Month: October 2023 (Page 3 of 13)

Chapter 12

Injury to an artist is not a minor matter. After reporting the situation to Qiu Fei, Qu Di received instructions. Qiu Fei told Qu Di to go to a private hospital and find Tang Xiyan’s personal doctor, and the company would later release the news about Tang Xiyan’s injury.

Tang Xiyan’s injury was on his back, and Qu Di dared not touch it carelessly. He could only let Tang Xiyan wear his coat. But Tang Xiyan also needed to wear a hat, a mask, and sunglasses, creating a look that attracted a lot of attention.

During the distance from the hospital entrance to the doctor’s office, many people, after some initial doubt, pulled out their phones to take pictures. Qu Di thought that it wouldn’t take more than an hour for Tang Xiyan’s photos to go viral on the internet.

As for whether people could recognize him, Qu Di wasn’t worried at all. It seemed like the fans these days had superhuman abilities and could determine whether or not their idol was present based on their walking style.

Arriving at the doctor’s office, Tang Xiyan could finally take off his mask and sunglasses. He said, “I told you not to come. Look, every time I come to the hospital, there’s a crowd of people taking pictures of me.”

“The company will handle this matter, and it’s not something to be ashamed of.”

The doctor’s name was Yu Zhiyuan, and he looked quite young, with delicate features and neat chestnut hair. The most eye-catching feature about him was the small mole just below his lips, giving him an intriguing charm. Coupled with his white coat and his upright expression, he seemed to exude a mysterious sensuality.

He was currently writing a report with his head down and didn’t even bother to look up. “What happened this time?”

Tang Xiyan didn’t seem to have the best relationship with Yu Zhiyuan. He didn’t even look at him and acted like a temperamental child. Annoyed, he said, “I injured my back.”

“That means you’re not dead. I’ll finish writing this report, and if you’re still alive by the time I’m done, I’ll take a look at you.”

“I need to get back to work! Ah…” Tang Xiyan accidentally touched a muscle on his back, causing him to grimace in pain.

Yu Zhiyuan raised his head and glanced at the doctor. He had a flat tone and said, “It’s just a few blisters. You can puncture them yourself and apply some medicine. It’s incredible that you came to the hospital for such a minor issue.”

Silence followed. The doctor was not quite what he had imagined.

“Do you think I wanted to come? Even if I were on my deathbed, I wouldn’t want to see your face. It’s all because this assistant insisted on dragging me here,” he said, pointing the blame at his assistant.

Yu Zhiyuan didn’t seem to be in a friendly mood, and Qu Di spoke carefully, “I’m sorry, Dr. Yu. I asked him to come. My main concern was the risk of infection. The wound has been closed for almost a whole afternoon. Would you please take another look?”

Yu Zhiyuan turned his gaze toward Qu Di. His tone was much softer than when he talked to Tang Xiyan, “Are you the new assistant?”

Qu Di nodded.

“Do you like dogs?”

Qu Di was puzzled, “No.”

“Then how could you stand being his assistant?”

Before he could react, Tang Xiyan jumped up from his seat, “Hey! Who are you calling a dog!?”

“Oh, you’re making some progress. You could tell that I was talking about you?” Yu Zhiyuan retorted.

“I… I…” Qu Di saw that Tang Xiyan was about to attack, so he quickly restrained him, “Calm down, you still have an injury.”

Yu Zhiyuan looked at his computer screen, typing with one hand while speaking, “He’s tough. Don’t worry too much. The nurse will clean the wound later, and I’ll prescribe some antibiotics. Take them and apply ointment for a week. Avoid pulling on the wound and exposing it to water, and keep the wound clean.”

Then, he handed over the prescription to Qu Di, saying, “Take this to get the medication from the pharmacy later.”

Next, he looked at Tang Xiyan and started to dismiss him, “You can leave now.”

The two of them were inherently incompatible, and Tang Xiyan made an obscene gesture at him, “I’m going to replace you starting tomorrow!”

“I couldn’t hope for anything better.”

Qu Di took the prescription to get the medicine but met an acquaintance on the way.

“Manager?”

Fang Yingying was standing at the beverage vending machine, planning to buy something to drink when she heard someone call her name. She turned around and saw Qu Di, whom she hadn’t seen in a long time.

However, there was no joy of reunion on her face; she seemed rather distant. “Qu Di, why are you in Y City?”

“I’ve come to work here. What about you?” Fang Yingying had been running that flower shop, and it was unlikely she would come here to struggle like him.

She hesitated for a moment and said, “My boyfriend works here, so I followed him.”

“Really? Congratulations. By the way, how’s your flower shop doing?”

“It’s doing fine. My family is helping me run it.”

