Translator’s corner:
Hey everyone! It’s your translator here. Buckle up, because Lu Ciheng has absolutely no chill in these chapters. He’s a stage 5 clinger~ What a perfect husband~ LOL.
Chapter 15: C-Ent’s Number One Arch-Rivals
[@CaribbeanTurtle: This ring placement isn’t right, is it?]
The post specifically cropped a screenshot from the livestream, adding the photo released by the fansite. After zooming in, only the ring on the ring finger remained.
Netizens, unclear of the cause, flooded in to analyze.
[Wouldn’t have noticed if you didn’t mention it. Is this worn on the ring finger???]
[There was a leak post before saying an L-surnamed male artist is secretly married… could it be this brother?]
The post automatically linked to the livestream event tag. A large number of fans and gossip-loving crowds immediately flooded under this post.
They thought it was some shocking big melon, but clicking in, there was only a picture of a ring.
[Isn’t this an accessory ring?]
[Accessory rings are very common. Do rumors only need one picture nowadays?]
[Then why wear it on the ring finger? This position is weird to begin with.]
[First, the decorative ring is sent by the brand sponsor. It’s also possible the size sent was wrong and could only be worn on the ring finger. Besides, many artists wear rings on their ring fingers. Just looking at the random return photos from today’s event, there’s a bunch of people wearing decorative rings on their ring fingers [Image][Image][Image]. Li Xia wore rings on the ring fingers of both hands. According to what was said above, wouldn’t that be bigamy?]
[I went to check the livestream playback and found many stars have rings on their hands, on both ring fingers and index fingers. There’s even a brother wearing four or five stacked rings on one hand.]
[It’s a series, right? He is the spokesperson for this series. Basically, he wears these rings whenever he’s photographed privately.]
[Use your brain, it’s requested by the brand. Everything worn on the body for this kind of event is provided by the brand.]
Netizens dug up the ring brand. The netizens who were initially excited to eat melons instantly lost interest, guessing it was a brand-sponsored accessory.
Many artists at the same event also wore decorative rings. There were plenty of single people wearing them on their ring fingers, so simply wearing one as decoration didn’t hold any special meaning.
The comments section didn’t even discuss it for long before the heat faded. Netizens went back to pay attention to the latest internal livestream.
The event inside proceeded in an orderly manner. The interview segment mainly focused on the new series spokesperson, simultaneously announcing Lu Ciheng as the country’s regional spokesperson. The heat instantly concentrated entirely on Lu Ciheng.
During the group photo segment, the artists in the front row shook hands with Lu Ciheng, who occupied the center position (C-position), to congratulate him first. Without exception, everyone appeared harmonious in front of the camera, looking as if they were sincerely shaking hands and offering congratulations.
Xie Shibai paused for a few seconds before going on stage. If he didn’t shake hands or offer congratulations at a time like this, the media below would spread rumors of discord the very next second. Including the livestream cameras inside, focus was on this moment.
Although rumors of their discord were everywhere online, they hadn’t made a scene openly. Not shaking hands was fine usually, but not on this occasion. The organizer was the high-luxury brand TC; refusing would be tantamount to publicly expressing dissatisfaction with their decision.
Xie Shibai made eye contact with Lu Ciheng. Just as Lu Ciheng thought Xie Shibai wouldn’t shake hands, slender fingers actively grasped his hand.
Warm skin touched. A trace of surprise appeared in the bottom of Lu Ciheng’s eyes.
In the next second, Xie Shibai released his hand as soon as the heat from the skin contact was transmitted. “Congratulations.”
Lu Ciheng rubbed his fingertips together, observantly watching Xie Shibai’s expression for a few seconds, and whispered, “Thank you, Teacher Xie.”
Almost everyone was paying attention to the two of them. Xie Shibai and Lu Ciheng’s bad relationship was an open secret in the circle; under resource competition, it was impossible to have friends. Lu Ciheng had even parachuted in as the regional spokesperson. To have to congratulate his enemy at such a time—how could he be willing?
