《The Best Actor Insists On Living With Me!》 Chapter 1: 1 Gossip Queen (1) Chapter 1: 1 Gossip Queen (1)
Trantor:As StudiosEditor:As Studios ¡°Is she still going toe tonight?¡± In the guest holding area outside the red carpet, a PD (director) looked puzzled.
Someone beside him nced at the time, ¡°She probably won¡¯t. Isn¡¯t she scheduled third fromst? 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 rtions. 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 dide, 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 ck 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 Neer 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 thest guest to arrive. In the boisterous night, Bo Yan, in a sharp ck suit, remainedposed 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 aedy! Aedy! 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: 2 Gossip Queen (2) Chapter 2: 2 Gossip Queen (2)
Trantor:As StudiosEditor:As 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 wee 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 nonchnce, 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 nced 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 thatte-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 popr 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 ck sedan silently drove in. In the chaos of the night, a figure approached from afar, gradually bing clearer from the haze. The figure was d in a red dress, stepping on red high heels with long wavy hair draped over the shoulders, nted 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, shing at her non-stop.
No one expected her to actuallye, 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 ssmates. How could someone who smoked, drank, and bleached her hair be a good girl? Following that, usations 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 hertest romantic scandal. And without exception, all of her so-called romantic interests were wealthy men. Thus, she was branded with the hugebel ¡°gold digger.¡± After her public image copsed, 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 aughingstock of the entire inte. Just like now, ever since she appeared, the barrage ofments in the live stream of the red carpet soared, though they were all insults toward her.
Xia Siyu walked the red carpet with utterposure until she reached the end and paused slightly, exchanging a nce with Bo Yan who had just finished the interview. Chapter 3: 3 Gossip Queen (3) Chapter 3: 3 Gossip Queen (3)
Trantor:As StudiosEditor:As Studios The man faintly lifted his eyelids, his pupils shallow and clear like ss 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 nce, he quickly looked away, making it seem as though their eye contact had merely been her illusion.
¡­ Xia Siyu arrived toote, missing the standard procedure of red carpet walks, autographs, and interviews. She hadn¡¯t nned 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 yfulness: ¡°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 fromst 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, iming 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 thedies. 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 hisposure, his eyes bright and clear. But when Li Yiru unted 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 yed 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 augh, 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: Updateing after midnight, this chapter is a trial run Chapter 4: 4 Uncooperative (1) Chapter 4: 4 Uncooperative (1)
Trantor:As StudiosEditor:As 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 wouldnd 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 coborate 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 spection. 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, thements in the chat were overwhelmingly disdainful: ¡°Back off, stay away from my Yanyan! Who wants to coborate 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 coboration?¡± 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 thements, 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 note provoking her, OK? Others might endure it, but she couldn¡¯t. Xia Siyu snatched the microphone from the host¡¯s hand, her eyes not ncing 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 coborate with you? It¡¯s never going to happen in this lifetime! You can drop that hope!¡± Chapter 5: 5 Uncooperative (2) Chapter 5: 5 Uncooperative (2)
Trantor:As StudiosEditor:As 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 torrentialints, ¡°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 poprity. 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 dered 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 ce 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 ce? And why hit him in the face? With the heel of a high-heel shoe so thin, one sh 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 nning 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 butugh at Xia Siyu¡¯sment 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: 6 Uncooperative (3) Chapter 6: 6 Uncooperative (3)
Trantor:As StudiosEditor:As 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 nced 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 theplex, 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 rted to Xia Siyu and seven rted 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 de. 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. ncing further down at thements, there were over thirty thousand replies and more than a hundred thousand shares. She clicked on a randomment 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 used 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 nt¡± ¡°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 nce, 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: 7 Uncooperative (4) Chapter 7: 7 Uncooperative (4)
Trantor:As StudiosEditor:As 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 mncholic, with the streetlight shining on her face, adding an unwarranted sense of loneliness.
Wei Jingjing even thought she had be autistic from the scolding. Although celebrities appear to lead a morous 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 exnations 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 be ustomed to her being scolded to the top of the trending searches. The most troublesome parts were helping her clean up the mess, negotiating with productionpanies, exining to financiers, and manipting 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,izens are just a three-minute passion. By the time they wake up the next day, they might have forgotten the quarrels they had onlinest 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 arge 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 ind, 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 ims you¡¯re having a ¡®secrette-night rendezvous,¡¯ you¡¯re done for.¡± She thought for a moment, ¡°How about going to my ce?¡± Xia Siyu smiled, ¡°Your ce? Isn¡¯t the security at your ce 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-endplex in Yancheng, inhabited by the rich and prestigious, withprehensive 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 ce. 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 yourst movie, and I wille 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: 8 She’s on His Mind (1) Chapter 8: 8 She¡¯s on His Mind (1)
Trantor:As StudiosEditor:As 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, itcked any sign of life. Xia Siyu changed into slippers and, familiar with the ce, 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 ying 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 uster, 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, escte 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 poprity. But even as poprity, 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 particrly 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 andy down at the head of the bed. She copsed lethargically, staring nkly at the crystal chandelier on the ceiling. After staring nkly 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, aplete 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. Secondster, 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: 9: She’s on His Mind (2) Chapter 9: 9: She¡¯s on His Mind (2)
Trantor:As StudiosEditor:As 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 thergest 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 ssmate, 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 andughed, not taking the bartender¡¯s moment of boasting seriously. A young manughed and said, ¡°You¡¯re Bo Yan¡¯s high school ssmate, and I¡¯m Xia Siyu¡¯s current husband.¡± ¡°I really am his high school ssmate.¡± ¡°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 ofrge ck-framed sses 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 Yanfortably sat on the sofa browsing his phone, with his long legsfortably 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 ss of whisky, and, following his preferences, ced two ice cubes from the ice bucket into it before handing the ss to him. Bo Yan took it, gently shaking the ss. The amber-colored liquid swirled in the square ss, the ice cubes like crystals tinkling as they moved with his motions. He lifted the ss 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 ss 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 ss, sipping it lightly. Right after he finished, he beganining, ¡°Next time youe 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 amotion, 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 ss, 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 coborating 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: 10: She’s on His Mind (3) Chapter 10: 10: She¡¯s on His Mind (3)
Trantor:As StudiosEditor:As Studios As the conversation reached this point, Bo Yan, who had been idly nibbling on peanuts, suddenly stopped. The bartender continued toment, ¡°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,pelling 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 tock 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 used 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 tond in protractedwsuits 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 exined, 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 thetter. 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 ss after another, and the peanuts were grabbed one after the other until none were left. By the time Bo Yan put down his ss, 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 nce 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 onest question fearlessly, ¡°Bo Yan, do you still have feelings for her in your heart?¡± Chapter 11: 11 Encounter (1) Chapter 11: 11 Encounter (1)
Trantor:As StudiosEditor:As 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 sses, 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 thisment. ¡­ 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¡¯sst 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 messyments 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 coborate 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 thepany toe 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 arge crowd had gathered around the courtyard where they were supposed to shoot, blocking the pathpletely. 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 upied by another crew, so we might need to wait a bit longer until they finish shooting and clean up. In the meantime, you cane with me to a resting area to wait.¡± The film center is small and there aren¡¯t many shooting locations to go around. It¡¯smon for several crews to schedule in turns¡ªfirst I finish, then you shoot, especially for minor scenes like ad inserts. Xia Siyu, wearing sunsses, 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: 12: Chance Encounter (2) Chapter 12: 12: Chance Encounter (2)
Trantor:As StudiosEditor:As 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 ssic style. Such attire could easily look greasy on others, but on him, it exuded an overwhelming sense of schrly 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,pared 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 sunsses 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 notrge, 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 topicst 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 vtile temper, capable of getting into a fight with her ex-boyfriend in the street; afterst 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 sunsses, 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 nce 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 popr neers 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: 13: Chance Encounter (3) Chapter 13: 13: Chance Encounter (3)
Trantor:As StudiosEditor:As 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, ncing 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 settledst 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 copsed¡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 toote. 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 usation 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 ce 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:st 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 exin this one¡± expression. This time, Bo Yan¡¯s gaze finallynded 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 shouldmunicate with your own team, not me.¡± Xia Siyu hummed lightly, clearly unsatisfied with his exnation. ¡°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: 14: Chance Encounter (4) Chapter 14: 14: Chance Encounter (4)
Trantor:As StudiosEditor:As 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, ced a small table, and even put a coconut on it. The whole persony backfortably 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 crewing and going nced her way with a somewhat yful 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 ying a schrly martial artist. There were lengthy dramatic scenes,plicated 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, havinge 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 y, 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 simr 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 rxed and casual, yet a single nce 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 becameplex.
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 eyshes slightly lifted, and from his amber pupils, a cascade of emotions flowed. Mncholic, 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: 15 Living Together (1) Chapter 15: 15 Living Together (1)
Trantor:As StudiosEditor:As 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, thatst look you gave was just brilliant. The way you grasped the emotion was very impressive.¡± Bo Yan¡¯s gaze retracted, and thoseplex, 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 nced 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 andpliant 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. Afterpleting her makeup, the crew next door had mostly cleared out and the set was tidy again; Bo Yan had likely left the ce long before.
Interstitial ads are usually rted to the content of the movie. Xia Siyu¡¯s movie had just wrapped upst 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, thest look that Bo Yan had given in his performance shed 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: 16 Living Together (2) Chapter 16: 16 Living Together (2)
Trantor:As StudiosEditor:As 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 herpetent 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 nce 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 ne was gone: ¡°My ne.¡± 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 ne 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 ne 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 ne. But she hadn¡¯t worn it; instead, she had carelessly put it in her pocket. It might have fallen out identally when she was reaching into her pocketter.
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 ne. The pendant¡¯s design looked somewhat outdated, appearing to be a style from at least twenty years ago. Tapping it lightly against the sp, the heart could be opened, insidey 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 resemnce to Xia Siyu, about seventy to eighty percent simr, 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 ced it in apartment of her bag. After securing the ne, she sent Wei Jingjing a message on Wechat: ¡°Found the ne. 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: 17 Living Together (3) Chapter 17: 17 Living Together (3)
Trantor:As StudiosEditor:As 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 maic.
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 nted along the riverbank,plementing 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 ck 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. asionally, she could catch a strain of his voice, which seemed to beughing 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 nced 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 streemp 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 schrly 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. Thest 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 gatheringsted 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: 18 Living Together (4) Chapter 18: 18 Living Together (4)
Trantor:As StudiosEditor:As Studios The two were merely half a meter apart. Bo Yan must have just removed his makeup, his face devoid of the thickyers 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 facergely 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 ss, 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 ring 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 borate facial art. Although she often yed 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 themanding 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: 19 Ex-Boyfriend (1) Chapter 19: 19 Ex-Boyfriend (1)
Trantor:As StudiosEditor:As 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 nce.
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 grewzy 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 ne 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 rxed 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: 20 Ex-Boyfriend (2) Chapter 20: 20 Ex-Boyfriend (2)
Trantor:As StudiosEditor:As 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 inte 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 fromining¡ªjust like the time of the Gold Oscar Film Festival. But when a real crisis urred, 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: 21 Ex-Boyfriend (3) Chapter 21: 21 Ex-Boyfriend (3)
Trantor: As Studios Editor: As 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 borate. After she said that, she closed her eyes, regardless of the outside mor. 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 inte, 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 idental 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 waitst 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 themunity gate, indeed finding no obvious paparazzi. However, she didn¡¯t rx her vignce. 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 sshed with red paint, covering the entire door! Chapter 22: 22 Ex-Boyfriend (4) Chapter 22: 22 Ex-Boyfriend (4)
Trantor: As Studios Editor: As 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 sshed 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 des, 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 immediatelybeled 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 ounts to expose her so-called bullying of ssmates 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 particrly good ce 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 originallying back tomorrow, but due to a sudden event, it might be dyed 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, toozy to even change into slippers, and walked barefoot to the bedroom, flopping onto the bed. Shey 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 waspletely unaware that the door to her home had been opened by Bo Yan.. Chapter 23: 23 Bathing (1) Chapter 23: 23 Bathing (1)
Trantor: As Studios Editor: As 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 acimed filmmaker knovvn for his art-house films, having won numerous prestigious awards. However, in recent years, he had been flipping back and forth betweenmercial 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 toe by.
The script Bo Yan was considering also leaned toward amercial style, with the male lead indecisively jumping back and forth between the innocent and naive leadingdy 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 leadingdy. In fact, this movie script hadnded 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 productionpany for too high of a price. But he did make one condition: he could provide some input on the casting of the leadingdy. On this point, the productionpany 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 productionpany required. Secondly, since the female lead role wasn¡¯t particrly challenging, as long as his rmended 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 vi. Usually, he would have Song Fengzhi drop him off there. The car sped along the road, and as they were heading to a vi 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. Streetmps receded one by one, the buildings along the road left behind, and as he watched, his eyes slightly narrowed, as if something hade 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 leadingdy, 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 ce was very quiet, with only the door to her bedroom ajar, a sliver of light peeking through. He didn¡¯t think much of it, ced the script on the side table near the entryway, and walked in.. Chapter 24: 24 Bathing (2) Chapter 24: 24 Bathing (2)
Trantor: As Studios Editor: As 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 hade back that evening. Wait, clothes discarded all over the floor? Even from under the door, he seemed to make out her bra and thece-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 arge open spacebining 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 upied either. He thought for a moment, took a step inside, and then looked towards the half-open bathroom door. There seemed to be lighting 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 morous, 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 Weiboments, you¡¯d findnguage 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 identally caught a glimpse of a sh of exposed skin under the water¡­ He averted his gaze, and in that moment of diversion, his eyesnded on her face, which was close at hand.. Chapter 25: 25 Bathing (3) Chapter 25: 25 Bathing (3)
Trantor: As Studios Editor: As 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 yed 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 naturalplexion 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 capiries under her fair skin. Her eyshes 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 stretchednguorously. As she stretched, the sound of water sshed, 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, andzily put on a bathrobe. She had been incredibly tiredtely; justst 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 werefortably crossed, one hand holding a script, the other a cup of tea. Hearing her question, he showed no particr reaction, not even bothering to nce 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 youe 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 porcin, ¡°Isn¡¯t there a part of you that 1 haven¡¯t seen before?¡± Chapter 26: 26 Bathing (4) Chapter 26: 26 Bathing (4)
Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Xia Siyu was stunned for several seconds, her face, all the way to her ears, and down to her neck, turnedpletely 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, thements about her on the inte 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 deted 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 shey 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 ce, 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 ss cup beside the water dispenser! If Bo Yan really tried anything, she would use that ss 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 ss cup beside her, and red 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 ss cup beside her, and poured himself a ss 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 nce 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¡¯te 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: 27 The Golden House Conceals the Beauty (1) Chapter 27: 27 The Golden House Conceals the Beauty (1)
Trantor: As Studios Editor: As 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¡¯tined 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 nevery eyes on him again for the rest of her life! Xia Siyu snorted loudly, tossed her head, and walked straight to her bedroom, mming the door forcefully. A few secondster, she stormed out again, poured herself a full ss of water, and returned to her room, mming the door once more. In the adjacent guest room, Bo Yan stood behind the door, hearing themotion on the other side, and the indifferent expression in his eyes immediately rxed. His hand gently moved up to press against his somewhat chaotic, wildly beating heart. A few minutester, once he had fully regained hisposure, 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 ce 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 Qinst 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 ce.¡± Xia Siyuzily nodded: ¡°Oh.¡±
¡°There¡¯s an event this afternoon; get ready early. I¡¯lle 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, nning 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 ck casual pants. Unlike Xia Siyu¡¯s disheveled appearance, he was clearly already washed and groomed, his hair neatlybed, 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,pletely 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 nonchntly from top to bottom; her unkempt appearance wasn¡¯t really unfit for public view ¨C after all, ny 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: 28 The Golden House Conceals the Beauty (2) Chapter 28: 28 The Golden House Conceals the Beauty (2)
Trantor: As Studios Editor: As 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. Particrly 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 momentter that Bo Yan calmly andposedly 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 red 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 toin when the strap of her nightgown slipped down with her movements. The already semi-concealed view suddenly seemedpletely unveiled, bing even more enticing. And Bo Yan¡¯s gaze, following herint, 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 using 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 andy 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 nce 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 theizens 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 mncholy, ending with a sigh..
Chapter 29: 29 The Golden House Conceals the Beauty (3) Chapter 29: 29 The Golden House Conceals the Beauty (3)
Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios After taking care of her hygiene, Xia Siyu emerged from the bedroom once again, havingpletely 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 itpletely empty. There was not only no food, but also no beer or soft drinks. If there were such things, she could at leastst 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 ss. Xia Siyu nced 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 arger appetite, he had made two portions; both were ced in front of him¡­ She quickly turned her head and went to the cab, opening its doors to see if there was anything to eat or drink inside. Unfortunately, the ce 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 ces 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 asionally, when cutting the chicken breast, did the tip of his knife gently touch the te, making a crisp sound. She hesitantly approached the table and watched him cut arge 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 vour, 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 nced 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 te. 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: 30 The Golden House Conceals the Beauty (4) Chapter 30: 30 The Golden House Conceals the Beauty (4)
Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Perhaps fearing that Bo Yan woulde and snatch away her food, she ate very quickly, her cheeks puffing out like a hamster¡¯s as she finished off arge te 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 ss 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 tes 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 te to the kitchen, and offered to do the dishes. Bo Yan didn¡¯t stand on ceremony with her, sliding his te 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 arge pot of coffee. He poured himself a cup and started to read the script while sipping. She nced 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 yed with her phone at the other. Two meters apart, they coexisted peacefully, with only the asional sound of Bo Yan turning the pages of the script breaking the quiet as if it were an untouched wastnd. Thankfully, she didn¡¯t have to wait long for Wei Jingjing toe to her rescue, ¡°I¡¯ll be there in ten minutes; I¡¯ve got quite a lot with me,e 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 anding 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 nced at the coffee table, the script was still there, but she felt toozy 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 nced 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 amodation 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: 31 Relationships (1) Chapter 31: 31 Rtionships (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 ept it. But those who y 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 y 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¡ªaplete 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 estimatedst 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 coboration, 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 coborate 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,st 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,pletely 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: 32 Relationships (2) Chapter 32: 32 Rtionships (2)
Trantor: As Studios Editor: As 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 ¡°ws¡± before she immediately exined, ¡°We weren¡¯t¡­¡± Before she could finish her sentence, a car drove into the parking lot, heading straight toward them. Two ring 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¡¯te 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 be 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 seed. 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 ced the cup down on the coffee table, ¡°Tell me, what exactly is your rtionship with Bo Yan?¡± Chapter 33: 33 Relationships (3) Chapter 33: 33 Rtionships (3)
Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Xia Siyu¡¯s eyes shifted to one side, and she hesitated to answer directly, muttering, ¡°What kind of rtionship 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 ce is quite safe, well-located, and close to thepany. Besides, he doesn¡¯te back every day, he has other ces to stay. If not, help me find another more suitable ce 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 havested 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 red 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 me! Does he think that just because his public persona is so righteous, he¡¯s be 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: 34 Relationships (4) Chapter 34: 34 Rtionships (4)
Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios As she spoke, Xia Siyu¡¯s raging anger seemed to be instantly doused by a bucket of ice water, deted 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 hadpletely regained herposure, ¡°Well, that¡¯s that. Since I can¡¯t find a ce to stay at short notice, I might as well stay here for now. After all, it¡¯s impossible between him and me, and sooner orter 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 nces and decided to seize the opportunity. She hade over this time to help her move, and since everything had beenid 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 ns. It was Zhou Weiwei, ¡°Siyu, howe 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 hiswork, 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. Juste over and submit your materials, Bo Yan is there, he won¡¯t block you, but it¡¯ll be toote if you¡¯re anyter.¡±
Xia Siyu remained nomittal. After hanging up the phone, she took a sip of water, and as she turned, her eyes identally 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, nked 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: 35 Audition (1) Chapter 35: 35 Audition (1)
Trantor: As Studios Editor: As 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 poprity had risen alongside. If it weren¡¯t for Director Ju t s movie, she would undoubtedly be striding confidently within the industry, notcking 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 subtleyers to her audition. The initial anger was followed by dejection, then a sudden sh of joy when the male lead called, mixed with a hint of rejection but atent sense of pleasure deep inside. The entire performance was veryplete, befitting even of a stage y, where she could quickly immerse herself in character. After her performance, Director Zhang and Producer Chen apuded, ¡°Very good, very good.¡± They had auditioned about a dozen actresses that afternoon; those who were beautiful mostlycked 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 p. His expression revealed a bit of contemtion. 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¡¯tpletely 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 baselinement, and he spoke the truth. Once he finished speaking, everyone in the room smiled. The casting director even said with augh, ¡°So, shall we settle on this?¡± Theoretically, after the audition, there would be aprehensive consideration of sry 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 ustomed 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 hermercial 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 rxedly went downstairs to rest. They started calling in candidates for the supporting female role, and the first person to enter was¡­. Chapter 36: 36 Audition (2) Chapter 36: 36 Audition (2)
Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios The first person who came in was Li Yiru. The female antagonist¡¯s role is the standard viin inmercial films, morous, 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 unted 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 ying 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 Feifeiing 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 thest candidate for the female antagonist was reviewed, they finally began to rx. 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 hade, 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 ck shirt-style long dress and tied her hair into a in 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 rxed, but then it deepened, ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Xia Siyu, who had been worried she¡¯de to the wrong ce, breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Bo Yan and asked directly, ¡°Is the audition happening here?¡± Bo Yan replied expressionlessly, ¡°You¡¯rete, 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: 37 Audition (3) Chapter 37: 37 Audition (3)
Trantor: As Studios Editor: As 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 toe.¡± 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 ratherplicated. 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 ncing 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 contemtion. 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 waste, 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 topare 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: 38 Audition (4) Chapter 38: 38 Audition (4)
Trantor: As Studios Editor: As 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 ce, 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. Momentster, 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 legsfortably. 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¡¯splexion was fair, her lips painted bright red, her hair voluminous and ck, and her button-down shirt, seemingly loose andfortable, was subtly calcted to expose just enough. Her eyes, hidden in the hazy smoke, were indistinct, but what was palpable was thenguid yet sharp look in them. Unlike Li Yiru¡¯s straightforward beauty, Xia Siyu exuded allure, pride, and incisiveness¡ªaplex 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 wasplete silence. On the quiet stage, she spoke indifferently andzily, ¡°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: 39: Dignitaries (1) Chapter 39: 39: Dignitaries (1)
Trantor: As Studios Editor: As 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 toe 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,ugh 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, lightughter 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 disying the triumph of a victor. Even in t 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 simr 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 rtionship? Chapter 40: 40: Dignitaries (2) Chapter 40: 40: Dignitaries (2)
Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios After the sessful audition, it was only logical to begin discussing the next steps, such as the sry, 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 leadingdy 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 yed 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 theck 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 bnce 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 thepetition 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 inte, 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 poprity 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¡¯llmunicate with my agent first.¡± Shang Feifei wasn¡¯t in a hurry at all. She came prepared, and negotiations regarding sry 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 managementpany. 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 exin her situation, Qin Baizhou¡¯s voice came through, calm and gentle, ¡°Siyu,e out. I¡¯m waiting for you outside..¡±
Chapter 41: 41: Dignitaries (3) Chapter 41: 41: Dignitaries (3)
Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Xia Siyu was taken aback, ¡°I¡¯ve moved, I don¡¯t live in the original ce. But I¡¯m not at my new ce 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 Ie 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, nced 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 sses, walked in. His face was travel-worn, obviously, he had just gotten off the ne 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 toe 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 veryplex character set-up, and without any acting skill, one could only y a standard viin. He had not expected Xia Siyu to step out of herfort 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 popr, and thepany had many resources pushed her way. Thepany 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: 42: Dignitaries (4) Chapter 42: 42: Dignitaries (4)
Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios But Qin Baizhou had known her for many years and understood her well. This sister had a vtile 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 y 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 productionpany. 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 hade 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 ande out; only then did he turn around. After turning, he didn¡¯t spare a nce 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 ovepping 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, andrge 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 dy, 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: 43 Family (1) Chapter 43: 43 Family (1)
Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios ¡°The product of a talent agent is: the artist. Not only does an agent have to n the artist¡¯s content, including business engagements, film and TV bookings, variety show appearances and so on, they also assist artists in nning 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.¡¯ Thest 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 wholepany. 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 thepany 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 v 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 rtively 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 ept.
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 ssical, 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: Family (2) Chapter 44: Family (2)
Trantor: As Studios Editor: As 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 ss, 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 ced her hand over her chest. There, a small bulge was present, precisely where her peach heart ney. 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 ce 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 nced 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 rtionship 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 youngdy¡¯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 schedulees, I¡¯ll have Jingjinge 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 ck 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¡¯te 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: 45 Family (3) Chapter 45: 45 Family (3)
Trantor: As Studios Editor: As 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 nce at him. In the camera, Bo Yan remained serene andposed, 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 youe 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 ying. 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 rtionship where the other person wasn¡¯t the kind of virtuous and good mother that my grandmother was.¡± Zhou Weiwei handed a ss 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 thest film festival, whom you once liked and then got dumped by?¡± Actually,st 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: 46 Family (4) Chapter 46: 46 Family (4)
Trantor: As Studios Editor: As 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 interviewsted only half an hour. It was only the phrase ¡°a past rtionship¡± 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 coborate 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 ss 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 beenpletely confirmed, the only certainty was his lead role. He wasn¡¯t about to leak any information: ¡°There are neers, 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 ept 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 ying with your pher. Get your things ready and prepare well. I¡¯lle 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 nced at the mobile that Zhou Weiwei handed her. Seeing the hot search entries, shemented 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 byizens 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 unpopr, it was highly unlikely she¡¯d bepletely banished by the inte. Even seeing a trending topic like #BoYanOnceHadARtionship# couldn¡¯t provoke much reaction from her anymore..
Chapter 47: 47 Play and Life (1) Chapter 47: 47 y and Life (1)
Trantor: As Studios Editor: As 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 greattely, 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# #XiaSiyuBoYanNewMovieCoboration# 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 popr 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,bined with her bright red lips, waves of curly hair, a ck dress with deep cleavage, and a bitchy expression, made her look like the ultimate ¡®green tea bitch¡ªthe kind known for bullying in the workce. 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 rtively 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 bacsh. Then other onlookers, whether rted to school or workce bullying, suddenly ced themselves in the situation and got very emotional with a myriad of curses. Especially a few minutester when the movie ¡°Storm¡± was officially announced. The official Weibo ount 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 thepany had her take the ¡®ck-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 ho¡¯s nest. Although there were many casual onlookers hurling insults, theycked organization; it was just a matter of numbers. But antagonizing Bo Yan¡¯s fans, whosebat power in fan wars was far beyond that of ordinaryizens, was something else entirely. They immediately took over the ¡®square¡¯. Under her post, they flooded it withments, shares, and likes, quickly making her infamous in the streets. Xia Siyu was ustomed to theizens¡¯ insults, but after looking for a while, she still found it somewhat unbearable to witness.
She felt it unnecessary to confront theizens face-to-face using her main ount, 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: 48 Play and Life (2) Chapter 48: 48 y and Life (2)
Trantor: As Studios Editor: As 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 dy the actual work. Bo Yan frowned slightly, the phone was gripped in his palm. Though he was in the waiting area, ncing 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 be 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 tform. 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 coborator 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 sinct 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.. Thetest one read, ¡°Hubby, say something, will you!¡¯ Chapter 49: 49 Drama and Life (3) Chapter 49: 49 Drama and Life (3)
Trantor: As Studios Editor: As 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 noplex opening ceremonies before joining the crew. But as the lead actor, he must be present for the midday start. Were they going to dy 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 nce 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 coborations or fellow actors. Remember the top influencer who lost all hismercial 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 thetest WeChat message, Zhou Weiwei and Xia Siyuughed 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 hourster, what he saw was Xia Siyu, drunkenly passed out.. Chapter 50: 50 Play and Life (4) Chapter 50: 50 y and Life (4)
Trantor: As Studios Editor: As 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, aplete 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 particrly moved by Xia Siyu¡¯sst 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 identally touched her voice message. Then, Xia Siyu¡¯s raucous voice instantly floated out: ¡°Bo Yan, you bastard¡­¡± Bo Yan¡¯s eyes shed with rare panic. He quickly turned off the phone and stuffed it into his pocket. As he stepped out, his gaze regainedposure, 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 ced 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. Shey there quietly, covered with a nket. Bo Yan¡¯s eyes swept over and saw a notebook on the table beside her, which he assumed was the script he had given herst 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 morefortable position, but as she moved, the thin nket fell to the floor. Bo Yan looked on for a moment, but in the end, he bent down, picked up the nket, and gently covered her with it. No sooner had he covered her with the nket 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 nket.
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 youe sote?¡± Chapter 51: 51 Kissing Scene (1) Chapter 51: 51 Kissing Scene (1)
Trantor: As Studios Editor: As 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 pped him. Perhaps because she was drunk and couldn¡¯t aim properly, the blownded 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 urately. Then she lifted her chin, ring 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 ws, 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 hup 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 pped 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 lipsnded 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 andmplight 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 harshlyizens 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 copse 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 gentlyid 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 afortable twenty-three degrees, he suddenly felt a bit parched.. Chapter 52: 52 Kissing Scene (2) Chapter 52: 52 Kissing Scene (2)
Trantor: As Studios Editor: As 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, rxed a bit, regted his breathing, gently withdrew his hand, and pulled back the nket beside her to cover her. Then he got up on tiptoe, and before leaving, he took a special nce back at the room. Xia Siyu was sprawled out in afortable sleep. That was fine¡ªher nature toe 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 productionpany¡¯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 productionpany 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 busytely, 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 showy. Song Fengzhi was still discussing business with him. Moreover, Song Fengzhi paused to say, ¡°Bo, about that¡­ If there are any interviewsing 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 rtionships 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 rtively uninterrupted period of time.¡± Song Fengzhi checked and said, ¡°There is some time avable, 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: 53 Kissing Scene (3) Chapter 53: 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 thepany 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, thepany 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 thepany.¡± 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 tform. 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 ss. 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 mmed 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: 54 Kissing Scene (4) Chapter 54: 54 Kissing Scene (4)
Trantor: 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 peopleter?¡±
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 tomute, 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 youpeted 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: 55 Temptation (1) Chapter 55: 55 Temptation (1)
Trantor: 549690339 In fact, right from the beginning when they saw the screeny, 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 y the innocent, doe-eyed female protagonist that she was ustomed to. Instead, she wanted topete for this enchanting supporting role, having weighed it up in her mind long ago.
In the screeny, 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 rtionship 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 physicalpatibility cannot beat the sh 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 inte 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 andugh on cue. These days, the ability to y 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 noments, 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 bepletely 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 regtory 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: 56 Temptation (2) Chapter 56: 56 Temptation (2)
Trantor: 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 essories were still undecided, they started rehearsing the first scene set in the dim room of the underground bar. Loud music yed outside, neon lights glinted through the messy room, the male lead had just finished singing, and his guitary by the bed. The female partner danced the Rumba to the music, approaching him nonchntly before straddling him. They embraced, kissed, entangled in a roll.