“Your family? Weren’t you always worried about them asking for money when they visited your shop?” Fang Yingying’s father was a gambling addict and had visited her shop several times to ask for money. She had always been on guard against him.

Fang Yingying played with her hair uncomfortably and said, “Actually, a company noticed me and I’m going to participate in a talent show. The flower shop is not that useful, and I’m not renewing the lease when it expires.”

She had never lived a decently comfortable life, and although she felt a bit uneasy seeing Qu Di, she couldn’t help but show off the enviable life she was living now.

Qu Di finally noticed her expensive jewelry. Although he didn’t understand, they didn’t look fake. It seemed she had truly found her luck. He congratulated her, “Congratulations.”

“By the way, why are you here at the hospital?” Fang Yingying had come to the hospital for a follow-up due to a throat infection that had resulted from a fever a few days ago.

He waved the prescription in his hand, “I… I came to get medicine for a friend.”

Fang Yingying, who had become more at ease since she saw him, gave a sweet smile, “Let’s stay in touch more often. I have something to do now, so I’ll leave.”

“Sure.”

Fang Yingying quickly left and got into a low-key black Rolls-Royce after exiting. She sent a message to Tang Chaobai to let him know she was heading back.

Qu Di returned to the hospital and left with Tang Xiyan. On the way, he seemed to want to ask something but hesitated. Finally, he asked, “It seems like you don’t get along well with Dr. Yu. A private doctor in a regular family shouldn’t be so confrontational with the employer.”

“Did you offend him?” After comparing the two, one being Tang Xiyan, who spoke without thinking, and the other being the seemingly cold and refined doctor, Qu Di thought that Dr. Yu must have been driven to this by Tang Xiyan.

With a disapproving look, Tang Xiyan immediately spilled the beans about Dr. Yu: “Don’t be fooled by his appearance; he’s actually a star chaser! His home is covered with posters, and he buys merchandise every day. He’s the kind of ‘beta’ who shouts ‘hubby’ at pictures of his idol on the computer!”

“… Really?” Qu Di clearly didn’t believe it. Couldn’t you come up with a more believable lie?

“Hey, what kind of look is that? Why would I lie to you? He lives next door to me, and he started idolizing stars since he was a child. Later, he became a doctor and toned it down.”

“I thought you and he had such a falling out because he’s petty! He must have lost his brain in his mother’s womb!”

“What did you do?”

Tang Xiyan grumbled, “I didn’t do much. When we were in college, he liked Luna, the pure and innocent female star of that time. You know, right?”

“I know.” After starring in a time-travel drama, she became popular, but her career didn’t take off afterward. Her resources were limited, and her acting skills were subpar, so she gradually faded from the A-list.

“I told him that Luna’s personal life was chaotic, and he was downcast for weeks. Then he fell in love with a young idol group called Once, always shipping them and losing his mind. He would inexplicably burst into laughter while reading medical books. Ha-ha-ha, really like a brain-damaged patient!”

“Cough, then I told him that the group members fought for resources every day and wouldn’t speak to each other off-camera. They even wanted to twist each other’s necks. Finally, two years ago, he became infatuated with Zhou Zhou, that seemingly super-A aloof Omega…”

At this point, Tang Xiyan suddenly stopped, and his gaze became evasive.

“Go on!” Gossip mongers hated it when someone told only half of the story.

“Well, that guy, behind the scenes… He seemed interested in me

“!” 

Tang Xiyan was still annoyed when talking about this, but he couldn’t bring himself to say that an Omega had touched his butt.

“Touched what?” Qu Di accurately seized the key point. If someone likes you, you don’t have to beat them up, do you?

Tang Xiyan’s gaze flickered. “He didn’t touch anything. I misspoke. In the end, I just gave him a beating and sent him straight to the hospital. Damn it!”

Qu Di knew about this incident. It had made headlines for a whole week, causing a big stir. Legally, assaulting an Omega as a non-Alpha was a serious civil offense. Initially, everyone condemned Tang Xiyan for not being an Alpha and even breaking an Omega’s arm, even saying he should be sent to prison.

However, unexpectedly, someone later revealed that Tang Xiyan had also been hospitalized and that it was actually Zhou Zhou who had acted first. Plus, Zhou Zhou had publicly apologized on social media, waived the chance to hold Tang Xiyan responsible, and announced his retirement. After that, public opinion shifted, and everyone sided with Tang Xiyan. That’s when things settled down.

Now, it seemed that the situation wasn’t as simple as it had appeared.

Tang Xiyan didn’t reveal one thing: he had been sent to the hospital not by Zhou Zhou but by his older brother. He dared not retaliate, and at the time, he felt quite wronged. He had been harassed, but his brother still wanted to beat him up and had sent him to the hospital. The next day, public opinion shifted in his favor, and he knew it was probably because of his brother.

