibo draft, she was about to send it to Qin Baizhou. But then her phone ¡°dinged.¡± It was already 6 in the morning, and Xia Siyu was awake. The first thing she did upon waking was to post on Weibo, directly tagging the paparazzi¡¯s main account and cursing: ¡°Are you sick or what, watching my door day in, day out? Swapping scandal targets three times in one week, is that interesting? Why don¡¯t I just leave my door open for you to snap pictures?¡± There we go, the lady herself has entered the fray. But with these words, the average onlooker realized that this time, Xia Siyu seemed not to have strongly denied her relationship with Xia Ju¡¯an. It could be¡­ he¡¯s actually her boyfriend after all. Afterwards, some sharp-eyed people also noticed that this mysterious boyfriend had been photographed before, in the company of Xia Siyu and Bo Yan. It was the night of the high-end brand event that Li Weiyi also attended, the party where Xia Siyu first mocked Li Weiyi for ¡°not making the cut.¡± This guy was there too, he arrived with Bo Yan! Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com Chapter 726 - 723: Chains of Traps (5) Chapter 726: Chapter 723: Chains of Traps (5) Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xia Ju¡¯an was indeed low-key. If Qin Baizhou hadn¡¯t almost entered this circle, he would probably also have found it very difficult to dig up anything about Xia Ju¡¯an. He dealt with design and materials in the company and usually just went to work without doing any promotions. Even if one tried to search on Baidu, one couldn¡¯t find any information about him in the company¡¯s shareholder section, let alone a dedicated encyclopedia for him. Netizens were ecstatic to uncover Xia Ju¡¯an. Even without knowing who this person was, attending a luxury brand banquet meant he must be wealthy or noble. Hmm, this choice in people fit perfectly with the rumored boyfriend criteria of Xia Siyu. Moreover, both he and Han Yifan were acquaintances of Bo Yan. Could they possibly get some info from Bo Yan? Xia Siyu didn¡¯t respond, and on that very day, she moved out with great fanfare, dragging her suitcase from the hotel directly across the street to another international chain five-star hotel. Curious people checked the room rates, which were even more expensive. This face-slapping move, compared to her directly confronting the previous hotel, was even more devastating, especially since she made a point to walk around before checking in and posted pictures with the caption, ¡°Now I can finally get a good night¡¯s sleep.¡± There were indeed people who wanted to know something from Bo Yan, and during the evening, Bo Yan had a live broadcast. In his live chat, people started spamming questions about Xia Siyu¡¯s recent rumors. As everyone knows, Bo Yan and Xia Siyu are ¡°arch-enemies¡± in the public eye, with mutual disdain and diss-trading, and their fans would go at it at the drop of a hat. When someone in the live chat kept asking him about Xia Siyu¡¯s rumors, they quickly faced an onslaught from a horde of fans. But the host of the live broadcast had different objectives, aiming to generate popularity. What was the hottest topic at the moment? Of course, it was about Xia Siyu switching three rumored boyfriends in a week. Some malicious individuals even speculated that all three were, in fact, her subjects, changing daily, perfect. The host actually went ahead and asked Bo Yan, ¡°Have you heard about the rumors involving your two friends and Xia Siyu recently?¡± The host didn¡¯t dare to blatantly ask questions unrelated to Bo Yan, but starting from his friends should be somewhat relevant, right? As expected, after the question was asked, some fans started to protest. Bo Yan also furrowed his brows, as if pondering how to respond. After a long while, he nodded, ¡°I¡¯ve heard. It¡¯s their private affair, and it¡¯s not appropriate for me to comment.¡± This statement instantly excited the host. What did this mean, Bo Yan standing up for Xia Siyu against her rumors? However, Bo Yan quickly delivered another heavy blow, ¡°But as far as I know, it¡¯s probably not true.¡± The host instantly lost her momentum and retorted defensively, ¡°But what if it¡¯s true?¡± Bo Yan became serious this time, replying, ¡°Have you been under their bed watching? What gives you the right to make such wild guesses?¡± With a single sentence, the host was frozen. Bo Yan was rarely so severe. He had always been the epitome of cool aloofness, dealing with unsatisfactory questions with cold indifference, never resorting to insult. Even Bo Yan¡¯s long-time fans felt his anger through the screen. Bo Yan stated, ¡°They are my friends, and moreover, outsiders to the circle. Some of them are already committed, and such rumors have severely affected their normal lives. It¡¯s acceptable for reporters to follow them, but isn¡¯t it a bit too much to make baseless speculations based on a short video clip?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com Chapter 727 - 724: Chains of Traps (6) Chapter 727: Chapter 724: Chains of Traps (6) In the entertainment industry, there¡¯s a major taboo: don¡¯t dig into the lives of non-celebrities, unless they¡¯ve broken the law or disturbed public order. Artists package themselves as commodities, enjoy the exposure, and earn high salaries. They have to bear a flurry of controversy and accept dealing with all sorts of reporters and paparazzi. But this doesn¡¯t include non-celebrities. Non-celebrities aren¡¯t required to satisfy the curiosity of onlookers. Excessive probing can also infringe on their right to privacy. Bo Yan was uncharacteristically serious; after all, the host was just there to sell products. Although she had seen many celebrities come to help with live broadcasts, her hosting abilities were clearly lacking. After an awkward silence, she had to forcibly change the subject. But despite the host¡¯s unreliability, some fans in the bullet comments still noticed something fishy. Even though many fans were whitewashing: ¡°I think what Teacher Bo said is right.¡± ¡°Yeah, Teacher Bo knows his friend better than you do.¡± ¡°y1s1, although I hate Xia Siyu, she¡¯s also an innocent victim.¡± S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°The previous Xia Siyu deserved it, okay? Ever heard of ¡®a fly doesn¡¯t bite a seamless egg¡¯?¡± ¡­ But there was someone perceptive: ¡°Why is Teacher Bo so angry about Xia Siyu¡¯s matter? Is he related to her?¡± ¡°Right, Teacher Bo never responded to his personal questions before and always kept his manners, rarely getting angry. Is he angry this time for Xia Siyu?¡± Of course, such comments were immediately attacked by Bo Yan¡¯s fans: ¡°Holy shit, caught a Xia Siyu fan in disguise!¡± ¡°CP fans, get lost! Isn¡¯t the super topic and fan forums enough for you to twirl around? What are you looking for here?¡± ¡°Xia Fen are really so full of themselves. Angry for Xia Siyu? You¡¯re wasting your talent not writing novels! He¡¯s obviously angry for his friend, okay!¡± The fans were arguing in a frenzy, and the host, trying to recover from the downturn, asked Bo Yan a personal question: ¡°Teacher Bo, it¡¯s going to be your thirtieth birthday in a few days. First of all, happy birthday to you.¡± Bo Yan nodded, ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°On behalf of our live broadcast room, I have a gift for you.¡± The host said and turned around to hand him a gift box. Bo Yan nodded, ¡°Should I open this gift box now, or wait until my birthday?¡± The host smiled: ¡°Either is fine, either is fine.¡± Bo Yan actually opened it. These days, the gifts from hosts are one more extravagant than the next, and what the host gave was actually a diamond. The host was eloquent, ¡°Diamonds are forever, one to be passed down for generations. I think only a diamond can express my feelings, and I wish Teacher Bo to stay as mature, stable, and charming as a thirty-year-old every year.¡± The gift from the host couldn¡¯t be too stingy; it was a one-carat diamond. Bo Yan smiled, ¡°Thank you.¡± The host then asked somewhat insistently, ¡°But you know, turning thirty is quite significant for a person. The ancient saying goes ¡®At thirty, one should stand firm¡¯, establishing a career and a family. I wonder what Teacher Bo¡¯s plans are.¡± What the host was actually asking was about Bo Yan¡¯s ¡°family¡± plans. Everyone knew that since Bo Yan¡¯s debut, he was free of scandals¡ªno women, and even less men. Compared to Xia Siyu, who was associated with a scandal thrice a week, they were two extremes. But he had been in the industry for just over three years and was already thirty. At this age, many people would have already married and had children, with the kids old enough to run errands. The fans were also very concerned about this question. Although they still harbored unrealistic fantasies, they did not want Bo Yan to deceive them. Many top idols¡¯ downfall started with the collapse of their public persona, deceiving the fans. Under the scrutiny of everyone, Bo Yan finally spoke: Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com Chapter 728 - 725: Settling Down and Establishing a Career (1) Chapter 728: Chapter 725: Settling Down and Establishing a Career (1) ¡°I have a dream that one day I will be able to write my own screenplay, direct my own movie, and act in it too. I also want to improve my acting skills and strive to win more awards and recognition on the international stage,¡± The host was eager to hear him talk about his other half, and the fans actually wanted to hear this part too. But Bo Yan intentionally ignored this point, instantly giving the host a whiff of gossip. The host wasn¡¯t discouraged this time and directly asked, ¡°What about family? Has Teacher Bo considered family issues?¡± Bo Yan tactfully responded, ¡°I will protect my family members and won¡¯t let them suffer from unwarranted disasters like my friends did.¡± He once again sidestepped the main issue by conflating ¡°lover¡± and ¡°family.¡± The host persisted. This time she didn¡¯t beat around the bush and bluntly asked, ¡°What about a lover?¡± Bo Yan¡¯s answer was very official, ¡°I hope my other half is my soul mate, who will advance and retreat with me, sharing the same interests, hobbies, and aspirations.¡± He paused, then added with a touch of humor, ¡°Of course, it would be even better if she were a bit more good-looking.¡± Such a standard answer wouldn¡¯t satisfy the host, who prodded further, ¡°Then do you have any standards or an ideal type?¡± Bo Yan shamelessly replied with two words: ¡°Bigger breasts.¡± The live broadcast was suddenly filled with a lively atmosphere. Someone commented in despair below, ¡°It seems I, with an A-cup, have no right to like Teacher Bo!¡± Some people boldly volunteered themselves, ¡°Everyone step aside! It¡¯s time for my C-cup to have a say.¡± ¡°C-cup? That¡¯s nothing. I¡¯m a proud D-cup! If Teacher Bo is choosing, he should pick me first!¡± ¡°I¡¯m an E, I¡¯m an E! Teacher Bo, check me out!¡± ¡°All of you, back off. I haven¡¯t even started talking with my Z-cup. Is it your turn yet?¡± ¡°The one with Z-cup above, you¡¯re not 500 pounds, are you? (doge)¡± S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡­ The host, seizing the moment, continued to ask, ¡°It seems the fans are quite enthusiastic! I wonder if Teacher Bo has any requirements for his other half¡¯s height and weight? How many pounds do you think you could accept?¡± Bo Yan said, ¡°I don¡¯t like them too skinny. It looks better to have a little meat on the body. That saying ¡®no beauty under a hundred pounds¡¯¡ªif a girl is 168 cm tall and weighs less than 100 pounds, she must be too skinny. If she works out and is in shape, a bit heavier also looks good, as long as it¡¯s proportionate.¡± The comments surged again: ¡°F*ck, finally a male celebrity whose standard for choosing a partner includes weight over a hundred pounds! I¡¯m crying.¡± The host was somewhat incredulous, ¡°Can you specify a standard, like how much weight you could handle?¡± Bo Yan considered for a moment. Xia Siyu¡¯s weight fluctuated between 98 and 110 pounds, fortunately, she worked out regularly, had more muscle than fat, and her proportions were quite good. He thought about it and said, ¡°110 pounds.¡± In reality, even if Xia Siyu were a bit heavier, he wouldn¡¯t mind. Celebrities in the entertainment industry were generally too thin. With a height of 168 cm, Xia Siyu¡¯s weight was actually the healthiest possible standard, but in the entertainment industry, she was often mocked for being ¡°as fat as pregnant.¡± The host wondered if he was a bit too much of a fan pleaser: ¡°Is that so? But why do so many women still shout about losing weight? ¡®Women dress for the ones who adore them,¡¯ right? Surely women are trying to slim down because men think being thinner looks better.¡± Bo Yan remained composed: ¡°Individual aesthetic preferences vary. Some people like them a bit chubbier, some like them a bit skinnier. But for those men who promote extremely thin beauty standards¡ªthey probably don¡¯t really like women at all.¡± Chapter 729 - 726: Settling Down and Establishing a Career (2) Chapter 729: Chapter 726: Settling Down and Establishing a Career (2) Bo Yan kept the buy-one-get-one-free deal going, continuing, ¡°I hope my other half has an independent career, their own pursuits, and also has bottom lines.¡± The host asked, ¡°If you absolutely had to choose between appearance and substance, which would you pick?¡± Bo Yan was not about to fall into that trap, ¡°Do I really have to choose one?¡± The host nodded, ¡°You have to choose one.¡± Bo Yan spread his hands, ¡°Then my answer is right now. Either stay single or choose someone that meets my expectations. I¡¯m an adult now, I choose to have it all. If I can¡¯t have it all, I¡¯d rather not choose.¡± This response, seemingly evasive, was perfectly in line with Bo Yan¡¯s usual behavior. He indeed had few scandals, and the only unreliable rumor recently was with that Xia Siyu. He was selective rather than settling. The host was then satisfied, ¡°Then I wish you find your other half soon.¡± Bo Yan smiled lightly, ¡°Thank you.¡± As he was about to leave, Bo Yan added another sentence, ¡°I can¡¯t be single forever, I will have my other half. If any fans are disappointed by this, then I can only say I¡¯m sorry. Perhaps the standards I set for choosing someone won¡¯t satisfy you, but they will definitely meet the criteria I mentioned: well-rounded in character and appearance. But most importantly, she must be a kind person.¡± Bo Yan¡¯s words had the live stream viewers in shock¡ªwhat did he mean by that? Was he implying that he had already found the one he spoke of? Could it be someone who had already appeared, just not noticed much by them in the ordinary course? However, the phrase ¡°well-rounded in character and appearance¡± quickly ruled out Xia Siyu. Xia Siyu was undeniably attractive, but her talent? Her character? Her rumors? And her kindness? It seemed none of these things were associated with her. Recently, the only one who might meet this standard was Shang Feifei. She had been in the entertainment industry for many years, always well-regarded, and had worked closely with Bo Yan before. Moreover, Xia Siyu had recently seemed to be filming with Shang Feifei. Although lately, the paparazzi seemed to be distracted by Xia Siyu¡¯s ¡°supposed boyfriends,¡± there was no word about Shang Feifei. It was possible that the paparazzi had intended to capture Shang Feifei, only to ¡°accidentally¡± photograph the neighboring Xia Siyu. However, Bo Yan¡¯s remarks clearly indicated he must have made a choice, which greatly inspired the paparazzi who had been secretly following him. In two days it would be Bo Yan¡¯s thirtieth birthday, and he would be filming. That lady was likely to make a secret appearance; then they¡¯d catch all in the same net! ** S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After ending the live stream, Bo Yan did indeed receive a message from the company expressing their dissatisfaction with his last statement about not staying single forever. Even though he was no longer an idol, having won a Best Actor award and gained mainstream recognition, the general public would watch his movies. But who wouldn¡¯t want to make money? Although his fan club hadn¡¯t seen a mass exodus yet, there was already a sense of unrest. Of course, the company knew about him and Xia Siyu. You want to date or get married, nobody cares, but once you¡¯re in the circle, please keep your displays of affection private and don¡¯t even think about going public. Bo Yan couldn¡¯t care less, whether he went public or not was up to Xia Siyu. But he also wanted to be responsible to his fans and couldn¡¯t keep deceiving them forever. Chapter 730 - 727: Settling Down and Establishing a Career (3) Chapter 730: Chapter 727: Settling Down and Establishing a Career (3) He meant every word he said today; after all, in his eyes, Xia Siyu is truly a person of both internal and external virtues and kindness. He wouldn¡¯t change his stance, nor would he bother explaining too much. If one day, his and Xia Siyu¡¯s affair became public, let the backlash fall on him. He¡¯s an adult and would take responsibility for his choices, without a trace of regret. The fans are actually pretty easy to appease, considering Bo Yan is already thirty years old. At thirty, to expect him to have no scandals, not to like men, and yet not be sexually incompetent, and still forbid him from having a woman under such circumstances, would be sick in the head. As long as he is consistent in his actions and truly finds an excellent sister-in-law, doesn¡¯t flaunt his love life for no reason, and keeps it private, the fans would hold their noses and accept it. If there are any extreme fans who treat the artist like a boyfriend, well, it would be time to disband them anyway. Such extreme fans come quickly and leave just as swiftly, but if you spoil and indulge them all the time, it becomes a mess that is hard to clean up after a while. ** Anyway, Xia Siyu didn¡¯t send a single barrage during his live broadcast, and it had been several days since she sent him a message on Weibo or Moments. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After the rumors about her and her own brother Xia Ju¡¯an spread, Xia Youbiao was so angry that he smashed several cups in his office. If only Siyu had a slightly better relationship with him, he would¡¯ve flown over to investigate personally. Or he would¡¯ve contacted the media himself, go to the cover of the newspapers, and list out Siyu¡¯s relationship with his family, letting those who looked down on her, those who slandered her, see that she was not a pitiable doll to be bullied, nor was she a gold-digger! Just the part of the inheritance left to her in his will was worth tens of billions; compared to her, Bo Yan would be the one living off her, so why accuse her of being a gold-digger! But he didn¡¯t dare to do this and could only make a call to Xia Siyu, stammering, ¡°I saw your new scandal.¡± Although Xia Siyu herself cursed the paparazzi and the hotel, she did not clarify the scandal. She just asked, ¡°What, has it caused trouble for my brother? Does he like a girl, and she doesn¡¯t want to be with him now because she thinks he¡¯s affiliated with me?¡± Xia Youbiao was taken aback for a moment, shook his head, and said, ¡°No, that¡¯s not it.¡± Siyu then asked, ¡°Or is it that I¡¯ve embarrassed you and my brother? Because your heir has been involved in a scandal with someone as disreputable as me?¡± ¡°What are you talking about, he¡¯s your brother. This is clearly fake. How can the media act so recklessly and jump to conclusions like this every day!¡± ¡°Or are you worried that such messy scandals will anger the Bo family and lead to Bo Yan divorcing me?¡± Xia Youbiao immediately straightened up and asserted, ¡°That shouldn¡¯t happen. If Bo Yan really divorced you because of this, then he wouldn¡¯t be worth entrusting your life to.¡± ¡°You also know it¡¯s fake, so why get angry?¡± This question from Xia Siyu stumped Xia Youbiao again, ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°There are no buts, that¡¯s all,¡± said Xia Siyu, knowing that her father was concerned for her. Because he was considerate of her feelings, he hadn¡¯t made any public announcements, instead calling her personally. Especially since he mentioned Bo Yan and the Bo family just now¡ª if she really got divorced, Xia Youbiao would support her and give her a foothold. Although it wouldn¡¯t wash away the estrangement between father and daughter, it eased her mind a little. Therefore, she softened her voice, ¡°The media just reports nonsense every day, none of my scandals are true.¡± Chapter 731 - 728: Settling Down and Establishing a Career (4) Chapter 731: Chapter 728: Settling Down and Establishing a Career (4) ¡°You see, they¡¯ve arrested Han Yifan, they¡¯ve arrested my brother, and any man close to me gets a scandal pinned on my head. I am Xia Siyu, I always have been, and I have never changed. So¡­¡± you don¡¯t have to worry too much. She is not like mom, she is selfish and would not compromise for love or family. She always puts herself first. Actually, Xia Youbiao knew as well; he had silently paid attention all these years. As a father, he knew very well what kind of person Xia Siyu was, but he still felt a bit touched. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xia Siyu would even explain to him; as parents, don¡¯t they just wish for their daughter to have a good life? Xia Youbiao mustered the courage to ask, ¡°How are things with you and Bo Yan?¡± In the past, his daughter never shared her personal issues with him, but the old father was truly concerned about her family life. His one son and two daughters, where Xia Ju¡¯an is currently single, and Xia Sicai is thriving in the Bo Family, and his bond with Bo Yi is also very loving. It¡¯s just this youngest daughter; although she agreed promptly to marry Bo Yan back then, he clearly knew their union was not for love, nor even a marriage alliance, but a mere coalition. Especially the words Xia Siyu had spoken in the Xia Family¡¯s main hall before her marriage, they still echoed in his ears to this very day. If it weren¡¯t for Bo Yan being a good kid, handsome and talented, he wouldn¡¯t have easily given his daughter to him. But since they married three years ago, their relationship has always been strained, with Xia Siyu constantly embroiled in scandals and Bo Yan indifferent. As a father, he felt anxious and distressed. The more a child causes worry, the more a parent cares. Xia Siyu hesitated a moment but replied anyway, ¡°My relationship with him is very good.¡± ¡°Which kind of good?¡± Xia Youbiao didn¡¯t give up, ¡°After all, you are husband and wife. If you really feel nothing for him and just get along as friends, staying together reluctantly won¡¯t make you happy. Although Bo Yan is an excellent option, if it¡¯s not suitable, don¡¯t force yourself.¡± He spoke from real experience, having grown up with Lady Tong as childhood sweethearts, knowing even then that he didn¡¯t like her, though getting along as friends was pleasant. The elders convinced him that perhaps with time feelings might grow? Maybe they would develop feelings after having children? He later divorced and remarried, only understanding what true love was upon meeting Wen Qunxiao, but unfortunately, he couldn¡¯t protect his familial and romantic love. There was no need for his daughter to bear the same lessons he had learned. If Xia Youbiao had advised her several months earlier, perhaps Xia Siyu would have truly considered divorce. But now, ¡°There¡¯s no need.¡± ¡°Since you¡¯re not divorcing, then you must get along well. Dad remembers that in a few days, it¡¯s Bo Yan¡¯s birthday¡­¡± ¡°I have something else, hanging up now.¡± Xia Siyu truly didn¡¯t know how to continue talking with him. After all, the estrangement between father and daughter was too profound, and speaking further might just cause her to lose control of her emotions. The issue of the scandal was temporarily concluded, anyway, she wouldn¡¯t clarify the rumors about her and Xia Ju¡¯an. It¡¯s the Xia Family¡¯s own fault for not acknowledging her; if they didn¡¯t recognize her and her mother, then they had to endure the possibility of being tied to such ridiculous news. Either the Xia Family steps out and openly acknowledges her as a legitimate child born within marriage, Xia Youbiao and Wen Qunxiao¡¯s daughter, or they¡¯ll just have to pinch their noses and accept this ludicrous scandal. Putting the Xia Family in a bind, she felt no psychological burden whatsoever. And then, it was the day after tomorrow, Bo Yan¡¯s birthday. Chapter 732 - 729: Settling Down and Establishing a Career (5) Chapter 732: Chapter 729: Settling Down and Establishing a Career (5) Xia Siyu had not sent a message to Bo Yan for an entire week. The two had always been in tacit agreement online, one posting on Weibo, the other on Moments. Both were very busy, Bo Yan was shooting day and night, and to be able to sleep for seven hours a day was already a luxury. Xia Siyu¡¯s situation was even more so, having to cope not only with filming but also with the reporters. Her side had three scandals in a week, true or not, but it surely piqued the curiosity of onlookers. The number of people around the set visibly increased, including paparazzi and legitimate media, all drawn by the buzz to capitalize on the heat. The set crews were clever, since people were going to sneak photos anyway, they simply made it semi-open. Apart from the actual shooting times when photography was prohibited, people could freely take pictures during breaks. Of course, the set¡¯s LOGO suddenly appeared in every corner. Those in charge of publicity even rushed to order a batch of cups, tables, chairs, towels, pillows, and blankets printed with movie posters and promotional images. They also hung a conspicuous twenty-meter by twenty-meter poster outside the studio where people entered. Any place where accessories that could be photogenic were replaced with merchandise. All the media, fans, and bystanders who came to visit just needed to apply in advance on their official Weibo, and there was a good chance they would be drawn to come for a tour. They would also receive a gift bag when leaving, stuffed with various small merchandise. Of course, since they were visiting the set, the appearances and costumes of the lead actors were also unveiled by the production, rather than being kept secret. And it must be said, such a publicity strategy indeed opened up the recognition for ¡°Youth 2¡±. Initially, ¡°Youth 2¡± didn¡¯t have much investment, but the visiting journalists, although they couldn¡¯t see the actual filming, judged from the overall atmosphere of the set and the commitment of the main actors that it met expectations. ¡°Youth 1¡±, despite a good box office performance, didn¡¯t have many fans for its lead actors and wasn¡¯t seen as an irreplaceable masterpiece; originally, not many people planned to watch it. But after this round of publicity, it aroused the curiosity of quite a few people. Now that it had gained recognition, and although the merchandise seemed costly, compared to other publicity methods, this approach was already quite cheap. Xia Siyu changed her hotel, which led to a surge in search popularity as it was promoted through Xia Siyu¡¯s presence, and the hotel was quite delighted, declaring that their security was top-notch in protecting guest privacy to the greatest extent. Whether this assurance was reliable was uncertain, but after changing to this hotel, the paparazzi were no longer seen camped out at her door in the hallway. However, these days, she herself was extremely busy. Filming relentlessly every day, eating at the set, returning to the hotel only to sleep. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Today was Bo Yan¡¯s birthday, and she had been working nonstop for a week. After finishing the afternoon shoot at four o¡¯clock, she got on the RV and immediately started to remove her makeup and change clothes inside the vehicle. She swapped her fancy costume for sportswear and put on a mask and hat to avoid being recognized. She didn¡¯t even bring her designer bag, temporarily asking Wei Jingjing to buy her an Adidas sports bag to hold her ID and some change of clothes, along with the gift she got for Bo Yan ¡ª a rare vintage film reel she had hunted down abroad. On the way to the airport, she had just boarded the plane when she noticed a familiar person sitting next to her: Chapter 733 - 730: Settling Down and Establishing a Career (6) Chapter 733: Chapter 730: Settling Down and Establishing a Career (6) ¡°Shang Feifei, why is it you?¡± ¡°Xia Siyu, why is it you?¡± S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In recent days, the news about Xia Siyu had been splendidly colorful. In contrast, the news about Shang Feifei had been much quieter. Every day, the media was in a frenzy shooting photos of Xia Siyu. When she stayed at her original hotel, the paparazzi chased only after her. When she moved to a new hotel, they followed her there too. Next door was Shang Feifei, but no one cared to bother about her. Or to put it more accurately, there were some who asked, but very few. Fortunately, she had gotten used to the oddity of Xia Siyu. Siyu just had that magic, even when attending events with others, the media¡¯s focus was always on her. Others were not unrecognized by the media, but the attention they received was much less. The only other person who had this effect was Bo Yan. However, aside from promotional periods, Bo Yan rarely appeared in front of cameras, unlike Xia Siyu, who didn¡¯t even need to buy search heat for herself to be embroiled in something every day. Stirring up troubles here and there, living her days like a drama series. The most terrifying thing was, Shang Feifei realized upon reflection that although Xia Siyu was brazen in public, the outside world actually knew nothing about her domestic problems or her relationship with Bo Yan. It was a tightly kept secret. If she hadn¡¯t picked up on a few clues, she might have thought, just like everyone else, that Bo Yan and Xia Siyu were mortal enemies, completely unlikely to be together. ¡°What are you doing going to the Southwest?¡± Xia Siyu asked first. ¡°And what about you, aren¡¯t you also going to the Southwest?¡± Shang Feifei posed the same question in return. Xia Siyu took a moment to think; it seemed that Shang Feifei¡¯s boyfriend was the one from that pharmaceutical factory in the Southwest. Maybe she was going there to see her boyfriend. Shang Feifei didn¡¯t wait for her to respond and searched Bo Yan¡¯s Weibo. Hmm, wasn¡¯t it a coincidence, they were going to the same city. And the film city wasn¡¯t far from the pharmaceutical park. It was Bo Yan¡¯s thirtieth birthday today, no wonder she was in a hurry to get there. Without saying it out loud, the two of them exchanged glances. Seizing the moment before takeoff, Shang Feifei swiftly posted a ¡°Happy Birthday, Teacher Bo¡± on Bo Yan¡¯s Weibo and then calmly watched Xia Siyu. Sure enough, Xia Siyu¡¯s phone vibrated. When she checked, it was a Weibo alert¡ªShang Feifei had sent birthday wishes to Bo Yan. No wonder she had that look just now, it was so annoying. Xia Siyu, angered, was not going to let Shang Feifei off the hook easily. She immediately sent a message to Han Yifan, ¡°Get on the fastest flight to Southwest X City. That woman is about to meet that scumbag.¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s reminder was very timely. She knew Shang Feifei was serious and hardworking, and a little too stern. The Shangcheng Hotel was filled with gossipers and members of the production crew, not to mention the paparazzi hovering around. She had no intimate relationship with that glasses guy yet. Although Han Yifan didn¡¯t mind his girlfriend having had an experience in the past, the one right in front of them was absolutely a no-go. Of course, it was best to prevent it if possible. Even though the pharmaceutical factory was currently angry because of regulatory violations, it had nothing to do with Xi You, who had just graduated and returned to the country this year. Shang Feifei got along quite well with him, and this time too, she had sneaked over to check things out without telling him. Han Yifan figured out the situation too. He immediately replied to her message, ¡°Understood, I¡¯m on my way.¡± Then Xia Siyu threw a challenging glare her way. After all, the two of them were never friends to begin with, each finding the other displeasing to the eye. This way was just as well. Chapter 734 - 731: The Famous Grass is Taken (1) Chapter 734: Chapter 731: The Famous Grass is Taken (1) The two and a half hour flight passed with the two of them unable to stand the sight of each other. As soon as the plane touched down, they began competing for a cab. Xia Siyu and Shang Feifei had both come in secret, one to celebrate her husband¡¯s birthday, the other eager to check out her boyfriend¡¯s work and family situation. Apart from their personal assistants, they hadn¡¯t informed anyone else and had not arranged for a company car. They both used a ride-hailing app, and the drivers arrived almost simultaneously. Xia Siyu got into her car first, instructing the driver, ¡°Master, master, I don¡¯t care about anything else, just shake off the car behind us.¡± She was pointing towards where Shang Feifei was. In the city, there was only one five-star hotel close to the pharmaceutical plant and the film studio, so both of them arrived at the hotel at nearly the same time. Xia Siyu dashed down, running swiftly in her sneakers, determined to beat Shang Feifei by getting to the hotel and checking in first! Shang Feifei got out of her car just after Siyu, only to see someone running wildly into the distance. She was a bit speechless¡ªwas this necessary? They weren¡¯t school children playing the ¡°I¡¯m faster than you¡± game, were they? However, she quickened her pace quite a bit as well. One after the other, they checked into their rooms, and it just so happened that they were on the same floor¡ªXia Siyu and Shang Feifei spared no expense when it came to booking hotel rooms. Whether for security or exclusivity, they always chose the priciest rooms. When waiting for the elevator, Xia Siyu entered first, one in front and one behind. Their rooms were even arranged next to each other. After a brief rest in her room, Xia Siyu and Shang Feifei headed out almost simultaneously. The two glanced at each other, and to avoid being recognized, neither had changed their disguises. They had come alone; unless one wished to draw a crowd, it would be foolish to dress ostentatiously. They called for cars separately once downstairs, and this time they truly went their separate ways. Xia Siyu¡¯s car headed towards the film center. When she arrived, the doors to the film center were already closed¡ªBo Yan and the others were possibly still shooting, but the visiting hours for tourists had ended. A miscalculation. She had slipped away secretly, not telling Bo Yan or Song Fengzhi in advance. The element of surprise lay in her sudden appearance. What to do now, wait at Bo Yan¡¯s hotel? She knew where Bo Yan was staying, and it was now eight in the evening. For most people, this was the time to relax after dinner. But for celebrities, the workday continued with more filming. And unlike Bo Yan, who was always straightforward with his intentions¡ªmerely to sleep with her¡ªshe wanted to observe his life, his work, and check if the guy had any side flings. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After all, he hadn¡¯t messaged her in days. Maybe he was busy with someone else, not wanting to waste time chatting with her. Xia Siyu still called for a cab. Just as she was about to leave, there was a stir within the compound. A group emerged that looked like individual visitors, but at this hour, common visitors would have long since left, and the complex should be emptying out. Why were these people still here? As she got closer, Xia Siyu saw that they were holding banners, light-up signs, glow sticks, and the like, with ¡°Yan¡± written on the light boards¡ªprobably Bo Yan¡¯s fans here to celebrate his birthday with a visit to the set. Just then, several tour buses pulled up slowly behind the fans. One bus in particular drew cheers and shouts of ¡°Teacher Bo¡± and ¡°Brother Yan¡± from the fans, likely carrying Bo Yan himself. Chapter 735 - 732: The Famous Grass is Taken (2) Chapter 735: Chapter 732: The Famous Grass is Taken (2) Today was his birthday, probably going to celebrate with the whole crew. Just then, Xia Siyu¡¯s car also arrived, and as soon as she got in, she said, ¡°Follow that one up ahead.¡± The car drove towards the downtown area and stopped outside a restaurant. Xia Siyu also got out of the car, and seeing Bo Yan exit, she waited for the entire crew to enter before following them in. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But at the door, someone tried to stop her, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, miss, our venue has already been booked for a private event.¡± Xia Siyu said directly, ¡°I¡¯m with the crew too, just got here a little late.¡± She even flashed her work badge from the shoot¡ªafter all, it read ¡°Youth 2 Crew Member,¡± with a QR code on the front. It was quite dark outside, and the doorman didn¡¯t know the name of Bo Yan¡¯s crew, assuming Xia Siyu was with them. He hesitated, then let her through. Xia Siyu hurried in. The restaurant specialized in barbecue. The main hall was filled with crew members sitting around, while the private rooms inside housed the lead actors along with the director and producer. As Xia Siyu approached, she saw that the dishes had been ordered before Bo Yan and his party arrived, and were now being served. Xia Siyu stood outside the private room, watching the dishes being brought in one after another, drooling with anticipation. If she wasn¡¯t there to observe Bo Yan, she would have found a corner to sneak some food by now. Xia Siyu cursed Bo Yan in her mind several times, damn it, he was inside cuddling up with the lead actresses while she was outside in the cold air without any meat to eat. If Bo Yan dared to play any tricks on her, she¡¯d barge in and flip the whole table! And sure enough, after a few rounds of drinks, some commotion started. Especially since the second female lead was a resource player, her daddy was an investor who had parachuted her into the acting gig. This second female lead definitely had her eyes on Bo Yan, who was currently single, so she promptly became interested and started revolving around him, calling him ¡°Teacher Bo¡± at every turn. Bo Yan had seen plenty of women like her, usually only interacting with her during work, and not much outside of that. Some people, proud as they are, would stop persisting after hitting a snag, like Shang Feifei. But others, perhaps too used to pride, can¡¯t bear to see a man who genuinely ignores them and is superior to them in both family background and career, so they become fixated on the challenge. Like this second female lead. Xia Siyu was outside and saw that when the meal started, this second female lead was practically hanging on Bo Yan. Bo Yan frowned slightly, constantly shifting to the side. But he couldn¡¯t move too far away, or else he¡¯d bump into the leading actress. Xia Siyu, watching that woman¡¯s face, actually went ahead and looked her up on Baidu. From the movie¡¯s official channel, she found out that the second female lead was twenty-three this year, but looked¡ªvery, somewhat mature. Or rather, her looks were maturely crafted to resemble the most popular online influencer¡¯s face. She was fairly pretty, just lacking in distinctiveness. Checking her Weibo, it was all flaunting wealth and flying around the world. However, according to her verification, her dad was the second in command at some mining corporation¡ªdefinitely someone with a bit of money. Two years in the entertainment business, five movies, all funded by her dad. Landing a part with Bo Yan this time, but the producers were no fools, they wouldn¡¯t give her a leading role, so they cast her as a second female lead with a cameo role, even less than the third male lead. Dammit, what a piece of work, daring to make a play for her man, asking for trouble! Then someone proposed a toast, someone else suggested playing a game, and another pitched the idea of drinking cross-cupped wine, specifically naming Bo Yan and the second female lead. Chapter 736 - 733: The Famous Grass is Taken (3) Chapter 736: Chapter 733: The Famous Grass is Taken (3) Xia Siyu stood outside the door and peered through the crack to see the female second lead getting up radiantly, delicately holding her glass, ¡°Bo Yan, they want me to drink with you, or else I have to down three cups. Today¡¯s your birthday, you wouldn¡¯t want to see me get punished, right?¡± If it were any other man, they might have immediately stood up to drink with her. It was just one cup after all, and nothing more. But Bo Yan just smiled, ¡°Sorry.¡± Someone beside them urged, ¡°Xiaobo, just have a glass with her. It¡¯s a rare occasion, your birthday; let¡¯s all have some fun.¡± Bo Yan looked up at that person with an indifferent expression and still didn¡¯t budge. Someone else chimed in, ¡°Come on, have a drink!¡± ¡°Yeah, look at how Xiaoxu is feeling wronged over here.¡± Bo Yan just smiled, raised his own glass to clink with the female second lead, and took a sip, ¡°Thank you for your wishes.¡± Still, he refused to drink a nuptial cup. Bo Yan himself was born into an aristocratic family. The Bo Family had been wealthy for three generations, powerful and affluent, which was quite different from the background of the female second lead¡¯s local influential family. Being an award-winning actor, even directors and producers couldn¡¯t easily pressure him. He also knew how to adapt; he had after all drunk that glass, avoiding embarrassing anyone. But his attitude was clear, he did not want this woman to get close. Xia Siyu was pleased with herself, scoffing outside, ¡°If you dare to share a nuptial drink with him, I¡¯ll chop off your hand!¡± However, she had been standing at the door for quite a while, and a restaurant staff member found it odd, ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Xia Siyu quickly moved aside and sat down at an empty table in the corner. As the place got busy with eating and drinking, and the staff left, she approached again. This time as she looked through the crack in the door, both Bo Yan and the woman were gone. Xia Siyu immediately grew anxious. What was going on? Had she stealthily trapped Bo Yan in some small private room and then was doing this and that to him? The restaurant wasn¡¯t big, and there were only so many private rooms. Xia Siyu checked each one until she reached the end of the corridor, where the restroom was. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hanging in front of the restroom was a curtain. Before she even pushed through it, she could hear Bo Yan¡¯s voice from the other side, ¡°What do you need?¡± His voice was calm. ¡°Bo Yan, I like you,¡± came the voice of the female second lead, slightly unstable as if she were nervous. Outside, Xia Siyu thought to herself, Damn, that¡¯s shameless. He¡¯s just rejected you, and you still have the nerve to press on! Bo Yan let out a light chuckle, ¡°Oh? Is that so? Thank you.¡± As calm as ever. The woman persisted, ¡°Bo Yan, I really like you, I¡¯ve always been a fan of yours. I watched your livestream the other day and know you¡¯re looking for someone good inside and out. I¡­ I will try my best to meet your requirements.¡± Pah, how shameless, Xia Siyu had just finished her inner tirade when Bo Yan, seemingly a bit disgusted, began to speak, ¡°As for the inner qualities, reading more books is definitely beneficial. But the external qualities¡­ I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s a bit difficult.¡± The girl¡¯s face turned pale instantly. What Bo Yan meant was a polite way of saying: You¡¯re not good-looking, but you sure think highly of yourself. Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t help but feel triumphant; she thought, That¡¯s nothing special, compared to me, you don¡¯t stand a chance. Out of desperation, the woman blurted out, ¡°Why, why not? Bo Yan, you don¡¯t have a girlfriend, do you? And you don¡¯t like men, so why can¡¯t you accept me?¡± Bo Yan was noncommittal, merely humming lightly. He indeed had no girlfriend, he just had a wife. Chapter 737 - 737 734 The Famous Grass is Taken (4) ?Chapter 737: Chapter 734: The Famous Grass is Taken (4) Chapter 737: Chapter 734: The Famous Grass is Taken (4) Xia Siyu suddenly remembered the year when Xia Sicai and Wu Di came after him, Bo Yan had never actually agreed to anyone. In response to their approach, he merely showed polite withdrawal and didn¡¯t outright refuse them. It came from his cultivation, as well as unfamiliarity. He was always politely distant to those he didn¡¯t know well, as long as they didn¡¯t cross him, he generally wouldn¡¯t be harsh. However, that didn¡¯t mean he didn¡¯t have a temper. Especially after experiencing the breakup with her, it was a huge stimulus to Bo Yan¡ªhe had only ever wanted three things that he didn¡¯t achieve: one was his parents¡¯ lives, two was the Bo Family¡¯s regard for him, and three was Xia Siyu. The first two taught him to be low-key, and the last one, taught him that with some people, you have to firmly reject when you need to. Bo Yan said, ¡°Miss Xu, I¡¯m not interested in you. I also don¡¯t want to have a closer relationship with you. You can choose someone else, just not me.¡± ¡°Then, can I have a transient bond with you? Really, I don¡¯t ask for much; all I want is to have once possessed, never thought about forever. Even if I could only be with you for a month, or a year, I would be happy.¡± Xia Siyu was shocked on the side. Damn, this person was one of their peers! Turns out she was just like the old her, also coveting Bo Yan¡¯s body. However, though she had coveted, she wouldn¡¯t let that lead to anything with him, nor would she debase herself to beg him. Bo Yan didn¡¯t want to waste more words with her, so he turned around. However, after he took a step away, that woman actually hastened her pace, reached out her arm, and hugged him! ¡°Teacher Bo, I really like you a lot!¡± At that moment, Xia Siyu felt her blood boiling, wishing she could immediately rush in and kick this shameless woman away with a kick! However. The next second, Bo Yan fiercely broke free, stretching his hand to push her away! The woman stumbled three steps backwards from his shove, even bumping into the crew members who were coming out of the restroom. In front of others, Bo Yan¡¯s expression was icy; his voice suddenly turned mocking, ¡°Miss Xu, don¡¯t be shameless if you¡¯re given face.¡± The woman was stunned. She had never imagined that Bo Yan would say such things! Wasn¡¯t he always gentle and refined? No matter what the situation was, he¡¯d never speak harshly; why was he acting like this now¡­ And yet, he continued, ¡°Compared to the ideal her in my mind, you¡¯re not even worthy to carry her shoes.¡± sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Although Bo Yan said nothing, the woman suddenly felt something, ¡°Do you have a girlfriend now? You have a woman now, don¡¯t you?¡± Bo Yan didn¡¯t deny it; however, he didn¡¯t acknowledge it either. He just adjusted his attire as if despising the spot on his arm where she had touched him and even patted it a few times, ¡°I don¡¯t want such an incident to happen a second time.¡± After saying that, he paid no heed to the onlookers behind him and immediately went out through the curtain. Just as Bo Yan stepped outside, he seemed to notice something and looked back. At the door, there was only a woman in sportswear squatting against the wall, seemingly tying her shoelaces. That woman was Xia Siyu; when Bo Yan suddenly came out, she couldn¡¯t dodge in time and had to squat down and pretend to tie her shoelaces. She mustn¡¯t let him find out that she had run here, followed him to the restaurant, and hid by the restroom¡¯s doorway eavesdropping¡ªthat would be so damn embarrassing! Moreover, the situation caught her off guard, and she hadn¡¯t put on makeup, looking incredibly ugly. Chapter 738 - 738 735 The Famous Grass is Taken (5) ?Chapter 738: Chapter 735: The Famous Grass is Taken (5) Chapter 738: Chapter 735: The Famous Grass is Taken (5) She felt Bo Yan¡¯s suspicious gaze, but fortunately, he soon lifted his foot and left, sounding as if he had entered a private room. However, Xia Siyu did not get up right away; she waited a while longer until the woman and the unrelated person who had been implicated had both left, and then she stood up. But just as Xia Siyu reached the door of the private room, she heard some movement inside; it was Bo Yan standing up and grabbing his coat, ¡°Sorry. I¡¯m not very good at drinking, and I just had a bit of baijiu, now I really can¡¯t hold up, there¡¯s something at home, I want to go back to the hotel to rest.¡± The mood in the private room was still high, with someone clamoring, ¡°You¡¯re the birthday boy, how can you leave? If the host leaves, what¡¯s left for us to do?¡± But that woman thought he had just come back from outside and happened to sit next to Bo Yan, who couldn¡¯t be bothered to deal with her, so he stood up directly. Bo Yan was quite genteel, not showing his disgust for her in front of everyone. Bo Yan just smiled, ¡°It¡¯s okay, I¡¯ve already instructed my assistant to take care of it, right next to here in the entertainment center, I¡¯ve booked the whole place. You can sing songs, play cards, or soak in the hot springs to relax. All expenses will be on my tab. There¡¯s really something I can¡¯t ignore at the Bo Family in Yancheng.¡± He steered the subject towards his home, and everyone else thought that there must be some message from the Bo Family in Yancheng, so they nodded, ¡°Then, Teacher Bo, we won¡¯t be polite!¡± Bo Yan smiled faintly, ¡°Enjoy your meal and have fun.¡± He lifted his leg and walked towards the door, Xia Siyu quickly stepped aside, seeing Bo Yan walk out of the curtain first. Then, Song Fengzhi hurried over, and Bo Yan commanded him from behind her, ¡°You stay here and look after them. If they go next door to spend money, you just sign the bill at the end. I¡¯ll have the driver take me back. Once you¡¯ve signed off, you don¡¯t need to report to me; I guess it won¡¯t be early by then. Considering the crew will be drinking down today, I don¡¯t think work will start before noon tomorrow. Just charge it to my account, and then you can go and rest.¡± Song Fengzhi said, ¡°Okay.¡± As Bo Yan walked out, Song Fengzhi waited on the side, and no one noticed Xia Siyu¡¯s presence. However, Xia Siyu quickly followed Bo Yan out. Bo Yan did seem somewhat drunk, his handsome face flushed red. After all, as the host, when others came to toast him, he had to drink a little. With many people toasting, he ended up drinking quite a bit. He stood at the door waiting for his car, and Xia Siyu felt it wasn¡¯t appropriate to call a car over herself. When Bo Yan started to move, she finally hailed a car, and as Bo Yan walked to the doorway, her car quickly arrived. Then he went ahead, and she followed. Xia Siyu originally thought Bo Yan was going back to the hotel, and the route was indeed heading towards the hotel. But at the intersection before the hotel, the car in front suddenly turned left. A strange occurrence surely indicates something fishy! Although he seemed to handle the situation with Mr. Xu just now, who knows if it was all just a feint. Look at him, leaving the main group at the restaurant and entertainment center, then sneaking out by himself, taking a detour in the middle of the night, not even returning to the hotel. If one didn¡¯t follow the car, they probably wouldn¡¯t have a clue about what¡¯s going on. