TCFGBH Chapter 14

He looked at the two people inside, one sitting and the other kneeling in a suggestive posture. His face darkened, and with a forced smile, he said, “Is it fun pretending to faint?

“???”

Enemies in front, and a tiger behind.

Xia Yan’s vision went black.

Help!!! This world is unbearable!

–

In the bustling commercial district of the capital.

It was rush hour, and the traffic was gridlocked. Even million-dollar luxury cars had to crawl forward at a snail’s pace.

Cheng Bingyu was reviewing a marketing proposal. After going through two plans, she was still unsatisfied. She tiredly rubbed her eyes and bent down to kiss her daughter’s fair little cheek. “Xingxing, what are you looking at?”

“Brother.” The little girl with two pigtails pointed at the intersection. “Pretty brother, chubby uncle, help Xingxing find mommy.”

Cheng Bingyu’s daughter had gone missing three days ago due to an assistant’s mistake.

She was nearly driven mad then, but fortunately, a kind person found her daughter and brought her to the police station, preventing a disaster. Since then, her daughter had been constantly asking about the pretty brother.

Cheng Bingyu wanted to find this good Samaritan to thank him, so she checked the surveillance footage at the police station. Their hearts nearly stopped when she and her husband saw their daughter crossing the street.

Luckily, the kind young man had pulled her back just in time. Unfortunately, the man was wearing a hat and mask, and the car was parked in a blind spot of the surveillance camera, so they hadn’t been able to find him.

“Did Xingxing see the pretty brother today?”

The little girl looked carefully out the window, then, after a few minutes, shook her head in disappointment. “No, no brother.”

Cheng Bingyu comforted her daughter for a while until she calmed down. Then she took out her phone and opened her social media app to catch up on the latest news in her circle.

There were posts showing off wealth, love, and promoting shows—everything someone could imagine.

Suddenly, a familiar name caught her attention.

Ren Zian: [Doesn’t that voice sound like Zhao Wenhan? I’m not the only one who thinks so, right? Video jpg.]

Cheng Bingyu knew Zhao Wenhan, the young master of the Zhao family, a talented artist. Their company had worked with him once. The last time their company launched a new product, they spent a fortune to have him paint an ink drawing.

The ink drawing, combined with the promotion by a newly crowned movie star, conveyed a sense of ancient charm and comfort, making the clothing line an instant hit and even boosting the company’s stock by one percent.

Curious, Cheng Bingyu clicked on the post.

The video was only a minute long and mainly focused on a beautiful, striking young man, with Zhao Wenhan’s voice heard but his face unseen.

As a marketing planner for Beaufort, a luxury brand, Cheng Bingyu often worked with celebrities. Although she hadn’t met Xia Yan, she had heard of him.

However, her impression wasn’t good. There were numerous rumors about him online, mostly negative.

Cheng Bingyu, who despised cheating men, naturally had no fondness for Xia Yan.

Just as she was about to close her phone, a chubby little hand suddenly reached out from the right, and her daughter exclaimed, “Brother.”

She froze. “What did you say?”

“Pretty brother,” Xingxing pointed at the video on the phone, “Xingxing wants to talk to brother.”

Cheng Bingyu was shocked as she looked at the young man on the screen. Could it be that the person who saved her daughter…was Xia Yan?

–

The sun gradually set, and the sky was adorned with a vast array of fiery clouds.

The young man unconsciously clenched his hands, his long, curled eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings. After about ten seconds, he finally looked up, his eyes filled with innocence and confusion as if he didn’t understand Wei Junhao’s words.

“What did you say?”

Wei Junhao clicked his tongue impatiently. “Stop pretending, I saw your hand—” Mid-sentence, he stopped abruptly, grabbed his hair in frustration, and strode into the medical room. He closed the door behind him to ensure no one would overhear their conversation.

He then continued, “I saw with my own eyes, you pinched Tu Xi’s arm.”

“Huh?” The young man made a confused sound.

“Pretending to faint to scare people, do you find that fun?” Wei Junhao walked over in large strides, towering over the young man, trying to find a trace of guilt in his eyes. “Watching everyone worry about you, fight over you…does that make you proud?”

Xia Yan: “…” It’s not that– he didn’t, don’t blame him. Wait! No, this is exactly what he wanted.

Xia Yan, who was scolded, didn’t get angry; instead, he felt a bit proud. He called out to the system: [Look, my outstanding acting has been recognized.]

The system encouraged him generously: [Host, you’re amazing!]

Xia Yan was satisfied: [A hundred percent scumbag performance, I’ll get extra reward points. I’m one step closer to going home.]

[Keep it up.]

From the moment Wei Junhao stepped into the medical room, he was filled with an inexplicable anger that he couldn’t control, which led him to say a bunch of harsh words.

He had expected Xia Yan to retaliate viciously with his spoiled personality.

However…why did he seem faintly proud?

Was he scolded into stupidity?