After hearing the whole story, Qu Di seemed to understand. Repeatedly tarnishing the image of one’s idols would undoubtedly make their fans angry, and Dr. Yu had clearly not had any luck with Tang Xiyan ruining things behind the scenes.

Qu Di greeted the director, and they didn’t have any more scenes with Tang Xiyan to shoot that day. They returned to the hotel, but at the entrance, they ran into Shu Yi and his assistant, Zheng Siyi, who were also returning.

Shu Yi walked over to them, and they entered together. “How are you feeling? Are you better now?”

“It’s nothing serious. I can go home tomorrow.”

“Don’t push yourself too hard. We can shoot scenes without you for now.”

Tang Xiyan seized the opportunity to change the topic. “Weren’t you supposed to shoot two more scenes? Why is it ending so soon?”

Based on the previous schedule, he thought they’d be filming until late at night.

Shu Yi sighed, saying, “There’s been a problem. Wen Gu and Yang Ji had a conflict, and the director had no choice but to stop filming and let them cool down. We’ll continue tomorrow.”

“Yang Ji?” He actually dared to clash with Wen Gu. Everyone in the industry knew that, although Wen Gu had a good temper, he was strict about acting and often made his co-stars cry. He was scarier than the director.

“One scene just couldn’t satisfy Wen Gu, and they’ve already redone it nearly ten times. Wen Gu got angry and walked off the set.”

“The past few days went smoothly, didn’t they?” There was just one scene, but it was highly rated, and they got it right on the first take.

Shu Yi pointed out the issue, “The previous scenes were easy to act, like daily life. It was easy to do well. But this scene focuses on emotional expression and progression, and Yang Ji’s acting is too superficial. He doesn’t see the depth of the character. Those who understand acting can tell that he doesn’t grasp it.”

After Shu Yi said this, he noticed Qu Di was quite interested, listening intently. He joked, “You seem quite interested. Do you want to learn acting too?”

Under Shu Yi’s deep gaze, Qu Di’s face felt hot. “Shu Yi, please don’t tease me. I… I was just thinking.”

“Oh, really?” Shu Yi seemed to be thinking about something, and he glanced at Qu Di thoughtfully, then returned to his normal self and bid them farewell.

T/N: Hey there! There is plenty more where that came from, so stay tuned! And stay healthy! Straighten your posture, so some stretches and drink some water before continuing hehe~

If you like my translations, feel free to donate to my ko-fi!

I really, really appreciate all the support from my readers <3 It goes a long way and motivates me lots!

https://ko-fi.com/hoenibean

Also, check out the other series we have on HoH!

If you like cats, check out Revenge of the Garfield

If you like dragons, check out I’m Pregnant with the Hope of the Entire Planet and The Dragon and the ‘Princess’

How about some mystery or showbiz? Check out Morbid Addiction & Perfection

What about the perfect, most non-toxic male lead ever? Laws of Love

How about MC nursing ML back to health? Forced into the Deep

Thank you for all your support <3 Leave a comment if you like 🙂 I love reading them!

Chapter 11

“Shu Yi, wake up. What are you doing here?”

Shu Yi squinted at him, his face very close and almost touching Du Qi’s: “Who are you?”

Qu Di felt a bit uneasy, avoiding direct eye contact and speaking hesitantly: “You… Why are you here? Where is your assistant and manager?”

Shu Yi looked a bit confused. He stood up, leaning on the wall: “Siyi… Siyi… Take Liumeng back! I can go back by myself.”

He swayed as he spoke, took his room key from his pocket, and turned to find his room. His speech was a bit slurred, perhaps due to being intoxicated. It was somewhat odd.

Qu Di wasn’t sure how to handle this situation. He couldn’t just leave Shu Yi like this, so he decided to take him back to his room. It didn’t seem like a big deal.

Qu Di approached him and held Shu Yi’s arm: “Come this way… I’ll take you back to your room.”

But the intoxicated Shu Yi was stubborn and didn’t want to listen. He insisted on going in the opposite direction: “My room is over there… I need to get back to read the script… Tomorrow…”

Qu Di had to coax him: “Alright, go back and read the script. The script is this way.”

“This way?”

They ended up dragging each other into the elevator like this. Shu Yi seemed tired, and he rested his head on Qu Di’s shoulder, almost falling asleep. Qu Di breathed a sigh of relief, surprised by how noisy Shu Yi had been while drunk.

They arrived at the room, and Qu Di took Shu Yi to the bed. After helping him take off his shoes, Shu Yi suddenly sat up, blinking at Qu Di.