The director had nned 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 rtionship, 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 y, he had shown them the storyboard envisioned in his mind. A storyboard is like aic 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 y the role he envisioned in his mind. After all, some actors simplyck 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 ying the guitar was essential. Although film sound could be dubbed in post-production, Wang Ju still hoped that Bo Yan could actually y it, or at least make it look convincing. Bo Yan¡¯s expression was calm, ¡°Should be possible. It¡¯s just that I haven¡¯t yed 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 y 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 ying the guitar and Xia Siyu dancing the Rumba, step by step moving closer to him. Chapter 57: 57 Temptation (3) Chapter 57: 57 Temptation (3)
Trantor: 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 in long dress. Having woken upte, her hair wasn¡¯t much styled either, just hanging down in a simple vvay, straight and ck. 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 instantlyplex. Especially considering all thaty 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 pped 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 theter 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 essories for both of them. It was rtively easier for Bo Yan since, being a male celebrity, getting ready wasn¡¯t asplex 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 toe. 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: 58 Temptation (4) Chapter 58: 58 Temptation (4)
Trantor: 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 intorge waves. With eyeliner on, the corners of her eyes were lifted. Her originally round, almond- shaped eyes,bined 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 d in a ck dress with a pair of ck 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 bodypletely without anyce 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 arge 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 hisp, 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 pboard sounded, filming officially began. The camera first panned from the loud music of the dance floor outside, entering through the door, to a record yer spinning. Then a slender hand with dark nail polish glided into the frame, followed by a graceful silhouette, the swaying Rumba, a womanzily 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 yfullyughed 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: 59 Pajamas (1) Chapter 59: 59 Pajamas (1)
Trantor: 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 simr scenes before, although they were not as physically close, but he still had some experience.
However, when Xia Siyu really sat on hisp, 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 particrly 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. Particrly 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 ncing 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 nce 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 ofmunication. 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,pletelycking any chemistry. And so on, again and again¡­. Chapter 60: 60 Pajamas (2) Chapter 60: 60 Pajamas (2)
Trantor: 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 use 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 wereyers 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 yed 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,cking in emotion; I still haven¡¯t fully immersed myself into the character. Although it might not seem like a problem at first nce, 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 hade 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-ttering 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: 61 Pajamas (3) Chapter 61: 61 Pajamas (3)
Trantor: 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 wasmon 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 ufortable. Wang Ju nced 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 ck 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, buting 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 tantly lewd, and no matter whether they were husband and wife or not, this was a workce, and suchnguage 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 ce, 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: 62 Pajamas (4) Chapter 62: 62 Pajamas (4)
Trantor: 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 initiallyy therezily, but after his kiss was rejected for the first time, a fleeting glint shed in his eyes. His arm mped 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,nding on her corbone 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 ying 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 Yaning 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 toote 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: 63 Opponent Scene (1) Chapter 63: 63 Opponent Scene (1)
Trantor: 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 rtionship? 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-recyble 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 ck sleepwear, form-fitting, withce trim. It was simr 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 nce 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: 64: Playing Against Each Other (2) Chapter 64: 64: ying Against Each Other (2)
Trantor: 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 togethertely, 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 particr 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 somest-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 stiptions were so strict ¨C requiring a good broadcast tform, decent settings, and an international trip ¨C that they had already narrowed it down to that popr travel reality show fromst season, ¡°Flowers and Grass.¡± It was Bo Yan¡¯s reality show debut, so thepany 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 be the top show on the tform, even catching the attention of thework president. With Bo Yan as the top influencer and Xia Siyu, the controversial actress with a ¡®ck 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 wasteness. 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: 65: Playing Against Each Other (3) Chapter 65: 65: ying Against Each Other (3)
Trantor: 549690339 She got out of the car right at nine o¡¯clock, just as the clock struck the hour. Xia Siyu was thest 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 nced 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 beente, 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 shback scenes. Xia Siyu would dance, making it clear she wasn¡¯t yet ying 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 y the hero, saving Xia Siyu who first tries to break up the fight andter 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 regr exercise allowed him to catch on quickly with just a bit of instruction. Afterpleting 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: 66: Playing Against Each Other (4) Chapter 66: 66: ying Against Each Other (4)
Trantor: 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 simr to the role of the tavern owner she yed 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 rmingly fast. Originally, Wang Ju had even nned for her to spend at least two days learning here, but to his surprise, she had fully mastered it in just halt a day. Thest 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 cement 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 andughed 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 arge group of extras watching, their performances were fearless. Bo Yan started with ying 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, shing 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 ident, 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 nced at the name on the caller disy: Father-inw..
Chapter 67: 67 Palm (1) Chapter 67: 67 Palm (1)
Trantor: 549690339 Bo Yan nced 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 herposure, looking down at the script, ¡°She¡¯s doing quite well.¡± The person on the other end was not moved by his formic ¡°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 doingtely.¡± 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 shed 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 bothe together, or¡­¡± He paused here and added, ¡°Sorry, it¡¯s because I argued with herst time, and she blocked me. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have feltfortable calling you about Bo Yan frowned, took a breath, and tried to sound calm, ¡°That¡¯s not a problem, Dad. I¡¯ll have here. 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 rtionship¡­ 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. Afterposing 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: 68 Palm (2) Chapter 68: 68 Palm (2)
Trantor: 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 semnce 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 asional leave for othermitments. 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 mostpliant, 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 variousyers 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 epting 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 arge 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 bes 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 thisst one.¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s temper red, 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: 69 Palm (3) Chapter 69: 69 Palm (3)
Trantor: 549690339 Wang Ju, usually so serious, was rarely seen smiling; they hurried to shoot another take. And, just likest 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 Siyuined, 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 thest version shepleted. 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 hadmand 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 evenined 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 epting 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 filmpany, 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: 70 Palm (4) Chapter 70: 70 Palm (4)
Trantor: 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 thepany,¡± 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-anding 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 identally 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 ce was under surveince, but s, the logistics team wasn¡¯t. Furthermore, the production team was a mixed bag, and at that time, she was continuously ndered, her reputation having plummeted from the top. Huixing Company had just been established and was extremely cautious. Her influence was small, at most causing amotion 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 used 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 abel 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 hourster, Xia Siyu was so hungry it felt like her heart was being wed at, almost wishing she could gnaw on grass. Turning around, she saw Wei Jingjing sittingfortably 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 avable. But after only one take, she saw Bo Yan posting pictures of a banquet on his social media circle, which annoyed her even more.. Shemented directly below: ¡°Eating so much, why don¡¯t you just die from overeating!¡¯ Chapter 71: 71 Cumin Lamb (1) Chapter 71: 71 Cumin Lamb (1)
Trantor: 549690339 After she left thatment, 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 wasposed 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¡¯tment on what he didn¡¯t. Little did he know, Xia Siyu woulde here and cause trouble for him. The Friends Circle, indeed, was more private than M/eibo, with less interaction from fans and haters and mostlyprised 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 coboration with Bo Yan on ¡°Storm¡¯! had already been mocked everywhere. People said she contradicted herself, used her of snatching Li Yiru¡¯s opportunity, and imed 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 leftments on all of her 841 Weibo posts from the very beginning, controlling thements section. They remembered Bo Yan¡¯s previous admonitions to the fan club, forbidding them from insulting rivals with vulgarities or targeting female rtives. So thements 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 leavements, which blocked arge 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 onlinemotion 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 bannedments on Xia Siyu¡¯s Weibo, quelling much of the noise. Enraged fans then flooded her public page, and eachment was so bitterly crafted it would make one marvel at the depth and breadth of the Chinesenguage! While Wei Jingjing was busy handling public rtions, 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: 72 Cumin Lamb (2) Chapter 72: 72 Cumin Lamb (2)
Trantor: 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 iing 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 nonchntment, ¡°Only two entries in the top ten hot searches? This generation ofizens iscking.¡± 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 theworking event, and his resting room was close to the elevator. There were many peopleing and going, so he couldn¡¯t speak loudly. When it quieted down outside the door, he slowly began, ¡°So why exactly did you post thatment?¡± ¡°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 evenin? I¡¯m annoyed. I want to eat cuminmb, 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 cuminmb? 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: 73 Cumin Lamb (3) Chapter 73: 73 Cumin Lamb (3)
Trantor: 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 rxed, 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 asional indulgence wasn¡¯t an issue, and Bo Yan always managed his diet well. ¡°So should I go buy it? We¡¯re getting cuminmb, 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 ce you choose is it has to be clean and hygienic, thenes 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 somete-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 ce the order,¡± said Song Fengzhi, perplexed. Bo Yan, on the other hand, was certain, having just nced at the group chat for the crew. Aside from his own affairs, the other crew members were already nning to grabte-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 backte 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 nning 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, sincete-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 dered 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: 74 Cumin Lamb (4) Chapter 74: 74 Cumin Lamb (4)
Trantor: 549690339 Wasn¡¯t he supposed to go back to the city to rest today? Why did hee all this way here? Xia Siyu had just pondered for a second before she immediately became deted 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 cuminmb! 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,pletely 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 nced 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 cuminmb, 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 bitte. 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 toote, 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: 75: Blocking the Door (1) Chapter 75: 75: Blocking the Door (1)
Trantor: 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 doinging in?¡± Bo Yan slowly nced at her once, and after noticing that the opening of her bathrobe was a bitrge, he averted his eyes again, ¡°This ce 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, nced 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 cuminmb. Bo Yan didn¡¯t mind, ced 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 immediatelyin, ¡°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 nonchntly, 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 topete 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 cuminmb 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,nded right in her cleavage. The thing was, Bo Yan instinctively stretched out his hand to brush away the seasoning from her chest..
Chapter 76: 76: Blocking the Door (2) Chapter 76: 76: Blocking the Door (2)
Trantor: 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¡ªthest presumptuous one was also him, but back then, they were still in a rtionship. Their rtionship 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 ufortable 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 ufortable. 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 cuminmb and ten chicken wings, and he had already taken advantage of her. How unfair!
Xia Siyu said nothing outwardly, but her gaze remained vignt. 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 asion 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 rtionship 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: 77: Blocking the Door (3) Chapter 77: 77: Blocking the Door (3)
Trantor: 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 rtionship 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 mmed 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 rtionship 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 reced 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 wasposed. 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 nonchntly 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 couldck 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 couldmunicate 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 unlikest 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 ss, 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: 78: Blocking the Door (4) Chapter 78: 78: Blocking the Door (4)
Trantor: 549690339 The knocking from outside grew more incessant, and Wang Ju could no longer hold back his urging, ¡°We¡¯ll just talk about the screeny, it won¡¯t take too much time.¡¯ She nced back at Bo Yan, who had securely stepped into the bathtub. She even took into ount 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 juste 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 bepletely 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 toe 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 screeny. 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 epted. 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 thete-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 justughed 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 be 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 toorge. But she said nothing and instead turned to look back at the bathroom door that had been closed..
Chapter 79: 79: Blocking the Door (5) Chapter 79: 79: Blocking the Door (5)
Trantor: 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 toe 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 ofplex 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 t, 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 thest script reading, she had no opinions and let them manipte 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 ce 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 y a ¡°viinous¡± 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 nces. 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: 80: Blocking the Door (6) Chapter 80: 80: Blocking the Door (6)
Trantor: 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 hearding from the bathroom, she wouldn¡¯t be able to exin 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 woulde 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 theter 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 nce at Xia Siyu, seeming to sense that something was off, particrly 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 ce to say anything. She only saw that he didn¡¯t juste 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 thete-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 thenter 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: 81: Blocking the Door (7) Chapter 81: 81: Blocking the Door (7)
Trantor: 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 rtionship 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 hade 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 unexinable 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 yful. 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 y; 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; shecked 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 shed, 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: 82: Blocking the Door (8) Chapter 82: 82: Blocking the Door (8)
Trantor: 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 somewhatical 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 Fengzhiter 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, arge 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 soposed, 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 nning 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 myte-night snack, yet you still want to add a fight scene. How do you n to fight?¡± Xia Siyu herself was a bit dazed, feeling ack of oxygen and thirsty. Unconsciously, the tip of her tongue rolled over her lips.. Chapter 83: 83 Marriage (1) Chapter 83: 83 Marriage (1)
Trantor: 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 nk te. 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,e 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 particrly 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 nced at the crown of her head. She had just taken a shower, her hair wasn¡¯tpletely 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, notpletely close, but this distance, where her rising body temperature from nervousnessbined 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 bing 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 ying. 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 ying 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, ¡°¡­be real husband and wife..¡± Chapter 84: 84: Husband and Wife (2) Chapter 84: 84: Husband and Wife (2)
Trantor: 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 seemedrger, 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, ny-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 n 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: 85: Husband and Wife (3) Chapter 85: 85: Husband and Wife (3)
Trantor: 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 y dirty¡ªsorry, right now you ignor me,ter 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 ording 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 ncing 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,ing 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 twopletely 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¡¯tpletely closed but left slightly ajar. Once Bo Yan had walked in, she frowned slightly, ¡°A reality show, huh¡­.¡±
Chapter 86: 86: Husband and Wife (4) Chapter 86: 86: Husband and Wife (4)
Trantor: 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 ce 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 n, 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 exining the progression and positioning for the uing 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 gestiction 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 p 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 shees at you, remember to hold back your tears, but in thest 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 nonchntly, 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: 87: Tearful Farewell (1) Chapter 87: 87: Tearful Farewell (1)
Trantor: 549690339 They began filming. The scene was set in a bar where Xia Siyu had arranged to meet the female lead to settle ounts. 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 in 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 actresster, 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 leanedzily, d 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 ss. 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 ying 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 p 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 toe 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 sh with them, then forcefully pped him. Bo Yan¡¯s face turned with the p and his fringe flew to one side. Even when getting hit, his jet-ck hair and jade-like face maintained a perfect profile.
The filming paused for a moment, leaving a space for what was toe 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: 88: Tearful Farewell (2) Chapter 88: 88: Tearful Farewell (2)
Trantor: 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 impable, 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, whenbined 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, mncholy, 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 whateveres. 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: 89: Tearful Farewell (3) Chapter 89: 89: Tearful Farewell (3)
Trantor: 549690339 In the women¡¯s restroom, Xia Siyu was washing her face with the faucet running. The cool water sshed on her face, and as she looked up, she saw herself in the mirror.
The ne around her neck was still sparkling, and when she opened the pendant, the photograph inside was clear to see. In fact, she didn¡¯tpletely 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¡¯tplete the original n, 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 ck 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 nonchntly. Shang Feifei entered, actuallying 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 temte for stic 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 twobels 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 simr-looking people in the world. Not long ago, there was someone who had surgery to look like me and was determined to debut with mybel.¡± As they spoke, other actresses from the crew entered the restroom, exchanging polite greetings. With peopleing 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 thedies¡¯ restroom.¡± Had Bo Yan chosen the wrong ce? Bo Yan shook his head, grabbed her hand at a nce, 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: 90: Tearful Farewell (4) Chapter 90: 90: Tearful Farewell (4)
Trantor: 549690339 A few people hade 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 nothingpared to a man¡¯s blow, she had trained in boxing, and a p 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 p in his direction, but Bo Yan was not easy to handle. Seeing her hande 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 p 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-sorge 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: 91 Relations (1) Chapter 91: 91 Rtions (1)
Trantor: 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 waspletely 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¡¯te to cause amotion, or else it would be his tongue that suffered next. Even so, she waspletely terrified and stiffened. When Bo Yan leaned in, her eyes were still open, and she could clearly see his thickshes. 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 ept 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 ufortable, 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 wastched shut. They exchanged nces and then slowly approached. Xia Siyu was on the verge of copse, with Bo Yan pressing in close in front of her. and the footstens outside getting closer_ Chapter 92: 92 Relations (2) Chapter 92: 92 Rtions (2)
Trantor: 549690339 The three people outside were startled by the sound of the doortch 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, nonchntly 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, actuallying 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 nonchntly wiped her hands. Then she lifted her head, casting a cold nce 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,nding 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 ttered 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 slightlyplex expression on his face. After a moment, he slowlyposed himself and came over with an expressionless face. He had barely uttered the word ¡°Sorry¡± when Xia Siyu pped him hard across the face. Bo Yan was pped again, this time even moreposed: ¡°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: 93 Relations (3) Chapter 93: 93 Rtions (3)
Trantor: 549690339 She didn¡¯t know if it was because she was angry, or because he was too good at shifting me, or because of the shame and indignation of being taken advantage of. Or because of some other reason¡­
After a while, Xia Siyuposed 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 ttering 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 p hadnded exactly on the previous spot; she had used all her strength, and the ovepping 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 ayer of light lip gloss. When their lips touched, he tasted a bit¡ªit was the vor 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 hade 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 monthster, 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,pleting 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 poprity on social ma 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 des one after another, and finally, three years after his debut, became a top-tier idol with both poprity 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 sess. Sess 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: 94 Relations (4) Chapter 94: 94 Rtions (4)
Trantor: 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 p 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 umbre. The entrance of the leisure center was a little distant from the main gate, and there were pirs 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 umbres. 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 umbres 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 umbre. Now it came down to Bo Yan and Xia Siyu. The umbre 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 y. 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 yed 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 nce, toozy to speak any pleasantries. ¡­Back then as well, she was always a person full of passion, but when asionally struck down by setbacks, getting truly angry, she wouldpletely shut herself off to the side, listening to no one. At the time, he hadn¡¯t understood, and on top of that, her temper red 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 umbre was passed in front of Bo Yan, and after another nce at Xia Siyu, who hadn¡¯t even swept her eyes this way as ifpletely unwilling to interact with him, he lowered his head and took the umbre. With the distributionpleted, 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 umbre; 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 umbre and looking down, cast a detached nce around, then suddenly strode forward, approaching Xia Siyu.. Chapter 95: 95: Reality Show (1) Chapter 95: 95: Reality Show (1)
Trantor: 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 umbre 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 thest deadline. You can¡¯t be careless.¡¯ The umbre 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 umbre 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 asionally 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 umbre was easily interpreted as a ¡°gentlemanly gesture¡± and didn¡¯t cause any misunderstanding regarding their rtionship. 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,pletely unaware that a car was following them. Moreover, it wasn¡¯t Bo Yan¡¯s Maybach..
Chapter 96: 96 Reality Show (2) Chapter 96: 96 Reality Show (2)
Trantor: 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 n 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 unsessful. 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 herpany for a rtively low price, sessfully 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, withughter and anger manipted 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, theck 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 in 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: 97: Reality Show (3) Chapter 97: 97: Reality Show (3)
Trantor: 549690339 After Bo Yan entered the house, the first thing heid 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 cab. 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 beforeing 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 upte. 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 stic 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 shareter, 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 poprity 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 herfort 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 note again. As she was lost in thought, her phone rang. ncing 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: 98: Reality Show (4) Chapter 98: 98: Reality Show (4)
Trantor: 549690339 When Xia Siyu and Bo Yan got married, it coincided with the most chaotic period of her switching managementpanies. 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 exin, and maybe by the time Qin Baizhou found out, she and Bo Yan might have already divorced. She nced 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 friende back?¡± ¡°¡­Yes, a bit,¡± Xia Siyu nodded. ¡°Then how about this, youe 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 ce 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 inly, ¡°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 rtionship. 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 umting 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 congrattions in advance on losing your top-tier status.¡± Bo Yanpletely 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: 99: Roommate (1) Chapter 99: 99: Roommate (1)
Trantor: 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 sh 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 deted balloon, lost all the strength in his supporting elbow, and copsed 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 rtionship. Although she felt embarrassed, it wasn¡¯t too ufortable. 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 dete. Especially when Bo Yan copsed, 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: 100: Roommate (2) Chapter 100: 100: Roommate (2)
Trantor: 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 mming 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 ying at, drawing close one moment and showing disgust the next? She could feel that, for a moment, the look Bo Yan gave her wasplicated. To say it was disgust couldn¡¯t capture the whole story, but to call it closeness wasn¡¯t quite right either. To use 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 youe in?¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing.¡± He quickly changed his shoes and casually nced 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 thepany. Then, looking at the tware, 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 rxed 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 yed a part, Xia Siyu¡¯s fiery temperament was also true. The second matter was about her contract with thepany, 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: 101: Roommate (3) Chapter 101: 101: Roommate (3)
Trantor: 549690339 ¡°No,¡± she tly 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 sessful 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 unted it in front of her. Not to mention Bo Yan, who debutedter 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 y good roles,¡± she said sincerely. ¡°As long as you trust me, I will do my utmost to help you be 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 bing 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 ce 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 rtionship after the ¡°exercise¡± was what made things truly awkward. Currently, they clearly weren¡¯t lovers, nor did they n 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 rxed this time, smiling as he said, ¡°Rest well. Although I can¡¯t apany 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: 102: Roommate (4) Chapter 102: 102: Roommate (4)
Trantor: 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 popr 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 hispany 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 alsoe 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 ustomed to it. ¡°Then rest up, I¡¯lle pick you up tomorrow afternoon,¡± he said. Xia Siyu nodded. As Qin Baizhou left, he made a point of ncing 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 stillzily 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 ncing 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 ss for drinking water, which made his expression rx 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 ites 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: 103 Living Together (1) Chapter 103: 103 Living Together (1)
Trantor: 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 eximed 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 screeny. However, being a neer, the director wouldn¡¯t have arge 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 coborate with next. He hadn¡¯t expected that Xia Siyu would also be fond of the script. The female protagonist in the script was certainly aplex and multifaceted character, struggling through the plight of the lower ss while also disying 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 waspelling. He had never before considered what it would feel like to offer Xia Siyu this role, since she had always yed the innocent ing¨¦nue, and at most, was the second leadingdy in ¡°Storm,¡± a role akin to a morous figurehead. Could she, with thisyered and nuanced character entrusted to her, bring the role to life sessfully? Shecked 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 ident?
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 y this role, we¡¯d likely end up living together for the next six months..¡± Chapter 104: 104 Living Together (2) Chapter 104: 104 Living Together (2)
Trantor: 549690339 Xia Siyu wore a puzzled expression, ¡°Why six months?¡± She even looked down, specifically ncing 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 avability. 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 nced 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 toe 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,g 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 thepany 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 ce, 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: 105 Living Together (3) Chapter 105: 105 Living Together (3)
Trantor: 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 y 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 beforest. She¡¯s also keen toe 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 particrly realistic. The setting is during those chaotic ten years. The male protagonist is a local college student who returns home because the university suspends sses, 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 outcastsforting each other in that era and ce was virtually a given, but ultimately, as the female lead returns to the city, the rtionship still ends in tragedy. Indeed, without substantial experience and at least a modicum of acting skills, one could not possibly perform in such a y, where the dramatic tension between the male and female leads was crucial. She nced 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 aposed 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 ¡°[emailprotected].¡± 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 coboration 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 coboration, 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: 106 Living Together (4) Chapter 106: 106 Living Together (4)
Trantor: 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¡¯smon to run between two or three ces 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 preupied 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 andforter, 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 ne wasn¡¯t dyed, 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 thergest ind in the Mediterranean. This ind 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 ssic masterpiece that resulted, ¡°The Godfather¡±. The other is another immortal ssic, ¡°The Beautiful Legends of Sicily¡±. The beautiful and enchanting Mediterranean scenery, the splendid historical culture, the gorgeous Baroque-style architecture, and thesting influence of ssic movies have all made the world stop and take notice. However, for Xia Siyu, the moment she stepped off the ne, 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 vi arranged by the show crew was near Palermo, the capital of Sicily, located by the seaside, They rented a vi 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 ne, 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 vi 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 particrly 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: 107: Double Room (1) Chapter 107: 107: Double Room (1)
Trantor: 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 her several million in ie.
Although such a price wouldn¡¯t have been much to talk about in the entertainment industry¡¯s heyday a few years ago, now, with sry 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 rx 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: ¡°Herees 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 ament questioning; ¡°So the program team only invited female guests?¡± Following thatment, the popr 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 ofments, the host Hu Juyue got out of her car, but her arrival waspletely 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 forst. 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 yed the victim using the announcement¡¯s poprity 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 Siyuzily 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 shback 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: 108: Double Room (2) Chapter 108: 108: Double Room (2)
Trantor: 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 ofments exploded with wails: ¡°Is the production team deliberately stirring up a CP (couple pairing)?¡± ¡°What a trashypany, 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, wee to our show ¡®Flowers and Grass.¡¯ Over the next ten days, we will spend our time in this seaside vi. After ten days, we will embark on a new journey to Heidelberg.¡± After a token round of apuse, there were seven envelopes ced 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 youter, 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 thest guest, ording to the official announcement, was another male, Xia Siyu was particrly 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. Thest envelope, lonely and abandoned,y 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 n 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: 109: Double Room (3) Chapter 109: 109: Double Room (3)
Trantor: 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 imed 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 reced by a trace of solemnity, which then transformed into a hint of mncholy. After packing up anding 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 Siyuing downstairs. She called out, ¡°Siyu, you¡¯re here? What are you nning 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, ted, ¡°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: 110: Double Room (4) Chapter 110: 110: Double Room (4)
Trantor: 549690339 The group exchanged puzzled looks before Zhou Weiwei nudged Xia Siyu. ¡°Who do you think it¡¯ll be?¡± Xia Siyu appeared nonchnt: ¡°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 intoughter. 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 strangend, 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 trantors, 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 ssmates, 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 onlinements 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 ofughter. 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: 111: Couple Outfits (1) Chapter 111: 111: Couple Outfits (1)
Trantor: 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 thete-night flight to Frankfurt. From Frankfurt, he transferred to Rome, and then flew to Palermo. He had thought that the journey would be dyed 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 amodations 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 veryte 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 offortable 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 onerge 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,ying diagonally and upying 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 wouldbine 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: 112: Couples Outfits (2) Chapter 112: 112: Couples Outfits (2)
Trantor: 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 orpletely 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 rtive 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 ufortable 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 rtionship 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 urred, 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 exnation to the head of thework,¡± Bo Yan said, dismissing them, and he went downstairs andy down on a sofa on the first floor with a thin nket. Such a grave error could indeed lead to a major scandal that might crush the crew and even the entire tform. 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 werepletely unaware of what had happened. But a whileter, 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: 113: Couples Outfits (3) Chapter 113: 113: Couples Outfits (3)
Trantor: 549690339 Xia Siyu was indeed groggy from sleep. She had flown all the way from China, certainly not getting any proper rest on the ne. After all the exhausting travel, transfers, and car rides, she had to deal with the program crew¡¯s cameras and the other five guests, particrly the troublemakers Shang Feifei and Li Yiru.
In addition, everyone suffers from jetg; 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 nket 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 surveince 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 ced 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 bnce 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 waspletely 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: Couples Outfits (4) Chapter 114: Couples Outfits (4)
Trantor: 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 ufortable. 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 bnce 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 nonchnt. 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 nned 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 vige. Bo Yan looked up, calmly and indifferently nced over her face, ¡°Not a coincidence. 1 am thest 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 soposed and nonchnt 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: Intimate Partner (1) Chapter 115: Intimate Partner (1)
Trantor: 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 ce. The footage being shot now wouldter 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 arrivingte 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 whencking 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 ce and hesitant to act up, but also struggling with jetg. 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 hade. 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 bacsh 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 poprity, 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 simr 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 simr age, and although their acting roles slightly differed, there were bound to be shes. Even without Bo Yan in the picture, they were naturalpetitors, 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 stretchedzily, entuating 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 urately locating her at the window: ¡°You¡¯re up?¡± Chapter 116: Intimate Partner (2) Chapter 116: Intimate Partner (2)
Trantor: 549690339 Xia Siyu paused for a moment, then nodded. Bo Yan¡¯s next sentence was, ¡°Then I¡¯ming 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 waspletely 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 nced at Xia Siyu on the second floor and also followed suit. Bo Yan led the way, walking up to the second floor with ease,ing 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 aroundfortably and stood at the door, leaningzily 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 rtionship, 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!
Sheughed 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. Theirughter, 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 thest 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 ss. 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 sleepte the night before and also got upte 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: Intimate Partner (3) Chapter 117: Intimate Partner (3)
Trantor: 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 hade 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¡¯ming 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 ck long shirt dress, her hair¡ªa most ordinary ck 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 nced 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 theforter folded, at least it all looked orderly. Xia Siyu was rxed 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, howe 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 nce before saying, ¡°Get up first.¡± Xia Siyu naturally refused, ring 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: Intimate Partner (4) Chapter 118: Intimate Partner (4)
Trantor: 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 nning to do? Xia Siyu was also taken aback, but she wasn¡¯t as frightened as the onlookers around her. The first thought that shed through her mind was: This wasn¡¯t the first time he had yed 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 sumbed. He must¡¯ve felt assured by his past sesses, so now he was escting it? To dare to y 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 res 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 ced 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 eximed, ¡°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 aftering backst night¡ªthat exined it! Bo Yan replied quite naturally: ¡°There are only four bedrooms in the vi.¡± The other double rooms were upied 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 youe 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 nced 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¡¯te 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 - 119 Task (1) Chapter 119 - 119 Task (1)
Trantor: 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, ck casual pants below, and ck 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 livest 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¡¯te 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 ofments nearly crashed. Especially since today was Saturday. The premiere broadcast was on Friday evening, which featured three leading actresses and a popr 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 poprity of idols, many have transitioned to acting. Film and drama academies also churn out arge 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, butpared 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. Particrly since Xia Siyu was in a ck shirt dress, and Bo Yan was in white shirt and ck pants, even their shoes were ck and white. Their hairstyles were also simple, without any adornment, making them look suspiciously like they were wearing matching couple outfits. Thements section was already exploding: ¡°Is Xia Siyu some kind of ster that can¡¯t be shaken off?¡± ¡°Her face has already been pped to a swell, okay? Who said they would never coborate 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, ¡°Wee Bo Yan to our program, bing 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 - 120 Task (2) Chapter 120 - 120 Task (2)
Trantor: 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 thement above, what, our Prince can¡¯t stir up a CP? Focus on your own, please don¡¯t diss (drag)!¡¯ The barrage ofments 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 ce, they couldn¡¯t help but nce 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 ss 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 toplete 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-upedy, whatever you want, but it must be for two hours or more.¡± Before Shang Feifei could speak, Li Yiru snatched the note and nced at it: ¡°Two hours? Singing and dancing? The problem is whether people will understand us if we sing, dance, or do stand-upedy. 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 anyint 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 - 121 Task (3) Chapter 121 - 121 Task (3)
Trantor: 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 y 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 throughbor isn¡¯t impossible, but the time is short (two days), it¡¯s in a foreignnd (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 ce 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 toplete 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!¡± Thest 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 nced over, ¡°That¡¯s for groceries. The 10 Euros issued by the show must be confiscated: nobody can touch them. We still need to buy groceriester, 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 nning to do to earn moneyter on?¡± Bo Yan¡¯s frown deepened, and Xia Siyu spread her hands, ¡°Don¡¯t know, we¡¯ll figure it outter.¡± 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 - 122 Task (4) Chapter 122 - 122 Task (4)
Trantor: 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 vi 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 livements 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 causeter 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 inrge 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 livements were amazed by her shopping skills: ¡°Didn¡¯t see thating; Xia Siyu is actually good at buying stuff.¡± ¡°l thought she would go for the twenty-euro ga 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 wasmon 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 - 123 The Room (1) Chapter 123 - 123 The Room (1)
Trantor: 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 notcking; 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? Bricying?¡± 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, bricying at fifty euros per person per day. There¡¯s also a contact number.¡± Overseas blue-cor workers are paid well; for instance, a plumber or electrician in America might charge a hundred dors just to make a basic repair. Of course, that¡¯s for skilled technicians, bricying wouldn¡¯t cost as much, but fifty euros for a day ofying 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 onlinements 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 ces 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 bricying.¡± 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 ss 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 onlinements 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 - 124 The Room (2) Chapter 124 - 124 The Room (2)
Trantor: 549690339 She knew Italian, she was intimately familiar with the local customs, and there was the asional 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 rted, 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. Afterpleting 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 ie 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 nces, 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 ces 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 red 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 ament 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 evene 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 skan 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 - 125 The Room (3) Chapter 125 - 125 The Room (3)
Trantor: 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 ofments 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. identally 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 rxed 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 bes a ghost. This is especially true in the entertainment industry. A meticulous makeup job can hide a lot of ws, 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 youck; 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 w. 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 lodgeints 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 - 126 The Room (4) Chapter 126 - 126 The Room (4)
Trantor: 549690339 Xia Siyu didn¡¯t turn her head, although her attitude was the same when Bo Yan hade out earlier, it was clear that her posture had rxed 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 ofments 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 anding up behind her, where he stood still.