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xia Siyu immediately decided, ¡°Driver, follow the car up front.¡± The car in front made a left turn, then drove straight for less than three hundred meters before stopping. Xia Siyu saw Bo Yan get out of the car, hurriedly asked her driver to stop as well. She zipped up her coat, put on her mask, and stealthily slipped over to see what was happening. If Bo Yan dared to play tricks on her, she would wipe him out! Chapter 739 - 739 736 The Famous Grass is Taken (6) ?Chapter 739: Chapter 736: The Famous Grass is Taken (6) Chapter 739: Chapter 736: The Famous Grass is Taken (6) By this time, it was already half past eleven. Xia Siyu had arrived at the film and television base after eight, waited outside for a while, and then took a car with them to a restaurant. When they went to the restaurant, it was already after nine. They ate and drank for over an hour, and Bo Yan came out again. Xia Siyu, aside from the airplane meal she had eaten as lunch on the flight, hadn¡¯t had dinner yet and was ravenously hungry. The weather had turned cold again. It was okay during the day when the sun was out, but at night, with even a slight breeze blowing, it was bone-chillingly cold. Xia Siyu was only wearing sportswear, but even her sportswear had to look good, so she only had a light jacket on. The wind blew through her, freezing her to death. She was both hungry and cold, and internally she cursed Bo Yan hundreds of times. Humph, coming to such a godforsaken place in the dead of night, she really wanted to see who Bo Yan was waiting for! However, Bo Yan got out of the car and seemed to walk alone into the park, found a bench to sit down, and Xia Siyu waited nearby for a while but didn¡¯t spot anyone who looked like they were meeting up with him. Following Bo Yan¡¯s gaze, she saw an old clock that had been erected at the beginning of the twentieth century, a city landmark that still chimed on the hour. It was already eleven forty, and she had been crouching and hiding behind him for ten minutes, without laying eyes on a soul. Xia Siyu¡¯s stomach ¡°gurgled¡± again, clearly starving. Not only was she hungry, but she was also cold, and the breeze was making her extremely uncomfortable. Xia Siyu shrank back, careful not to be seen by Bo Yan, but also hid in a corner, ensuring she could keep an eye on him. She mentally sent Bo Yan and the mysterious person he was waiting for all kinds of well-wishes, and just as she was about to give up and leave, Bo Yan finally moved. He raised his hand, took out his phone, and seemed to be making a call. Then, Xia Siyu¡¯s phone suddenly vibrated. Thankfully, she had switched her phone to silent while tailing Bo Yan; otherwise, the sound of the phone would¡¯ve given her away, right? But at this moment, her position was a bit too close to Bo Yan. Fearing that he might hear her talk, she hesitated for a moment, then circled a big loop backwards, almost when Bo Yan was about to hang up the phone, she wrapped her hand around the phone, which could lower her voice and made her talking a bit louder, ¡°Hello?¡± She had barely uttered a word when her stomach ¡°gurgled¡± again, really very hungry. On the other end, Bo Yan chuckled, making Xia Siyu jump. He couldn¡¯t possibly have noticed her, could he? She hurriedly peeked out and heard Bo Yan murmuring softly into the phone, ¡°Wife, I miss you so much.¡± His voice was slightly unsteady, as if he had drunk too much. ¡°Can¡¯t you wait until you get back to the hotel to miss me?¡± S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xia Siyu had just finished speaking when she heard a puzzled ¡°Hm?¡± from the other end. She hurriedly added, ¡°I can hear the sound of the wind where you are, so I guess you¡¯re outside.¡± Of course, there was wind. She was so cold that her teeth were almost chattering. Bo Yan seemed completely oblivious and asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you miss me?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t!¡± Xia Siyu answered firmly. Bo Yan still laughed, ¡°But I¡¯m at the hotel right now. I¡¯m sitting on a chair. It¡¯s just that I¡¯m wearing a bit too much pajamas, and I want to take off my clothes.¡± Xia Siyu indeed heard the sound of rustling clothing, and there were even people passing by occasionally. Bo Yan couldn¡¯t have drunk too much and mistakenly thought he was in the hotel, could he? And then he even wanted to take off his clothes. Chapter 740 - 740 737 Happy Birthday (1) ?Chapter 740: Chapter 737 Happy Birthday (1) Chapter 740: Chapter 737 Happy Birthday (1) Xia Siyu originally thought he was just putting on an act, not really wanting to get close. But then, Bo Yan seemed to unzip his own clothes and began to unbutton his shirt while his speech was slightly slurred, ¡°Hey, that¡¯s strange, isn¡¯t this a T-shirt? Why can¡¯t I take it off?¡± Meanwhile, the two people passing by at night seemed to have heard something and were walking over towards them. Looking from behind, Xia Siyu saw that the pair appeared to be a young man and woman, probably in their twenties. If they were to see Bo Yan undressing in the street, the headlines on tomorrow¡¯s front page would probably feature this incident! S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She rushed over immediately, leaping out from the green belt and sprinting towards him. Indeed, Bo Yan¡¯s outer garment was torn open, revealing several unbuttoned shirt buttons and exposing his honey-colored chest. Bo Yan¡¯s face was still very red, and when he lifted his gaze, his eyes seemed to float, with a strong scent of liquor accompanying his breath. He clearly drank too much. When he saw the suddenly appearing Xia Siyu, he raised his eyelids and chuckled twice. Xia Siyu thought he was being sarcastic, but the next second, he stretched out his hand, grabbed her arm, and pulled Xia Siyu down with force. Siyu was startled and stumbled a couple of steps, falling directly into his arms in an awkward position. She adjusted a little, ending up sitting on his lap with the two of them facing each other. Xia Siyu was panicking, especially since the two onlookers seemed to be approaching even closer, and by the sound of their footsteps, maybe tired, they seemed to have sat down on a bench not far from them. They were facing the main road, and although it was late at night with hardly anyone passing by, there were cameras everywhere, and high-end hotels and office buildings nearby, so there was no concern for safety. But the two people sitting there, although blocked by Xia Siyu¡¯s back, might still spot Bo Yan¡ªif he had good eyesight¡ªsince Bo¡ª the ¡°drunkard¡±¡ªhadn¡¯t worn a mask when he got off the car. As she was getting anxious, the hand Bo Yan originally had on her wrist moved to support her waist, while his other hand reached up, gently pressing on the back of her head. Following his force, Siyu lowered her head, and he caught the corner of her lips. Bo Yan had clearly eaten barbecue just before, but there was no trace of the food in his breath, only a faint scent of mint candy, probably because he ate it to freshen his mouth. Other than that, there was the strong smell of alcohol. The breath of a drunkard can be nasty, but maybe because Bo¡¯s mouth only contained the smell of mint, mixed with the alcohol scent, it did not produce any other unbearable odors, just a heady fragrance of spirits. Moreover, Xia Siyu had been feeling exceedingly cold, having been blown by the cold wind for half an hour, tired and hungry, but Bo Yan¡¯s body was very warm, and holding her, it was cozy. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t feel taken advantage of or anything, she was just a little angry: as a boy, you should know how to protect yourself when you¡¯re out, what kind of behavior is this, stripping in public! Do you not know there¡¯s something called male virtue! However, the couple beside them didn¡¯t rest for too long, they got up and left after a short while. Only after they departed did Xia Siyu indignantly say, ¡°Drink less in the future!¡± Drink and lose your senses! Bo Yan responded with a ¡°Hmm,¡± adding, ¡°What else?¡± ¡°What else?¡± Xia Siyu checked her watch: 11:59, ¡°Although there¡¯s only one minute left, happy birthday.¡± Chapter 741 - 741 738 Happy Birthday (2) ?Chapter 741: Chapter 738 Happy Birthday (2) Chapter 741: Chapter 738 Happy Birthday (2) Just as Xia Siyu spoke her last word, the clock struck twelve, ringing out behind her. The solemn and reverent chimes, ¡°dong dong dong dong dong,¡± each strike caused Bo Yan¡¯s eyes to brighten a bit more. When the last chime faded away, Bo Yan curved his lips into a smile, ¡°I¡¯m so happy.¡± In fact, his mood had been off all day. They had been apart for a little over a week, and Xia Siyu hadn¡¯t even sent him a WeChat message, nor had she called. The last message she sent him was about that nonsensical rumor involving her and her biological brother. In the days that followed, there was not a single message from her. In love, the one who falls deeper is the one who gets hurt more, and that¡¯s how Bo Yan felt at the moment. Although Xia Siyu had grown to like him now, she had liked him back then too, yet she had been able to detach herself faster than anyone. He himself would post his status on Moments or Weibo every other day, as if to say: ¡°Wife, please pay attention to me.¡± But there was complete silence from Xia Siyu¡¯s end. Bo Yan was dying of anxiety. He was planning to fly over to her tomorrow if she didn¡¯t post anything today, and he had even packed his suitcase. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Who would have thought, she had sneaked over secretly. In fact, while at the restaurant, Bo Yan had spotted Xia Siyu squatting in the corner to tie her shoelaces. Even though he couldn¡¯t see her face, he recognized her immediately. At that time, he was still angry having just rejected the entanglement of the female secondary character surnamed Xu. But the moment he saw her silhouette, he was instantly happy. She didn¡¯t say a word and sneaked off to the Southwest, even following him to the restaurant. Although she eavesdropped on his conversation with another woman from outside, he didn¡¯t mind at all. His wife had come a long way to celebrate his birthday, wanting to surprise him. The fact that she had followed him secretly, undetected the whole way, and observed how he interacted with another woman showed that she cared about him. Although in the eyes of the world Bo Yan might seem like an untouchable figure, in their relationship, he was the insecure one. There was nothing happier than knowing the woman he valued also cared for him, but Bo Yan still found it somewhat amusing. He had initially planned to pretend he was unaware of Xia Siyu¡¯s presence, allowing her to quietly set up the ¡°surprise¡± scene. However, in the car, he changed his mind. He wanted to see if her appearance there was just a coincidence. He wondered if she would continue to follow him. As expected, when he turned a corner, the car behind him turned as well. When he got out of the car, Xia Siyu also parked. He entered the park, and someone immediately followed. When he sat on the bench, Xia Siyu crouched in the corner and secretly watched. She wouldn¡¯t come out until he didn¡¯t move; he finally had to call her, even using his charm¡ª True to form, Xia Siyu only came out then, quickly asserting her wifely rights. She didn¡¯t mind his work, but in his personal life, she was the only one! ¡°You¡¯re happy! I¡¯m freezing to death!¡± Though Xia Siyu was sitting in his arms, the cold wind she had endured for too long chilled her. The breeze from behind still left her back a bit cool. ¡°Then let¡¯s go home,¡± Bo Yan said as he picked her up. Once she was back on her feet, he took off his coat and draped it over her shoulders. His coat was still warm from his body heat. As for Bo Yan himself, he was clad only in a thin shirt, seemingly unaffected by the cold. The two returned to the hotel, to her room, naturally. They had just sat down, having not seen each other for a while. As soon as the door closed, Bo Yan immediately reached out to embrace her: ¡°Wife, let¡¯s sleep.¡± Chapter 742 - 742 739 Happy Birthday (3) ?Chapter 742: Chapter 739 Happy Birthday (3) Chapter 742: Chapter 739 Happy Birthday (3) ¡°Sleep my ass off, I¡¯m starving! I haven¡¯t eaten all night!¡± Xia Siyu didn¡¯t hesitate to push him away, immediately preparing to order delivery: ¡°I¡¯ve been blowing in the cold wind all night and haven¡¯t had a single bite of something warm! If you don¡¯t feed me, I¡¯ll eat you first!¡± ¡°Then why don¡¯t you eat me first,¡± Bo Yan chuckled, but he still didn¡¯t stop Xia Siyu from ordering. She chose a heap of dishes, grateful for the advanced delivery apps that allowed her to enjoy a steaming hot dinner late at night in the comfort of a hotel. However, as punishment for Bo Yan, while waiting for the food, she went to take a shower, deliberately locking the bathroom door. Bo Yan paced back and forth outside, ¡°Wifey, can you open the door, please? I promise, I won¡¯t look, I¡¯ll close my eyes and help you wash, okay? You can¡¯t reach your back, but I have a good heart, I¡¯ll help you.¡± ¡°Dream on!¡± To spite him, Xia Siyu dilly-dallied in the shower a bit longer than usual. When she came out, maybe because she hadn¡¯t had dinner today and was a bit hypoglycemic, or maybe because she stayed in the bathroom too long, she felt dizzy the moment she unlocked the door. Luckily, Bo Yan was right outside. Hearing something stir inside, he immediately opened the door. Xia Siyu¡¯s face was as pink as a peach blossom, and she leaned powerless against the wall in a delicate and overwhelmed manner. The bathroom was filled with steam; she had turned the water a bit too hot because she was afraid of the cold and hadn¡¯t eaten anything, which nearly made her faint. Bo Yan quickly picked her up and carried her to the bed. Breathing in the air outside, she felt much better than before, but was still limp and listless: ¡°Bo Yan¡­¡± Bo Yan was both angry and distressed. Just now you told me not to come in, but I should have pestered you more. He didn¡¯t hesitate to touch his hand on her arm and waist, poking and prodding here and there: ¡°Do you feel that? Are you still uncomfortable? Should I call a doctor?¡± S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xia Siyu felt taken advantage of and hummed weakly, her trembling hand reaching out: ¡°Answer the phone¡ªmy delivery is here.¡± This ungrateful girl, still only thinking about her delivery! Bo Yan stroked her nose: ¡°I can go get it for you, but you have to agree that later, I want to do this, and I also want to do that¡­¡± Her response was to roll her eyes at him and then laboriously turn over, leaving him with a contemptuous view of the back of her head. Torn between love and annoyance, Bo Yan pinched her waist and earned a bite on his hand when Xia Siyu turned her head back. Only then did he go out, chuckling, with a mask on, taking Xia Siyu¡¯s phone and room card. Just as he reached the door, he ran into Shang Feifei. Seeing Shang Feifei here wasn¡¯t a surprise for him. The guy with glasses lived in the area, and since Bo Yan had been helping Han Yifan with research, he knew quite a lot about the guy¡¯s affairs. Shang Feifei wasn¡¯t here for a set visit, so she must have been meeting her boyfriend. He also knew that Shang Feifei had long guessed the nature of his relationship with Xia Siyu. As far as Bo Yan knew, there were no other cast members staying on this floor. So when they met, he just gave her a casual glance and a nod of his head, acknowledging his relationship with Xia Siyu. But Shang Feifei didn¡¯t have time to be surprised; she had more important things to do today. Shang Feifei also nodded at him and headed to the elevator first. They went down together, and once they arrived, Bo Yan picked up the takeaway, while Shang Feifei sat in a corner of the lobby, seemingly waiting for someone. Chapter 743 - 743 740 Happy Birthday (4) ?Chapter 743: Chapter 740 Happy Birthday (4) Chapter 743: Chapter 740 Happy Birthday (4) If she had plans with her boyfriend, just like him, she could have him come up to her room. Especially since she also knew that another film crew was staying here, calling an ordinary person to her room would be much safer than waiting for someone in the lobby in broad daylight. She didn¡¯t do that, which must mean there was an issue between the two of them; she wasn¡¯t here to invite, she was here to observe. But that was normal for her, considering her boyfriend was unreliable, daring to secretly flirt with Xia Siyu right in front of her. And with the two of them apart, wouldn¡¯t he be even more reckless in having his fun? Just as Bo Yan was about to head back with his takeaway, people from the film crew were already returning, and upon seeing Bo Yan, they greeted him: ¡°Teacher Bo.¡± It was the lighting technician from the crew, and Bo Yan nodded with a smile. The man looked down at the takeaway in his hand: ¡°Teacher Bo, haven¡¯t you had enough to eat tonight?¡± S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Considering today¡¯s barbecue portion was quite generous. Bo Yan¡¯s lie came right away: ¡°I had to come back early for something today, I got a bit tired from filming, so I¡¯m just going to eat a little more.¡± The two of them entered the elevator together, and Bo Yan raised his hand to press Xia Siyu¡¯s floor, causing the man to exclaim, ¡°Teacher Bo, don¡¯t you live on the tenth floor?¡± Bo Yan didn¡¯t panic at all and pressed ten first, calmly saying, ¡°Pressed the wrong one.¡± When they reached his floor, Bo Yan, having his own room card, went in first. After thinking about it, since he was there, he might as well grab his change of clothes. Just as he was about to leave, he thought again and came back to take three or four small umbrellas. He had just checked Xia Siyu¡¯s place, and she definitely didn¡¯t have any small umbrellas. He had to make sure not to be all set and then realize he forgot to bring a shield. Just before leaving, Bo Yan stood at the door and listened for a while. Hearing no footsteps in the corridor, he quickly left, took a big detour, and went to the elevator from another side where there were fewer people, then went up the floors again. Xia Siyu had already finished blow-drying her hair, sitting on the edge of the bed with her bare, pale feet, swinging them as she played with her phone. She was about to complain, ¡°Why did you take so long?¡± Bo Yan simply said, ¡°The food took a while to arrive. Little Fairy, the food¡¯s here, let¡¯s eat.¡± Xia Siyu stretched her neck to glance at the bag, and in an affected manner didn¡¯t want to move: ¡°Take out each of my dishes from the bag, open the lids, and pop the tab off the beer for me.¡± Bo Yan was both helpless and amused, ¡°Why should I?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you say I¡¯m a Little Fairy? Have you ever seen a Little Fairy do things for herself?¡± Alright, he admitted defeat; how did he end up with such a squeamish wife? Despite his internal complaints, Bo Yan moved faster than anyone, quickly setting the food containers up and popping open the beer, ¡°Please, Fairy.¡± Xia Siyu happily hopped off the bed. She had just taken a shower, and though she was in her pajamas, she wasn¡¯t wearing a BRA. When she jumped down, her front was a sight to behold, leaving him momentarily dizzy. While Xia Siyu was eating, Bo Yan went to the bathroom, took a swift shower, and came out in his pajamas. Considering it was night, Xia Siyu didn¡¯t dare to eat too much, taking only a few bites of each dish before pushing her chopsticks away. She pushed the leftovers toward Bo Yan, ¡°Here, eat it. Big Boss said not to waste.¡± This kid was really taking advantage of others to the extreme. Bo Yan shook his head and laughed, ¡°You and your ways.¡± Still, he sat down and finished the rest of the dishes. After cleaning up, Bo Yan asked up close: ¡°Wife, can we sleep now?¡± Chapter 744 - 744 741 Happy Birthday (5) ?Chapter 744: Chapter 741 Happy Birthday (5) Chapter 744: Chapter 741 Happy Birthday (5) ¡°I haven¡¯t brushed my teeth yet.¡± Xia Siyu walked to the bathroom, and Bo Yan followed her, both of them squeezed the toothpaste onto their brushes in the same rhythm, with matching movements. Bo Yan watched in the mirror, the person with half-closed eyes, a picture of languid ease. This person was just like a cat; when she was comfortable, you could stroke her fur, and she would purr contentedly. If she was unhappy though, and you still petted her, she would flash her claws at you. But most of the time, she was lazy and drowsy, yet when she acted sweetly, it made you forget all her faults. However, Xia Siyu was not just a pet; when she was working, she truly shone brilliantly, captivating to watch. Once they finished washing up, Bo Yan gently draped his arm over her shoulder, ¡°Wife, it¡¯s late, let¡¯s rest now.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve just eaten, why would I sleep?¡± Xia Siyu pushed him away mercilessly and then took out her own script, ¡°I need to go back to filming tomorrow afternoon.¡± ¡°You¡¯re leaving tomorrow?¡± Bo Yan was a bit disappointed, ¡°Won¡¯t you stay a couple more days?¡± ¡°I still have work,¡± Xia Siyu replied pretentiously as she opened the script and casually flipped through a couple of pages, ¡°It¡¯s already good enough that I could come here at all, don¡¯t ask for too much.¡± In reality, taking leave, especially when it was planned to go out of town, would usually be for at least two days. The round trip by plane would take almost an entire day by itself, leaving no time for anything else. Xia Siyu had been working hard on her filming precisely to be able to take two days off with ease. But if Bo Yan wanted her to stay, then she certainly couldn¡¯t let him have his way so easily! As a result, Bo Yan instantly saw the note she had marked on the script, ¡°The day after tomorrow at XX o¡¯clock.¡± It seemed she had highlighted it in red and underscored it, likely in case she missed her flight and was delayed. In that instant, her facade was exposed, yet Xia Siyu pretended to be unaware and nonchalantly tore off the marked page. Then, she turned to look at Bo Yan. Bo Yan had seen it too, and now Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t hold back and burst into laughter. Bo Yan smiled as well, looking at her seriously, ¡°Wife, I find you¡¯re particularly beautiful today.¡± Xia Siyu saw right through his wicked intentions, ¡°Cut it out, you just want to sleep with me.¡± S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bo Yan replied earnestly, ¡°Research has shown that a harmonious marital life is beneficial to improving the relationship between spouses. Wife, it¡¯s been over a week since we last saw or contacted each other, my life has been especially discordant. Besides, didn¡¯t you just eat too much? After eating a lot, you need to exercise to aid digestion and lose weight, I¡¯m just concerned about you. I¡¯m thinking of your best interest. One action, two benefits, why wouldn¡¯t I do it?¡± Xia Siyu was still not pleased, ¡°Bo Yan, I question whether you really like me or not. You just think I¡¯m good-looking, and I have a nice figure, you like sleeping with me, and that¡¯s why you say you like me, right? Every time we meet, it¡¯s not even minutes before you start making moves on me, and soon after, we end up ¡®exercising.¡¯ Although you haven¡¯t accepted any other women, I have a proper suspicion that you don¡¯t really like me for me, you¡¯re just lusting after my body, you¡¯re despicable!¡± Bo Yan was amused by her accusation, ¡°Why do you say I¡¯m lusting after you? You are my wife, who else should I lust after? Moreover, do you not understand why I¡¯m so eager now? You just broke up whenever you felt like it before, causing a delay that lasted seven years. The fact that I haven¡¯t looked elsewhere is already commendable. Also, you ungrateful little thing, do you not have any idea whether I¡¯m just lusting after your body or if I truly like you?¡± Chapter 745 - 745 742 Happy Birthday (6) ?Chapter 745: Chapter 742 Happy Birthday (6) Chapter 745: Chapter 742 Happy Birthday (6) Xia Siyu shook her head, ¡°I didn¡¯t count.¡± Bo Yan pinched her cheek, ¡°If I only craved your body, would I help improve your acting, or help you select movies?¡± Xia Siyu looked confused, ¡°What movies did you help me with?¡± She still didn¡¯t know that she had landed ¡°Storm¡± and ¡°Spring Light,¡± and Bo Yan had exerted quite a bit of effort behind the scenes. However, ¡°Besides, is improving my acting something you helped me with? Isn¡¯t that what I deserved for paying my tuition?¡± Bo Yan asked, ¡°What tuition?¡± Xia Siyu reached out and found his parts, moving closer to give him a kiss, ¡°The tuition for each of my classes is quite expensive.¡± This woman, really a seductress! When you pursue her, she looks annoyed, but just when you think there¡¯s no hope, she comes to entice you. Bo Yan¡¯s pupils suddenly contracted. He was about to embrace her, but this cat-like woman immediately retreated. She could flirt on her own, but if he, itching to respond, wanted to come closer, sorry, no thanks! As Bo Yan leaned forward, she retreated; when Bo Yan moved forward again, she jumped up and ran towards the door. How could Bo Yan let her escape easily? Leveraging his long legs, he rushed over in a few strides, and with an outstretched arm, he blocked her against the door. Xia Siyu just turned her head when he captured the corner of her mouth. Bo Yan¡¯s voice was very low, ¡°Do you know what would happen to someone like you in ancient times? It would be calamity that causes chaos to the state.¡± ¡°Tsk,¡± Xia Siyu scoffed lightly, ¡°It¡¯s you men who can¡¯t control yourselves, yet you push the blame onto women. Quite shameless. Bo Yan, Movie Emperor, are you the same?¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s voice rose slightly, with a flirtatious tone. Bo Yan wanted to kiss her, but she bent down with a giggle and slipped out from under his arm. Bo Yan quickly took a few steps, crouched down, and with his shoulder nudged her up, supporting her knees with his hand and carrying her over his shoulder! Xia Siyu had never been carried like this by him; his shoulder pressing against her stomach made her feel uncomfortable as she hung upside down while he walked. Xia Siyu quickly punched him, ¡°Bastard, let go!¡± ¡°You want me to let go, eh? Okay.¡± Bo Yan took a few quick steps and tossed her into the center of the bed sheet. To prevent her from escaping, as she was about to sit up, he covered her. Xia Siyu was ready to continue their charade, ¡°Young Master, after our tryst last time, my parents found out. They want to call off my engagement with my cousin, and just pair me with any man to cover up the scandal. I really don¡¯t wish to make another mistake¡­¡± Bo Yan paused. So, the ancient game they played last time was a series? S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But he reacted quickly, immediately answering in a low voice, ¡°That¡¯s not difficult. Once you submit to me this time, I¡¯ll propose tomorrow. I¡¯ll bring a bridal sedan to marry you. A single night in spring is worth a thousand pieces of gold. Miss must not waste such a good time.¡± Xia Siyu pushed him, ¡°Last time the young master came over, he said the same. Tomorrow and tomorrow, so many tomorrows.¡± Wow, she¡¯s clearly improved, even using ancient poetry! Bo Yan narrowed his eyes, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbing slightly as he leaned down, ¡°This gentleman¡¯s intentions are true, as heaven and earth can witness. I shall come to propose tomorrow¡­¡± The final words trailed off into a low murmur, indistinct. Then Bo Yan reached out and gently turned off the light in the room. Although there was no light, the temperature was rising. However, just as Bo Yan was about to proceed with Xiaoyu, a series of footsteps came from outside the door! Chapter 746 - 746 743 Encirclement (1) ?Chapter 746: Chapter 743 Encirclement (1) Chapter 746: Chapter 743 Encirclement (1) Bo Yan had originally not bothered to deal with the situation and even turned to strap on his shield, ready to enter the battlefield. However, very quickly, the footsteps at the door grew louder¡ªit was obvious that they weren¡¯t from a single person, but from many. Moreover, they were heading towards their room! Then came the ringing of his phone, piercingly loud. Bo Yan didn¡¯t want to answer, especially at such a critical moment. But he seemed to realize something, first he covered the blushing Xia Siyu with a quilt, then turned to pick up his phone. The call was from Song Fengzhi, ¡°Yan-ge, is Xia Siyu with you?¡± To be precise, he was in Xia Siyu¡¯s room. Bo Yan glanced back at Xia Siyu, who also looked at him; both heard the urgency in Song Fengzhi¡¯s voice. He nodded, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the reporters; lots of them! They must have found her flight information, I don¡¯t know how they managed to follow her here! Yan-ge, you need to think of something¡ªthey¡¯re already on their way!¡± Xia Siyu was slightly surprised, but she quickly recovered, ¡°It might not be for me; Shang Feifei is also here, just staying next door.¡± ¡°It¡¯s definitely for you guys. Your flight information got leaked, and yours was the only one,¡± Song Fengzhi, having heard Xia Siyu¡¯s voice, couldn¡¯t care less about formalities and spoke directly to her. Bo Yan and Xia Siyu exchanged a look. He actually didn¡¯t care, having already given his fans a heads-up. Although it was a bit troublesome for Xia Siyu, she had too many scandals. Just a week ago, she had been linked to three different rumored boyfriends, all of which she had denied, but the onlooking crowd didn¡¯t believe it. And then there was Shang Feifei. Sister, you¡¯re supposedly on the same celebrity level as me, did you max out the ¡°bystander¡± attribute or what? Why is it that every time we¡¯re involved in the same incident, I¡¯m the one getting blasted on the trending searches, and you come out clean every single time, every time! S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This time, those reporters probably had been camping out at the hotel for three fake scandals, consistently stalking her, until they finally caught a real one. But whether to acknowledge it or not, he couldn¡¯t decide. Sure enough, just as their gazes met, a reporter outside had already started calling out, ¡°Miss Xia, is it Xia Siyu? Xia Siyu, are you in there? Who are you with?¡± Bo Yan glanced at the door; it was already locked from the inside. Even if someone tried to swipe their card from the outside, it wouldn¡¯t open. The reporters outside kept yelling in the corridor, ¡°Can you open the door, please?¡± Only an idiot would open the door! Besides, they were blocking someone¡¯s hotel late at night¡ªwhat is this five-star hotel doing, letting these people come upstairs like that? Inside, Xia Siyu conveyed this sarcastic remark to Bo Yan with her mouth, and Bo Yan responded with a shrug, ¡°There¡¯s nothing we can do, this is the Southwest. Although it¡¯s a five-star hotel, it¡¯s been many years since it was last renovated and it¡¯s not part of any international chain, just a locally owned one.¡± Since it was locally owned, there were only so many top-tier rooms. Xia Siyu always insisted on staying in the best one, and the reporters tailing her would definitely be aware of her preference, so all they had to do was look for her at the most expensive suite. But since they didn¡¯t know which one she was staying in, they could only pace back and forth in the corridor. Damn it, they couldn¡¯t even call the police, because if they did and the police came, they would have to come out to deal with it, which would be tantamount to confirming the rumor about her and Bo Yan! Anyway, the reporters couldn¡¯t forcefully enter; they just wouldn¡¯t open the door, what could they do. Chapter 747 - 747 744 Encirclement (2) ?Chapter 747: Chapter 744 Encirclement (2) Chapter 747: Chapter 744 Encirclement (2) After the initial surprise and slight panic, Xia Siyu was now filled with anger instead. Damn it, she indeed was a celebrity, and she had accepted the fact that reporters wrote nonsense about her scandals and made her private life public, assigning her a bunch of random rumored boyfriends. She let it go when they chased her to the hotel and even managed to snap photos of her with Xia Ju¡¯an within an hour of his visit. She let it all slide. But she had a life to live too, right? She was a person, after all. She didn¡¯t plan to sell her entire self to the general public, so why should she allow these people to disrupt her life! If these reporters really dared to break in violently, then she would admit to her relationship with Bo Yan! After all, they were a lawfully wedded couple, nothing less than legitimate, with nothing against the law or moral standards! Xia Siyu even said, ¡°Do you still feel like it? They are all stuck outside the door anyway, only wanting to catch us in something scandalous. Well, then let¡¯s give them something to see!¡± Bo Yan was taken aback for a moment. Initially, he was indeed full of interest, which was why he repeatedly asked her ¡°Let¡¯s sleep?¡± He was quite annoyed when they were interrupted, but at the same time, he quickly calmed down. However, since the reporters only called for Xia Siyu, they did not know that the man with her was himself. But even if they knew, it wouldn¡¯t matter. He had been eager to go public, eager to introduce her to others proudly, for they were not just dating, they were legally married! Her words actually made him laugh. He turned around and kissed her, ¡°Remember, you can never say a man is no good.¡± The reporters continued to hover outside the door, while the two inside were passionately engaged. Bo Yan still didn¡¯t think it was fun enough, so he simply turned on the TV. The war movie playing seemed just right to set the mood! The reporters waited outside amidst the booming sounds of gunfire, which was a shame because the loud cannon sounds completely drowned out any noise from the room. Hearing the sounds of the movie, the reporters became even more excited. However, they weren¡¯t the only two staying in the hotel. The actual resident from another room came out disheveled in pajamas, hair a mess, ¡°What¡¯s with the noise in the middle of the night? Mourning someone¡¯s death? Is it your parents who died that you¡¯re crowding around here? Keep it up, and I¡¯m calling the cops!¡± When the reporters were blocking Xia Siyu and Bo Yan, they were the strong party, and the two inside were the weak ones, but in front of an ordinary guest, nobody cared for their excuses and curses flew directly. There was no helping it, as it was already borderline inappropriate to block someone¡¯s hotel corridor, but to just leave, what if those inside refused to acknowledge the situation? The grand war movie continued to play, as if mocking these foolhardy souls. The two inside couldn¡¯t care less about the outside commotion. Apart from the rumbling artillery fire inside their room, it was as if there was a battle raging outside as well. The angrier Xia Siyu became, the more she threw herself into the moment. She wasn¡¯t the kind to take things lying down; when riled up, she became like a wildcat or a leopard. She didn¡¯t care whether Bo Yan needed to film or not, her claws scratched his back, her teeth bit into his shoulder, and the possibility of someone being just outside made the whole experience even more thrilling. After the battle, they were completely spent, as tired as if they had truly fought a war. The fight ended with the sound of troops entering the city in defeat from the TV, signaling the end of their own tumultuous round. Both of them failed to notice that the noise outside had ceased. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Then, an hour later, the two saw the news of their relationship being revealed while they were in the bathtub: Chapter 748 - 748 745 Encirclement (3) ?Chapter 748: Chapter 745 Encirclement (3) Chapter 748: Chapter 745 Encirclement (3) ¡°Shang Feifei¡¯s romance exposed? Thousands of miles to catch a cheater, exposing a breakup in the process¡± Xia Siyu and Bo Yan looked at each other, baffled. What was going on? Looking further down, judging by the messy photography of the reporters, the place was still their hotel, only not on their floor. No wonder everything was so quiet in the corridor after they had finished; they had assumed the other guests had complained, prompting the reporters to leave. In reality, the journalists had found a new scoop to chase. For the reporters, all they had on Xia Siyu was the information of a flight, knowing that someone named ¡°Xia Siyu¡± had taken first-class from Shangcheng to the Southwest. This small city in the Southwest only had one five-star hotel, and this hotel only had the most expensive suites on this very floor. Bo Yan¡¯s film crew happened to be shooting here as well, which was why they had come. But after all, they had no evidence that Xia Siyu was staying here. They were even threatened with the police by other guests. But with Shang Feifei, things were indeed concrete, and naturally, the reporters had all swarmed over there. Time went back to two hours ago. Bo Yan and Shang Feifei both descended the stairs, Bo Yan went to pick up a takeout order, while Shang Feifei sat downstairs. Bo Yan suspected that the guy with glasses was a troublemaker, but that was someone else¡¯s domestic issue, and none of his business, so he didn¡¯t ask or think much about it. However, Shang Feifei, who remained in her place, was chatting with Han Yifan. But it all started when Han Yifan sent her several pictures of Glasses Guy out at nightclubs, dancing and passionately kissing girls. The LED screen in the background of the photographs showed a recent English Premier League match, with Chelsea narrowly defeating Liverpool away. If the photo had been from the past, Shang Feifei wouldn¡¯t care. Who didn¡¯t have a past? She had boyfriends before. Going to nightclubs was not a big deal, perhaps just a bit too fun-loving. But, they had just made their relationship official a month ago, and here he was, going out to nightclubs like this, acting utterly different from how he presented himself to her. All his restraint, rationality, politeness, and refinement seemed gone. While Shang Feifei respected his private life, this sudden display of two contrasting personalities indeed made her hesitate. Before long, Han Yifan arrived, looking travel-worn as though he had just rushed over from Shangcheng. Actually, if it hadn¡¯t been for Xia Siyu messaging him, telling him to fly over right away, he wouldn¡¯t have been in such a rush. Previously following Bo Yan¡¯s request, he had indeed been scouting for outstanding escorts. One was a former luxury brand saleswoman¡ªexperienced and broad-minded, tall and beautiful, and most importantly eloquent in conversation. She entered this profession purely because her father had amassed a hefty gambling debt that she couldn¡¯t clear otherwise, so she was forced into this line of work. Han Yifan paid her well, and his only request was simple: at all costs, get Xi You in her grasp. She didn¡¯t have to go all the way; just going to a hotel room with him and ensuring his entrapment would suffice. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Everything progressed smoothly, and this Xi You, who appeared gentlemanly before them, was actually quite the playboy. In the Southwest, his home turf, he inevitably relaxed. Although he had won over a top star like Shang Feifei, she was quite reserved and hadn¡¯t let him get too close yet. They had been dating for a month, but he hadn¡¯t even kissed her. Once back in his locality, of course, he would want to go out on the hunt. Han Yifan had not yet left the airport when he received the message from that escort, saying they finished at the nightclub, and were going to book a room at the only five-star hotel in the area, which was here. Chapter 749 - 749 746 Encirclement (4) ?Chapter 749: Chapter 746 Encirclement (4) Chapter 749: Chapter 746 Encirclement (4) Han Yifan hadn¡¯t wanted to show up so early. His ideal scenario was to have the escort hook up with the guy wearing glasses, then, once they got a room, find a man to pretend to be the woman¡¯s boyfriend to catch Xi You in the act, beat him up, take photos, and then release the photos online to ferment naturally. In this way, he wouldn¡¯t have to step in and could easily take down this opponent. Nor would it make Shang Feifei have any objections to him, thinking that he was always keeping an eye on her private life. But man proposes, God disposes. Shang Feifei finished filming and came to Southwest earlier than expected. If it hadn¡¯t been for Xia Siyu¡¯s reminder, would she have ended up sleeping with that glasses-wearing guy tonight? That wouldn¡¯t do at all. Han Yifan wouldn¡¯t concern himself with Shang Feifei¡¯s past. If she found a truly outstanding man, he would smile and wish her well. But with that glasses-wearer, he must take her away for himself! ¡°Do you know which room he¡¯s staying in?¡± Shang Feifei had just finished asking when Han Yifan hadn¡¯t yet answered, then suddenly, she slowly stood up. Her eyes were fixed on the outside of the lobby. Outside the lobby was a taxi. A man was hugging a woman as they entered. The woman¡¯s steps were slightly staggered, clearly having had too much to drink. The man supporting her looked affectionate. It went without saying, the man was Xi You, and the woman was the one Han Yifan had chosen. No wonder she hadn¡¯t messaged him afterwards. It looked like she simply didn¡¯t have the energy to say or do anything. Xi You¡¯s family was in the pharmaceutical business; who knew what he had given her to make her completely lose consciousness. Even scarier, as he entered, a waiter skillfully opened the door for him, saying, ¡°Mr. Xi, you¡¯re here again? Your room is already prepared.¡± Damn it, it was clearly not his first time! sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. No wonder the escort was hooked so easily; turns out he was a repeat offender! Acting so wildly when usually he had to pretend to be all serious in front of them, his acting skills were just too good! Shang Feifei wouldn¡¯t explode in anger like Xia Siyu; instead, she watched coldly as he escorted the woman upstairs, without following. Han Yifan was now in a hurry. What did this mean? They had come this far, was she still going to act like nothing had happened? He followed, and saw the elevator stop at the fifteenth floor. He assumed the man¡¯s room was on that level. Shang Feifei was making a phone call: ¡°Hello?¡± The other side was quiet, with the faint sound of water in the background, ¡°Fei¡¯er, good evening.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve just finished filming and returned to the hotel, where are you?¡± The man on the other side stretched and yawned, ¡°In the office, just finished a report. You know, our family has had some issues lately, so I have to work overtime every day. I haven¡¯t been home to rest for seventy-two hours.¡± Indeed, he hadn¡¯t gone home, but it wasn¡¯t because of overtime. ¡°Are you alone?¡± ¡°Haha, checking in on me so soon? But I¡¯m actually happy about it, it means you care about me. Of course¡ªthere are other colleagues here, though they¡¯re all men. Which female colleague would be willing to work overtime so late at night?¡± As soon as he finished speaking, the woman seemed a little uncomfortable and made a sound. The glasses guy reacted quickly, hanging up the phone: ¡°I¡¯ll turn off the office lights first and talk to you later, love you.¡± Shang Feifei looked at her phone, seemingly undisturbed, while Han Yifan had already bribed the waiter and learned Xi You¡¯s room number: ¡°Shall we go up for a look?¡± Shang Feifei put her phone away: ¡°Since we¡¯re here, of course we should go up.¡± Chapter 750 - 750 747 Encirclement (5) ?Chapter 750: Chapter 747 Encirclement (5) Chapter 750: Chapter 747 Encirclement (5) Han Yifan followed her the whole way, and while going up the stairs, he didn¡¯t forget to send a message to Bo Yan. At this moment, Bo Yan and Xia Siyu were just being besieged by reporters outside, which was like a godsend. He asked Han Yifan a question, ¡°Do you want to be with Shang Feifei?¡± Isn¡¯t that a silly question? ¡°Of course, I do, why else would I be here?¡± ¡°Then, do you mind using a little outside trick? There are some reporters in front of Siyu¡¯s and my room door. Tell me your room number, and I¡¯ll set it up. When you catch the X, the reporters will come over, and then you protect her. Create a fait accompli.¡± Han Yifan quickly told Bo Yan the room number he knew. Just then, Bo Yan and Xia Siyu were about to start playing with his parts. He turned on the war movie on the TV set, and in passing sent Han Yifan¡¯s room number to Song Fengzhi, telling him, ¡°Shang Feifei is going to catch X, think of a way to draw the reporters away from the 18th floor.¡± Song Fengzhi hurriedly went to make arrangements. He sent two unfamiliar guys to sneak upstairs. While the reporters were all crowded in the 18th-floor corridor, they deliberately had a ¡°quiet¡± conversation: ¡°Did you hear? Shang Feifei is also here, downstairs.¡± ¡°I saw her; she just arrived with a man, and my colleague bumped into them when going upstairs. It seems we have been misled; the real action is actually downstairs.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go, let¡¯s hurry while no one is paying attention. If we¡¯re late, we won¡¯t get a spot.¡± Some left, and others followed. Some were still watching, and then, after getting definite news from their colleagues downstairs, a whole crowd ran off. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the room, Bo Yan and Xia Siyu were still engaged in an intense battle, accompanied by the war film on TV. She managed to cry out with a heroic fervor, shouting herself hoarse. After the battle was over, Xia Siyu felt fatigue in her body and her throat was hoarse. Bo Yan carried her into the bathtub, where the two of them cuddled up and watched the news. Shang Feifei was calm at first. She was a bit angry, but not too upset. Although they had established a relationship, she had been busy shooting her film, and Glasses Guy was always traveling between two places, which really affected their relationship. Moreover, she never really liked him that much to begin with; she had been half-pushed into a relationship with him out of reluctance to deal with Han Yifan. Now that she knew he was cheating, she wasn¡¯t furious, only wanting to get to the bottom of it. Initially, she knocked on the door, and there was no movement inside. She knocked again, and spoke with a calm voice, ¡°I already know you¡¯re in there, no need to hide. We¡¯re all adults here, so open the door and let¡¯s have a proper talk.¡± A joke, how could the person inside dare to open the door? Just as he was agonizing over what to do, suddenly a large group of reporters rushed over and immediately surrounded Shang Feifei and Han Yifan. There was no need to mention Shang Feifei, but Han Yifan was also a familiar face, wasn¡¯t he Xia Siyu¡¯s rumored boyfriend? Although she had denied the rumor. So, what¡¯s going on here? Was Han Second Young Master not really Xia Siyu¡¯s rumored boyfriend, but instead pursuing Shang Feifei, who was staying in the same hotel as Xia Siyu and filming nearby? Damn it, they had been chasing the wrong person, no wonder Xia Siyu was so angry. When Han Yifan saw the crowd rushing over, he immediately stretched out an arm, his hand lightly resting on her waist, and the other hand in front of her. He actually didn¡¯t touch Shang Feifei, but from the reporters¡¯ perspective, these two were definitely up to something! As the standoff continued, the police arrived at the door, ¡°Someone reported that there are people engaged in prostitution in this room!¡± Chapter 751 - 751 748 Encirclement (6) ?Chapter 751: Chapter 748 Encirclement (6) Chapter 751: Chapter 748 Encirclement (6) The cruelest part was that Bo Yan had also instructed Song Fengzhi to call the police. Normally during non-crackdown periods, the police wouldn¡¯t be so prompt in their response. Especially in the Southwest, remote and being a five-star hotel, the authorities wouldn¡¯t dare to barge in rashly. But upon hearing that reporters had arrived and the fuss was substantial, they had no choice but to make an appearance. And with the police showing up, it further validated the reporters¡¯ speculations, causing an even bigger stir. Once the police cleared the way, the door was kicked open to reveal Glasses Guy still pulling up his trousers, while a poor woman was tied to a chair, her body covered in whip marks. After all the commotion, it turned out this guy was an abuser! By the time the police took Glasses Guy away, Shang Feifei didn¡¯t hesitate to slap him. This was also the fastest and shortest-lived romance to be exposed in history, especially since it involved a familiar face¡ªwasn¡¯t this Xia Siyu¡¯s rumored boyfriend? Moreover, it seemed as if the second young master of Han Enterprise, Han Yifan, had brought Shang Feifei to catch someone in the act, only to find her actual boyfriend, Glasses Guy, leading to their breakup. From beginning to end, Xia Siyu was just an innocent bystander, always taking heat in the frontlines. Although Glasses Guy had been taken away, there were still many reporters surrounding Shang Feifei. With anger and humiliation mixing inside her, it was Han Yifan who eventually cleared a path for her and boldly accompanied her back to her room. Before entering, he earnestly said to the reporters, ¡°I ask everyone to give Fei¡¯er some quiet time to rest properly. Please stop blocking the door.¡± The reporters, having already captured sensational footage, and seeing Han Yifan enter the room with Shang Feifei, assumed that the pair would likely be staying together. With such explosive news, they were happy to give them space. The backgrounds of Shang Feifei¡¯s two scandalous associates had already been dug up during the investigation into Xia Siyu. Xi You¡ªsupposedly an ex-boyfriend, the son of a pharmaceutical company owner and a medical doctor¡ªrecently saw his family¡¯s company embroiled in regulatory violations leading to a massive drop in stock value and immense public resentment. On top of that, he was caught cheating. The other man was Han Yifan, the second son of Han¡¯s Enterprise, who was seen by reporters at Shang Feifei¡¯s side, blocking aggressive microphones and cameras meant for her. Without saying a word, his protective stance was quite evident. Taking into account the fact that Xia Siyu and Shang Feifei were staying at the same hotel, and the production crew was next door, Xia Siyu was actually just a bystander who got caught in the reporters¡¯ crossfire by mistake¡ªno wonder she was so angry, clearly refuting the rumors three times. Thus, Xia Siyu also rose to prominence under the hashtag #ScandalBystander and happened to trend on social media as well. Well-prepared, Xia Siyu at that moment was sitting in the bathtub, swiftly contacting Wei Jingjing, who posted a photo of the night view in Shangcheng along with a picture of her eating watermelon on her main Weibo account, indicating that ¡°She was still in Shangcheng.