Qu Di didn’t know what Shu Yi was up to and asked cautiously, “Shu Yi, are you okay?”

Shu Yi suddenly asked, “Do you want to practice acting with me?”

After saying this, he got out of bed barefoot and rummaged through the cabinet. Finally, he found a script and casually flipped it open to a page, then began reciting his lines.

Qu Di was still puzzled: “…”

Shu Yi continued, “Within the four seas and nine continents, only you dare to openly defy me, Gu Yuelin! Are you dissatisfied with your time on the border, or do you think Xu Ziming has lived too long!”

Shu Yi recited his lines with great enthusiasm, and he didn’t spare the appropriate vocal inflections. It was hard to believe that a drunk person was saying these lines.

“…”

After waiting for a long time without a response, Shu Yi, now slightly annoyed, walked up to Qu Di and said, “Your turn!” He opened the script and pointed to the lines below. “You need to say this.”

Qu Di hesitated for a moment and then stumbled through the lines, “I… um… My father is a founding hero, and I am now the General of the Nation. Your Majesty… Your Majesty…”

“Ah…” Shu Yi became a bit impatient and flipped a few pages. Frowning, he said, “Why haven’t you memorized your lines? This won’t do… Let’s try this scene. The lines are just two sentences. If you don’t perform well, I might have you replaced.”

Qu Di hadn’t had a chance to read what was written, but Shu Yi suddenly turned around, pushed him down on the bed, and tossed the script aside. Shu Yi’s hand reached for Qu Di’s waist, and he used his other hand to lift Qu Di’s chin, revealing a disdainful smile. “I told you that you’d be mine sooner or later.”

Though Qu Di knew it was part of the script, his heart skipped a beat. They were too close, and Shu Yi’s breath, with a hint of minty pheromones, was spraying onto his face. His expression and movements were filled with irresistible charm, as if he were a blue rose blooming in the dark night, tempting him to pluck it. He was captivated by Shu Yi’s bright black eyes and even forgot to resist.

Shu Yi watched him like this, and a few minutes later, he abruptly buried his face in Qu Di’s neck, not moving at all. The room instantly fell silent, with only the sound of the humidifier and Qu Di’s thundering heartbeat.

Qu Di gently pushed Shu Yi off him, placed him on the bed, covered him with a blanket, and quickly left.

The humidifier in the room continued running. A few minutes later, the person who had been sound asleep a moment ago suddenly opened his eyes, sat up, and rubbed his throbbing temples. He was surprisingly calm for a drunk person. He glanced at the script that had been thrown on the bedside table but now lay open. He couldn’t help but smile. This was an interesting turn of events.

After leaving the room, Qu Di rushed downstairs. He needed to calm down. He had even experienced an illusion, feeling surrounded by the refreshing scent of mint. He felt trapped, with no way to escape.

That night, Qu Di couldn’t sleep. This resulted in him being in a bad mood the next day. When he went to wake Tang Xiyan up, he even went to the wrong floor.

When they arrived on set, Shu Yi was already in the makeup chair, and Qu Di wondered how he had sobered up so quickly after getting so drunk the previous night.

Seeing them, Shu Yi greeted them naturally, “Good morning.”

Tang Xiyan yawned and sat down, “Morning.”

Qu Di stood quietly, not saying a word. But Shu Yi looked at him and asked, “Qu Di, why do you look so tired?”

He found a random excuse, “Well… maybe I just… couldn’t sleep well last night.”

Tang Xiyan interjected, “We told you to change rooms, but you refused. Look, you’re suffering now.”

“Qu Di, were you the one who helped me back to my room last night?”

Surprised to be singled out, Qu Di straightened his posture and struggled to speak fluently, “Uh… I saw you on the wrong floor, and it was my floor… Then… you were drunk, so I helped you… no, I escorted you back… and then I went back.”

Tang Xiyan noticed that Qu Di was sweating and found it strange, “Why do you look so nervous?”

Shu Yi felt embarrassed, “Is it because of something I did when I was drunk last night? If so, I apologize. I only vaguely remember seeing you, and I really don’t remember anything else.”

“No… It’s just… I briefly looked at the script.”

“Haha.” Shu Yi laughed, “I knew something was off when I found my script neatly placed on the bedside. I’m really sorry for the trouble. You shouldn’t have had to deal with it.”

“No problem, it was just a small effort.”

It seemed that Shu Yi didn’t remember anything, which was a relief for Qu Di. He could treat last night as an accident, and as long as Shu Yi didn’t say anything, no one would know.

Shu Yi looked at him with a odd expression.