The window framed the sea, the stars, and a crescent moon in the sky. He nced 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 nce, and went directly to the desk, poured himself a ss 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 Ind, 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 rxation 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 ck, shocking everyone. What did this mean? Was she preparing to make a move on Teacher Bo? Chapter 127: Brick Moving (1) Chapter 127: Brick Moving (1)
Trantor: 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 ande 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 nced 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¡¯te over tonight!¡± Her expression was serious, with a hint of proud defiance beyond that seriousness. Bo Yan just nced at her silently, quickly shifting his gaze away, bowed his head, and ced the book he had in his hands on the bedside table. He pulled back the covers andy 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 nce was like a jab in her lungs, as if she was some non-recyble 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,pletely uninvolved with each other. When you think about it, there doesn¡¯t seem to be anything wrong. These two have had a bad rtionship 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, asionally 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 nket to the floor, and finally, Bo Yan moved.. Chapter 128: 128: Brick Moving (2) Chapter 128: 128: Brick Moving (2)
Trantor: 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 ofments 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 nce at Xia Siyu, and irrespective of her kicking off the covers, he simply walked back to his bed, pulled back his nket, andy 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 nce to the woman sleeping on the bed inside, nor did he cover her with the nket. All the while, Xia Siyu slept soundly, not stirring in the slightest until an hourter.
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 beforeing 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 stretchedzily 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, thements 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 meugh, 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 thendlord had tasked him with weeding, pruning thewn, and tending the flower beds, with everyone bustling energetically. Half an hourter, 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: 129: Brick Moving (3) Chapter 129: 129: Brick Moving (3)
Trantor: 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 zing.
Italy had slightly better working conditionspared 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 arge workload, could Xia Siyu, such a delicate female artist, really aplish 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 nced 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 ce them on the wheelbarrow. The two then pushed it together and stacked the bricks properly. Manyizens 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 cking 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 theing and going of cement and shovel trucks like back home, they were nheless restoring the ce,plete with scaffolding, sterers, 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¡¯smendable 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 copse. 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: 130: Brick Moving (4) Chapter 130: 130: Brick Moving (4)
Trantor: 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 downter.
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 thickyer 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 severalrge 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 livements, 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 arepletely soaked with sweat.¡¯ ¡°Working outdoors in the summer is tough, yet she keeps hopping on and off without everining 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.¡± Thementators, 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 delicatedy. 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 imed 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 alreadypleted 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: 131 Responsibility (1) Chapter 131: 131 Responsibility (1)
Trantor: 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 paleplexion, 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 negativements to make when they saw Bo carrying her to a shady spot; any that did were quickly silenced by the barrage of criticism from otherizens. Bo quicklyid her t 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 ced 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 coldpress to her hand with gentle touches. As he applied the coldpress, 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 coldpress 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 mmy,cking 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 porcin. Bo kept his head down, and at an angle that the camera couldn¡¯t capture, his expression was visiblyplex. 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: 132 Responsibility (2) Chapter 132: 132 Responsibility (2)
Trantor: 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 vi in a small car, the other groups had alsoe 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 rtionships, they knew they should show unity and warmth at such times. Anding 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 exin, the previous night Xia Siyu had kicked off her nket while sleeping, and without even a nce, 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 likedments 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 nkets, 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 rtive, is it such a big deal to cover her with a nket 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 med him. Wang Zisu, however, was particrly anxious, quickly handing her water, ¡°Sister Siyu, get some good rest. We¡¯ll handle dinner and all.¡± Bo Yan nced 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 exim ¡°Oh!¡± and dash downstairs, where soon after, the regr 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 soupter.¡± 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: 133 Responsibility (3) Chapter 133: 133 Responsibility (3)
Trantor: 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, bricying, 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 poprity¡ªit was naturally hot.
The fainting urred 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 dyed 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 onegs behind, then theyg 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¡¯te up with something soplicated. 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 shorings.
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,rades, 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¡¯llplete 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: 134 Responsibility (4) Chapter 134: 134 Responsibility (4)
Trantor: 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 nket, so she didn¡¯t wrap herself too tightly. ¡°When I copsed, 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 perfectbination!¡± 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 setste, and it was still bright outside. From the second-floor window, one could see the azure sea. Downstairs, there wasughter and yfulness¡ªit was Wang Zisu and a dog. The dog belonged to the neighbors, apletely 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 yful 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, ck, and straight, dressed in a loose white shirt. Because she was sick, herplexion 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 eximed, ¡°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 themotion, 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: 135 1 Want to Kiss You (1) Chapter 135: 135 1 Want to Kiss You (1)
Trantor: 549690339 After a full meal, Bo Yan and Xia Siyu alsopleted 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 weing 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 regrs were chosen. Normally, with the tasks, someone would end up on their ovvn, so it was apparent that the production team had nned for this from the start. With a guest appearance, partnering with the leftover team would create four groups in total, which would makepleting 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 withughter 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 andpleting 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 likest 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 tform. 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 nced in Xia Siyu¡¯s direction before heading over. A few secondster, 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, evenining, ¡°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 reced 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: 136 1 Want to Kiss You (2) Chapter 136: 136 1 Want to Kiss You (2)
Trantor: 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 ces, 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 uncontrobly 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 herpany trying to get her to endorse neers. 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 asional 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: 137 1 Want to Kiss You (3) Chapter 137: 137 1 Want to Kiss You (3)
Trantor: 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 vi for a few days. While the other groupsmented their outdoor tasks, he watched them longingly, wishing he could swap ces 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 ofments on the screen went wild: ¡°Ahhh, Teacher Bo is so doting,¡± ¡°Both are really good.¡± Only one discordantment floated by: ¡°Does it mean ¡®you¡¯re just a brother?¡± Of course, this provocativement 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 Pce 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 somewhatforted. 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 weplete 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,e here, we need to get ready to leave. Today¡¯s task is formidable, don¡¯t copse halfway like someone did.¡± Xia Siyu bristled at that, ¡°Copse halfway like someone did¡±? She hadpleted her taskspetently! 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 seed at rock climbing today!¡¯ ¡°Prince,e 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 nced at Bo Yan across from her.
The sight made Bo Yan¡¯s expression increasingly darken.. Chapter 138: 138 1 Want to Kiss You (4) Chapter 138: 138 1 Want to Kiss You (4)
Trantor: 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 bulletments 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 avable, but not untilter 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 ce. 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 toplete 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 thepetition 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 be a trainee in Korea. It was her movies that apanied my adolescence. I¡¯m very happy to work with her.¡± Bo Yan: ¡°Then your taste is really¡­ quite unique.¡± Afterpleting 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: 139: The Wedding Ring (1) Chapter 139: 139: The Wedding Ring (1)
Trantor: 549690339 It was just as the words implied, as soon as Bo Yan got out of the car, he saw a tall,rge foreign man hugging Xia Siyu, and they seemed very intimate, talking andughing 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 moremon. 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,ing 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 seeded 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 stic bag as evidence, ¡°The bag tore.¡± Then he walked over leisurely, ncing 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 toe. 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 ssmates 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: 140: Wedding Rings (2) Chapter 140: 140: Wedding Rings (2)
Trantor: 549690339 Only Bo Yan was not particrly 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 bulletments 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 regr reality shows, right?¡± ¡°Look at you all startled, while our Teacher Bo is soposed. As expected, our Bo doesn¡¯t like that Xia,pletely 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 thenguage, at least it was often used in the past. Now a foreign friend hade, even iming 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 ent. 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.¡± ¡°Howe, 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: 141: The Wedding Ring (3) Chapter 141: 141: The Wedding Ring (3)
Trantor: 549690339 But when they were looking at wedding rings, Xia Siyu subconsciously nced 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.¡±
Pietroughed 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 Belli¡¯ 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 hade 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 bacsh. 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 popr 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 absurdments she had made in the past being dug up, her talent agency tactfully advised her toy low for the next few days to avoid more trouble. Having received the news, Li Yiru spoke even less than usual whenpleting tasks that day. She didn¡¯t daree 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 nced over, noting that they were evenly and finely cut. She seemed quite adept at housework,ing 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 rtionship 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: 142: The Wedding Ring (4) Chapter 142: 142: The Wedding Ring (4)
Trantor: 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, hade to Sicily not to hole up in a vi 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 toe 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 dyed 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 ustomed 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 ster, 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 eyshes 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: 143: Don’t Like You (1) Chapter 143: 143: Don¡¯t Like You (1)
Trantor: 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 bes instantly ambiguous.
The audience also feels tense. Rarely, although there are still Bo Yan fans in the barrage moring for Xia Siyu to get lost, these past two days Li Yiru has been excessively unting 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 maic 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 copsed in an instant. Xia Siyu sobered up within a second and immediately red 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 y 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 mmed 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: 144: Don’t Like You (2) Chapter 144: 144: Don¡¯t Like You (2)
Trantor: 549690339 He and Xia Siyu exchanged nces, 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. Stackingments 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 nket. 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 bitter and, as usual, sat in bed disheveled, staring into space for a long time beforezily going to the washroom to clean up and dress. Li Yiru, having been scolded so mercilessly the past two days and franklycking 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 rxing 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 ising 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 oning, his management would seize the opportunity to pose conditions to the production team. Like nting 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 be an instant hit. Numerous celebrities eagerly awaited their chance to be a flying guest, but unfortunately, they were toote 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 wasing, 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: 145: Don’t Like You (3) Chapter 145: 145: Don¡¯t Like You (3)
Trantor: 549690339 Bo Yan was definitely a permanent guest, but he was very busy. Although thepany 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 nced 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 offpletely, 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 thest day so she could go and visit the ce 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, bing 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 disy his affection. Their rtionship didn¡¯tst long before they broke up, and the next time they met was two yearster 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, toozy 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: 146: Don’t Like You (4) Chapter 146: 146: Don¡¯t Like You (4)
Trantor: 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 asion.¡¯ Xia Siyu thought for a moment, then nodded: ¡°Indeed, my billboards have been popping up quite a bittely.¡± 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 vi 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, nked 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 particrly 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 samepany, I guess.¡± ¡°So what if it¡¯s the samepany, just like Weiwei and me. We¡¯re from the samepany too, but apart from the annualpany meeting and other specific asions, 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 theplete 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 mymercials 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 orter, 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 neer, Wu Dia Wee 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: 147 Career Contrast (1) Chapter 147: 147 Career Contrast (1)
Trantor: 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 nced over at the corner where Wang Zisu was particrly 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 thest day: a visit to the Grand Cathedral Square of the Ortigia Ind 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¡¯sgging behind? They won¡¯t have to stay in the vi, 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 nced 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 toplete. Unexpectedly, it suddenly turned intopetition 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 unterally from time to time, and Bo Yan responding briefly. However, his voice was not very loud, nor was his attitude particrly enthusiastic. On the other hand, Xia Siyu had always been loud and expressive, and Wang Zisu was also the yful type. The two came together, one moment chatting away, the next moment Wang Zisu teaching her to sing and ying his ownpositions 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 thest 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: 148 Co-stars Contrast (2) Chapter 148: 148 Co-stars Contrast (2)
Trantor: 549690339 They soon reached their destination. Since it was apetitive show, naturally some of the tasks involved running and jumping. The first two groups were girls, and they had already set off. Thest two groups, after the director announced the rules, quickly set off as well.
Although it was apetition, 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 thesemon 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 ustomed 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 thetter 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 thepetition. Conversely, Xia Siyu¡¯s team had a clear division ofbor. Since Xia Siyu had a poor sense of direction, Wang Zisu took on the responsibility for the running and searching. Although Wang Zisu had seeded 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 ces. Though they started out as thest 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 onest 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 thepetition 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 beengging 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 havingpleted 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 ce.¡± 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: 149 Co-stars Contrast (3) Chapter 149: 149 Co-stars Contrast (3)
Trantor: 549690339 Although there were only two contestants on each side, they were followed by arge 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 poprity. When Xia Siyu teamed up with Wang Zisu, there were actually people cursing them in the bulletments, 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 ce, 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 ident, 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 Yaning 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 andplete 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 disyed 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: 150 Co-stars Contrast (4) Chapter 150: 150 Co-stars Contrast (4)
Trantor: 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 dide. 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 nced 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¡¯lle 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 stillpleted 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 livements 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 ce 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 beenpletely washed away by Li Yiru and Wu Di. She and Wang Zisu quickly reached the finish line, indeed scoring first ce. Following them were Hu Juyue and Zhou Weiwei. Although their celebrity status among the guests was rtively 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 nced 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 andughing with Wang Zisu. Bo Yan looked speechless at Wu Di by his side, and then at the far off Xia Siyuughing happily, his expression darkening even further. Upon returning to the vi, 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: 151: Like or Dislike (1) Chapter 151: 151: Like or Dislike (1)
Trantor: 549690339 She hadn¡¯t expected that no sooner had she and Bo Yan stepped inside, mming 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 herposure, 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 juste 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 toplete here, and only after we finish can we head over there.¡± Then he added, ¡°And after I¡¯ve finished my part there, I¡¯lle 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 rtionship, 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 nced 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 shee 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: 152: Like or Dislike (2) Chapter 152: 152: Like or Dislike (2)
Trantor: 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 nce. Xia Siyu looked up at the sky. Was it because she had been more restrainedtely 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 unting 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 youngdy 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 augh, she said, ¡°Yo, howe 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 153: 153: Like or Dislike (3) Chapter 153: 153: Like or Dislike (3)
Trantor: 549690339 Wang Zisu¡¯s response had given her a hint. Bo Yan would look at her because the two of them were married. Even though it was a marriage in name only, they were still husband and wife, and could arguably be considered family. If something happened to her, Bo Yan could sign on her surgery consent form. He looked at her simply because of their marital rtion, not because of any other tender feelings, and definitely not because of love. Although she didn¡¯t care about Bo Yan¡¯s attitude towards her, she also didn¡¯t want to get deeply involved with him.
After showing off in this ce for half a day, Wu Di finally realized that except for Zhou Weiwei, she had the lowest status in the entire house. In the end, although the Wu Family was wealthy, now that they were in the entertainment industry, which family didn¡¯t have some background? For a child from a poor family, unless you are exceptionally beautiful, intelligent, and lucky, and also know how towork well, you will never make it big in a lifetime. After dinner, Wu Di actually wanted to act spoiled. Hearing that Xia Siyu fell ill yesterday and was able to skip tasks, she started getting restless ideas. But she wasn¡¯t stupid; she definitely wouldn¡¯t be foolish enough to ask for leave directly. She just inquired about what the task was for the next day. After asking, she also showed off her injured arm and leg. She thought her act was wless. After all, winning or losing wouldn¡¯t affect Bo Yan. He probably didn¡¯t have the time to care while in Italy, and would fly directly from Paris to meet them in Heidelberg, Germany afterward. Since the result didn¡¯t impact the score, why overexert herself? After all, she would be leaving tomorrow night anyway. Herckadaisical work ethic didn¡¯t prompt the show¡¯s crew to say much, and the guests wouldn¡¯t mention it either, but the audience couldn¡¯t tolerate it. The audience didn¡¯t care whether you were a rich second-generation or not, even if you were a movie queen, they would still criticize you once they found a fault, let alone someone who was a talentless celebrity: ¡°What the hell is Wu Di up to, why is she so annoying? Scram quickly, will ya?!¡± ¡°Been silently observing for days and finally couldn¡¯t stand it anymore: congrattions to Wu Di for ranking first on my most disliked celebrities list!¡±
¡°Just look at Xia Siyu, she fainted and even got her hand cut but didn¡¯t ck off, so what¡¯s your excuse for cking so much?¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t want to earn this money, don¡¯te on the show!¡± Reality TV is a magic mirror, countless artists have turned their careers around with reality TV, and naturally, there have been artists who capsized on these shows. Especially when ites to live broadcasts, without the editing and guidance of the production team, the audience can see things more directly. Perhaps Xia Siyu still has various shorings, but her image of working earnestly and reliably on the show has made her very popr. Although Xia Siyu hasn¡¯t won any mainstream awards, her acting isn¡¯t the most outstanding, but at least she hasn¡¯t dragged down any production. She can hold her own in a movie¡¯s box office, so it¡¯s no problem to criticize Wu Di byparison. Most of her so-called scandals are just rumors about her private life. As long as she hasn¡¯t broken anyws or disciplines, she is still supportable! After all, actors have to speak through their works. When it was almost time to rest, Bo Yan received a call from the agency, telling him to keep an eye on Wu Di. Bo Yan took off his microphone and said in front of Xia Siyu, ¡°Don¡¯t let me apany her anymore in the future, I¡¯m not very familiar with her.¡± Xia Siyu had no interest in dealing with his and Wu Di r s matters. Bo Yan was leaving, she was not, and she still had to persist here. Bo Yan also had a lot on his mind that he wanted to say to her, but for a moment. he didn¡¯t know where to start. Just as he was about to speak, Xia Siyu turned her head:
Chapter 154: 154: Like or Dislike (4) Chapter 154: 154: Like or Dislike (4)
Trantor: 549690339 ¡°When are you leaving tomorrow?¡± Bo Yan was stunned for a moment but then smugly replied, ¡°My flight is at nine in the evening. I can leave after finishing the event in the afternoon.¡± Xia Siyu asked, ¡°How many days will you be gone?¡±
Rarely did she ask in such detail, and Bo Yan couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Initially, I booked three and a half days.¡± They were staying in Italy for ten days, leaving on the morning of the tenth day. Three and a half days was just enough time to go to Germany. Once in Heidelberg, it was uncertain whether it would still be just the two of them staying together. Although she preferred to share a room with Zhou Weiwei, it was possible she would be paired with Shang Feifei or Li Yiru. It might be better to continue rooming with Bo Yan. ¡°If you¡­¡± Bo Yan looked at her, a trace of hope flickering in his eyes. If she wanted him toe back earlier, he could indeed leave earlier if there wasn¡¯t much to do there. He hadn¡¯t finished speaking when Xia Siyu interrupted, ¡°Then you should focus on your work. It¡¯s fine if you stay a few more days.¡± It would also make it easier for her to rest in bed at night¡ªshe could turn off all the cameras! And she wouldn¡¯t have to deal with a man sleeping next to her! Bo Yan¡¯s expression darkened in an instant. He had so much more he wanted to say, but she had blocked every word. He snorted dismissively, adopting an indifferent demeanor, and promptly pulled the covers over himself to rest. Xia Siyu was not giving up: ¡°Um, there is something else I want to ask you.¡± Since neither of them had a microphone, she felt free to ask anything. Bo Yan didn¡¯t pay her any attention, keeping the covers over his head. ¡°What kind of person do you think I am?¡± Although Wang Zisu had told her that he saw her the same way as her mother and Bo Yan did, she still needed to confirm it for herself.
Without hesitation, Bo Yan said, ¡°An extra.¡¯ Seeing how much he disliked her, Xia Siyu was even more relieved. That¡¯s what she thought: Bo Yan had always been cold towards her, from the past to the present. Even though she was approachable and naturally beautiful, there would always be someone blind enough not to like her. Feeling more rxed now, Xia Siyu hummed a tune while she went to turn off the cameras. Though Bo Yan hadn¡¯t uncovered himself, hearing her humming in the background left him withplex emotions. The next morning, probably after a scolding from his agent, Wu Di was much more diligent about the task. Struggling until evening before departure, the rest of the cast had to perform a show of reluctance to part. Only Xia Siyu didn¡¯t bother with any pretense; why should she be sad? She was thrilled that Bo Yan was finally leaving! Before he left, Bo Yan looked back, seeing Xia Siyu from afar, waving a rag (she was tidying up the ce) and smiling as she saw him off. The frustration in his heart grew stronger. Although Bo Yan had left, the task still needed to be finished. In the following two days, Xia Siyu teamed up with Wang Zisu, and they made rapid progress. Finally, on the day the winners and losers were announced, the lowest-ranking team was Zhou Weiwei and Hu Juyue. However, since Hu Juyue had a higher individual score than Zhou Weiwei, she was the only one eliminated, sentenced to work in a caf¨¦ in Taormina for a day. It was time for Xia Siyu to speak up: ¡°Director, I¡¯ll take her ce. I¡¯ve been to Sicily before and am quite familiar with it; visiting as a mere tourist would be a waste. Besides, I speak Italian and can earn more for the travel expenses.¡± Her sudden offer to stand in not only shocked the audience but the director as well. After some consideration, the director agreed. Xia Siyu was getting ready for her trip to Taormina when unexpectedly, that evening, Bo Yan returned early..
Chapter 155: 155 Marriage and Love (1) Chapter 155: 155 Marriage and Love (1)
Trantor: 549690339 Just like the first time he came to Italy, he arrived in the wee hours of the morning. Originally, the trip to Paris required three and a half days, but in reality, it only took three days. The extra half day was provided by the program group out of consideration for his exhaustive traveling. Since he was moving anyway, it was easier to let him head straight to Germany to meet up.
However, his original itinerary was dragged out to three days primarily because of a dinner on the third night, attended by some business tycoons in Paris. Bo Yan was never fond of such cocktail parties. He agreed toe, partly for the Bo Family and partly because Wu Di¡¯s father would also be there. But this time, Wu Di truly caused him quite a bit of trouble. It ismon practice to bind artists from the samepany to attend programs or film movies, like Zhou Weiwei and Wang Zisu. However, Wu Di¡¯s visit really blew up her fame ¡ª but all for the wrong reasons. She was different from Xia Siyu. at least Xia Siyu had a movie, and although she wasn¡¯t known for her acting skills, she still had a work to her name. Wu Di, on the other hand, entered the entertainment circle purely for the thrill of being adored as a celebrity, and due to her obscurity, attracted little attention. But this co-living variety show, with its novel format, drew arge audience. With tens of millions tuning in daily, viewers were ustomed to scrutinizing details under a microscope. Even a slight brush with Bo Yan put Li Yiru on trending searches, let alone Wu Di r s antics? Moreover, in these past two days in Paris, Wu Di r s side continued to release materials rted to him. Bo Yan never hyped up CPS, but it¡¯s futile for him to keep his distance ¡ª the other side can still issue official press releases and make everything crystal clear. After all, it was a dispensable banquet, so why bother attending? He had just finished an event that day and immediately rushed to the airport without even removing his makeup, arriving at the vi at three in the morning. Despite the arduous work and exhausting travel, he didn¡¯t know why, but the sight of the house with the lights on, as if someone was waiting for him, made him feel much more rxed. His arrival this time was another surprise attack, and the program group was still unprepared. But since he had stayed there many times before and it wasn¡¯t the first time he and Xia Siyu shared a room, the program group didn¡¯t stop him.
He marched straight in, treading lightly upon reaching the stairs, careful not to wake the sleeping person. Before he could enter, a call from his cousin Bo Yi came from overseas: ¡°What¡¯s going on with you? Weren¡¯t you supposed to attend the banquet?¡± Bo Yan nced at his phone a few times and walked to the end of the staircase to answer in a corner where neither camera nor microphone could reach: ¡°If you¡¯re so eager to go, you can go yourself.¡± Bo Yi pondered for a moment on the other end and frowned: ¡°What do you mean? I¡¯m not doing this for myself, I¡¯m doing it for the Bo Family.¡± Bo Yan answered calmly: ¡°Then consider that I¡¯m doing this for myself. My schedule is packed.¡± Bo Yi inhaled sharply on the other end, taking a moment before saying, ¡°Bo Yan, if you¡¯re dissatisfied with me taking your ce, or unhappy with me being with Sicai, you cane back and fight me openly at the board meeting. There¡¯s no need for these underhanded tactics.¡¯ Bo Yan cracked a faint smile: ¡°Cousin, you¡¯re overthinking it. I¡¯m quite satisfied with my current life.¡± After saying this, he hung up the phone directly. He pushed open the door, and the room was silent. Xia Siyu was lying quietly inside, havingbined the two beds into one..
Chapter 156: 156 Marriage and Love (2) Chapter 156: 156 Marriage and Love (2)
Trantor: 549690339 Waves gentlypped against the rocks outside, Inside, she slept soundly as though the mundane world couldn¡¯t disturb her peace. Bo Yan entered the room on tiptoe and nced up at the camera to ensure it was off.
These past few days, it had just been Xia Siyu alone. If she was by herself, it didn¡¯t matter, so she turned them all off. Normally, she would only sleep in her own bed, but today, the crew had exhausted them, taking them up mountains and down to the sea, and even around the ancient city. Ordinarily, two hours a day for tasks would suffice, and there¡¯d be time to cook a meal upon returning. But that day, they didn¡¯t get back until nine in the evening, ate some supper hastily, and after removing makeup and washing up, they retreated to rest, nearly copsing from fatigue. Even Li Yiru, who loved yoga, quickly washed up and went to bed; no one wanted to stay up. As they had to get up early the next day to drive to Taormina, Siyu hadn¡¯t even closed the curtains. The sound of the sea and the moon overhead filled the room with a clear radiance. Tossing and turning in her bed, Xia Siyu found the single ufortably small and, convinced Bo Yan wouldn¡¯t return, boldly pushed the beds together, and happily settled herself right in the middle. Since she had turned off all the cameras while joining the beds, the viewers were unaware of her actions. After merging the beds and having overexerted herself throughout the day, she had used up all her reserve energy and fell into a deep, powerless sleep. Moreover, both Taormina and Syracuse were some distance from Palermo, with at least a two and a half hour drive. They nned to rest locally that evening, so everyone went to bed early after packing their bags. Bo Yan took a quick look but didn¡¯t bother with her antics, opting instead to head to the bathroom. After washing up and changing into his sleepwear, he returned to find Xia Siyu sprawled across the bed in an even more exaggerated fashion, upying three-quarters of it. Perhaps because it was summer, and it was a bit warm, Xia Siyu had kicked off her nket, leaving herself in only a small strappy nightdress. Because of her tossing and turning, the hem of the nightgown had unwittingly risen to her waist, revealing a stretch of her fair and firm midriff, along with her gray underpants¡­ Unconsciously, Bo Yan¡¯s gaze drifted away, and his Adam¡¯s apple bobbed up and down.
But he couldn¡¯t help looking back again, his gaze returning to the person in slumber. Even if it weren¡¯t for the incident with Wu Di, he probably would not have attended that dinner. Although he didn¡¯t know what Taormina meant to Xia Siyu, he had a vague feeling that their journey to Sicily wasn¡¯t going to end that simply. Just like his surname suggested, if he had to define himself, he felt he was indeed a person of shallow affection. Having lost his parents early on, he grew up under his grandparents¡¯ care. His grandfather was strict and often too busy to pay attention to him. Although his grandmother doted on him, he was aware that such affection could never rece the love of parents. Moreover, he wasn¡¯t his grandparents¡¯ only grandson. During the holidays, much attention had to be shared with his elder cousin, Bo Yi. Everything in the Bo Family revolved around his uncle¡¯s family, and as they grew up, it was naturally the cousin who joined thepany. Even Xia Sicai, who had shown preference for him initially, eventually read the situation and marriedBoYi. Bo Yi asked him if he resented anything. In truth, he had no hard feelings, especially regarding matters of marriage.. Chapter 157: 157 Marriage and Love (3) Chapter 157: 157 Marriage and Love (3)
Trantor: 549690339 On the contrary, he was very grateful that Xia Sicai and Bo Yi eventually got married; he would also wish them well. He himself was not a person who liked topete excessively. When his uncle and cousin aggressively showed their determination to take over the Bo Family in front of him, he casually studied andter entered the entertainment industry,pletely distancing himself from thepany.
When it came to love, he was also very calm, so calm that it bordered on being unfeeling. But even the most rational person, when facing that unreasonable, naive bumbler, would be at a loss what to do. Unfortunately, this troublemaker simply set fires and never cared to put them out. Seven years ago, it was not easy for the two of them to get together; she discarded him as if it was nothing and treated him as a stranger when they met again. Even though they were married, the boundaries were clearly drawn. She even stirred up scandals outside, creating gossip everywhere. She seemed relieved, almost rxed, when she heard he was not interested in her. Where was the logic in that? Seven years ago, it was Siyu who had pursued him first, and it was she who walked away and gave up first. Later when they got married, she was the first one to nod in agreement. They had a past and a marriage certificate; now she wanted to set boundaries between them, to be just friends? Such easy deals did not exist in the world. The fire she started, she had to extinguish. The Bo Yan she provoked, well, he could only use her to put out the fire. Of course, he was also a calm and patient person. He liked to save delicious things forst, to savor them bit by bit. The people he cared about did not necessarily have to be mentioned every day. Stolen happiness was indeed thrilling, but it wasn¡¯t longsting. If he wanted Siyu, he would want all of her¡ªher body, her heart, her present, and her future; he wanted it all. Bo Yan lowered his head and gently rubbed his nose against her cheek. Xia Siyu must have been really tired. He was so close, his breath whooshing, yet she still did not wake up. ¡ªHe remembered that in the past, she was the same, sleeping so soundly that not even gongs, drums, or firecrackers could wake her.
Bo Yan leaned in close, softly sniffing, from her eyebrows to the tip of her nose, then to the edge of her lips. On the side of her neck, he lingered long without moving, and then down¡­ Oddly enough, today he and she had used the same brand of shower gel, but for some reason, the scent on her body was always incredibly enticing. She didn¡¯t like to spritz on perfume, and there were no weird scents in her room. When she didn¡¯t need to be on camera, she was as fresh and clean as one could be. Just like herself, her emotions¡ªjoy, anger, sorrow, and happiness¡ªwere all disyed openly on her face, frightfully clean and clear. As he watched, he pulled back the covers. Not just with his nose, but with his entire body, he rubbed against her, felt her, measured her. But he dared not to apply pressure, nor twist or tten, and especially did not dare to make any substantive deep foray, for fear of waking the sleeper. He simply roamed, simply caressed, gentle as the mist that envelops the mountains. In her dream, Xia Siyu might have felt a little difort and wrinkled her brow slightly. But she was sleeping so deeply, she had no idea she was being taken advantage of, and, unabashedly stretching out her paw, she used Bo Yan as a gigantic pillow and pulled him closer to her. And it wasn¡¯t just her hand that moved; her leg came up as well, and like an octopus, she entangled Bo Yan firmly. When Bo Yan controlled himself, he could barely maintain his own heartbeat. But when she took action, pulling him closer forcefully, he paused slightly, thenughed softly and said, ¡°Remember, you¡¯re the one taking the initiative¡­.¡± Chapter 158: 158 Marriage and Love (4) Chapter 158: 158 Marriage and Love (4)
Trantor: 549690339 Gradually, the sound became softer and finally drowned in the pressing of his Early the next morning. Xia Siyu woke up to the regr assault of the waves. The ring sunlight shone down as she just came to; her eyes were still closed, maintaining the same position.