¡± S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As expected, the hashtag #MelonEatingBystander for Xia Siyu quickly started trending, neck and neck with Shang Feifei. Many true bystanders left comments on her Weibo, chuckling and joking about the situation. Bo Yan, who had advised from behind the scenes and stayed out of the narrative, managed to stir up public opinion, punish the despised Glasses Guy, and intensify the situation for Han Yifan. However, he wasn¡¯t in the mood to boast his scheming to Xia Siyu at this time. Instead, he was just kneading her waist, ¡°You¡¯re only focused on other people¡¯s gossip, not caring about whether I live or die. Since it¡¯s still early, how about we go for another round?¡± Chapter 752 - 752 749 Just Beyond the Wall (1) ?Chapter 752: Chapter 749: Just Beyond the Wall (1) Chapter 752: Chapter 749: Just Beyond the Wall (1) Xia Siyu slapped him to silence, ¡°Sleep, sleep, sleep, that¡¯s all you think about.¡± Bo Yan looked aggrieved, ¡°I¡¯m just contributing my dues. You were the one who said my ¡®part¡¯ now carries your exclusive dog tag¡ªno entry for strangers besides you! We¡¯ve been apart for over a week, and he could only be used once, how frustrating. And you also said that I needed to pay my dues in full. If I don¡¯t, you¡¯ll have reason to suspect I¡¯ve got a dog on the side. You¡¯ve twisted every word I could say, so what do you want me to do?¡± S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xia Siyu was displeased, ¡°But that doesn¡¯t mean you can keep talking about paying your dues all the time, does it? Would you starve your dog for ten days to half a month, then let it eat until it¡¯s stuffed?¡± Indeed, Xia Siyu¡¯s attitude had changed slightly. Initially, she only saw Bo Yan as a P buddy, where no communication was needed, just action. But now it was different, he was her boyfriend, her husband, her intimate love. Naturally, she hoped there could be other ways. ¡°I can stop mentioning it if you stay with me tomorrow.¡± In truth, both Xia Siyu and Bo Yan knew she had a drama shoot the day after tomorrow, and she was supposed to rest the next day. However, Xia Siyu wanted him to pretend not to know, so he feigned ignorance and used it as a pretext to make his request. Was there even anything to consider? But Xia Siyu still wanted to put on a bit of an act, she furrowed her little brow and her eyes rolled in a faux reluctant expression, ¡°I was planning to leave tomorrow morning, but if you insist, I suppose I could stay another day¡­¡± Seeing her triumphant little eyes, Bo Yan was both annoyed and amused. The water in the bathtub was cooling down, so he got up first, casually towel-dried his body, wrapped it around his waist, and then took a large towel, ready to wrap her up and carry her back to the room. Xia Siyu just stretched out her arms contentedly, not wanting to move at all, looking like someone accustomed to being pampered. This woman¡ªif she hadn¡¯t met him, if she hadn¡¯t been spoiled like this, who knows which man would have had the challenge of taming her. Bo Yan grumbled to himself but wrapped her up tightly. Stepping into slippers, he carried his precious burden in his arms, ¡°Off to sleep we go!¡± Xia Siyu hummed in disagreement, her face showing dissent, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that you agreed to be with me tomorrow? Yet you¡¯re still talking about sleep.¡± ¡°I¡¯m talking about just sleeping, plain sleep, absolutely chaste.¡± He had already had his way once earlier, and although it wasn¡¯t ¡°bland and boring,¡± he certainly wasn¡¯t in a hurry anymore. But once they were cleaned up and the lights off, Bo Yan wanted to hold her, and Xia Siyu played coy, ¡°Don¡¯t touch my face! I have just applied my night cream!¡± Alright, if not touching meant not touching, he lowered his hands from her face. Xia Siyu then drew them back, ¡°I¡¯ve applied a thick layer of hand cream.¡± Bo Yan was speechless, habitually wrapping his arms around her waist, which Xia Siyu rejected again, ¡°Don¡¯t touch, I¡¯ve covered my whole body with moisturizer.¡± She even turned the tables on him, ¡°How old are you, not three but thirty, can¡¯t you learn to sleep by yourself?¡± This girl must be doing it on purpose. Bo Yan was so annoyed he turned over and ignored her. But moments later, he felt discontent in his heart. So he quickly got up, thinking you wouldn¡¯t let me touch, I¡¯ll touch anyway. You won¡¯t let me rub against you, I¡¯ll do it just the same. The two of them started a small scuffle under the covers. As they fought, the atmosphere shifted, and what began as roughhousing turned into moans. His previously idle ¡®part¡¯ had once again gloriously begun its duty. The night was still rather splendid. Chapter 753 - 753 750 Just Beyond the Wall (2) ?Chapter 753: Chapter 750: Just Beyond the Wall (2) Chapter 753: Chapter 750: Just Beyond the Wall (2) However, for some people, nighttime is not so beautiful. Take, for example, the room next door, just a wall away. After Han Yifan had sent that group of journalists packing, he also entered Shang Feifei¡¯s room. However, he, Shang Feifei, and Xia Siyu next door all knew that the reporters had only quieted down temporarily. In reality, they hadn¡¯t retreated; they were still in the hotel, perhaps in the hallway, perhaps outside, but definitely around them. Han Yifan pulled back the curtains to look outside, and sure enough, not far away, there was a crowd of people with bulky cameras. Today¡¯s drama was just too thrilling: a public breakup immediately after going public, and that included catching someone cheating. Then, while Shang Feifei was still somewhat disoriented, he entered the room with her, in part to protect her. She probably regretted it by now since they weren¡¯t actually a couple after all. Entering the room together had confirmed the nature of their relationship. But even kicking him out would be pointless now, as there were still reporters outside, and it wouldn¡¯t clear up the confusion. After entering the room, Shang Feifei quickly regained her composure. The scandal that had just erupted was probably already causing a furor, and her phone was about to explode. Especially since she had come alone this time, without any bodyguards, assistants, or agents by her side. Even with Shang Feifei¡¯s current status, having two relationships wouldn¡¯t lead to the same public ridicule that Xia Siyu had faced in the past, but facing such a melodramatic incident, she still felt overwhelmed. Even though she hadn¡¯t invested much in her feelings for Glasses Guy, an hour later, she truly despised him. Not for anything else, but for the reports she had to explain to her agent, and for the sea of journalists outside the window. Shang Feifei was not a very extroverted person to begin with, and her previous two relationships had been low-key. She had never imagined herself ending up on the front page headlines overnight due to such a clich¨¦d cheating scandal. As she prepared to post her drafted Weibo statement, her agent asked, ¡°What¡¯s with you and Mr. Han the Second, then?¡± Only then did Shang Feifei remember that there was still such a person sitting in her outer room. After Han Yifan came in, he just sat in the living room. It was a suite, with a large living room outside, complete with a bar, and the bedroom inside. Han Yifan knew better than to overstep, so he stayed quietly to one side after entering, not uttering a word, not disturbing her as she worked and addressed the situation, keeping to himself in the living room. Shang Feifei and Xia Siyu were not the same kind of people. Xia Siyu was spicy and delicate; she would directly confess her interest if she liked someone, and if she didn¡¯t, anyone who dared get close would be met with a punch! But Shang Feifei was different; if you dared to touch her, she wouldn¡¯t bash you with her fists like Xia Siyu would, but she could take you to court and leave you with nothing. Bo Yan had taken advantage of Han Yifan to distract the journalists. Of course, he also returned the favor, helping to guide public opinion for him. Soon, there was gossip online claiming that Han Yifan had racked his brains trying to pursue Shang Feifei but she, being already attached, had not agreed. The incident today was also due to Han Yifan receiving news and coming over with her. Essentially, Shang Feifei was innocent, not guilty of cheating, merely a victim, while Han Yifan was the lovestruck ¡®second male lead¡¯ from a drama. The one to blame was the guy with glasses. This statement was actually crucial in preventing anyone from smearing Shang Feifei as a cheater and in whitewashing Xi You. Han Yifan also liked this whistleblower¡¯s post, and netizens, donning their ¡°melon-eating masses¡± hats, soon excavated proof that it was indeed Han Yifan himself. This was taken as him endorsing this narrative. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 754 - 754 751 Just Beyond the Wall (3) ?Chapter 754: Chapter 751: Just Beyond the Wall (3) Chapter 754: Chapter 751: Just Beyond the Wall (3) So, online sympathy for Shang Feifei was unanimous, and there was also affirmation for the ¡°devoted second male lead¡± Han Yifan. As for Shang Feifei¡¯s agent, they too were quite satisfied with the current direction of public opinion towards Han Yifan. After all, they were in the media business and certainly knew how crucial it was to occupy the high ground of public opinion. Whether Han Yifan¡¯s like was his own doing or not, the fact that he had this intention showed that he was indeed responsible and considerate. ¡°I don¡¯t have any relationship with him, if I must say, it¡¯s him chasing after me.¡± Although she found it a bit irritating at first, looking at the situation now, he seemed to be a decent guy, having caused no trouble at all. ¡°At this time, the more you say, the more mistakes you¡¯ll make. Since things have come to this, it¡¯s better to remain silent. You¡¯re still in the Southwest, right? Tomorrow or the day after, I can arrange a set visit for the reporters to see your haggard and swollen eyes, that would be enough.¡± ¡°We can only do that.¡± Regarding this kind of scandal, anything you say wouldn¡¯t be good, so it¡¯s better not to say anything at all and let the public guess. She was an actress, adept at playing roles in front of the public when needed. As long as she didn¡¯t completely betray her original intentions and lie with her eyes open, she felt completely fine with it. ¡°What about Mr. Han on that side?¡± Shang Feifei pinched the bridge of her nose, ¡°I¡¯ll go talk to him.¡± After discussing with her agent how to handle the situation, she hung up the phone. The problem now was that her agent was coming over, and there was a direct flight from the Southwest to Yancheng, but there was only one flight, and it wouldn¡¯t arrive until the next afternoon. Before then, she would probably have to stay in the same room with Han Yifan. Although with the current situation, whether he left or not, the outside world had already perceived her and Han Yifan as a couple. But she had absolutely no thoughts of dating Han Yifan, at least not now. They had met a few times, but were essentially still strangers and hardly communicated, let alone discussed dating. A single woman and a single man sharing a room, she was indeed a little worried. Shang Feifei opened the door and saw Han Yifan still seated on the couch playing with his phone. Hearing the noise, he immediately stood up, his expression slightly awkward. Shang Feifei felt awkward too. When filming with male actors, getting close was just acting. She and her current boyfriend had almost been dating for a month, and she hadn¡¯t even kissed him yet. She wasn¡¯t as outgoing as Xia Siyu, and felt a bit embarrassed at the moment. Han Yifan said, ¡°You¡¯re okay now? I was a bit worried you¡¯d do something rash.¡± Despite Han Yifan¡¯s usually slick and boastful demeanor, claiming his past ¡°one-hour room rental¡± feats, he actually became dim-witted in real romance. Shang Feifei couldn¡¯t help but laugh, finding him quite interesting. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°So, are you going to rest now? You sleep, I¡¯ll just stay outside. I¡¯ll leave when your agent arrives tomorrow, so I won¡¯t disturb you.¡± Han Yifan paused and added, ¡°Remember to lock the door from the inside.¡± Shang Feifei indeed had considered kicking him out before, but since he said that, she didn¡¯t have the heart to do it, ¡°Wait a moment.¡± After she entered her room, she came out a while later with a blanket for him, placing it on the couch along with a pillow, ¡°Good night.¡± ¡°Good¡­ night.¡± Han Yifan watched her close the door and even lock it from the inside. He regretted everything, cursing internally, Damn it, are you stupid? You should have rushed over and held her! The last message he left was for Bo Yan: ¡°If you really want to and you¡¯re not prepared, there are Durexs in the storage cabinet.¡± Chapter 755 - 755 752 A Wall Apart (4) ?Chapter 755: Chapter 752: A Wall Apart (4) Chapter 755: Chapter 752: A Wall Apart (4) Brothers are great, really considerate of him. It¡¯s just that he himself is foolish, having missed the opportunity. Even if he can¡¯t score now, he should at least take the chance to get closer to her, exchange a few more words, chat about life, aspirations, poems, and songs¡ªanything. Now it¡¯s all a waste! There¡¯s nothing to be done; feeling melancholic, he can only gaze at the tightly closed door and sigh in vain. The bathroom is accessible from both inside and outside. He has no choice but to brush his teeth and take another shower. He didn¡¯t bring pajamas, but that¡¯s okay; the hotel provides bathrobes anyway. Once ready, he lay down on the sofa. In such a vintage building, the hotel¡¯s sofas are quite large, measuring about one meter in width. Remembering the storage locker Bo Yan mentioned, he actually looked for it and indeed found Durex. But that had nothing to do with him¡ªhe lay back down on the sofa, covering himself with a small quilt. The curtains were drawn, the room was soundproof, and there were no reporters¡¯ voices in the hallway. The reporters outside didn¡¯t make any noise either; everything was very quiet. But Yifan tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Especially when he smelled her scent pervading the room, the sensation got even more subtle. After a long, sleepless while, Yifan threw off the quilt, remembering there was alcohol in the suite. He decided to drink a bit to help him sleep. Just as he got up, the door gently moved, and then Shang Feifei came out in her pajamas, seeing him sitting up, both were taken aback. Thankfully, Yifan¡¯s mind didn¡¯t short-circuit at that moment, and he asked, ¡°Can¡¯t sleep?¡± S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Shang Feifei hesitated for a second, then nodded. ¡°I can¡¯t sleep either.¡± He walked over to the bar with ease, found a bottle of whiskey, ¡°Do you want a drink?¡± Shang Feifei hesitated again but didn¡¯t move. He didn¡¯t insist¡ªafter all, it¡¯s not good for a man to urge a woman to drink. Nevertheless, he prepared two crystal glasses, and got some ice cubes from the fridge next to him intended for guests. Just as he poured a glass for himself, footsteps approached, and Yifan added ice cubes to her glass and poured a drink. The two sat at the bar, no one speaking, slowly sipping their drinks. Maybe the alcohol had relaxed him, because Yifan¡¯s previous tension in front of her was gone. He took a sip from his glass, then shook his head, ¡°This Black Forest, really doesn¡¯t taste good. But bad liquor has its advantages¡ªit¡¯s hard to drink, so you drink less of it.¡± Shang Feifei asked, ¡°Do you know a lot about alcohol?¡± ¡°I own a bar¡­¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than Yifan contradicted himself. He knew Shang Feifei liked refined and cultured types. He¡¯d left the bar to others to manage while he worked, but playing the elite didn¡¯t suit him, and he seemed more like a profligate. But Shang Feifei laughed. She could tell that what Yifan was saying was true. Anyway, he felt that he had no hopes with Shang Feifei, and this made him relax more, ¡°My dad hopes I do a respectable job, but the family business will definitely go to my brother, so what¡¯s the use of trying? Just like Bo, so outstanding, yet the family fortune doesn¡¯t involve him. As long as my brother and dad are there, I won¡¯t starve. So I do what I want¡ªI opened a bar and play heavy metal.¡± ¡°That¡¯s nice, everyone has their way of living.¡± It¡¯s not bad being a profligate¡ªas long as there¡¯s someone in the family willing to support him. Unlike herself who had worked so hard for so many years, only to end up being a laughing stock today. ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve met someone like you before. It was my ex-girlfriend¡ªcaught cheating on our anniversary, with a scumbag, and it happened right in my bar.¡± Chapter 756 - 756 753 Just Beyond the Wall (5) ?Chapter 756: Chapter 753: Just Beyond the Wall (5) Chapter 756: Chapter 753: Just Beyond the Wall (5) Having said that, Han Yifan couldn¡¯t help but slap his own face. Why on earth would he mention an ex-girlfriend in front of the woman he liked? Wasn¡¯t this just making his already challenging pursuit even more difficult? However, this ¡°misery loves company¡± situation did catch Shang Feifei¡¯s attention. From a young age, she forced herself to strive for perfection. She wasn¡¯t the most talented, she didn¡¯t have Xia Siyu¡¯s striking appearance, nor her natural acuity and sensibility in acting. But she believed in the mantra ¡°hard work compensates for lack of talent,¡± so she always tried her hardest. This applied not only to her acting but also to her work and life in general. Her previous two relationships had ended without issue. Unlike Xia Siyu¡¯s scandals, which were always explosive and sensational, her breakups were rather amicable. But with this ¡°glasses guy¡±, even if there wasn¡¯t much affection, it was the biggest scene she had caused, and such a melodramatic ending, to be honest, she felt quite embarrassed. Infidelity and cheating were fairly common, and she often heard about such things. But at that moment, she still wanted someone to share a similar story, ¡°It¡¯s okay, go ahead.¡± Han Yifan continued, ¡°It was on our anniversary, which also happened to be this girl¡¯s solar calendar birthday. She normally celebrated her lunar calendar birthday at home and the solar one at school. She was a college student back then, and her boyfriend, who was a senior from the same university and had already graduated. He said he had to entertain a client and couldn¡¯t spend her birthday with her. She¡¯d never been to a bar before, so she went with a few dorm mates to have drinks. Ha, and she ran into the scumbag face to face, with another woman in his arms.¡± As Han Yifan spoke, he felt a bit thirsty and drank down the contents of his glass. He didn¡¯t forget to refill Shang Feifei¡¯s glass, ¡°Then, you know, a fight broke out. The jerk was there with colleagues from his company, and the ex-girlfriend, along with a few close friends, had a bit too much to drink. You know how it is, things escalated, some bottles got smashed, and that was that. Breakups are routine business in a bar, I see one or two like this a year, so I¡¯m used to it. What I didn¡¯t expect was that nearly two hours later, the girl came back ¡ª probably after taking her friends back to the dorm ¡ª to compensate for the damages.¡± Han Yifan drained another drink, and after a few glasses, his face had a slight flush, but there was no more alcohol in the bottle. Glancing sideways, he saw another bottle in the liquor cabinet. Shang Feifei skillfully passed it to him, he opened it, and she extended her empty glass his way, eager to hear more of the story, ¡°What happened next?¡± Han Yifan filled both their glasses, ¡°She insisted on paying, and I was too embarrassed not to accept. By the time she came, we were almost closing up, so I invited her for a drink. She said she¡¯d known that guy since middle school; he was the one who confessed, and despite their parents and teachers trying to break them up because they were too young, they withstood the pressure. They worked hard together through university, only for him to cheat right as she was about to graduate. Ten years of youth weren¡¯t worth a few sweet nothings from him, just like every other cheating story.¡± ¡°Then what?¡± Han Yifan just lowered his head to drink, not wanting to continue. Perhaps Shang Feifei¡¯s curiosity was piqued, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say she was your ex-girlfriend? How did you two get together?¡± The lights over the bar were slightly dim, Han Yifan turned to look at her, his eyes carrying a hint of depth, ¡°Do you really want to know?¡± Shang Feifei nodded. ¡°That¡¯s how I pursued her¡­¡± The next second, Han Yifan leaned in and kissed her on the lips. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 757 - 757 754 Just Beyond the Wall (6) ?Chapter 757: Chapter 754: Just Beyond the Wall (6) Chapter 757: Chapter 754: Just Beyond the Wall (6) Shang Feifei¡¯s mind exploded, stunned by his actions. Maybe it was the alcohol¡¯s effect, but her first reaction was a sense of emptiness in her brain, completely unaware of the need to resist, and her body was limp, utterly lacking the strength to fight back against him. Being from the entertainment industry, Shang Feifei was skilled in observing and interpreting others¡¯ words for sincerity, which was a tool of her trade. Unfortunately, she met Han Yifan, who, even though prone to exaggeration, told mostly true stories. She could feel his sincerity, and it brought down her guard, never imagining that¡ªthis sort of thing of getting a room within an hour would happen to her. By the time she realized what was happening, Han Yifan already had deepened their engagement. It must be said, his skills were quite impressive for someone who managed to woo his ex-girlfriend within an hour. His approach didn¡¯t come off as sleazy or repulsive. He had already freshened up, taken a bath, and his body carried only the strong scent of alcohol and the fragrance of shampoo. And his kissing skills, it must be said¡ªwere stronger than those of both her ex-boyfriends and the occasional male actor she encountered in kissing scenes. When she thought to object, she was already being pressed against the bar by Han Yifan. Her body was too weak to muster any resistance. After struggling to dodge his lips, he shifted his target to her neck. Like gentle rain, tender and soft, she didn¡¯t feel uncomfortable at all, instead, she could sense that he genuinely liked her. Turning her head sideways, she saw the crystal glasses hanging upside down on the bar, refracting the dim, hazy lights. Shang Feifei had always been steady and prudent, true in both her acting and in her dating life, always choosing boyfriends who were methodical. She had never entered into a scenario so quickly, leaving her feeling momentarily dazed. By the time she gathered her senses, she had already been lifted into the air by Han Yifan, who didn¡¯t proceed to the bedroom but walked swiftly towards the sofa he had just slept on¡ªthe closest place. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His numerous romantic experiences told him that force was definitely not the way to go, it was illegal. The despicable acts of drugging and deceiving, something that ¡°Glasses Guy¡± might do but he couldn¡¯t, were also illegal. However, he had his own method for quick success: to escalate before the woman had time to regret or resist, creating a fait accompli. Both had just taken showers and were wearing nightgowns and robes, which made his task even easier. Experienced and skilled, he was several points stronger than Bo Yan. Before Shang Feifei could resist, he swiftly removed their barriers and drew close quickly. Now Shang Feifei, even with plenty of alcohol in her system, understood the need to protect herself: ¡°No!¡± With the arrow on the string, his trousers already off, and she tells him this? At that moment, Han Yifan had a flash of wit. He immediately turned his head, grabbed the little umbrella Bo Yan had mentioned, and geared himself up: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll take precautions.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t¡­ mean¡­¡± ¡°That¡± didn¡¯t need to be said, and wasn¡¯t worth saying anymore. As Shang Feifei hugged him, she still felt a bit foolish. How could things have developed so quickly? She wasn¡¯t like Xia Siyu, who was straightforward and assertive. When it came to intimacy, she still held relatively traditional views¡ªgoing from holding hands to kissing to going further, step by step, gradually. Especially as she looked bewilderedly at the man in front of her, with his bangs flying and a blush on his face, she was still puzzled, why him? Chapter 758 - 758 755 Out of Control (1) ?Chapter 758: Chapter 755 Out of Control (1) Chapter 758: Chapter 755 Out of Control (1) She was very clear that there was no love in her heart, but strangely, she did not feel a strong aversion either. The most terrifying thing was that as she kept getting closer to him, there seemed to be a kind of wonderful chemical reaction occurring. When the first wave of cold air hit, she couldn¡¯t help but let out a soft cry. Just a faint sound from her throat, and she froze completely. She even pressed her fist to her lips, hardly believing that the sound had just come from her. She had never experienced anything like this before, nothing like the two next door who were having a blast. She was neither repulsed by nor eager for such things. To her, the highs and lows described in novels didn¡¯t exist; it was simply a natural progression when passion deepened. If Glasses Guy hadn¡¯t cheated, they might also have naturally progressed to this point over time. But just now, she had been truly stunned, as if something had scratched an itch, that indescribable delicate sensation was overwhelmingly nuanced. Yifan, who had been silent all this time, also turned his head to look at her, took her fist away from her mouth, covered her lips, and whispered in her ear, ¡°You are truly beautiful right now.¡± Shang Feifei looked at him somewhat frantically, experiencing a loss of control for the first time in her life. What was most terrifying was that this sense of losing control was expanding continuously, as if her foundation was sinking and collapsing tumultuously. She dared not make a sound, unsure whether she feared the reporters outside, him, or facing this side of herself. ¡°I can¡¯t¡­ my voice¡­ outside¡­ there are people.¡± Understood. Han Yifan didn¡¯t go around in circles like Bo Yan, interpreting seven or eight meanings from a single sentence. Since she didn¡¯t want to make a sound, he had no choice but to silence her, swallowing her words into his belly. Unable to speak, the darkness somehow magnified her other senses, and she could feel his face, his contours, his strength distinctly. And always, when she felt like she was on a roller coaster, thinking a swift descent from a high point was the end, she hadn¡¯t expected it to be the start of another phase. Alcohol had numbed her limbs but stimulated her brain, amplifying her senses. It was only now that she realized why so many people fell for the ¡°trap¡± of alcohol. His fervor and effort had completely washed away everything about Glasses Guy, leaving only him. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After a long while, when Yifan finally landed on her lips one last time, she gently pushed him away. She still wasn¡¯t used to being so intimate with him; they weren¡¯t lovers, not even friends, so what was this? She hurriedly got up, casually picked up his bathrobe and draped it over herself, and hurried out: ¡°I¡¯m going to take a shower.¡± Yifan just hummed, and her footsteps were slightly unsteady. Shang Feifei entered the inner bathroom, turned on the water to wash herself, and saw a bruise in the mirror. Fortunately, her acting costumes were quite modest, so it probably wouldn¡¯t show. But why him? Why hadn¡¯t she rejected him just now? She thought about it and realized that although things had become a blur and they had been intimate, she still didn¡¯t want to become Yifan¡¯s lover. She decided to consider the recent loss of control a one-time accident; she had no plans to fall in love for the time being, especially not with him. Calmness settling in, she felt much more at ease and was about to turn off the water and go out when Yifan suddenly pushed the door open, ¡°There are no more bathrobes outside, do you have one in here?¡± As the door swung open, he came face to face with her under the shower. Chapter 759 - 759 756 Out of Control (2) ?Chapter 759: Chapter 756 Out of Control (2) Chapter 759: Chapter 756 Out of Control (2) Shang Feifei was stunned for a moment, and her subconscious reaction was to grab a bath towel to cover herself. Han Yifan was also stunned, glanced at her once, and subconsciously left the room, even helping her close the door. This guy¡­ although he was a bit quick just now, he still seemed to have some gentlemanly manners. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As Shang Feifei thought this, she turned her head to set the bath towel aside and was about to turn off the water when the bathroom door opened once again, the very next second. The only difference from last time was that Han Yifan was holding a small umbrella in his hand. After entering, he triumphantly said, ¡°I¡¯ve closed all the doors to the suite, as well as the ones to the bathroom and the restroom. Even if there¡¯s noise inside, the reporters outside won¡¯t be able to hear a word.¡± What he implied was, you can scream, scream without any worries, your screams are pleasant to hear, I like them. What the hell is this! After calming down, she certainly wasn¡¯t willing to go along. As she stepped back, her head was drenched by the overhead shower, and she choked on the water. Han Yifan quickly stepped forward to hold her, ¡°Look at you, too careless. You¡¯ll have to hold on to me properly later.¡± What? Before she could ask him what he meant, the guy had started a new round of games. The night was still very long. ** That night, countless onlookers stayed glued to their computers, unwilling to step away, waiting to see some outcome. The reporters waiting outside the door and downstairs kept vigil all night. However, Shang Feifei¡¯s room, as well as the room next door suspected to be Xia Siyu¡¯s, were tightly shut up, with not even windows open, and the previously blaring war movie from next door had also ceased after an hour and a half. After that, all fell silent, as if no one was living inside at all. However, as dawn was approaching, it was the police who first delivered news. The woman found unconscious and whipped in the room of the man with glasses woke up, bawling that she had been drugged and lost consciousness, demanding an examination. Normally, given the man with glasses¡¯ family status in the local area, although he couldn¡¯t do anything he wanted, he wasn¡¯t far from it. Offering some money to silence people, or even attempting to turn the tables by claiming that she was the one selling herself, would usually have been enough to make the problem go away. Unfortunately, now the entire nation¡¯s attention was drawn over because of the scandalous news involving him and Shang Feifei, and the media were all gathered at the doorstep, making pretense difficult. Moreover, his family was also in a state of chaos, previously criticized online for multiple regulatory violations with their pharmaceutical company, and thoroughly investigated by the Drug Administration Authority. At this critical juncture, they were really at their wits¡¯ end. Plus, there was Bo Yan¡¯s instruction to Song Fengzhi to keep a close eye on the situation and to stir things up on Weibo if any issues arose, drawing the onlooking public into the fray, making it impossible for the local authorities to muddle through the situation. Now they really had a problem, as this was not just infidelity, but also suspected of drugging someone! The last person to play this game, Li Weiyi, was still in detention awaiting trial, and now there was another one bumping into the muzzle. Moreover, this glasses-wearing guy was a sadist, tying people up to a chair and whipping them, downright perverted. Some had initially questioned whether Shang Feifei was also cheating with Han Yifan, but as soon as this news came out, no one spoke ill of her anymore. Soon enough, her agent organized her fan club supporters to strike back, talking about her ¡°heartache and shock during the infidelity catch¡± and her ¡°vulnerability and helplessness¡± when surrounded by the media. Since Han Yifan had always been protective, the impression of him was not bad either. Plus, he had liked a post by a blogger chasing after Shang Feifei, which scored him some popularity among the fans. At least at this time, he could protect their sister. Chapter 760 - 760 757 Out of Control (3) ?Chapter 760: Chapter 757 Out of Control (3) Chapter 760: Chapter 757 Out of Control (3) The fandom of male and female artists is just strange, especially those with a high female following. The fans of male artists generally regard them as their ¡°boyfriend.¡± It¡¯s only natural for her to spend money on her idol; she¡¯s got stronger fighting spirit and purchasing power. That is, as long as the artist¡¯s persona doesn¡¯t crumble, and he doesn¡¯t get a girlfriend. As for the fans of female artists, especially female fans, they generally have a maternal mindset. When a female artist gets into a relationship, on one hand, they resent the man for digging into their precious gem, and on the other, they fear that he might hurt their beloved artist and cause her pain. However, if she manages to find a man who is both outstanding and dotes on his wife, most people would still send their blessings. This disparity in treatment was most evident with Han Yifan and Xia Siyu. Xia Siyu was only rumored to be involved in a scandal, yet to be made public, and Bo Yan¡¯s fans were already up in arms, wishing they could thrust this woman five meters away from their ¡°brother.¡± Meanwhile, Han Yifan, though some of Shang Feifei¡¯s male fans were envious and resentful, the majority held a well-wishing attitude. Especially after she was hurt by Glasses-guy, many female fans even projected themselves onto her, recalling their own experiences with cheating partners. If a Han Yifan could descend from the heavens, steadfast and protective, cherishing them and standing up for them in front of the media, perhaps those dark days wouldn¡¯t have been so difficult. Han Yifan had not anticipated that while he was still lying in the room, public opinion outside had turned overwhelmingly in favor of forcing his head down to Shang Feifei ¨C it was almost as though the whole of China was setting them up. When he woke up, Shang Feifei was right there in his arms, and he was still a bit dazed. Was last night¡¯s event real? Had he actually gotten together with Shang Feifei? He had been exceptionally brave last night, but as soon as dawn broke and the sunlight shined in, he was abruptly pulled back to reality. In fact, when Han Yifan awoke, Shang Feifei was also awake. But she did not open her eyes, continuing to feign sleep. She simply did not know how to face him; just the night before, they had hardly exchanged a few words, and she had been Glasses-guy¡¯s girlfriend. After one night, Glasses-guy ended up at the police station, they broke up. She and Han Yifan got together, more than once. Her pretending to be asleep might not have been solely due to uncertainty over facing him, but perhaps also because she was unsure how to confront herself. Last night, she had really¡­ acted unlike herself, especially after the bathroom incident, when Han Yifan carried her back to the bedroom, dried her body, and blow-dried her hair. During the rubbing, somehow, they started a third time. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She wasn¡¯t Xia Siyu, someone who learned boxing with strong recovery ability and vitality. By the time they were in the bathroom, she was already drained of energy, eventually just helplessly clinging to Han Yifan, sobbing and crying all the way. Her crying was not loud; it was more like the soft whimpering of a kitten, which only provoked him further. She had never imagined such an abundance of embarrassing positions, nor did she expect Han Yifan to be so vigorous. Her first boyfriend had also been a first love for both of them; they were both naive and impulsive but lacked technique. Her second boyfriend was also an artist, often apart more than together, both very busy, their encounters brief and hurried. She used to look down on such emotionless exchanges, especially in the entertainment industry, which is filled with all sorts of people. Fortunately, she had grasped an opportunity, gaining a bit of fame from her first show, and while she hadn¡¯t avoided ¡®casting couch¡¯ situations, she had simply steered clear of them. Yet, her experience last night was not as unpleasant; it¡¯s just that now, she couldn¡¯t face it, temporally at least. Chapter 761 - 761 758 Out of Control (4) ?Chapter 761: Chapter 758 Out of Control (4) Chapter 761: Chapter 758 Out of Control (4) She was forced to confront reality by a phone call, and reluctantly pretended to be woken up by the noise as she reached for the phone with her eyes closed. During her search, however, she realized that she had touched Han Yifan. Han Yifan wasn¡¯t as preoccupied with thoughts as she was; after all, he had wanted to start a relationship with her for some time. If she really disliked him, she wouldn¡¯t have continued after last night¡ªnot once but several times. Three times couldn¡¯t all be attributed to drunken mistakes; at least the latter two occurred when she was completely sober. She was an adult and should understand this. He used to run a bar, he explained, and indeed he¡¯d had one-night stands before, but only with clear mutual consent. If he dated an ordinary girl and they had sex, he¡¯d take responsibility. Later changes might arise from personality mismatches, but his initial approach had to be respectful. Taking advantage of her ¡°disturbance¡± to wake up, Han Yifan immediately turned over and kissed her near the lips, ¡°Good morning.¡± Shang Feifei frowned slightly and turned her face away, seemingly reluctant to respond to him. He also knew that although they had become intimate, in the city, the most unreliable and transient thing was this kind of relationship. He didn¡¯t insist on becoming her boyfriend right away, so he got up, ¡°I¡¯m going to freshen up.¡± Shang Feifei didn¡¯t reply. The bed beside her emptied as he got up, followed by the rustling sound of him getting dressed, and then the sound of his slippers leaving the room. She let out a sigh of relief and answered the phone. It was her agent calling, ¡°I have two things to tell you. First, today, Yancheng is covered in dense fog, causing widespread flight delays. The flight I was supposed to take has been canceled, so I can only come tomorrow. Second, this is somewhat good news, Xi You¡¯s companion is planning to sue him for rape, and the tests have already begun. Whether the allegations are true or not, his reputation is tarnished, and we now have the upper hand in public opinion. So, all you need to do is keep silent. I¡¯ve also requested a day off for you from the film crew; just stay put in the hotel today. I¡¯ve called some friends over there to give us a hand¡ªdon¡¯t come out unless it¡¯s necessary.¡± Shang Feifei nodded. The initial shock and anger she felt after her relationship was exposed and subsequently ended had faded, and even the incident with the man with glasses felt like a distant memory from the last century. ¡°How are things on your end? How do you plan to explain it to Young Master Han?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Shang Feifei hesitated. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. What could she say? Before last night, she and Han Yifan were merely strangers, but then they were together, even though she hadn¡¯t processed it herself. ¡°As long as he¡¯s not against it, just get him to agree on the same story. That he pursued you, and you didn¡¯t cheat. He is not a home-wrecking ¡®other man,¡¯ and you haven¡¯t established a formal relationship yet. You definitely can¡¯t let him talk nonsense outside; it¡¯s related to your image.¡± That much was true, but who would believe that, not an hour after a breakup, she¡¯d rolled in the sheets with him, three times no less? ¡°I understand, I¡¯ll tell him.¡± ¡°And with Han Yifan¡­?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± She truly didn¡¯t. Right now, she just felt regret, deep regret. If she had known, she wouldn¡¯t have drunk so much¡ªdrinking leads to trouble! After hanging up the phone and waiting for a while, she finally got up to freshen up. By then, Han Yifan was no longer at the sink, but just as she finished brushing her teeth and washing her face, Han Yifan came out of the adjacent restroom. Chapter 762 - 762 759 Out of Control (5) ?Chapter 762: Chapter 759 Out of Control (5) Chapter 762: Chapter 759 Out of Control (5) ¡°Good morning,¡± Han Yifan said with a smile, revealing a set of white teeth, looking clean and refreshingly neat after just washing his face and rinsing his mouth. He was actually quite handsome too, just not in the aloof and unapproachable way of Bo Yan, nor the refined gentlemanly style of Glasses Guy. If one had to pinpoint, he resembled the type of boy commonly seen in Europe and America, fun-loving, outgoing, with a multitude of girlfriends¡ªsomewhat of a playboy image. But this was definitely not the type Shang Feifei liked, so she simply couldn¡¯t get it. However, not getting it wasn¡¯t a big deal, since their current relationship, well, was pretty messy. Shang Feifei just casually nodded her head as a greeting, but Han Yifan was different. He leaned in with a smile and said, ¡°You¡¯re really beautiful.¡± He wasn¡¯t content just saying it; he was a hands-on kind of guy. Right away, he stepped forward and naturally draped his arm over her, his hand trailing down to encircle her waist and then leaned in for a kiss. Shang Feifei was stunned for a moment, not expecting his enthusiasm so early in the morning, and she found herself stepping back one or two steps, her waist pressed against the washbasin. Han Yifan was tall, and it was awkward for him to kiss her, so he simply lifted her up, setting her on the washbasin. This put their height difference just right, and he didn¡¯t have to bend down so much to kiss her. He had just cleaned up, so his breath was only minty from toothpaste. The guy really knew what he was doing; it started off as affable closeness, but soon became passionate and intense. Even if she didn¡¯t like it, she didn¡¯t resist, and by the time she thought to stop him, he had already taken quite a bit of advantage. The worst part was that when it ended, she felt something stirring near her lower waist on his side. This guy¡­ had too much energy. They had already made rigorous use of last night. She turned her head, coughed, and took a while to collect her emotions, ¡°I have three things I want to tell you. First, I haven¡¯t decided whether I want to date you, so for now, let¡¯s not be so intimate. Second, my agent and assistant might not come until tomorrow, so I can¡¯t leave today. Of course, I¡¯m the one who can¡¯t leave; if you have things to do, you can go first. Third, I hope that after you leave, you won¡¯t talk about what happened last night. I¡­¡± Before she could finish, Han Yifan kissed her again, at the corner of her mouth, and only pulled back when she tentatively pushed him away. ¡°I have three things to say too. First, I really like you¡ªI mean the kind of like where I want you to be my girlfriend and plan for marriage. Second, I won¡¯t blame the alcohol for what happened last night, that was truly what I meant. You don¡¯t want me to take responsibility, I understand. But if you do want me to take responsibility, you can find me anytime. Third, I won¡¯t leave today, I¡¯ll stay with you until your agent or assistant comes for the hand-off. And I won¡¯t gossip, I¡¯ll consider your feelings. Also¡­¡± Shang Feifei looked at him, and Han Yifan seemed a bit embarrassed, ¡°Even if I wanted to, I couldn¡¯t do anything¡ªwe used up the only three we had in the room last night. Unless you want to have kids with me, then pretend I didn¡¯t say anything.¡± ¡°Who wants to have kids with you, wishful thinking on your part.¡± Thinking about last night, Shang Feifei¡¯s face instantly flushed. Her fair skin, reddened cheeks, and slightly bowed neck looked very beautiful. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Really? The first time I saw you, I even thought of what to name our kids.¡± Chapter 763 - 763 760 Out of Control (6) ?Chapter 763: Chapter 760 Out of Control (6) Chapter 763: Chapter 760 Out of Control (6) ¡°In the future, it¡¯d be best to have one boy and one girl. The boy will be the eldest, so he can protect you and your sister. The girl will be your mini-me, isn¡¯t that adorable?¡± Shang Feifei was speechless and pushed him away with her hand, ¡°You move aside first, I need to take care of my skin.¡± Han Yifan wrapped his arms around her waist again and managed to hug her and gave her another kiss. He then asked, ¡°Are you hungry? I¡¯ll go buy you some food.¡± Just as he was about to leave, Shang Feifei shook her head, ¡°No, you can¡¯t go, there are reporters staking out outside.¡± Han Yifan selectively ignored the last part of her sentence, looking delighted, ¡°I knew you couldn¡¯t bear to let me go. You don¡¯t want me to leave, right?¡± Shang Feifei raised her head, and he smartly jumped away, ¡°It¡¯s fine, I¡¯ll get that guy next door to help me. That guy is just like anthracite, not only is he cunning, but his heart is also black.¡± The neighbors through the wall were none other than Bo Yan and Xia Siyu. So, five minutes later, Assistant Song Fengzhi received two orders: one was breakfast and lunch for Xia Siyu and Bo Yan, and the other was breakfast and lunch for Han Yifan and Shang Feifei. Their orders were different, but what they had in common was an annotation at the end of each order: ¡°Include a sufficient number of small umbrellas, in large boxes.¡± When Assistant Song Fengzhi received this order, there was a subtle look in his eyes. Actually, during the day, the reporters in the hallway outside had dwindled significantly. After all, it was a five-star hotel. Last night, the reporters exploited a loophole in the hotel management and followed a resident upstairs. Otherwise, with such a large group of reporters coming, could they still run the hotel business? Today, at least the reporters inside the building had mostly scattered. However, who knew if the reporters would install hidden pinhole cameras in some corners outside for convenience. And who knew if some reporters had decided to stay in this building just to get their shots easily? So it¡¯s better not to go out if it¡¯s not necessary. This was not only Shang Feifei¡¯s thought, but also the consensus between Bo Yan and Xia Siyu next door. Especially since last night, when Bo Yan found out his wife had arrived, he immediately asked the director for a day off. He intended it just to spend time with his wife, but it turned out to be a fortunate coincidence given the chaos outside; indeed, it was inconvenient for shooting. Bo Yan had the perfect excuse to stay in the room with Xia Siyu. Xia Siyu loved to play, but she could also stay indoors. Before coming back to China, she used to play every day. It was only after returning that she toned it down. Once she entered the industry, wherever she went to have fun, people recognized her, which actually caused trouble, so she had to stay home by herself. Now with Bo Yan, even though they couldn¡¯t go out, she could play with Bo Yan, right? At this moment, she insisted on Bo Yan sitting still while she did his makeup. Of course, Bo Yan resisted, but Xia Siyu had her trump card, ¡°If you don¡¯t let me do your makeup, I¡¯ll ignore you tonight.¡± That wouldn¡¯t do, she was threatening his happy life, and Bo Yan felt aggrieved. Xia Siyu was also pulling his arm and acting coquettishly, ¡°We¡¯re not going out anyway, right? And nobody will see you, just let me do it, please, just let me try.¡± Bo Yan had no choice but to comply, but he had terms, ¡°You can do it, but you have to agree to two conditions. First, don¡¯t go for a comedy look or use any bizarre deathly hues. Second, tonight, you¡¯ll have to listen to me.¡± After tonight, they would have to separate temporarily again. The next time they would meet would be after they both had wrapped up their filming, which was half a month away. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 764 - 764 761 Makeup (1) ?Chapter 764: Chapter 761: Makeup (1) Chapter 764: Chapter 761: Makeup (1) Bo Yan was willing to do her makeup, and Xia Siyu agreed very readily, ¡°Come on! Who¡¯s afraid of who! Now that I¡¯ve agreed, you have to sit tight while I do your makeup. Don¡¯t worry, they call me ¡®Master of Makeup¡¯, known for my miraculous work. Give me any ordinary person, hey, guess what, I could turn them into a Yang Yuhuan.¡± The more confidently she bragged, the more Bo Yan felt in danger, but since he had already agreed, what could he do but accept it? Anyway, he wasn¡¯t going out today, so if he looked ugly, only she would see it, and he could simply wash it off after. Xia Siyu brought over all her bottles and jars. Actually, she didn¡¯t like to wear makeup on a daily basis, always avoiding it whenever possible; one reason being it was troublesome, second because she was confident she looked beautiful enough without it. However, as a female celebrity, makeup was undoubtedly a necessity. Bo Yan was still a little nervous, ¡°Are you sure you can do this?¡± ¡°What kind of question is that, how can you not believe in my abilities?¡± Xia Siyu, overly confident, forcefully pulled Bo Yan in front of the chair. To prevent him from escaping mid-process, Xia Siyu took away the mirror from the table. She then cupped his face with her hands, appraising it left and right, ¡°Your skin¡­ is alright, just a bit worse than mine. It¡¯s just a little tan.¡± Although Bo Yan¡¯s skin wasn¡¯t the milky complexion some crave, it was still very good. She had seen many artists who were stunning with makeup, but after removing it would leave one wondering, ¡°Sir, who are you?¡± Not to mention acne, scars, dullness, she saw enlarged pores, blackheads, and various other skin issues. Bo Yan found it a bit amusing, ¡°This is called a honey color! A healthy, natural color. If my skin were even whiter than yours, what would you do in the industry?¡± ¡°Alright already, stop moving, I¡¯m going to apply the base makeup.¡± The makeup process started methodically, beginning with primer, followed by concealer. However, Bo Yan didn¡¯t have any acne scars or dark spots to cover, so this step was completed quickly. Next was setting the makeup with loose powder. Bo Yan¡¯s eyebrows were naturally strong and slightly curved like a waning moon, without too much fine hair, and didn¡¯t even need much shaping. Just brushing them with an eyebrow brush to create a natural arch was quite attractive. Next was the eye makeup. Eyes are the windows to the soul, and this was definitely the highlight of makeup application. Bo Yan naturally had peach blossom eyes, with slightly drooping eyelids. When he wasn¡¯t smiling, they appeared gentle, akin to a blooming peach blossom, but upon smiling, they seemed as if mocking something. Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t here to give him a handsome makeover¡ªthat would have been too easy. She used Bo Yan to experiment with bold color palettes she wanted to try but didn¡¯t dare to; red eyeshadow, purple lipstick, channeling glamor as much as possible. To emphasize the allure, she also gave Bo Yan a thorough eyeliner look, using earth tones as a base for his tear troughs and eyelids, with red on top. She drew out a carefree appearance, then traced his lip line and applied purple lipstick. She also added blush and contouring. In the end, Xia Siyu furrowed her brows as she observed his face for several minutes, then turned back to her box to find a wig¡ªridiculously a long, curly one¡ªand placed it on him. Right after the makeup was complete, Xia Siyu walked around him a couple of times and then stood still, stunned. Bo Yan asked, ¡°Is it done? Can I look in the mirror now?¡± Xia Siyu was still frowning, that expression indescribable. Just as Bo Yan was about to head to the bathroom to see his reflection, the doorbell rang. He walked over with ease, to find that it was Song Fengzhi delivering food for him. Without thinking too much, he opened the door¡ª Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 765 - 765 762 Makeup (2) ?Chapter 765: Chapter 762: Makeup (2) Chapter 765: Chapter 762: Makeup (2) Song Fengzhi had just begun saying, ¡°There was a dish we couldn¡¯t sell, so I replaced it with¡ª¡± His voice trailed off as he looked up and saw Bo Yan¡¯s appearance, staring in shock for several seconds, so frightened that he could barely hold onto his phone for the takeout order. Bo Yan had also sensed something was off when he was opening the door, but his expression remained composed and serene as he took the takeout with one hand and slammed the door with a ¡°bang¡± with the other. Xia Siyu was still chasing after him from inside, ¡°What dish was out of stock?¡± Bo Yan stuffed the takeout bag into her arms, his face still calm, but one could feel that Bo Yan was a bit irritated. He said, ¡°I¡¯ll need double the amount tonight, no, I¡¯m going to have to charge some interest tomorrow morning.¡± S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xia Siyu was initially puzzled, but after hearing his words, she understood and looked up at Bo Yan, trying to suppress a laugh, then forced herself to look serious and said, ¡°It looks quite nice, doesn¡¯t it? Don¡¯t you trust my skills!¡± However, her voice broke on the word ¡°skills,¡± and Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t help but laugh again. She struggled to contain it, patting her puffed-out chest, ¡°Really, it looks quite good. I guarantee, you could even consider moving in this direction in the future. Let your director take it into account, hahaha¡ª¡± She couldn¡¯t hold back the laughter on the last few words and burst into laughter completely. ¡°Hahaha, if your fans see you looking like this, do you think they¡¯ll all unfollow you, do you think they will?¡± Bo Yan listened, growing more and more irritated, so much so that he turned around to look at himself in the mirror. In the mirror at first was a face of many colors: bright red eyeshadow, purple lipstick, overly thick blush, and a crooked wig¡ªall a complete disaster. Bo Yan quickly wiped off the excessive makeup with a wet wipe, but, surprisingly, as the colors faded, his face turned out to be¡­ quite handsome. His features weren¡¯t particularly sharp, with peach blossom eyes, lips that were neither too thin nor too thick, a prominent nose, and due to the heavy foundation, he even looked a bit more delicate than usual. The same went for his eyebrows. Bo Yan¡¯s own brows were a bit thicker, as was typical for men, but this time, due to the foundation, they became finer, making his whole appearance decidedly softer. Bo Yan was initially furious at the sight of that face but after calming down and removing some of the excessive makeup, he surprisingly found that he didn¡¯t look bad. Since the cosmetics were readily available, he casually started applying a few touches here and there. Indeed, there are some male makeup artists who really understand what type of women men appreciate more. Having studied arts before, Bo Yan was much better than the clumsy-handed Xia Siyu. After some deft application and styling his hair, Xia Siyu, curious herself, came over to take a look, ¡°What are you doing?¡± The sight took her aback, Bo Yan¡¯s face was truly drawn with a soft touch. The color was light but extraordinarily graceful, the peach blossom eyes bewitching¡ªa ¡°beauty,¡± save for her 183 cm height and size 43 shoes. Xia Siyu took a few looks and even clicked her tongue, ¡°Isn¡¯t it quite good-looking? Even better than Shang Feifei next door.¡± Would she believe it if Han Yifan came running over to annihilate her after saying that? Bo Yan gritted his teeth, ¡°It looks good, does it? Then keep looking at this face and do it with me.¡± ¡°How could I!¡± Xia Siyu firmly refused, ¡°I¡¯m not a pervert, I certainly don¡¯t want to do it while looking at your face now!¡± Chapter 766 - 766 763 Makeup (3) ?Chapter 766: Chapter 763: Makeup (3) Chapter 766: Chapter 763: Makeup (3) Especially after she glanced at Bo Yan again, damn, when men get flirty, women really have nothing to do with it. With makeup on, Bo Yan was indeed quite good-looking. Aside from the Adam¡¯s apple, being slightly taller, and having a different part down there, he was practically a beauty. But facing such a face, where was her desire? ¡°What, this face is one you made up, and just now you were all excited saying I look very good, didn¡¯t you? Even better looking than Shang Feifei next door?¡± Bo Yan didn¡¯t care much about her, she had made him lose face in front of Song Fengzhi just now, and he definitely had to teach her a lesson! ¡°No matter how good-looking, this face is still female!¡± She was not orientationally challenged, seeing this face she really¡ªcouldn¡¯t kiss it! ¡°What female, it¡¯s just makeup, makeup. Besides, don¡¯t you feel a lack of freshness seeing only my face every day? Now you¡¯ve got full freshness!¡± Bo Yan didn¡¯t care so much about her; just like last night, when he couldn¡¯t win an argument, he simply hoisted her up on his shoulders! Xia Siyu found herself hoisted on his shoulder again, and of course, she resisted. Hanging upside down, she extended her little fists to pound on his chest. Bo Yan let her punch as he walked quickly and tossed her onto the head of the bed: ¡°Isn¡¯t it especially good-looking? Wear a size 43 high heel, a dress, long silk stockings, button a couple of buns on the chest, and it¡¯s stronger than the girl next door, right?¡± Xia Siyu found it both hilarious and eye-irritating, oscillating between laughter and squinting. But facing such a face, she really had no interest! ¡°It is good-looking, it¡¯s just that, haha¡­¡± She couldn¡¯t quite express it but couldn¡¯t help wanting to laugh: ¡°How about you take off the makeup first and we try again?¡± ¡°This makeup is your own work.¡± Bo Yan was too lazy to remove it; since this guy did the makeup, she had to suffer through the eye irritation! Xia Siyu disagreed: ¡°I only did half of it.¡± ¡°The half you did is the soul.¡± Bo Yan didn¡¯t care so much, but he turned his head to grab his tie and blindfolded her: ¡°What removing makeup, there¡¯s no need for that, let¡¯s just leave it as it is.¡± Xia Siyu still disagreed, sitting up: ¡°Can we eat first, I¡¯m starving.¡± ¡°You eat me first, and then have a meal.¡± Bo Yan¡¯s forceful suppression meant Xia Siyu¡¯s multitude of resistances ultimately dissipated like bubbles, amidst their laughter and frolics, during the scuffle, Xia Siyu even yanked off the tie covering her vision. With that pull, Bo Yan¡¯s magnified face with light makeup and thick layers appeared right before her, and she instantly couldn¡¯t hold back a laugh. At her laugh, Bo Yan¡¯s efforts immediately collapsed; he was right in the middle of an intense conquest of the mountaintop, and that almost caused him to fall off the cliff. He knew why she was laughing, slightly irritated, but also amused, he pretended to be serious and said: ¡°What are you laughing at, wait for tonight, and I¡¯ll put on a masculine makeup look on you, we¡¯ll go out and let everyone have a look.¡± Who knew Xia Siyu had no shame; she immediately nodded happily: ¡°Sure, I look quite handsome in men¡¯s wear.¡± She hadn¡¯t played a cross-dressing role in movies, but she had done similar magazine shoots. Hmm, it¡¯s rare for men dressing as women to look very pretty. But female stars dressing as men, almost all of them don¡¯t look bad. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bo Yan was disdainful: ¡°Like you, a large-chested young lad?¡± Xia Siyu rebutted: ¡°Like you, the big-part short wife?¡± She even flirted with Bo Yan, deliberately hooking his chin with her finger, ¡°My pretty lady, why don¡¯t you follow me and be the lady boss of my fort?¡± Chapter 767 - 767 764 Makeup (4) ?Chapter 767: Chapter 764: Makeup (4) Chapter 767: Chapter 764: Makeup (4) Bo Yan took her finger into his mouth in one bite, tracing it gently with the tip of his tongue. He lifted his eyes, which were already peach-blossom shaped, and with the full eyeliner and red eyeshadow applied, they indeed held a sort of feminine charm within. Yet within this seductiveness, there was also a hint of cold arrogance and disdain¡ªthe expression was just too much. Then, Bo Yan embraced her, turned over, and let her be on top, smiling softly, ¡°Alright, if you want to be the bandit king¡¯s wife, then I shall be beneath you, for you to press down on me.¡± At first, Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t stand that face, but as she looked more, she got used to it. Moreover, taking on the role of King of the Mountain indeed helped her get into character; she pretended the person beneath her was truly the bandit king¡¯s wife she had captured, saying with great spirit, ¡°My dear lady, rest assured following me, from now on I¡¯ll make sure you want for nothing, eating the best and savoring the spiciest!¡± Bo Yan beneath her yelped, ¡°This poor one had just been outing with my cousin in the countryside, when unexpectedly we ran into the great king. This poor one is still a maiden, please, great king, have mercy on me.¡± She got it, they were still playing their serial drama from before, only this time Bo Yan was the female, Xia Siyu the male. Xia Siyu quickly got into character, shamelessly reaching to grope Bo Yan¡¯s buttocks, ¡°In my view, the young miss must have had a secret affair with her cousin! Who knows, maybe you two have already consummated the relationship, and you are no longer chaste.¡± Bo Yan too imitated Xia Siyu¡¯s earlier antics, wailing in pretense, ¡°Great king¡¯s perception is like a burning torch, indeed, this poor one and my cousin shared a mutual love, but were beaten apart by our parents like a pair of lovebirds. Left with no choice, we planned to elope, only to run into the great king. I am, indeed, a girl of good family¡ªmy surname is Xia, my given name Siyu.¡± How could Xia Siyu not know, upon hearing her own name, what mischief Bo Yan was up to? Although it was Bo Yan impersonating, it was her name, Xia Siyu, proud and coy as ever, couldn¡¯t help but smile, ¡°I wondered why the young miss was so pretty, it turns out she is the famous beauty Miss Xia from the neighboring villages. Seeing you today, indeed, your reputation is well-deserved! It¡¯s just a pity, while Miss Xia¡¯s face is handsome, the body is somewhat lacking.¡± As she spoke, she patted Bo Yan¡¯s chest, ¡°No chest at all.¡± Bo Yan¡¯s smile was tinged with mystery, ¡°Though this poor one lacks in the chest, I have a great treasure, a family heirloom which even my cousin has never seen. Would the great king care to take a look?¡± Xia Siyu feigned ignorance, ¡°No, no need, there are plenty of treasures in my cave, no need for the young miss to present any.¡± Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Ah, great king, you must see it.¡± Bo Yan smiled as he showed it, ¡°He especially likes the great king, longing for the great king¡¯s strong waist to envelop him, to give him warmth. Please take pity, great king!¡± ¡°No, no, I just remembered I haven¡¯t eaten yet. I¡¯ll go fill up first, so I have the energy to battle the young miss for three hundred rounds later.¡± Xia Siyu was no fool, she hastily jumped off the bed¡ªwho would want to play his game when eating was so delightful? But Bo Yan was quick, immediately grasping her from behind, ¡°Why would the great king sell himself short? Since this poor one has followed the great king, I naturally devote myself body and soul, and in the future, I will even bear sons for the great king. With such fertile land, why fear being unable to sow good wheat?¡± Xia Siyu turned back into a coy young lady in an instant, protesting while on tiptoes, ¡°No, no, no.¡± Yet the protest was to no avail, and she was quickly pulled back. The two of them continued playing the game of King of the Mountain and the young lady, this time with Bo Yan finally being the king. Ah, daytime too, can be delightful. ** However, just a wall apart, the neighbors didn¡¯t have quite such a delightful time. Chapter 768 - 768 765 Makeup (5) ?Chapter 768: Chapter 765: Makeup (5) Chapter 768: Chapter 765: Makeup (5) Han Yifan could clearly feel that Shang Feifei was rejecting him. It wasn¡¯t exactly rejection, just a deliberate distancing herself from him; he brought takeout, and although the two of them were sitting at the same table for a meal, having slept in the same bed just last night, there was an extraordinary sense of estrangement between them. He actually wanted to chat with her more, discussing everything from poetry to life aspirations. As a playboy, he might not excel at much else, but he sure could talk, excelling at all manner of leisure activities. After all, despite their intimacy the previous night, outside of that, they were practically strangers. However, Han Yifan had the same easygoing nature as Xia Siyu, after all, she had just gone through a breakup the night before. Even though at the beginning of his relationship with his ex-girlfriend, despite spending an hour in a hotel room, he could clearly feel that she hadn¡¯t so easily forgotten that jerk. Breakups, he understood. Shang Feifei was busy with work, and although her assistant and manager couldn¡¯t come over for the time being, they were communicating a lot online. The guidance of public opinion wasn¡¯t bad; she didn¡¯t lose a significant number of followers, and she even garnered the sympathy of many bystanders, resulting in her Weibo followers increasing by two million. If this had happened to the person next door, a scandal involving a cheating boyfriend, that¡¯s what one could call a ¡°blessing in disguise¡±! After all, isn¡¯t it Xia Siyu who¡¯s always with rich tycoons, always having boyfriends? Now she got what she deserved, right? If Shang Feifei ignored him, he would just entertain himself. Anyway, he was used to it, from his childhood at home, his mom and dad were always busy with endless housework. His brother was the heir upon whom the whole family pinned their hopes, busy with all kinds of lessons every day. And him, as the youngest son and the black sheep who even got into N University through backdoor connections, he was good at nothing but enjoying life. While Shang Feifei was working on her things, he was over here playing games, give him a phone, and he could play from daylight to deep into the night. And indeed, that¡¯s exactly what happened. Besides ordering another meal in the evening, they barely spent any time together in the same space. Late at night, Han Yifan had taken a shower, put down his phone, stretched lazily, and felt a restless stirring again. But he dared not barge into the inner room. His relationship with Shang Feifei wasn¡¯t even as good as it had been the previous night. At least then, he had accompanied her to catch X, shielded her, and even held her small hand. Now, he could only sigh at the door in the living room. When he had some free time earlier, he tried to communicate with Bo Yan, but Bo took ages to reply with, ¡°I¡¯m busy.¡± He wanted to say more, but the tender voice of Xia Siyu came through, ¡°Honey, can you knead here a bit? Put some strength into it, a bit to the left, then a bit to the right, yes, right there, mmm~~ that feels good.¡± He promptly hung up the phone. Damn, is it trendy these days to lure dogs in just to kill them? Living right next door, both men, how come they¡¯re treated so differently? Although he wasn¡¯t exactly a paragon of virtue himself, he knew that force was a terrible thing, so he could only sigh and look at the box of Xiaoyu umbrellas that Song Fengzhi had specially bought for him, brother, there¡¯s nothing I can do, no chance for you to make an appearance, just let it be. After turning off the lights, he forced himself to try and fall asleep quickly. Yet, there was a glimmer of hope; what if, like last night, Shang Feifei suddenly came out of her room? It really was a case of speak of the devil, and he shall appear; not long after he lay down, the door actually opened. However, unlike last night, Shang Feifei didn¡¯t go for a drink but to get some mineral water. She had locked herself in the inner room all day and only dared to come out for water at such a time. But after she got the water and turned around, she saw Han Yifan sleeping on the sofa. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 769 - 769 766 Makeup (6) ?Chapter 769: Chapter 766: Makeup (6) Chapter 769: Chapter 766: Makeup (6) This guy just couldn¡¯t sleep at all a while ago, tossing and turning nonstop. Plus, he thought he would have a wonderful night today, so he indulged in rich, nourishing food that left him boiling hot. So hot that he didn¡¯t even cover himself with the blanket, which just slid onto the floor. Maybe because the blanket had fallen to the ground, he was feeling a bit cold, but since he was pretending to be asleep, he couldn¡¯t pick it up and could only curl up into a ball. He looked both pitiful and lonely. This person¡­ Shang Feifei hesitated for a moment, but in the end, her kindness prevailed. She walked over, picked up the blanket, and covered him with it. Han Yifan dared not move or even look at her, continuing to feign sleep until the blanket softly settled over him. He was so touched in that instant; he just knew Shang Feifei still cared for him! She wasn¡¯t like Xia Siyu, who was exuberant and spoke her mind. Shang Feifei was reserved, but she was gentle too! Han Yifan was especially happy. Just as Shang Feifei turned to head back to her room, as she turned around, he caught her wrist. Shang Feifei was taken aback. When she turned her head, her gaze collided with Han Yifan¡¯s. The hotel room was very dark, but there was still some faint light, allowing Shang Feifei to vaguely make out Han Yifan¡¯s face. He looked at her, his eyes flashing with a mix of emotions¡ªaffection, passion, delight. That moment of eye contact threw her into slight disarray. But just when she was about to shake off his hand and escape, Han Yifan pulled hard. She stumbled and, not being able to stand steady, fell right into his embrace. Han Yifan had initially dared not barge into her room, partly because it was illegal and partly because he felt Shang Feifei¡¯s rejection toward him. If everyone disliked him, although he was fond of her, he couldn¡¯t just shamelessly force his presence on her. But now, he realized that she cared about him too¡ªshe even came out to cover him with a blanket! If he hadn¡¯t been pretending to sleep, would he have missed her kindness? ¡°I knew it, you do care about me!¡± With a sudden surge of confidence, he enveloped her in his arms and kissed her with overwhelming enthusiasm. Shang Feifei had not expected her momentary act of kindness to be so misunderstood. His scent enveloped her; his body temperature was high, so high it felt like it could scorch her. She immediately began to protest, ¡°I don¡¯t, I didn¡¯t¡­ mmm¡­¡± In the blink of an eye, the previously quiet situation was shattered. Han Yifan was a man of action, just as he was yesterday and again today. With a forceful movement, he flipped her over and pressed her onto the sofa. Naturally leveraging his long arms and legs, he enveloped her like a spider web. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Shang Feifei hadn¡¯t had a drink today and was fully aware and agile. She soon found herself gasping and pushing against his shoulder, trying to push him away so that he wouldn¡¯t press down for a kiss: ¡°Han Yifan, that¡¯s not what I mean, you¡¯re misunderstanding.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Han Yifan¡¯s reply was unexpectedly crisp. At a time like this, of course, whatever the woman says is right, and he must agree. But despite what he said, actions were his to take! He held her head with one hand, the other hand exploring lower, and he said with a laugh, ¡°You¡¯re trying to deceive me, but you¡¯re already prepared.¡± ¡°You¡ª¡± Her face flushed red, grateful that the darkness concealed it. She turned her head aside, adjusting her breathing a bit: ¡°Han Yifan, I didn¡¯t plan on falling in love with you.¡± Han Yifan insisted confidently, ¡°We don¡¯t have to be in love to make love.¡± Chapter 770 - 770 761 Girlfriend (1) ?Chapter 770: Chapter 761: Girlfriend (1) Chapter 770: Chapter 761: Girlfriend (1) ¡°What kind of thug talk is this?¡± Shang Feifei snapped angrily, ¡°But I don¡¯t want to.¡± ¡°You clearly do want it; your body is already ready.¡± Han Yifan moved the hand he¡¯d just withdrawn to her nose, a subtle scent diffused around her nostrils. She knew it was the smell that lingered after sex, the scent of hormones. Shang Feifei felt a mix of embarrassment, awkwardness, and a touch of anger, as she struggled to explain, ¡°It¡¯s just¡ªa normal reaction, that¡¯s all.¡± She truly hadn¡¯t expected Han Yifan to be so upfront. To say it was shameless wouldn¡¯t be right¡ªit was just his way of bluntly putting such an embarrassing matter right in front of her. They weren¡¯t even lovers; was this closeness appropriate? ¡°You said the same thing last night, and then we did it three times,¡± Han Yifan said with a look that suggested women always say one thing but mean another. ¡°You¡ªI was drunk last night! I don¡¯t remember anything.¡± ¡°Nonsense, with the shower running so loudly last night, you never sobered up?¡± Han Yifan refuted her point by point, ¡°When you were clinging to me and sobbing last night, that¡¯s not what you said. You were begging me to keep going.¡± ¡°I was clearly begging you to stop!¡± By the end of the previous night, she¡¯d been softened into a puddle of mud in his palm, and he kept trying to reshape it. She had never felt such impact; it was as if her body and soul were shattered. ¡°See, you remember so clearly, yet you still try to deceive me into thinking you don¡¯t?¡± All the intelligence Han Yifan had accumulated in his life had been invested in seducing women. At this moment, he was as shrewd as Bo Yan. ¡°You knew exactly what was happening, you knew what we were doing,¡± Shang Feifei pushed at him, but he simply turned his head to kiss her wrist, ¡°Every time I moved closer, each rise and fall, every breath, and every inch my hand explored, you were aware. You¡¯ve seen, felt every single inch I¡¯ve kissed all over your body. You clearly found it very enjoyable.¡± Shang Feifei couldn¡¯t tell if it was his words just now that made her recall last night, or the fear struck by the sight of him kissing her hand, but her hand did soften for a moment. Han Yifan took the opportunity to draw closer and embraced her tightly. ¡°That¡¯s still not okay!¡± Shang Feifei resisted fiercely, then suddenly thought of something, ¡°Besides, we can¡¯t, didn¡¯t you use them all up?¡± ¡°Oh, that,¡± Han Yifan said with delight, ¡°I had food delivery bring over a big box today, there are more than a dozen inside, enough for us to use. Your agent isn¡¯t coming until tomorrow afternoon, right? Until then, we can take our time.¡± He boasted about his cleverness, always planning ahead! He quickly unwrapped one and leaned down to kiss the corner of her mouth, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I know you artists, you can focus on your career without worries, I won¡¯t let you have any regrets.¡± After explaining so much, she still ended up succumbing to him. Shang Feifei¡¯s feelings were incredibly complex; on one hand, just as he¡¯d said, in just one night, she¡¯d grown accustomed to his closeness and¡ªeven she had to admit¡ªthat Han Yifan had indeed made her very happy last night. But in her heart, she couldn¡¯t see him as a lover. She said earnestly, ¡°Han Yifan, I don¡¯t like you.¡± ¡°How do you know you don¡¯t like me when you¡¯ve never tried to get to know me?¡± Han Yifan¡¯s words left her momentarily stunned. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 771 - 771 762 Girlfriend (2) ?Chapter 771: Chapter 762: Girlfriend (2) Chapter 771: Chapter 762: Girlfriend (2) He grasped her hand, their fingers interlacing. ¡°Look, since we¡¯re so in sync, why not try dating me? If it doesn¡¯t work out, I promise, I won¡¯t cling to you. I know you value a spiritual connection in love, but what if the one you ¡®love¡¯ just doesn¡¯t cut it? What then, will you return the goods, or hold your nose and accept it?¡± Shang Feifei¡¯s feelings were complicated at first, but she couldn¡¯t help but laugh at this remark. Her two exes¡­ although it wasn¡¯t fair to say they ¡®just didn¡¯t cut it¡¯, they weren¡¯t particularly impressive either, or else last night wouldn¡¯t have been such a shock to her. But date him? She wasn¡¯t particularly keen on Han Yifan¡¯s type, yet now she was caught in his trap. ¡°If you really won¡¯t consent, then I¡¯ll have to offer you a second option.¡± ¡°What?¡± She was slightly curious about his alternative. Han Yifan proposed in a tone suggesting negotiation, ¡°We won¡¯t be boyfriend and girlfriend, and we won¡¯t date. But I¡¯ll come over and sleep with you at night. I assure you, it will be purely physical, no emotions involved.¡± ¡°You wish!¡± Wasn¡¯t that just friends with benefits? Why should she let him take advantage of her, she wasn¡¯t the heartless Xia Siyu! Han Yifan continued, ¡°Then let¡¯s just date. After all, everyone outside is already saying we¡¯re a couple. Since we¡¯ve got the reputation, we might as well give it a try. I promise I won¡¯t disturb your work or your plans, won¡¯t force you to do anything you don¡¯t want, and won¡¯t discuss our relationship publicly. As for keeping it secret, you can trust me, Bo Yan is my bro, I know how to keep things low-key, and I¡¯ll be fully cooperative with you.¡± His words made Shang Feifei hesitate. ¡°Moreover¡­¡± Han Yifan¡¯s voice deepened, ¡°we¡¯ve already done this much, what difference does it make if it¡¯s official or not? I promise I won¡¯t cheat, I¡¯ll only like you, you¡¯ll be the only one in my dreams and heart. Is that okay, okay?¡± He kissed her with each question, disorienting Shang Feifei until she found herself nodding uncertainly. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Han Yifan was ecstatic, to the point of madness, and he said, ¡°Hold me tighter.¡± Why should she hold on tight? He just said she shouldn¡¯t be forced to do anything she doesn¡¯t like, so she deliberately didn¡¯t hold him. She didn¡¯t hold on, but Han Yifan scooped her up anyway. Not only did he lift her, but he also stood up with her in his arms. Shang Feifei got a fright and instinctively wrapped her legs around him while clutching his neck tightly, afraid he might drop her. Han Yifan walked around the living room holding her, taking a full circuit before bringing her back to the sofa, pressing her down and kissing her repeatedly, ¡°I¡¯m so happy! You¡¯re my girlfriend now.¡± ¡°Give me some space,¡± Shang Feifei tried to push him away but couldn¡¯t, and he held her even tighter. However, strangely enough, perhaps because of what he had just said, she didn¡¯t feel much anger or dislike, in fact, her lips curved up slightly at the thought. As a celebrity, she might have faced less drama compared to the likes of Xia Siyu, but she still had plenty of fans. Yet fans appreciating her was completely different from having a boyfriend who adored her. She liked men who were her equals, so after the gap with her first love widened, she chose to break up. The second one ended because they rarely saw each other, and their affection naturally faded away. Even with Xi You, it was the same. She had never been pursued or treated with such fervor by someone like Han Yifan. But somehow, it didn¡¯t seem that hard to accept. Chapter 772 - 772 763 Girlfriend (3) ?Chapter 772: Chapter 763: Girlfriend (3) Chapter 772: Chapter 763: Girlfriend (3) Han Yifan wouldn¡¯t dream of moving aside; he immediately snuggled up and leaned in for a kiss, ¡°I have a girlfriend now.¡± ¡°Just trying it out, temporary. If we¡¯re not compatible, I¡¯ll end it right away,¡± Shang Feifei still wasn¡¯t quite used to this overly enthusiastic approach. It was like having a large dog that would pounce on her the moment it saw her, wagging its tail furiously and licking her face with its tongue. ¡°A temporary girlfriend is still a girlfriend,¡± Han Yifan immediately tilted his head and asked, ¡°So, what should I call you? Fei¡¯er? Or do you have a pet name? Tell me, will you?¡± Shang Feifei turned her head away, ignoring him. He persisted, kissing her if she didn¡¯t respond, ¡°Tell me, what should I call you in the future? If you don¡¯t tell me, then I¡¯ll just call you ¡®girlfriend¡¯.¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t you just call me by my name?¡± Shang Feifei hadn¡¯t expected Han Yifan to be such a chatterbox. ¡°Call you Fei¡¯er? That won¡¯t do; there are so many Fei¡¯ers. Your fans call you Fei¡¯er, and your ex-boyfriends called you Fei¡¯er; if I do the same, it¡¯s too common. You must have a nickname, please tell me? Just me, no one else.¡± Shang Feifei didn¡¯t want to engage with him. Although she had vaguely agreed to be his girlfriend, she wasn¡¯t ready to comply with everything so easily. ¡°Fei¡¯er, baby, darling, girlfriend. Just tell me, you must have one, right?¡± Han Yifan was the type of person who would not give up until he achieved his goal, constantly coaxing her. Shang Feifei, having been nagged to the point of no return, finally whispered two words. Han Yifan faintly heard them, but he continued to ask, ¡°What is it, can you say it again? Please say it, I promise I won¡¯t tell anyone, not a soul, not even my parents.¡± S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Shang Feifei turned her face slightly, only after a long while saying, ¡°I don¡¯t really have a nickname, but my parents used to call me Danni because I was the oldest girl in our generation.¡± A name brimming with the essence of life, indeed a nickname that a native of Yancheng would likely have. Han Yifan found it amusing and added, ¡°Isn¡¯t that quite pleasant? Back when my parents had my brother, they wanted a girl, but then they had me, and the family planning fine cost us three thousand. Since then my nickname has been ¡®Three Thousand¡¯.¡± Shang Feifei burst into laughter instantly, ¡°Your family is¡­¡± she actually didn¡¯t finish her sentence, which should have meant, ¡°that must have been a bonus with a top-up, not even good enough to be a consolation.¡± Han Yifan was incredibly sweet-talking; he quickly said, ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve come to understand what my parents meant. They were referring to ¡®the weak waters are vast, I will only take one ladle to drink from them.¡¯ I¡¯ll come clean, I¡¯ve formally dated three girlfriends. One was during my sophomore year in high school, when puppy love was trending, so I fell into it, not knowing anything as a kid, not knowing how to smooth things over after a fight, and we broke up when college came. The second was the one I told you about, who got into a fight with a jerk in a bar. She graduated later, went abroad to study, and for the first couple of years, it was fine, but gradually we lost contact. Then there was someone my family introduced, a good match, but we never really connected; she despised me playing music, always fighting, and it wasn¡¯t long before we broke up. And then there¡¯s you.¡± He didn¡¯t count the one-night stands along the way. But that was a long time ago, and now he had reined in his heart, devotedly pursuing her alone. ¡°Every relationship I¡¯ve had was real, but what¡¯s past is past, and now you¡¯re the only one in my heart.¡± Chapter 773 - 773 764 Girlfriend (4) ?Chapter 773: Chapter 764: Girlfriend (4) Chapter 773: Chapter 764: Girlfriend (4) She could tell he was sweet-talking her with a practiced ease. But Shang Feifei was perceptive and immediately caught the hidden question, ¡°What about those you casually dated?¡± Han Yifan quickly feigned ignorance, ¡°Look at how handsome I am, lots of girls have chased after me. But I¡¯ve mostly been able to restrain myself. I don¡¯t go to parties, nor am I interested in group activities. It¡¯s too easy to get sick playing around like that, it¡¯s filthy.¡± Not content with playing dumb, he hurriedly assured her, ¡°I admit, there was a time when I was young and a bit lost. I did briefly lose my way, but that period was very short-lived. My heart has always been upright, and it quickly passed. Once I fell for you, that won¡¯t change, nor will I play around. Let¡¯s not dwell on the past.¡± Shang Feifei said, ¡°I can¡¯t tell if you¡¯re telling the truth or not.¡± After a pause, considering she was someone who believed in reciprocity, since Han Yifan had been open, she began to divulge her own history, ¡°If I count, I¡¯ve also had three. My first love was someone I met in high school. Later he continued with dance and I went to a film academy. Maybe it was our separation, we just had less in common, and we broke up shortly after I graduated from college. My second boyfriend was a colleague at the same company. We were both very busy, seldom together, hardly seeing each other a few times over a year, so we split. The third¡­ you already know about.¡± She didn¡¯t mention that she had once harbored a secret crush on Bo Yan. After all, it was just a crush that lasted a short while. Bo didn¡¯t consent, so she quickly gave up on it. At most, she was just curious about what kind of woman a man like Bo would like. She later found out it was the girl next door. She wasn¡¯t upset about losing to Xia Siyu; after all, Siyu had exceptional external conditions. Moreover, since Bo Yan was Han Yifan¡¯s close friend and her secret crush had come to nothing, there was no need to speak up and ruin their brotherhood. Got it, on reflection, the reasons for her breakups with the first two were the same: too much time apart. What Han Yifan had in abundance, though, was time. As a playboy, all he ever did was plan for fun and frolics or hang out at his metal bar. He had all the time in the world to stick by her side every day. ¡°It¡¯s okay; you don¡¯t need to bring any of that up. Having experiences means you¡¯ll cherish what¡¯s in front of you more and learn from the past,¡± he said. He wasn¡¯t a traditionalist nor did he have any issues with women not being virgins. As long as the woman came from a good family, all past events were insignificant¡ªand it¡¯s not like he was a blank slate himself, ¡°I can be with you every day from now on. Wherever you go filming, I¡¯ll follow.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you have work?¡± she asked. She admitted to having a strong aversion to Han Yifan¡¯s playboy appearance at first, even compared to the pretentiousness of the ¡®guy with glasses,¡¯ he seemed unreliable. Later, when she learned his main business was running a bar and a side gig in heavy metal music, that sense of unreliability hit her even harder. Just like those aimless, hedonistic playboys abroad who had no dreams, no plans, nothing, and only indulge in endless parties. ¡°Me, work? My dad is terrified I¡¯ll run his company into the ground,¡± he said. He had applied to be a manager simply to pursue her. ¡°But you can¡¯t just stay in the bar all the time. Do you have any means to support yourself?¡± After thinking it over, Han Yifan said, ¡°If it really comes down to it, I could rent out my houses, right? Just keep one or two for myself to live in.¡± Shang Feifei couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°How many houses do you have?¡± So young, and already planning on being a landlord? That¡¯s seriously lacking ambition! S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 774 - 774 765 Girlfriend (5) ?Chapter 774: Chapter 765: Girlfriend (5) Chapter 774: Chapter 765: Girlfriend (5) Unexpectedly, Han Yifan really tilted his head and thought about it, ¡°Let me calculate. Two in Yancheng, one is a bar that I can¡¯t part with, and the other is the villa next to Bo Yan¡¯s. In Shangcheng¡­ I think there¡¯s a riverside property, but no, my uncle is in Shangcheng, and I often have to go back there to stay. X City¡­ I think I have one there too. In Bin City, there¡¯s a sea view property, and in Jiang City, there¡¯s also one by the river. In the Southwest¡­ I don¡¯t think I have one yet, but my brother has been developing nearby recently, and he said he¡¯d give me one, but I was too embarrassed to accept it. That place belongs to the guy with glasses, and even if he gave it to me, I wouldn¡¯t want it. As for the south¡­¡± He did a quick count, ¡°All in all, just about a dozen or so. Not that many, really. Back when my dad gave the company to my brother and felt sorry for me, their company started reserving the best property for me in every place they developed. Back then, property control wasn¡¯t strict, and you could buy without any household registration. I usually don¡¯t live in them, so leaving them empty is just a waste; might as well rent them all out. It¡¯s not much money, just about the cost of a Herm¨¨s bag for all the rental income in a month.¡± Shang Feifei was shocked. Good lord, no wonder his family was in real estate; just lying around and collecting rent every month would make hundreds of thousands. If you include the capital value of all the properties, it¡¯s probably several hundred million. And that¡¯s not even counting his shares in his family¡¯s company. As an artist, even though her pay seems high, after taxes and paying the company and team, the amount left in her hands isn¡¯t close to the income from those properties. She had worked hard for so many years to be able to afford the same standard of living as Han Yifan without doing any work. No wonder the guy didn¡¯t want to make an effort; he didn¡¯t have to. ¡°But do you¡­ plan to just live off the rent like this forever?¡± S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It wasn¡¯t that it was unacceptable, but, in this way, a person would go to waste. Even though he was no different from a salted fish now, she could earn her own money and didn¡¯t really hope for the other half to become a complete good-for-nothing. ¡°Not really, Bo Yan said he wants to be independent, to get into film and television, and I plan to invest with him. Don¡¯t be fooled by Bo Yan¡¯s aloofness; he¡¯s actually full of tricks, like anthracite, so cunning and dark-hearted. I¡¯ve made quite a bit following him. Like this time, we planned to hit Xi You¡¯s family pharmaceutical company, setting up a chain of traps and even shorting the stock market, making a fortune. Similarly, we¡¯ve taken on Li Weiyi¡¯s family before and made a killing.¡± He and Bo Yan were like brothers, which was a unique advantage. Plus, he had money, perfectly capable of providing Bo Yan with the startup capital. If the film and television company went public successfully, their assets could increase many times over. Behind Bo Yan were the Bo Family and Xia Siyu. As long as it¡¯s well managed, this was indeed a good path to wealth. Han Yifan said earnestly, ¡°I will stand by you and also support your work. If one day, you no longer wish to act, I won¡¯t let you go hungry.¡± Shang Feifei finally understood why she didn¡¯t like Han Yifan at first; she and Han Yifan were fundamentally complete opposites. She was disciplined and hardworking, while Han Yifan was lazy and flamboyant. But sometimes some people are just born with good fortune; Han Yifan¡¯s starting point was what some people strive for their whole lives and never reach. If it hadn¡¯t been for her involvement with him, even if she had broken up with Xi You, she would have looked for her ideal type, not him. But what could she do now? She was already on his pirate ship. Chapter 775 - 775 766 Girlfriend (6) ?Chapter 775: Chapter 766: Girlfriend (6) Chapter 775: Chapter 766: Girlfriend (6) It was just a trial anyway. If it wasn¡¯t suitable, she would decisively call it quits without dragging it out. ¡°Han Yifan, actually, I¡­¡± Her voice hadn¡¯t even ended when he sealed her lips with his. Han Yifan shook his head, ¡°No need to say anything else. Isn¡¯t it a trial period? Let¡¯s just try it out for a while. If it¡¯s not suitable, I¡¯ve said before, I won¡¯t pester you. But I have conditions too. During the trial period, I want to fulfill the duties and rights of a boyfriend.¡± Talking prettily, huh? What fulfilling duties¡ª he just wanted the rights, the benefits! Of course, girls like to hear sweet nothings. As someone who is bad at everything except being the top at picking up girls, he certainly wouldn¡¯t emphasize on his own benefits first. He wouldn¡¯t act like Bo Yan next door¡ªwho, even if his goal was to sleep with someone, still had to sweet-talk them into happiness¡ªno direct rush, or which girl would be pleased? Only someone as broad-minded and with an uncommon way of thinking like Xia Siyu wouldn¡¯t mind, just try it with any other woman. Shang Feifei couldn¡¯t be bothered with him, but not denying meant agreeing by default, and Han Yifan was adept at giving himself an out, ¡°So, should I call you ¡®Niaozhi,¡¯ ¡®Xiaoni,¡¯ or ¡®Nini¡¯ in the future? I¡¯m older than you, aren¡¯t you my little Niaozhi?¡± Shang Feifei hadn¡¯t seen anyone be this cheesy in years; she was a bit overwhelmed and turned to face away from him. But they were on the sofa, a cramped space, and she was on the inside. The moment she turned her head, she ended up leaning against the back of the couch. Han Yifan hugged her from behind, ¡°Xiaoni, do you want to take a shower?¡± Shang Feifei thought of the terrifying scene in the bathroom last night and quickly shook her head. Han Yifan guessed as much, ¡°Today, I promise not to mess with you, I¡¯m serious. I swear on being a little dog. Or would you rather sleep on the couch with me tonight? Actually, I wouldn¡¯t object¡ªit puts us closer, so I can hold you all the time.¡± She might as well take a bath then. True to his word, Han Yifan didn¡¯t touch her in the bathroom, but the moment she stepped out, the guy got lively. This guy was passionate, proactive, and bursting with energy, like a large breed dog at home. Sometimes, the dog¡¯s enthusiasm might be too much, but when you saw it wagging its tail, launching itself at you, you wouldn¡¯t have the heart to push it away. Being with a man who¡¯s battle-hardened yet knows how to be considerate of a woman¡¯s feelings was indeed a fine experience. Although this guy was a bit of a slacker, his slacking off was due to having enough of a family fortune to afford his extravagances. After all, it was just dating¡ªif it didn¡¯t work out, they could just split up. Without any psychological burden, being with him was indeed very relaxing. The next morning when she woke up, he was still smiling cheerfully and kissed her, ¡°Good morning.¡± Even though she had agreed to give it a try with him, Shang Feifei was still a bit unused to being so intimate with him. However, compared to yesterday, she was no longer so deliberately resisting him, just a bit shy. ¡°I¡¯m going to the restroom.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± Han Yifan immediately followed her. The guy had really spent the night without making a move. She rushed to the restroom first and locked the door. By the time she finished, Han Yifan had also cleaned up from the guest room¡¯s facility and was still not wearing pants. Although they¡¯d already been intimate, seeing him in broad daylight with bright lights was still a bit shocking to the eyes. But this time, Shang Feifei couldn¡¯t escape. He extended his arms to trap her against the sink and hugged her to kiss. And the guy didn¡¯t just visit the living room for nothing¡ªhe even brought a little umbrella! Just when Han Yifan was preparing to start the new day, the doorbell suddenly rang. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 776 - 776 767 Family (1) ?Chapter 776: Chapter 767 Family (1) Chapter 776: Chapter 767 Family (1) Just when he was in the mood for some action, someone interrupted them¡ªwhat a turn-off. Han Yifan turned his head and asked, ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°Room service, do you need cleaning¡­¡± ¡°No need!¡± Before the voice even finished speaking, Han Yifan instantly interrupted from inside. They had been in the room for two days, not stepping foot outside except to receive takeout, refusing all hotel services. On one hand, they feared being disturbed. On the other, there were no assistants or bodyguards outside to respond; what if it wasn¡¯t room service but someone pretending to be, under that guise? Once the footsteps outside the door had faded away, he turned back to kiss her. At times like these, Han Yifan¡¯s lips were especially sweet. He actually wanted to continue, but he knew that if he started right away, it might cause her to feel repelled. After sincerely looking at her for a while, he began to sing, ¡°Although I see you every day, I still find you extraordinarily beautiful, growing even more so.¡± Thankfully, Shang Feifei was a performer and often heard fans¡¯ over-the-top flattery. Although the flattery from a boyfriend was certainly different from that of fans, she still had some immunity to it, unlike the fellow next door who would immediately accept praise upon hearing it, ¡°You¡¯re really half-hearted with your compliments.¡± ¡°My conscience is clear, everything I say is true.¡± He even leaned close to her ear to whisper, ¡°You¡¯re not only beautiful, your voice is also exceptionally lovely. Especially last night when you were holding me, humming softly. That sound was so melodious and lingering, you have no idea how nice it was.¡± Shang Feifei knew right away this guy had something naughty in mind, and her cheeks instantly reddened. The boyfriend she had in mind wasn¡¯t like this; although he would also sweet-talk her, his sweet nothings wouldn¡¯t come in such a constant stream. Besides, this guy¡¯s sweet nothings always had a suggestive edge, leaving her unsure how to respond. Without responding, Han Yifan still wanted to tease her. If she remained silent, he would just get closer, gently pecking her cheek. Being extroverted, he enjoyed teasing such a gentle and reserved girlfriend. Thus, every pot finds its lid; if it were Xia Siyu, she¡¯d probably scoff, ¡°You were louder than me last night/Your voice was so loud I was afraid people outside could hear¡± or something like that. Shang Feifei¡¯s face turned beet red, lightly pushing him away, trying to jump down and leave, ¡°I can¡¯t be bothered to argue with you, I¡¯m going out.¡± ¡°Hey, there¡¯s still time today, no need to hurry.¡± Han Yifan blocked her path. In a relationship, that sort of thing is actually the least of it. If you truly like someone, you won¡¯t always be thinking about heading to bed to chat but rather enjoy more of this kind of playful give and take. It¡¯s like having a feast. There¡¯s no need to gobble down all the tasty bits right at the beginning; how you flirt, that¡¯s the key. He loved seeing her flushed, trying to dodge but unable to escape, ¡°Where did I leave off last night? Oh, I was telling you about my past relationships. Right now, the most important thing is to get to know each other better. I should also tell you about my family.¡± ¡°We¡¯re just trying things out, we haven¡¯t even made it official yet¡ªwhy bother knowing about the family?¡± ¡°That¡¯s different. You have to take an attitude towards everything. Each relationship I enter is with the intention of marriage; otherwise, isn¡¯t it just fooling around?¡± Han Yifan¡¯s sweet talk was so effective, Shang Feifei¡¯s expression immediately softened. ¡°My family is actually quite simple. There¡¯s my dad, my mom, and an older brother¡­¡± Before he could finish, the phone next to them rang. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 777 - 777 768 Family (2) ?Chapter 777: Chapter 768 Family (2) Chapter 777: Chapter 768 Family (2) It was the in-room wired phone, probably a call from the front desk. ¡°What kind of call is this at such a time?¡± Han Yifan answered grumpily, ¡°Who is it?¡± Room service was inquiring, ¡°Check-out time is almost upon us. Would the guest like to extend their stay?¡± ¡°Extend, of course, extend.¡± Her assistant and agent hadn¡¯t arrived yet, and since they weren¡¯t short on money for the room, they definitely wanted to extend for another day. ¡°Hold on a moment.¡± Han Yifan wanted to hang up the phone, ¡°Anything else?¡± S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°The deposit, it¡¯s running a bit low, come to the front desk later to top it up.¡± ¡°Wait for us, we¡¯ll come down in a bit.¡± After hanging up the phone, Han Yifan cursed under his breath, one after another, they all come to disturb. Shang Feifei suggested, ¡°How about I go down later? After all, I¡¯m the one who booked the room.¡± ¡°No need, it¡¯s only half-past ten, checkout isn¡¯t until twelve anyway, I¡¯ll go down and handle the deposit.¡± How could he let the female lead leave at a time like this? There was still over an hour left, and he definitely wanted to make the most of it, ¡°As for my family, it¡¯s quite simple. I have a dad and a mom, and an older brother, a real brother. I think I¡¯ve mentioned this before. He¡¯s now taken over the family business, working with my dad, and he¡¯s also my direct superior¡­¡± Before he could finish, someone started ringing the doorbell again. Even a clay Buddha has some anger, and Han Yifan couldn¡¯t take it anymore, ¡°Who is it?¡± There was brief silence outside before the person spoke, ¡°It¡¯s your brother.¡± Han Yifan burst into laughter when he heard this, maybe because he was in the interior room, he didn¡¯t hear it very clearly. Smiling at Shang Feifei, he said, ¡°You¡¯re my brother? I might as well be your dad! Stop messing around with me here.¡± There was another moment of silence outside, then the person continued, ¡°If you want to see Dad, I don¡¯t mind making an emergency call to have him come over.¡± Wait a second, Han Yifan paused, the man¡¯s voice did sound like it could really be my brother? He felt too embarrassed to continue being affectionate with Shang Feifei, so he set her down. The two of them hastily put on pants and changed clothes, as embarrassed as if they had been caught doing something X-rated. The bedroom wasn¡¯t too messy, but they had initially slept on the couch, and clothes were strewn everywhere there. Han Yifan regretted deeply. Had he known his big brother was coming, he wouldn¡¯t have dawdled. Wasn¡¯t spending time with his girlfriend earlier not wonderful? His brother outside was urging, ¡°Han Yifan, did you fall into the toilet? Get out here!