The shoot went smoothly

 for the first two days with almost no issues. Shu Yi and Wengu were professionals, so they were top-notch. What surprised Qu Di was that Tang Xiyan’s acting was surprisingly good. At least, from his perspective, there were no major issues. Even the director expressed clear appreciation for him, saying he should consider switching to acting full time.

After another scene was wrapped up, Qu Di realized that they would be working late into the night again. Shu Yi had just finished the scene where he received an award in the capital, so he had to wear that heavy, hot suit of armor again. The scene involved many people, and there were even some disobedient horses, so what should have been a few minutes of shooting took up an entire afternoon. When the director finally said “cut,” everyone on set let out a collective sigh of relief.

“Take a break, we have two more scenes later.”

The schedule on set was tight, and it looked like they would be working well into the night again. Qu Di walked over to help Tang Xiyan off his horse, handed him some water, and held an umbrella to shade him. “It’s cold water; it will help you cool down. Let’s go sit over there for a bit.”

Tang Xiyan was drenched in sweat. His clothing was soaked and clung uncomfortably to his skin. The armor was too heavy, and there was a bit of pain in his back. His throat was parched, feeling like it might catch fire.

“Y… You…” He started speaking, only to realize his voice was hoarse, as if something was stuck in his throat, making it difficult to speak.

After taking a couple of sips of water, he said, “You should have some water too. Look at your cracked lips; it’s as if you’ve been filming.”

Qu Di reached out to touch his own lips and realized they were indeed somewhat chapped. He had been standing in the sun for too long, and his face had turned red.

“I’ve had some water already.”

Tang Xiyan sat down under the shade of the umbrella, and Qu Di found a small fan to give him. “Take a break for a bit. After you’ve eaten, we’ll continue filming. How about I get some boxed meals for both of us?”

Qu Di brought back some boxed meals after a while. However, when he returned, he couldn’t find Tang Xiyan. He thought Tang Xiyan might have gone to change his clothes, but when he went to look for him, he found that Tang Xiyan had developed blisters on his back from the armor, and they had even burst. The director wanted him to go to the hospital for treatment, but Tang Xiyan refused.

“I told you I don’t…”

Qu Di approached, draping his light jacket over Tang Xiyan. “Come with me to the hospital.”

Tang Xiyan wanted to protest, but the pain in his back flared up when someone touched him, making him wince. He had to stop talking. Qu Di gave a reassuring look and said, “Come with me. We’re going to the hospital.”

Tang Xiyan almost said something, but when he saw Qu Di’s gentle and stern expression, he couldn’t bring himself to argue.

“Qu Di, hurry up and persuade him.” The director saw Qu Di and looked relieved. This star from Tangyi Entertainment, the one Tang Zong introduced, was a big deal, and he didn’t dare to say anything loud in front of him.

Tang Xiyan took off his coat, revealing his bare upper body. He was still wearing black cotton pants for the shoot.

“Don’t listen to them. It’s just a few blisters. Put some ointment on them, and you’ll be fine… Ah…” The person applying the medicine accidentally used a bit too much force, causing Tang Xiyan to cry out in pain.

Qu Di, who had been applying the medicine, called the driver of their company car to come pick them up.

“I said I don’t…”

Qu Di dr4p3d his light jacket over Tang Xiyan and said, “Come with me. We’re going to the hospital.”

Tang Xiyan was about to say something, but when he saw the firmness in Qu Di’s eyes, he couldn’t find the words.

“Qu Di, please persuade him.” The director looked relieved to see Qu Di. Tangyi Entertainment had a big influence in the entertainment industry, and he didn’t want to upset anyone.

When Qu Di returned, he brought Tang Xiyan to the hospital. The blisters on his back had burst, and he was in a lot of pain. The director had wanted him to go to the hospital, but Tang Xiyan had been reluctant. However, seeing Qu Di’s concern, he gave in.

At the hospital, Tang Xiyan was treated for his injuries. Qu Di stayed by his side, feeling a sense of responsibility.

As they left the hospital, Tang Xiyan spoke up, “Thank you for taking care of me today. I’m really sorry for causing you so much trouble.”

Qu Di replied, “It’s no trouble at all. I’m here to assist you, and making sure you’re comfortable and well is part of my job.”

They returned to the set, and filming continued. Tang Xiyan was unable to wear the armor due to his injuries, so the scene was adjusted. Qu Di kept an eye on him to make sure he didn’t overexert himself.

In the following days, the shoot continued without major issues. Qu Di was impressed by Tang Xiyan’s professionalism and determination. He saw that Tang Xiyan was putting in a lot of effort to give a great performance, and it earned him respect from the crew.

Despite the challenges, they managed to make steady progress on the production. Qu Di had his hands full assisting Tang Xiyan and ensuring that everything went smoothly.