It had been several years since she had returned to Sicily; ever since her father had taken her and her mother back to China, it had been about ten years. During her time in Sicily, she also visited those famousndmarks, walked through the Syracuse Cathedral that Monica Belli once did, stood on the Turkish Steps where the male lead hadin, and went to the shooting locations of the Godfather. However, when she lived with her mother, it was in the small town of Taormina, nestled between the mountains and the sea. From their room, when pushing open the window, one could see the famous ¡°Heart-shaped beach.¡¯ The reason it was called the heart-shaped beach was simply because the small ind resembled a heart and countless couples liked to check in there, pursuing the naturally ordained ¡°one heart.¡± In reality, nearby the little ind, numerous reefs sat, and from a distance, it looked more like a ¡°broken heart.¡± Just like her mother¡¯s feelings, harboring affection for her father but forced to live separately due to various reasons. Lying there for a while, she became slightly more alert, but still did not open her eyes, merely shifting her position slightly. It¡¯s said that one cannot escape the influence of one¡¯s family of origin; whatever tragic model the parents set, the children tend to continue. Her mother was strong-willed, strict, and fiercely direct; she was just as straightforward and unstoppable. In the past, she too dreamed of finding a prince on a white horse, like a princess in fairy tales. No, a group of princes, and she, standing in the middle, choosing the tallest and most handsome one. She was beautiful from a young age, whether in Italy or when she returned to China, she was always the most striking one. Indeed, there were many boys who liked her, but there were also many girls who hated her. Then, she met Bo Yan. If she fancied someone, she wouldn¡¯t hide it; she would pursue them. Although it took a bit of effort, she finally seeded. And then they broke up.
She wasn¡¯t averse to marriage; faced with the right person, she was willing to step into the matrimonial hall. She just didn¡¯t expect that the person she would marry in a daze would be him. Fortunately, although the two of them were odd, they had an agreement to mind their own business¡ªhe wouldn¡¯t interfere with her affairs, and she wouldn¡¯t meddle in his work, living together peacefully. If one day he found a girl he fancied or she found a more suitable partner, she would choose to bow outearly. She reached out again to adjust the pillow. When her palm touched a human-shaped object in front of her, she felt as if she¡¯d been struck by lightning and her eyes shot open at once! She thought she was lying in her own home, hugging herrge pillow. In fact, she was indeed holding something, but it wasn¡¯t the pillow¡ªit was Bo Yan? This was no trivial matter; she nced at the man in front of her, his pajamas torn into disarray by her, yet still sleeping peacefully with closed eyes. Then she looked at herself, intact on her side, and nced up at all the closed cameras. Outside, the waves still endlessly crashed against the rocks. Now fully collected, her first reaction was to sneak out of bed hurriedly, find her phone, rush to the bathroom, close the door behind her, and hastily call Wei Jingjing on WeChat from across the ocean: ¡°What do 1 do, I think I¡¯ve slept with Bo Yan!¡± Chapter 159: 159: Unwilling to Take Responsibility (1) Chapter 159: 159: Unwilling to Take Responsibility (1)
Trantor: 549690339 Wei Jingjing had been having a ratherfortable 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 theirpany, 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 thepany 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 ny 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, andments 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 difort. 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 upied 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 stillpletely clueless.
¡°He came back early, theny 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 herst time. While she was pondering, there was a knock at the bathroom door; Xia Siyu jumped, it was Bo Yan.. Chapter 160: 160: Unwilling to Take Responsibility (2) Chapter 160: 160: Unwilling to Take Responsibility (2)
Trantor: 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 ounts! 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 nce 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 disconstely 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 toe back early? Who asked him to sleep beside her without a word aftering 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 use each other of taking advantage.
Thinking back to thest 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, ¡°Aboutst night, we¡­¡± But before he could finish, Xia Siyu interrupted him, ¡°Let¡¯s just pretend nothing happenedst 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 identally tore your clothes, I swear I waspletely 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 exined 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 nce. 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: 161: Unwilling to Take Responsibility(3) Chapter 161: 161: Unwilling to Take Responsibility(3)
Trantor: 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 tough, 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 andpeting fiercely for this spot. I missed two days with the group and even camest on the first day. By all ounts, 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 apany her. If two people work together, the money should be double, right?¡± Apanying 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 ept, ¡°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 nned 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 ring. ¡± After speaking, he returned to his seat, maintaining a proper distance from her.
The atmosphere grew especially stagnant, especially being in a rtively 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 nces 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 be a star right from the start, she wasn¡¯tcking 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 ny-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: 162: Unwilling to Take Responsibility (4) Chapter 162: 162: Unwilling to Take Responsibility (4)
Trantor: 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 articte 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 n 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 nced and noticed his abs were still there. She had used them before, and he wasn¡¯tcking 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 thepany to discuss each artist¡¯s career n 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 roomster. I shouldn¡¯t be rooming with him anymore.¡± ¡°What about when youe back? Aren¡¯t you still living in the Qingcheng Apartments? And about future coborations¡­ Oh right, speaking of coborations, 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 ept 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 bnce, Bo Yan suddenly leaned over, and his knee brushed against her thigh. Her handpletely lost its hold, and the phone slid straight to the floor.. Chapter 163: 163: Mom-and-Pop Store (1) Chapter 163: 163: Mom-and-Pop Store (1)
Trantor: 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 nced 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 thest 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. identally, 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 uncontrobly fall down, nting 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: 164: Mom-and-Pop Store (2) Chapter 164: 164: Mom-and-Pop Store (2)
Trantor: 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 tofort 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 nce at Xia Siyu¡¯s retreating figure. Putting aside their episode fromst 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 herst 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 exined 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. Makingtte 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 disyed on the counter. All they needed to do was to carefully ce 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 yed 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, asionally rying messages from patrons. Both wearing the same uniform, they somewhat gave off the impression of a mom-and-pop shop.. Chapter 165: 165: Mom-and-Pop Store (3) Chapter 165: 165: Mom-and-Pop Store (3)
Trantor: 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, ustomed 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 be 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 hade 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 disying 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 andplex 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;bined, 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: 166: Mom-and-Pop Store (4) Chapter 166: 166: Mom-and-Pop Store (4)
Trantor: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 ind, named Be Ind, was once a gift from the Duke of Mn to hisdy to win her favor. The ind was home to many precious animals and nts, andter 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 ind? There certainly were houses on the ind, 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 herst day in Sicily; she would be leaving tomorrow morning. Why did she keep staring at that little ind? If, ording 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 Siciliannguage. A local. After the customers sat down, she ced their order with Bo Yan, ¡°One cappino, 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 thette 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 ce, 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 Be Ind. As he was puzzling over it, he looked beyond Be Ind to the coastline in the distance¡ªso it turned out that Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t looking at Be Ind, 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-inw, 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: 167: Fragrant Kiss (1) Chapter 167: 167: Fragrant Kiss (1)
Trantor: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, ording to Xia Youbiao¡¯s im, they had a normal love and marriage, then whyter 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-inw 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 cameter than in other ces. 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, ¡°Wee.¡± 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 wereing, 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: 168: Fragrant Kiss (2) Chapter 168: 168: Fragrant Kiss (2)
Trantor: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 mmed 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 nearlye 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 ites 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, y 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 sessful 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 manughed 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: 169: Fragrant Kiss (3) Chapter 169: 169: Fragrant Kiss (3)
Trantor: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 ced a ¡°TIP¡± sign in front of the man. He opened his wallet and stuffed ten Euros into her te. 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 aplished. Not only did theyplete the task beyond expectations, but they also received a good amount of tips. Especially thest 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 toe in, so they had to wait at the entrance. Xia Siyu and Bo Yan were thest 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 nced 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 y with his phone but was actually watching her. She seemed quite rxed, evidently not just because the camera crew and production team weren¡¯t following them. Perhaps this had something to do with Sicily, with ces 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 misceneous matters and sometimes even covering sses. 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 tter 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 nce, 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: 170: Fragrant Kiss (4) Chapter 170: 170: Fragrant Kiss (4)
Trantor: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 nned to stay overnight in this small town, meeting up with the other five people tomorrow morning. Xia Siyu showed noints 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 be 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 vocabry. 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 usible, 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 andter upied 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 ce was leisurely and rxed, 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 apanying 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 toe out for a strollte 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 ande back, not dying 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 rollerdes sped past them,ing 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: 171: Approaching (1) Chapter 171: 171: Approaching (1)
Trantor: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 uncontrobly 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 streetmps resembled those of oilmps, 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 ce was not noisy; the unfamiliar tonalnguages 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 somon back home. In this moment, in this foreignnd, 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 ustomed 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 y 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 particrly 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 sincest night, the two of them had a mix-up; he almostpromised 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: 172: Approaching (2) Chapter 172: 172: Approaching (2)
Trantor: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 rtionship, 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 rtionship. And in love, he still maintained that same nonchnt, 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 yboys, 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 ce. 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, disyed 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: 173: Approaching (3) Chapter 173: 173: Approaching (3)
Trantor: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 nce, 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 thest 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 ce 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 andzily, 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 werepletely 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 rxed. Bo Yan turned to look at her, and Xia Siyu¡¯s gaze was distant, but not in a mncholic 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 be 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 manipted, 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 rtionship, to possess her, and also to have her open her heart to him. Bo Yan tentatively asked, ¡°Are you¡­ very familiar with this ce?¡± Xia Siyu actually nodded, ¡°I lived here for a while when I was a child.¡± Chapter 174: 174: Approaching (4) Chapter 174: 174: Approaching (4)
Trantor: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 inte 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 ss with my little backpack. In addition to the regr courses, our Chinese school also taught Chinese and ssical Chinese. Most of our teachers were of Chinese descent, all with yellow skin and ck eyes. You¡¯d asionally 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, withpletely unfamiliarnguages andpanions, 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 gics, 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 havevished 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: 175: Find a Boyfriend (1) Chapter 175: 175: Find a Boyfriend (1)
Trantor: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 andpletely copsed. 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 asionally 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, ced 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 theyout here looks quite simr, 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 ce like this, who knows when we¡¯ll have the chance toe 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 use 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 particrly soundly. From here to the hotel, there was still a distance. Should they wake her up, or carry her back? Chapter 176: 176: Find a Boyfriend (2) Chapter 176: 176: Find a Boyfriend (2)
Trantor:549690339 The other members of the production team exchanged nces. Although there were quite a few people who hade 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 bby types. Plus, she loved to eat, so her weight was definitely over a hundred. But Bo Yan, who worked out regrly 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 ufortable 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: 177: Find a Boyfriend (3) Chapter 177: 177: Find a Boyfriend (3)
Trantor: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 nket, 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 onest time. Xia Siyu indeed slept peacefully. Perhaps knowing that she was back in Taormina, she rxedpletely. 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 ce, with no fears of abduction. The entire Chinese District was like one bigmunity where neighbors knew each other well, akin to thergepounds in China during the ¡¯80s and ¡¯90s. It wasmon for kids to visit each other¡¯s homes, ying 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 ying 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 nce 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 ying with toy guns. So, when Bo Yan was carrying her, shefortably 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 ufortable. 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 morous, 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 rxation. 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: 178: Find a Boyfriend (4) Chapter 178: 178: Find a Boyfriend (4)
Trantor: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 theirst 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 poption 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, tomemorate 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 be 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 ce, they would often look back three steps at a time. But Xia Siyu was clearly not most people; she had be 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 nce 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: 179 Racing Ahead (1) Chapter 179: 179 Racing Ahead (1)
Trantor: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, gued 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 exin 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¡¯sbeled ¡°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 iscking 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,pletely 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: 180 Racing Ahead (2) Chapter 180: 180 Racing Ahead (2)
Trantor: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 nonchntly pointed at the sign: ¡°We¡¯re about to take off, switch your phones to airne 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 ept. Even if I were to ept, 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 doter?¡± 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,e on, you went to be 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 ne hit some turbulence, and Xia Siyu and Wang Zisu nearly lost their bnce 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,sted 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 nearbywn, Bo Yan keenly felt that the production team seemed to be up to something.
Indeed, the production team announced, ¡°Wee 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 nced 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 ne.¡± Chapter 181: 181 Racing Ahead (3) Chapter 181: 181 Racing Ahead (3)
Trantor: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 topete 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 shing? 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 amodation. 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 yful antics. Zhou Weiwei nced 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 beingte. Besidespleting thepetitive 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 rxed, 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: 182 Racing Ahead (4) Chapter 182: 182 Racing Ahead (4)
Trantor: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 amodations. 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 rtive 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,pared to the production team who were still waiting miserably, the progress here was flying at breakneck speed, and they had even nned their post-arrival transportation in Heidelberg. Thements were filled with mirthful sentiments: ¡°Bustling and bustling¡±
¡°233333¡± ¡°Although it¡¯s rough for the production crew, why do I feel likeughing?¡± ¡°The production team hasn¡¯t even gotten on the bus, and they¡¯re already nning 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 nce, 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: 183 Drunk and Speaking Truths (1) Chapter 183: 183 Drunk and Speaking Truths (1)
Trantor: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 re 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 dyed 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 hourter, they arrived at their amodation, which indeed turned out to be another rented vi.
The only pity was that the rooms in the vi weren¡¯t on a firste, 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 nned 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 andpete for the rooms¡ªnow that would have been an interesting sight. But due to the traffic dy, when the production team trudged in muchter, 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 werepletely at ease, having even had time for a round of fighting thendlord. Annoyed that the early arrivals at the vi got to pick the best rooms, the production crew dered 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 thest day when Xia Siyu took initiative, though he ended up disheveled, he didn¡¯t say a word ofint 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 identally 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 thements had nothing toin about: ¡°If we let Teacher Bo stay with someone else, I¡¯d worry he¡¯d be snatched away.¡± ¡°Yan Bao and Xia Siyuck 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 apanied by alcohol. Sometimes, the appetizers, starters, main course, and desserts alle with different wines to pair with. Most people in the entertainment industry are adept at clinking sses 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: 184: Truth Comes Out After Drinking (2) Chapter 184: 184: Truth Comes Out After Drinking (2)
Trantor:549690339 Xia Siyu had two modes when drunk. When she was utterly intoxicated, she would talk nonsense and uncontrobly 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 be 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, asionally letting out a sillyugh but never for too long. To the unaware, she seemed like she was just listening quietly to the conversation, disying 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 tooplex, 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 fromizens.
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 stillughing 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 ss 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 tooposed, his movements very steady, and throughout it all, there was no physical contact with her at all, just a gentle brush at the cor 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 toote, whatever it is, say it tomorrow morning. You should rest well too. We still don¡¯t know what tricks the production team will y tomorrow.¡±
He watched Xia Siyu enter her room smoothly before following her in. And then he closed the door. Chapter 185: 185: Truth Comes Out After Drinking (3) Chapter 185: 185: Truth Comes Out After Drinking (3)
Trantor: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 theizens 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.¡± Thements 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 livements 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 sideining 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 ce, 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. Thest 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 unbing. 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: 186: Truth Comes Out After Drinking (4) Chapter 186: 186: Truth Comes Out After Drinking (4)
Trantor: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 butugh 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 waspletely unaware, her headfortably 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 sticity 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: 187: Everlasting (1) Chapter 187: 187: Evesting (1)
Trantor: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 waspetition 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 sportspetition, and the activities were more about participation, which the guests were aware of. Of course, they still had to act as if they were verypetitive 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 ttering Bo Yan andter 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 used 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 used 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, andcked intelligence¡­ Apart from thest point being a matter of fact, the rest were just idleizens 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 mor, today was theirst 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 wasing 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: 188: Everlasting (2) Chapter 188: 188: Evesting (2)
Trantor:549690339 At noon, after a simple lunch, the crew gathered together. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, wee to our show ¡®Flowers and Grass.¡¯ Today is ourst day in Heidelberg.¡± The other guests immediately disyed a reluctance to part, whether sincere or not, it seemed quite harmonious nheless. Only Xia Siyu was pping joyfully off to the side. Bo Yan nced 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 nned 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: 189: Everlasting (3) Chapter 189: 189: Evesting (3)
Trantor: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, hecked 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 rtionship 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 nced 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: 190: Everlasting (4) Chapter 190: 190: Evesting (4)
Trantor: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 evenined, ¡°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 imed to be the world¡¯srgest 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 distancey vast vineyards. Xia Siyu and herpanions 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 almostpleted 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. Eventtes 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 thest 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 perfectbination ofpletely contradictory elements. Bo Yan turned to look at Xia Siyu, who was beside him. She was excited,ughing 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.
Sheughed as she watched the fireworks; heughed as he watched her. Today¡¯s live broadcast ended after the fireworks were over. But after returning to the vi, the crew had prepared one final game. The activity was truth or dare, and the questions were all about personal rtionships. The dares might even involve¡ªkissing in front of everyone. Chapter 191: 191: Truth or Dare (1) Chapter 191: 191: Truth or Dare (1)
Trantor:549690339 The live show onlysts for twenty days. However, a variety show usually needs to air for three months. Twenty days is hardly enough to createsting 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 stillsts three months, but theter 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 forter editing. Even if they knew another group might be more interesting, they¡¯d deliberately not broadcast it, waiting instead to edit and release itter. Moreover, some of the mini-games set up by the production crew were generally yed in the evening,te 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 ying a game as soon as they got back to the vi, 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 ufortable, but none confronted the issue as directly as Bo Yan. Xia Siyu, however, waspletely 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: 192: Truth or Dare (2) Chapter 192: 192: Truth or Dare (2)
Trantor: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 rtionships were also not umon, so they really should avoid any impropriety. The production team hurriedly exined, ¡°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 thest 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 exin the rules of Truth or Dare. Although there¡¯s nopetition 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 bes 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 onlydy, 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 luckilynded on Hu Juyue. Hu Juyue, being a host, was quite shrewd and answered yfully, 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 withoutcking 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: 193: Truth or Dare (3) Chapter 193: 193: Truth or Dare (3)
Trantor: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 waspetition, 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 debutter 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 popr 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 augh 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 thend 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 neen. The rtionshipsted 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: 194: Truth or Dare (4) Chapter 194: 194: Truth or Dare (4)
Trantor: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 rmended for graduate school in his senior year, he started to help his mentor with some teaching assistant tasks. In university ssrooms, 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 nk paper at the end, you can effortlessly earn a ny percent. Plus, such sses 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 umting, even fewer people bothered to show up for such a trivial ss. Those who did would just sleep through it, wipe their drool, pat their butts, and leave. Originally, the lecture hall could amodate 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 ce no one upied during such public courses¡ªsleeping there, you¡¯d be easily spotted. But when he stood up to take attendance, all the girls in the ss 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 Collegest. 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 herter, 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 ssroom. Bo Yan, still with a calm expression, raised his voice and called out again, ¡°Xia Siyu.¡± With only around twenty individuals present,ing from different colleges and unfamiliar with each other, hearing the name only made them nce 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 thest 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 nced 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 almostugh 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: 195 First Love (1) Chapter 195: 195 First Love (1)
Trantor:549690339 Xia Siyu answered without any hesitation, ¡°Neen.¡± Bo Yan looked at her, or more precisely, their first kiss had been on her neenth birthday. That kiss was also their pledge of love. Although their first meeting took ce 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 ce 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 aprehensive 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 rmendations, 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 rmendation, 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 simr. 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 be 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 rtive 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 ss, 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: 196 First Love (2) Chapter 196: 196 First Love (2)
Trantor:549690339 This direct and unsophisticated confession was the first Bo Yan had ever encountered. Being a rather reserved person, he wasn¡¯t quite ustomed 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 cements, and thest 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 toplete seven years¡¯ worth of coursework in just four, on top of assisting his mentor with misceneous 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 heter 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 ss, everything vanished without a trace. Another week and it was time for the university art education ss again. This time, when Bo Yan arrived, he found the ss unexpectedly full. Perhaps those who hadn¡¯t attended thest 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 particrly handsome. In any case, it was visibly more crowded around him, and the majority were girls. Bo Yan nced back and saw that Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t in thest row. What¡¯s the situation? Is she skipping ss 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 ss ended. Right as the bell signaling the end of the ss 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: 197 First Love (3) Chapter 197: 197 First Love (3)
Trantor:549690339 ¡°Are you looking for me?¡± Xia Siyu asked with a tilted head and a smile. Bo Yan simply said, ¡°You didn¡¯te to ss. 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 rtionship, and Bo Yan had never chased after a girl. The two walked side by sidefortably, 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 proiming the nature of their rtionship 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, ss 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 ss, 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 apanied 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 popted. They strolled beside Jade Lake, where the water was clear and the willows swayed gracefully. As the night descended, thekeside path lights illuminated the area. The dim path lights seemed to cast a ssical filter on her, making her appear even more beautiful. Xia Siyu remarked wistfully, ¡°Actually, today I just turned neen years old.¡± The Xia family followed the lunar calendar, but today was her sr 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 n to tell me that you like me?¡± Chapter 198: 198 First Love (4) Chapter 198: 198 First Love (4)
Trantor: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 amotion, 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 thest few years, and her innocent persona has long since copsed, 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 asional changes were due to weight fluctuations, not because of recovery periods from stic 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 p her own face. Wasn¡¯t this a tant 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 particrly 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, itnded 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 p. 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 rtionship. And Xia Siyu nodded in confirmation, ¡°Yes.¡± Chapter 199: 199 Multiple Choice Questions (1) Chapter 199: 199 Multiple Choice Questions (1)
Trantor: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. ording 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 spection 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 sess. 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 coborations 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,paring each of her coborators one by one, gossip might reveal the truth. Among them, Li Yiru looked particrly excited, perhaps from drinking an extra ss 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 nced 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 eyshes casting a shadow. Suddenly, Shang Feifei seemed to remember something. Now, Xia Siyu was equated withbels such as ¡°little ruffian,¡± ckingmon 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 be a teaching assistant in his senior year. During his master¡¯s studies, he even lectured on several asions, 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 sses, technically making her Bo Yan¡¯s student. Xia Siyu and Zhou Weiwei were ssmates 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: 200 Multiple Choice Questions (2) Chapter 200: 200 Multiple Choice Questions (2)
Trantor: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¡±bel! 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, yed along. In the entertainment industry, where everyone was savvy, if someone offered you adder, you¡¯d better climb down it fast. She immediately picked up her wine ss, ¡°I misspoke. I¡¯ll punish myself with a drink.¡± With that, she picked up her wine ss and gulped down the entire drink. Her quick drinking, especially on a show, made it hard for the others to hold the initialment 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 woulde 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 sh, and seeing everyone getting a bit sleepy, the director said, ¡°Now for thest 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 quicklying 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: 201 Multiple Choice Questions (3) Chapter 201: 201 Multiple Choice Questions (3)
Trantor: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 withoutpromising 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 forting 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 deliberatelyying 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 ss, it looked to be just a hundred milliliters. Xia Siyu unceremoniously picked up the ss, 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 andmented, ¡°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 simr to incense.
Seeing herposed, even wanting another round, Bo Yan finally rxed. ¡°Next question.¡± Shang Feifei asked again, ¡°Did your first love ever coborate 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 ss 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 ss 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: 202 Multiple Choice Questions (4) Chapter 202: 202 Multiple Choice Questions (4)
Trantor: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 revtion. 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 yed 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 popr 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 sses, 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 andter 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 nned to ask a very tough question head-on: ¡°Was your first love also your ssmate 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 nced 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 rtionship. 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 itst time? Then, Xia Siyu also appeared veryposed, 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: 203 Multiple Choice Questions (5) Chapter 203: 203 Multiple Choice Questions (5)
Trantor: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 popr, 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, asionally ncing 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 bing 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 ss 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 isrge; it could be anywhere. Wang Zisu quickly ¡°oh¡±ed a response, a hint of disappointment in his voice. He turned to nce 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: 204 Multiple Choice Questions (6) Chapter 204: 204 Multiple Choice Questions (6)
Trantor: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 spectacr scene, of course, had to be disyed in 360 degrees without a dead angle, and at the end, it could be apanied by some fancy fonts. Lately, the CP (couple pairing) between Xia Siyu and Wang Zisu had been very popr; naturally, it wasn¡¯t a romantic couple but rather a sibling-like rtionship. 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 yed andughed 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 rtionship 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, hisplexion 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,nded 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 sses 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 processpleted, 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: 205: Forced to Disclose (1) Chapter 205: 205: Forced to Disclose (1)
Trantor: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 amon 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 ck. 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 sessfully 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 hee and kiss her? Besides, he despised her, and she didn¡¯t particrly 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: 206 Forced to Go Public (2) Chapter 206: 206 Forced to Go Public (2)
Trantor: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 inparison 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 herck 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 likest 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 thest time was idental, even though they ended up entangled with each otherter on. However, because it was idental, 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, copsing 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 vor of dark beer subtly blended, intecing 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: 207: Forced to Disclose (3) Chapter 207: 207: Forced to Disclose (3)
Trantor: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 copses. 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 exnation 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 wee 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 mming 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¡¯sposure shattered: it was over,pletely over, she and Bo Yan were going to be forced into the open! Chapter 208: 208: Forced to Disclose (4) Chapter 208: 208: Forced to Disclose (4)
Trantor: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 ck 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 havepletely 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 usible 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 t 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 aftering 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 epted Xia Siyu¡¯s exnation 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 Yany 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 stilly 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: 209: Forced to Disclose (5) Chapter 209: 209: Forced to Disclose (5)
Trantor: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 dreand after lying down. After she rested, the entire vi 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 urring 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 apaniment is the most enduring deration 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 rtionship, 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 im 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 nonchntly 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 popr. 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 ording 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: 210 Unfinished Love (1) Chapter 210: 210 Unfinished Love (1)
Trantor: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 theplete 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 thest thing shecked 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 arge ss of dark beer, and during truth or dare, she drank three sses 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 nce at her, got into his own bed, andy 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: 211: Lingering Feelings (2) Chapter 211: 211: Lingering Feelings (2)
Trantor:549690339 Bo Yan didn¡¯t pay attention; he was still wearing a tracksuit. After entering, he nced 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 herst night and med it on the alcohol, everything was okay. She wasn¡¯t that easy to talk to! If he didn¡¯t exin himself clearly, this matter between them wasn¡¯t over!
Bo Yan gave her a faint nce, 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 nced 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 ming it all on alcohol wouldn¡¯t be eptable 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 ring at Bo Yan, her expression saying, ¡°Spill it, I¡¯m waiting.¡± ¡°The car will be outside of the vi 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 nced 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 eyshes his gaze was deep and fathomless. His tongue peeked out, lightly licking the corner of his mouth. As if savoring the memory.
Chapter 212: 212 Lingering Feelings (3) Chapter 212: 212 Lingering Feelings (3)
Trantor: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 thatst 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 tantly telling her that he had indeed sought pleasure in drinkst 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 recallst 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: 213 Lingering Feelings (4) Chapter 213: 213 Lingering Feelings (4)
Trantor:549690339 Although they were husband and wife, even if you called the police, they might not necessarily support your ims. But no matter what, there were people at the door. They were all artists, and even if they weren¡¯t artists butpany 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 didst night? I don¡¯t want to exin my rtionship 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 simr. 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 ce 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 nce, then slightly lowered hisshes, the long eyshes 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. Thest 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. Thest time in the restroom, andst 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, bottomlesske that could easily absorb all of your thoughts. She paused for a moment, and a possibility suddenly shed in her mind: Could it be that Bo Yan still harbored lingering feelings for her, even to this day? Chapter 214: 214 Lingering Feelings (5) Chapter 214: 214 Lingering Feelings (5)
Trantor:549690339 But that¡¯s not right, he clearly hates her, filled with disgust. Although after they got in touch, he did asionally 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 increasinglyplex 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 ept 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 exined 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 popr tomorrow. The entertainment industry is also a ce 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 likest 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 butugh 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 rtionship 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 yed at the corners of his lips: Chapter 215: 215 Lingering Feelings (6) Chapter 215: 215 Lingering Feelings (6)
Trantor: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, nonchntly turning around and reverting back to his distant demeanor. He headed straight for the restroom, his steps bing 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 yed. 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 ring, 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 ountable.¡± 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 nced at her indifferently, his eyebrows slightly furrowed, ¡°So, you mean to say, I didn¡¯t need to apologize forst 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 bnce, 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 bing famous, to maintain a good image, he trained even more diligently. He wasn¡¯t like many male celebrities who were just skinny,cking any muscle. Nor was he like some bulked-up Westerners with overly developed muscles. Bo Yan¡¯s physique was lean but not skinny, muscr 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 youst night, and then¡­ proceeded further¡­ is that it?¡± Chapter 216: 216: Family Suite (1) Chapter 216: 216: Family Suite (1)
Trantor:549690339 Thest 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 andposed 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, 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 rtionship 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¡ªmuscr, solid yet stic, 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 ss 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: 217: Family Suite (2) Chapter 217: 217: Family Suite (2)
Trantor: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 rtionship. 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 nce 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 apliment? 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 ss tickets, while the rest of the crew had economy ss 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 ss.¡± 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 pointpletely dispelled the film crew¡¯sst 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: 218: Family Suite (3) Chapter 218: 218: Family Suite (3)
The focal point of their argument was that there was still one seat avable in first ss on the flight. Both Xia Siyu and Bo Yan were not short on money, and with the better privacy andrger beds of first ss, of course she wanted it. For celebrities, privacy andfort are their top priorities, so naturally she wouldpete 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-ss cabins had veryrge beds,pletely separated from business and economy ss, 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 tinum 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-ss ticket is a family ticket. If thedy 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 ss, she had barely slept well these days. Although she had drunk alcoholst 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-ss boarding pass, throwing a triumphant and scheming little smirk at Bo Yan. Luckily, the first-ss check-in counter was far from economy ss, and the twomunicated 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 ne, they were the first to board first ss, and after settling in, they ignored each other. The first ss on Emirates Airlines resembled hotel suites,plete with a bar, sofa, TV, inte, a shower room, and of course, a bedroom dedicated for rest at night.