Not only did others think this, but the bullet comments in the livestream room were also buzzing heatedly.
[They actually shook hands! I thought Xie wouldn’t shake hands.]
[On this kind of occasion, superficial work still has to be done. Otherwise, wouldn’t it be slapping TC’s face?]
[The handshake was so fast. Did he let go as soon as they touched?]
[Visually, it was just one second.]
[Looks like their relationship really isn’t working. Xie didn’t even smile.]
[You wouldn’t be able to smile either if it were you. Your rival took such a big endorsement, and you still have to congratulate him. Suffocating just thinking about it.]
[The people earlier who thought Brother Lu was greeting him are dying of laughter. Look at it now, do you still think he was greeting him?]
[Xie Shibai’s face is so cold. Lu Ciheng doesn’t have much expression either. Are the two of them going to arrange a fight offline?]
[Hahahahaha, it’s hard to say with those two. Wasn’t it rumored they fought at the Movie Night before?]
[C-Ent’s Number One Arch-Rivals truly live up to the name.]
[With the way they are now, I suspect they might run straight to the restroom after the group photo.]
The bullet comments only guessed half right. The only one who went to wash hands after the group photo was Xie Shibai.
Xie Shibai actually didn’t have much discomfort; it was just a subconscious desire to wash his hands because he wasn’t used to it.
Lu Ciheng following him was merely out of worry that Xie Shibai’s state would be affected.
Other artists looked sideways, then exchanged glances, thinking to themselves, “Sure enough, the relationship between these two is truly bad!”
Netizens in the livestream room searched around, and sharp-eyed ones discovered the figures of the two going to the restroom one after the other.
[Sure enough, they went. Both went to wash hands!]
[WOK WOK, they aren’t even pretending?]
[Being able to endure until after the group photo is already pretty good.]
[Whoever says their relationship is okay again, I’ll post this screen recording!]
The event lasted a long time, and the banquet at night was mandatory to attend.
The atmosphere of the banquet leaned more toward socializing—a vanity fair for stars, the fashion industry, brand executives, and celebrities.
Under the soothing music, conversation, socializing, and the scent of champagne faintly evaporated with the air. Under the relaxed and happy surface lay the undercurrents of resource exchange. People gathered in twos and threes to communicate.
Because Xie Shibai’s aura of detachment and coldness was too heavy, artists attempting to approach him stopped in their tracks. Aside from artists he had collaborated with before, his surroundings appeared rather quiet.
Just as he was preparing to go out for some fresh air, Li Xia walked toward him holding a wine glass. “Teacher Xie, can I buy you a drink?”
Xie Shibai stopped his departure. Looking at the wine glass in Li Xia’s hand, his fingers inevitably touched Li Xia’s when taking it out of politeness. He froze, his brow furrowing slightly. When he held the glass, the unfamiliar warmth on the glass caused discomfort to spread.
The physical discomfort confused Xie Shibai. Yesterday’s desensitization training had allowed him to fully adapt to taking things from Lu Ciheng’s hands without any psychological resistance appearing.
Li Xia studied him for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled and chatted, “Teacher Xie is still as popular as ever after not seeing you for a while. So many people opposite want to come over and know you.”
Xie Shibai didn’t pay attention to what Li Xia said. He wanted to wash his hands.
Li Xia thought he had guessed Xie Shibai’s reaction long ago. If not for a chance collaboration, he might have been like those people who hesitated to step forward, not daring to come up and talk to Xie Shibai.
No one didn’t want to pluck the unique “flower on the high peak.”
Those who hesitated would be defeated.
Compared to those people, Li Xia felt his chances of winning were simply one hundred percent.
On the other side, Lu Ciheng had been looking for Xie Shibai’s figure since entering. After locking onto him in the crowd at a glance, before he could move forward, his path was blocked. More and more people came to toast and chat, firmly surrounding him.
Lu Ciheng’s face was somewhat cold, especially when he turned his head and found a “yellow hair” beside Xie Shibai.