¡± ¡°Just a second, just a second!¡± At this point, there was no time for a thorough cleanup, so he could only carry the messy clothes and blanket into the other room, and Shang Feifei also quickly tidied up a bit, without time for makeup. Once everything was basically in order, he finally opened the door. Sure enough, his brother, Han Yizhi, was standing outside. However, just by appearance, Han Yizhi seemed at least ten years older than his brother. Han Yifan still had a youthful air about him, but his brother, Han Yizhi, at a glance was that sort of imposing, successful individual, wearing a crisp suit and with the corners of his mouth slightly turned down. Han Yifan hurriedly introduced them, ¡°This is my brother, Han Yizhi. Don¡¯t let his appearance fool you, he¡¯s actually only eight years older than me. He¡¯s the second in command of Han¡¯s. Brother, this is my girlfriend, Shang Feifei. Your presence suggests you already know about us. Please don¡¯t blame her; I forced her into this. If you want to scold someone, scold me.¡± Han Yizhi surveyed the living room, which looked very clean having just been tidied, except for an open package of Xiaoyu umbrellas still on the table. Chapter 778 - 778 769 Family (3) ?Chapter 778: Chapter 769 Family (3) Chapter 778: Chapter 769 Family (3) When Han Yizhi saw the branded shopping bag, it was clear that both Han Yifan and Shang Feifei had noticed it too. Feifei¡¯s face instantly flushed red, and then she gently tugged at Yifan¡¯s sleeve. Well, looks like all our secrets have been exposed. Han Yifan, on the other hand, didn¡¯t seem to care. After all, from his first words, he had made it clear that she was his girlfriend. They were adults; surely, they couldn¡¯t be expected to only talk about poetry and life ambitions in a relationship, right? But since his girlfriend tugged at him, he symbolically tossed the box under the coffee table. This act was as subtle as yelling ¡°There¡¯s no silver here!¡±, making Feifei¡¯s face turn even redder. Han Yizhi coughed. The Han Family was usually quite serious. The least serious one was the person before him now. When Han Yizhi¡¯s parents were getting married, conforming to the state¡¯s call to marry and have children later in life, their combined ages had to be at least fifty before they could wed, and it took another three years before he was born. They thought they could retire from parenting at that point, but eight years later, they unexpectedly conceived Yifan. Han¡¯s mother was already thirty-six, quite an advanced age for childbearing; she chose not to abort, resulting in a fine of three thousand. When Han¡¯s mother gave birth to her youngest son, she suffered quite a bit. Plus, having a child in her older years, the family spoiled him rotten. As a result, this guy grew up to be good for nothing but indulging in pleasures and chasing girls, a habit in girlfriends the family had grown accustomed to. This time it all started with rumors of Yifan dating Xia Siyu. The Han Family and the Bo Family were acquaintances, so they knew it was a fabrication and didn¡¯t intervene. Then, before you knew it, he was in a relationship with Shang Feifei from the cast next door. Even though her reputation was much better than Siyu¡¯s, she was still an entertainer. In families like theirs, what girlfriends their sons had wasn¡¯t of concern, but if it came to marriage, that was a different matter. In this regard, even Shang Feifei compared unfavorably with Xia Siyu. Although Siyu had a not-so-great reputation, if it was a family with known pedigree, they¡¯d know most of her so-called scandals were likely false. Even if they were true, she was still the treasured daughter of the Xia Family; Xia Youbiao was very fond of his little daughter, which was to her advantage. But Han Yizhi, as a brother, had no say in these matters, nor could he. It all depended on what their parents thought. He came over this time partly because he was nearby managing a project and took the chance to check on things. But also, it was per his father¡¯s instructions. His brother had been a bit too wild lately; it was time to pull him back in line. Han Yizhi spoke calmly, ¡°I came today as the vice president and second in command of Han Group to hold you accountable. You¡¯re still on the roster at Han Group, right? But these past few days, you¡¯ve been absent without leave and haven¡¯t submitted any leave request to your superior. I¡¯m giving you three business days to come back to the office and explain. If you continue to be absent, I¡¯ll report this to the executive team and have you dismissed.¡± ¡°Oh, there¡¯s no need for a report, just fire me directly.¡± Han Yifan had initially gone to work at the company just to pursue Shang Feifei. Now that he had won her over and she knew he was nothing but a rich idler, why would he go back to work anyway? Han Yizhi frowned, ¡°Do you think work is some kind of game? You come and go as you please?¡± S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°So what? Do I need to pay a fine? How much is it? I¡¯ll pay it,¡± said Han Yifan with a nonchalant face, not giving his brother any respect. That¡¯s what was annoying about the Han Family; making a big fuss over every little thing. Chapter 779 - 779 770 Family (4) ?Chapter 779: Chapter 770 Family (4) Chapter 779: Chapter 770 Family (4) ¡°You¡­¡± Although Han Yizhi knew his brother¡¯s personality, he was still a bit annoyed. He lowered his voice, ¡°To tell the truth, Dad sent me to check on you. If you don¡¯t come back with me, he really will come and get you.¡± Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Han Yifan had been used to his father¡¯s beatings since he was young and wasn¡¯t afraid of him, ¡°Then let him come and get me. At his old age, he¡¯d risk throwing out his back traveling so far. Better he stays home and enjoys his grandchild. I¡¯m doing well out here, eating and sleeping just fine.¡± Han Yizhi had married early, to a woman of equal social standing¡ªthe daughter of his father¡¯s longstanding friend¡ªand already had a grandson. With the third generation of the Han Family secure, Han Yifan became even more reckless. But Han Yizhi¡¯s marriage was a thorn in his side. Back in the day, he too had a girlfriend he was close with, but her father was a gambling addict who had accumulated a huge debt. Once Han¡¯s father found out, he paid off the girl¡¯s family¡¯s debts on the condition that she leave his son. He and the girl broke up and got back together several times, but in the end, she simply couldn¡¯t wait any longer due to her age and they had to break up. It was then that Han Yizhi accepted his current wife; he was already thirty-eight, but only had a child a year ago. After finishing his piece, Han Yizhi stood up directly, ¡°Anyway, if you don¡¯t want Dad to come and get you personally, it¡¯s best you come back with me now. You know what Dad¡¯s temper is like. If you go along with him a bit, he might just get angry and beat you once. But if you dawdle and make him mad, in the end, it won¡¯t be just one beating.¡± Han Yifan was just joking around, but he knew what was important. He shrugged, ¡°I can go back, but big brother, you didn¡¯t come alone, did you? You must have bodyguards with you. Before Fei¡¯er leaves the Southwest, have them protect her. And make sure no one else bullies her. Remember, this is your brother¡¯s girlfriend we¡¯re talking about. If she gets bullied, not only do I lose face, but so do you.¡± Han Yizhi was at a loss for words. Before anything had even started, he was already worrying about his girlfriend¡¯s safety. ¡°If you don¡¯t agree, I won¡¯t leave. If I don¡¯t see her safely back to the set, then I¡¯ll just have to take her myself.¡± Though Han Yizhi was used to his brother¡¯s antics, he barely managed to suppress the urge to hit him. After a moment, he finally said, ¡°Got it, so I should just ask a few staff members to come over and escort Miss Shang, right?¡± ¡°Not staff, bodyguards. If you have PR, bring a couple of them too. In case the media tries to stir up some trouble, they can help her out.¡± What else could he do, having already agreed to this from the start? Han Yizhi could only nod, ¡°Okay. Shall we go then?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯ll wait until her assistant or agent arrives, or your bodyguards come. Only then can I rest assured and leave. Otherwise, I¡¯ll just continue resting here.¡± ¡°Han Yifan!¡± Han Yizhi said, tension evident in his expression. ¡°Eh, brother.¡± Han Yifan replied with a cheeky smile. After a standoff between the two brothers, Han Yizhi conceded in the end, ¡°I¡¯ll call someone right away. Happy now? Go get ready.¡± Only then did Han Yifan nod with a grin. In truth, he didn¡¯t have much to get ready. He had come alone, with no luggage to speak of, and would just need to change into a set of clothes and grab his documents before leaving. Gone was the playful facade, Han Yifan looked at Shang Feifei earnestly and said, ¡°Isn¡¯t every love supposed to face ninety-nine difficulties? This is just the first. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t let you suffer.¡± Shang Feifei had never seen him so serious before, yet for some reason, she felt that, in this moment, whatever Han Yifan said was a promise. Chapter 780 - 780 771 Family (5) ?Chapter 780: Chapter 771 Family (5) Chapter 780: Chapter 771 Family (5) ¡°Okay,¡± Shang Feifei nodded. It was then that Han Yifan smiled. He even said, ¡°Is that it? Aren¡¯t you going to give me a farewell kiss?¡± Shang Feifei snorted and ignored him, her cheeks flushing slightly, but from her expression, it was clear that her gaze softened completely when she looked at Han Yifan. Han Yifan didn¡¯t press her, and prepared to say goodbye with a smile. As he was about to leave, something suddenly occurred to him: ¡°Bro, how did you know I was staying here?¡± Even if his brother had watched the news, the news wouldn¡¯t have detailed exactly which floor and room he was staying in, right? Han Yizhi appeared completely calm: ¡°Oh, I asked Bo Yan, he told me.¡± Damn, Bo Yan! Meanwhile, the aforementioned Bo Yan, who was being mentioned next door, was indeed in a bad mood. However, his mood wasn¡¯t sour because of Han Yifan, but because Xia Siyu was leaving today. Xia Siyu had come over the night before last, and he had taken the day off yesterday. Due to Shang Feifei¡¯s incident, the film crew had also been affected¡ªthere was no helping it, considering the film crew just happened to be in this building. Although the reporters were cleared out of the hotel after the chaos of the first night, there were still a lot of paparazzi lurking around the hotel. As long as Shang Feifei didn¡¯t leave, they couldn¡¯t shoot normally. Fortunately, it was raining heavily for the past two days, so many of the outdoor scenes couldn¡¯t be shot. Bo Yan didn¡¯t have many indoor scenes either, so he simply took another day off. With two days¡¯ time, he spent it with Xia Siyu. Yesterday, they played makeup games, enjoying themselves until the wee hours of the morning. As Bo Yan hung up the phone, Xia Siyu was wriggling in his arms, frowning and refusing to open her eyes. Bo Yan gently hugged her: ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just the front desk asking if we want to extend our stay, I said no need.¡± As he spoke the last few words, Xia Siyu hummed softly, sounding somewhat discontent, as if responding, and also seemingly with a touch of melancholy. No need to extend the stay meant that she was leaving, that she was about to depart from here. Back when he didn¡¯t get along with Xia Siyu, they hardly saw each other more than a few times a year. Although he would silently follow her movements, he didn¡¯t dare to get too close, to avoid causing her displeasure. Back then, not seeing her was just that¡ªnot seeing her. Although he missed her, it wasn¡¯t like now. It was just a short separation, and once they each finished filming, they could still meet. It wouldn¡¯t be more than a month at most, but just thinking about her departure made his mood inexplicably fall. Bo Yan thought it quite pathetic of himself, as usually, it¡¯s the wife sending off the husband. Only he stood in place watching Xia Siyu leave without looking back. She had her work and aspirations, and so did he, but each parting added to the longing. Xia Siyu twisted restlessly in his arms again. The whorl of her hair brushed against his chin, fine hairs tickling the side of his neck slightly. After one last rub, she poked her head out from his arms. Bo Yan¡¯s gaze dropped slightly, and he smiled faintly, tapping her nose: ¡°You¡¯ve still got makeup on your face.¡± Xia Siyu wrinkled her nose, looking disdainful: ¡°So do you.¡± S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The makeup obviously meant that Xia Siyu had done Bo Yan¡¯s, and he had also done hers. In the end, Xia Siyu put on red lipstick and fervently stamped kisses all over him, leaving red marks with each kiss. To those unaware, they might think Bo Yan got mobbed by a group of female fans the night before. Chapter 781 - 781 772 Family (6) ?Chapter 781: Chapter 772 Family (6) Chapter 781: Chapter 772 Family (6) ¡°Taking a bath?¡± The word ¡°bath¡± seemed to carry a special connotation in their married life. Xia Siyu¡¯s first reaction was, ¡°No, I think not, I¡¯ll be leaving soon.¡± Honest to goodness, Bo Yan really didn¡¯t mean it that way, and he patted her lower back, ¡°What are you thinking? Your face and body are all made up, aren¡¯t you going to wash it off?¡± Xia Siyu kissed him, and of course, Bo Yan didn¡¯t miss out on the opportunity. His purple lipstick was still her doing, leaving her body marked with red and purple patches. One could mistake it for domestic violence. ¡°Oh,¡± Xia Siyu nodded, then extended her arms the same way, outstretched in mid-air, meaning for Bo Yan to pull her up. This little rascal, her ability to act coy was top-notch, but since she was his own wife, kissed and indulged, what could he do? It¡¯s not like he could return her or anything. Bo Yan had no choice but to get up first, went to the bathroom to fill the bathtub, and then came back to pick her up. Xia Siyu comfortably wrapped her arms around his neck, lay in his arms, and let him carry her to the bathroom. Bo Yan teased, ¡°Your legs, so long for nothing, if they are of no use, you could donate them to someone in need.¡± Xia Siyu defended with reason, ¡°My legs are for you to touch, don¡¯t you particularly like doing that?¡± Bo Yan was momentarily speechless; well, he couldn¡¯t fault her there, could he? However, Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t the kind of kid who did not know how to return a favor. During the bath, she volunteered, ¡°To thank you for carrying me here to bathe, I¡¯ll help scrub your back.¡± Unwarranted kindness usually meant she was up to something fishy. Bo Yan was a bit wary, ¡°What mischievous plan are you hatching?¡± Xia Siyu was displeased, ¡°What, you don¡¯t want my service? Hmph, then don¡¯t ever ask for my services again!¡± S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Fine, provide your service,¡± Bo Yan was helpless. Knowing full well Xia Siyu had set a clumsy trap up ahead, he still blindly jumped in, for if he didn¡¯t, she would be displeased. What could he do, it was the wife he married, he had to pamper her even if it meant kneeling down. Then Xia Siyu brightened up, actually picked up a bath puff and began to touch him slightly and seriously this time, first pretending to squeeze out some body wash, then spreading it all over his body before earnestly starting to scrub his back. And truth be told, although Xia Siyu was usually clumsy, she was still a woman with a delicate side. Bo Yan closed his eyes and even started giving commands, ¡°Over to the left, yes, right there, go down a bit, use some force.¡± Bo Yan expected that after a couple of commands, Xia Siyu would quickly get impatient and leave off, but instead, she scrubbed earnestly, resembling someone earnestly dedicated to service. Bo Yan too gradually began to enjoy it, until Xia Siyu finished washing his back, the sound of water rushing as she started to clean his front. Bo Yan sat upright in the tub, with his eyes closed, he could feel her soft hands cleaning his body, gentle as feather¡¯s touch. Bo Yan couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°Didn¡¯t expect you to have this skill, if you stop acting someday, I¡¯ll have you wash me every day.¡± ¡°Dear customer, are you enjoying your bath?¡± Bo Yan, eyes still closed and face the picture of bliss, responded, ¡°Um, it¡¯s so-so!¡± ¡°Our shop has a special service, now at a surprise price, not for 998 but just for 88, and there are discounts for cardholders, too!¡± Bo Yan couldn¡¯t help but be amused by her, ¡°Okay, if you do it well, the remaining 900 will be my generous tip for you.¡± ¡°Here it comes!¡± Xia Siyu cheerfully declared, and then her hand moved straight towards his ¡­ Chapter 782 - 782 773 Farewell (1) ?Chapter 782: Chapter 773 Farewell (1) Chapter 782: Chapter 773 Farewell (1) Bo Yan had not anticipated that this rascal would go straight for the kill from the start. As their relationship grew closer, Xia Siyu really enjoyed playing around super high-spiritedly, and she was also a master at acting spoiled. But to start so abruptly without warning was a first for her. However, he wished for more such surprises in the future. Xia Siyu¡¯s hands were soft, and the rascal was genuinely cleaning him, not doing anything lascivious. Moreover, she had put soap on her hands¡ªafter all, she had to use it herself, so she needed to clean thoroughly. Luckily, Bo Yan was handsome, so it was not displeasing to look at, without layers of wrinkles. He was an artist by profession and had no bad habits, so he sported a very natural skin tone. But even though it was her who was cleaning, the fact that she was cleaning there¡ªsomehow, it felt ticklish. It tickled his body and more so his heart. He knew perfectly well that Xia Siy was deliberately setting a trap, yet he was now jumping into it with particularly great joy. As his mood became increasingly fervent and elated, Xia Siyu suddenly stopped, then mischievously smiled, ¡°Alright my dear customer, your service is complete. Please give me a five-star rating!¡± Bo Yan could not tolerate Xia Siyu¡¯s sudden retreat, so he hurriedly got up, with the sound of water splashing, trying to briskly keep her from leaving. Xia Siyu was as slippery as an eel, having anticipated his possible actions. She quickly hopped away with a giggling escape, adding, ¡°No time left, we need to check out. I have to go to the airport.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be quick.¡± ¡°A man should never admit he can¡¯t do it, nor should he say he¡¯s very fast,¡± Xia Siyu playfully countered with his own words, leaving Bo Yan speechless. His little wife was truly both lovable and hateful. When he loved her, he wished he could pocket her and carry her around all the time. When he was exasperated, he itched to just gobble her up. Bo Yan was indeed frustrated by her teases, wanting to give up yet unwilling to do so, wanting to continue yet she wasn¡¯t cooperating, leaving them at a stalemate. He was so irritated he just wanted to spank her. But Xia Siyu ran too fast, she¡¯d already stepped out of the bathtub and out of the bathroom before him, leaving behind a trail of bell-like laughter, ¡°You can play with the Five Fingers Lady yourself, I¡¯m going to brush my teeth.¡± Bo Yan also knew it wasn¡¯t the time to be impulsive, and he reluctantly suppressed his feelings, only coming out after he had calmed down. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing him emerge, Xia Siyu quickly made her getaway. Bo Yan, with a composed face, went to brush his teeth and wash his face as if he hadn¡¯t been the one nearly bursting into flames just a moment ago. He went about his normal grooming routine, and once finished, returned to find that Xia Siyu, thinking he had calmed down, paid him no mind and continued packing her clothes with her back to him. That¡¯s when Bo Yan quietly approached and gently wrapped his arms around her waist, ¡°Weren¡¯t you running pretty fast just now? Can you still run?¡± Unexpecting, Xia Siyu turned around and planted a kiss on his face with a ¡°smack,¡± shocking Bo Yan for a moment. She then reached out to wrap her arms around his cheeks, turning back to kiss him. Bo Yan was thrown into complete disarray by her turning the tables, stumbling back a few steps, his Adam¡¯s apple repeatedly bobbing. This woman was truly a siren; if she had lived in ancient times, she would undoubtedly have been the kind that wreaks havoc on a nation! It was fortunate for him to have tamed and captured her, or who knows how long she would have continued her mischievous ways. The two continued to exchange kisses, twisting and embracing, until the sound of the room phone ringing. Chapter 783 - 783 774 Farewell (2) ?Chapter 783: Chapter 774 Farewell (2) Chapter 783: Chapter 774 Farewell (2) It was the in-house telephone again. It was definitely a call to urge them to check out. ¡°The phone is ringing,¡± Xia Siyu whispered softly. ¡°Mmm.¡± Bo Yan was embracing her from behind, his head resting on her shoulder, not wanting to move. ¡°I need to check out.¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± Bo Yan hummed once more. If his lips weren¡¯t right by her ear, she would have hardly heard his low voice. ¡°I¡¯m leaving.¡± ¡°I know.¡± This time, Bo Yan finally said more than three words. He was still holding her but slightly lifted his head and stretched out his arm to answer the phone: ¡°Understood, we¡¯ll check out right away.¡± After he finished the sentence, he hung up immediately and continued to embrace her for a while until a cleaning lady knocked on the door: ¡°Hello guests, may I know if you are ready to check out?¡± Only then did Xia Siyu and Bo Yan part. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t have much luggage, and Bo Yan lived downstairs, so they didn¡¯t require much time to clean up the room and leave. After putting their things away, Bo Yan naturally took her bag, while Xia Siyu helped him put on a mask, and the two opened the room door together. As the door opened, the neighbors came out just in time. Han Yifan had already left with his elder brother, and at this time, it was Shang Feifei, her agent, and assistant exiting. Not just them, but a few bodyguards were present, arranged by Han Yifan¡¯s elder brother for Shang Feifei¡¯s protection. Shang Feifei¡¯s agent and assistant recognized Bo Yan and Xia Siyu and were startled. Unlike Shang Feifei, they had not guessed the relationship between the two. However, as an agent and assistant, they kept a tight lip; such matters generally weren¡¯t spoken about. Xia Siyu and Bo Yan, meanwhile, were perfectly calm, almost indifferent to the people next door, merely pausing briefly to let them go first¡ª After all, many reporters staking out the hotel were there for Shang Feifei. With her as the target, the two of them were certainly safer. Sure enough, the agent and assistant had come from afar fully prepared. Shang Feifei wore sunglasses and little makeup, just basic foundation. Her clothing was also very somber, presenting a demeanor of someone heartbroken by a failed relationship as she descended the stairs. As expected, reporters surrounded her. At the lobby, checking out went smoothly, thankfully. The clever rascal Han Yifan had bought small umbrellas identical to those charged for by the hotel, and later, he had Song Fengzhi bring takeout and stuffed the exact amount of unused umbrellas back into the hotel. Therefore, during check-out, there were no issues. They only charged her for two bottles of Black Vatted whisky. Two days, two bottles of Black Vatted; it was the perfect picture of ¡°drowning sorrows in alcohol.¡± When reporters heard of it, they quickly published the story. Once the procedures were completed, Shang Feifei, escorted by her agent, assistant, and bodyguards, left the lobby. Upon her exit, reporters indeed asked her, ¡°What do you think about Xi You¡¯s cheating scandal?¡± ¡°Have you started dating Han Yifan? Was it mutual cheating?¡± ¡°Are you aware of the allegations about Xi You drugging others?¡± Throughout, Shang Feifei stayed silent, her head slightly lowered; she appeared somewhat tired. Her agent stood by her side until someone tried to pull at her, prompting the agent to speak out at last: ¡°Our Fei¡¯er is the victim, okay? What mutual cheating? Han Yifan isn¡¯t even officially her boyfriend yet.¡± Indeed, she wasn¡¯t wrong, given that Han Yifan¡¯s relationship with her had yet to be confirmed; it was still a trial. However, as this side attracted a barrage of attention, nobody noticed that from another side door of the hotel, a young couple emerged. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 784 - 784 775 Farewell (3) ?Chapter 784: Chapter 775 Farewell (3) Chapter 784: Chapter 775 Farewell (3) Xi You¡¯s act of drugging involved a substance commonly found in prescription medications with sedative and sleep-inducing effects. What he used was a refined, colorless, and tasteless version of the drug, with exceptionally potent effects. If it weren¡¯t for the intense media scrutiny and the tireless investigation by Bo Yan and Han Yifan, this incident could have been settled with a payoff. After all, although he tied up that woman and whipped her a few times, he hadn¡¯t actually gone through with his intentions; it was merely an attempted crime. Xi You wielded considerable influence in the area, and if he could have reached a settlement with the victim, he likely wouldn¡¯t have spent even one day in detention. Unfortunately for him, he met his match. Bo Yan even managed to steer the narrative toward his family¡¯s pharmaceutical company. With the company already in crisis, they couldn¡¯t protect him, and with the media watching, they could only allow the tests to proceed. They blacklisted one, while whitewashing many others, including Xia Siyu, who gained public sympathy for being caught in the scandal vortex for no reason. Bo Yan, in particular, emerged untouched, avoiding media focus. In this event, aside from dealing with someone who had unwholesome intentions toward his wife, making a tidy sum from short-selling stocks, he had also played matchmaker for his good brother and Shang Feifei, emerging as the biggest winner. At that moment, however, the winner had a pensive look. To avoid being photographed by reporters, he didn¡¯t ask for a driver or Song Fengzhi to take him, but simply had Song Fengzhi arrange a car to take Xia Siyu to the airport. Right after Siyu got in, he hesitated before getting in as well, ¡°Let me take you to the airport.¡± Xia Siyu was, of course, happy; he wasn¡¯t scheduled to film that day anyway, and with the weather forecast to be cloudy turning to clear, his shooting part was done, and he could focus on recovery starting tomorrow. Throughout the ride, neither of them spoke. Siyu was a bit sleepy, so Bo Yan slightly lowered his shoulder, allowing her to rest her head against him. Siyu comfortably leaned on him, her hand intertwined with his. Usually, Bo Yan hated traffic jams, but ironically, there wasn¡¯t any congestion today. When he had gotten into the car, the traffic report indicated a jam on the route, possibly due to an accident, expecting an additional half-hour delay. But once on the road, they encountered no such delays and arrived at the airport at half-past noon. Xia Siyu¡¯s flight was at four o¡¯clock in the afternoon, leaving two and a half hours to spare. Shang Feifei and others had also arrived. The Southwest airport wasn¡¯t large, but with many reporters around wherever she went, Siyu and Bo Yan were safer the further they stayed from her. With time to spare, they found a quiet restaurant at the airport to eat. Bo Yan was still not at ease, ¡°After you get back, don¡¯t indulge yourself too much, and there are some things you should still avoid eating. Also, don¡¯t stay up too late, you were playing video games all night recently, right? Don¡¯t always be on your phone; you¡¯ll strain your eyes. And¡­¡± Xia Siyu stuffed a chicken leg into his mouth, ¡°That¡¯s enough already.¡± Bo Yan was still worried, although the chicken leg temporarily silenced him. However, after they finished eating, there were only two hours left before her flight, and it was time to check in. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bo Yan went through the check-in process with her and watched her enter the gate area. He stayed outside, separated from her by a railing. After Siyu passed the security check with her boarding pass and ID, she looked back, and Bo Yan was still there. Xia Siyu waved her boarding pass at him. Though her face was obscured by a mask, making her expression unclear, one could sense a hint of reluctance in her eyes. Chapter 785 - 785 776 Farewell (4) ?Chapter 785: Chapter 776 Farewell (4) Chapter 785: Chapter 776 Farewell (4) She had bid farewell to him several times, but each time it came to this moment, his heart would ache. Especially when he saw someone urging Xia Siyu to pass through security and she turned back to respond, Bo Yan could no longer hold back and turned his head to leave. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After Xia Siyu had taken out her cellphone and electronics, she turned her head and could not see Bo Yan¡¯s figure, feeling slightly lost in her heart. There was no helping it, as celebrities, parting was a common occurrence; it was a surprise to be able to gather together. But it was precisely because of this, that every reunion felt like their affection had grown denser than before. After completing the check, she followed to the first-class lounge. She had just sat down when Shang Feifei and her agent assistant also came in. Xia Siyu took a glance and then shifted her gaze away without continuing to pay attention. Shang Feifei and her assistant and agent had also noticed her but did not greet her or sit down for a chat. Anyway, it was probably impossible for the two of them to become friends in this lifetime. After all, they were the strongest competitors, of a similar age, equally popular, sharing common goals, and in a race against each other. They were not close friends, to begin with, and there was no need to display fake plastic sisterhood. At this time, the first-class lounge was also very quiet; it wasn¡¯t the tourist season, and apart from them, there were only a few scattered guests in the corners. She had just sat down when the airport announced that their flight was delayed. Since it was already dragged out to this point, she didn¡¯t mind waiting a bit longer. Today was doomed to be a non-filming day; she could only try to catch up with the schedule tomorrow or later. Shang Feifei was also very calm; her agent and assistant were by her side, flight delays were common, as long as the crew was informed, there were no other issues. Xia Siyu, still caught up in the sorrows of parting, hadn¡¯t had a proper lunch. The first-class lounge generally offered food and beverages, which were definitely better than airplane meals, at least fresher. She decisively stood up, ready to grab some dessert. It was half-past three in the afternoon, the perfect time for afternoon tea. However, just as Xia Siyu stretched out her ¡°thieving hand¡±, a low and elegant voice came: ¡°Didn¡¯t I just instruct you to watch your diet? It hasn¡¯t been that long, and you¡¯ve already forgotten.¡± At the sound of this voice, Xia Siyu and Shang Feifei both froze for a moment. Xia Siyu turned her head to look and it really was Bo Yan! How did he get in here? Xia Siyu was so startled that she dropped the cake in her hand, but fortunately, it landed on the plate: ¡°Eh, you? Me? How come you¡­?¡± Bo Yan placed his hands casually in his pockets, his face calm: ¡°You can buy a ticket up to two hours before the flight takes off. Since I¡¯ve already come to the airport, I might as well come back with you. Anyway, I checked the flights, there¡¯s one at five tomorrow morning. As long as I rush back in the morning, it won¡¯t delay the work for tomorrow.¡± There were more flights from Shangcheng to the Southwest than from Yancheng. Xia Siyu¡¯s face was calm, eerily calm for her. Bo Yan was a little surprised: ¡°What, not happy to see me? Want me to go? I can still leave the airport now, you¡­¡± Before he could finish, Xia Siyu suddenly pounced on him like a Samoyed, rushing into Bo Yan¡¯s arms, yanking off his mask, and kissing him with a whimper. She was so happy! When she found him annoying, she never felt this way; she couldn¡¯t wait for him to be far away. But now, she really did not want to be apart from him for even a second. Chapter 786 - 786 777 Farewell (5) ?Chapter 786: Chapter 777 Farewell (5) Chapter 786: Chapter 777 Farewell (5) Bo Yan was pushed back several steps by her surge, hastily stretching out his arms to embrace her. He was still somewhat nervous as he glanced around, ensuring no one was watching them (apart from Shang Feifei and her entourage), before he finally breathed a sigh of relief. After the kiss, he whispered lowly, ¡°Be careful, we¡¯re outside.¡± However, he couldn¡¯t resist leaning in again, continuing to sweetly kiss her. Shang Feifei and her two assistants watched with their mouths agape. Is this what you call seeing someone off? More like taking her straight home! The nauseating stench of romance. Dammit, but it made onlookers green with envy. Especially since Shang Feifei had just bid farewell to Han Yifan that morning. She didn¡¯t feel much at the time, but at that moment, she truly wished she had a boyfriend by her side too. Just so you know, I can show off my love too! Their PDA continued all the way onto the plane. When choosing seats on the plane, Xia Siyu¡¯s seat happened to be next to Shang Feifei¡¯s assistant. Bo Yan came and asked to switch seats; since it was all first class, there was no big difference, so the assistant agreed to swap. The plane wasn¡¯t large, and first class was virtually taken over by their group. Even though the flight attendants noticed them, because Shang Feifei was also present, it seemed as if these people were attending some event. And throughout the flight, Bo Yan and Xia Siyu had no interaction at all, making it impossible to tell that the two were a couple. Nonsense, Bo Yan and Xia Siyu are actors, after all. Pretending not to be familiar in front of others is something they can handle without leaving a trace. However, Shang Feifei didn¡¯t have the energy to care too much about that. Her manager had arranged pick-up from the airport, and upon landing, there would likely be a crowd of reporters swarming them. But she wouldn¡¯t considerately remind Xia Siyu and Bo Yan. Of course, she wouldn¡¯t lead the reporters to them either. Whether they could avoid being photographed was up to their own abilities. After a three-hour flight, upon arriving at the airport, Bo Yan and Xia Siyu indeed waited a while, letting Shang Feifei and the others exit first. As soon as they came out, the reporters rushed over like a flood. Shang Feifei maintained a low profile, silently ignoring all questions from the reporters. She only stopped for a girl from the fan club who managed to squeeze up and fall, helping her up. The girl was close enough to see the redness and slight bruising under Shang Feifei¡¯s eyes, and she asked, ¡°Fei¡¯er, are you very upset?¡± Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Shang Feifei sighed, ¡°There are always hurdles to overcome in life. Looking back, you¡¯ll realize it wasn¡¯t such a big deal. Better to understand now than to make a clean break when things get out of hand and become unbearable.¡± As it happened, the reporters were all around, and this phrase was captured by the microphones of the ones nearby. That confirmed it; she had indeed been cheated on, and she had cried¡ªlook at her red eyes. Latter, when Xia Siyu saw the reports, she clicked her tongue twice, muttering about the nonsense. Before disembarking the plane, Shang Feifei had been furiously rubbing her eyes and dabbing on eye drops, applying a heavy layer of shadow beneath her eyes¡ªno wonder they were red! This person was just too fake. Anyway, at the time, the fan club members who heard that statement were instantly tearful, with a group crying out, ¡°We won¡¯t leave you! We will always support you!¡± Shang Feifei, with her not-so-shabby acting skills, staged a moment of tears on the spot, ¡°Thank you, thank you all!¡± While Shang Feifei dealt with the reporters and fans on one side, Bo Yan and Xia Siyu got into their car without issue on the other side. Chapter 787 - 787 778 Farewell (6) ?Chapter 787: Chapter 778 Farewell (6) Chapter 787: Chapter 778 Farewell (6) The ones picking her up from the airport were naturally Wei Jingjing and Little Tang. Xia Siyu had originally promised to return yesterday morning, but the delay dragged on until today. She had no choice but to continue requesting leave from the film crew. It¡¯s quite common for celebrities to take a break due to health issues or some unforeseen events. However, the situation was quite special at the moment¡ªQin Baizhou, who had not been paying much attention to her before, showed up this morning. Qin Baizhou couldn¡¯t really control Xia Siyu, but he could control Wei Jingjing. Qin Baizhou arrived unannounced in the morning, and his visit was not just for Xia Siyu, but also for the Huixing Company¡¯s listing on the stock market. Yet, when Qin Baizhou called, Wei Jingjing didn¡¯t know that his car had already arrived at the hotel downstairs, and she lied as soon as she spoke, ¡°Siyu is¡­ she¡¯s busy.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll visit the set,¡± Qin Baizhou said, still unaware of Xia Siyu¡¯s leave of absence. Lately, Xia Siyu had been obediently filming, and aside from those inexplicable rumors, she had been quite quiet. An investor in the film had praised Xia Siyu for her dedication to her work while discussing the listing over drinks a few days ago. He said that due to the rumors, the publicity wasn¡¯t bad, and if the final cut turned out well, the sales wouldn¡¯t be poor. He also mentioned that Xia Siyu was very hardworking, waking up early and sleeping late, always staying on set without rest¡ªhe certainly didn¡¯t know that Xia Siyu¡¯s recent diligence was to free up two days to spend with Bo Yan. Qin Baizhou was pleased, and with the review of various information for the listing completed, the company expected to go public early next year if nothing went wrong. The company had already begun internal share subscription. So far, Xia Siyu had not yet signed a contract renewal, and although she showed no resistance to renewal, she had yet to sign. Internally, the company debated whether she wanted to subscribe to the company¡¯s shares. Given Xia Siyu¡¯s status today, it wasn¡¯t impossible for her to propose subscribing to original shares and becoming a company shareholder. To ensure Xia Siyu¡¯s renewal and to use her as a figurehead to attract investors after listing, the company executives indeed had several rounds of discussions. If she was willing, they debated how many shares to offer her. Both professionally and personally, Qin Baizhou hoped that Xia Siyu would stay. That was also his mission for coming this time, especially since her contract was set to expire in a few months. When Wei Jingjing heard that Qin Baizhou was planning to visit the set, wouldn¡¯t that just expose that Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t filming? Qin Baizhou hated being lied to, and he could tell at a glance if someone was deceiving him. Wei Jingjing bit her lip, ¡°Actually¡­ Siyu is feeling a little unwell, so she took some time off. If Qin doesn¡¯t have anything else, he can come and check on her this afternoon.¡± ¡°Is she sick?¡± Qin Baizhou was indeed anxious. He was about to instruct his driver to leave when he got out of his car, ¡°I¡¯m right below the hotel, which room is she in? I¡¯ll come up and see. If it¡¯s serious, she must see a doctor.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Wei Jingjing was stunned, not expecting Qin Baizhou to arrive so soon. She struggled to find words, ¡°Siyu, she¡­¡± ¡°What exactly is wrong with her?¡± Qin Baizhou came to a halt, ¡°If you don¡¯t tell the truth¡­¡± ¡°She went to see Bo Yan! She¡¯s been gone for two or three days and is coming back today. She just messaged me that her plane has taken off; I¡¯ll go pick her up shortly,¡± Wei Jingjing quickly sold out Xia Siyu without any backbone. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 788 - 788 779 Open and Secret Struggles (1) ?Chapter 788: Chapter 779: Open and Secret Struggles (1) Chapter 788: Chapter 779: Open and Secret Struggles (1) She heard slightly heavy breathing on the other end, and then Qin Baizhou¡¯s voice sharpened a bit, ¡°Is that so? I see. Her life is arranged quite well. Since that¡¯s the case, I might as well go pick her up myself. Didn¡¯t you say she¡¯s ¡®not feeling well¡¯?¡± Qin Baizhou said this with a laugh, but no matter how one listened, there was a trace of indignation in his voice. Wei Jingjing dared not disobey and cowered. ¡°Also, don¡¯t tell her I¡¯m coming.¡± Wei Jingjing¡¯s fingers, just about to send a message to Xia Siyu, retracted instantly upon his words. Arriving at the airport, Qin Baizhou sat in the back seat and waited. Soon enough, he heard Xia Siyu calling Wei Jingjing to confirm her location. After a while, true to form, Wei Jingjing saw Xia Siyu arriving cheerfully, hopping along¡ªand pulling a man by the hand, Bo Yan. In that instant, Wei Jingjing¡¯s complexion turned very colorful. She sneaked a peek at the back seat, where Qin Baizhou had his eyes closed, seemingly oblivious to the current situation. Outside, Xia Siyu was especially happy, looking like she had successfully lured a decent man over. Afterwards, it would probably be a huge battlefield, right? Wei Jingjing wanted to warn Xia Siyu but feared Qin Baizhou¡¯s scolding. She could only communicate with her eyes, desperately signaling that someone was in the back seat. Completely clueless, Xia Siyu thought Wei Jingjing had missed her terribly after a few days apart. She flung open the car door with a big smile, ¡°I¡¯m back! Look, I¡¯ve even brought someone with me!¡± Wei Jingjing turned as pale as death, while Little Tang driving was silent as a cicada in cold weather. And Qin Baizhou in the back seat slowly opened his eyes, making direct eye contact with Xia Siyu and Bo Yan. Bo Yan, of course, reacted quicker than Xia Siyu. Even before she opened the car door, he had vaguely seen someone in the back seat. But the car windows were specially treated and he couldn¡¯t see clearly. However, once the door was opened, he had a faint guess of who the newcomer was from Wei Jingjing¡¯s expression, so he wasn¡¯t surprised. At that moment, it was Qin Baizhou who slightly furrowed his brow, his gaze sharp as he stared at him. Seeing Qin Baizhou, Xia Siyu, although she knew about Qin Baizhou¡¯s feelings for her and had kept a slight distance, was naturally forthright. And since she had already reported her relationship with Bo Yan to the company, she didn¡¯t feel she had done anything wrong. Stunned for just a moment upon seeing Qin Baizhou, she greeted him graciously, ¡°Qin, you¡¯re here too?¡± Qin Baizhou¡¯s gaze shifted to her and a smile spread across his face, his voice growing warmer, ¡°Came to see you.¡± Then with the smile unchanged, his voice cooled a few degrees, ¡°Long time no see, Teacher Bo.¡± ¡°Mr. Qin,¡± Bo Yan nodded in response, his expression calm. But now there was an issue¡ªthe car was just an ordinary sedan. Qin Baizhou hadn¡¯t let Wei Jingjing tip her off, and Xia Siyu wanted to surprise them, so she hadn¡¯t told her about Bo Yan¡¯s arrival. Thus, she and Little Tang hadn¡¯t arranged for a bigger car. Although the back seat could theoretically fit three people. But Bo Yan, Xia Siyu, and Qin Baizhou¡ªsquishing these three together? Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bo Yan paused for a moment before opening the car door first and sitting in the middle. What he said was, ¡°It¡¯s uncomfortable in the middle; of course, it¡¯s better for a girl to sit by the window.¡± In reality, he just didn¡¯t want Qin Baizhou to sit next to Xia Siyu, even if it was just for a car ride. He then asked, ¡°Mr. Qin doesn¡¯t mind, right?¡± Chapter 789 - 789 780 Open and Secret Struggles (2) ?Chapter 789: Chapter 780: Open and Secret Struggles (2) Chapter 789: Chapter 780: Open and Secret Struggles (2) Qin Baizhou glanced at him sideways. Everyone here was a master at socializing with grace, so of course, he had his manners. He smiled naturally and said, ¡°Of course, I don¡¯t mind.¡± So Bo Yan sat in the middle, and Xia Siyu got in last, leaning against the window. Xia Siyu did not feel suffocated by the air in the car, she was just a bit sleepy; after playing games on her phone out of sheer boredom on the flight, now she felt dizzy at the sight of her phone and could only rest with her eyes closed. Consequently, the one who would normally liven up the atmosphere had succumbed to sleepiness, and the others were even more silent. Wei Jingjing and LaXiaotangittle Tang sat in the front, sitting up straight, feeling the undercurrents of tension from the back and not daring to even breathe too loudly. Bo Yan was not a talkative person; he sat in the middle with a calm demeanor, sitting up straight. Xia Siyu leaned against the window, and even when resting, she did not sit still; she slanted and took up more than half of the seat. Bo Yan did not move her; he doted on her by letting her legs rest on his own. Xia Siyu became even more brazen, squeezing out half of the space for herself in the back row of three. Bo Yan indulged her further, bending down to remove her shoes to make her more comfortable. Qin Baizhou watched from the side, his heart filled with unwillingness. If he were her boyfriend, he too could do all these things, even better than him! But he could not make a move, not yet¡ªhis previous confession had already scared her. No matter what, the most important thing was to get her to sign the contract first, to keep her around! Throughout the ride, no one spoke; the car smoothly drove to the hotel. Once the car stopped, Bo Yan gently shook the sweetly sleeping person awake, ¡°We¡¯ve arrived.¡± ¡°Arrived?¡± Xia Siyu opened her sleepy eyes and yawned. Only then did she realize she had been taking up half of the space, leaving the two men crammed awkwardly. She hurriedly retracted her legs, and Bo Yan bent down to pass her shoes to her, ¡°Here you go.¡± Xia Siyu playfully complained, ¡°You¡¯re not even helping me put on my shoes.¡± Right after speaking, she suddenly remembered that Qin Baizhou was present too. It would have been fine to say it to Wei Jingjing and LaXiaotangittle Tang, but it seemed inappropriate for Qin Baizhou to hear it. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But then she thought, what does it matter if he hears it? She and Bo Yan were a legitimate couple, and she had already made her stance clear: she would not abandon her marriage for Qin Baizhou¡¯s sake. Xia Siyu¡¯s emotions moved swiftly; once she had thought it through, she was instantly free of any worries. Upon arriving at the hotel, she got out of the car first, and as everyone else followed suit, just as they were about to enter the elevator, Qin Baizhou suddenly spoke up, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Professor Bo, but you can¡¯t go up with us.¡± At his words, the expressions of the others showed light confusion. Qin Baizhou explained, ¡°It¡¯s not that I¡¯m targeting you. It¡¯s mainly because Siyu and Shang Feifei from the neighboring crew have been closely watched by the paparazzi recently, you know that, right? Siyu hasn¡¯t gone public with her relationship yet, so please try to avoid any suspicion. Your company probably doesn¡¯t want your romance to be exposed either.¡± His reasoning was cogent; anyway, it meant one thing: to cause discomfort to Bo Yan and prevent him from following along. Bo Yan did not seem surprised at all, and with a casual nod, he said, ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll come up later.¡± Since Qin Baizhou was there, he probably wanted to discuss business. Although they were a married couple, it was sometimes better to handle certain matters independently. After all, Wei Jingjing was with her, and she was sure Qin Baizhou wouldn¡¯t dare cause any trouble. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t think too much of it and stepped into the elevator ahead of the others. As the elevator doors closed, cutting off Bo Yan, Qin Baizhou then asked, ¡°How many days will Professor Bo be staying? I¡¯m sorry, but given the current climate, you have too many paparazzi around you, so you need to be more careful.¡± Chapter 790 - 790 781 Open and Secret Struggles (3) ?Chapter 790: Chapter 781: Open and Secret Struggles (3) Chapter 790: Chapter 781: Open and Secret Struggles (3) ¡°He? He¡¯ll be gone by tomorrow morning,¡± Xia Siyu said as if it were a matter of course. ¡°I see.¡± He just remembered that Shang Feifei¡¯s romance was exposed these past few days, right where Bo Yan was filming. At first, the onlookers were eager to see Bo Yan get involved, but alas, it was not to be. He thought further, Bo Yan was really going too far, just staying half a day more with Xia Siyu, leaving after one night. Couples spending the night meant something, he knew, and suddenly things felt subtly off. Qin Baizhou regretted asking, but not asking would be like burying one¡¯s head in the sand. This was a critical moment to keep her, he couldn¡¯t afford to lose sight of the big picture over personal feelings. ¡°Be careful of the paparazzi. You¡¯re still on the rise; don¡¯t get caught on camera, protect yourself.¡± Xia Siyu nodded, and Qin Baizhou did not say much more, returning to the room with her. Once everyone was seated, changed into their coats, and tea was poured, Qin Baizhou handed her the contract and the share subscription agreement: ¡°I¡¯m here this time hoping you¡¯ll renew your contract. You can make any demands; we¡¯ve known each other for so long, you should know what kind of person I am. As long as I have a day left in the company, you won¡¯t lack support. The company is having a partners¡¯ meeting these days, and I will fight for shares for you. If you want, you can completely take the shares.