Shen Huai’s eyes widened abruptly, and he instinctively wanted to snatch the phone. Coincidentally, as Zhong Yu just finished making the coffee, he brought it over, blocking Shen Huai. The steaming coffee was placed in front of him, “Your coffee is ready, be careful, it’s hot.”
“… Alright.”
After Zhong Yu left, Shen Huai slumped on the sofa, took a deep breath, and suddenly smiled, “That’s fine.”
“I’ve been on edge this past year, expecting you to suddenly issue a statement and single me out from the crowd, slap me in the face,” Shen Huai said, “I always felt like I was being inhumane… Where is there a reason to break up with someone and still extract benefits from them? Yu Qiu, I’m really… sorry.”
Yu Qiu replied calmly, “Save that for your fans.”
“What about Xuan Yun…”
“No need to worry about that,” Yu Qiu lifted his eyelids and looked towards the bright lights, “I’ll protect him.”
Shen Huai hadn’t finished his coffee, leaving half behind, and walked away. Before leaving, he hesitated and looked at Yu Qiu.
“Let’s go,” but Yu Qiu didn’t look at him, his tone indifferent, “Have a safe journey.”
…
After work, as expected, Yu Qiu saw Xuan Yun waiting at the door. He leaned against his bike and raised his chin, saying loudly, “Boyfriend, shall we go on an adventure to the ends of the earth?”
Xuan Yun was still unaware, and Yu Qiu deliberately wanted to protect his rare innocence, not wanting him to be tainted by this dirt, so he didn’t mention anything about it.
Yu Qiu sat on the bike, holding Xuan Yun from behind as they rode to the riverside. Yu Qiu exclaimed loudly, “Didn’t you say to go to the ends of the earth?”
“It’s too far!” Xuan Yun laughed and replied in a loud voice, “Let’s go after dinner!”
The twilight’s glow shimmered on the rippling river, and darkness slowly locked away the light. When the last speck of light on the horizon was swallowed, they stood on the riverbank and kissed.
Behind them were tall buildings with countless lights, and neon lights extended into the distant unknown. Yu Qiu opened his eyes and saw the stars.
He leaned against Xuan Yun’s forehead and whispered, “I have something to ask you.”
“Go ahead!” Xuan Yun squinted, thoroughly enjoying this moment.
“Did you hire a lawyer for me?”
“…” Xuan Yun almost jumped in surprise, “I—”
“Shh,” Yu Qiu interrupted, “Just nod or shake your head.”
After a pause, Xuan Yun nodded.
“How did you know?” Xuan Yun asked nervously, “Qiu Ge, don’t be angry. I didn’t mean to meddle in your affairs; I just wanted to do something for you…”
“But you got involved yourself too.”
“I don’t care about myself,” Xuan Yun said, “I just want to make you happy.”
Yu Qiu looked at him for a long time, and Xuan Yun avoided his gaze, feeling like he couldn’t hide anything under that scrutiny.
After a while, he suddenly felt warmth in his hand, and Yu Qiu tightly held his hand, interlocking their fingers.
“In that case, you’ll have to accompany me through this difficult time,” Yu Qiu sighed,
“Boyfriend.”
Xuan Yun exhaled and hugged Yu Qiu, “I’d be honored.”
However, Yu Qiu didn’t expect the news to spread so quickly.
He re-downloaded Weibo and logged into his “Yu Qiu” account. Thousands of private messages flooded in, but he didn’t read any of them. Instead, he checked the trending topics.
“Xuan Yun Yu Qiu [Explosive]”
“Yu Qiu Plagiarism [Boiling]”
“Yu Qiu [Boiling]”
Once the rumors about him and Xuan Yun came out, Yu Qiu’s past was immediately dug up and exposed.
Shen Huai actually posted their photos.
But it might not necessarily be him, those marketing accounts that love to stir up trouble were the ones most unafraid of causing a commotion.
The phone rang, and without even looking, Yu Qiu picked it up.
It was an editor.
“What’s going on with this?” Since he hadn’t terminated his contract with his current company yet, Yu Qiu still had some connections with them. The editor was getting anxious after seeing the plagiarism accusation against Yu Qiu being exposed.
“I will handle it,” Yu Qiu said, “In the meantime, I wish you a Happy New Year.”
Without waiting for a response from the other side, he hung up the phone and turned it off.
A knock on the door sounded, and just as Yu Qiu opened it, he was hugged tightly by Xuan Yun, who kept asking, “Are you okay? Are you okay?”
“Why did you come over? There are probably paparazzi outside,” Yu Qiu frowned, “You should go back first.”
“Why should I go back?” Xuan Yun said, “Since it’s already out, I’m just with you, and they didn’t say anything wrong.”
In the end, Yu Qiu relented, “Alright.”
Originally, Yu Qiu had wanted to keep his relationship with Xuan Yun as low-profile as possible.
Xuan Yun had just gotten famous, and he was afraid of negative news. He was used to being scolded himself, but he didn’t want to see Xuan Yun being criticized because of him.
Online violence was not just a sword; it was a wall filled with sharp blades that would pierce anyone without hesitation, launching indiscriminate attacks and labeling them guilty without a fair trial.
“Did your manager say anything to you?” Yu Qiu had him sit down and made him a cup of tea.
“He didn’t say anything,” Xuan Yun picked up the cup and was about to drink, but Yu Qiu gently pressed his hand, “Take it slow, it’s hot.”
“Did he ask you to post a Weibo saying the picture was photoshopped,” Yu Qiu smiled as he looked at Xuan Yun, “And then say that we’re not a couple?”
Xuan Yun couldn’t hide anything, and his lying skills were rather poor. As soon as he heard Yu Qiu’s words, he froze and couldn’t say a word.
Yu Qiu had already guessed about eighty to ninety percent of it.
Xuan Yun lowered his head, “But I don’t want to.”
“I worked so hard to win you over, why should I let those people I’ve never even met tear us apart?”
“I won’t let go.”
Yu Qiu kissed him.
He tasted the tea leaves’ fragrance from Xuan Yun’s mouth.
Xuan Yun held the back of his head as if it were the last kiss before the apocalypse.
Yu Qiu let go of him and said, “Rest assured, I’m not one to be bullied.”
He took out his phone and converted the recording into an MP3 file. There were too many irrelevant things in it, so he needed to edit it to bring out the main part right from the beginning.
“I will protect myself.”