He could only see Xie Shibai’s profile, but he could clearly see the yellow hair opposite smiling very happily, seemingly discussing some interesting anecdote. Xie Shibai even reached out to accept the wine handed over by the other party.
Without wiping it, he directly touched the wine glass the other party had held.
Lu Ciheng’s gaze glued tightly to Xie Shibai’s fingers. The amber wine glass accentuated their slenderness and whiteness. The ring finger was empty. The presence of the wine glass was so strong it was an eyesore, making him unhappy just looking at it.
He pushed away the wine glass offered to him, his deep brows and eyes indifferent. “Excuse me.”
After speaking, without waiting for the other side to react, he strode through the crowd toward Xie Shibai.
Lu Ciheng had just approached when he heard the yellow hair opposite inviting Xie Shibai to leave together for a late-night snack.
“Teacher Xie, why don’t we leave directly to eat late-night snacks? The rest of the banquet is quite boring anyway; staying longer is just a waste of time.” Li Xia asked, “How about it?”
Xie Shibai opened his mouth to refuse. “No.”
“He has plans.” Lu Ciheng stood behind Xie Shibai, his black eyes seeing through the thoughts of the person opposite at a glance.
Li Xia looked at Lu Ciheng, his expression hesitating for a few seconds, not understanding why Lu Ciheng suddenly came over. “Everything has a first come, first served rule. I asked Teacher Xie first.”
The hand Xie Shibai used to hold the wine glass tightened, as if his endurance had reached its limit. He turned and shoved the wine glass into Lu Ciheng’s hand, whispered “Excuse me,” and walked straight away.
Li Xia was a bit bewildered by this turn of events. He stared at Xie Shibai’s back for a while. “Teacher Xie…”
Lu Ciheng held the wine glass Xie Shibai had shoved over, the corner of his lips hooking up. “What a pity. Find someone else.”
With that, he followed Xie Shibai’s footsteps.
Li Xia, left in place, was stunned by this change, muttering, “Isn’t their relationship bad? What does Lu Ciheng mean?”
“Could it be… arranging a fight?”
Li Xia almost amused himself, but felt Xie Shibai wasn’t that kind of person. If it were Lu Ciheng, however, it would be quite normal.
After leaving, Xie Shibai went straight to the restroom. Rinsing his fingers with clear water, he guessed the discomfort this time was because he touched Li Xia’s hand when taking the wine glass.
Just one day of desensitization training couldn’t let him completely resist the contact disorder.
Lu Ciheng, who followed, observed Xie Shibai’s face. He handed Xie Shibai a paper towel to dry his hands and asked, “Feeling uncomfortable again?”
Xie Shibai turned his head to look. His current state made him subconsciously not want to take things from others’ hands, but considering the desensitization therapy, he raised his hand and took it silently.
Only after drying his hands did he slowly give an “En.”
Lu Ciheng asked, “What percentage?”
Xie Shibai said slowly, “I touched his hand.”
Lu Ciheng’s lips pressed down. He discovered he was more petty than he imagined; he didn’t want Xie Shibai to have contact with others, only he couldn’t show it yet.
“Yesterday you touched my hand and could tolerate it for so long. Can I understand that as you liking me quite a bit, Teacher Xie, correct?”
Xie Shibai raised the end of his eyes to sweep a glance at him, mocking mercilessly, “I still prefer it when you were mute.”
Despite knowing Xie Shibai didn’t mean it that way, hearing this sentence still made Lu Ciheng’s breath hitch. His deep voice called out low, “Teacher Xie.”
Xie Shibai threw the paper into the wastebasket, not lifting his head. “What?”
Lu Ciheng spoke earnestly and passionately, “Let’s do the thirty percent training now.”
His black eyes stared straight at him, overflowing with warm emotions, and he was proposing seriously, as if as soon as Xie Shibai nodded, his hand would be held immediately.
Just like the neighbor’s big Golden Retriever that used to whine and pounce on him.
Xie Shibai: “…Scram.”
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