¡± To the capitalists, what really troubled them was someone touching their share equity, which was like cutting out a piece of their flesh. Even the three percent Qin Baizhou might negotiate, once the company went public, would amount to billions in capital. Top-tier stars like Xia Siyu were the only ones who had the stature to negotiate such terms. Hearing about shares, even Wei Jingjing felt a bit envious. Working in the company, she could only get stock options, and not high at that. Once she left the company, she would have to give them up. But shares were different; after a few years, they could be sold, and cashing out meant a significant amount of money. Even now, during the cold spell in the film and television industry, when companies were struggling, as long as they could go public successfully, shareholders would make money. Xia Siyu was also stunned for a moment, looking at the two tidy contracts before her and Qin Baizhou¡¯s earnest gaze. She really didn¡¯t care much for money; she had never been poor since childhood. If she were particularly concerned about her family wealth, she would go to the Xia Family, to fight for the Xia Family¡¯s properties. But her indifference didn¡¯t mean she failed to understand what Qin Baizhou¡¯s two contracts implied. If she signed them, she could stop acting altogether in the future, billions would fall from the sky, and she could make money just lying down. The company had three partners, and apart from Qin Baizhou, the other two were not inclined toward her. Clearly, these were the terms Qin Baizhou had fought for her, even without her asking for them. However, Xia Siyu didn¡¯t actively look at the subscription agreement but picked up the contract instead. The contract didn¡¯t vary much from the previous one, and the company¡¯s commission ratio remained unchanged, the only difference being the addition of clause twenty-three: ¡°A certain number of assignment dramas every year,¡± and the extension of the contract period from three to five years. Assignment dramas meant the company would use her to promote newcomers. After all, it¡¯s not enough for a company to have only one signboard. Having taken the shares, she was a company shareholder, eligible to attend the general meetings, and of course, they hoped she would contribute to the company. Moreover, with the increased contract period¡ªfor shares to be sold, the contract also stipulated a five-year cash out period. It was necessary to ensure that she stayed with them during this time. And the third term: As a company artist, Xia Siyu must cooperate with company publicity tasks. Keeping in sync with the company at all times. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 791 - 791 782 Open and Secret Struggles (4) ?Chapter 791: Chapter 782: Open and Secret Struggles (4) Chapter 791: Chapter 782: Open and Secret Struggles (4) Qin Baizhou explained, ¡°If Siyu accepts the shares, your identity would no longer be just an artist, you would become a shareholder. Your shares would allow you to participate in shareholder meetings and company decision-making. Since you¡¯re a shareholder, it is only natural to strive for the maximization of the company¡¯s interests. Whether it¡¯s acting in task-driven projects or promoting newcomers, it¡¯s all for this purpose. As shareholders of the company, when a collective decision is made during a meeting, naturally it should be executed. Of course, coordinating with publicity doesn¡¯t mean infringing on your privacy, forcing you to disclose or not disclose your private life; at most, it means that if the company wants to promote someone, you¡¯d just help by posting a Weibo. In case one of our artists is in trouble, you¡¯d just need to give them a shout-out. Of course, on the task-driven dramas, we wouldn¡¯t let your personal brand be affected. We would use special appearances or guest roles so that no one would overshadow your billing. We¡¯ll ensure you are always number one in our company.¡± Xia Siyu remained silent. Over the years she had entered the entertainment industry, what she detested most was having tasks dictating her actions. Every script she chose was something she liked herself. She hadn¡¯t participated in much publicity over the years; the only ¡°reverse¡± publicity was about her scandals. Other male artists hyped things attaching her name, and she didn¡¯t want to explain, letting others say whatever they wished. She only made posts about her business, advertising endorsements, her own movies, or variety shows, never anything about someone else¡¯s affairs. Even though her Weibo¡¯s main account was actually managed by someone from the company, she still had to review any posts herself. She didn¡¯t even want to do promotions, let alone acting. She couldn¡¯t accept playing some boring supporting character, making a friendly appearance, or having a special role. Why should she waste precious time adorning someone else¡¯s dream when she just wanted to act properly? Qin Baizhou thought he was nearly certain to win. To tell the truth, offering her shares out of the blue was equivalent to presenting her with several hundred million in cash right in front of her. How many artists struggle their whole lives, and even if they become popular, they still just earn acting fees and endorsements? In the end, they aim to become shareholders of various film and television companies. Now it¡¯s the era of capital; going public is the best way to monetize wealth. Without exaggeration, if Xia Siyu accepted the shares, she could instantly become a boss. In the future, as long as she did a few task-driven dramas and chose scripts she liked to perform in occasionally, the company would strive to maintain her popularity; she could essentially retire in comfort. She wouldn¡¯t need to worry about competing for resources and opportunities, since she would be the resource herself. Even if she left the industry and cashed out her stocks, she would make a fortune. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She glanced at the two contracts and her hand reached out first to the share subscription document. As soon as Qin Baizhou saw her extend her hand, he breathed a sigh of relief. In truth, this subscription document was his love letter to Xia Siyu. These shares were mostly carved out of his own, representing his sacrificed interests. Although Xia Siyu usually seemed carefree and casual, she wasn¡¯t foolish; she must know that this sudden share subscription document had been secured for her by him. The moment she nodded, following this internal share subscription and then passing the review to go public, he would rise to the upper echelon, earning the right to pursue her. No matter how formidable Bo Yan was, if he couldn¡¯t inherit the Bo Family¡¯s wealth, he would simply be an ordinary rich heir, no match for him. It was a path that ninety-nine percent of people would choose. But of course, Xia Siyu was that one percent. Chapter 792 - 792 783 Open and Secret Struggles (5) ?Chapter 792: Chapter 783: Open and Secret Struggles (5) Chapter 792: Chapter 783: Open and Secret Struggles (5) She had lived a life of abundance since childhood, never oppressed by money. What had struck her the hardest were those self-proclaimed societal norms of the upper class. It was because of these ridiculous views on money and face that her mother suffered. She refused to be shackled by money! ¡°Thank you. You negotiated these terms for me, didn¡¯t you?¡± Xia Siyu held the letter of intent in her hands as Qin Baizhou nodded, ¡°Yes.¡± He paused and then added, ¡°I know what you hate, be it the roles in TV series or promotional duties. I¡¯ll try my best to keep those to a minimum so that they don¡¯t interfere with your pursuit of your dreams. You want to act well, then hire the best teachers, get top directors to guide you through the scenes. The more you work with top directors, the more insight you gain, the more you learn, the more likely you¡¯ll produce great works that will go down in history! And once you have the financial means, all those rumors of you depending on wealth or dating men for money will be instantly dispelled. Why not go for it?¡± ¡°You make a good point. And most people would probably see no reason to refuse.¡± For some reason, Xia Siyu¡¯s certainty surprised Qin Baizhou, almost as if he could sense the forthcoming ¡°but.¡± And he feared that ¡°but.¡± As expected, Xia Siyu said, ¡°But, I think I would rather not.¡± Having said that, she placed the letter of intent back where it originally was. Qin Baizhou felt a burst of excitement, unable to believe someone would actually push away such a vast fortune! Even billionaires, given the chance to make a few hundred million easily in a deal, who wouldn¡¯t want money just handed to them? Isn¡¯t rejecting it just foolish? He tried to reason further, ¡°Don¡¯t reject it so quickly. The specific terms are still negotiable. After all, this isn¡¯t an all-or-nothing deal.¡± Qin Baizhou was actually quite confident this time; he knew that other companies were approaching Xia Siyu, but she hadn¡¯t accepted any. Given her current situation, her choice was either to rely on a major film company, maybe with access to famous directors, or to go independent and set up her own studio. Yet Xia Siyu hadn¡¯t chosen either path, and if she sought out other large companies, they might not offer her particularly good resources, or perhaps, she was still basically satisfied with Huixing. With the contract renewal deadline approaching, if she had other intentions, she would have started making arrangements already. It was clear she hadn¡¯t considered other options, so why wouldn¡¯t she accept the money being offered to her? ¡°I could consider bringing in newcomers, but I can¡¯t accept doing TV series just for the sake of it, and I can¡¯t adhere to the company¡¯s line to the letter,¡± she said resolutely as she pushed the letter of intent back. She had her own principles when it came to acting. Previously, she was just lazy and didn¡¯t want to engage in networking. But now, time was tight, and she didn¡¯t have long before her thirty-year-old deadline with Shang Feifei. She didn¡¯t want to be restricted by meaningless capital. ¡°But¡­¡± Qin Baizhou wanted to explain further, but Xia Siyu immediately shook her head, ¡°Brother Qin, it¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to renew the contract. I still stand by the same condition¡ªif you provide me with good resources for the roles I like, I can forgo the rest of the money. As for promotion, I¡¯ll do what¡¯s necessary, but being in continual alignment with the company¡¯s stance, that I can¡¯t do. Amend these two points, and there¡¯s no issue with anything else. You also know that I haven¡¯t approached other companies, and I¡¯m not interested in being my own boss. I just want to focus on acting; the rest is inconsequential.¡± Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 793 - 793 784 Open and Secret Struggles (6) ?Chapter 793: Chapter 784: Open and Secret Struggles (6) Chapter 793: Chapter 784: Open and Secret Struggles (6) ¡°I really appreciate Brother Qin¡¯s care for me, and I am grateful for your consideration this time. However, if those conditions are the prerequisite to obtaining the shares, I think I would rather not have them. Bring me a new contract next time, and I will sign it.¡± This, this person¡­ Qin Baizhou truly hadn¡¯t expected Xia Siyu to be so¡­ Should he say that she¡¯s genuinely above material interests, to the extent that she treats wealth as nothing, or is she just foolish? He understands her urgent desire as an illegitimate daughter of a wealthy family to be recognized by her clan, but that doesn¡¯t have to conflict with financial gain. Or could it be that she has already received substantial benefits from her family, and thus doesn¡¯t value these shares? He tested the waters, ¡°Is it because the share percentage is too low?¡± Although the negotiated shares might only be three percent, if an entertainment company develops well, a market value of a hundred billion isn¡¯t out of the question. Her three percent would then be worth thirty billion. Even if the company only develops moderately, as long as it goes public, the earnings would still be substantial. Xia Siyu shook her head: ¡°Even if you offer me thirty percent, my attitude remains the same.¡± Perhaps she¡¯s naive, but she has no interest in doing business or managing her own company. Just improving her acting skills is already challenging enough for her, she can¡¯t be bothered with other matters. After all, the money she earns is enough to live comfortably for the rest of her life. Having said that, Qin Baizhou nodded, ¡°I understand. I will have legal revise the contract as soon as possible and elevate your demands promptly.¡± Xia Siyu nodded, ¡°Thank you Qin bro.¡± No matter what, Qin Baizhou is looking out for her best interest, and she would not be ungrateful. ¡°I¡¯m your agent, it¡¯s my job to serve you,¡± Qin Baizhou also smiled, took a quick glance at her, and added, ¡°I¡¯m also your friend, and I want the best for you.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± After they finished talking, Qin Baizhou quickly went downstairs. He still had other matters to handle today. The hotel room had been booked in advance, in a location close to the stock exchange. Just as he reached the ground floor, he saw from afar a man wearing a mask sitting in a coffee corner of the lobby¡ªit was Bo Yan. Suddenly, Qin Baizhou felt like telling Bo Yan about Xia Siyu¡¯s choice. He knew that Bo Yan was also considered a ¡°discard¡± of the Bo Family, since his cousin¡¯s family was in line to inherit, leaving him without any eligibility to inherit the Bo fortune. An academic¡¯s respect is one thing, but the money isn¡¯t there, which is why he came to the entertainment industry. However fast money comes in the entertainment circle, it can¡¯t compare to generations of accumulation by the Bo Family. His relationship with Xia Siyu must also have included this aspect. When he finds out that she has pushed away the shares that were easily within her reach, what would he think? Perhaps, without any interference on his part, Bo Yan and Xia Siyu will generate their own conflicts. With that thought, he changed his course and went straight towards Bo Yan. Bo Yan was sipping coffee when Qin Baizhou approached; he saw him, but pretended not to, calmly removing his mask to take a sip. It was late at night in the hotel lobby, with few guests around, so taking off his mask did not make him particularly nervous. Qin Baizhou directly sat down in front of him without greeting. After all, their relationship wasn¡¯t one that necessitated maintaining false pretenses in such a deserted corner. Upon sitting, Qin Baizhou remained silent, then slid the two contracts in front of Bo Yan. The top one was the share subscription agreement. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 794 - 794 785 Capital (1) ?Chapter 794: Chapter 785 Capital (1) Chapter 794: Chapter 785 Capital (1) Bo Yan lowered his head and glanced at the document, and although he did not read the content, the title was printed in a large font, so he saw it clearly. Huixing was about to go public, a fact that did not require any inquiries from him, as Huixing had already hyped it well known to the whole world. And at this crucial moment, bringing this agreement over meant that it definitely wasn¡¯t meant for him¡ªBo Yan, an outsider, to sign. The one meant to sign the contract would inevitably be Xia Siyu. There was another agreement below, presumably a renewal contract. And for Xia Siyu, it was time to renew her contract. Although he did not hope for Xia Siyu to continue staying with Huixing, he also respected Xia Siyu¡¯s choice. They were husband and wife, but had long agreed not to interfere with each other¡¯s work. Unless Xia Siyu asked him for help, he would not offer any suggestions. Bo Yan did not speak and merely gave Qin Baizhou a light glance. Qin Baizhou indeed spoke first, ¡°Ten minutes ago, Siyu refused this agreement. I fought for her to get shares at the Huixing partners¡¯ meeting. She only needed to invest three million, and afterwards, she could claim three percent of Huixing¡¯s shares. We at Huixing are about to go public, and you should know what going public means for a company¡¯s shareholders. But she refused. Because we need her to do one task drama per year, we need her publicity, and she does not agree.¡± Bo Yan¡¯s gaze remained calm; even the surface of the coffee in the cup he was holding saw no ripples. Clearly, the words of Qin Baizhou had not stirred a single wave in his heart. ¡°I like Siyu, I really like her. From the start of her career, I¡¯ve been with her all the way until now, as she has become a big star. Once the company goes public, I will also become a major shareholder. I am well-suited for her. But she still refused the agreement.¡± Bo Yan waited till Qin Baizhou stopped speaking and then calmly said, ¡°This is her choice. Why are you telling me this?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Qin Baizhou stood up, gathered both contracts into his bag, ¡°I know you are a scion of an aristocratic family. But, you also make a living in the entertainment industry. In this day and age, capital is most important. No matter how talented you are, as long as capital wishes, it can penetrate everywhere with massive amounts of data, increase your exposure, and make you a big star. Do the rising stream of celebrities succeed because they are talented? No, talent can be hyped up. Is it because they have good looks? No, looks can also be crafted later. As for acting, as long as it¡¯s not too poor, with additional dubbing it can be hyped to the skies. Capital is the true king. Investment of capital can even continue to nurture a star with fans¡¯ money until they are fully launched as the most profitable commodity. Stars can be mass-produced, and if one fails, another investment can be made. As far as fans are concerned, they change ¡®husbands¡¯ every year and ¡®ship¡¯ CPs every month. Only by seizing the power of discourse, only by becoming capital yourself, can you realize your fullest potential.¡± S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Are you asking me to advise her to accept your constraints?¡± Bo Yan raised his head, a flicker in his eye, and although he said nothing, it somehow seemed as if he were mocking something. Qin Baizhou said no more, picked up his feet, and turned to leave, ¡°You are someone the Bo family has given up on. I think, you should understand this the most.¡± However, as he was about to step out the door, Bo Yan said softly from behind, ¡°If she accepted your terms, she wouldn¡¯t be that Xia Siyu anymore.¡± Chapter 795 - 795 786 Capital (2) ?Chapter 795: Chapter 786 Capital (2) Chapter 795: Chapter 786 Capital (2) Qin Baizhou¡¯s steps faltered, and he frowned slightly as he turned back to see Bo Yan still sitting in the same spot, calmly sipping his coffee, as if the words spoken just moments ago hadn¡¯t come from him at all. He shook his head. Scions like Bo Yan and Xia Siyu, born into aristocratic families, had never lacked for clothing or food since childhood. They couldn¡¯t understand how desperately those who struggled from the bottom clung to any opportunity, fighting to claw their way upwards. But was Bo Yan as carefree as he claimed? Ninety-nine percent of those in the entertainment industry were drawn by vanity. If one didn¡¯t love fame and didn¡¯t enjoy being adulated by audiences and fans, what was the point of being in the entertainment industry? The remaining one percent was Xia Siyu. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He didn¡¯t believe that Bo Yan was such a person. After leaving the hotel, Bo Yan also stood up and headed upstairs. The moment the elevator doors closed, he saw Qin Baizhou enter a car. Then, one going upward, the other leaving, they parted ways. Xia Siyu had already told him her room number, so he put on a mask and went straight to her door. Before he could raise his hand to ring the doorbell, the door opened on its own. Wei Jingjing appeared, startled upon seeing Bo Yan, then stepped aside to make way for him and returned to her own room. Bo Yan entered. Xia Siyu saw him come in, gave him a glance, and didn¡¯t bother with him. Bo Yan was equally at ease, shedding his coat and heading to the bathroom to wash and clean up. After his shower, he emerged, toweling his hair, regretting that he hadn¡¯t brought a change of clothes due to his sudden visit. Fortunately, he had once purchased disposable shorts while staying at Xia Siyu¡¯s place, and they came in handy now. Unfortunately, he didn¡¯t have pajamas to change into and had to wear the hotel¡¯s bathrobe. He quietly approached Xia Siyu. She was memorizing her lines and pushed him away directly, ¡°Don¡¯t distract me.¡± Bo Yan nodded. He had to shoot scenes the next day and naturally needed to review his script as well. Thankfully, the suite had two areas, so each could occupy one side without disturbing the other. When he heard Xia Siyu in the outer room finish memorizing her lines, he glanced at the clock and noted it was already one o¡¯clock in the morning. Bo Yan didn¡¯t disturb her, letting her organize her things alone. Another half-hour passed as she tidied up, and only then did Xia Siyu leisurely enter the inner room. Upon her arrival, she didn¡¯t speak to Bo Yan but started to dry her hair while preparing to blow-dry it. Xia Siyu was typically a chatterbox, so her silence indicated that she had something on her mind. Without asking what was on her mind, Bo Yan put down his script and quietly walked behind her, taking the hairdryer from her hands. Then, with the hum of the hairdryer, Xia Siyu looked into the dressing mirror in front of her while Bo Yan, head bowed, helped dry her hair. Neither said a word, as if nothing had happened at all. Eventually, Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t help but break the silence, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to ask what happened just now?¡± Bo Yan¡¯s hands paused briefly before he continued blow-drying her hair with a warm but steady stream of air, ¡°If you want to talk about it, go ahead. If you don¡¯t, I won¡¯t ask.¡± His calmness somehow reassured Xia Siyu, who suddenly looked frustrated, ¡°Ah, ah, ah! Did you know? Just now, I lost several hundred million! No, it could even be several billion! How could I be so confident to turn away that money?¡± As soon as Bo Yan saw her beginning to rant, he knew she had bounced back. That was Xia Siyu, after all. It¡¯s human nature to be conflicted, but after the struggle, she would still choose her own path. Chapter 796 - 796 787 Capital (3) ?Chapter 796: Chapter 787 Capital (3) Chapter 796: Chapter 787 Capital (3) Xia Siyu was still feeling annoyed, thinking that she had really ¡°accidentally missed out on hundreds of millions.¡± Although she didn¡¯t want to be controlled by anyone, who wouldn¡¯t like having so much money placed in front of them? Bo Yan even tried to console her, ¡°I think you still have a chance to get it back, why don¡¯t you make a call and take the deal back?¡± Xia Siyu immediately fell silent. She hated the feeling of being controlled, she was used to being free and easygoing and couldn¡¯t stand having to look at the company¡¯s face before she said anything. Although the tasks in the drama seemed tolerable, she had a three-year bet with Shang Feifei, and by the age of thirty, she should at least have won a Best Actress award, right? Considering the time for filming movies, post-production, release, and later awards, she would have to strive for it this year or the next if she wanted to win before turning thirty. Time was pressing, and she didn¡¯t want to wallow in lousy films. She liked money, but her goals were more important. She was betting on her mother¡¯s reputation, and she couldn¡¯t afford to lose. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It¡¯s just that Qin Baizhou¡¯s timing when he came to ask her was too bad. If it were a few years later, if she had successfully won the Best Actress crown, she would have accepted the condition. But even though she had come to terms with it in her mind, it was still incredibly annoying to watch money float by without being able to grab it. ¡°Do you like money that much?¡± Bo Yan watched her oscillate between annoyance and struggle, yet remain very determined, and he particularly wanted to laugh. Xia Siyu turned her head and counter-questioned, ¡°Don¡¯t you like it?¡± Bo Yan nodded, ¡°Of course I like it, a gentleman loves wealth, in an honorable way. For example, if you were asked to go back and fight for the Xia Family¡¯s wealth, but the condition was that you would have to grovel, would you do it?¡± ¡°Dare they?!¡± Xia Siyu sat up straight in an instant. Bo Yan smiled mischievously, ¡°See, that¡¯s what I mean. However, if you really want the money, it¡¯s not impossible. For instance, you can¡¯t get the shares that the company offered you, but I can give you my villa in my name. You also visited that villa in the suburbs of Yancheng last time, right?¡± ¡°Hmph, that was mine to begin with. Yours is mine, and mine is still mine,¡± Xia Siyu hummed lightly. She knew that villa was bought by Bo Yan before their marriage, and there was a strict prenuptial agreement that it wasn¡¯t considered her property. She wouldn¡¯t covet that house, and although it still hurt a little, her mood indeed improved after Bo Yan consoled her. Indeed, to give is to gain, freedom comes at a price. ¡°Okay, it¡¯s yours, it always has been. I¡¯m just returning it to its rightful owner,¡± Bo Yan said with a smile. At this moment, he had finished drying her hair for her. Her hair cascaded down like water from his fingertips, ¡°So, can you rest now?¡± Xia Siyu still proudly ¡°hmphed,¡± ¡°No, I still have to do my skincare routine.¡± As a refined ¡®piggy girl¡¯, how could she just go to bed after a bath? Surely she needed to apply toner, then serum, then lotion, then eye serum, then eye cream¡ªand before all that, put on a beautiful face mask. No, that still wasn¡¯t enough, once everything was ready, she had to moisturize her whole body, making her skin fragrant and smooth. Moreover, she was only wearing short shorts, exposing her long legs on the edge of the bed, right in front of Bo Yan as she applied the lotion. For the parts she couldn¡¯t reach, she asked Bo Yan to help, ¡°Quick, I can¡¯t reach my back.¡± After her back was done, she rolled into Bo Yan¡¯s arms and coyly said, ¡°Honey, I don¡¯t feel like applying it to the front either, can you help me with that?¡± Chapter 797 - 797 788 Capital (4) ?Chapter 797: Chapter 788 Capital (4) Chapter 797: Chapter 788 Capital (4) Yes, she was doing it on purpose. It was already one-thirty, and he had a flight at five in the morning, which meant he had to leave by three. Both he and Xia Siyu had been resting for two or three days, and neither could afford to play anymore. It was precious sleep time coming up, and even an hour would be good. They needed to catch some sleep, or they wouldn¡¯t be in the right state for filming later. This scoundrel knew full well he couldn¡¯t have her now and could only continue to crave, but she still deliberately tantalized him. If Han Yifan called Bo Yan a briquette, then Xia Siyu was a little imp. But what could he do? She was his wife, who else could he help if not her? Bo Yan sighed, squeezed some moisturizer from the container, and asked, ¡°Where should I apply it?¡± Xia Siyu blinked her eyes and said playfully, ¡°I haven¡¯t applied any on the front. You take a look and decide.¡± Bo Yan had no choice but to spread the moisturizer evenly in the palm of his hands and then gently circulate it over her abdomen. He was very careful to restrain himself, not daring to play with his favorite ¡°Play-Doh¡± right from the start. His palm was warm. A man¡¯s hand is generally larger than a woman¡¯s, with slender fingers and distinct joints. It did not take much effort to merely apply moisturizer, which passed over the upper part of her abdomen like a brisk shower of rain. When he finished with her abdomen, he applied another small amount, this time carefully reaching for her shoulders and collarbone, as meticulous as if he were polishing a precious treasure. Xia Siyu was still not satisfied and hummed a complaint, ¡°Hurry up with the application, you haven¡¯t done the middle yet. At this rate, you won¡¯t receive any tip. I¡¯m going to complain about you!¡± This guy, she just wanted to stir up more trouble, didn¡¯t she? Although Bo Yan often wanted to be close to her, his self-control was definitely well-developed: he hadn¡¯t found another woman during the seven years they were apart, and he had managed not to touch her for three years after marriage. Was she playing with fire? She should be careful not to burn herself! On the contrary, he calmed down, turned his head, scooped up another portion of moisturizer, and as per the process, first warmed it in his palm before applying it evenly. The moment he touched her, his fingertips trembled slightly, but Bo Yan silently adjusted his breathing. This girl wanted to deliberately rile him up? Then she would have to deal with the consequences! He quickly entered ¡°Sage Mode,¡± considering the Xia Siyu in front of him as someone else, just a BODY, a piece of flesh. Aside from being a bit softer and rounder, it was no different from his own body. With this thought, his mind cleared, and he genuinely embraced the ¡°Craftsman Spirit,¡± carefully applying moisturizer to her, not missing any spot. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xia Siyu started with a giggly laugh, but she was a hedonist at heart. Even before she fell in love with Bo Yan, she had been attracted to his body. Now, after being massaged a couple of times, her heart immediately rippled with desire. Especially since Bo Yan¡¯s hands were so tender, warm, and meticulous, that intense focus devoid of any lascivious color made her feel somewhat restless. Bo Yan would usually apply the moisturizing cream to her twice. In the autumn and winter season, the weather was dry, and as performers exposed to the elements, it was hard to keep their skin soft and moist. After one layer, he turned his head, scooped up more moisturizer, and applied it to her again, meticulously. Xia Siyu¡¯s face turned slightly red from his touch, a light quiver barely containable under his palm, and even the corners of her mouth couldn¡¯t hold back a slight sound. After he finished, Xia Siyu wanted to continue and also wanted him to initiate, so she said softly, ¡°Husband~¡± Chapter 798 - 798 789 Capital (5) ?Chapter 798: Chapter 789 Capital (5) Chapter 798: Chapter 789 Capital (5) Bo Yan looked completely composed as he peeled her off from him, ¡°Alright, it¡¯s getting late. I have to leave at three, let me catch a little sleep now.¡± Ever since the two of them got together, Bo Yan always clung to her single-handedly. Xia Siyu had never seen him so devoid of desire. She was a bit unwilling to give up, tugging on his arm and shaking it, ¡°We still have time.¡± Bo Yan immediately nodded, ¡°Right, there¡¯s still one more hour for sleep. Behave and rest up; we need to get up at six in the morning, and it¡¯s almost two already.¡± It wasn¡¯t just him, even she had to make up for the past few days of filming they owed. Both of them needed to pour all their energy into work, with no time left to rest. Xia Siyu still didn¡¯t want to give up, ¡°We¡¯ll have to part for half a month after this.¡± Bo Yan continued along the lines of her words, ¡°Yes, after half a month we¡¯ll be able to meet again. By that time, neither of us should have taken any new roles, and we can spend some quality time together.¡± A celebrity¡¯s schedule is best when it¡¯s packed. However, with the current pandemic, traveling abroad isn¡¯t an option, and within the country demand exceeds supply. Even if film crews and shows are starting up, the restrictions are very severe. Investments are being cut back and approvals are harder to come by; many projects prepared for development had to be put on hold, allowing everyone a bit more leisure time. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Take ¡°Storm¡±, for example: it¡¯s been over half a year since they finished shooting, and the release was planned for the near future. The main actors, including themselves, were supposed to start the promotional tour. But due to the pandemic, they¡¯re still struggling to get the Dragon Mark (the film distribution license). Even after obtaining the Dragon Mark, they have to vie for a release slot, whether it¡¯s Christmas, New Year¡¯s, or Chinese New Year¡¯s slots. However, as of now, they haven¡¯t received the Dragon Mark, so everything remains uncertain. But even if ¡°Storm¡± was to be released, during the promotional period before its release and the subsequent promotional tour, they would still have plenty of opportunities to spend time together. And then comes the New Year, when generally film crews don¡¯t work unless agreements have been signed well in advance. When crews start approaching again, it will be after the spring, and they will have even more time for each other. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t expect that neither her threats nor enticements had worked on Bo Yan; she felt a bit disheartened. She started to become unreasonable, ¡°You¡¯ll be away for half a month, and the supporting actress on your crew has her eyes on you. Who knows if you can stay faithful during these half a month? What if she knocks you down with a laugh, and my exclusive stuff becomes communal? Wouldn¡¯t I be at a huge loss then?¡± Bo Yan found it both funny and frustrating, as he lightly brushed her nose, ¡°What am I to say to you? If I had wanted to, what was I doing for the past seven years, and how come you still have a chance now?¡± Xia Siyu spouted nonsensical arguments, ¡°But back then you hadn¡¯t ¡®conquered¡¯ me yet. Think about it, if back then I had slept with you and then run away, you wouldn¡¯t have got what you wanted, and you¡¯d feel angry inside, and you¡¯d want to win me back. Now you¡¯ve caught me, and you¡¯re only thirty this year. If you¡¯re already not up to the task, how are we supposed to get through the days to come?¡± Bo Yan laughed at that, not expecting Xia Siyu¡¯s little brain to be filled with such silly romance novel plots that she could actually come up with such scenarios. He simply turned off the light, and in the darkness, wrapped his arms around her, ¡°How could I not miss you? If I didn¡¯t, would I have been able to send you off and see you back to Shangcheng? You little ingrate, knowing full well that I was ready, and yet you kept dragging your feet. It¡¯s for your own good. You only have four hours left to sleep before getting up, so you¡¯d better rest now or you won¡¯t be able to act tomorrow.¡± Chapter 799 - 799 790 Capital (6) ?Chapter 799: Chapter 790 Capital (6) Chapter 799: Chapter 790 Capital (6) ¡°If you want, after this time is over and we return to Yancheng, I¡¯ll make sure you can¡¯t leave the bedroom for a single day. By then, even if you wanted to beg for mercy, you wouldn¡¯t be able to,¡± Bo Yan said. Xia Siyu turned her head to Bo Yan, ¡°Really?¡± In the darkness, with only faint light sources in the room, she could only see Bo Yan¡¯s somewhat glowing eyes. He said, ¡°What do you think?¡± Only then did Xia Siyu become happy, saying with special delight, ¡°Sleep.¡± And then, she was out like a light in an instant. Bo Yan looked at her and didn¡¯t know how to react for a moment. This girl¡¯s concerns came quickly and left just as fast. But perhaps that was better, fewer worries, more happiness. He just hoped that she could be a little happier. He really did have to leave at three in the morning, and for her sleep, he didn¡¯t want to hold her in bed, gently moving his arm from under her head. In her sleep, Xia Siyu seemed a little unhappy, but she mumbled her lips and then drifted off again. Bo Yan didn¡¯t have the heart to sleep and, having only an hour, he was worried that if he fell asleep, he might encounter more trouble when he tried to wake up. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He never slept much, and anyway, he could rest on the plane later, so he simply stayed up, watching over her the whole time. He had been in Sage Mode when speaking with Xia Siyu just now, but by this point, he did feel a bit of regret. He was not as unaffected as he had appeared, at least not when facing her. However, it wasn¡¯t the time to say more to her. There would be many days ahead; he didn¡¯t need to rush. An hour seemed like a long time, but as he lay beside her, time flew by. Fearing he might wake her, Bo Yan didn¡¯t set an alarm but instead used vibration, which would go off when it was time. When the phone vibrated, he quickly silenced the alert. He glanced back and saw that Xia Siyu was still sleeping deeply. He moved very cautiously, fearful of making the slightest sound, only rising slowly once his legs had found the slippers. But as he moved away from the bed, perhaps it was the sudden lightness beside her, Xia Siyu truly woke up. She opened her eyes groggily and asked sleepily, ¡°Is it three already?¡± Bo Yan paused for a moment, then turned back with a smile, ¡°Yes, you rest well. I¡¯m leaving.¡± Xia Siyu didn¡¯t nod but reached out into the air. Bo Yan recognized this gesture well; she wanted him to hold her. Helplessly turning back to embrace her, he said, ¡°You rest well; you also have to get up at six for filming.¡± Xia Siyu didn¡¯t listen to him but instead leaned down to kiss his face, ¡°Work hard.¡± ¡°You too,¡± Bo Yan responded with a kiss, then paused before adding, ¡°I¡¯ll miss you.¡± Xia Siyu said nothing, just gave a soft ¡°mm.¡± Some words really didn¡¯t need to be said; a look, a gesture, was enough to convey the feeling. After hugging her for a while, Bo Yan gently let go of her, ¡°I¡¯m leaving now. Be careful and don¡¯t sneak any cake or high-calorie foods, or you¡¯ll get scolded again.¡± Xia Siyu had many qualities, but she was undeniably a foodie. If she hadn¡¯t entered this industry, he couldn¡¯t even bear to think what she¡¯d be like now. Xia Siyu snorted, ¡°You too, you¡¯re surrounded by plenty of pretty girls.¡± Their mutual teasing dissipated some of the sorrow of parting. But neither of them noticed that this time, as Bo Yan left, he was perfectly captured by a photographer¡¯s lens. Chapter 800 - 800 791 Tracking (1) ?Chapter 800: Chapter 791: Tracking (1) Chapter 800: Chapter 791: Tracking (1) Xia Siyu had been the focus of observation during this period, and her recent quietness was merely due to Bo Yan¡¯s last move to divert disaster eastward, leading journalists to Shang Feifei¡¯s side. Besides, these past few days, she had stayed hidden in a hotel room with Bo Yan where the reporters couldn¡¯t photograph her. It wasn¡¯t because no one was paying attention to her. Today, she returned, and she was immediately targeted upon her arrival. Of course, she now stayed in a different hotel. This hotel indeed had tighter security than the one before, so reporters couldn¡¯t film her scandalous affairs as they had done before, setting up long-range lenses every day, then secretly installing cameras in hidden corners of the hotel. It was even less possible to barge into the hotel like they did in the Southwest. But these paparazzi were still stationed outside the hotel, almost as if they were handling a major criminal investigation, keeping a 7¡Á24-hour continuous vigil on the side. When they captured photos of Bo Yan, he was wearing a jacket with the collar turned up, donned a baseball cap, the most common sports style, plus a mask, and a pair of black-framed glasses. This disguise wasn¡¯t particularly eye-catching, but the problem was that the jacket he wore was exclusive to the Southwest film crew. With just one shot, at least it was clear that this man came from the Southwest film crew. Knowing who was there, a quick search would reveal that the most famous was Bo Yan. Bo Yan wearing this jacket was an accident; he had never intended to escort Xia Siyu all the way back to Shangcheng. His plan was simply to go to the airport with Xia Siyu and then return to the film crew. In this way, wearing the film crew¡¯s jacket was the perfect camouflage. Unfortunately, he followed her to Shangcheng, and that jacket ended up catching the attention of the paparazzi. Although the man in the Southwest film crew¡¯s jacket was disguised, these paparazzi were professionals with keen eyes who could recognize Bo Yan in an instant. However, it was not enough for them to recognize him; the photo was very blurry, and Bo Yan could completely deny it was him. Inside the hotel, Xia Siyu was the only one from either of the two film crews. Other journalists had initially gone to the Southwest film crew to monitor Xia Siyu, while that was where Bo Yan was located. Moreover, during the two days Xia Siyu disappeared, Bo Yan had also been absent from the film crew. An audacious idea emerged: Could it be possible that these two, who never seemed to get along, were actually a couple? However, Xia Siyu had previously been involved in three strange ¡°romance rumors,¡± which she had clarified as false. They had no evidence to support their speculations, and this blurry photo could not serve as proof either. But that was okay, because if they were indeed a couple, they would definitely leave some traces. The more significant the news they discovered, the more patience they needed to exercise, waiting until they captured definitive evidence to deliver a decisive blow. The paparazzo who snapped this picture was actually reined in by the boss, who instructed them to continue to increase their manpower. Whether it was Xia Siyu or Bo Yan, if either of them slipped up, it would be a sensational event that would shake the entire entertainment industry! Bo Yan, the subject of the photograph, was completely unaware of this affair. He went to the airport and waited in the first-class lounge since his flight was early and not many people were there. He was silent throughout the flight to the Southwest. The moment the plane landed, he quickly turned on his phone to see that Xia Siyu had posted on Weibo, a bright smiley face, a photo of her applying makeup in the makeup room. Bo Yan knew right away that Xia Siyu had posted this Weibo for him. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 801 - 801 792 Tracking (2) ?Chapter 801: Chapter 792 Tracking (2) Chapter 801: Chapter 792 Tracking (2) This indicates that the two of them had restored their original understanding. Moreover, her timely post was actually to let him know she was safe. Bo Yan didn¡¯t use his main account, but instead logged into the small account ¡°Shengxia Yanyu¡± and quickly liked her post. He didn¡¯t send a message right away, but waited until he got back to the crew, finished makeup, and was ready to start work formally, then he also posted a photo of the nice weather on his own Weibo. The two of them were very careful to protect each other, not using their main accounts to reply to each other¡¯s social media accounts. The only mix-up was when Xia Siyu had previously liked a photo of his abs, and that was before they were in love. By the time they were truly together, they considered things more long-term. Perhaps there might indeed be some traces after falling in love, but with their careful caution, even if any clues were caught, they could not be considered evidence. Bo Yan did have a point, this feeling of sneaking around, pitting wits against paparazzi and fans, was indeed very appealing. Their long-distance relationship, spending lots of time and effort just to meet, having to part before growing tired of each other. Perhaps such situations might cause issues later, but they had just entered a passionate stage of love, wishing they could stay by each other¡¯s side at all times; this separation only deepened their thoughts, becoming ever more intense. After returning to the crew, Xia Siyu and Bo Yan both started working hard. Owing several days of work, if they weren¡¯t such big stars, the director might have started scolding them. Fortunately, diving back into work, they weren¡¯t affected by the sorrow of separation. On the contrary, they had only one thought: finish shooting quickly so they could meet again. So they worked even harder. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In a flash, more than ten days passed, during which the two of them operated at high speed, no longer having time to pay attention to other matters. The paparazzi watching them also held back the urge to expose, continuing to shadow them. After all, apart from Xia Siyu, reporting on Shang Feifei next door was also an option, so they weren¡¯t exactly idle. Finally, after half a month, Xia Siyu finished all her shooting tasks and could wrap up smoothly. With the clapboard closing, her face initially contorted with crying, didn¡¯t even have time to wipe her tears, quickly turning into joyous laughter. However, she couldn¡¯t leave yet, as the crew had prepared a wrap party for the evening. After shooting for more than a month, everyone could finally relax, and the whole crew was very laid back. Xia Siyu glanced at Bo Yan, whose Weibo post yesterday read: ¡°The good brothers in the drama leave me one by one, and I¡¯m left fighting alone for three more days.¡± Alright, understood, he could only wrap up the day after tomorrow. Perhaps the two of them could head back to Yancheng together. While they were in high spirits, the neighboring crew also happened to wrap up the same day. After spending some time together, especially since the two crews had interacted and made ¡°cameo appearances¡± for each other, their relationships had grown quite solid. Sometimes they would even order meals together, enjoying their company harmoniously. ¡ª However, this didn¡¯t include Xia Siyu and Shang Feifei; the two had never gotten along, always unable to stand each other when met. The wrap parties, since both crews finished around the same time, simply joined together, reserving a big restaurant for a joint celebration. Thus, Xia Siyu and Shang Feifei, after not seeing each other for over ten days since returning from the Southwest, met again. Chapter 802 - 793 Tracking (3) Chapter 802: Chapter 793 Tracking (3) It¡¯s really quite a coincidence, Shang Feifei and Xia Siyu finished filming around the same time, and their projects wrapped up around the same time too. During these past ten plus days, Xia Siyu and Bo Yan were apart, Han Yifan was also dragged away by his father, and he¡¯s been incommunicado ever since. Shang Feifei didn¡¯t have deep feelings for Han Yifan to begin with. They got together somewhat confusedly, and though being together didn¡¯t feel too bad, once they separated and left that environment, the emotions that surged up like a feverish cold instantly dissipated. During these ten plus days, she was also very busy. Han Yifan did try to contact her, but without meeting face to face, her responses became more rational and restrained. Every time she replied to him, she wondered more and more how she ended up with such a man in the first place. They simply weren¡¯t on the same page at all! Both of them first returned to the hotel to remove their makeup, then after a quick tidy up, they went downstairs to take the car to the hotel. As soon as Xia Siyu came down, she saw Shang Feifei from afar at the neighboring hotel, decked out in the latest high-end seasonal dress. This dress hadn¡¯t even started selling in the entire Asia-Pacific region and there were only a few pieces available. And yet, there she was wearing it. Not willing to be outdone, she quickly turned her head. Wei Jingjing was confused: ¡°What are you missing?¡± Without looking back, Xia Siyu dashed towards the elevator: ¡°Going to change clothes.¡± She had just come downstairs, casually dressed in a T-shirt and a pair of jeans, neither dolled up nor accessorized. She originally thought it was just a regular wrap-up banquet, where casual attire would suffice, but Shang Feifei¡¯s seemingly casual but strategically chosen ¡°homely¡± outfit was a calculated move. There was no way she could tolerate this. Wei Jingjing thought she was afraid of the cold, considering it was already winter and the heating was on in the north. Although every actress was battle-hardened and would bare arms and legs no matter how cold, for everyday outings, everyone still wore standard puffer jackets and knitted hats. However, following Xia Siyu upstairs, Jingjing even found her own outfit too thick and decided to change into a backless cocktail dress instead. After much persuasion, Xia Siyu changed into a high-end designer dress just over the knees and called upon her exclusive makeup artist. Then, she headed out looking beautiful. Upon arriving at the restaurant, it was already bustling with noise. After over a month of working together, the two crews had become like one big family. Seeing Xia Siyu dressed to the nines, everyone called out in admiration. Xia Siyu smiled modestly and scanned the room nonchalantly. Shang Feifei had already taken her seat and aside from her dress, she hadn¡¯t done any other embellishment, looking entirely different from Siyu with her bright red lipstick. Looking at her, then at myself, hmm, I¡¯m definitely better looking. The banquet started, Shang Feifei was charming and sociable, able to drink without getting drunk after countless toasts, while Xia Siyu appeared carefree but in reality would be out after just two bottles. But with Shang Feifei drinking, her own director toasted to her: ¡°Who would have thought Fei¡¯er can hold her liquor so well, we should definitely drink together sometime.¡± Xia Siyu never drinks in public and felt unhappy upon hearing this: ¡°Director, I can hold my liquor quite well too.¡± Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Is that so? Then we must put that to the test.¡± The director from the other crew also poured Xia Siyu a drink. Without any surprise, she downed it in one go. Turning her head, looking proud, she saw that Shang Feifei had also smiled and finished a drink. Xia Siyu¡¯s competitive spirit was instantly ignited. Without anyone toasting, she poured herself another drink and downed it in one gulp. Turning around with a challenging gaze, Shang Feifei, while conversing and laughing, also downed another glass. Chapter 803 - 794 Tracking (4) Chapter 803: Chapter 794 Tracking (4) Siyu is competitive by nature, but she is not a fool; she knows her alcohol tolerance. However, at this moment, there is no way she can back down. So, she also asked Jingjing to pour her a drink, and Jingjing was slightly surprised: ¡°Siyu, you¡­ have an advertisement to shoot tomorrow.¡± In fact, she has no tasks tomorrow; this was just an excuse for her to step down from the drinking competition. Can¡¯t we compete in something else? Must it be drinking? Siyu received the signal too. The seafood barbecue restaurant they came to today also served skewers, since it¡¯s a bit more upscale, everyone chose sake. Sake usually has an alcohol content of 16 percent, just slightly higher than wine. Siyu could barely handle one bottle of wine; seeing the alcohol content, she dared to sit down and compete a little with Shang Feifei. But in a drinking competition, she would definitely be at a disadvantage since she really can¡¯t drink. Hearing the conversation between Siyu and Jingjing, Shang Feifei didn¡¯t even lift her head but just gave a slight smile and took a sip of her liquor: ¡°Hmm, you¡¯re right. It¡¯s important to look good for the advertisement shoot tomorrow, and swelling from drinking too much will look ugly.¡± As she said this, she picked up her glass and drank another full cup. Although the Japanese sake cups are about the volume of the ones used in China for drinking white spirits, approximately one shot, Siyu had observed her drinking three cups without even blinking. It¡¯s not a huge amount, but generally, girls don¡¯t drink as boldly as her; clearly, having finished filming, she was in a good mood and could return to the hotel to get a good night¡¯s sleep tomorrow. Furthermore, they were with colleagues from the production crew, so she did not fear being plotted against, which made her exceptionally happy. Shang Feifei¡¯s drinking was cheered on, especially by the film director, who is known to be a drinker. Seeing Shang Feifei drink one cup after another, he applauded and said, ¡°Great! For that drinking performance, I will definitely cast you in my future projects!