However, the first-ss was family-styled, so there was only one double bed of one meter and twenty centimeters. And just one nket. After boarding the ne, it turned out that there were no flight attendants who could speak Chinese on the flight, somunication 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 rxed. 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 ss, Bo Yan also stopped immediately. The first-ss 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: 219: Family Suite (Extra) 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 d in a bathrobe, the belt not tied tightly, exposing a swathe of solid muscle on his chest. Xia Siyu had meant to nce and look away, but upon seeing his puffed chest muscles, her gaze lingered a bit longer. Even though this was first ss, it was still an airne, 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 cab. 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 cab.¡± 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 d 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 nce 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 cab, 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: 220: Die-Hard Fan (1) 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 sleepingter 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 nned out. Although there were two pillows in first ss, there was only one nket. 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, upying two-thirds of the bed space and rolling up most of the nket. 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,fortably lying down with his back to her. This was not ording to her n! Xia Siyu hurried up to him, tugging at his sleeve, ¡°I want to sleep on the inside.¡± Bo Yan didn¡¯t give in, ¡°Firste, 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 rtionship 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 nket andy down, right beside him. Chapter 221: 221: Die-Hard Fans (2) Chapter 221: Die-Hard Fans (2) The lights in the first-ss cabin were sensor-triggered; five minutes after closing the doortch, 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 ckout shades either, so if you looked out the airne 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 nket. 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 stilly with his back to her, lying very neatly, breathing steadily, never tossing and turning, and without tangling the nket. 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 circted 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 theynded, 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 nket 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¡¯sing 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. Likest 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 himter, 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: 222: Die-Hard Fan (3) 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 rxed. She considered her acting skills to be quite good. Once, in a y, she yed 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 nket, it was all too convenient for him to make a move. Xia Siyu waited for a good while, but Bo Yan didn¡¯te back. Getting bored with waiting, she simply took out her phone and turned it on to y. These days, having inte in the first-ss 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 theck 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¡± ount for chasing news, a side ount that didn¡¯t even follow her own Weibo and super-topic; it was strictly for following gossip. With Bo Yan not returning, she simplyy in bed and logged into her alternate ount, 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 rtionship 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 shamelesslying back, seeking coboration. Reading through thements, 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 ofics 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: 223: Die-Hard Fan (4) 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 apuse, 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 copsed 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 ssmate. Someone who could casually spend several million to be a fan, what kind of family must theye 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, manipting 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 be 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 ount 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 inte right now, and happened to be on Weibo, and happened to carelessly search for her? Using her alias ount, she sent a private message to Shengxia Yanyu, ¡°I am Xia Siyu¡¯s alias ount. I have no rtionship 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 iming the sender was some kind of national leader, she would likely consider it spam as well. But Shengxia Yanyu was clearly still online. Three minutester, Xia Siyu saw her liking another vote post, the content of the vote was, ¡°Who do you think Xia Siyu is morepatible with? A. Bo Yan, B. Wang Zisu.¡±
Xia Siyu couldn¡¯t stand it anymore and switched to her main ount to log in. She was just about to send a message to Shengxia Yanyu when suddenly¡­ Chapter 224: 224: Die-Hard Fan (5) 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 ss cup heavily. Could it be? She had just logged in with her main ount. How could Bo Yan outside know about it? Weibo allows users to set their ount 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 ount, 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 identally liked a post about another popr 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 g 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 ount 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 ount was clearly created only after he entered the entertainment industry three years ago. Hisst Weibo post was still from Sicily, the selfie he tookst night showing off his abs. The reposts were already close to a million, with likes in the millions as well. She randomly opened thements, where everyone was howling, ¡°Husband, you can¡¯t show this to anyone else,¡± ¡°Husband, you onlye 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 muscr 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: 225: Die-Hard Fan (6) 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 andy back at the head of the bed. Just as shey down, before she could cover herself with the nket, 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 nket was off. Bo Yan entered and quickly shut the door behind him. The light dimmed again to a faint glow, and shey at the head of the bed, clutching her phone with one hand, eyes tightly shut. Bo Yan cast a casual nce 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 worlding 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 nket, 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, choctes, 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 unt 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 mighte 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 identally 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 thest image on her phone¡¯s screen before it went into sleep mode: a selfie of his eight-pack abs. Chapter 226: 226: Die-Hard Fan (Monthly Ticket Bonus 1) Chapter 226: Die-Hard Fan (Monthly Ticket Bonus 1) Moreover, in her panic, Xia Siyu identally liked a post from Bo Yan with her real ount. 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 strongtely and you¡¯re worried my emergency heart pills are going to waste, needing a little stimtion?¡± Xia Siyu was stupefied for a moment: ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Did you log into your Weibo main ount? Go look at what you¡¯ve done!¡±
Only then did Xia Siyu lower her head and see the like she had just identally given. Remembering an incident with a female artist from her formerpany, she hastily exined: ¡°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 dyed 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 themotion. 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 sleepingte 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 exnation. Finally, Xia Siyu understood that feeling of unspeakable suffering of the female artist from her previouspany. 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 ne willnd 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 nket 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 selfieste at night and gives me a like. Do you find my selfies good-looking? Would you like a live demonstration?¡± Chapter 227: 227: Die-Hard Fan (Monthly Ticket Bonus 2) 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 yed 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 ws. 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 nces. 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, andmanding. 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 be 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 ept 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 contemtive to seeminglyparing, 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 airne, a public area after all, and he wasn¡¯t interested in ying any kinky games there. If he wanted her, he wanted herpletely, 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: 228 Turbulence (1) 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 regrly and had beautiful muscles, because he hadn¡¯t overly pursued a bodybuilding effect, nothing about them felt out of ce. This chest along with an eight-pack, smooth and undting like chocte. But not as dark as ck chocte. Bo Yan wasn¡¯t dark-skinned; hisplexion 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 wless 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 rtionship 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 rtionship, 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¡¯sughable. 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 anding 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 rxed, like a beautiful cheetah waiting for its prey toe 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: 229 Turbulence (2) 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 ofnd 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 nce 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, identally fumbling at the wall.
Just as Bo Yan was about to step forward¡­ Chapter 230: 230 Turbulence (3) 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 exin it away, even with a hundred mouths! Or if someone from the crew came by, she¡¯d be doomed. Especially since she had just identally 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 hade 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 youe 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 ident 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 avable.¡± 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 ne?¡± The stewardess, with a cordial attitude, said, ¡°If you have a need, we can provide them. Moreover, it¡¯s quitemon 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 ne hit severe turbulence, and Bo Yan fell on her once more. This time, hended right on her lips. Chapter 231: 231 Turbulence (4) Chapter 231: Turbulence (4) In dramas, there¡¯s often a clich¨¦ where the male and female leads identally fall on each other due to unavoidable forces, and the man always has tond 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 particrly true for some ancient texts, where interactions between men and women were strictly regted. 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 ne began to shake violently. Then, the in-flight announcement started ying, first in Chinese, then in English: ¡°The ne has encountered turbulence during the flight. Please return to your seats, close the window shades, fasten your seat belts, and do not use thevatories.¡± That was for economy and business ss. But they were in first ss, 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 ne shook intensely; even with the first ss¡¯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¡¯smon for such incidents to ur. 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 hey 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 ck 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 ss 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 toing 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 tinum card from several major domestic airlines. And experiencing turbulence on a flight is quitemon. 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 ny percent of air idents ur during takeoff ornding, and the likelihood of a crash due to turbulence is minuscule. However, the feeling of being protected was truly wonderful.
Chapter 232: 232 Turbulence (5) 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¡¯tst too long. Soon, the ne was flying smoothly again, the rm 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 forplete calm before separating. Before long, there were footsteps outside, but they didn¡¯te to their room. Instead, they went to the bar to clean up the shattered ss 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 be 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 ne was temperature-controlled, and though it was summer, the air conditioning was set quite low, cold enough to need at least a thin nket 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: 233 Turbulence (6) 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 idental. Moreover, in Xia Siyu¡¯s memory, their first private kiss seven yearster urred 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 gamest night. The recent incident, despite banging teeth and pain, was at least not as emotionally suffocating. But thistest ident was different. Although it was truly an ident, 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 muscr 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 ident. 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 simted. 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 y 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 gopletely. 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: 234 Turbulence (Monthly Ticket Extra 1) 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 neen. At neen, one¡¯s body hasn¡¯t fully matured, with many girls even taking until the age of thirty to fully finish growing. Neen-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 eptance 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 regrly, 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 avable room, there naturally was a chair. The chair looked somewhat like the ones in the economy ss outside; one could only sit and rest on it, and to prevent from swaying, one had to buckle up the seat belt, clearly not asfortable 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 andy down directly, rightfully rolling most of the quilt towards herself.
Bo Yan watched her with a shadowed gaze for a while, then finallyy 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 ne, the person there to pick them up was Qin Baizhou. Chapter 235: 235 Picking Up From the Airport (1) Chapter 235: Picking Up From the Airport (1) The ne had justnded, 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 sries, with a maximum of ten million for a variety show. To the average person, this is a sky-high sry, 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 tforms 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 stipted 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-societydy, she nevercked money. Once she became an artist, she was always at the top, and both her film sry 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 rtives. Except for the asional 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 thest, cameras will capture her. Even if she doesn¡¯t wear a gown on the red carpet andes 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 byparison. 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,paring her with Xia Siyu is ¡°punching above her weight.¡± In terms of star power,pared 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: 236: Picking Up from the Airport (2) 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 ss, and thus they were among the first to disembark from the ne. 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 ne, 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 rtionship 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 bnce 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 offeringfort, ¡°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 sses as a disguise, her essory was a beret,rge ck-framed sses, and a ck dress. Bo Yan wore a bowler hat, rimless sses, and a camel-colored casual outfit. Without their masks, they would be the very image of schrly 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 gavest 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: 237: Picking Up from the Airport (3) 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 managementpany. After all, you¡¯re not an ordinary person; you¡¯re an artist. You¡¯ve signed a contract with thepany, and although thepany doesn¡¯t impose many restrictions, you still need to be more careful about matters of love¡­ Even if you really n 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 rtionship?¡±
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 ident 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,ughing 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 idental like, there¡¯s still a chance to salvage the situation. We could even coborate 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 poprity, 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 thest time he saw Qin Baizhou at the ¡°Storm¡± audition.
Qin Baizhou was indeed very impressive; he was always beaming with smiles. His strengthy 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 rtionship with him and he was nning for Xia Siyu. While scheming, he also took him and the show crew into ount, 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: 238: Picking Up from the Airport (4) 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 evene into contact with her afterwards. His back was the same, not pressing against hers at all, being particrly 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 arge 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: 239: Picking Up from the Airport (5) 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 ncing 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 stic 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 ustomed to the spotlight and didn¡¯t feel ufortable with it. If she were alone, she might casually remove her mask and sses, 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 nces 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 sses. 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 simr 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: 240: Picking Up from the Airport (6) 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 particrly 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 expensivedy¡¯s cream avable 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 essories 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 avable, 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 rtionship 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 shed 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 tonic,rades-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 shy, 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 ck. 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 ept! The sales assistant nodded, and Xia Siyu added, ¡°Wrap them separately.¡± Hearing this, Bo Yan felt that something wasn¡¯t quite right¡­ Chapter 241: 241: Picking Up from the Airport (Extra 1) 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 exined 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 evente into the night. I feel particrly embarrassed about it. Not just them, JingJing and the makeup artist have also been worrying over me. Especially Jingjing, who ims 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 hisplexion 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 reallyfortable 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 reced 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 ites to the rich ying 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 y 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 simrly 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 mealter 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 deration. 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 nce at her, then without missing a beat, turned around and said, ¡°Not helping.¡±
Chapter 242: 242: Picking Up from the Airport (Extra 2) 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 exined, ¡°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 dere it, but personal use is okay. If you don¡¯t want to dere 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 dere that Longines watch. Dering is simple, when you go out, just fill in the deration 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 nce 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 youngdy, right? A single luxury watch can incur tens of thousands in taxes, why waste that money? This iswful 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¡¯sst 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. Thoughpleting 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 rtionship hadn¡¯t reached that point yet. She asked directly, ¡°So I just dere 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¡¯te 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 rxed 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 ck, 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: 243: Picking Up from the Airport (Extra 3) 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 rtionships public. During their rtionship, other than the asional encounter with Han Yifan, he never introduced her to his friends and ssmates, nor to his rtives 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¡±st 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 calcte 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 remainpletely 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, hecked the courage, only daring to talk big and make an asional 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 quiteboriously 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: 244 The Main Character’s Downfall (1) 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 nces, 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 popr stars could be. Controllingments, strategic voting¡ªall that (behaviors specifically for boosting poprity in the fanmunity) 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 popr 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, poprity, 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 iming 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 imed 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 idental; even if it was, it meant she had seen and followed it before for her to ¡®identally¡¯ 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 eptable! 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 rtively 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 mostfortable 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 unt 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: 245: The Main Character Takes the Stage (2) Chapter 245: The Main Character Takes the Stage (2) He nced 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 rtives, 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 theirnguage 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 inte. 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 ck-rimmed sses 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 ck 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 ck dress, that couldn¡¯t hide her radiance! What is presence? This is presence! Audiences, don¡¯t think that just because she ys 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 nder, 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 ept! Fans really do follow their idol¡¯s lead. Bo Yan can think himself above it all, but these fans, strutting around¡ªhow dare theye 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: 246: The Protagonist Steps In (3) 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 exin my rtionship 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 amon saying online: the person involvedes 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 forwardedment 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 particr 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 coborate 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 rtionship!¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s words once again drew everyone¡¯s attention to Bo Yan.
Chapter 247: 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 sses 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 arge 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 identally liking a post. Bo Yan¡¯s side had yet to give any direction, but the higher-ups in thepany 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 nce 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 ck suits, made his way through the crowd and walked out. Chapter 248: 248 The Main Character’s Downfall (5) Qin Baizhou had hardly slept since the early hours of yesterday morning when he saw the idental 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 idental 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 idental slip. Siyu said it was purely an idental slip because she was sitting in first ss with Bo Yan at the time, and they might have chatted about something, so she took a nce at his Weibo. She assured me that there is no intimate rtionship between them, and they are not dating.¡± Even though Bo Yan had made thement, ¡°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 exined, ¡°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 exnation, 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 escting. 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 n just in case someone turns the heat on her. We can y 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 idental 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 sses on the desk, followed by the noise of the swivel chair moving. Perhaps he had taken off his sses, 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 theirpany 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. Thepany 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 rted 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 rtionship 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: 249 The Main Character’s Downfall (6) ¡°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 sry, 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 previouspany by signing her up. Thanks to Xia Siyu, he rose through the ranks at thatpany. 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 sess 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 coborations. Thus, he made numerous contacts, whichter led to him securing investment and, leveraging that, establishing a new entertainmentpany and performing a series of maneuvers to sign Xia Siyu away. He is now one of the three partners in their newpany 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 specte 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 nning 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 nended, 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¡¯spany would take. From the early hours until now, he had been in touch with Bo Yan¡¯spany 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 rified the issue, he believed her. Chapter 250: 250 The Main Character’s Downfall (Monthly Ticket Bonus) 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 thest 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 nner. 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 whyter 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¡± thest 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 bitte. 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 thest. They weren¡¯t her fans; she had no intention of taking the me. 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 d in ck clothes with her long hair draped over her shoulders, she walked proudly at the forefront. Qin Baizhou walked beside her, followed by arge group of ck-d 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: 251 Confrontation (1) This time, when Xia Siyu encountered Bo Yan, she felt a bit strange. She turned her head to nce 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 sellughs in the entertainment industry. Especially since Bo Yan himself was a university lecturer, someone who could be a professor in the future, bing 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 be 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 thepany. Fortunately, Bo Yan proved his worth. He won Best Neer with his first film and became Best Actor just a yearter, 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 alsoe. 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, herrge 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 epted 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 giftter.¡± 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, andfortably 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: 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 identally liked a post, wasn¡¯t it? Why on earth would you use your main ount 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 ount 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 be unbnced. 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 poprity, and keep it low-key. Nowadays, countless people¡¯s careers have tanked because they chose to publicly disy their love as celebrities. If a celebrity doesn¡¯t have strong abilities, it¡¯s very difficult for them to make aeback. And even if they do, reaching their former heights is unlikely. People are not emotionless nts, idols are human, they eat grains just like everyone else, and of course, they date too. But since you¡¯ve chosen the path of poprity, 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 poprity 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 idental like, nothing more significant. But now, every single action of a celebrity is scrutinized under a magnifying ss, and not the slightest mistake can be afforded. ¡°It¡¯s not for publicity, not dating. Are you satisfied with this answer?¡± Chapter 253: 253 Confrontation (3) 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. Yourpany didn¡¯t get involved at all. Moreover, I saw marketing ounts 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 ounts 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, cing soft articles, pushing them onto the hot search, and then having fans control thements 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 feelfortable 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 beingpared 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 me 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, mming 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: 254 Confrontation (4) 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 ced 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. Onlyter, 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 schrship 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 nce, 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 Siyuining, ¡°I didn¡¯t sleep at all well on the ne. 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 thepany, or straight back to the vi?¡± 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 hourster, 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, ming 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: 255 Confrontation (5) Chapter 255: Confrontation (5) Bo Yi did note alone this time; at the very least, he was followed by arge group of people. Although racing was the main attraction here, this area was actually part of a high-end club¡¯s property,plete 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 avable, perfectly catering to guests who brought their femalepanions. While the men engaged in golfing and racing, exchanging conversations, theirpanions could simultaneously rx in hot springs and enjoy beauty treatments without any inconvenience. Bo Yi, too, hade 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 ent from Southeast Asia, an overseas Chinese. Upon seeing Bo Yan, Bo Yi was momentarily stunned, but then immediately stered a smile on his face, ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since west met.¡± Bo Yan gave him a faint nce 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 directpetition; whatever Bo Yi liked, as long as it wasn¡¯t closely rted to his own interests, he couldn¡¯t be bothered topete. Bo Yi aimed to enter the Bosch Corporation; meanwhile, Bo Yan pursued his studies andter attended university. If not for some changes along the way, he would probably have spent his life in academia, content with his schrly pursuits.
Another thing Bo Yi aspired to was Xia Siyu¡¯s elder sister, Xia Sicai. The Xia Family and the Bo Family had deep coboration, 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 reputabledy 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 downstreampany. 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¡¯tpare to Bo Yan, and this was true for their temperament as well. Bo Yan was aloof yet gentle, worldly wise and intellectually profound, onlycking 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: 256 Confrontation (6) 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 waspletely 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 be 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 yboys 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 copse, 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 onught. 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 popr, sessful, and refused to go with the flow or submit to casting couch demands, sought to ruin herpletely! Bo Yan asked nonchntly, ¡°What¡¯s your friend¡¯s name?¡± The overseas Chinese gave a name: ¡°Mr. Chen of Gold Mold Tires, the famous tire king of Mysia.¡± 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, thatpany would no longer exist in the future. Chapter 257: 257: The Struggle for Power (1) 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 modifyst 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 ident, 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 whoe 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 apetition. It¡¯s just for fun. You can choose the simplest track.¡± The simplest track is simr 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, heughed, ¡°I¡¯m not particrly 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 bossughed heartily, ¡°Well then, I haven¡¯t yet experienced racing with a movie star. I hope you¡¯ll go easy on meter, 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 loseter, Mr. Chen, you can¡¯tin about my poor skills.¡± Mr. Chenughed 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 avable for guests to choose from, motorcycles included. Bo Yi and Mr. Chen each picked out a modified Harley motorcycle, with strong performance, quick eleration, and good stability. Bo Yan casually picked an unmodified one, ¡°I¡¯ll take this one.¡± Bo Yi had been all set for a seriouspetition, but seeing Bo Yan pick a basic model, he thought Bo Yan was just talking big andughed, ¡°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: 258: The Struggle for Power (2) Chapter 258: The Struggle for Power (2) With just one sentence from Bo Yan, not only did Bo Yi¡¯splexion 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 waspletely 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 manipted. 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 epted 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 thew, he would probably never be associated with the word ¡®failure¡¯ in his life. Normally, stars can¡¯tpare 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 thepany, 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 y 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 hisposure 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 augh. 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 rtionship.¡± 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, elerating to full speed in just a few seconds. Bo Yan¡¯s motorcycle hadn¡¯t been modified, so its eleration 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 insidene, 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 upied the insidene; he definitely wouldn¡¯t give up first ce to Bo Yan! Chapter 259: 259: The Struggle for Power (3) 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 hispetitors used was pretty much identical to a car racing track, with a length of approximately 5 kilometers perp. 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, ncing at the rear-view mirror and seeing Bo Yan being thrown farther and farther behind. Fool, he thought. Dare topete 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 worsepared to the modified one, with slower eleration 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 elerating 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 ce, 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 vtile 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. Thest bend wasing 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: 260: The Struggle for Power (4) 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 hemitted 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 arger 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 undting twists, it would still be challenging for those unfamiliar with the track. Motorcycles were inherently harder to controlpared 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 failurey in his choice of a modified motorcycle. A modified motorbike required arger 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 rted to the weight. The heavier the object, the greater the centrifugal force. Moreover, in the previousps¡¯ bends, Bo Yan had gradually be ustomed 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 uncontrobly 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! Secondster, 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 exims of shock from the onlookers, both Bo Yi¡¯s subordinates and Boss Chen¡¯s men. Although idents 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: 261: The Struggle for Power (5) Chapter 261: The Struggle for Power (5) Bo Yiy 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 theughter, I didn¡¯t provide enough entertainment for you.¡± ¡°Not at all, no such thing.¡± ying 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 coboration¡­¡± ¡°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 toe 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: 262: The Struggle for Power (6) 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 hisposure slipping. He gritted his teeth and said, ¡°Fine.¡± Bo Yan¡¯s smile at that moment was particrly 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, be 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 ount 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 coboration. The incident that happened early this morning was a misunderstanding, and I hope everyone will not specte too much, especially refrain from insults and nder. 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 themotion 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 thement, 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 #BoYanRegtesFans#, 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: 263 Sleep Together (1) Chapter 263: Sleep Together (1) Bo Yan canceled all his ns after posting on his blog, telling thepany 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¡¯te back. But that was normal, artists like them spinning like tops every day. If he hadn¡¯t canceled all his ns 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 finishte at night, have events early the next day, and it wasmon for them to spend the night at a nearby hotel. Though artists have high sries, their work hours are indeed incredibly erratic and exhausting. As a result, many aplished 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, thening 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 vi 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 be 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 ofing head-to-head with outstanding films from other countries, ending up a failure. The quickest method was: to be 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 ept it. Bo Yan was unwilling to seek investments from the Bo Family, and his vi 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: 264 Sleep Together (2) Chapter 264: Sleep Together (2) Bo Yan had just said, ¡°Let¡¯s talkter,¡± 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 apartmentyout 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 nce at him before quickly grabbing the te 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 toe 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 toe in and out.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this ce close to yourpany?¡± 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 asionally, very asionally, 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 ce. 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 rmend you to move out. For one, Qingcheng Apartments has excellent security; if you move out, it¡¯s not guaranteed that you¡¯ll find a ce with such good security. Moreover, renting is very unstable; what if thendlord decides to sell? You would have to shamefully look for another ce, right?¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m nning to buy. The vi I¡¯m interested in is in the ¡®Read Shu Yi Zhi¡¯ viplex. It¡¯s one of the most secureplexes 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: 265 Sleep Together (3) 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 rmended apartmentplex within the city is Qingcheng Apartments, and for vis on the outskirts, it¡¯s the uniquemunity 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 Ie 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 thepany organized fans without consulting him and even bought negative trending topics about Xia Siyu online. When his contract expired, he nned to bepletely independent, set up his own film and televisionpany, 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 hermercial 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 exining, 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: 266 Sleep Together (4) Chapter 266: Sleep Together (4) To tell the truth, the two of them had been in contact quite a bittely. They had even shared a bed and a nket 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, iming 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 be husband and wife. But since they had agreed not to invest feelings, even if their rtionship 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 rtionship. 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 ce in his heart. In the end, it had been a gloomy finish.
What she hadn¡¯t aplished seven years ago, she didn¡¯t believe she could aplish now. Indeed, her n 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 ufortably 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: 267 Sleep Together (5) Chapter 267: Sleep Together (5) Xia Siyu was always straightforward in her actions and words, not one for beating around the bush. Sheughed 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 rtives 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 calctive, 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 alwayses 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 y 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, ¡°y.¡± 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 ne, 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 y 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: 268 Sleep Together (6) 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 yboy move. Not particrly wanting to, but not particrly 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! ¡°yboy!¡± 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. Caughtpletely off guard by her kick, Bo Yan lost his bnce and fell backward, crashing to the ground. ¡°Bo Yan, you big pervert, youplete 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 mmed 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 toe 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 rtionship 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 yboy. No, he had to exin 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 rtionship, 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 theye, or as much influenced by Western education, such an approach was simply uneptable. 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 rtionship. 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, ring 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 nce and then spoke: Chapter 269: 269: Married Life (1) 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.¡± Topliment her looks and figure, to say he wanted to sleep with her one moment and then be 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 mmed 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 mmed.
Locked out, Bo Yan wanted to exin, 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 exnation 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 contemtion, 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 crystalmp 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 nonchnt 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 nning 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: 270: Married Life (2) 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 exemry, 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 dyed. 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-breddy and continued his academic pursuits at the university. Maybe even bing some famous schr or another a hundred yearster. 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 likest 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 hisposure, 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 wasbed without a strand out of ce. 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 nced over faintly when he saw here 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 makeupst 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 herst little piece and had just taken a sip of her coffee, Bo Yan spoke up, ¡°I may not have expressed myself very clearlyst night. Let me say it again. Now that we are husband and wife, I want us to live a normal married life.¡± Chapter 271: 271: Married Life (3) 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 ss 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 regrly, 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 rtionships, 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 toy 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 rtionship, 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, feelingpletely 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 nced 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: 272: Married Life (4) Chapter 272: Married Life (4) Damn, this pervert, this absolute asshole! So, this guy spent all ofst 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 ttery? 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 disy 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 inted 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 session, 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 bnce unsteady, not in a good position topete 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 particrly ¡®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 ss perishes en masse, the middleyer goes bankrupt on arge 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: 273: Married Life (5) 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 rtionship 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 exmation 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 exining 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 poprity 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 rtionship 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 thements 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 bacsh. 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 poprity 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: 274: Married Life (6) Chapter 274: Married Life (6) Wei Jingjing¡¯s first reaction was that those two must have already be 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 ns 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 nning: time management, content nning, 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 particrly 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 nning. She is carefree and straight-forward, never nning 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 poprity.¡± 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 thepany. 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 snowkes.¡± ¡°Then regarding her film offers, how does he screen them for her? Yourpany surely does an initial filter, right?¡±
¡°Of course it¡¯s about selecting the team, the sry, 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 bothfortable 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 sries andfort, 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 yed now. Theymanded 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¡¯tck money nor did she fear hardship, and in the future, their disagreements would only growrger. 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 nned path suits an artist who wants to earn money lying down, but it doesn¡¯t suit her. Chapter 275: 275 Dinner (1) 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 poprity, secure business deals, fight for better roles, and knows how to hype and market. For the average artist, being able to maintain poprity 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¡¯tpete with the paycheck, time investment, and exposure. ¡°Not exactly, for example, I run an independent studio, which gives me more autonomy, especially when ites 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 popr in the entertainment circle; though her fame was controversial, it was a genuine poprity. 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 popr. What she thought was, she¡¯s already so famous, how much more famous could she be? Since poprity 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 reced¡­¡± Recing the male lead would mean Bo Yan being reced. 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 exined first, ¡°Considering you¡¯re a young woman living alone, it wouldn¡¯t be proper for me toe up.¡± He said this with a smile, first ncing 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 enoughpany paperwork to keep him busy; apanying 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: 276 Dinner (2) 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 ck 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 particr, 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 toply obediently, her n 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 topare 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 tforms having long-term business cooperations with theirpany, andst 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¡¯tpete 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 almostparable 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 rtionship 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¡ªipatible¡ªand her aversion to Bo Yan was genuine. Love is not apetition 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: 277 Dinner (3) 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 youst 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 productionpany was particrly satisfied with Xia Siyu¡¯s performance and hoped she would continue. The only issue might be that the sry wouldn¡¯t be very high. Besides, the scriptwriting team had changed, but for this kind of urbanedy, 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 poprity is sometimes a matter of umtion. After the first movie¡¯s box office sess, there would naturally be a group of fans, and even passersby might follow the new work because of the IP. Rtively speaking, this one wasparatively better, it was just that the filming schedule shed 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.¡± Ovepping 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 monthter. When the timees, 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.¡± Althoughst 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 vige 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 rmend 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 poprity is your greatest work.¡± Chapter 278: 278 Dinner (4) Chapter 278: Dinner (4) ¡°Poprity, 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 mightugh at how ¡®uncool¡¯ it was back then. Only the works are tangible, they are what live on.¡± Just like now, when she asionally searches for her mother¡¯s name, she finds that there are still people silently following, stillmenting. Even Shang Feifei, who had bad rtions 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 notcking 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 herfort 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 popr, 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 Siyucks 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 rtionship and those with whom it was neutral. Chapter 279: 279 Dinner (5) 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 ce just anyone could enter, apart from spokespersons, ambassadors for various lines, and a misceneous mix of preferred coborating 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 foreignnguage 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 andck of Italian meant that the president of the Asia-Pacific region was apanied by her. Xia Siyu was ustomed to grand asions. Although her mother had retired from acting after her birth, she asionally 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 be 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 toe and talk business. The dinner began with everyone seated ording 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 toe over, present were the editors-in-chief of fashion magazines, business elites, and owners of various major brands with business rtionships. 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: 280 Dinner (6) 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 ipatible 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 sessor without a third party climbing ranks or any wealthy individuals keeping mistresses ¨C a typically dramatic narrative ¨C then it could be considered rtively 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 g? 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 hade 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 luxurybel. 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 nonchntly, ¡°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 g, no one is really there to eat; they¡¯re there for theworking thates 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 sd, 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 - 282: 282: The Shaky Wine Bottle (1) 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 uglynguage. 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 beingmon, those things remained as undercurrents beneath a shiny surface. But even if they weremon urrences 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 ndering 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 nder? 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, andmented, ¡°Watching the video, you really are ipetent.¡± 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 ipetent, 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 ipetence 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 282 - 281: 281 Dinner (Extra) 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 inte 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 entertainmentpanies that had offered him contracts, but he was holding out for a better offer, not willing to sign with just any smallpany. Although Zhou Weiwei was not particrly famous, nor was she the most promoted individual in herpany, herpany had good resources. They had good rtionships with major tforms whether it came to acting, singing, or operating on Weibo and TikTok. After getting to know Zhou Weiwei, he quickly signed a contract with herpany. He originally wanted to capitalize on the scandal where Xia Siyu beat him up to market himself further, but that n fell through when it got swiftly managed by public rtions, 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 sessfuleback with ¡°Flowers and Grass,¡± rising with the tide and cleansing her image from various messy rumors. While she still had poprity, 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 toote, 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 inte celebrity sphere, but in the entertainment circle, they were not enough. Real beauty would still face criticism for a tiny w¡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 nced 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 ofizens 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 spection began. Xia Siyu, however, was unfazed, ¡°Are you also trying to use thedies¡¯ restroom?¡± Chapter 283: 283: The Wobbling Wine Bottle (2) 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 youe here?¡± Bo Yan spoke indifferently, ¡°My cousin broke his hand and is receiving treatment; it¡¯s inconvenient for him toe 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 disyed his rtionship 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, ¡°ying group sports and thening to bully a woman in person, you really are something.¡± In the meantime, Xia Ju¡¯an also arrived. He assessed the situation at a nce¡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, ¡°Howe you¡¯re here?¡± He knew Xia Siyu was the spokeswoman, so was Bo Yan apanying her? Bo Yan also saw his brother-inw 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 be 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 rtionship with Bo Yan, who has always remained in the shadows. Despite their strained rtionship, 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: 284: The Shaky Wine Bottle (3) 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 ofughter. Indeed, in terms of family background, Bo Yan was not inferior. In looks and schrly 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 rified it herself, people might not believe her. However, when Bo Yan spoke up, the effect was entirely different. The crowd around burst intoughter, 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 be 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 rtionship 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 woulde to her aid!