After another successful day of filming, Qu Di felt a sense of accomplishment. He was grateful to be part of this project and to work with talented individuals like Shu Yi, Wengu, and Tang Xiyan.

However, the demands of the shoot and the long hours were taking a toll on everyone. Qu Di had already noticed signs of fatigue in himself, Shu Yi, and Tang Xiyan. They were pushing themselves to the limit to bring this story to life on the screen.

As they wrapped up another scene, Qu Di found Tang Xiyan and handed him a bottle of water. “You’ve been doing great, but don’t forget to stay hydrated. It’s been a long day.”

Tang Xiyan accepted the water and took a moment to catch his breath. “Thanks, Qu Di. I appreciate your support.”

Qu Di smiled, “You’re welcome. We’re a team, and we’re in this together.”

The days on set were intense, but they were also rewarding. Qu Di knew that this experience would stay with him for a long time. As they continued their journey through the world of filmmaking, Qu Di couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride in his role as an assistant. He was contributing to the success of this project and learning valuable lessons along the way.

The production continued, and Qu Di was committed to doing his best to assist the cast and crew in any way he could. He was ready for whatever challenges lay ahead, knowing that he was part of something special.

T/N: Hey there! There is plenty more where that came from, so stay tuned! And stay healthy! Straighten your posture, so some stretches and drink some water before continuing hehe~

If you like my translations, feel free to donate to my ko-fi!

I really, really appreciate all the support from my readers <3 It goes a long way and motivates me lots!

https://ko-fi.com/hoenibean

Also, check out the other series we have on HoH!

If you like cats, check out Revenge of the Garfield

If you like dragons, check out I’m Pregnant with the Hope of the Entire Planet and The Dragon and the ‘Princess’

How about some mystery or showbiz? Check out Morbid Addiction & Perfection

What about the perfect, most non-toxic male lead ever? Laws of Love

How about MC nursing ML back to health? Forced into the Deep

Thank you for all your support <3 Leave a comment if you like 🙂 I love reading them!

Chapter 10

Qu Di didn’t dare to look in Yang Ji’s direction. He absentmindedly fanned Tang Xiyan, who had been complaining about the heat. After returning to his seat, Yang Ji asked his manager, “Who’s that beta? Why does he seem so close to Xiyan?”

The manager glanced and replied, “Xiyan’s personal assistant.”

“Is that so…” He retracted his gaze, feeling slightly better. After all, he was just a personal assistant, and when it came down to it, he didn’t differ much from regular crew members, except he served just one person.

Not long after, Qiu Fei and Qiu Wenhuan entered one after the other.

Qu Di politely introduced them, “Brother Fei, Assistant Qiu.”

Both of them acknowledged, and Qiu Fei handed the breakfast he had bought to Qu Di. “Have you eaten? I brought three sandwiches for you. It was busy this morning; you should eat more.”

Qu Di accepted it and said, “Thank you, but I’ve already eaten. I’ll leave it for Xiyan later.”

Tang Xiyan saw that his manager had brought breakfast for a personal assistant but hadn’t thought of him at all. He exclaimed, “Qiu Fei, what’s wrong with you? Your cash cow is right here! Are you mixing up priorities, giving it to the wrong person?”

Qiu Fei gave him a sideways glance. “You should eat less recently; you’ll look fat on camera.”

Not far away, Shu Yì saw Qiu Fei and greeted him with a smile. “Qiu Fei.”

Qiu Fei, who had been Shu Yì’s manager when he first debuted, quipped, “Hey, it’s been a while, isn’t it? Does this idol emperor now require an appointment for a meeting?”

“Others might, but if you come, I’ll open a green channel for you.”

Tang Xiyan glanced behind them but didn’t see Tang Chaobai. He asked Qiu Wenhuan, “I… um… Where’s Mr. Tang? Didn’t he say he’d come today?”

Qiu Wenhuan replied, “Mr. Tang suddenly had something come up and couldn’t make it. It wouldn’t be good to stand people up, so I’m here on his behalf.”

“What… so early in the morning, what could be more important than this?” His older brother always prioritized his affairs, and apart from the company going bankrupt, he couldn’t think of anything more important.

“Anyway, Mr. Tang has already informed them, so whether he comes or not doesn’t make much of a difference.”

The atmosphere on their side was pleasant, with everyone chatting. On the other hand, things were a bit awkward for Yang Ji. Qiu Fei was a well-known top-tier manager in the industry, and even Shu Yì had been under his management when he first debuted. Therefore, Shu Yì could strike up a conversation, but for Yang Ji, a newcomer from the same company, it was impossible to join in.

Yang Ji’s manager had noticed the situation and decided to help by addressing Qiu Wenhuan with a casual “Assistant Qiu.” Qiu Fei had no way of recognizing him, but he had met Tang Chaobai’s assistant a couple of times before.