Wei Junhao’s tone softened, “Actually…I can understand you.”

“Huh?” Now Xia Yan was genuinely confused as he heard Wei Junhao, sounding like a different person, start making excuses for him, “After intense exercise, insufficient blood supply to the brain can indeed cause temporary fainting.”

“…”

“When people wake up later, they might feel embarrassed…” Wei Junhao recalled the princess carrying on the beach, hesitated, and added, “Xia Yan, your body is too weak.”

Xia Six-pack abs Yan: “???” Say that again if you dare?

“Two hours of exercise, and you can’t handle it,” Wei Junhao continued, his brows furrowing with concern, ruining his cool image.

“None of your business,” Xia Yan muttered, frustrated and not wanting to talk to him anymore.
Hah! No wonder Wei Junhao is the second gong in the novel, always finding ways to pick a fight with him. He’s still the third gong; how could he bow his head to him?

Despite his thoughts, Xia Yan couldn’t help but glance at the man.

After spending the entire afternoon under the scorching sun, Wei Junhao was soaked from head to toe. His black T-shirt clung tightly to his body, revealing the outline of his muscles.

Damn! so jealous.

Xia Yan’s mind was full of muscles, and he didn’t hear a word of what the man said after that.

“???” Wei Junhao, parched from talking, looked down and saw the other person staring blankly at his abs. He followed the gaze downward.

Chest muscles, abs, a V-line, and then…ahem.

Pervert!!!

Xia Yan is seducing him again!!!

Wei Junhao’s breath hitched, his thoughts in disarray. Instinctively, he stood up straighter, puffing out his chest, making his figure even more imposing, like a peacock eager to show off its feathers.

Xia Yan: “…” His muscles are even more prominent now; he has eight-pack abs, two more than him!!!

Damn it.

No wonder he’s the second gong!

Tu Xi hadn’t spoken since Wei Junhao entered the room, patiently massaging the young man’s swollen ankle.

After feeling that the medicine had been absorbed enough, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Although he disliked Wei Junhao, today, he had to thank him for diverting Xia Yan’s attention, sparing him some pain.

Of course, that didn’t mean Wei Junhao had the right to boss around his lover. The world’s most beautiful and vibrant rose would always attract those who foolishly tried to pluck it.

Tu Xi put the remaining medicine back in the box and smiled politely, noticing the strange atmosphere between the two, though his words were sharp.

“Mr. Wei, are you dissatisfied with the income in the entertainment industry and planning to switch careers to become a fitness instructor?”

Calling him “Mr. Wei” was a pointed insult.

In the industry, status was determined by fame.

Tu Xi had been in the industry for four years and had recently won Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor awards. He was just one step away from the top honor of Best Actor.

Meanwhile, Wei Junhao had only been in the industry for two years, just recently breaking into the A-list with the movie Youth Diary.

He had no qualifications to be called “Mr.” by Tu Xi.

“Being a fitness instructor isn’t bad,” Wei Junhao replied indifferently. “It’s a job, just like any other. Do you have a problem with that, Mr. Tu?”

“It seems Mr. Wei’s income isn’t great after all.”

Tu Xi moved closer to the young man, naturally sitting beside him.

They were a couple, close and intimate, leaning on each other. Like a beautiful snake, Tu Xi coiled tightly around the young man, leaving no room for others.

Wei Junhao was momentarily speechless.

He silently cursed himself.

He had come to pick a fight, to expose Xia Yan’s true nature, and to stop him from flirting around all day. But why did it end with him giving Xia Yan workout tips?

So strange, it felt like being brainwashed.

Speaking of workouts, Wei Junhao’s mind suddenly flashed back to the scene from yesterday morning: the long, toned body, the perfectly defined muscles, the firm, rounded butt…

Stop thinking about it!!!

Wei Junhao covered his face with one hand. “Xia Yan, where are you staring at?”

Xia Yan snapped out of his daze, quickly averting his gaze as if shocked by electricity.

Help!!! He forgot again.

This is so embarrassing.

Stay calm, don’t panic. Xia Yan tried to comfort himself: As long as he was not embarrassed, the awkwardness belonged to others. He calmly commented, “Nice body.”

Wei Junhao: “…”

Tu Xi: “…”

In that instant, the expressions of both men became extremely complex.

“I told you, stop trying to seduce me!!!”

“Is this the type you like, Yan Yan?”

They both spoke at the same time, one with dark eyes and the other with brown, both pairs of eyes unblinking. They stared at Xia Yan like large animals waiting to be fed.

“I did not.”

“How could I?”

The first response was directed at Wei Junhao, and the second at Tu Xi.

Without thinking, Xia Yan quickly answered, “I’m a gong, same type as him.” He firmly declared his position as dominant, unwavering for a hundred years.

“Um.” Tu Xi pondered momentarily, “If you weren’t the same type, would you be willing to be with him?”

“???” Xia Yan was full of question marks, shaking his head decisively, “No.”

