TCFGBH Chapter 2

The lively noise around them gradually quieted at some point, leaving only the band on stage still shouting hoarsely.

The two striking young men, skin-to-skin, breath intertwined, entangled like two beautiful serpents, refusing to let go until death.

The tingling pleasure, the scorching heat of the body, the firm grip on his hand.

Xia Yan’s mind went blank, his eyes misting over, his lashes damp, until Tu Xi let him go and helped him breathe, “Yan Yan, breathe.”

It was only then that Xia Yan responded, gasping for air.

Remembering his persona, he tried to steady his breath, curling his lips into a carefree smile, his tone lazy, “Baby, you’re so passionate.”

The bar’s dim lighting concealed the panic deep in his eyes from everyone except Tu Xi, who was observing him up close.

“…Hah,” someone let out an awkward laugh.

It set off a ripple like a drop of water splashing into hot oil.

The crowd, hiding their true feelings behind jokes, started laughing, teasing, “Hahaha, Brother Xia, you two were going at it. I’m embarrassed just watching.”

“Damn, having a partner is something, huh!”

“Brother Xia, don’t be stingy! Come on, kiss us too.”

The atmosphere returned to normal. Relieved that he hadn’t broken character, Xia Yan subtly took a breath and playfully pushed away the man approaching him, laughing and cursing, “Get lost! Xixi is my wife; who the hell are you?”

The man didn’t mind the scolding, grinning cheekily, “With my face and body… I could easily rank in the top ten in the entertainment industry. You should be thrilled to kiss me for free.”

Xia Yan: “You’re in the top ten? Then I’m number one.”

“I don’t believe you unless you show me those abs.”

“Get lost.” Xia Yan dodged the hand reaching out to him, stretched out his long leg, and stepped on the man’s abdomen, blocking his attempt to pounce. “You’re ranked tenth; don’t think you can take advantage of me.”

A beam of cold yellow light shone over, landing directly on the side of the young man’s face.
Because the earlier kiss had been too intense, physiological tears had left the corners of his eyes slightly red, like a touch of rouge, leaving an ambiguous color on his snow-white skin.

He was beautiful, wanton, yet incredibly pure.

He always treated them as brothers, utterly unaware of the filthy thoughts these so-called brothers harbored.

Even though there was a shoe between them, the man felt the foot pressing on his abdomen burning hot, and he couldn’t help but tense his abs.

Xia Yan: “???”

The system couldn’t help but comment, [He’s so lewd!]

[…]

[Good luck, I believe in your acting skills.] The system showed some sympathy for its socially anxious host.

[…]

Xia Yan was completely stunned.

He half-heartedly pressed down with his foot twice, as if teasing. “Alright, stop messing around.” After speaking, he quickly withdrew his leg and yawned. “I’m so sleepy. Xi Xi, let’s go.”

“Okay.”

Finally, it was over, and Xia Yan couldn’t wait to go home.

As a top-tier star, Tu Xi’s face was very recognizable. Many people in the bar knew him, and when a clueless newcomer took out their phone to snap a picture, their friend quickly pressed it down before they could focus.

“The first rule of Night Charm, no photos,” the friend said coldly. “Break the rules, and you’ll be kicked out.”

“S-sorry.” The newcomer looked around and saw everyone glaring at him with disgust, and the security guards nearby were ready to act. His throat went dry as he hurriedly put his phone away. “I forgot.”

Seeing he was compliant; the friend’s expression softened a bit. “Do you see the man on the right side of the booth?”

“What about him?”

“That’s Liu Jinhao, the owner of Night Charm,” the man whispered, “and the young master of the Liu family. Do you dare to take pictures of his friends? Are you tired of living?”

The bar was membership-based, and everyone who got in had a hefty net worth.

The newcomer only managed to get in because he owned a small company and had a connection with his friend. No one would stand up for him if he offended the Liu family.

Not just the Liu family.

Who in this bar would want their photo taken? If he pressed the shutter button, he’d become public enemy number one among the bar’s members without the Liu family even needing to lift a finger.

Realizing this, the newcomer gasped.

He looked gratefully at his friend. “Thank you.”

“It’s partly my fault for not warning you earlier.” The friend waved it off graciously.

“But… who’s that next to Tu Xi? He’s really…” The newcomer struggled to find the right word, racking his brain before finally settling on “beautiful.”

“You’ve seen him online before—Xia Yan.”

“???”

“Hard to believe, right?” The friend sipped his red wine. “When I first saw him, I felt the same way. Those crappy cameras don’t do him justice.”

“Does Xia Yan come here often?”

“He’s a regular. If he doesn’t have any gigs, he’ll drop by.”

The newcomer also picked up his glass and took a sip to cover his surprise. “By the way, how much is an annual membership at this bar? I’m thinking of getting one.”

“Tch! If you’re just here for Xia Yan, I advise you to think again. Who in this place isn’t watching him? What chance do we have?”

–

[…]

Task three still wasn’t complete.

The system hadn’t figured out why, so Xia Yan had to set it aside and focus on task four—exposing his relationship with Tu Xi.