Bo Yan¡¯s involvement was somewhat understandable, given the many rumors of their associationtely, 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 histest 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 ss of red wine from a tray held by an attendant, and tossed it high into the air! Chapter 285: 285: The Shaky Wine Bottle (4) 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 ss 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 te 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 rifying 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 rified a lot of messy rumors, none of which many believed. That¡¯s why trash like this keeps bothering me. Today I might as well rify 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 nder me again¡­¡± At this point, she intentionally nudged her chin towards Li Weiyi, whoy 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 nced over at Li Weiyi. She even casually singled out one of the onlookers, who seemed to be a senior official from a brand: ¡°You,e 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 wee 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 use me of fleeing the scene. ¡ª Waiter, a ss of champagne, please.¡± Chapter 286: 286: The Shaky Wine Bottle (5) 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 semnce of dignity; it only made him appearughable. Xia Siyu remained calm throughout, even feeling a bit tired from standing. She asked a waiter to bring her a chair and ordered a ss 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 ss, elegantly andposedly smoothed her hair, and sinctly recapped the events: ¡°Just now, Mr. Li came to harass me, iming I ndered 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 toe 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 idental 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 anyplications, 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 rified 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 ss 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 ce. 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 urred, 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 ys 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: 287: The Shaky Wine Bottle (6) 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 perfectdy of the house, sophisticated and perfect from all angles, which was fine and even ideal, but it always seemed tock 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 exin, 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 copsing 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 tform, 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 poprity was on the rise. Other viewers who werementing 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 heelsst 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 bitte 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: 288 Living Together (1) Chapter 288: Living Together (1) Xia Siyu had arrived early. Little Tang would need some time to catch up, and the rest of thepany 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,pletely 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 ufortable, ¡°I know you¡¯re just being a gentleman, ustomed 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 be 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 ufortable 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 ites to marriage, apart from marital duties, there are other things we can help each other with. For instance, if you¡¯re workingte, 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 ced his finger to his lips, reminding her they were outside. With a calm expression, Bo Yan indicated, ¡°If you want to reveal our rtionship 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: 289 Living Together (2) 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 rtionship 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 gued 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¡¯te 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 yer, 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, particrly 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 theposed 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 vi she had her eye on, Project One, was avable for viewing. She rushed over at lightning speed! Chapter 290: 290 Living Together (3) Chapter 290: Living Together (3) Just at this time, she wasn¡¯t taking on any new roles, so her schedule was fairly rxed and leisurely with a lot of spare time. Last night, after she returned home, Bo Yan came home not long after. Despite his ims 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 nning 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 upst 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 wereughing at that guy for liking y 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 beenbeled 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 nder, 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 using me of having an affair with you? Then you twist facts iming I¡¯m ndering you? I¡¯ll beat you until you can¡¯t even recognize the words ¡°nder¡±!
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 ss 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 fewmercial endorsements, which had then started toe back. But afterst 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 stipte that if an artist faced legal or moral issues, they must pay a substantialpensation, the loss would still be felt. Anyway, such high-end vis 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: 291 Living Together (4) Chapter 291: Living Together (4) The security check here was very strict, and thest time they were able to enter was also because there was an owner in thisplex 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 theplex. Apart from some military and governmentpounds where officials and institutional personnel lived, in the business world, The Vi gship was considered a very well-known luxury housingplex. 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 entireplex. 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 lotpared to the average working-ss, inparison 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 asionally 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 nevercking 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, exined 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 cab 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 wholeplex. 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¡ªck, 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 havee by just now? Why hadn¡¯t she seen them? Chapter 292: 292 Living Together (5) 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 ce just to have it; he doesn¡¯te 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 simr inyout. He doesn¡¯t like to be disturbed. If you agree to buy the house, then he wille 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 cer 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 arge open space. Upon entering, there was arge 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 particrly fond of these books¡ªall of them were about cinema, television, and art. There was andscape 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, apanied by aplete 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 be a cozy and discreet mini cinema. Next to it was a small wine cab, filled with the owner¡¯s collection of red wine. Sitting on the sofa with a ss 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 cer; 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 cab 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 cane up and have a look.¡± The second floor was made up of fourrge rooms converted into one open space. The third floor, reportedly simr inyout, 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 particrly pleasant. However, a voice came from behind her, ¡°Do you like this house? Would it be okay to live here with me?¡± ¡°` Chapter 293: 293 Living Together (6) 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, lookingpletely 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. Becausest night, he had been seen at the banquet of a petitive¡± 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 topensate forst 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 in, yet all the rooms were filled with movie-rted items. After all this, it turns out to be this guy¡¯s house! Bo Yan had juste 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 isrge, and the bed is big and soft. Veryfortable 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, howe 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. Thisplex was developed by the Han Family¡¯s real estatepany; no wonder the best buildings, one and two, were given to Bo Yan and him. Bo Yan also said, ¡°Actually, if you like this ce, 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¡¯spletely legitimate. I¡¯ll have the nanny give you a spare keyter. 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: 294 Living Together (Extra 1) 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 casualments 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, unlikest 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 nting 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. Aftering 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 vi 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 ssmates, 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 be 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: 295 Living Together (Extra 2) Chapter 295: Living Together (Extra 2) Bo Yan nced at him, ¡°You¡¯re not boasting that you only spent five minutes chatting up apletely unknown girl, a in-looking college student at that, right? Half an hour to kissing, an hourter 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 ites to looks, I¡¯m still the brightestd along the Yan River bar street. No doubt, I¡¯m not some scumbag. I was justforting 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 ma, 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 y a scumbag.¡± ¡°What scumbag! Watch yournguage! I¡¯ve never yed 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 nce, 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 thest 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 ss, he said, ¡°I¡¯ve returned the keys, I¡¯m leaving first.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t go.¡± Han Yifan finally smiled, ¡°Actually, it¡¯s not thatplicated. 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 ept your closeness. But remember, during this process, you absolutely can¡¯t get handsy or say anything too oundish. 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 ss 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: 296 Towel (1) 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 rtionship 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 ept his pursuit, and she was even more afraid of his entanglement and love. This kind of person was impervious to ttery 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 hadpletely 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, nced 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 nonchntly 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 y it cool, so he poured himself a ss 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, missedst evening¡¯s dinner party. But upon hearing that Xia Siyu had caused quite a stir and evennded on the trending searches for hitting someone, he immediately showed his support with his main Weibo ount and now was calling her. Especially since Wang Zisu and Li Weiyi were from the samepany, in theory, he shouldn¡¯t have contradicted her for the sake ofpany interests. Like Zhou Weiwei, though she sent a WeChat message, she didn¡¯t use her main Weibo ount to support her. Wang Zisu, however, didn¡¯t care. Being a top celebrity now, he did indeed strut around thepany, his word wasw, ¡°That Li guy is so annoying, with his pig-like face he actually dared to say Sister Siyu was chasing him! He had iting! Seeing him get hiseuppance feels so gratifying.¡± Xia Siyu nodded, ¡°He¡¯s really something else,¡± and she heard Bo Yaning out, initially unhappy until her eyes caught sight of his body just in the towel and suddenly couldn¡¯t look away¡­ Chapter 297: 297 Towel (2) 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 woulde 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 ne, the space wasn¡¯tfortable 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 ourpany, 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 thepany 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 inte 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 instion, 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¡¯tpletely 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¡¯ming 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 ce to eat ¡­¡± Thest 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 ss of water in his hand. Wearing only a bath towel. Chapter 298: 298 Towel (3) Chapter 298: Towel (3) Ever since Bo Yan had punctured the illusion that they were to be husband and wife, she finally, btedly 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 nces. 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 nce, 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, asionally 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 vi 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 ne 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 nce 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 nonchntly, ¡°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 nced,¡± 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 identally 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: 299 Towel (4) 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 rtionship, 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 derative 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 reying 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 airne, 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 bepared 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 nned 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: 300 Towel (5) 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 y, 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 idents in the restroom and on the ne. 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 rtionship 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 rtionship hadn¡¯t developed to the point where they could hold hands intimately or kiss lightly. Taking a small advantage was eptable, 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 dered, ¡°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 particrly 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 theyter 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 simted. 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: 301 Towel (6) 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, ent-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 herter being moved by Bo Yi¡¯s persistent pursuit (or what she saw as Xia Sicai sizing up the situation and marrying Bo Yi to be 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 ounts, 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 yboy 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,ck 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 thest sentence, she believed him and, huffing, dered, ¡°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 rxed 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 ident, Siyu¡¯s kicknded on his sensitive spot, and he clutched himself, slowly copsing from the edge of the couch to the floor, his face twisted in agony, sweat beading on his brow. Chapter 302: 302: Not Allowed to Leave (1) Chapter 302: Not Allowed to Leave (1) Xia Siyu was d she hadn¡¯t worn high heels at home. If those had been stilettos, Bo Yan could joyfully be 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 coldpress. It was a good thing Xia Siyu practiced boxing, not taekwondo, or else one kick from her and he really could have be 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 aw-abiding citizen; she needed to see if her actions met the standard for a criminal case. When Bo Yan opened the door toe 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 rify some of the inurate reports about her past.
Of course, the cost of the trending searches was deducted from her ount. 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 nce 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. ording to the casew, she had the right to inflict harm on him for his undue intentions. It was already generous of her not to hold him ountable; he couldn¡¯t me 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 rtionship 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 rtions against your will. I¡¯m not that despicable.¡± Xia Siyu still didn¡¯t speak. Bo Yan spoke again: ¡°Thest 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: 303: Not Allowed to Leave (2) 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 thatst 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 youy a hand on me?¡± Bo Yan straightened his back, dering with an air of righteousness, ¡°I won¡¯t. Unless you make a move on me first, I won¡¯ty a finger on you again.¡± Xia Siyu snorted in disdain, ¡°How could I possibly make the first move.¡± This man is seriously hrious. ¡°Then it¡¯s settled. You can¡¯t move again. If you move, it¡¯ll be to a vi in La Vi 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¡¯tin 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 vi 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 vi, 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 residentialplexes like La Vi de Si and Qingcheng Apartments with excellent security were limited, they weren¡¯t nonexistent. Qin Baizhouforted 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 moneytely. If I¡¯m not particrly 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 exnation, 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 crewter, as long as it doesn¡¯t dy 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: 304: Not Allowed to Leave (3) Chapter 304: Not Allowed to Leave (3) ¡°Don¡¯t you have a rmendation?¡± 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 popr online, and they¡¯re inviting you to be a regr guest. Of course, you only need to take a day or two each month to record several episodes, so it won¡¯t cause any dy. 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 poprity 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 seed 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 exnations, ¡°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¡¯smercial 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 poprity, 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: 305: Not Allowed to Leave (4) 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 manipted by Bo Yan behind the scenes? How far had their rtionship developed? Had they already be 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 personallye knocking on his door. ¡°I hope you won¡¯t regret this decision.¡± Xia Siyu flipped her hair nonchntly, ¡°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 be a top influencer andfortably 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 popr on variety shows, and her recent reputation had sessfully 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 newpany, 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 sessful 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 neer 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: 306: Not Allowed to Leave (5) Chapter 306: Not Allowed to Leave (5) Qin Baizhou suddenly felt a bit impulsive and wanted to ask her if she really started a rtionship 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 rtionship. She already was at the top of the food chain, whether in terms of wealth, looks or status, all of them first-ss. 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 hadplete 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 rxed, 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 regrs?¡± 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 lessmon, 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¡¯spany 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 sry caps were especially strict now, with a maximum of ten million for a regr appearance on a variety show, but when adding an agent, the amount could reach twenty million,plying 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 bitte 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: 307: Not Allowed to Leave (6) Chapter 307: Not Allowed to Leave (6) Wei Jingjing was taken aback; their boss, Qin Baizhou, seemed to have been moodytely. 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 im 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 rtionship only of the body, without the feelings. This was actually quitemon 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 rtionships 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 ept hadn¡¯t happened¡ªXia Siyu and Bo Yan were not in a live-in rtionship. 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 rtionship might have already taken ce. 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 be a couple. He had overestimated himself, and her as well. But it wasn¡¯t toote 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: 308: Not Allowed to Leave (Extra for Monthly Votes) 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¡¯spany. 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 ce 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, apletely 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 ssmate 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 augh, refuting, ¡°Siyu is naturally beautiful, not artificially enhancedter on!¡± Han Yifanughed, ¡°Yes, yes, my mistake. I¡¯ll punish myself with a drink!¡± With that, he cheerily picked up his ss 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 vtile 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 ate-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 drinkster, 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 ss 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 ce. 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: 309 Contest (1) Chapter 309: Contest (1) Han Yifan wore a puzzled expression, ¡°Why?¡± Xia Siyu dered 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. Hisplexion 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 ck, 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 wee 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,e here.¡± Wang Zisu, true to form of arge breed dog, ¡°woofed¡± and pounced into her arms, allowing Xia Siyu to vigorously rub his hair to her heart¡¯s content. Han Yifan was stillughing, ¡°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 nced at Bo Yan¡¯splexion 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 likest 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 toe hang out again.¡± ¡°No worries, there¡¯s plenty of time, whenever youe 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 gettingte, Hu Juyue, Han Yifan, and the two junior sisters of Wang Zisu also took their leave. Wang Zisu and the junior sisters had theirpany¡¯s ride, Hu Juyue had an assistant, and Han Yifan called for a substitute driver. On this end, Bo Yan nced at LaXiaotang, nning 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: 310 Contest (2) 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 poprity 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 bnce work and leisure. Actually, you could go to a holiday resort and enjoy an essential oil SPA to rx your body.¡± ¡°No need, I have ns 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 bepletely 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 rtionship 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 nced 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: 311 Contest (3) 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 nced 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 wereplete, including a single set of toothbrushes, which were avable 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 anymitment, it would be impossible to have absolutely no ovep 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 nced 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 inte¡¯s camera, ¡°I¡¯ve left my keys in her bedroom; I¡¯ming up to look for them.¡± Bo Yan appeared nonchnt with a water ss 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: 312 Contest (4) Chapter 312: Contest (4) Indeed, Qin Baizhou was the first to speak, ¡°I know you two are living together.¡± This was a derative 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 rtions.¡± 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¡¯sposure 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 ept 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 previouspany, 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. Butter, after a few years, she was maligned by the girlfriend of the man she was scandalized with, used 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 previouspany, not renewing her contract. The previouspany turned a deaf ear to the scandals, allowing the situation to escte, 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,cking the means we have today, so we let her poprity grow from being infamous.¡± Her character was strong, her spirit resilient. Despite the many who ndered and vilified her, she remained unaffected. Back then, her reputation was poor, and she lost all her endorsements, butter 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 rolesing 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 rtionship 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 apanied her all the way. He had witnessed her rise to this point, how could he easily give up! ¡°My rtionship 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 ced special emphasis on the word ¡°rest.¡± Chapter 313: 313 Contest (5) 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 rtionship would be incrediblyplicated. Now that the masks had been torn away, the two men exchanged no more words, and Qin Baizhou turned away, hisplexion somewhat ashen. Bo Yan watched him enter the elevator, his face also devoid of much smile. Qin Baizhou had begun his onught. Although Xia Siyu had no romantic feelings for him at present, she also didn¡¯t for himself. Only he knew that their current rtionship 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 ying 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 ufortable 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 shed 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 nket, but Bo Yan didn¡¯t just lift the nket, 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, hepletely lost control! Chapter 314: 314 Contest (6) 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 ce, he hadn¡¯te 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 identally 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 ce his facended on was right on her chest,pletely 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 rxed, 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-proimed 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. Thatponent, 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 sp 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 ce. Xia Siyu, heavily asleep from the alcohol, only felt slightly ufortable 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 arge 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: 315 I Want to Kiss You (1) 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 nket 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 bedsidemp 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 ident, 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, asionally, her dad woulde over from Mysia. 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 Mysia, 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 y 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 yfully 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 forrge 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 butcked 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 ce she had kicked him before now seemed to be stirring awake¡­ Chapter 316: 316: I Want to Kiss You (2) 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, upying two-thirds of it, forcing Bo into the edge, and then, with one kick, she¡¯d pushed him off. He waspletely 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 nce, 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¡¯ty 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 used him with a face full of indignation, and he still had a reaction now; this was irond 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 usations at me? Just look at yourself, did I vite 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 med me. I was just trying to be nice, seeing you sleep in that shirt so ufortably, 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: 317 I Want to Kiss You (3) 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 sleepingfortably, 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 be 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 itter.¡± ¡°Bo! Yan!!¡± Xia Siyu gritted her teeth, the mes in her eyes seemed like they could set him aze. Bo Yan sat down at the edge of the bed. He moved closer, and she resolutely did not back down, pping him on the cheek. Bo Yan clearly saw her handing, but didn¡¯t dodge, and the pnded squarely on his face, causing his handsome face to turn slightly, and even his fringe flew up. After pping 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 nted, 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 youst night, didn¡¯t vite 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 ck 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 somethingst night, it wouldn¡¯t have just been this. I would have gone all the way, and not just once. I really justy 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: 318 I Want to Kiss You (4) 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 identally 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 yed 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 y with you,¡± toozy 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: 319 I Want to Kiss You (5) 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 thews 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 contemtive 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 topromise easily, nor one to let others arrange his life without a fight. Even if the members of the Bo family were reluctant to ept 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 be 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 unassable, andbined with his gentlemanly manners, elegant and schrly 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, andter, 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 epted Xia Sicai¡¯s advances. But unfortunately, he had met this cmity in his life first, and he had no choice but to ept it. Sometimes love is just like that,pletely unreasonable. Seeing Bo Yan¡¯s contemtive 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: 320 I Want to Kiss You (6) 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 y 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 mmed 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 rtives of both the Xia and the Bo families. As the granddaughter-inw 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, dering officially that Bo Yan had no ce 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 thepany 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 sessor to take over thepany. This wasn¡¯tfort; 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 bing some actor! Even as a film emperor, you¡¯re just an actor, working for someone else. If you had joined thepany earlier¡­¡± Chapter 321: 321: Masked Kiss (1) 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 bing 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 bitcking 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 thepany 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 hairbed 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 toe 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 miserating 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 ufortable. 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 unting his Bo Family lineage. They mostly got around on foot,municated by yelling, and relied on dogs for security. The asional outing involved public transport or the subway, and they rarely took cabs. By the time they reunitedter, she had be a widely popr star, while he was just starting out as the young master of the Bo Family. She already had her own drivers and assistants, and hecked 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 ce instantly grind to a halt? Chapter 322: 322: Masked Kiss (2) Chapter 322: Masked Kiss (2) Especially when she heard they were going to a restaurant and there would be celebrities present. No matter the asion, 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 hade 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 severalrge bags. Only then did Xia Siyu realize that Bo Yan had prepared a trench coat in the trunk. The coat was ck, long, and could perfectly cover her cocktail dress. There were also a pair of shoes, ck sneakers that were exactly her size. He also brought a ck baseball cap for her, along with ck-framed sses and a ck 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. in sses and a mask were also essential, and the clothes, shoes, hood, and sses 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 asionally, 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. Howe he had been so cold during their past rtionship? How cheap! Yet even cheaper moments were toe. 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: 323: Masked Kiss (3) 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 kissnded firmly on the mask. Bo Yan paused for a moment, then drew back slightly, a small frown forming between his brows. Xia Siyu was particrly 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: 324: Masked Kiss (4) 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 ayer 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 herpletely. The previous kiss, though through the mask and somewhat refreshing, felt a bit stuffy. This time, Bo Yan took advantage of herck 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 ustomed 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 ts without even tying theces, 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: 325: Masked Kiss (5) 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 be 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 red in an instant, and she immediately began puffing out her small chest. The two red at each other for quite a while. Xia Siyu¡¯s momentum didn¡¯t wane, but she nced 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 Yanugh 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 shoces, then ced 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 ce they arrived at was Yancheng¡¯s most high-end shopping center, housing many luxury brand stores. Such a ce was convenient for buying gifts for young people, children, or even regr 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 ce 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 toe 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 nced 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 hourter, 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: 326: Masked Kiss (6) 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 thergest 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, itsrge size couldn¡¯t bepletely concealed; it appeared to be a veryrge 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-inw, 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 theirmercial endorsements, their personal brand value, film and television invitations, variety show engagements, and the agencies that managed them. Once they¡¯d turned themselves intomodities to be scrutinized andmented on, they needed to be prepared to sacrifice certain aspects of their personal lives. If Xia Siyu loved him, he would im her even at the cost of offending the entire industry and wouldn¡¯t let her suffer the nders 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 nced 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, amanding 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 asionally. But the content of the discussion seemed to be rted to her. Chapter 327: 327 Family (1) 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 statew. 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 exnation!¡± 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-inw 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 ce.¡± ¡°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 nted the seeds of trouble. If he had known, he would have proimed her as his wife, the daughter-inw 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 be 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 amodate. Xia Sicai nced 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 y 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 rtionship, 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 rtionship 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: 328 Family (2) Chapter 328: Family (2) Many of the issues surrounding Xia Siyu, such as her beingbeled a ¡°gold digger¡± and used 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-sry industries, and despite sry 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 ie that ordinary people could hardly dream of earning in their whole lifetime through hard work. However,pared 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 be a top star, whosemercial value, though asionally fluctuating due to her controversial news, was undoubtedly among the most profitable. Yet, because of her ¡°grassroots¡± background, there were still those who enjoyed pping thebel 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 tost three lifetimes. What others desperately tried to disy 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 beenfortable 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 topromise 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 unted 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 y 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 feelfortable 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, andpared to the Xia and Bo families, his rtionship with the Tong Family was even closer: the Xia Family¡¯spany was originally established jointly by the Xia and Tong families, with the Tong¡¯s as one of the partners. Even though the Xia Familyter came to dominate the business, the Tong Family still retained a significant, albeit not overwhelming, position within thepany. 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 irreconcble personalities. Chapter 329: 329 Family (3) Chapter 329: Family (3) Although they divorced, the Tong Family still wielded power within thepany, 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 n affairs. Furthermore, the elders in the Xia Family had always recognized Mrs. Tong. They believed a couple¡¯s quarrels weremon 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 eventuallye around. Who would have expected Wen Qunxiao toe 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 epting actors, oftenbeling 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 almostpletely 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 wereing between her and Xia Youbiao. Some things, the less they are exined, the further apart the rtionship bes. 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: 330 Family (4) Chapter 330: Family (4) At the height of the heated discussion inside, Xia Siyu mmed 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 schrly 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 fullyprehend 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 typebeled 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 calcting, 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 epted 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 topete, 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 n to take your seatter?¡± Xia Siyu smiled, striding confidently in her high heels. She approached Xia Youbiao, twistily shoved Xia Sicai aside, and sat down nonchntly, ¡°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: 331 Family (5) 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 y 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 toozy to bother. Besides, I¡¯m an actress, ying 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 howe I see you constantly having conflicts with himtely, 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 rtionship.¡±
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 thest 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 rtionships 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: 332 Family (6) 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 constion 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, clearlycking 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 monthster, Bo Yan and Xia Siyu were close. Xia Sicai paid close attention to the rtionship between Bo Yan and Xia Siyu, driven not merely by jealousy but also by deeper considerations. Although Bosch Corporation was doing well, they asionally 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 filmpany and take dividends, their worth could rocket to billions overnight.
An artist¡¯s career can¡¯tst a lifetime, but Bosch Corporation canst forever. When the timees, will the old man still hand over thepany 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 ce 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 rtionship 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 pped 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 cklist on her WeChat before he felt satisfied. It was a tale of tears¡ªXia Youbiao had been cklisted 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: 333: Wife (1) 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 te. 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 apetitor of both her and her husband. Besides, Bo Yi truly treated her well, earnest and ambitious, and disregarded other womenpletely; 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 be 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-inw, ¡°Ayi, I heard you had a car ident recently.¡± Upon recalling the ident, 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 ced 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¡¯ane with us?¡± He nced 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 rtionship, 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 rtionship, then it is actually good. In this circle, it¡¯smon 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 ufortable. 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: 334: Wife (2) 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 ck 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?¡± Thest word¡¯s inflection rose slightly, and whenbined 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, herpliant murmuring tinged withint: ¡°Why did you juste now? I¡¯ve been waiting for you for so long~~¡± Showing off affection takes two hands to p. One to set the stage, and the other to perform. Otherwise, Xia Siyu¡¯s splendid performance would just move herself, not evening 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 adder, 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: 335: Wife (3) 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 evenughed, ¡°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 y 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-inw n 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 ites 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 be 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 y 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: 336: Wife (4) Chapter 336: Wife (4) Bo Yan nced at him nonchntly 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 exined, ¡°Cash is more cost-effective. This model is limited edition, and probably isn¡¯t avable 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 tant extortion! Xia Siyu was even quicker, directly pulling out her phone: ¡°Just transfer it to me, send it to my online bank ount.¡± 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 thates 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 ident 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-inw 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 ssh 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 nce at Bo Yan and lifted his leg to leave the room. Xia Sicai nced 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: 337: Wife (5) Chapter 337: Wife (5) In thest few words, he lowered his voice and spoke right beside Xia Siyu¡¯s ear. The threatening implication was particrly 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 ying 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 sry card. You mentioning it now actually reminds me, hand over your sry 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,e sit with Dadter.¡± Xia Siyu¡¯s facade of gentleness vanished in an instant, and she evenughed, ¡°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 particr 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 rtives of the Xia Family also supported her, and thepany 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 topromise. 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 orputer, just click a few apps, you should be able to see my ssh 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 oue. 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: 338: Wife (6) 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 be 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 yers with business dealings with Bosch Corporation, who would approach him for a chat. At a nce, 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 samepany 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 Siyust time, had alsoe 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, alreadying from a certain background as the daughter of the regional agent of a multinationalpany 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 gued by scandals. However, the love Jiang had fiercely defended didn¡¯tst 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 shy 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 ncing 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 otherpany 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: 339: Crisis (1) 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 ce, was quickly filled. He took a quick nce around; the number of people who came here were fixed, not one more, not one less. Aside from the first few tables assigned to rtives 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 ce for her within the Bo family nor within the Xia family seats, and naturally, there was no ce 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-inw married to him who didn¡¯t even have a seat prepared by the Bo family? The banquet was about tomence, 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 satfortably and even looked up and smiled at him, still motionless. The quiet standoff led to murmurs among many. They couldn¡¯t wait any longer, dying the start of the banquet. Bo Qiliu urged the patriarch, ¡°Dad, shall we go on stage first?¡± The patriarch gave Bo Yan another sharp nce 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: 340: Crisis (2) 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 difort. She stood by the door, her eyes sweeping swiftly over the venue¡ªHmm, no empty seats. The ce 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 andfortably 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 be 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 hisp? 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 waste, 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 nned 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, ¡°Howe you¡¯re sote?¡± 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 beente, right? Xia Siyu seemed amused, evenughing, ¡°I just saw something interesting. That guy I hit with a wine bottlest 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: 341: Crisis (3) 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 ce to say anything either. As forcking 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 neer. Many artists work their whole lives and still can only achieve the status of Li Yiru. Though sheins a lot, her poprity is genuinely high. Moreover, Xia Siyu wasn¡¯t short of money, nor did she value it as much. Her ambition wasn¡¯t to be 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 nopulsion, 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 alsomented, ¡°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: 342: Crisis (4) 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 Yanter in the evening. But while she was zoning out here, others still needed towork. 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 ofworking, 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 heworked, 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 ss 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¡¯te 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 nced 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 herpact 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 mmed open, and a man with a ruffian¡¯s grin blocked the entrance, ¡°Miss Xia, we meet again.¡± It was Li Weiyi. Chapter 343: 343: Crisis (5) Chapter 343: Crisis (5) Xia Siyu rolled her eyes dramatically. One after another theye, do they think life is toofortable 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 hospitalityst 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 Weiyiughed, ¡°Of course not. Miss Xia is not only beautiful, but her delicate hands are quite capable ofnding a blow. I learned my lesson wellst 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 nced 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 ced 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-knownworking 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 ces. 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, whosebat 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 surveince 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: 344: Crisis (6) 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 wasworking, 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 nned to do something today, I conveniently brought it along. Within ten meters, no calls can be made, and there¡¯s nowork.¡± 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 be! She had already thought it through; if those few men pounced on herter, 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 toy a hand on her, she would make sure they¡¯d die a terrible death! ¡°Li Weiyi, what do you want to do? sh my face with a knife? Or hit me with a bottle?¡±
Her tone was still firm and tough, causing Li Weiyi himself tough when he heard it. He said, ¡°Rest assured, us guys, we are verypassionate 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: 345: You Are Not As Good As Her (1) Chapter 345: You Are Not As Good As Her (1) ¡°Thud, thud,¡± like a lifeline, at this time, no matter who wasing, 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 nk 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, nced 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 thest toe 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 nced 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 inte she wasn¡¯t afraid. Nevertheless, she still kept an eye on her surroundings in case one of Shang Feifei¡¯s aplices decided to surprise attack. Shang Feifei understood her expression and didn¡¯t bother to exin. 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 asionally 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 theirst 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 futuredy of Bosch Corporation, is named Xia Sicai.¡± Xia Siyu remained calm. She had no particr sentiment towards the Xia Family and was casual in her response, ¡°Is that all? Can I go now?¡± However¡­
Chapter 346: 346: You Are Not As Good As Her (2) 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 yearster, 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 de! 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 usible 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: 347: You Are Not As Good As Her (3) 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 andparison. She sized up Xia Siyu from head to toe. In truth, Xia Siyu bore some resemnce 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 havee out following Xia Siyu¡¯s incident, thinking about how to inform him but with no sess, and now he had pursued her, perhaps. Shang Feifei nced 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 thatpares 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 nced 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: 348: You Are Not As Good As Her (4) 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 rtive 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 morous. 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 ck straight hair, and as shebed 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 shy 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 ss, 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 ustomed 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 rtionship. They belonged to the same industry, coborating asionally, and running into each other at work-rted 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: 349: You Are Not As Good As Her (5) 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, toozy 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 ss 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 toe pick you up?¡± Xia Siyu nced 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 copse 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 thew, that she¡¯s uneducated? If they dared toy 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 sumbing 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 transformationtely, 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: 350: You Are Not As Good As Her (6) 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¡¯tpare 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 dered that she would be 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, directlypeting 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,municating 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 pixted on domestic websites but clear on international ones. As the video spread, Li Weiyi¡¯s image waspletely 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 y; 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 yed these games alone. The guy with the narrow eyes and another aplice, 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: 351: You Are Not As Good As Her (Monthly Ticket Bonus) 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 difort 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 sessful 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, ncing 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 nce 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 dy 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 ring. 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: 352: Obediently Listening (1) 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 someing 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 toe half an hourter. 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. asionally, he nced 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 nowunching 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 whileter, 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 truthing 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 quiteughable?¡± 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: 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 ufortable? Before Bo Yan could ask, Xia Siyu exined 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 popr. Poprity 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 rtionship with the Xia Family wasn¡¯t to the point of beingpletely ipatible, 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 Sicilyst 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 schr 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 peoplememorating her on arge 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 peopleugh 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 yearster, 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 be 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: 354: Obediently Listening (3) 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 cker in ss, often sleeping through lectures and passing exams by simply showing up¡ª a 24K gold-branded dud. During their rtionship, 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 nce. 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 ncing 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 courtyardmp 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 sessful actor, you need not just that one percent of talent; you also need ny-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 thetest 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: 355: Be Obedient (4) 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 maind as well. But even for top actresses, it is not guaranteed to win two Best Actress trophies, let alone before turning thirty. Some information shed 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 ofing 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 rted 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 adder, telling you that following their advice will lead to sess! ¡°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 nced 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 nced 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: 356: Obediently Listening (5) 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 be a famous schr, establish his own school of thought, then take under his wing some proud disciples to propagate and enhance his beliefs and ideas for generations toe. 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 ufortable. 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 herposure as before because she was preupied 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 rtives¡ªher father and brother loved her, but they also had to consider the thoughts of the Tongdy 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 toote, 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 ssmates 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 isted ind. If she hadn¡¯t be 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 bezy 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 trulyy quietly waiting for him to speak. Chapter 357: 357: Obediently Listening (6) 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 aplish was nowpressed 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 particrly 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 justy 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 peopleing 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 ce 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¡¯te in. Since when did you and Siyu be so close?¡± Xia Sicai nced 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,e 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: 358 Untitled (1) 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 ufortable, 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 therge 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 evenplimented 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 y 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 ss 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 yed the innocent white flower female lead, now, you will y a fiery and proactive character. The setting is a swimming pool, you¡¯re wearing a bikini, I¡¯m in swim trunks, youe 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: 359 Untitled (2) Chapter 359 Untitled (2) When Bo Yan spoke those few words, he maintained a facade of calm at first, but by thest 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 nonchnce, ¡°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 wless back with perfect lines. Her skin was fair and delicate, with a beautiful spinal ridge and butterfly bones on her shoulders. With regr 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 keptposed 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 ced 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: 360 Untitled (3) 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 nced at his phone, and nodded. Bo Yan said, ¡°Remember, in the uing scene you take the initiative. You¡¯lle 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 bnce. Her intention was to touch his chest ording 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 bnce as she lunged over and ended up falling right into his arms; moreover, her face was buried in his abdomen, with only a thinyer 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 pouncepletely 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 dered confidently, ¡°Of course I do!¡± Even while drunk, Xia Siyu was bold and fearless. Her hand traced from his chest andnded directly on his lower abdomen, hooking onto his shorts and tugging them down. ¡ªIn fact, ording 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: 361 Untitled (4) 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 thest 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 andcked 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 ws 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,pletely 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 hade 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 ces 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 herselfpletely¡­ Chapter 362: 362 Untitled (5) Chapter 362 Untitled (5) Xia Siyu had a very long dream. At the beginning, she was by the seaside in Sicily. Her father hade, and she was holding her mother with one hand and her father with the other, ying 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 keptughing and ying. 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 ss. 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 ept 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 ept 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 ept women from the entertainment industry. Moreover, Wen Qunxiao had been maliciously ndered by her ex-boyfriend for a long time, and right before she was about to marry Xia Youbiao, a major scandal had urred. 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 sses, 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 aplished. 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 andter dated her, there were always some small habits in his life that he unconsciously brought into the rtionship, 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 rtionship, 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: 363 Untitled (6) Chapter 363 Untitled (6) Bo Yan had always been ustomed 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 preupied 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 stic Tires who failed trying to harass her under the table¡ªall these forces were ckening 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 rted 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 ck 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 muchtely. 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: 364 Untitled (Extra for Monthly Votes) 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 ufortable. Xia Siyu was now between wakefulness and sleep, her consciousness at the blurry edges. Shey in bed, still puzzling over what she had donest 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 thatst 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 vors. But it was still spirits. She drank, Bo Yan drank too. Thest 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 waspletely 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 shey 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 e, 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 handy 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: 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 ufortable sensation. Xia Siyu was half-awake at this moment, her consciousness teetering on the edge of haziness. Shey 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 thatst 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 calcte, but at least two bottles. And that wasn¡¯t beer or wine, but something simr to white liquor, although not very strong, perhaps only around twenty degrees, sweet and blended with fruit vors. But it was still white liquor. She drank, and so did Bo Yan. Thest 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 waspletely 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 shey 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 e, 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 - 367: 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 woulde to settle ounts 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 ced 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 ws, 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 367 - 368: 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 aboutst 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 rtionship 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 rtionship 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 regr 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, epting 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: 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 hisst 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 mmed the door in his face. Themotion 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,ughing 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 withposure, ¡°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 wed by a woman. Bo Yan having rtions 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 nning and maintaining mutual marital interests, was not umon. 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? Likest 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 nce over the younger generation and soon spotted Bo Yan, hugging a pillow, without even slippers on, and frowned. He turned around, ¡°Bo Yan, youe with me to the study.¡± Bo Yi began to take delight in another¡¯s misfortune¡ªserves him right, as grandpa was supposed to reprimand himst 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 andposed. Bo Yi, on the other hand, was impulsive and quick to anger, always seeking to im superiority in everything. Chapter 370: 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 sessor so soon. But his father left too early, and in recent years thepany had been controlled by Bo Qiliu, who would not willingly hand everything over to his nephew; thepany also could not afford internal strife. From a young age, Bo Yan deliberately avoided disputes, opting for the path of a schr and even bing a university lecturer. His entrance into the entertainment industry was also a deration that he had no ambition for thepany. 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 thepany 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 ustomed to Bo Yan¡¯s concessions. That was why Bo Yan¡¯s insistencest 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 rtionship 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, schrship, 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 ced 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 pped him and sent him out. Even if she wouldn¡¯t admit it, deep down she was gradually epting 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 moreplicated. Was it right or wrong to hand Bosch over to Bo Yi? Chapter 371: 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 nning to use it to y the sympathy cardter. Just as the servant was about to leave, Bo Yan called him back: ¡°Wait.¡± He hesitated for a moment: ¡°I¡¯ll have a deliveryter, 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 ced 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 umbres. 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 toe 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 umbres, huh.¡± Hard to tell, but the rtionship 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 n for a child properly, starting from pre-pregnancy care.¡± ** Meanwhile, Bo Yan, one hand holding a big bag of little umbres 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: 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, cing 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 nced at it before looking away, not pursuing the matter further. When Bo Yan turned around, he caught her curious nce. His face remained expressionless as he walked over and handed her the water, ¡°Here.¡± Xia Siyu red 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 otherster.¡± 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¡ªaplete rascal! Were they so close that they needed to choose these things together? It was just an ident, yet he was getting carried away! Even if she had drunk too muchst 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 ident, 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: 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 rtionship 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 ept 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 ck 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 destion.