In his previous life, Xia Yan had never been in a relationship and had negative emotional intelligence. However, due to societal norms, he always thought he would find a kind girl to spend the rest of his life with.

After crossing over, he was forced to play the role of a scumbag gong.

But it was just acting, going through the motions. Once the mission was completed, he would leave this world. Getting into a relationship? That would be unfair to the other person.

Besides, Wei Junhao is the second gong.

He obviously likes Tu Xi, Xia Yan thought to himself, and Tu Xi would eventually fall for Zhao Wenxiu, and they would live happily ever after.

Tu Xi’s question was strange.

It sounded as if Wei Junhao secretly liked him.

Xia Yan had a clear understanding of his identity. As a “scumbag gong,” apart from being good-looking, he had no other merits.

Xia Yan pondered for a while, then glanced at Tu Xi and Wei Junhao.

If he really had to be with a man, he would choose Tu Xi, who was refined and handsome. Wei Junhao’s body, from a man’s perspective, was indeed desirable.

But to press someone like that under him…

It’s… a bit strange.

Xia Yan made countless assumptions but never considered the possibility of being the shou. The preconceived notion of being a dominant man made him firmly believe that he must be the gong.

The light in Wei Junhao’s eyes gradually dimmed, and his body stiffened like a rock, rooted to the spot and unable to move. After a long while, he found his voice again: “Tch! I wouldn’t want to be with him anyway.”

With that, he fled in panic.

Having chased away a rival, Tu Xi remembered something else, and his expression turned a bit strange. “Yan Yan, why do you think you’re a gong?”

“Because you’re my wife.”

Tu Xi: “…”

He thought it was just a playful term, but Xia Yan really saw him as his wife. Tu Xi chuckled internally; with Xia Yan’s personality and body, even holding hands made him hesitate and touching made him tremble…

Would he ever stop being a virgin if Xia Yan was the top?

This little clueless snow leopard.

The young man, unaware of the man’s thoughts, innocently asked, “Is there a problem?”

“No.” Tu Xi smoothly changed the subject, “Your foot is injured. Do you still want to go for French cuisine tonight?”

Xia Yan nodded without hesitation, “Yes.”

He got injured to win the game. Wouldn’t that be a huge loss if he didn’t get his reward?
“Then I’ll go inform the director.”

“Okay.”

–

An ankle sprain can be either severe or minor.

Xia Yan’s injury wasn’t severe, and he would recover in a few days. But the “Heartbeat” program only had seven days of shooting! By the time Xia Yan’s injury was fully healed, the first episode would probably be finished.

The director was so worried he wanted to cry.

He wished he could turn back time and knock out the person who suggested playing beach volleyball.

And that young master Zhao…

The director glanced downstairs to see Zhao Wenhan sitting on the sofa, his eyes red, looking like an abandoned wife, staring toward the medical room.

If it weren’t for Zhao Wenhan, Xia Yan wouldn’t have teased him. If Xia Yan hadn’t teased him, Tu Xi wouldn’t have gotten jealous. If Tu Xi hadn’t gotten jealous, the game wouldn’t have gotten so intense.

Then Xia Yan wouldn’t have gotten injured…

Uh! After thinking it through, it seems Xia Yan started it.

Director: “…” The agony mask.

When Tu Xi left the medical room to find the director, the first person to rush over was Zhao Wenhan, who bombarded him with questions: “How’s Xia Yan’s foot? Is it serious? How long until it heals?”

Tu Xi’s gaze swept lightly over Zhao Wenhan and finally landed on Zhao Wenxiu. He said, “Mr. Zhao, please control your brother.”

“Our family’s matters are none of your business.”

“After all these years, I’m truly impressed by the Zhao family’s upbringing,” Tu Xi coldly remarked as he looked at the brothers. “I know what you’re after, but if Yan Yan wants resources, I will personally offer them to him.”

The implication was clear: Zhao Wenxiu’s attempt to lure Xia Yan with benefits would be futile.
“Oh, really?” Zhao Wenxiu replied calmly, “If I fail, it must be because I haven’t offered enough.”

Seeing the man’s confident demeanor, Tu Xi chuckled, then turned to go upstairs.

When he first started dating Xia Yan, Tu Xi had suggested several times that he offer him resources to please his lover, but Xia Yan had always found excuses to avoid it.
After a while, Tu Xi figured it out.

Xia Yan had no ambition at all. He didn’t care about fame or fortune as long as he had enough money to spend. He enjoyed being in lively places and going to bars but didn’t like physical contact with others.

If Zhao Wenxiu tried to tempt Xia Yan with money to make him be with Zhao Wenhan, he would definitely fail.

Zhao Wenhan, feeling uneasy, said, “Brother…”

Zhao Wenxiu closed his eyes, lightly tapping his fingers on the sofa as he pondered. After a moment, he looked at his brother with a complex gaze and said softly, “Leave it to me.”