However, Qiu Wenhuan didn’t recall this particular individual. He often moved between different departments of the company, and he responded to anyone who greeted him.

Nonetheless, he didn’t want to embarrass him. He nodded and said, “Hello.” Then he noticed Yang Ji, who was sitting nearby. Before an actor joined the company, they had to be approved, and Qiu Wenhuan knew this person.

Qiu Wenhuan approached Yang Ji and asked, “Your name is… Yang Ji, right?”

Yang Ji was somewhat taken aback and quickly stood up. “Hello, Assistant Qiu.”

“I almost forgot you’re also part of this production. How’s it going? Are you adjusting well?”

Qiu Wenhuan thought about introducing him to Tang Xiyan, as he was also from their company.

“Xiyan, this is Yang Ji from our company. If he has any questions, you can teach him.”

Tang Xiyan inexplicably disliked this person. He spoke with a cold tone, “Teach what? I’m a singer; I’m busy enough with my own stuff, how can I manage others?”

After saying this, he turned to look at Qu Di, who was sitting next to him. “Qu Di, fan me. Why did you stop?”

Qu Di hastened his movements. “Oh.”

Yang Ji was almost unable to maintain his smile. He had never experienced such disregard, but he couldn’t get angry. He forced a smile and said, “It’s okay. Master is too busy, and I don’t want to trouble him.”

Qiu Wenhuan noticed the tension between Yang Ji and Tang Xiyan but didn’t push the matter further. He consoled Yang Ji for a moment and gave him some instructions before leaving to discuss Tang Chaobai’s matters with the director.

Qiu Fei nudged Tang Xiyan with his elbow and whispered, “What’s gotten into you? We’re from the same company and the same production. Show a little courtesy.”

He thought Tang Xiyan had improved his behavior recently, but he seemed to be reverting to his old self.

Tang Xiyan remained silent and simply grabbed one of the sandwiches Qu Di had placed on the table, devouring it in one bite. He then glanced at Qu Di, who was fanning him without any expression, as though he were an emotionless fan.

Qu Di was startled by his stare. “What’s wrong?”

Tang Xiyan took a fierce bite and said, “Nothing!”

He had noticed that Yang Ji had been watching Qu Di, and after a quick observation of his assistant, he came to a conclusion: this guy named Yang had really questionable taste.

The opening ceremony proceeded as planned. After the formalities, it was time for the main actors to be interviewed and photographed by the media. Tang Xiyan and Wen Gu were the leads of the TV series, attracting the most attention. Moreover, their characters had many romantic scenes together, and since Tang Xiyan already had a substantial following, the media was keenly interested in their interactions.

Compared to the others, the newcomer Yang Ji felt left out. People occasionally mentioned him, asking if he had confidence and such, but as time passed, nobody seemed to care about his presence anymore.

After the interviews, it was already one o’clock in the afternoon. The director suggested they have lunch. Naturally, no one would refuse the first cast gathering. To facilitate the shoot, all the actors and crew were accommodated in a hotel nearby. As there were many people, the director decided to book a few tables on the hotel’s first floor for a shared meal.

Qu Di didn’t sit at the same table as Tang Xiyan and went to a different table with Zheng Siyi. He didn’t know anyone there, so he tried to establish a connection with Zheng Siyi, even though she didn’t seem very willing to engage with him.

Originally, he remembered the rule of not drinking alcohol, but later, the director got drunk and staggered over to their table, insisting on toasting them.

Everyone had their glasses raised, and he couldn’t refuse. He ended up forcing himself to drink a glass. However, as the liquid hit his throat, he almost wanted to spit it out. A sharp, burning sensation spread from his tongue. He quickly swallowed it down but felt like his esophagus and stomach were being burned by that tiny cup of transparent liquid.

He usually only had a couple of sips of beer at gatherings, and he had never experienced such strong liquor. After downing a glass, he started to feel his head getting a bit dizzy. He could barely hold his chopsticks.

Turning to look at Tang Xiyan, who was still eating, he wasn’t too worried. With Qiu Fei around, nothing serious should happen. After telling Zheng Siyi that he was going outside for some fresh air, he went to the door to clear his head.

At this moment, Yang Ji, who had been quiet and hadn’t said much, stood up and told his manager, “I’ll use the restroom.”

As Yang Ji exited the banquet hall, he noticed Qu Di sitting on a sofa in the lobby, leaning back with his arm covering his eyes.

“Qu Di.”

Hearing the voice, Qu Di’s heart trembled. He stood up and created some distance between them. “Mr. Yang, is there something you need?”