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 happenedst 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,ing to process her school withdrawal. But thinking about it, he indeed hadn¡¯t been very proactive in that rtionship and hadn¡¯t spent much time with her. ¡ªAnd he could see, the anger and destion 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: 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 rtionship, 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 problemy 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 rtionship 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 holdst 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 keptpromising 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-termpanion,¡± 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 eptable, right?¡± Chapter 375: 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 red 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 yfully 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 y-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 andnded 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 apanied her. Although Xia Siyu¡¯s reputation wasn¡¯t the best and Bo Yan had his ownints 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 nce 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. Particrly, Bo Yi and Xia Sicai exchanged looks and shook their heads. Bo Yi evenughed, ¡°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. Thest 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 tost 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: 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 particrly targeting him, expressing significant dissatisfaction with him, wanting topete with him for everything. Bo Yi nced 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 ced, 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 nce from Bo Yan meant to serve her as well. Xia Siyu always enjoyed her meals, and it seemed even tastierpeting 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 nced 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 nced quickly at Xia Siyu, who was still sipping tea to aid her digestion, then added, ¡°She was quite exhaustedst 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: 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 nevere across anyone as shameless as Bo Yan. Other shameless people would at most just want her money, nder 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 ndered 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 ster 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 nce 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 amodating her?¡± To say ¡°amodating¡± was already a euphemism. To put it bluntly, Bo Yan was just a pdog¡±! 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 imed the title twice, just a handful of people. If she hadn¡¯t retired from the scene, if she had continued to shine asionally 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 inte age, could still track down your address, hang banners under your apartment, write public denunciations to your workce; 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,pletely mesmerized. Bo Yan did note 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 note 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: 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, bepletely 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 Inte celebrity who could be hyped up with money without any real works, her career was like a skyscraper built on sand, which could copse 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 vitions, 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 vition, 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 nced 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 augh, 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 poprity 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, anding 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: 378 Bathe Together (1) Chapter 379: Chapter 378 Bathe Together (1) ¡°Here¡¯s a turtle for you, just air dry yourself!¡± Siyupletely 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 clothesing 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 be 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 backter.¡± 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 intoing 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: 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 m the bathroom door forcefully! From inside, Bo Yan¡¯sughter 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,e 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 note 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¡¯te 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 ept 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 rtionship 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 dered 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,beling 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 im the Best Actress award as soon as possible. The fastest shortcut was only one: Bo Yan. Chapter 381: 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 wasgging 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 popr, most efficient development routes for her. But what she needed now was skill, not poprity 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 tform 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 tform.¡± 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 wille out of my ount.¡± Xia Siyu had no qualms about spendingrge amounts and never bothered about such expenses. Spend the money if you have it, earn it if you don¡¯t. She didn¡¯t ce 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 thepany 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 fanics, 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 spendrge 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 wasing out. Chapter 382: 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 theundry 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 ncing at her. Xia Siyu braced forbat¡ªshe stretched out her leg! If he dared toe 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 rx. She watched as Bo Yan put on his shorts, even gathered up the scattered mini umbres on the floor, and tied up the bag. Then, he casually removed his bathrobe, pulled back the quilt,y 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 rxation and tension to numb her mind, and then strike when she least expected? Well, he was sorely mistaken! Xia Siyu red 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 weariedst night. I need a good rest today.¡± Chapter 383: 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 hardst 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 intoing over, trapped her, and then did this and that! She was still hesitant, and Bo Yan didn¡¯t care, continuing to y 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 nce 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 toe overter, are you?¡± ¡°Why would Ie 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 toe 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. Thest 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 ount¡¯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 prized 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 ites to the most ufortable 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 bes 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 toe to Yancheng for my birthday meet-and-greet. Hotel amodation 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 ce.¡± Xia Siyu sent the address of the hotel banquet hall. The ce 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: 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 initiativest 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 ssic 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 nket, and crawled in beside him. As she did, she kicked her legs onto him, ¡°Move over a bit!¡±
Bo Yan refused toply, ¡°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 nket. When ites to fighting for the nket and bed space, she wasn¡¯t boasting, but she had never lost to anyone! Xia Siyuy down, turned her back to him to sleep, and made an effort to roll up, pulling most of the nket with her. Bo Yan chuckled lightly, not bothering to argue with her, and turned off the bedsidemp. Once the light went out, the darkness seemed to envelop them both, making Xia Siyu start to regret her decision. Before on the ne, she had alsoin 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 nket, sharing one bed, although there were two pillows and more space than they had on the ne, 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 aplex expression, wondering what he would do if he wanted to go back on his word? Chapter 385: 384: Experientialist (1) Chapter 385: Chapter 384: Experientialist (1) Xia Siyu had a veryfortable 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 particr 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-epassing surveince nearly suffocated her and made it hard to breathe. At Bo Yan¡¯s ce, 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 ustomed 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 arge 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 ck and dense eyebrows that didn¡¯t need any special attention to look good, and his long eyshes 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 ratherfortable 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 particr 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 regressedpared 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 someplications 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 nced 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: 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 nced 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 exnation 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 outrageousnguage was that? Xia Siyu was no innocent little rabbit, she reached out to p him. Bo Yan waspletely 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 promisedst 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 m 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: 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 copsing. Bo Yan instinctively wrapped his arms around Xia Siyu as they uncontrobly 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 vigntly. 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 vigntly, 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 copsed?¡± 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 alling in, joined by Bo Yi and Xia Sicai as well. What the group saw was the copsed bed, Bo Yan holding Xia Siyu amidst the broken bed nks, 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 nks, 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 copse, no one believed her exnations, and the more she exined, the more it seemed to indicate something between the two of them, didn¡¯t it? Xia Siyu normally had a thick skin, ustomed 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 usations, but being caught in something real was indeed embarrassing. Bo Yan, on the other hand, waspletely calm. Ever since going to university, he had lived on campus, staying from undergraduate through topleting 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 nks were frail and couldn¡¯t withstand their tossing and turning. Chapter 388: 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 reced. After lunch, Xia Siyu felt too embarrassed to hide in her room. It was the middle of the day and the sun was zing; 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, asionally 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 nced 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 ncing at Bo Yan¡¯s phone, she realized, good lord, he was picking out a bed! Thinking back to the bed that had just copsed, 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 thatment, 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 nning on changing the bed frame? It should arrive this afternoon.¡± Bo Yan uttered an ¡°oh¡± and exined, ¡°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 exinable. If it breaks down in the middle of the night, it wouldn¡¯t be good to have it reced 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 indeedfortable, 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 ny-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 ufortable 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 aint. 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 viter; there¡¯s a lot of film-rted material, DVDs, and audiovisual recordings there.¡± With this not working and that not working, isn¡¯t he just saying he wants her to keep himpany? 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: 388: Experientialist (5) Chapter 389: Chapter 388: Experientialist (5) He was a good teacher. Thest 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 nced 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 likeughing 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 ufortable. When they were dating, they rarely held hands like this. It felt weird. Bo Yan¡¯srge hand was smooth, with intertwined lines in the palm, but not as rough as someone who did physicalbor. His fingers were long, well-defined, and slightly mmy. 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 ced. Bo Yan said, ¡°This was my yground 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 ce 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 isted 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: 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. Stanivsky¡¯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 ys 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 y 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. ying 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 aplish 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 hispanions 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 sses, 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 simr 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 vigers¡¯ 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 woulde back, only heaven knew. In fact, after reading the script, Bo Yan felt that it was a portrait of themselves. Chapter 391: 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 copsed 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 y 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 y. 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 toe 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 tform 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 sses, 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 be 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: 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 nes, 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 rtionship 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 fromughter. 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 nced 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 veryrge, 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 exmation 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-ce 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 ying 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: 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¡¯sp, with Bo Yan enveloping her from behind as they looked at the album together. This posture was something they had never experienced during their rtionship, and Xia Siyu felt somewhat ufortable. 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 particrly 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 ufortable, she naturally didn¡¯t resist. She nced again at the desk where his books and DVDs recently fetched from the bookcase were ced. 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 rx 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 ept him. Bo Yan started exining 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 cab over there, all those albums are stored, two cabs full of them.¡±
Xia Siyu turned her head to look at the bottom of the Duobao Pavilion, which was a set of cabs. 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 rtionship was very good; his parents would y ser 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 ser and participating in long-distance running,ughing carefree, eyes squeezed shut in delight. If it weren¡¯t for his parents¡¯ idental deathter on, perhaps he would have had apletely 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 ce 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, ying football, and Christmas. But flipping further, the pages were nk. ¡°` Chapter 394: 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 thest one of our family of three.¡± Xia Siyu was stunned, she had just casually flipped through one, likely the one ced at the top, more noticeable. She hadn¡¯t expected it to be thest 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 ourst 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 wasplicated, 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 ident. 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 ident, 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 biggestpetitor 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 ustomed 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: 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 aforting 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, be shy, and dare not look directly at him. But in reality, he was just casually ncing 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 arge 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-ck 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 stimtion, 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 simr 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: 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 nted 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 umbre 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, ying ser, 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 copse, 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 gotpletely angry and immediately started to fight back! Moreover, she targeted his hair, grabbing and pulling it, and wing 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 eptable 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 waspletely overwhelmed in the grand scheme of things. After the skirmish, she waspletely 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 red 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 ept 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: 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¡¯ty 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 shended, 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,forting 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 hadpletely 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 exnation, 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 rted historical knowledge, he spoke withplete authority and exhaustiveness. Moreover, when working, Bo was truly hands-off,pletely earnest and meticulous. The two briskly went through the script, roughly outlining the important points and content; he exined 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 hisp, gradually found, hmm, this flesh-and-blood couch was ratherfortable. As long as he kept still, she would save him face and join him. And Bo Yan was ncing 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: 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 rted books and had some understanding of historical knowledge. However, her knowledge was still insufficient and notprehensive enough. After all, Xia Siyu had grown up abroad when she was young and didn¡¯t understand domesticmon 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 ck off and rest, like the saying ¡°three days fishing, two days drying thes.¡± 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 workce, hisrade-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,ughed when happy, and fussed when not. Yet, she was no fool¡ªshe had ideals and aspirations, was talented and intelligent, just toozy to quarrel with those people ordinarily, which made her appear particrly 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 stretchedzily. 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 exin 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: 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 hisp 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, herplexion 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 umbre 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 red 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: 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 urred. A serious safety ident 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 idents 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 toplete the work ande back right away.¡± Bo Yi affectionately touched Xia Sicai¡¯s face and left tenderly. As the couple disyed 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 Vige, 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 hade 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 ent 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 usedputers for typing and rarely handwrote anything. After bing an artist, she even usedputers less, preferring voicemands over texting on her phone. Therefore, there were many characters she couldn¡¯t write. Her annotations were even in pinyin, a total educational cker 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 rxed 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 Siyupletely 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: 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 toe in and rest.¡± Xia Siyu was furious, ¡°Go sleep in the study yourself! If not the study, then go sleep in your yground! Stop bothering me!¡± Bo Yan¡¯s expression remained calm as hezily knocked on the door, ¡°That won¡¯t do. Neither the study nor the yground has pillows, nor nkets.¡± 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 nket into his chest. She also threw out his pillow. Bo Yan was just about to speak while holding the nket 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 Siyuing out with a stic 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 nket, 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 ced the pillow on top of the nket 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,e to think of it, the bed they slept on did break. In a daze, Bo Yan struggled to carry the nket downstairs. Xia Sicai quickly packed the boxes into the bag and followed him. Seeing Bo Yan arrange the pillow and nket on therge sofa downstairs, she passed the bag to him, ¡°Here.¡± Bo Yan epted it calmly and simply ced the bag aside. Xia Sicai watched him make his bed on the sofa, clearly nning 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 epting 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 simr educational backgrounds and their families were old acquaintances, they shared manymon 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 rtionship that shunned clear confessions and derations. 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: 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 epted 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 rtionship 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 bes increasingly picky. A man who misses out on the woman he wants to marry bes 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 rtionship with Xia Siyu have to do with you? If it had to be said, there was some rtion. Xia Sicai was now his sister-inw and also Xia Siyu¡¯s sister. If one really had to ssify it, it amounted to a somewhat distant familial rtion. Every family has a few rtives 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-inw and younger brother-inw, sister and brother-inw. 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 ept 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 nket that she vaguely sensed the presence of Xia Sicai, but she wasn¡¯t sure. Butter 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: 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 rtionship 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 asionallye 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 yearter, 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 rified their rtionship, 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 bes 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, yearster, 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,peting for the Best Actress award. As for Li Yiru, she was tantly 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: 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 sinct, 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 rtionship 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,cking 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 asionally take a second look at his pretty little sister-inw. 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 anotherment, ¡°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 nned 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 toote 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,pletely 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: 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¡¯smon 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, ying with a piece of high-quality ydough, 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 amotion 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 rx 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: 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 ying 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 p. 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 y 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 y arge-scale positional war or engage in frontal battlefield with the enemy; he could only use circuitous tactics, a gueri warfare. To deal with someone like Xia Siyu, who didn¡¯t respond to conventional methods but still coveted him, he had to y psychological and tactical games! He was thoroughly versed in the sixteen-character maxim for gueri 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 suddenlyunch 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: 407: I Have No Regrets (6) Chapter 407: Chapter 407: I Have No Regrets (6) Bo Yan had grown ustomed 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 be 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 ck! Heart, liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys, along with his brain, all ck! 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 thest 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 ns 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: 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 inmmation 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. Thepany 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 popr 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 youst time¡­¡± When Xia Siyu had originally signed with Huixing Company, it was the lowest point in her life. She was maliciously ndered by her rivals, suppressed by industry bigwigs for refusing to engage in their unspoken rules, berated by people like Jiang Bumei, condemned byizens, torn apart by haters, and her former talent agency had taken a hands-off approach to her stagnation due to unsessful contract negotiations. Public rtions? 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. Thest time Qin Baizhou suggested a renewal was three months ago, during her filming of ¡°Storm¡±. Her contract with thepany 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 thepany¡¯s resources were tilted in her favor, she knew that well. She never skimped on themission for her staff, always generous. The only conflict was the path she would take in her future career development. Chapter 409: 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 aeback today. Although she is still criticized a lot, her poprity and buzz have skyrocketed. And thanks to Li Weiyi¡¯s incidentst 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,izens 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 timees, 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 thepany 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 coulde.¡± 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 calcted correctly, she should be taking on ¡°Youth 2¡± next. She¡¯d join the crew half a monthte 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 nned 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 poprity. As for variety shows, those are just squeezed in wherever there¡¯s room. Even for regr 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 be more¡ªfeminine, recently. No, perhaps it would be more urate 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 nonchnce and sensuality unintentionally, it was like a bewitching potion that enchanted all beings! Chapter 410: 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 nce. 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 thetter. Qin Baizhou didn¡¯t want to wait anymore. He knew Bo Yan was pursuing her, and perhaps they even had a physical rtionship. 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 herst 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 ces. 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, sprawlingfortably 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. ** Thest 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 ce after Qin Baizhou and she participated in the variety show for agents together. Qin Baizhou nned to pursue her, so recently, whenever he had the time, he would follow Xia Siyu¡¯s schedule. Luckily, they both had this coboration 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 toopetitive. 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: 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 calctive, 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 bing 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 apanied 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 inte celebrities involved. Of course, no inte celebrity would be interested in a film directed by a neer, 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, inte celebrities wouldn¡¯t be interested because of their inadequate acting skills. For this film, Xia Siyu received the highest sry, ten million. Bo Yan didn¡¯t take a sry; 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 nned on bing 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. Thebined sries 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 rtionship had been particrly 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 rtionship. 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: 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 neer, 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 anyments. Xia Siyu hade 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 neers, breaking into sweat as they paid close attention. In fact, Qin Baizhou had nothing to say about Xia Siyu epting 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 poprity. 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 disying power,ying im to his territory! He was tantly 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: 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 arest-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 Sunes from a photography background, and having a photography background can make the shots look very pretty. However, this is a film, not a collection ofndscape 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 aplete story. The audience, left bewildered, gives low scores, and the box office suffers. Then filmmakers me the audience for not getting it, dismissing them as ¡°this generation of audience is no good¡±. Don¡¯t they see what they¡¯ve created, iprehensible even to themselves, and then me others for not appreciating it? Xia Siyu epted 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 sess, 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 rmended 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 acim 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 unrted 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: 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 rtionship between the two had progressed rapidly. Perhaps, the three-day leave Xia Siyu tookst 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 note; 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 colorposition, which he didn¡¯t need to control. Sess 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 isplete. 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 ws, and my only goal is to present theirpleted 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 hade 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 hadrger entourages, even among men¡ª thebel ¡°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 ount, 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: 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 ustomed 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 ughter, 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 ufortable. ¡°Siyu, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Qin Baizhou leaned closer to her.
Since he was apanying her throughout this time, he had arranged for a business nanny van. The rearpartment was spacious enough that, when ttened, 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 nce at her; her expression was calm, nonchnt, 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 rtionship, 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¡¯tprehend 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: 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, arade-in-arms. Wei Jingjing should have informed him about everything except for the matters rted 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 bing 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 notpletely 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 toe back.¡± Qin Baizhou nodded, ¡°Would you wee me to visit you? Or maybe, I should stay with the crew for a while?¡± For him, a top agent and a partner of thepany, it was rare to join a crew to apany an artist. He was so busy with countless work; he really didn¡¯t have the time to spend months in a small vige 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 ourpany. Your contract is about to be renewed, and I have to keep a close eye on it. If anotherpany poaches you, it would be a great loss.¡± That made sense to Xia Siyu. Given her current poprity, indeed manypanies 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 waszy. Given that thepany¡¯s treatment of her was satisfactory, she saw no need to change her team. ¡°Just add a use 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: 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 shing, 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 particrly 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 ount, 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? Thepany has also prepared a gift for me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s different; that¡¯s thepany¡¯s preparation. Right now, it¡¯s me wishing you, as a friend.¡± The truth was, the gift prepared by thepany 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 augh. 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 olddy.¡± 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 particrly infectious. Then she got out of the car, pressed the elevator button, and went up.
Chapter 418: 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 nced 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, ced her things on the lobby cab, 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 burr, 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 thest 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 avable 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 toe 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 himing 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¡¯de 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: 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 seeded. 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 re at him, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you were leaving?¡± The note was written by him, right? The time, ce, and content all matched up, so why had hee 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 nevere 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 youing 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: 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 red, 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 thepany, there¡¯s nothing important there anyway; pick me up at three.¡± Song Fengzhi waspletely 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 amotion 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, copsing 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 ustomed 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 seed 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: 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 dying 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 shing 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 onest 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 cklist him from then on. But if they continued, then Song Fengzhi really would end up waiting downstairs. If the ne were dyed 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 hadsted 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: 421: Because of You (Monthly Ticket Extra 2) Chapter 422: Chapter 421: Because of You (Monthly Ticket Extra 2) Bo Yanposed 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 andb his hair. Mainly, he stood up, poured himself a ss 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 stimted 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 ss of water, ced 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 pped him fiercely without any courtesy. The p 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 pped 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 toe 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 p 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 tantly 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 be intimate not long ago, their rtionship 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 rtionship 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 exin to him?¡± Chapter 423: 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 doorst time, he probably wanted to dere war officially. Bo Yan¡¯s provocative remark today was also a rather casual eptance 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 thew, 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 rtionships¡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, poprity, and attention to his artists.
And his contracts were not as oppressive as those at otherpanies. That¡¯s why Huixing had be China¡¯s most famous entertainmentpany in just three short years of establishment. But, between an artist and an agent, there was both amunity of interest and conflict. An artist¡¯s personal needs and thepany¡¯s regtions were naturally conflicting. However. Her rtionship 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 orcked 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 thepany, 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¡¯lle 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: 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 ss 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 rtions 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 stilly. 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 ount was probably being managed by herpany¡¯s staff by now. She nced 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 therge 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 inte brought people closer together. Even across oceans, connectivity was just awork or phone call away. But if you looked closely, you¡¯d find yourselfpletely alone, silent as though in another world. Because the inte 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 thepany 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 epted 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 ept it and replied, ¡°I hope you¡¯ll always stay at ourpany.¡±
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. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 425: 424 Happy Birthday (2) Chapter 425: Chapter 424 Happy Birthday (2) Xia Siyu was someone who enjoyed lively scenes. After bing 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 wase 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 amodations, so the venue wasn¡¯t toorge. 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 ie on the tform, and it was Qin Baizhou¡¯s responsibility tomunicate with the tform 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 ne tickets and hotel rooms. Shengxia Yanyu was actually a resident of Yancheng, so they could save on the ne 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 toe 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 ording 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: 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 leftst 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 youst 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 nce 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 identally 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 ss had shattered into pieces like a spider web. But the disy wasn¡¯t too problematic. Qin Baizhou asked, ¡°Is the phone broken?¡± Xia Siyu nced 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 thetest model phone and had it delivered to her. Xia Siyu swapped the SIM cards, logged into her cloud ount, 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: 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. Hisst 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 rtionships were left for the CP fans to imagine. He wasn¡¯t selling it, but he wasn¡¯t going to exin 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 coborate 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 thepany saw it, they would just pretend not to see,ugh 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¡¯te 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: 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 mediapany after graduation. Eight years ago, traditional media had already been on the decline, but it was stable and the ie was eptable. Unwilling to settle for the stable but just over ten thousand ie, Qin Baizhou soon resigned and joined an entertainmentpany as a journalist. There, he wrote various ns 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 toe have a look at thepany. 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 andter 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 thepany 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 ce 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¡¯lle 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 toe 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 meter, 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 hourter. 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: The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 429: 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 roomte at night, no one could see her. She poured herself a ss 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 cane next year.¡± Shengxia Yanyu replied: ¡°I¡¯m at the hotel now. Are you in your room? Can Ie 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 toote tonight. Can Ie 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¡¯lle 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 epted it. If that bastard dared to speak nonsense again, she would cklist 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 nning 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: 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 havee 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 doortch in ce, 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 exin 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 waspletely 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: 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 seeded. 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 thickyers 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 yed 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 thisment 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 youe 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 apany 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: 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 peopleing 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 minutester, 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 toe 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 simr, and now they were already nning 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 borate ns, 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 rmingly excited because there was someone at the door. She had to cover her mouth to prevent herself from making any sound. She red at Bo Yan furiously. Was he insane? Qin Baizhou was right at the door; if she was discovered in such apromising situation, how could she face anyone in the future? The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 433: 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 p: ¡°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 waste at night, and it was her birthday, so his calcted effort toe 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 grasnd 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 rtionship 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,ughed, ¡°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 thepletelynguorous her and carried her to therge bed. Thankfully, this hotel was the tallest in the vicinity, nobody outside could see what they were doing. He also apanied 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 shey there listlessly, wanting to push away his mischievous hand, but she really had no strength to do so and could only re 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, hended on her heart. Men, especially straight men, all like a woman¡¯s body. Particrly 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 particrly 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: 433: New-Type Relations (1) Chapter 434: Chapter 433: New-Type Rtions (1) Xia Siyu had finally understood what Bo Yan meant by having room service deliver food. The things he ordered were particrly fitting for the asion: 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 articted 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 ss 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 ss. 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 arge 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 emotionalmunication 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, stimted by Qin Baizhou, Bo Yan insisted on defining their rtionship, ¡°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 rtionship to the outside world, and I definitely won¡¯t say anything excessive to provoke baseless spection 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 rtionship.¡± 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 ept being¡ªyour friend with benefits.¡± Chapter 435: 434: New-Type Relations (2) Chapter 435: Chapter 434: New-Type Rtions (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 seeded. But things shouldn¡¯t happen more than twice. When she was drunk thest 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 malepanion, 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 ssic quote from a ygirl! 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 ygirl indeed! Bo Yan¡¯s face turned dark in an instant. He had never thought that Xia Siyu woulde up with such an idea! He was so angered that heughed, momentarily at a loss for words, ¡°You¡¯re calling our rtionship now, Friends with Benefits?¡± Have you ever seen such a rtionship? 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 cane over when I want. If you find another partner you fancyter, 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 topletely 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 rtionship 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: 435: New-Type Relations (3) Chapter 436: Chapter 435: New-Type Rtions (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¡¯smotion, 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 Jingjinge, but Qin Baizhou had also followed. Fortunately, Bo Yan hadn¡¯t brought muchst night except for himself, his ID card, cell phone, and mask. The only other thing he brought was a few small umbres, 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 rtionship yesterday, she, too, had let loose. Indeed, she was an adult. Although women don¡¯t have as many demands as men, they asionally 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 y however they wanted. Later, if she found someone she was interested in, she would still tell him, ¡°Bye-bye.¡± Havinge to terms with it, Xia Siyu no longer held back. Anyway, whether she cried orughed, 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 ying 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 ky woman only wanted to have her fun with him and refused his offeredmitment, preferring a fleeting affair. So, he could onlyply 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 oftene out scratched and bruised. But now, with Xia Siyu taking the lead, he had be the sleeping partner. Of course, Bo Yan wasn¡¯t nning 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¡ªexhrating. Even seven years ago, her first proactive night with him wasn¡¯t as wild asst 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 umbres 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 vige, and who knew whether Xia Siyu would still feel the same way next time they met. Chapter 437: 436: New-Type Relations (4) Chapter 437: Chapter 436: New-Type Rtions (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 hising 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 yed their games. She was much more at ease and carefree. Herposure, 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 Baizhouughed, ¡°You must¡¯ve been really tiredst night; when I came to find you, you didn¡¯t even answer the door.¡± Xia Siyu hummed in response, ¡°I really was exhaustedst 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 wasforted 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 halfter. But just thinking about her going to film with Bo Yan made him feel a subtle imbnce 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 ustomed to, and the living conditions won¡¯t be as refined; you might have trouble adjusting to the environment.¡± The ce Xia Siyu was going to was a region on the Loess teau. Even though it had been rehabilitated and the situation had vastly improvedpared 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 ce for a while. There¡¯s no rush.¡± Xia Siyu was nonchnt: ¡°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 andcking 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 inte ess; some ces 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: 437: New-Type Relations (5) Chapter 438: Chapter 437: New-Type Rtions (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 roms, starred in some romance movies, and married into a wealthy family before she turned forty, bearing an heir and then living carefree as ady 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 be 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 airporttest 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 rtionship might have be 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 alling 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 ofing out buzzing from a party, so they asked her to wear a rather revealing cocktail dress. Because Qin Baizhou was apanying 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: 438: New-Type Relations (6) Chapter 439: Chapter 438: New-Type Rtions (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 ces 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 simrly 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 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 st, 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 poprity 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 ir. 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 theirst day, he wished he could glue his eyes to her. A candlelit dinner in a revolving restaurant was out of the question, but cing 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: 439: New-Type Relations (Extra 1 for Monthly Ticket) Chapter 440: Chapter 439: New-Type Rtions (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 ce 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 rtionship, 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 ofics! 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 rmendations?¡± 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! The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 441: 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 y dirty behind the scenes! However, if his wife wanted to y games with him, even if he knew it was a trap, he¡¯d jump right in. Given her intelligence, she surely couldn¡¯t outy 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 toe 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 asionallye 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 aftering back?¡± Xia Siyu red 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,plete 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 arge 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: 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 imed 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 me someone on the spot: ¡°It was¡­ Shengxia Yanyu! He couldn¡¯t make it that day due to something, but he told me about itter.¡± He was perfect to take the fall: wealthy and mysterious, someone the fan club had tried to contact several times without sess. ¡°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 disy, 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 thepany bought the skynterns, and we¡¯ll reimburse him the money,¡± he said.