¡± Shang Feifei doesn¡¯t get drunk easily and remained calm. Although this director wasn¡¯t particularly famous, having more connections is always welcomed. She smiled, poured another glass, and clinked glasses with him, ¡°Then, thanks for your support, Director.¡± Siyu, who is extremely competitive, would have stayed quiet alone; but with someone stirring things up, she immediately became lively. She instantly turned to Jingjing: ¡°It¡¯s okay, the advertisement is scheduled for the afternoon, and besides, I can get plenty of rest afterward.¡± sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. That meant she could also drink. Jingjing wanted to persuade her further, but Siyu pushed her aside with an elbow and quickly said, ¡°Today is our last day together, no leaving until we¡¯re drunk!¡± ¡°No leaving until we¡¯re drunk!¡± Everyone raised their glasses joyfully and clinked them together. Jingjing held her forehead beside them, powerless, and just hoped Siyu wouldn¡¯t embarrass herself too much later. An hour later. ¡°Look, am I not sober? I¡¯m not drunk at all,¡± Siyu sat upright, looking all virtuous and dignified. If she hadn¡¯t had a rosy face and let out a belch by accident, perhaps her credibility would be higher. ¡°I¡¯m fine too, this amount of alcohol is nothing¡ªjust feels a bit warm after drinking too much.¡± Having said that, Shang Feifei casually took a lettuce leaf meant for wrapping barbecued meat and fanned herself. People around glanced back and forth between them, barely suppressing their laughter. Chapter 804 - 795 Tracking (5) Chapter 804: Chapter 795 Tracking (5) Someone took advantage of the fact that both had drunk too much and started causing trouble. Of course, at such formal events, nothing illegal or disorderly would be done, but as the saying goes, in vino veritas. When people get drunk, they tend to reveal some interesting things. So someone asked Xia Siyu with a smile: ¡°Siyu, what¡¯s the deal with all the hot gossip about you lately? You know, that thing where you were photographed three times in one week?¡± Xia Siyu immediately slammed the table and stood up: ¡°What the hell? Does this lady have such bad taste? To be rumored with trash like Xi You? Han Yifan, haven¡¯t you all met him? He¡¯s a bro, a brother, purely platonic, genderless friendship. As for the third one¡­ better left unmentioned! In any case, it¡¯s absolutely impossible with him, not in this lifetime.¡± Of course, it¡¯s impossible, they¡¯re biological siblings. However, Xia Siyu still couldn¡¯t help mocking Shang Feifei by bringing up her past relationship with Xi You. Sure enough, Shang Feifei calmly picked up her wine glass: ¡°Didn¡¯t you also have a rumor with Li Weiyi? He¡¯s way crappier than Xi You.¡± Xia Siyu laughed when she heard this, knowing she had been provoked: ¡°That was fake too. That trash played with my best friend; there¡¯s no way I¡¯d let it slide. I lured him out and smashed his face with a high heel! Just for messing with women, for bullying my friend!¡± She remembered something else and chuckled secretly: ¡°Speaking of which, I¡¯ve actually seen that video of him, and honestly, he¡¯s really ¡®no good¡¯, and I¡¯m not just boasting¡ªit¡¯s true! No wonder he¡¯s so sleazy and resorts to drugging women. He belongs in prison!¡± The director from Shang Feifei¡¯s film crew was also interested, ¡°Oh, so you¡¯re saying, Siyu, that most of your past rumors were fake?¡± Xia Siyu turned around with a smug look: ¡°Please remove the words ¡®most of.¡¯ To be exact, all of them were fake. Don¡¯t you see how those men look, yet they dare to be linked with me? And those rumors about me hanging around rich guys, sorry, I¡¯m much richer than them okay? Would I even fancy a piece of their tiny land?¡± The members of Xia Siyu¡¯s film crew, many of whom had been with her since her first project and had gone through two films¡¯ worth of bonding, had a good judgment of what kind of person she was. However, she seldom talked about her family background; this time was actually the first. Not to mention the people from these two film crews, even Wei Jingjing was a bit curious. Last time, Xia Siyu was involved in three consecutive rumors, but Qin Baizhou was the only gentleman she wouldn¡¯t let people query about, and her attitude towards him was quite special. It wasn¡¯t exactly close, but definitely that of an acquaintance. Someone asked: ¡°What¡¯s the situation with your family? Surely it¡¯s not that your family owns mines, is it?¡± ¡°Mines? How superficial! They don¡¯t have mines, at most they sell wood.¡± Being a furniture designer, put as selling wood, didn¡¯t seem wrong, did it? ¡°Selling wood? That¡¯s promising! That at least indicates that there is a mountain, and your family has monopolized it.¡± Another asked, ¡°How come you¡¯ve never mentioned this before? Wasn¡¯t the shooting around the Chinese New Year? I didn¡¯t see you taking much extra leave.¡± The crew of ¡°Youth¡± remembered Xia Siyu only symbolically resting for one day during the New Year, and on the first day of the new year, she was eager to start working again. Back then, he thought that she was such a dedicated actress that he had to work with her again in the future. ¡°Yeah, if I can¡¯t make it in the entertainment industry in the future, I¡¯ll seek refuge with your family.¡± Xia Siyu chuckled, a rare hint of hate in her eyes: ¡°That family, I will never return to in this lifetime.¡± S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 805 - 796 Tracking (6) Chapter 805: Chapter 796 Tracking (6) This really was the first time Xia Siyu had talked about her family in front of others, but the entertainment industry is a mixed bag, with wealthy people and poor kids alike. Some artists from earlier years even entered the industry simply because their parents had racked up huge gambling debts, and they had no choice but to help pay off the debts. Xia Siyu, from her debut to now, seemed to really have never discussed her family situation. Her parents, her birth, whether she had any siblings, her relatives seemed to be a mystery. Even with friends, up until now, she has only maintained two¡ªZhou Weiwei, and now the gender-neutral Han Yifan¡ªjust these two. Besides that, her life was like a blank sheet of paper, only recently pulled into the limelight with Bo Yan¡¯s fans digging out her dropout status from N University. But what else? However, this matter also interested Shang Feifei. She paused in her fanning with a lettuce leaf and turned to look at her. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, were your parents bad to you? Or is there a problem with your family?¡± Xia Siyu just snorted, ¡°If I go back, I¡¯d make sure they beg me to return!¡± ¡°We are all family; how bad could the feud be?¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah, you¡¯re laying it on too thick.¡± ¡°A harmonious family prospers.¡± Perhaps it was because Xia Siyu had drunk too much, her harsh words made the others present think she was just having a minor conflict with her family. Nowadays, youngsters with distinct personalities are nothing unusual, and a few rebellious ones don¡¯t seem strange at all. Only Shang Feifei asked, ¡°Did your family wrong your mother?¡± But her voice was low, quickly drowned out by everyone¡¯s laughter and chatter, and Xia Siyu either didn¡¯t hear or pretended not to. In any case, she didn¡¯t explain. Wen Qunxiao was Shang Feifei¡¯s idol, naturally she followed some news about her, and knew that she was enmeshed in negative publicity before she withdrew from the industry. Later, she only heard that Wen Qunxiao went abroad after leaving the scene, but there was no news of her ever after. From the current perspective, it was just that she met a scumbag back then, got photographed by him, but it was not about any transactions, merely normal dating. However, the conservative climate at the time maybe couldn¡¯t accept such a daughter-in-law, so Xia Siyu¡¯s life must have been very difficult. Originally, she could only feel saddened about how hard her idol had it back in the day, but now that it¡¯s happening to her, she even feels a sense of empathy. She still remembers the look Han Yizhi gave her when he came to take Han Yifan away, a look tinged with scorn. Perhaps not disdain, just disregard. In the eyes of such aristocratic families, even someone as immaculate and scandal-free as her is looked down upon. Although she didn¡¯t have much feeling for Han Yifan and he hadn¡¯t humiliated her, that contemptuous gaze still stung her nerves. Forget it, she had never thought about a future with Han Yifan anyway. Even if they split up two days later, she¡¯d just treat it as a fling of youth. As she was lost in thought with her head down, the room became lively. The male lead of ¡°Youth¡± stood up, raising his glass to say, ¡°Hey, everyone, you¡¯ve been talking back and forth, but you haven¡¯t hit the important point! The important thing is, Siyu just said her scandals are all fake! So Siyu, do you actually have a boyfriend right now? If not, do you think I still have a chance?¡± sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 806 - 797: Close at Hand (1) Chapter 806: Chapter 797: Close at Hand (1) Xia Siyu said the rumors were all fake, which immediately livened up the atmosphere in the room. The second male lead also stood up: ¡°Hey, Siyu, I chased you so hard in the drama, and it lasted for two whole seasons! My affection for you is clear as day. Why don¡¯t you just say yes to me?¡± The leading male actor got annoyed: ¡°Go away, go away, don¡¯t you understand the concept of first come, first served?¡± The lead actor from the neighboring drama team also joined in the fun: ¡°Who cares about first come, first served in love. Fate sometimes just doesn¡¯t make sense. So how about the guy from the drama team next door, me?¡± ¡°Yeah, Siyu, do you really have a boyfriend?¡± Wei Jingjing immediately put down her chopsticks upon hearing this question, she had to stop Xia Siyu from speaking nonsense! As everyone knows, once she gets drunk, she¡¯s bound to tell the truth! No matter what she¡¯s asked, she¡¯ll spill it! Even though everyone present was from the industry and had a habit of keeping secrets, there was no telling who might secretly record this and post it online. If her relationship with Bo Yan went public, that would spell trouble! She was anxious as hell, wanting to stop her, but how could she? But Xia Siyu was all smiles; she was a bit wiser this time: ¡°You want to know about my boyfriend? Why should I tell you?¡± ¡°Ah, ah, when people say it like that, it usually means they¡¯ve got someone. You¡¯ve been played,¡± the director also fanned the flames on the side. Xia Siyu glared: ¡°Who said I have a boyfriend? That guy hasn¡¯t come to my side yet!¡± Indeed, she didn¡¯t have one. She only had a husband. Unfortunately, her husband was far away. At her words, the whole room burst into laughter and excitement. Everyone thought she was speaking metaphorically, not realizing she was actually telling the bald truth. Wei Jingjing had a relieved expression, thankful that Xia Siyu had the smarts to not blurt out her own romantic affair at this moment. It was all her fault, really; if she had known this one was going to binge drink, she would¡¯ve prepared some hangover remedies early to prevent her from making a fool of herself. Fortunately, afterward, Xia Siyu didn¡¯t spout any more nonsense and just sat in her seat. Wei Jingjing hurried over to take care of her but found that this one was busily sending texts nonstop. When Xia Siyu drank too much, she always had this habit of making relentless calls and sending a barrage of messages. She had to quickly see who the unlucky victim was and make sure nothing inappropriate was sent. Just as she peeked over, she saw that Xia Siyu was sending WeChat messages¡ªdozens of them in a row. The contact was nicknamed ¡°Cabbage-Pushing Pig.¡± Looking at this poor guy¡¯s profile picture, hmm, it looked familiar. Wasn¡¯t that Bo Yan? After Xia Siyu said the line, ¡°He hasn¡¯t returned yet,¡± perhaps feeling a bit stifled inside, or maybe because her drinking competitor Shang Feifei was feeling the mood as well and didn¡¯t continue the challenge, Xia Siyu then bombarded Bo Yan with a torrent of messages. ¡°Jerk, when exactly are you coming back?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you finish earlier and spend a couple of days with me?¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t reply, I swear I¡¯ll go find a boy toy tomorrow!¡± ¡°You might as well not come back. Stay cozy with your leading lady!¡± ¡°Boo hoo, I want to go back to Sicily with you.¡± sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡­ She sent so many messages, yet the other party didn¡¯t give her a single reply. Xia Siyu kept on sending, all the way until their dinner gathering ended. Wei Jingjing was helping her out, and Xia Siyu was still lowering her head, furiously sending WeChat messages. Once everyone stepped outside, the cold wind blew but did nothing to dissipate her drunkenness¡ªon the contrary, it further roused her emotions. At that moment, someone shouted, ¡°It looks like your boyfriend is coming over.¡± Chapter 807 - 798: Right Before Your Eyes (2) Chapter 807: Chapter 798: Right Before Your Eyes (2) Siyu and Feifei turned around at the same time, especially Siyu who, even now, was still exhilarated from drinking too much. She wondered, did she actually curse at him and he heard her? Did he really come all the way from the Southwest? She looked toward the source of the voice with anticipation and indeed saw a man in a black leather jacket and Doc Martens walking over. Because of the backlight, she couldn¡¯t see his face clearly and thought to herself, isn¡¯t Bo Yan tasteless in his choice of outfit? Once he gets here, I¡¯ll need to help him tidy up. Just as she thought this, the man walked from the darkness into the light, and Siyu squinted, huh, did Bo Yan have a disguise? Why does he look more and more like Yifan? Indeed, it was Yifan. He was a familiar face in these two film crews, having started reporting here one or two months ago. He finally managed to outpace Glasses Bro and upgraded himself to a brother-in-law. As soon as he arrived, the whole place burst into laughter. Yifan, being his sociable self, greeted everyone warmly, though his eyes never strayed from Feifei. He finally made his way through the crowd to Feifei¡¯s side and quickly reached out for a hug: ¡°Fei¡¯er, I¡¯m here.¡± However, Feifei was unusually cold. She nodded slightly, stepped aside to dodge his hug, and asked, ¡°Why are you here?¡± On one hand, their relationship, said to be out of love, seemed more like a momentary impulse; they weren¡¯t deeply in love to begin with. After separating, the passion faded, and naturally, they were not very close. On the other hand, Yifan¡¯s family¡¯s attitude also made her unhappy. Taking lesson from the experiences of previous idols, she became more scrutinous of wealthy families. Nevertheless, Yifan didn¡¯t mind too much. While a more sensitive person might have backed off when Feifei avoided him, he still grabbed her hand and immediately apologized: ¡°I¡¯m sorry for not being with you recently, it¡¯s my fault. After I went home, I quit my job, made things clear with my family, and even handed over the bar to someone else. From now on, I can be with you without any reservations.¡± Feifei was startled: ¡°You talked to your family? What did you say? Also, weren¡¯t you going to keep the bar?¡± Yifan had told her that the bar, located in the old alley, was where he spent part of his childhood with his grandparents, and keeping the bar was like preserving his childhood. He also played heavy metal there, and now he was just going to give it up? ¡°It¡¯s just managed by a trustworthy friend now, and I¡¯m still the owner.¡± He hadn¡¯t sold the bar, as it was in a good location and he couldn¡¯t bear to let it go. But Feifei was right, he couldn¡¯t just idle away indefinitely, and continuing as a playboy at Han Enterprise was not what he wished for either. He needs to find something serious to do in the future. But before that, he could take some time to be with her. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°No, what about your family?¡± Didn¡¯t he just mention talking to his family about this? ¡°Oh, I told my family that I¡¯m pursuing you, and asked them not to hold me back. If they don¡¯t make trouble, fine, but if they do, I simply won¡¯t go back. After all, I¡¯m not without money.¡± Feifei was speechless, remembering the dozen or so properties in Yifan¡¯s name. Alright, this guy wouldn¡¯t be short of money, and opting out of inheriting the family wealth, in a way, meant fewer restrictions from his family. Someone nearby teasingly shouted, ¡°Young Master Han, did you manage to win over our Feifei or not?¡± Yifan laughed in response: ¡°I¡¯m still working hard on it. Why don¡¯t you guys help me put in a good word?¡± Chapter 808 - 799: Just Within Reach (3) Chapter 808: Chapter 799: Just Within Reach (3) This guy, he actually knows how to save face for her. Aware not to easily show off their relationship in public, if she was that easy to pursue, it would have been quite embarrassing. The crowd was still egging them on: ¡°It all depends on how well Mr. Han performs now!¡± Han Yifan was still holding her hand, Shang Feifei tried to pull away but he held on tight. She wanted to pull away again; it would require a big gesture, so Shang Feifei weighed it out, not continuing to shake off his hand, just moved a bit to the side, to keep some distance. However, by allowing him to continue holding her hand, Han Yifan was very happy. He was all smiles, happy to see everyone, and then he saw Xia Siyu nearby, and even complimented: ¡°Siyu is getting more and more beautiful.¡± Xia Siyu snorted directly: ¡°When was I ever not beautiful?¡± A deathly question, but good thing Han Yifan knew what she was like, he nodded with a giggling smile: ¡°You¡¯ve always been beautiful.¡± Han Yifan has a genuinely good temper, aside from occasionally sparring with Bo Yan, otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t get along with Bo so well. So, the group walked back. Han Yifan really didn¡¯t insist on squeezing into the same car with Shang Feifei, he went to the hotel and booked his own room, he didn¡¯t embarrass her in front of the crew. Shang Feifei was worried that he would sneak over at night, but he behaved, he didn¡¯t come over at night. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Shang Feifei breathed a sigh of relief, this guy did have some sense of measure. But then there was that slight pang of disappointment, even though she didn¡¯t know what she was disappointed about. However, next door at the hotel, Xia Siyu was livid. Shang Feifei had her boyfriend for company, and she didn¡¯t! Han Yifan, that off-beat guy, could run all the way over to see his girlfriend, and what about her? Xia Siyu cursed as she returned to the hotel, feeling more and more upset. Especially when she got back to the hotel, she realized her period had started. One gets irritable during their period, and with the pain, bloating, and discomfort. The hotel doesn¡¯t feel like home, even if they have heating pads and such. It¡¯s still tough being away, and with the need to get up early tomorrow to go back to Yancheng, all the annoyances piled up. For her last few periods, she had Bo Yan by her side. Bo Yan¡¯s body is warm, and holding him is comforting. Although sometimes she gets annoyed with him, isn¡¯t a man most needed at times like this? When she needs care the most, when she needs comfort the most, and Bo Yan isn¡¯t there, what¡¯s the use of him? Xia Siyu isn¡¯t one to be sentimental, she was doing fine on her own before. But now being pampered by Bo, she felt more injustice and discomfort, changed into clean pants, wrapped herself in a thick quilt, took two painkillers, curled up in the blanket like a shivering silkworm pupa. While scrolling through her phone, she even saw some of Bo¡¯s fans bashing her. Furious, she went on her alt account to clash with them for countless rounds. The quarrel made her belly hurt more, gave her a headache, leaving her weak and angry. Bo was bullying her, his fans were bullying her, she won¡¯t be with him anymore! Anyway, when Bo rushed over in the middle of the night, he saw Xia Siyu curled up in the blanket, having cried half the pillow wet. He knew his Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t that fragile. She had been independent in the entertainment industry for seven years, never looking back. But she has her moments of vulnerability, confusion, and hesitation. Isn¡¯t that what spouses are for? To offer a shoulder when she¡¯s tired, to help her keep moving forward. Chapter 809 - 800: Right Before Our Eyes (4) Chapter 809: Chapter 800: Right Before Our Eyes (4) Xia Siyu woke up groggily in Bo Yan¡¯s arms, and her first reaction was to punch him. Now you show up! What¡¯s the use of coming now! My stomachache is already gone and you just show up! Her punch was weak and powerless; Bo Yan caught it in his hand and kissed it gently. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t care about that, she scratched at him with one claw: ¡°You still have the nerve to come? Better you didn¡¯t come at all!¡± She sent him so many messages and he didn¡¯t reply to any. When she needed him the most, he wasn¡¯t there, what¡¯s the point of him coming now! S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bo Yan was a bit helpless, but he could also smell the faint scent of blood in the air. He knew Xia Siyu was feeling unwell, as she would get irritable like this every month: ¡°When I got off the plane, I received your messages. My flight was at ten; I left as soon as I finished filming. Song Fengzhi is still there handling the aftermath. Because I missed you.¡± Xia Siyu is not usually the understanding type, nor is she overly capricious, but she was indeed feeling emotional fluctuations due to her period, and also got agitated by the couple next door flaunting their love. When people are feeling down, they tend to rely more on others, and she was no exception. But after hearing Bo Yan¡¯s words and being held by him, enveloped in his warmth, her mood also calmed down. She snuggled up in his arms: ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you wouldn¡¯t finish filming until the day after tomorrow?¡± ¡°That was the original schedule. But I said there was an issue at home and finished filming early to come back.¡± Bo Yan stroked her head, ¡°I wanted to see you sooner.¡± Xia Siyu rubbed her face against his, her anger dissipating. She knew that even if Bo Yan had responded at the time, it wouldn¡¯t have changed much. They haven¡¯t gone public, unlike Shang Feifei and Han Yifan who confidently hold hands in the sunlight. It would be a luxury to meet in front of the crew and the public. You win some, you lose some. She doesn¡¯t have a strong enough portfolio yet; she can¡¯t boldly grab Bo Yan¡¯s hand and declare to the public, ¡°This man is mine!¡± She can only endure. But her heart still felt aggrieved and awkward, especially during the emotional fluctuations of her period. Bo Yan, keen to observe, knew that Xia Siyu felt wronged. Especially half an hour ago, when he saw the news on Weibo about Han Yifan visiting Shang Feifei. He guessed that she must have been stimulated by their display of affection. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, we can make our relationship public. We are already a married couple, and have been for three years. I¡¯ve been waiting for this day for a long time.¡± Xia Siyu thought about it for a long time, but still shook her head: ¡°Not yet.¡± Besides work, if she went public with Bo Yan, inevitably the Xia Family and her own family issues would be dragged into the spotlight. She had sworn that unless she made a name for herself, she would never make their relationship public. ¡°Okay.¡± Bo Yan nodded, ¡°Whenever you say to go public, I¡¯ll step forward immediately.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Xia Siyu nuzzled his face, her heart brimming with warmth. Xia Siyu had taken painkillers and was past the worst part of her discomfort; now she was as vigorous as a dragon or tiger. Her body recovered, and she immediately began to be mischievous. Her hand involuntarily explored down, finding his parts, and even gave them a rub. Bo Yan had been calm, but his breathing instantly tightened at her touch, and then he gently slapped away her hand: ¡°Let¡¯s sleep.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a while, I need to check if my public ration is still there. What if another woman has borrowed it, what then?¡± Chapter 810 - 801: Right Before Your Eyes (5) Chapter 810: Chapter 801: Right Before Your Eyes (5) Bo Yan was at a loss whether to laugh or cry: ¡°What on earth do you think about all day? You¡¯ve made him anxious, and now you¡¯re not in good health. Wouldn¡¯t I have to deal with it myself eventually?¡± Xia Siyu was actually just messing around for a bit. She always said she was afraid that Bo Yan might have other ¡®dogs¡¯ on the outside, but even if that were true, it would only mean a breakup. She really liked Bo Yan, but she would never tolerate unfaithfulness. The world would go on without one person; she most certainly could. Of course, until something actually happened, she was willing to give him enough trust. ¡°Let¡¯s sleep.¡± After Bo Yan said this, Xia Siyu fell asleep almost instantly. But even in her sleep, she held on to his parts and would not let go, which was definitely a declaration of sovereignty, right? It seems she was a bit jealous after all, given that their relationship still had to stay out of the public eye. Moreover¡ª It seems like she loves me more than before. ** The next day. Wei Jingjing had been sneakily observing the situation at the hotel across from the lobby downstairs. It wasn¡¯t until Shang Feifei, Han Yifan, and a large group of reporters left that she called Xia Siyu: ¡°Target person has left.¡± Xia Siyu nodded: ¡°Got it.¡± Bo Yan had come over late last night, almost certainly seeking out Wei Jingjing. He was very cautious, always wrapped up tightly when he arrived. Never entering without his mask and disguise in place. Even though Shang Feifei and Han Yifan had left, drawing much attention, he could never be too careful. Bo Yan stood by the window, gently pulling back a corner of the curtain. Although everything seemed calm outside, who knows if someone was lying in wait for him? Turning around, he asked: ¡°Siyu, does your company have airport pickup arrangements?¡± Xia Siyu shook her head: ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± As a top celebrity, she had fewer fans than hackers. It was only recently that her public image had improved slightly. She herself didn¡¯t care, and the company didn¡¯t mind either. That¡¯s good. But just to be safe, he still had to be careful: ¡°What time is your flight? Later, you take the plane, and I¡¯ll take the high-speed train. Let¡¯s go back separately. I feel like there have been more paparazzi lately.¡± ¡°Do we need to be that cautious?¡± Xia Siyu felt it was a bit exaggerated, but she was indeed getting irritated by being constantly photographed recently. She felt like she was playing a cat-and-mouse game with the paparazzi, one trying to hide, the other trying to expose, a race to see who would capture whom first. ¡°If you want to go public, I¡¯ll hold your hand right now and go down with you.¡± He was ready anyway, and with one sentence, he made Xia Siyu instantly shut up. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. So Xia Siyu checked out first, and Wei Jingjing, Little Tang, and the bodyguards, a big group, proceeded to the airport. Half an hour later, Bo Yan, fully equipped, took a car from the back door of the hotel to the high-speed train station. Xia Siyu¡¯s flight was once again the same as Shang Feifei and Han Yifan¡¯s. Upon arriving at the airport, she was inevitably ¡°scooped¡± by the reporters as well. Some reporters even took the same flight to capture the news firsthand. Even though they were not sitting in first class, she felt as if she had thorns on her back, always feeling that not all of them were watching Shang Feifei, some might also be watching her. After discovering this, she immediately told Bo Yan. It was not appropriate to return directly to the Qingcheng apartment under these circumstances, as it would be easy to be tracked. Bo Yan was calm, simply giving her an address to drive to. Xia Siyu was familiar with this address, Yushu Facing the Wind building no.1, Bo Yan¡¯s villa. Thus, she and Shang Feifei, Han Yifan arrived simultaneously. Chapter 811 - 802: Right Before Your Eyes (6) Chapter 811: Chapter 802: Right Before Your Eyes (6) Shang Feifei and Han Yifan came to the villa for the same reason as Xia Siyu. This time she appeared with Han Yifan, she instantly became the center of attention. The ¡°Glasses Guy¡± was still held for trial due to the suspicion of using drugs to force himself on someone, and she was caught by journalists when running to catch him, and although it was embarrassing, she unexpectedly gained quite a bit of support. While some questioned if she had ganged up with Xi You against the other party, as her relationship with Han Yifan developed too quickly, it was just speculation with no one able to prove anything. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Whether it¡¯s speculation or not doesn¡¯t matter, what¡¯s important is that now, she doesn¡¯t need to do any publicity, as there naturally are loads of reporters following her. From leaving the hotel lobby, all the way to the airport, a crowd of people were behind her. There were also members of her fan club at the airport, catching sight of her and Han Yifan. The fans were rather sympathetic towards her, only protecting her when they saw her, but they were not so kind to Han Yifan. They were as picky as mothers-in-law scrutinizing their sons-in-law. But as the saying goes, the more a mother-in-law sees her son-in-law, the more she likes him. Especially someone like Han Yifan who is naturally affable and knows how to charm people, within a few words he nearly turned the fan club members into shippers. Someone asked: ¡°Mr. Han, are you serious about our Fei¡¯er?¡± Han Yifan played along perfectly, answering two of their questions with one sentence: ¡°I¡¯ve even considered being the other man to pry your sister away from her ex, do you think I¡¯m serious?¡± Fans followed up with: ¡°So you admit that you tried to be the other man?¡± ¡°That didn¡¯t work out, did it! It was just a thought.¡± Han Yifan said regretfully, ¡°Your sister is too faithful. If it weren¡¯t for her boyfriend getting into this mess, I wouldn¡¯t have had a chance in my whole life. But speaking of which, I¡¯m still not her official boyfriend, maybe you can help me out?¡± With the person in question confirming, the group of fans completely let down their guard. Han Yifan, whether in the film crew or outside, consistently cleared Shang Feifei¡¯s name. What he said wasn¡¯t wrong; every word was true. Even if Xi You was right in front of him, he could stand tall and argue with him. The fans were satisfied, but clearly the paparazzi were not. Just as their plane landed in Yancheng, Shang Feifei¡¯s assistant received a message that paparazzi would be following them. Throughout this time, Shang Feifei had expressed her stance through various channels and had gone through the whole sequence of events again, but the paparazzi clearly were still not satisfied, hoping to get firsthand material. Since her debut till now, Shang Feifei had never been hounded and blocked by so many paparazzi before. She¡¯s not like Xia Siyu, who was naturally conspicuous in a crowd. In the past, when there were scandals, she didn¡¯t bother explaining, knowing the more it stirred, the higher her exposure. She¡¯s the ¡°good girl¡± type; even with deliberate hype, she couldn¡¯t spark much interest. Fans would proudly call her ¡°high-class¡± and ¡°not seeking fame or fortune,¡± which actually meant she had an invisible presence ¨C even if something about her was made known for a while, it would soon be forgotten and leave no lasting impression. She had also carefully hidden her past romances and had never encountered such large-scale paparazzi chases, and was somewhat annoyed for a moment. So, she decided to go separate ways with her manager, assistant, and Han Yifan. Upon reaching the airport, she got into the nanny car her assistant and manager usually drove, while Han Yifan had his own vehicle, and they went off in different directions. Chapter 812 - 803: Neighbor (1) Chapter 812: Chapter 803: Neighbor (1) By the time they arrived at the underground car park of a large shopping mall and regrouped, Shang Feifei had her similarly built assistant exchange clothes with her. She got into another car of Han Yifan¡¯s, while her assistant drove Han Yifan¡¯s car to the company, her agent drove her original nanny car to the apartment, and she stayed with Han Yifan herself, originally planning to wait for news from both sides to see where there were no paparazzi, then decide where to rest. But then messages came from both the agent and assistant: Paparazzi were lying in wait at both locations. This posed a difficulty for Shang Feifei; in Yancheng, she only had that one property, surely she couldn¡¯t just not go there to rest? And if she didn¡¯t go back, where else could she go? As she struggled to decide, Han Yifan spoke up, suggesting his villa in the outskirts of Yancheng, which he did not usually inhabit, as a temporary resting place for her. Shang Feifei knew well that Han Yifan lacked for nothing but houses, yet she was not too comfortable with the idea initially. After some reflection, she still felt that she and Han Yifan didn¡¯t quite seem like a couple and had no intention of furthering the relationship, especially with the interference of the Han Family. The thought of his brother¡¯s indifferent expression instantly made her back down. Sometimes there really was no comparing two people; even with a bad reputation, Xia Siyu was still the daughter of the Xia Family. If Bo Yan wanted a girlfriend, he¡¯d choose her. Although Shang Feifei didn¡¯t understand why Xia Siyu, burdened by a bad name, would not acknowledge herself as a member of the Xia Family, in the marriage market of the wealthy, there was no doubt she was far superior to herself. But Han Yifan insisted, ¡°It¡¯s okay, just rest for now. Even if we¡¯re not boyfriend and girlfriend, just friends, I¡¯ll still help you if something comes up. I could just not stay here tonight, that¡¯s all. Anyway, I¡¯ve got nothing much except for houses. Plus, my place is only a five-minute drive from the highway, convenient for getting anywhere.¡± Shang Feifei really was hesitant, and in her indecisiveness, received signs of paparazzi stakeouts. Over the years, paparazzi had grown increasingly bold. Some even took pictures through curtains when they were drawn at home, capturing the vague shapes of people inside after the lights were turned on at night. Although her residential area was also high-class, compared to the top security measures of places like Qingcheng Apartments or Yushu Facing the Wind, it was somewhat lacking. If someone were to catch her in compromising photos, even crying would be futile. Seeing her hesitation, Han Yifan didn¡¯t ask further and simply drove to the villa. When she got out of the car, Shang Feifei was still conflicted, but then Xia Siyu poked her head out from next door: ¡°Came back by yourself? Brought a girlfriend? Seems like your luck isn¡¯t too good today, to run into you again.¡± Though not as competitive as Xia Siyu, Shang Feifei certainly didn¡¯t want to be mocked by her. She had been hesitant to get out of the car, but now, spurred on by her, she immediately stepped out in her high heels and walked downstairs. Hmm, this villa, well, it¡¯s just like the ones shown in movies, nestled against a hill and beside water, with a beautiful environment, a swimming pool, a garden, first-class security. Even if she took out all her savings, she reckoned it would only just cover the price of this one set, not counting the interior design. This is just what the Han Family had allocated to their youngest son, who couldn¡¯t inherit the family business, as compensation. No wonder the Han Family treated her with such an attitude. Wealthy families indeed had the capital to be so. Wait, if Xia Siyu is next door, does that mean the neighboring house belongs to Bo Yan? S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 813 - 804: Neighbor (2) Chapter 813: Chapter 804: Neighbor (2) She didn¡¯t need to ask; as expected, Xia Siyu soon received a phone call. Even at this close distance, she could hear everything clearly without the need for speakerphone; it was indeed Bo Yan¡¯s voice: ¡°Have you arrived?¡± ¡°Just arrived,¡± Xia Siyu nodded, then glanced at the two people next door, ¡°However, someone from next door brought his girlfriend here too. I thought it would be quiet here, but unfortunately, it isn¡¯t.¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s disdainful voice didn¡¯t need to be seen to be felt. Bo Yan instantly knew whom she was referring to and didn¡¯t continue the topic, he simply said: ¡°I¡¯ll be there shortly, just past the next traffic light. For your belongings, I¡¯ll have Wei Jingjing help you organize them in a couple of days. We¡¯ll stay here for a while. Wait a second¡­¡± S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He had felt recently as though he was being watched, those paparazzi were like mosquitoes, infiltrating through every possible entry, and you never knew when you¡¯d be secretly photographed. But before he could finish, he suddenly felt that at the entrance of the community, there seemed to be a few more cars parked. This area is actually surrounded by high-end communities, far from the city center, with wide roads, quiet and peaceful, with virtually every household owning a car for their commute. This was nothing out of the ordinary. However, nearly everyone in their community had their own garage, and ride-hailing was rare; it wasn¡¯t normal for so many cars to be parked here, especially not at the entrance. Moreover, families wealthy enough to afford a villa wouldn¡¯t own so many mid to low-end sedans worth a few tens to over a hundred thousand yuan. The security here was top-notch, with facial recognition for entry and exit. Outside vehicles without registration and homeowner¡¯s permission couldn¡¯t simply enter the community. When Xia Siyu wanted to rent a place here before, the agent had to contact Bo Yan in advance to register before she could be allowed in. This time too, it was him who had arranged everything for Xia Siyu¡¯s car in advance. Bo Yan was always cautious, and he soon sensed something was off. He urged immediately: ¡°Tell the two next door that it looks like someone outside is already watching, to be more careful when going out. They can¡¯t get into the community for the time being, it¡¯s still safe. But once you leave, that¡¯s a different story.¡± His words thoroughly dispelled Shang Feifei¡¯s notion of leaving tonight. She had planned to have her agent and assistant pick her up after a few hours but with paparazzi lurking around even here: somehow, it felt like being a burglar with sirens blaring outside, forcing her to crouch inside and hide her figure. She had no choice but to message her assistant and agent: ¡°I¡¯m being watched by the paparazzi too, I might not be able to leave for the time being, you guys¡­¡± She was about to send a message asking her assistant to come over tonight ¨C at least with a stranger present, Han Yifan wouldn¡¯t dare to take any action against her. But instead, her assistant immediately replied: ¡°Got it, Sister Fei, you rest up. There¡¯s no work for the next few days, so you have some leisure time. I¡¯ll come to see you when there¡¯s a work arrangement. Coincidentally, my mom is not feeling well and came to Yancheng. I¡¯m going to accompany her, call me if anything!¡± After expressing herself to this extent, Shang Feifei couldn¡¯t insist her assistant come over, so she could only respond with: ¡°Then you rest well too.¡± No help for it, at least for tonight, she would have to recuperate in Han Yifan¡¯s house. Han Yifan¡¯s home had previously been visited by Xia Siyu, which she described as ¡°half is alcohol, half is music¡±. There¡¯s a huge climate- and humidity-controlled wine cellar installed in the enormous basement, and there¡¯s also a large bar in the living room. A piano sits in the center, and instead of paintings, wine racks and guitars hang on the walls. Chapter 814 - 805: Neighbor (3) Chapter 814: Chapter 805: Neighbor (3) Shang Feifei wasn¡¯t new to wine cellars; she had seen even larger ones with hundreds of years of history during her trips to Germany and France. But this kind of house renovated into a bar-style setting was indeed a bit¡­ Well, how to put it, this one was just too trendy. No wonder this guy was such an expert on whiskey last time, all about either liquor or musical instruments, consistently ¡ª not serious about proper business. Han Yifan could tell she was puzzled and felt compelled to explain: ¡°I don¡¯t usually live in this place. It¡¯d be a waste to leave such a big space unused, so I turned it into a wine cellar. That way, it¡¯s more convenient whenever my downtown bars need supplies. But this is just the first floor, the second and third floors are regular guest rooms.¡± Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Indeed, looking around, it didn¡¯t seem like a place meant for living. Han Yifan added, ¡°A cleaning lady comes here regularly to clean.¡± Got it, so except for the cleaning lady, nobody else is here. Han Yifan said, ¡°Also, even though there are spare items for guests, there are no women¡¯s clothes.¡± He deliberately made it clear, although he had had his fun in the past, he was always proper. He definitely didn¡¯t have a habit of randomly bringing girls home! ¡°That¡¯s not necessary, I¡¯ve got my luggage in the trunk.¡± ¡°Do you want to go up and check out the rooms?¡± Since Han Yifan had proposed it, and with reporters likely trailing them outside¡ªthere were even some near the company and her residence¡ªit was sure they would be caught on camera if she left. And since she planned to at least stay the night, she definitely needed to check out the house. ¡°Then I¡¯ll trouble you.¡± ¡°Not at all.¡± Han Yifan hurriedly led her upstairs. The master bedroom was on the second floor, which Han Yifan was willing to offer her: ¡°You can stay here, I¡¯ll just go up to the third floor.¡± Shang Feifei shook her head: ¡°No need, a guest room will do.¡± She had come this time out of sheer necessity and really hadn¡¯t figured out how she should deal with her relationship with Han Yifan, so she had to try and keep her distance. Han Yifan didn¡¯t insist. After all the commotion, it was already dinner time at the villa. As a celebrity, Shang Feifei needed to keep fit and didn¡¯t require a lavish dinner. Han Yifan usually didn¡¯t stay here, and there were no groceries other than alcohol, so he sheepishly knocked on the next-door neighbor¡¯s door to ask for some dinner items. Bo Yan had already returned by that time and was indeed very welcoming, ¡°Looking for dinner ingredients? Of course, you can have some.¡± He had already planned on inviting Xia Siyu to stay over at the villa for a few days, so he¡¯d had the housekeeper prepare plenty of food supplies. Seeing his swift agreement, Han Yifan felt somewhat uneasy: ¡°Out with it, what¡¯s your angle?¡± Bo Yan¡¯s lips curved in a smile: ¡°Come on, brother, what ulterior motive would I have¡ªthough it would be even better if you had a bottle of 2005 Chateau Mouton Rothschild (a premier French wine).¡± He knew it! A bottle of Chateau Mouton 2005 cost eleven thousand on the market! Was this guy¡¯s food made of gold? Why so exorbitantly expensive? But going out to buy groceries clearly wasn¡¯t suitable at the moment. Not to mention it would take a long time to drive there, there might also be paparazzi outside. Han Yifan could only grit his teeth and endure the extortion: ¡°Fine, 2005 Chateau Mouton, right?¡± Bo Yan nodded, and his smile became more genuine: ¡°So, what kind of ingredients do you want? A bit of chicken, duck, fish, meat? There¡¯s plenty of fruits and vegetables too. You¡¯re having an overnight stay with your girlfriend; wouldn¡¯t it be a bit improper to not have a candlelight dinner?¡± Chapter 815 - 806: Neighbor (4) Chapter 815: Chapter 806: Neighbor (4) Half an hour later, Han Yifan returned to his room holding a big pile of ingredients exchanged for a bottle of wine. Bo Yan was quite fair in the trade, giving Han Yifan M9-grade Wagyu beef steaks, a large piece of foie gras, and even a small box of caviar. Of course, there were side dishes too: asparagus, baby octopus, and seaweed, all to complement the wine. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He also added a small dish of Iberian ham, cut up some melon to go with it, and naturally, it too needed to be paired with wine. Bo Yan, that kid, really had a lot of tricks up his sleeve. What mattered more was, aside from giving him candelabra, candles, and a lighter, he also gave him a large box of small umbrellas! Han Yifan had brought Siyu over on a whim, so of course, he wouldn¡¯t have such things at home. But Bo Yan was different. Xia Siyu was currently off limits, and he couldn¡¯t get close to her even if he wanted to, so he might as well do a good deed for a brother. Hmm, although these items weren¡¯t worth as much as the bottle of wine, Bo Yan still had some conscience. Plus, beef steaks and foie gras are more accessible for those who are not so skilled in the kitchen. After Han Yifan came back, he opened three bottles of red wine ahead of time; red wine needs to breathe, and the finer the wine, the longer it should be aerated to release its full aroma. Then came washing the ingredients and marinating the beef steaks and foie gras. Looking up, Shang Feifei had been upstairs for a long while and hadn¡¯t come down. He thought about it and decided to take a shower and shave, just to be prepared for any eventuality. After some thought, he even unpacked the large box of small umbrellas and pocketed a few. Once he was done cleaning up and came back downstairs to start cooking, the beef steaks and foie gras were quickly ready, with the side dishes following suit. White wine with the side dishes, champagne with the foie gras and caviar, red wine with the beef steaks, and sherry with the ham. Han Yifan didn¡¯t know how much Shang Feifei could drink, but last time, after half a bottle of whiskey, she was practically down, certainly not as good as himself. Who knows what effect it would have on her this time, but anyhow, it should be better than her current aloof state towards him, right? As Han Yifan was tidying up, Shang Feifei was upstairs taking a shower and changing clothes. As Han Yifan said, the guest room was indeed untouched by others, just regularly cleaned, with empty closets and stark white everywhere. She took care of her skin after her shower and was even chatting with her agent and assistant. Half an hour ago, the assistant drove around the Yushu Linfeng Villa Area, and indeed found a bunch of cars circling outside. It was a pity the security was tight and entry was not allowed. During the pandemic, although many production crews had resumed work, overall everyone was still idling at home. Bored at home, people liked to follow gossip, and Shang Feifei¡¯s story had become a hot topic recently. The paparazzi couldn¡¯t get in, and neither could the assistant. After driving around, the assistant realized that even if she wanted to drive through the gates, she would have to register first. There were already a lot of paparazzi outside now, and barging in would likely backfire. Anyway, she didn¡¯t have anything on her at her boyfriend¡¯s place, so after notifying her, she drove off. Shang Feifei watched the video sent by the assistant, feeling quite helpless. Looking at this situation, it wouldn¡¯t calm down for a few days. Not only was it inconvenient for her to come and go, but Han Yifan was also in the same boat, as he was now on the media¡¯s radar, and the paparazzi would photograph him as well. When she pushed open the door and walked out of the guest room, the aroma of beef steaks and foie gras was already wafting from the outside. Although celebrities need to diet, she didn¡¯t eat much at noon, and her stomach seemed to wake up. She hesitated for a moment before coming out. Downstairs, the lights were off, but the candles were lit, and Han Yifan was just placing the last dish on the table. Chapter 816 - 807: Neighbor (5) Chapter 816: Chapter 807: Neighbor (5) ¡°Are you ready? Perfect, I¡¯ve finished cooking. Let¡¯s eat a bit first. It¡¯s just this much, that guy next door swindled me into a bottle of Mouton, Bo Yan is really too much!¡± Despite Han Yifan¡¯s complaints, he steadily poured wine for Shang Feifei. Shang Feifei hesitated a bit: ¡°This¡­ has too many calories.¡± ¡°Just try a little bit. I saw you didn¡¯t eat much at noon. This is M9 Wagyu beef, really good quality. But most importantly, it¡¯s paired with a 2000 Romane-Conti. The wine here is kept constant in temperature and humidity. I got them a few years ago in France, only six bottles, give it a try.¡± You can¡¯t catch a wolf without sacrificing something, Romane-Conti is the best among red wines, and the year 2000 is also famously a great year. The quality of wine is determined by the vintage, like the often mentioned ¡¯82 Lafite¡¯, 1982 was a really good year. After 20 years of aging, it has reached its best flavor. Even if Shang Feifei isn¡¯t an expert in red wines, the mere mention of the name told her this was indeed a rare encounter. She hesitated for a moment, then sat down. At worst, she¡¯d eat and drink less later. Seeing her sit, Han Yifan thought there might be a chance tonight. He started with an appetizer, baby octopus with seaweed, and poured some Riesling. The sweet white wine was slightly acidic and refreshing and had a hint of tropical fruit flavor, paired with the small dish it was appetizing and refreshing. Next was ham with melon, Han Yifan changed the wine glass, added some ice cubes, and poured a bit of sherry. This sherry, after aging, turned amber, was a fortified white wine with a strong taste, wonderfully complementing the ham and melon. Shang Feifei usually drinks a bit socially, but those business dinners would never select and serve wine with such precision as Han Yifan did. Moreover, the wine was mild in flavor, sweeter and less alcoholic than liquor, making it easy to drink more without realizing it. The next dish was goose liver with caviar, paired with wine as usual. Goose liver is basically all fat; normally, Shang Feifei seldom touched such high-calorie foods, but the taste was so good, and Han Yifan only cut a small slice to fry, she unwittingly ate it all with the wine. The main dish was M9 steak, and Han Yifan said, ¡°I didn¡¯t know how well done you liked it, so I cooked it to medium-well. If you don¡¯t like it, I can cook it to well-done for you.¡± ¡°No need.