The bar was packed, and Xia Yan had already introduced Tu Xi as his boyfriend to his drinking buddies.

But the task still wasn’t completed.

So, this exposure—considering both his and Tu Xi’s celebrity statuses—clearly had another layer of meaning.

Tu Xi had just won the Best Actor Award this year, successfully transitioning from an idol to an actor—of course, he still had a lot of fans. Exposing a relationship would affect his career, but not by much.

And if his relationship was exposed with a scumbag like Xia Yan, it might even gain him some sympathy points, increasing fan loyalty. After Tu Xi breaks up with him and gets together with the protagonist gong, the last stain on his image will be gone.

As the saying goes, the sooner it ends, the sooner it’s over. While taking the elevator down to the underground parking lot, Xia Yan secretly took out his phone and sent a message to his good buddy: [Urgent help needed!!!]

Liu Jinhao: [What’s up?]

[Get someone reliable to take pictures of me and Tu Xi in the underground parking lot.]

Liu Jinhao: [???]

[Please, it’s really important to me.]

[…Fine, I’ll be right down.]

The elevator was spacious. To prevent Tu Xi from seeing the chat, Xia Yan pretended to be drunk and leaned against the wall, avoiding his gaze.

Meanwhile, Tu Xi was also looking at his phone for unknown reasons.

The two of them peacefully arrived at the underground parking lot.

In this small world, Xia Yan was just a third-rate celebrity with little money. His car was a relatively ordinary black Audi.

Tu Xi was different. As a top-tier star, he had a garage full of luxury cars.

Especially today, when a bright red Ferrari that clashed with his usual image was quietly parked next to Xia Yan’s black Audi.

Xia Yan couldn’t help but complain to the system: [He’s a big star, driving such a flashy car to a bar. Isn’t he worried about getting caught by paparazzi?]

System: [If he gets caught, it’ll save you the trouble.]

[…True.]

“You’ve had a drink today; you can’t drive,” Tu Xi said, pulling out his car keys. “I’ll drive you home.”

Xia Yan was still focused on his task, so he wasn’t ready to leave yet. He wore his usual flirtatious, carefree look when he turned to face Tu Xi.

He stepped forward, slinging an arm around Tu Xi’s shoulder, and said affectionately, “We just met, and you’re already in a hurry to leave?”

Xia Yan wasn’t someone who fussed over cleanliness.

In his past life, he had a few good bros, and when they hung out, they often put their arms around each other’s shoulders or felt each other’s abs. This kind of behavior didn’t bother him at all.

He had pushed Zhao Wenhan away earlier because… Zhao Wenhan really wanted to jump his bones!

The thought made him uncomfortable.

But Tu Xi was different.

The protagonist shou belonged to the protagonist gong, and it was impossible for a cannon fodder like him to develop a relationship beyond a kiss with them. The system had told him this was an ironclad rule of this small world.

Although Xia Yan had pursued Tu Xi for half a year, he had always treated him as a brother.
Except for that kiss just now…

Ugh, forget it. It was an accident. Let’s move on.

“Yan Yan, doesn’t want to leave me?” Tu Xi gripped the hand on his shoulder, playing with Xia Yan’s fingers, his fingertips lightly brushing against his palm.

Xia Yan felt a strange tingle and replied, “Of course not. You’ve been so busy filming, and we haven’t seen each other in ages.”

“Then… how about you come to my place tonight?”

“???” Xia Yan’s eyes widened, and he almost couldn’t keep a straight face.
Tu Xi said, “How long have we been dating?”

“…Six months.”

“Has it been that long?” Tu Xi’s lips curved into a smile, his chestnut-colored eyes gleaming like clear amber under the bright lights. They were clean and bright, but his words were completely at odds with his appearance. “In a grown-up relationship, it’s about time we moved forward, don’t you think?”

Xia Yan: [System, help!!!]

The system was also in chaos: [Something’s not right, the protagonist shou is supposed to be a shy, gentle, pure-hearted boy who blushes at holding hands!]

[What do we do now?]

[“No, it’s okay.”] The system replied uncertainly: [“The will of the small world won’t allow such a thing to happen, and there will certainly be an accident to interrupt you.”]

Xia Yan looked around, searching for the unexpected interruption.

He didn’t reply for a while, and Tu Xi squeezed his hand tightly, whispering, “Yan Yan, what are you looking for?” Why are you avoiding my questions?

Even though he was still smiling, his entire demeanor had changed drastically.

Like a roaring ocean, it came crashing down.

“I…” Xia Yan’s breathing was unsteady, trying to pull his hand back but couldn’t, with a trace of barely noticeable panic on his face.

Just when he thought it was over, a voice interrupted them.

“Hmm? You guys haven’t left yet?” A man walked out from the shadows, about 1.9 meters tall, with healthy bronze skin, a buzz cut, and a thin gray T-shirt that couldn’t hide his solid muscles. He was overflowing with hormones.

Xia Yan was delighted, “Liu Jinhao, why did you come down?”

“You left; leaving me alone is no fun.” Liu Jinhao laughed heartily. “Perfect. We live in the same direction; I’ll give you a ride home.”

Tu Xi’s face darkened as he sized him up.