¡°But is that really appropriate?¡± Xia Siyu naturally wanted to retract her im 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 disys, 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 thepany bought the skynterns 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 ount to rify 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: 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 particrly 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 nced 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 dys, but I¡¯m worried that Director Sun might make storytelling a bitplicated. Actually, the script is very solid, we just need to shoot the story well.¡± Yu Fenfei nodded, ¡°Right. He¡¯s a neer, 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 toe up with another excuse. Of course, she could also choose not to exin, but knowing Qin Baizhou¡¯s personality, he would definitely investigate thoroughly. She didn¡¯t reply, so he would go and ask at those ces 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 unrted 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 im it for thepany? 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 thepany¡¯s ce 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¡¯te to the meeting, and Jingjing still has to call him to send the merchandise. If he repliester, 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 ount, and sent a private message to Shengxia Yanyu: Chapter 444: 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¡¯sndmark buildingplex. 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 youe 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 probablyugh 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 wasmon 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 rtionship 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 sess. 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 ying 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 stresstely, 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: 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 rtionship, like friends. If they are friends, then they should help each other seed. 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 ites 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. Yearster, 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 thement 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 tly refused, ¡°My flight is at 3:30 p.m. tomorrow, and I need to leave by 12. It¡¯s a bitte 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, thepany would be furious. Still not understanding, Xia Siyu looked at Wei Jingjing, ¡°Jingjing, has thepany made any significant decisions about me recently?¡± It couldn¡¯t be that they were nning 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 nced 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¡¯lle visit you in the Northwest next time.¡± Xia Siyu kindly said, ¡°You¡¯ve been working too hard recently. Actually, you don¡¯t need to apany 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: 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 nned to say afterwards. Although he did go upstairster 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 vige 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 indeedte 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 rtionship, such avish 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 backst 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 rtionship; 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 waspleted, it was time to go through security. Qin Baizhou was still reluctant to part, ¡°I wille to see you.¡± Xia Siyuughed carelessly, ¡°Remember to bring hotpot when youe!¡± 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 ne without any issues. She had also intended to upgrade Wei Jingjing to first ss like her, but unfortunately, the first ss tickets were sold out, so she had to reluctantly let her sit in economy ss. But as she got on the ne and the cabin door was about to close, not all the first ss cabins had been filled. She still had someints 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: 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 n 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 arge ne, and First ss 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 ne. Unlike international airlines where the flight attendants don¡¯t know who you are, which is a lot morefortable. Bo Yan was also clever. Aftering 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 identally 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 pped 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 tes, she swiftly put her mask back on. She also noticed that although Bo Yan had ordered red wine, he only drank one ss. So at least he had some sense, and she followed suit, drinking just one ss 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 thevatory together. The restroom in First ss 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: 447 Bath Scrubbing (2) Chapter 448: Chapter 447 Bath Scrubbing (2) Xia Siyu was getting annoyed, ¡°Why are youing to the restroom with me? Don¡¯t you know that only sisters do that together? Or do you want to be sisters with me?¡± Although the aisles in first ss were a bit wider than those in economy ss, 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 be sisters with you, the one crying would be you.¡± As he spoke, his eyesnded 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 wee 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 ncing 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 alsoy down and gotfortable. 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, pping 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 re, 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 greatposure. 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 feltpletely 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 toe 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? The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 449: 448 Bath Scrubbing (3) Chapter 449: Chapter 448 Bath Scrubbing (3) Xia Siyu looked around; it seemed he really hadn¡¯t. Just likest time, Bo Yan hade 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-epassing, 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 nce, 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 quitefortable, 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 rtively 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 rtionship. But in the entertainment circle, all sorts of people existed. Publicly not matching while actually being a couple wasn¡¯t umon, so even though he found it odd, he didn¡¯tment. 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 ce 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 rtionship and didn¡¯t want one, he naturally had to cover for them: ¡°Brother Yan, I told you there was no need for me toe 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 groundworkid 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 arge whirlpool tub, perfect for a soak.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Chapter 450: 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 ownpletely original work. As for Xia Siyu, she came along to learn more. She was even more eager than Bo Yan to enter the vige, tomunicate 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 vige, 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, heughed and said, ¡°I never expected you, Siyu, to turn down so many jobs outside ande here to eat dirt with us.¡± Qin Baizhou¡¯s rebukest time was exactly questioning his abilities, ming 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 ss: ¡°Right, for the sake of the film.¡±
After the clink of sses, he turned to Bo Yan: ¡°The person you rmended 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 ncing 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 rx. In the Northwest, especially in the viges, taking a bath was indeed a luxury, especially in such arge 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 currentforts. 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 rtionships, or if they were, they had to be discreet. But how could she stop Bo Yan¡¯s advances?n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om As she pondered, Bo Yan indeed finished his meeting and came over: ¡°Is she inside?¡± Chapter 451: 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 nonchnt 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 feltpletely 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 toe 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 rtionship 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 thepany, able to make his own decisions. Song Fengzhi was the talented individual by his side, handling various rtionships and managing all kinds of affairs, dutifully following Bo Yan¡¯smands. Like Wei Jingjing, there was no worry that he would b 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 ount 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 rtionship 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 apletely 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 ap 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.¡±n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om 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 hade in and said, ¡°Jingjing, is that you? Perfect timing, help me scrub my back.¡± Chapter 452: 451 Bath Scrubbing (6) Chapter 452: Chapter 451 Bath Scrubbing (6) Xia Siyu seldom used a bath scrubbing cloth. This item is quitemon 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 wasrge, and with the push of a button, it could change the flow of the water for a massaging effect. Forfort, she had Wei Jingjing pour her a ss of champagne and scattered some dry flowers in the bath; it was bubbling awayfortably. She had no clue that the personing 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.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om 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¡¯te in immediately, but first undressed outside, took a box of Xiaoyu umbres, 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 ss 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 des 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 quitefortable and smiled, ¡°Jingjing, that¡¯s quite a skill. Even if you leave this industry, you could be 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 ufortable. Just use the same pressure as before.¡± As the wifemanded, of course he had toply. 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 morefortable. However, when those long, articte 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: 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 umbre he had prepared!n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om 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 rtionship 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 rtionship a secret from thepany, 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 rtionship 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 bing 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 changingpanies 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¡¯spany that Wei Jingjing was newly recruited. In fact, ording 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 rtionship.
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 topletely 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 Yanst 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: 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 rtionships. Interpersonal rtionships cover how to interact with people in your circle, and also include, how tomunicate with your leaders, your coborators, partners, and how to deal with other parties involved. Of course, it¡¯s best to be a leader, learning how tomunicate with your team members. This isn¡¯t about unequal personal rtionships; quite the contrary, it¡¯s a required lesson to ensure that your projects, your studies, and work arepleted more smoothly. A sessful 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 orter, Xia Siyu and Qin Baizhou would sh. Not because of his rtionships, 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 rted to profit and efficiency was deemed unsessful 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 yearster. 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.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Although Xia Siyu had not considered going independent yet, sooner orter, 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¡¯smon 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 rtionship 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 rtionship, 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: 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 sayst time that you wanted me to take the initiative?¡± Her little whip, candles, studded high heels hadn¡¯t arrived yet; they wouldn¡¯te 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 wasrge, 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 rtionship 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 ps 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 rtionship 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 flirtatiousments! 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 rtions every day!n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om ¡°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 ying 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: 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 ying with water. ¡°Huh?¡± The sudden withdrawal stunned Xia Siyu. She hadn¡¯t expected Bo Yan to retreatpletely 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 rtionship¡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 ying 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.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om 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 substantialpensation, 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 wasrge enough to amodate three people bathing together. But when Bo Yan took his bath, hefortably 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 upied 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 drynd, her kick would have hurt a lot. Unfortunately, in water the resistance was great, and her toes yfully 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 ss! 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 ss from his hand and gulped down the contents. Bo Yan wasn¡¯t angry; after she finished drinking, he took the ss from her hand and poured himself a ss. 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 veryforting, 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 nned to ce 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: 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 yed kite-flying with her, which involved a delicate bnce 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 rxation is the way of both civil and military affairs, and it must be applied in rtionships 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.¡±n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om ¡°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 butnded 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 activest 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 themute 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 ces 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 ustomed 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,ughter, and tantrums were her onlypany. 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 be like a dense web ensnaring her, and she was deeply entrenched, unable to extricate herself. Chapter 458: 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 ustomed to his presence by her side, ustomed to bickering with him, ustomed to his shamelessness, and even ustomed to¡ªdoing certain things with him. Although she had drunk too muchst night, and in thetter 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 p 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 hadpletely fallen, and she was at a loss¡­ Xia Siyuzily checked her phone and glimpsed the time: Holy shit, it¡¯s already twelve o¡¯clock! She had finished dinnerst 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 havested 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-ck. 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 rm? 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 himst night that we would join the set a few dayste. 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 Neer as soon as he debuted and bagged the Best Actor trophy within a couple of years. ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡±n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Bo Yanughed 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 andid 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 ufortable, 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: 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 be 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 rtionship 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 nce 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 calling 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 ofst 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 rtionship, 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.¡±n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om 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: 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 itst 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, toozy to bother with him. But then that big hand started to y like it was kneading putty, she frowned slightly, a bit unhappy, even her responses to Qin Baizhou were dyed 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 rmendation 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 essing the materials smoother. Bo Yan might y around, but he was always clear-headed about serious matters. Yet at this moment, Qin Baizhou¡¯s heart felt slightly out of bnce, 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, howe there are still mosquitoes?¡± Yes, that giant mosquito, busily sucking at her chest, not painful, just slightly itchy.
Bo Yan, ustomed to being hit, took it well. After being pped, 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 vigers.¡± Moreover, the reforestation efforts have been so sessful that even the Loess teau 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 ce. Being able to join the group a week in advance to get familiar with the surrounding environment is alreadymendable in today¡¯s restless age.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om 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 t, 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 exmation, ¡°Ah¡ª¡± It was Bo Yan; his earlier retreat was just to fetch an umbre, and now he was swooping back over her. Chapter 461: 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 red 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 exin. 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 littlemb. Qin Baizhou almost wished he could crawl through the inte cable to disy 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 staffe 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 canin 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 youter.¡± Having said that, she hung up the phone decisively. But just before she hung up, he faintly heard what seemed like a man¡¯s lowughter 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 ss. The bright sunshine outside did not disperse the gloom on his face.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om 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 ufortably 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: 461: Three Rules (3) Chapter 462: Chapter 461: Three Rules (3) n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om ¡°` 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, whichpletely goes against Xia Siyu¡¯s usual principles, must be rted 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 newpany 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 isted ind. 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 mor 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 muste from a wealthy family. But why does she never mention it? What kind of family does Xia Siyue 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 thepany to book the tickets, I¡¯ll handle it myself.¡± After hanging up the phone, he looked at the window ss. The entertainmentpany, to prevent paparazzi snooping, had installed privacy ss. He could clearly see his own reflection mirrored on the window ss. 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 p 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 itst 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: 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 ustomed 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. Hefortably leaned back on the sofa, resting an elbow on the armrest, andzily lifted his chin, ¡°Let¡¯s hear them.¡±
¡°First, if you continue to reveal our rtionship in front of others, including Wei Jingjing, Little Tang, and Brother Qin, we will immediately end this friends-with-benefits rtionship, 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 samest 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 nced 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 rtionship 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?¡±n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om ¡°No touching me in public ces either, like you did on the ne. 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 bacsh.¡± Bo Yan nodded again, ¡°Is that all? Then what about tonight, how are you nning to take the initiative?¡± Chapter 464: 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 couldst 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 nned 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¡¯.¡±n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om 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 me me for being merciless when I turn on you!¡± Bo Yan knew she hadid 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 theme 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: 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 whenplimented 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 ce! 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 tiredst 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.¡±n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Xia Siyu was so angry, she was about to p him. But Bo Yan was clever, he didn¡¯t dodge and instead pointed towards the distance, ¡°Look, the cleaningdy!¡± 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 note knocking for cleaning unless they called for it; they would onlye 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 upied. 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 impably 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, ¡°Thene 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: 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 umbres, and then nonchntly 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 surveince, 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 mepletely!¡± 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 nced 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 diester! 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 muscr, 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 quicklyy 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!¡±n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Bo Yan¡¯s lips curved slightly, but he didn¡¯t lie down properly and seductivelyy on his side, facing her. His bathrobe hade 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 andplied with her request, ¡°Don¡¯t spare me because I¡¯m a delicate flower, go hard!¡± Chapter 467: 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 bitter, 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 ying 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 ying 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 particrly 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 troubleter. 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 nothingpared 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 ying 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 muscr, 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 evenughed, ¡°My wife is so good to me, it doesn¡¯t hurt at all.¡± Wei Jingjing had been afraid of an ident, 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,ughing righteously, ¡°Is that enough? Shall we start then?¡± Start my foot! Xia Siyu turned and grabbed the thin hemp rope, giving him a hardsh. Unfortunately, the hemp rope was no whip, and to achieve a whipping effect, one needed skill. Sheshed out hard, but the rope being too long and floppy, although the ces 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. s, the heels were too thin, and the bed too soft; as soon as she climbed on, she lost bnce 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!n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Chapter 468: 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 arger 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 utterlyposed 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 smugugh, she said from inside: ¡°If you can,e on in!¡± Bo Yan replied from outside: ¡°Come out then.¡± Xia Siyu responded: ¡°Youe in.¡±
She had expected Bo Yan to be frustrated all night. Instead, he immediately answered: ¡°Since you¡¯re inviting me so warmly, then I¡¯lle 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 umbre 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 rece 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!n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om 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 iting 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 particrly 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 ce will do for me.¡± Wei Jingjing had a full head of ck lines, and only at this moment did she truly realize how crafty Bo Yan could be. Chapter 469: 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 herpletely 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!n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om 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 mest 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 rtionship with me, no emotions involved. I know, in any rtionship, the one who gives more gets hurt. But I never imagined you could be sopletely 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 rtionship with Bo Yan for quite some time. And she was the one who hit and ran after ying 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 rtionship 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 rtionship 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. Atst, their awkward yet close rtionship hade to a head! Wei Jingjing felt her entire worldview shattering. She turned around, her gaze filled with doubt, copse, 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¡¯splex 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 justst 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: 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 onught. 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 unting 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 ssic wicked female antagonist.
**n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om 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 hourter, 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: 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¡¯tpletely sumbed, 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 rtionship 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¡¯mcking, 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 rtionship 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.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om 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: 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?n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om 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 rtionships 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 verypatible, 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 ept him unconditionally, both ws 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 sopatible, 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 nning 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: 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, whopeted with her, nor was it Li Yiru, who asionally 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 rtionship, Bo Yan didn¡¯t do anything terribly wrong. But precisely, he hit her sore spot. Added with the stimtion 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, shotmercials, fought against haters, switchedpanies; 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 rtionship?¡±n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om ¡°Who says it¡¯s nice? Besides, is such a rtionship stable?¡± Bo Yan felt a strong sense of crisis, although he also didn¡¯t think Xia Siyu would so easily have rtions with others, but certainly, emotionless rtionships 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, andpletely sever our current rtionship, 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 lifelongmitment to love is difficult. Physical rtionships 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: 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 ufortable, so she shifted to a morefortable 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 bes 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 rtionship. 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 ept 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 ept 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 aeback, 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.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om But at thest moment, he picked her up, making her face him, watching his own reflection be 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¡±st night, Wei Jingjing was fully aware of these two people¡¯s rtionship; 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 ess. At the archives, the first step was to use theputer 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: 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 aputer. Now with a smartphone, she hardly ever ys 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 theputer, he sighed, walked over, came up behind her, and gently ced 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.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om 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 herpletely. 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: 475 Archives (5) Chapter 476: Chapter 475 Archives (5) n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om 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 be 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 earst 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, nonchntly 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 nt 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 nced 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 nced 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 theirputer and browsing the inte, she still didn¡¯t want to make any noise here. Bo Yan was right. She did indeed feel particrly ted 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 waspletely 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 ncing in their direction at all. Chapter 477: 476 Archives (6) Chapter 477: Chapter 476 Archives (6) n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om 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 particrly 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. Particrly, 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 aposed 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 wasst 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: 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 rtionship with Bo Yan in front of him. She reflexively flung Bo Yan¡¯s hand away.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om 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 rtionship in public, but this was the archive, where hardly any outsiders came. When they¡¯de 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 unterally 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 rtionship hidden. Xia Siyu was also slightly taken aback; she had rejected Bo Yan¡¯s hand too decisively. Although she was indeed not ustomed to showing her rtionship 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 wasing?¡± Wei Jingjing was also surprised. The night beforest, 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 hourter, Qin Baizhou¡¯s taxi appeared at the entrance of the archive, waiting with him for Xia Siyu toe 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 rtionship, although Bo Yan seemed to be the initiator, the one truly holding the reins was Xia Siyu. Chapter 479: 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, nced at Bo Yan. There was a tiny bit of worry. Bo Yan, on the other hand, wasposed, lifting a smile, ¡°Mr. Qin has gone to great lengths. I shall humblyply.¡± 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 nonchnt 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 rtionship is still a rtionship. At least, he¡¯s several steps ahead of Qin Baizhou. If Qin Baizhou wants to see him show off his affection, he¡¯d secretly unt 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 exin 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 difort due to the new environment.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om 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 herpany did not contain the use ¡°Love will be punished¡± (because at that time she was already married to Bo Yan), but only ¡°Love must be reported to thepany.¡± 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, ming her for negligent supervision. But when ites to matters of love, could surveince 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 thepany 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 thebination 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 nked 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: 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.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om 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 seemedpletely 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 thest dish was served, she even said, ¡°I want thismb! It¡¯s got a milky scent, isn¡¯t gamey, and smells delicious.¡± Qin Baizhou smiled faintly and advised her, ¡°Whilemb is good, it can easily cause heatiness. Plus, this type of rich milky-voredmb 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 vige where she wouldn¡¯t even have the chance.
Bo Yan, knowing her preferences, silently picked up the cuminmb that had just been served and hadn¡¯t been touched by anyone else and ced it in her bowl using his own chopsticks. Xia Siyu had grown up in a Western household, ustomed to separate dining. That habit continued after she entered thepany. 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: 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 ying 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 ake, stirring up ripples. Even though Xia Siyu had just pulled away his hand, at that moment, his proximity effectively confirmed their rtionship, 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, remainedposed 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 rtionship with Bo Yan by now, she couldn¡¯t be bothered to exin anymore. Besides, she was hungry, and the cuminmb needed to be eaten quickly before it cooled down and lost its taste.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om 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 hisings 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 sessfully 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 itter.¡± 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, nced at Bo Yan, and added, ¡°Yes, I have something I need to talk to you about alone. It¡¯s very important.¡± Chapter 482: 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 rtionship with Bo Yan, it would be better for the agency to know. It would make any future issues easier to exin. She nodded and swiped the room card: ¡°Pleasee 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, nced 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 sses had been used. Clearly, Bo Yan had stayed here before. He actually had a hunch already, being aware of the rtionship 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 rtionship 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?n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Xia Siyu did not deny it: ¡°Yes, the Qingcheng apartment is also his. I live there. Initially, I had no such rtionship with him; it was just an ident. But now¡­ if I have to be precise, I indeed have no intention of developing a long-term rtionship 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 toomon. Her purely physical rtionship with Bo Yan wasn¡¯t even considered particrly 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 rtionship 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 thepany must protect and maintain. When Qin Baizhou came to ask her, she decided to simply tell the truth. Chapter 483: 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 malepanion. But Qin Baizhou still felt uneasy, ¡°Did Bo Yan¡­ threaten you?¡± Xia Siyu shook her head, ¡°No. It really was an ident.¡± 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.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Although Qin Baizhou was known in the industry as a talent agent, his forte was in creating personas for artists, generating buzz, handling public rtions, 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 rtions for sess. Once the hype raised the artist¡¯s fame, naturally, they would start receiving offers. After managing public rtions, 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 ufortable, ¡°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 rmend 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: 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 aplete 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 exined it was because they needed to renew the contract, and he feared she might leave since she was the most profitable artist in thepany; 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, thepany even spected 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 ce 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 anotherpany 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 coboration 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 anotherpany.¡± Indeed, otherpanies 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 rtions skills were excellent. Their coboration was quite enjoyable and the treatment she received was good, so she wouldn¡¯t easily switchpanies. Qin Baizhou caught on to Xia Siyu¡¯s meaning, thinking he was trying to ¡°sacrifice himself¡± to keep her at thepany!n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om 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 exin 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: 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 switchedpanies, we always stuck together.¡±n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Qin Baizhou feared she might think he was moved by lust, so he hurriedly exined, ¡°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 thepany 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 ustomed to the rtionship between agent and artist. Although Xia Siyu asionally 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 thinyer of paper, once pierced, it¡¯s pierced, and some rtionships 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 rtionship with Bo Yan? Chapter 486: 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 anotherpany. And I¡¯m afraid¡­ afraid that Bo Yan will take you away from me.¡± ¡°My rtionship with Bo Yan¡­ is ratherplicated,¡± Xia Siyu hesitated for a moment, but still exined 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 mary 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 withscivious 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 rtionship, 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 waspromising 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,rge 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 anypromising 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,ter 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 rtionship with him¡­ Although it started as an ident, I know he¡¯s pursuing me. But we¡¯re not in that kind of rtionship. 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 sumbed to Bo Yan just because he was handsome? She wasn¡¯t that superficial! ¡°Could it be¡­ rted 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 thepany. The only blind spot was her family.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om What was the situation with her family, and who were her parents? Chapter 487: 486 Family (4) Chapter 487: Chapter 486 Family (4) Indeed, Xia Siyu seemed to havee out of nowhere; she appeared to have neither a past nor a family, alone and solitary in the world.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om During holidays, no rtives came to visit her. In her daily life, there were no mentions of her parents or family. She had never sent gifts to any rtive, 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 thepany. 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 thepany. 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 thepany, 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 hade to one conclusion: the rtionship between Bo Yan and Xia Siyu was rted to her family. He had suspected as much before, based on Xia Siyu¡¯s circumstances over the years. He felt that she must havee from a wealthy, or at least middle-ss 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 be blinded by the glitz and mour? Even those who start off unpretentious can hardly resist temptation. That¡¯s because some temptations are simply not big enough. For instance, if youe from a middle-ss 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 ne? Once, someone in pursuit of Xia Siyu didn¡¯t offer her a ne, but was ready to give her a luxurious yacht worth tens of millions! Yet Xia Siyu didn¡¯t even nce 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 grievouslyposed, ¡°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: 487 Family (5) Chapter 488: Chapter 487 Family (5) n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om ¡°It¡¯s normal for you not to ept me, and I didn¡¯te 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 rtionship of agent and artist. If you do well, it makes things much easier for me. You are the cash cow of ourpany, after all. Taking good care of you means protecting the interests of ourpany. 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 gettingte, 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 haveid their cards on the table by now. Even if Qin Baizhou hadn¡¯t expressed his feelings, Xia Siyu would have told him about their rtionship. Then, he had nothing to hide. He was set on dering 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 ovee 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 epted Qin Baizhou¡¯s confession, she would leave him. If she didn¡¯t ept, then he still had a chance. Even though the possibility of Xia Siyu epting 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: 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, aplete ¡°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.¡±n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om 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, surveince, 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 casuallye 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 surveince on this floor. The reason was simple: since the ¡°film crew¡± was staying here, they feared that the hotel¡¯s surveince might leak something inappropriate. Indeed, there had been several incidents of artists being secretly filmed in hotels before. And besides this stretch of surveince, 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 stares 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 facepletely 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 ssmate. 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 norpletely unknown, but he liked that about her, as it left room for maniption. ** 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 Yane 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: 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 ws, 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 moreplicated.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om 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 epted 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 ept 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 re 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 epted him, the one getting handsy with you right now wouldn¡¯t be me, it would have been him.¡± The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 491: 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. tonic love might exist, he believed it did, but it¡¯s only because of various external and internal pressures, forcing it to be tonic. The moment the opportunity arises, he would surely take it to reality. Otherwise, that man might really be ¡°ipetent.¡± 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 apanying you to events, even for script readings, he insists oning 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 exnation 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.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om ¡°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 imed 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 nned 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 p flew across, ¡°Big your head, big!¡± Chapter 492: 491: Coming and Going (3) Chapter 492: Chapter 491: Coming and Going (3) Bo Yan had also be ustomed 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 p. 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 yed 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 slowlye 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!¡±n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Although she was wearing slippers, such a forceful stomp, apanied 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 tofort 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 abo. 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 waspletely unable to be naughty tonight. He covered his parts and slowly copsed 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. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 493: 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 toozy to bother. Bo Yan crept up stealthily, lifted the nket, 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 nce 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 ws rest on the sticine, instead, he stretched out his arm, hugged her waist from behind, and pressed his whole body against hers, sealing together tightly without gaps.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om He hugged her properly, and Xia Siyu was toozy 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 yed 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 y.¡± The frown on Xia Siyu¡¯s face softened a bit for a moment. ¡°At this stage, in terms of poprity, 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 te of cuminmb? ¡°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 emotionalmunication. 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: 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,cking 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 reflectingplex 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 hadpletely returned to normal. She greeted him veryfortably and then turned to talk to Bo Yan about the archive matters.N?v(el)B\\jnn 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 werepletely 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 be a megastar on the altar. Please don¡¯t hold her back.¡± Chapter 495: 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 ordance with his request, no one but he and Xia Siyu¡¯s team would know. Few people knew about what Qin Baizhou said to Bo Yanst 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 deration 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 seed more than anyone else in the world!¡± ¡°But has she truly seeded? Ephemeral poprity brings nothing more than a facade of prosperity. Does she want to make money? She doesn¡¯tck it, nor does she value it highly. Maybe under you, she could maximize hermercial 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 ck casual outfit, a stark contrast to Qin Baizhou¡¯s white shirt. The two men each upied 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 coldugh, ¡°You talk a good game, but can you im artistry just by saying it exists? Efficiency is the foundation of all work. Without efficiency, how can there be sess? 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 n 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 thisst night?¡± ¡°Even if we did agreest 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 beingpletely ignored was new to him. Even though Xia Siyu still felt some repulsion towards Bo Yan, she had unconsciously be integrated into his daily routine. They bickered, yed around, shot scenes, and even engaged in yful antics at night. Other than standing by and watching, he waspletely powerless. It wasn¡¯t until Qin Baizhou was leaving that Xia Siyu turned around, ¡°Have a safe trip.¡± Is it really just a slight dy that has put such distance between us? Is it truly impossible for me to win her back? ** Three dayster.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om 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 rtionship between Bo Yan and Xia Siyu.¡± Chapter 496: 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 thepany would choose not to renew her contract. But, because she hadn¡¯t be a hit sensation over the years, thepany 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 ny-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 ssmates, dormmates, andter, 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.N?v(el)B\\jnn
Unexpectedly, Qin Baizhou¡¯s first words were, ¡°What is the rtionship 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 havee 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 timees.¡± 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: 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 particrly 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 otherpanies.¡± For an entertainmentpany, 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 ounts or capital raising.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om 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 rtionships 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 Zhoues over, thepany will tailor-make the most efficient path for you. With Siyu as an example, you shouldn¡¯t have any concerns, should you? Your rtionship is so good, being in the samepany 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 popr young actors and actresses to good-looking boys and girls who could sing and dance¡ªnone had much acting skill, but they were hotmodities on variety shows and g events. For someone like her who focused on acting, she was at a disadvantage in her currentpany. 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 werepletely ipatible, 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 epted his presence around her. ¡°So, have they . . . rekindled their old me 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: 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 mes because they¡¯ve been together all along?¡± This, this is impossible. If they have been together, how could they only reveal a slight w 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; thepany never forbids its artists from dating. She has no need to hide it, nor any reason to.¡± Xia Siyu ces 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 rtives. 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?¡±N?v(el)B\\jnn Zhou Weiwei initiated the conversation, confirming his suspicion. Qin Baizhou couldn¡¯t help but lean forward, his voice bing 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 mightpromise 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 rtives 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 ack 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-groomeddy 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 ss, 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: 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 usualposure, ¡°Of course, if we are to cooperate, we will definitelye up with aplete proposal, a detailed n. When the timees, we will have a dedicated person to liaise with you, Miss Zhou. You are wee to give us your feedback.¡± That was the attitude required for a dedicated coboration. Even when seeking venture capital, it wouldn¡¯t work to just present a concept ¡ª aplete n 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 ounts and couldn¡¯t resist leavingments or creating profiles on the inte using simr names across different apps.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om 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 ounts were recorded by thepany, 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 inte 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 inte 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 thepany instead. Upon checking thepany¡¯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 toe 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 simr 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 rted 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 rted 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 sessor: Vice President Bo Qiliu Takes Over Full Management of Bosch Internal Affairs.¡± Chapter 500: 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, bing an A-lister and an award-winning actor. Although Bosch was arge 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 ept.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om So when grandfather handed over thepany 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-inw 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 rtionship 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 thepany went public and achieved sessful mization. But the Bo and Xia families had generations of wealth umtion, 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 himst time, he did indeed swell up for a day or two. After the swelling went down, the file review waspleted, 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 copse 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 viges 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. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!