¡± Han Yifan really did put his heart into it; the steak wasn¡¯t too large, he also slightly fried the asparagus with the oil used for frying the steak and goose liver, placing it to the side as a side dish. The medium-well steak was charred on the outside, yet still tender inside, merely touching it with a knife and fork caused the juices to burst out. The best steak doesn¡¯t need much seasoning, just a bit of salt and black pepper was already delicious. The milk fragrance along with the meat aroma, when chewed melted instantly in the mouth, and when slightly getting greasy, the highlighted dish came ¡ª the 20-year-old Romane-Conti, with a strong backbone and rich layers. Before even sipping, the rich fruit and barrel aroma already hit the face. Upon tasting, it started slightly acidic, followed by a rich and layered taste, leaving a sweet aftertaste. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. When it was all swallowed, the wine aroma still lingered in the mouth. Indeed, only top gourmets and those with ample wine knowledge could pair it so flawlessly. Unknowingly, half a bottle of red wine had been drunk by her. Chapter 817 - 808: Neighbor (6) Chapter 817: Chapter 808: Neighbor (6) S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fine red wine doesn¡¯t intoxicate at first; it simply brings a delightful buzz, leaving an endless aftertaste. Shang Feifei doesn¡¯t blush after a mere sip like Bo Yan does¡ªshe considers herself to have a decent alcohol tolerance. At this moment, although slightly inebriated, she still has control over her body and will. Furthermore, Han Yifan is behaving like a perfect gentleman¡ªduring her break, he swiftly cleared the dishes from the table. Seeing how adept he was, Shang Feifei couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Have you studied cooking before?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m self-taught. I once went abroad with Bo Yan on an exchange program. My parents cut me off, didn¡¯t give me any money; it was Bo Yan who ¡®sponsored¡¯ me. Without money, I had no choice but to learn how to cook.¡± He refused to study finance and didn¡¯t want to study architecture either; he just wanted to go abroad to study music. Eventually settling for less, he pursued his master¡¯s degree domestically and went on exchange internationally. To toughen him up, his parents didn¡¯t provide him living expenses either. Fortunately, he was admitted to N University with a scholarship. When he was penniless, he and Bo Yan even went to pick grapes in a vineyard in France, earning three thousand euros for a week¡¯s work. That¡¯s also when he got acquainted with wine and thereafter, couldn¡¯t stop indulging. Shang Feifei attended a high school affiliated with the Dance Academy and completed her undergraduate studies at the Film Academy. Though she studied diligently and was considered decent in the entertainment industry, she couldn¡¯t compare to genuine intellectuals. Seeing her interest, Han Yifan then shared many amusing stories from his school and student exchange days. While Han Yifan usually acted frivolously, he was nevertheless a proper N University master¡¯s graduate. Shang Feifei herself had a fondness for cultured and scholarly individuals. Having never seen this side of Han Yifan before, she was quite engrossed for a while. As the conversation flowed, they needed drinks, but the closest thing at hand was the bottle of Romane-Conti. For the sake of this bottle of Romane-Conti, Shang Feifei didn¡¯t refuse his offers to refill her glass, and the two of them drank the entire bottle back and forth unwittingly. It was only at this time that Shang Feifei felt slightly tipsy. Perhaps because Han Yifan had been very proper today, or because they had been involved before, she wasn¡¯t too guarded. At that moment, Han Yifan got up and walked over to the piano in the corner of the hall, affectionately touching the piano keys: ¡°Actually, my initial dream wasn¡¯t about playing heavy metal, or drinking, but becoming a pianist. It¡¯s a pity my family thought these instruments were just hobbies, and studying them was enough; eventually, I would have to return home and help with the family business. If they had supported me, perhaps I could have been a pianist by now.¡± ¡°Do you play the piano?¡± ¡°Do you want to listen?¡± Han Yifan asked, turning back. Shang Feifei nodded. Han Yifan adjusted the sound briefly and truly sat down before the piano and began to play. The melodious music flowed, and Shang Feifei walked over involuntarily. Han Yifan played Chopin¡¯s Piano Concerto No. 2, and at the end of the piece, he lamented, ¡°What a shame, this was meant for a four-hand duet; it would be perfect if someone joined in.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve practiced.¡± ¡°No problem, let¡¯s try together.¡± Han Yifan pulled over another piano stool for her to sit. Shang Feifei glanced at the sheet music, tried a little, and Han Yifan immediately followed, the two beginning to collaborate. Of course, such a four-hand duet without much recent practice is challenging to pull off successfully. Shang Feifei made a mistake, a bit embarrassed, she said, ¡°Sorry, my mistake¡­¡± Before she could finish, Han Yifan turned his head towards her and sealed her lips with a kiss. Chapter 818 - 809 Temporary (1) Chapter 818: Chapter 809 Temporary (1) Shang Feifei paused, about to push him away, but Han Yifan retreated on his own. As he stepped back, her breathing eased somewhat, but before she could leave, Han Yifan leaned toward her, and she stepped back. Perhaps she had drunk too much just now, and Shang Feifei¡¯s head fell back in the direction of his approach, hitting the piano keys. A dissonant piano sound rang in her ears, mirroring her chaotic thoughts. Han Yifan moved closer once again, firmly kissing her. Chaos reigned; she wanted to resist him. As she reached out her hand, he caught her wrist and pressed it on the piano keys. The sound of the piano resonated again; because her entire hand was pressed against it, hitting the lower notes, the sound that emerged was also quite muted. He had just taken a bath, and aside from the aroma of food, there was only the rich scent of alcohol. It was at this moment that she regretted, deeply regretted. Because Han Yifan was well-behaved the previous night in Shangcheng, not coming over, and just now he was gentlemanly enough; she had forgotten how she ended up with him. Why was she so careless? If she didn¡¯t want to continue with him, she shouldn¡¯t have met him, nor should she have come back with him, let alone get in his car, enter his house, and drink his alcohol. While she was daydreaming, Han Yifan had quickly freed himself from the constraints. She still had a last bout of stubbornness, fiercely resisting his advance: ¡°No, we can¡¯t, we don¡¯t have protection.¡± S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Han Yifan paused, Bo Yan was truly his unscrupulous associate, too cunning. He hurriedly pulled out a little umbrella from his pocket. Shang Feifei was stunned: ¡°Why do you have that? Doesn¡¯t your family never bring women home? Were you lying to me just now?¡± Han Yifan explained: ¡°No, I just went next door to get some food, and he gave it to me on the way.¡± ¡°You¡¯re lying; who would just give you that?¡± Shang Feifei adamantly refused to let him closer, and Han Yifan had no choice but to say: ¡°It¡¯s true, he gave it to me. Do you want Bo Yan to come over and testify?¡± How could you testify about such a thing! But Shang Feifei still forbade it: ¡°Even if you haven¡¯t been promiscuous, your family doesn¡¯t like me. Last time your brother came, he didn¡¯t seem very satisfied with me.¡± Han Yifan was stunned. He hadn¡¯t anticipated such a backlash from his brother¡¯s last visit. No wonder Shang Feifei had been so cold to him lately; there was this reason as well. He was even less worried about this. He sat up slightly: ¡°What is this supposed to mean?¡± He gently touched the piano keys, producing a sound. Shang Feifei was taken aback; Han Yifan continued: ¡°Back then I was a student without independent capabilities, so even though I liked the piano, I couldn¡¯t learn it. But that won¡¯t happen in the future. At least in choosing a girlfriend, I have full autonomy, and they have no right to intervene.¡± He nudged her: ¡°My brother is eight years older than me; when I was a kid, I always saw him as an elder. He has always been this way; you don¡¯t need to mind him. Anyway, if my parents ever dare to come and trouble you, it¡¯s no big deal to act as if I was never their son.¡± Han Yifan solemnly assured: ¡°You can trust me; I won¡¯t let you suffer alone.¡± Shang Feifei paused. Considering the recent events, Han Yifan had always been by her side, and when she was most helpless, he was indeed there to support her. She seemed, not as disgusted with him as she had imagined. Perhaps, she could give him a chance, and give herself one too. Chapter 819 - 810 Temporary (2) Chapter 819: Chapter 810 Temporary (2) While emotions were heating up on one side, Bo Yan was enduring great hardships on the other. In fact, from appearances, Xia Siyu was particularly clingy to him. After being apart for over half a month, there truly was a sense of ¡°absence makes the heart grow fonder.¡± Concerned about her health, Bo Yan didn¡¯t open the wine bottle. Instead, he used fresh chicken to simmer a pot of soup slowly over low heat, filling the entire house with the aroma of food. In cold weather, or when she was feeling unwell, a pot of warm chicken soup was better than anything. Just after Xia Siyu finished bathing and drying her hair, she smelled the soup and couldn¡¯t resist coming down, even skipping her skincare routine. Bo Yan was still busy in the kitchen. It was just the two of them, so not many dishes were prepared. He washed some vegetables, cut them up, arranged them on a plate, then took out an electric hotpot. Once the chicken was ready, they might as well have hotpot together. Bo Yan was still preparing the food when Xia Siyu approached him from behind and hugged him. Bo Yan paused, then gave a light smile, ¡°I¡¯m chopping vegetables, be careful not to get hurt.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll help you,¡± she said, sniffing the air and feeling hungry. ¡°Have you applied your face mask after the bath? Did you put on your skincare? Take care, or you¡¯ll get wrinkles,¡± Bo Yan, wary of the knife in his hand, didn¡¯t want to accidentally hurt her. ¡°You¡¯re the one who¡¯ll get wrinkles!¡± Xia Siyu retorted, annoyed, ¡°Besides, what if I get wrinkles? Even with wrinkles, I¡¯ll still be a beautiful woman with wrinkles.¡± S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Angered, she tried to grab the knife from him: ¡°Move aside, let me chop the vegetables!¡± Bo Yan got scared and quickly put the knife away. That was something she definitely should not touch. What if something happened? He had no choice but to say, ¡°Alright, could you help me place these chopped vegetables on the table?¡± Xia Siyu glanced at the knife then at the neatly arranged vegetables beside it and unhappily agreed, ¡°Fine then.¡± She then carried the plates out one by one. Xia Siyu had her little preferences, placing her favorite tofu and enoki mushrooms in front of her and pushing the leafy greens toward where he sat. Bo Yan still had to compliment her from behind, ¡°Wife is so amazing. Wife is so capable.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, there was a ¡°clatter¡± as a plate fell to the floor, scattering vegetable leaves everywhere. Xia Siyu, without blinking, picked up the vegetables from the floor, intending to put them back on the plate. Bo Yan quickly intervened, ¡°Let me clean it up.¡± He carefully picked up the larger vegetable pieces and washed them thoroughly. Xia Siyu, on the other hand, took a broom and dustpan to sweep up the larger ceramic pieces. Just after she emptied the trash and put away the broom and dustpan, she noticed another ceramic piece on the floor. Without much thought, she reached out to pick it up. Bo Yan had just uttered ¡°be careful¡± when her finger got pricked. After being pricked, she held up her bleeding finger, looking aggrieved at him. Bo Yan had no choice but to pull her over and squeeze the blood out of the wound. Luckily, her finger was not seriously injured; it was just a minor scrape. After squeezing out the congestion and cleaning it, he bandaged it with an adhesive bandage. Xia Siyu watched him as he washed her finger and said, ¡°In romance novels, the male protagonist is always so caring towards the female protagonist, sucking the dirt from her wounds. As he sucks, they somehow end up in bed.¡± Bo Yan was both amused and annoyed, flicking her forehead, ¡°What kind of nonsense novels are you reading! So you want me to suck the blood, is that it? Fine then, I¡¯ll suck it!¡± Having said that, he immediately took her finger into his mouth. Chapter 820 - 811 Temporary (3) Chapter 820: Chapter 811 Temporary (3) Xia Siyu still shook her head: ¡°You¡¯re doing it wrong. Let me teach you.¡± She pulled back her paws and took his fingers into her mouth again, sucking gently and swirling her tongue. Bo Yan¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed up and down instantly, this girl was too much, clearly he had called a truce, yet she was still provoking him intentionally. She just liked to see him look helpless and unable to resist, he knew that very well, yet he still relished it. This girl¡­ After Xia Siyu ¡°demonstrated,¡± she slightly lifted her head to look at him, that thirty-degree angle giving off feelings of attachment and admiration. Bo Yan decided to take the initiative. He straightforwardly reached out, wrapping one arm around her waist and pulled her close, then leaned down to kiss her. After a mere kiss, Bo Yan was a bit stunned; he pulled back slightly: ¡°What did you just eat?¡± Xia Siyu was very self-satisfied: ¡°Did you taste it? Orange-flavored toothpaste, smells good, right?¡± If she was going to seduce someone, she had to do it professionally, she had to make sure the customer was satisfied, so they would come back for more. Bo Yan¡¯s gaze deepened for a moment, this girl, he didn¡¯t know what she thought about all day long, how she always had so many new tricks. If his self-control were not strong, he would have been thoroughly disoriented by her antics already. ¡°Smells good, and not just smells good, tastes good too.¡± After saying that, he rose to the challenge once again. Having spent so many days together, Bo Yan was a quick learner, he had long figured out all her body¡¯s secrets. He knew how to make her happy, or saddened, what she liked, what she loathed, he knew it all. Soon, his hand around her waist also began to roam, varying between gentle and firm pressure, making her breathe in a whole different rhythm. Initially, Xia Siyu was doing this to tease him, but at this moment, she was indeed getting a bit carried away. She even stretched out her arms to wrap them around his neck. But just when she wanted to indulge further, Bo Yan suddenly pulled away, a slight smile hanging on his lips: ¡°The soup is going to burn.¡± I¡¯m the one who¡¯s about to burn here! Who cares about the soup! Xia Siyu didn¡¯t care, she continued to cling to his neck and kiss him, until she was panting and her eyes were hazy, then Bo Yan gently pulled her back: ¡°Alright. It¡¯s time for dinner.¡± S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xia Siyu was very displeased. She intended to play with him but ended up being played instead. His mindset hadn¡¯t changed while hers did. But given her current state, she couldn¡¯t play with him joyously. So, she resentfully went back to the dining table, converting her frustration into appetite. She still wanted to stoke the fire: ¡°Why don¡¯t you drink some alcohol? Have a drink. I saw you bring a bottle back from next door.¡± There¡¯s a common saying, alcohol brings disorder! She just wanted him to drink, to lose his reason after drinking. She liked to see him annoyed and irritable but powerless. Bo Yan very seriously replied: ¡°We have soup, there¡¯s no need for wine.¡± ¡°How can soup compare to wine? It¡¯s a rare opportunity today. Come on, let me open it for you.¡± If it weren¡¯t for her period, would he hold back from drinking? Now, when her body was vulnerable, let alone cold drinks, even wine, tea, and coffee should best be avoided. ¡°No need, that bottle of red wine needs at least an hour to breathe before drinking. It¡¯s a waste to drink it now.¡± ¡°Then have some whiskey, or vodka! Don¡¯t say you don¡¯t have any, I saw it!¡± When she toured the place last time, she spotted alcohol in the dining room¡¯s bar, not as extravagant as the wine cellar next door, but as long as there was alcohol, that was enough, drink him under the table! Chapter 821 - 812 Temporary (4) Chapter 821: Chapter 812 Temporary (4) Xia Siyu enthusiastically stood up, without further ado grabbed a bottle of 53% alcohol baijiu from the shelf for him, then swiftly grabbed a red wine glass and filled it to the brim for him in one go. The stemmed glass was pretty large, and this one glassful was at least half a jin. Bo Yan was shocked on the side: ¡°Siyu, this¡­¡± ¡°If you¡¯re a man, drink it all.¡± Xia Siyu quickly handed it over to him, Bo Yan with a helpless expression, ¡°This isn¡¯t about being a man or not, it¡¯s that this is half a jin¡­ half a jin.¡± Xia Siyu took a glance and seemed to realize she might have poured a bit too much. She turned back to look at the bottle¡ªthe mouth of this kind of bottle was very small, once poured out it¡¯s hard to put it back in. She knew about Bo¡¯s ¡°alcohol tolerance,¡± not even as good as hers. She pondered for a moment: ¡°How about, I help you drink some?¡± ¡°Hey, don¡¯t.¡± This was no laughing matter. Her current physical condition really wasn¡¯t suited for drinking alcohol. But even if she was well, Bo Yan wouldn¡¯t let her drink either. This was high-proof baijiu, 53%, no joke, a sip could get an unaccustomed drinker drunk. Wouldn¡¯t her capacity of being able to down a whole bottle be harm to her? ¡°Eat first, have a little food, then I¡¯ll drink it, okay?¡± Xia Siyu knew that drinking on an empty stomach could lead to quicker intoxication, having some food base was better. And so, the two of them contentedly ate their meal. The chicken soup had been simmering for a while, the broth clear and slightly yellow, the chicken tender and delicious. After drinking several bowls of soup, they lit the fire again, added some tofu and side dishes, even without a main course, they were full. But after the meal, Xia Siyu was still eyeing that glass of alcohol, her gaze flitting towards it: ¡°We still haven¡¯t drunk this.¡± It seemed there was no escaping it. Bo Yan even said, ¡°Can I go brush my teeth first? Otherwise, if I drink too much and have to vomit later, it will taste awful.¡± What a delicate fellow. As long as he was willing to drink, Xia Siyu was particularly generous at this moment: ¡°Fine, Her Majesty gives her permission.¡± Bo Yan quickly went upstairs. His time up there was a bit long, seemingly not only did he brush his teeth, he shaved, took a bath, and even washed his hair. Xia Siyu got angry, slapping the sofa furiously: ¡°Are you doing this on purpose? Deliberately delaying?¡± Bo Yan smiled: ¡°How could that be?¡± Xia Siyu menacingly shoved the glass in front of him: ¡°Drink up!¡± Now was the time for Bo Yan to negotiate with her: ¡°I¡¯m not saying I absolutely can¡¯t drink. But¡­¡± Xia Siyu was very impatient and disliked it immensely when someone said ¡°but¡­¡± during a conversation: ¡°What ¡®but¡¯? I¡¯ll teach you, just close your eyes, bring the glass to your mouth, and down it in one go. Don¡¯t worry, even if you collapse, there¡¯s the sofa; you can just sleep there. Even if you get a bout of alcohol-induced craziness, no one outside will see. If something happens to you, I¡¯ll dial 120 immediately!¡± What kind of wife is this, really a true wife, her own! Bo Yan was caught between laughter and tears, and it took him a while to say: ¡°It¡¯s like this. You also know that when we came together again, it was because we both drank too much. You know what I¡¯m like when I drink excessively; I might not be able to control myself and do something bad to you, but you¡¯re not supposed to right now, right?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, if you dare make a move on me, I¡¯ll use slippers to deal with you.¡± Bo Yan said, ¡°How about this, if I really develop that kind of bad tendency, and you can¡¯t then¡­ could you help me out in some other way, like¡ªusing a hand.¡± S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 822 - 813 Temporary (5) Chapter 822: Chapter 813 Temporary (5) Bo Yan continued to tempt her: ¡°Didn¡¯t you already look and touch before? It¡¯s actually very simple, just smooth it out, give it a squeeze, hmm, don¡¯t use too much force, otherwise you¡¯ll have to be sworn brothers with eunuchs. It¡¯s better that you use your hand than me losing consciousness and harming you, right? You see, all this alcohol, you know I can¡¯t drink. Drinking all this, such a big sacrifice for me. Besides, you¡¯ll have to get used to it sooner or later. If you ever have a baby in the future, we won¡¯t be able to be intimate for a long time, right? I don¡¯t want to stray, and you can¡¯t bear to see me frustrated.¡± Xia Siyu responded matter-of-factly: ¡°I can bear it.¡± Bo Yan was taken aback, but since he couldn¡¯t obtain her consent, he staunchly refused to drink: ¡°Then you choose, should I drink or not?¡± Xia Siyu frowned slightly, deeply hesitant. Her gaze shifted to his face for a moment and then downward towards his parts, her frown deepening. After a long thought, she finally seemed to make up her mind: ¡°You drink.¡± Bo Yan was overjoyed inside, but he still pretended to be troubled, looking at the drink and hesitated for a moment before picking up the glass: ¡°So, I¡¯m drinking this?¡± Xia Siyu was expectant: ¡°You drink.¡± Bo Yan frowned, holding the glass and sniffed it first. Just like red wine, liquor also needs to be aged. This drink had been in the house for a few years, and after the bottle was opened, it had lost some of its chaotic alcohol smell, and the aroma started to drift. He first took a small sip, and indeed, the drink was much spicier than red wine. A warm and intense aroma immediately spread from the mouth to the esophagus and rushed into his stomach, almost instantly warming up his body. Bo Yan actually had a good alcohol tolerance, but he easily blushed. Just this small sip made his face instantly burn. Xia Siyu, seeing this, couldn¡¯t help but be a bit surprised, but she still egged him on: ¡°Come on, it was just a small sip.¡± She might not necessarily force Bo Yan to finish the entire large glass. But she just wanted to tease him. If he really couldn¡¯t handle it, she would quickly take the glass away. Bo Yan looked at her, said nothing more, and took another sip. This time a big gulp, and half the glass was gone. Roughly at least a couple of ounces. With this large gulp, the heat rushed to the stomach and then to the forehead, his face and behind the ears instantly reddened. The warmth spread through his blood vessels to the whole body, making him feel a bit light and floaty. Then, the rich aroma of cereals came through. Most white liquors are made from sorghum, besides the cereal aroma, there¡¯s also an aftertaste of sweetness. Immediately, the liquor flavor was refreshing. Maybe because it was a good quality wine, he didn¡¯t feel headaches, but rather felt a bit airy, just as the ancients described, even feeling like he could ¡°ride the wind.¡± sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xia Siyu watched Bo Yan, not expecting the guy to still be standing, she was going to persuade him not to continue, as drinking was harmful to the body, especially such a large amount of alcohol. But Bo Yan looked at her with a shimmer in his eyes: ¡°Don¡¯t forget what you just agreed to.¡± Then he tilted his head back and finished the rest of the half glass as well. Although Bo Yan actually had good alcohol tolerance, that large gulp was too much, and he staggered a little. Xia Siy still kindly helped him to the sofa: ¡°How are you feeling?¡± Chapter 823 - 814 Temporary (6) Chapter 823: Chapter 814 Temporary (6) Bo Yan didn¡¯t speak immediately, worried that he would reek of alcohol the moment he opened his mouth. After a while, he finally spoke: ¡°I¡¯m fine, it¡¯s just you¡­¡± Before he could finish his sentence, Xia Siyu sprang up like a rabbit and dashed to the stairs at the speed of a 100-meter sprint, then up the stairs so fast it left him in awe! Xia Siyu was not foolish, getting him to drink was just for fun. Whether he drank or not, she had no intention of getting dragged down with him. Now, of course, was the time to make a quick escape. Bo Yan was stunned, not expecting her to run off so quickly, so fast that he didn¡¯t even react in time. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. When he wanted to get up and chase after her, the alcohol he had imbibed did have some effect. He barely stood up before sinking back into the sofa. He took a deep breath, adjusted himself, and continued walking upstairs. Bo Yan¡¯s alcohol tolerance was quite high, but he drank too quickly and urgently and needed to slow down a bit. But when he reached his room on the third floor, the bedroom door was locked. Obviously, Xia Siyu was very thorough in her precautions, locking even this place to prevent any drunken misbehavior, in case he tried to sneak in during the night. Bo Yan knocked on the door: ¡°Honey, open the door.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t,¡± Xia Siyu laughed joyfully from inside, ¡°You think I¡¯m foolish? I¡¯m not opening it!¡± She didn¡¯t intend to use any force; she was deliberately teasing him, and seeing him unable to enter brought her joy as she rolled around on the bed clutching a pillow. ¡°Open the door, I promise I won¡¯t touch you. Can I just lie down for a while?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a sofa downstairs, right? Just endure one night on the sofa.¡± She was not foolish, thinking she could trick her into opening the door; no chance! The last time she checked the house, she particularly liked his open-style bedroom, the two-meter bed where she could roll for a long, long time. Moreover, tonight she was alone to rest, and opening the window let her see the swimming pool outside¡ªthe environment was absolutely great! However, just when she lay down and hadn¡¯t rolled much, Bo Yan said from outside: ¡°Siyu, honey, darling, dear, open the door.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t. Even if you jump from here, I won¡¯t open.¡± No sooner had she spoken when there seemed to be a sound of something heavy tumbling down, followed by a muffled groan from Bo Yan, then a loud crash. Xia Siyu was stunned for a moment; surely he hadn¡¯t really fallen down? He had drunk a lot; what if he really fell down? She hurriedly leapt up from the bed, didn¡¯t even put on her slippers, and rushed to the door, pulling it open without a second thought, ¡°Bo Yan, are you okay?¡± As soon as the door opened, Bo Yan stood at the entrance, looking calm. It seemed it was a decorative piece in the corridor that had tumbled down. This scoundrel, still resorting to such a trick? The young man has no honour! Bo Yan had a slight smile on his face, and before she could shut the door, he instantly grabbed her wrist, pushing her back. Xia Siyu kept retreating until her knees hit the bed edge, she fell backward, and he pressed down without hesitation and kissed her. It must be said, he had rinsed his mouth before, so other than the scent of alcohol, there was no other smell. His kiss was passionate, like a summer breeze mixed with a strong scent of alcohol, making her heat up as well. But unfortunately, she really wasn¡¯t in a state to reciprocate today, only to be regretfully defeated. But using her hand? She glanced at Bo Yan, Bo Yan didn¡¯t speak, his breathing even, he had fallen asleep. Chapter 824 - 815 Mutual Calculations (1) Chapter 824: Chapter 815 Mutual Calculations (1) Oh right, this guy had too much to drink, his cheeks flushed with red; it¡¯s quite remarkable that he managed to hold up until now. Although it¡¯s not Xia Siyu¡¯s bedtime yet, after the exhaustion of travel in the past day or two, and with her period having started, it¡¯s normal to feel especially sleepy. She gently pushes Bo Yan, who¡¯s lying on top of her, away, then after thinking for a moment, she slowly draws close again, hugging his arm and snuggling up to his warm biceps, then falls asleep in a second. After she falls asleep, Bo Yan slightly opens his eyes, lets out a breath, and is relieved that the troublemaker didn¡¯t hug his waist; he was really struggling to hold back. He had been pretending to sleep, otherwise, he really wouldn¡¯t know how to handle the situation. This girl, so cunning and lively, she clearly doesn¡¯t have the ability to face the consequences, yet she still teases and plays tricks. It¡¯s only because of him that she can be allowed to frolic so freely. However, on the other hand, Xia Siyu isn¡¯t just being capricious without reasons. He had just taken a sip when she, with a concerned look, insisted he shouldn¡¯t drink the remaining half of the cup. Outside the door, when she thought she had fallen, without a second thought, she rushed out of the room, fearful that something serious might happen to him. She likes him much more than her words ever show. It¡¯s only now that their relationship has gotten to the point where they can easily joke around, where she can tease him and pull off some pranks in front of him without a care. Back when she disliked him, she insisted on staying independent, kept her distance, and would have never gotten this close to him. However, the girl is getting too brazen, he needs to think of a way to properly deflate her arrogance! ** Xia Siyu had planned only to rest for a short while, but perhaps because of blood loss fatigue, or maybe because Bo Yan was beside her, she slept the deepest sleep she¡¯s had in half a month. She woke up to change a sanitary pad once and then went back to sleep soundly, not even knowing when Bo Yan got up. Bo Yan is used to getting up early. After waking up, he carefully got out of bed. Not wanting to wake her, he dared not wash up in the master bedroom. After cleaning up, the housemaid auntie came over with fresh vegetables, and he specifically instructed her not to go into the master bedroom, just to neatly arrange the fruit and vegetables and tidy up the room. Nevertheless, right before he went out to jog, he gave one more instruction. So when Xia Siyu woke up, all she heard was the sound of running water. She thought somebody might be swimming in the outdoor pool in such cold weather. She got up and saw that Bo Yan was soaking in the massage bathtub, next to it was an ice bucket holding a bottle of champagne, and a small box of mousse cake. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xia Siyu didn¡¯t have a strong fascination with taking baths, but the sight of the cake made her mouth water. Especially during her period, she desperately craved sweet things. ¡°Does it taste good?¡± Bo Yan slightly frowned, immediately slipping into an old Versailles-like expression, ¡°Actually, it¡¯s just so-so. But what to do, there isn¡¯t anything else to eat around here, so I have to make do with some mousse cake paired with champagne.¡± The next second, Xia Siyu was about to snatch it away, but Bo Yan was already guarding against her, quickly taking it back: ¡°You can¡¯t eat this, it¡¯s cold.¡± Xia Siyu protested: ¡°It¡¯s the third day for me, my stomach doesn¡¯t hurt anymore, I can eat!¡± She tried to grab it again, and Bo Yan hurriedly pulled the cake plate further away: ¡°No, you can¡¯t. It might look fine now, but it¡¯ll feel worse after eating. Just endure these few days, and it won¡¯t hurt the next time.¡± Xia Siyu didn¡¯t care about that, she directly snatched the plate and, like a hamster, stuffed the cake into her mouth in two or three bites, her cheeks puffing out. Chapter 825 - 816: Calculating Against Each Other (2) Chapter 825: Chapter 816: Calculating Against Each Other (2) Bo Yan said from behind, ¡°You haven¡¯t brushed your teeth yet!¡± Xia Siyu puffed her cheeks, speaking indistinctly, ¡°I¡¯ll wash after eating, after eating.¡± Bo Yan remained silent beside her, but his eyebrows inadvertently showed a bit of smugness. Plan successful. Wasn¡¯t Xia Siyu using her hands yesterday to tempt him to drink? He needed just the right remedy. Since she loved food, he would use her favorite foods against her! At noon, Bo Yan prepared a whole table of delicious dishes and even opened a bottle of red wine. Xia Siyu was very surprised when she came down, thinking he was setting up a feast, especially since the table had her favorite cumin lamb! The red wine, acquired from next door yesterday, was a 2005 Mouton, perfectly paired with lamb! Bo Yan poured a glass from the decanter, and Xia Siyu laughed saying, ¡°Why be so formal with family? You¡¯ve cooked so much, it doesn¡¯t support the Clean Plate Campaign.¡± Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bo Yan also smiled¡ªsnatching the wine glass from her hand and taking away the cumin lamb in front of her, ¡°This is for me to eat. You can¡¯t drink right now.¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t I eat the lamb?¡± She was displeased. ¡°There are a lot of chilies in it.¡± ¡°I can eat spicy!¡± Don¡¯t underestimate her; though she grew up abroad, she embraced spiciness after returning to her country, she could handle it! ¡°No, you can¡¯t. You are on your period now, you can¡¯t eat spicy.¡± Bo Yan slightly smiled, taking away the lamb and passing her a clear soup made from lamb bones, ¡°You can only have this and vegetables.¡± Xia Siyu was shocked. Bo Yan had cooked a lavish meal, enough for four or five people¡ªall dishes were prepared in two versions, one spicy and one not, making it seem even more expansive. He also swirled the wine glass, taking a sip, ¡°Mmm, I guessed right, this wine needs at least two hours to breathe. After opening, it¡¯s much more aromatic¡ªsadly, you can¡¯t drink it during your period.¡± Xia Siyu was furious, she didn¡¯t care that much, even if Bo Yan moved it away she would still reach for it! One chopstick, two chopsticks. Bo Yan glanced at her, and she retracted her chopsticks. When he lowered his head to sip soup, she stretched out once more to grab two pieces. The same went for dinner, Bo Yan enjoyed flavorful spicy dishes while Xia Siyu could only drink porridge. Speaking of other things was fine, but as soon as food was concerned, Xia Siyu¡¯s intelligence spiked. She instantly caught onto Bo Yan¡¯s ¡°malice,¡± ¡°Are you doing this on purpose?¡± Bo Yan feigned ignorance, ¡°Doing what on purpose?¡± He also ¡°considerately¡± advised, ¡°It¡¯s getting cold, drink more hot water. Rest early. You¡¯re in a special period now, you can¡¯t overexert yourself.¡± Xia Siyu was furious, ¡°You really are doing it on purpose, taking advantage of my ¡®special period¡¯ to treat me differently! You even made different dishes, deliberately tempting me!¡± All day, from morning till night, he was surely retaliating for yesterday¡¯s prank! ¡°Are you just mad because I ran off last night? Is that why you desperately wanted me to use my hands?¡± Xia Siyu, affected by her menstrual period, quickly grasped the point, ¡°You can¡¯t even wait a few days, what if I go abroad or get pregnant and can¡¯t see you for a long time, you¡¯d probably cheat!¡± She concluded, ¡°Bo Yan, you¡¯re the worst!¡± Initially, Bo Yan just wanted to retaliate a bit, but seeing his wife so furious, his voice instantly softened, and he came to coax her, ¡°It¡¯s not because you didn¡¯t want to help me with your hands that I did this.¡± Chapter 826 - 817 Mutual Scheming (2) Chapter 826: Chapter 817 Mutual Scheming (2) Xia Siyu remained unmoved: ¡°Sure, you say nice things now. Who knows what you¡¯re really thinking.¡± Bo Yan explained as well: ¡°I¡¯m not angry, but you knew very well that I can¡¯t hold my liquor, yet you tricked me into drinking. You slept like a log last night, do you know how awful I felt?¡± Xia Siyu felt guilty, she would fall asleep deep and completely, indeed oblivious to Bo Yan¡¯s condition afterward. Drinking too much can be quite serious for some people, even leading to sudden death. Bo Yan is no drinker, he¡¯s even worse at it than she is. She cajoled Bo Yan into a whole glass of baijiu yesterday, fifty-three percent alcohol. Such high proof and quantity, consumed in two gulps no less, can be dangerous unless you¡¯re a hardened drinker. Xia Siyu felt guilty. She was worried something would happen to him, so when Bo Yan threw the ornament down the stairs, she dashed out without a second thought, fearing he had fallen. But she still harbored some suspicion: ¡°But¡­¡± How could she not believe that he held a grudge because she ran off without ¡°using hands¡±? Bo Yan knew what she suspected, her gaze already scanning his lower body. He sighed and said: ¡°You, always needlessly worrying about things. If I were the type to look elsewhere easily, I would have found other women during these seven years, why would I wait until now?¡± He reached out and hugged her: ¡°Sometimes people can indeed be blinded by lard. How did I ever fall for a woman like you?¡± Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xia Siyu ¡°hmphed¡± in his arms, lifting her head with a glint in her eye that seemed to say: Try saying that one more time. Then Bo Yan continued: ¡°Actually, you¡¯ve really got me locked in. You ran off yesterday, and I wasn¡¯t mad. I just wanted to ¡®return the favor¡¯. Look at today, I simply made a few dishes you dislike and you¡¯re hopping mad. You were joking around so much last night, if it were a man with a shorter temper, he might spank you.¡± ¡°So you admit you did that on purpose just now!¡± Xia Siyu immediately got the point and said indignantly. ¡°What ¡®on purpose¡¯? You really can¡¯t eat spicy food, you can¡¯t drink, you can¡¯t have cold drinks. With the way your stomach was hurting before, you must¡¯ve sneaked some food, haven¡¯t you? Don¡¯t say you haven¡¯t, I don¡¯t believe it.¡± Indeed, Xia Siyu¡¯s stomach would hurt during her period, and apart from the ailment caused by jumping into the water for filming at the beginning, and occasionally wearing less for activities as an artist, she did indeed crave food. ¡°That was¡­¡± Bo Yan pressed against her lips, shaking his head, ¡°No need to explain. From tomorrow on, I¡¯ll eat the same as you. Tea, wine, coffee, chili, and any cold food, we won¡¯t prepare them anymore. I¡¯ll keep you company.¡± Only then did Xia Siyu cheer up. She wasn¡¯t actually insistent on sneaking food, and if it wasn¡¯t placed in front of her, she could resist. But Bo Yan flaunting those things in front of her was more than she could bear. As the two were tidying up and getting ready for dinner, the doorbell rang again. Bo Yan looked and saw it was the guy from next door, rushing over to knock on the door, sensibly bringing a bottle of 2000 Lafite to exchange: ¡°Thank you for tomorrow¡¯s dishes.¡± Bo Yan still spoke courteously, as long as Han Yifan was into ¡°bartering¡±, he was naturally willing to ¡°make a fair exchange.¡± He¡¯d been foresighted when shopping today, having the help to buy some extra groceries, now conveniently available for him. Han Yifan lingered, refusing to leave, his smile loaded with meaning: ¡°And that little umbrella¡­ could you spare a few more?¡± Chapter 827 - 819: Calculating Against Each Other (4) Chapter 827: Chapter 819: Calculating Against Each Other (4) On the third morning of Xia Siyu living here, Bo Yan had work to do; a brand wanted him to be their spokesperson, so he had to go out. Shang Feifei also had work. However, her work was quite unique¡ªit was an online variety show where she was one of the guests, and all she needed was internet access. It was similar to live streaming; she could participate from anywhere as long as there was a network connection. Near the Yushu Linfeng community, paparazzi were still lurking around. Since it was only an online activity, Shang Feifei simply chose not to go out and stayed in the villa. However, when it comes to recording a show, even if the celebrity is at home, there¡¯s lighting, makeup, set design, props, and countless other teams involved. But with paparazzi around the entire Yushu Facing the Wind area, all three celebrities wanted to keep a low profile. Shang Feifei¡¯s assistant drove around the villa every day, and if she spotted any paparazzi, she would immediately leave and update Fei¡¯er about the situation outside. People inside couldn¡¯t go out, and those outside couldn¡¯t come in. Bo Yan could go out because there were several cars parked in his villa. Switching cars for travel, paparazzi couldn¡¯t always follow him around. But Shang Feifei had come in Han Yifan¡¯s car, and she could actually go out if she wanted to¡ªonly if she could openly acknowledge her relationship with Han Yifan could she go out and face the paparazzi¡¯s questions. But she was still hesitant; although her relationship with Han Yifan had grown closer, she hadn¡¯t made up her mind yet. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Originally, she planned to rest in the guest room on the third floor, but ended up staying in Han Yifan¡¯s master bedroom these past two days. If it weren¡¯t for having to work today, she would probably still be idly enjoying his company. Indeed, after setting her prejudices aside and spending time with him, their relationship had improved quite a bit. She needed to shoot, and Han Yifan suggested, Bo Yan next door had a full set of filming equipment¡ªhe had always been studying to be a director, so naturally, he had these things at home. Shang Feifei didn¡¯t get along well with her next-door neighbors. Not to mention Xia Siyu¡ªthey were enemies. And with Bo Yan, since he had rejected her, she had also kept her distance. However, she was indeed curious¡ªwhat exactly was the situation between Xia Siyu and Bo Yan? Han Yifan said he would take her there, and wouldn¡¯t go empty-handed. He first called Bo Yan. Xia Siyu, already annoyed by hearing that Bo Yan had left her alone at the villa to work, was now even more upset to hear someone from next door was coming. She immediately refused without a second thought: ¡°I don¡¯t want her here! Why should she come over? This is my house, my house!¡± Unexpectedly, she was in the outdoor garden when she said this, and her voice was too loud; Han Yifan next door had already heard her. He directly called out to the yard, ¡°We won¡¯t come empty-handed. I¡¯ll bring a bottle of ¡¯95 Lafite!¡± Xia Siyu scoffed, ¡°A ¡¯05 Lafite to ask for my help? At least bring an ¡¯82!¡± An ¡¯82 Lafite¡­ he really didn¡¯t have one. Even if he did, L it had already been forty years, and though some well-preserved wines, even a hundred years old, were still in the tasting period, the premise was that it was ¡°well-preserved.¡± Wine is delicate; the temperature and humidity must be constant, and it shouldn¡¯t be jostled, or else it would ruin its taste. Han Yifan gritted his teeth, ¡°A ¡¯05 Romane-Conti!¡± ¡°Pfft, Romane-Conti is nothing!¡± Xia Siyu finished her sentence and tilted her head to ask Bo Yan, ¡°How much is a ¡¯05 Romane-Conti?¡± Bo Yan thought for a moment, ¡°¡¯05, around 200,000.¡± Xia Siyu felt a bit of regret, ¡°Is it still okay if I agree now?¡± Chapter 828 - 820 Mutual Scheming (5) Chapter 828: Chapter 820 Mutual Scheming (5) After pondering for a while, as if not taking the offer would be a miss, Xia Siyu glanced at Bo Yan. She wished she hadn¡¯t bragged earlier; now, the Romane-Conti she almost had was slipping away. Next door, another voice chimed in: ¡°Add one bottle of ¡¯05 Lafite, and that¡¯s as far as I can go!¡± ¡°Deal! It¡¯s a deal!¡± Xia Siyu hurriedly agreed, afraid that he might change his mind. She then turned to Bo Yan: ¡°Get a move on, make a nice setup for the guest. Get the lighting, camera, screen, and seating all sorted! Anything else she needs, get on it!¡± Thinking of something else, Xia Siyu looked back next door: ¡°How many days do you need to borrow our place?¡± That could be a huge loss, what if they end up using it for many days? Two bottles of wine wouldn¡¯t nearly cover the cost! Moreover, Shang Feifei used to eye Bo Yan like prey, and Han Yifan didn¡¯t seem quite capable of controlling her. If she harbored ulterior motives towards Bo Yan, Xia Siyu¡¯s loss would be even greater! There was no reply from the other side. Before long, Shang Feifei and Han Yifan appeared at the door. Han Yifan was indeed holding two bottles of wine, a pained expression on his face: ¡°This wine lessens by one bottle every time one is drunk.¡± Bo Yan nodded with a smile: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will open it at just the right moment.¡± While speaking, he took the bag from Han Yifan¡¯s hand with a smile. Yifan¡¯s gaze lingered on the bag with reluctance, but Xia Siyu still kept her guard up: ¡°How long will you be here? An hour? A whole day? Or even overnight? What about tomorrow?¡± Shang Feifei glanced at her, then withdrew her gaze indifferently: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t stay too long. Stupidity is contagious.¡± ¡°She¡¯s calling me dumb!¡± Xia Siyu got angry and turned to find Bo Yan¡¯s support: ¡°She just called me dumb, did you all hear that? She insulted me, my soul is hurt. That won¡¯t do, you have to pay more. Give us another bottle of wine!¡± Han Yifan was still in pain over his Romane-Conti, his eyes unwilling to leave the bag in Bo Yan¡¯s hands. Bo casually placed the bag to one side, and Han Yifan hurried to take over: ¡°Don¡¯t just put the wine anywhere. Don¡¯t keep it standing upright either, be careful the cork dries out and affects the taste.¡± ¡°Either way, it¡¯s for drinking, shall we open it tonight?¡± Bo Yan suggested, looking unconcerned. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°That¡¯s not okay! How can you just open it like that?¡± He had won Shang Feifei¡¯s heart with that bottle, its worth and sentimental value were immense. These two seemed ready to just open it. ¡°Keep talking, and I¡¯ll use it to stew beef,¡± retorted Xia Siyu bluntly. As a straightforward person, she only wanted to drink good wine. Although she knew the price when she conned the wine out of them, once it was hers, it was hers! She had no time for delicacies and sentiments; all she cared about was drinking fine wine! Bo Yan, however, held her back: ¡°Hey, this wine really isn¡¯t suitable for drinking right now.¡± Han Yifan nodded in agreement. He changed the subject slightly: ¡°Wait until you¡¯re better in a few days, then we¡¯ll open it. I¡¯ll settle for drinking some Mouton for now.¡± Settle¡­ Mouton is also a premier cru, okay! It costs almost ten thousand yuan per bottle! And this guy has the nerve to call it ¡°settling¡±! Amidst the commotion, it was Shang Feifei who clarified: ¡°I need to shoot a variety show, it¡¯s going to be live-streamed using smartphones. It won¡¯t take long, the live broadcast will be about an hour. Including all the preparations, it¡¯ll be at most two hours.¡± Only two hours, that¡¯s manageable. Xia Siyu, sticking to the principle of honesty, welcomed them cheerfully: ¡°Let¡¯s get this straight, these two bottles of wine are valid for one day. Within today¡¯s time frame, you can use the equipment. You can come over tomorrow as well, but¡ªthere will be an added charge.¡± Chapter 829 - 820: Calculating Against Each Other (6) Chapter 829: Chapter 820: Calculating Against Each Other (6) Who are these people! How could she compete with such people? And she even made a three-year agreement with her adversary, to see who would win two Best Actress awards within that time. But with Xia Siyu¡¯s cooperation, Shang Feifei was able to enter the second-floor audio-visual room for shooting. Han Yifan wasn¡¯t idle either, helping her with lighting, monitoring equipment, and starting the shoot. Bo Yan changed into a different outfit and drove out in another car, thankfully without attracting a crowd. After all, aside from a few artists like them, there were indeed other guests staying here. Paparazzi usually target vehicles and only tend to follow familiar license plates. Today, his mission was to cooperate with a brand. The talks had been mostly settled beforehand, and today¡¯s visit was for shooting an advertisement. The shoot today was slightly complex and would likely take a considerable amount of time. Even Han Yifan, who had been criticized by Shang Feifei for ¡°not focusing on his main business,¡± was busy today with preparations for starting his own company¡ªhe and Bo Yan had long been ready to work together. That¡¯s why Han Yifan handed over the bar to someone else to manage, which wasn¡¯t just for Shang Feifei¡¯s sake; he had his own considerations too. Bo Yan had plans to make a movie, and he didn¡¯t want to depend on any one company. So he partnered with Han Yifan to register a cultural media company. The cultural company was established in his first year in the entertainment industry, and Bo Yan and Han Yifan used a bit of their own capital to test the waters. These days, there are two models for making money in the film and television industry: one is to have quality content, a solid script, skilled actors, good marketing, and decent production. The other is small-scale production and investment. Actors are all newcomers, fresh from film and drama colleges. How small can the investment be? It could even be as little as one million yuan¡ªlow-cost, with distribution on platforms. As long as the investment is sufficiently small, platforms can easily promote it to make a profit. And the company indeed made money. Because the actors were completely unknown, purely newcomers, their fees were low. Of course, even though they were greenhorns, Bo Yan did not pick them randomly. He had connections at N University and in the film academy, and he actually selected a few younger classmates. Whether they performed well or not was secondary; the key was that they were good-looking. They were newcomers, so the projects given to them were either nonsensical historical time-travel or fresh campus stories¡ªgenres that newcomers could handle without needing much acting skill. As long as they weren¡¯t wooden, a little grooming made them look quite attractive. Then it was about focusing on the content¡ªthe script had to be up to par. The directors were also experienced graduates from the film academy, personally interviewed by Bo Yan, not just talkers or empty-headed, but those with ideas. The total investment in the first film was only five million yuan, which was essentially all of the cash Bo Yan and Han Yifan had at the time. The first year was for setting up, shooting began early in the second year, and by the end of it, the film was released. After its debut online, it didn¡¯t explode in popularity, but the pay-per-view numbers on the platform were decent, with revenue sharing reaching thirty million yuan. The profit may not have been huge, but it was a success due to the small investment. After deducting the costs of production and marketing, the net profit was twenty million yuan. In addition, the director, scriptwriter, and actors all received significant experience and practice. The platform had already renewed for a sequel. Han Yifan, having closed the bar, was now focused on this venture. Though he didn¡¯t interfere with scriptwriting, he insisted on quality content, putting pressure on the scriptwriter. Now that the company was profitable, he didn¡¯t withhold payment from the directors and actors. The sequel was quoted at a higher rate. Once this team was well-polished, it could be used directly for Bo Yan¡¯s future film projects. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.