Yang Ji didn’t like Qu Di’s avoidance, but he didn’t want to show it. He glanced at the people around them and found someone at the front desk watching them. So, he turned to walk outside. “Come with me.”

Qu Di didn’t want any further involvement with him and declined his request straightforwardly, “No, I don’t need to. Tang Xiyan is still inside. I just felt a bit unwell, but I’m fine now. I’ll head back.”

This was the first time Qu Di had rejected his request. In a moment of anxiety, Yang Ji blurted out, “You have some skill, finding an Alpha right away. I underestimated you. But look at yourself; you won’t hold Xiyan’s interest for long.”

Insulting words flooded into Qu Di’s ears one by one, but he didn’t want to engage further. He brushed it off as water off a duck’s back. After all, he had seen what kind of person Yang was on the day they broke up.

Yang Ji watched as Qu Di walked away, not paying attention to his words, and acted as if he hadn’t heard anything. It was as if his harsh words had landed on cotton, completely unnoticed. In such a public place, he couldn’t approach him any further. He clenched and relaxed his hand in his pocket. With a dark expression, he muttered to himself, “You’re quite something!”

When Qu Di returned to the banquet hall, the director had already left, as he had gotten drunk and had to be helped back. People were starting to disperse. He saw Tang Xiyan, who seemed to be looking for him, and waved to get his attention. Tang Xiyan, upon seeing him, ran over and scolded, “Where did you go again?”

Qu Di rubbed his stomach and replied, “That drink was too strong; I felt unwell, so I went outside for some fresh air.”

Tang Xiyan sniffed and said with some disdain, “No wonder you reek of alcohol.”

Qiu Fei chimed in, “He definitely didn’t dare to drink with you, so he went to find these little assistants. I had a few drinks, and even Li Mèng, who can’t handle alcohol, tried to outdrink him. She ended up passed out on the table.”

Qu Di asked, “Are we going back now?”

Qiu Fei checked the time and said, “There’s nothing left to do. Let’s go back and rest. I’ll leave first. Qu Di, keep an eye on him, and call me if anything happens.”

In the following months, Qu Di was the one primarily accompanying Tang Xiyan. Qiu Fei had been busy with the new talent he was managing, so he could only come by occasionally.

“Let’s go, let’s go! I don’t need to babysit you; you’re not a child.”

After Qiu Fei left, Yang Ji returned. His manager rushed over and asked why he had been gone so long. He made up a casual excuse.

Qu Di took out a room key card and handed it to Tang Xiyan. “This one is yours, on the 53rd floor, Room 5316. Your luggage was placed there yesterday. In the first drawer of the wardrobe, you’ll find socks. In the second drawer, you’ll find underwear. Your clothes are already arranged and hung in sets in the closet. Just grab and wear…”

Tang Xiyan didn’t want to listen to his nagging and asked, “What about you? Where are you staying?”

“I’m on the 12th floor, Room 1233. I’m sharing with a logistics staff member. If you need anything, just call me.”

Tang Xiyan furrowed his brow. “Why are you still in a double room? Is Tang Yi that short on money?”

Qu Di didn’t mind, and he had seen the logistics staff today. It was a young beta who had graduated recently.

He handed the key card to Tang Xiyan. “I’m just a personal assistant. This is enough for me. You can sleep peacefully in your presidential suite.”

Tang Xiyan suggested, “How about I pay for a single room for you?”

Qu Di hurriedly stopped him. “Please don’t. I don’t want to stand out. Don’t worry about me.”

“Forget it; you’re too kind.”

The two of them took the elevator together. When they reached the twelfth floor, Qu Di got off first. He walked alone down the carpeted corridor, and the overly quiet hallway felt somewhat eerie. He quickened his pace but was startled by a pair of feet at the corner.

As he focused his gaze, he felt that the shoes seemed somewhat familiar. He took a few steps closer and discovered that it was, in fact, Shu Yi. He was leaning against the wall, his eyes closed and his brows furrowed.

Qu Di called him a couple of times as he crouched down, but Shu Yi showed no reaction at all. As he got closer, he smelled a strong scent of alcohol, mixed with the faint minty pheromones of an Alpha.

T/N: Hey there! There is plenty more where that came from, so stay tuned! And stay healthy! Straighten your posture, so some stretches and drink some water before continuing hehe~

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Also, check out the other series we have on HoH!

If you like cats, check out Revenge of the Garfield

If you like dragons, check out I’m Pregnant with the Hope of the Entire Planet and The Dragon and the ‘Princess’

How about some mystery or showbiz? Check out Morbid Addiction & Perfection

What about the perfect, most non-toxic male lead ever? Laws of Love

How about MC nursing ML back to health? Forced into the Deep

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