Chapter 19: Trending #Popular Top Star Lu Ciheng’s Romance Exposed…
The place where the Zhong family held the banquet was in the Yushan Villa District, a location where every inch of land was worth gold, resembling a small estate.
This rare wealthy family banquet attracted many internet celebrities seeking heat to come and film. However, they couldn’t even get close to the estate gate. The entire villa complex had security arranged, and since the banquet started, many batches of paparazzi had been driven away.
An invitation was required from the entrance. Zhou Chengping had delivered the invitation a day in advance.
Low-key luxury cars drove in under guidance, and valets parked the cars in order.
The Zhong family was “old money,” developing steadily and surely, belonging to the wealthy family of the uppermost circle. The Xie family, however, due to decision-making issues in recent years and frequent problems with investment projects, hadn’t improved their status; securing their current position was even a bit dangerous.
For the Zhong family’s engagement banquet, countless people scrambled to get in to make connections and climb the social ladder. Old Master Xie letting these juniors come also had this idea. If Xie Shibai hadn’t gotten married, this engagement banquet would still have become another blind date arranged by Old Master Xie. After all, in his eyes, the most important thing was always the Xie Corporation.
When Xie Shibai and Lu Ciheng arrived, most of the guests were already present.
The butler responsible for checking invitations recognized Lu Ciheng long ago. After politely signaling, he had someone guide them without even checking the invitations.
Before entering, they heard familiar laughter from inside.
Xu Ruixin, dressed expensively, was chatting with acquaintances. “Your child is the one who brings honor, getting married and having children without you worrying. My Lingxi still has a childish temper; at this age, he only cares about doing some investments.”
The wealthy ladies opposite her smiled without warmth. Everyone knew clearly about some tricks and was too lazy to flatter. Moreover, the guests invited to the Zhong family banquet were of similar social class. Although the Xie family had strong momentum before, they were far worse off now. It wasn’t certain who should be flattering whom.
Zhao Qiongyi asked, “What investment is he doing?”
Xu Ruixin waved her hand. “It’s said to be some new energy going public. I’m not clear about these things either. But if any of you have eligible candidates in your family, don’t forget me.”
The other ladies played along: “Definitely, definitely.”
Xu Ruixin sighed. “It’s just that my eldest is actually the most worrying one.”
Several wealthy ladies perked up. They had heard gossip a while ago, but the Xie family suppressed the news, so much of it was unclear. Seeing Xu Ruixin volunteer information, they hurriedly pursued, “Wasn’t it heard a while ago that he got married? There wasn’t even a rumor about which family’s child it was.”
“Exactly, this is too precious. Are they preparing for the wedding? Don’t forget to call us when the time comes.”
Xu Ruixin looked somewhat helpless. “This is the most worrying part. It’s not someone from our circle; it’s a small star from the entertainment industry.”
Zhao Qiongyi frowned, asking, “A small star?”
Xu Ruixin acted worried. “Yes, there’s been quite a fuss over this. The Old Master at home has gotten sick from anger many times. But there’s no way, since that child Shibai likes him, we can only try our best to help him persuade the Old Master.”
“Maybe the two have more common topics,” Xu Ruixin laughed. “Actually, our family isn’t that old-fashioned. The Old Master’s hurdle is easy to pass; as long as they stop showing their face in public, everything is negotiable.”
Zhao Qiongyi exchanged glances with the people around her. They still remembered this person in front of them, who also came from a background as a small star in the entertainment industry. Rumors had spread throughout the circle that back then, in order to marry into the Xie family, she quit the industry directly. The result? She quit for a long time without Old Master Xie nodding.
It was funny to say; her son was so big, and she only got the title of Mrs. Xie after causing a family separation.
Several ladies smiled without speaking, only smiling and flattering a few sentences when Xu Ruixin got tired of talking.
Xie Shibai watched Xu Ruixin performing a stage play with interest.
How can the stage at home compare to the one outside?
Zhao Qiongyi noticed Xie Shibai at the door and exclaimed, “Isn’t that your eldest?”
Xu Ruixin looked closely and saw it really was him.
Zhao Qiongyi noticed the person beside Xie Shibai and recognized his identity, somewhat surprised: “Is the person standing next to him Lu Ciheng? Is the marriage partner Lu Ciheng?”
Xu Ruixin frowned tightly, denying subconsciously, “No way…”
The other ladies discussed, “Does Lu Ciheng count as a small star? He’s very popular recently and even won Best Actor. So young with a boundless future.”
Xu Ruixin laughed dryly a few times and hurriedly tried to smooth things over. “No matter how popular, he’s just a star.”
Didn’t Special Assistant Zhou say it was just a small star? It turned out to be Lu Ciheng?
Zhao Qiongyi glanced at Xu Ruixin with contempt in her eyes.
Idiot, can’t even recognize the Lu family’s child.
The liveliest place at the Zhong family home was undoubtedly around the protagonist of this banquet, surrounded by people offering congratulations.
When Zhong Mingxiu saw Lu Ciheng in the crowd, he was surprised, thinking he saw wrong. rubbing his eyes and looking again, he found it really was him, and hurriedly stepped forward. “Old Lu, didn’t you say you weren’t coming?”
When he saw the person beside Lu Ciheng clearly, he sucked in a breath of cold air, guessing this might be Lu Ciheng’s marriage partner. “Is this the wife you bragged about for half a day the other day?”
Xie Shibai glanced lightly at Lu Ciheng, then said, “That should be me.”
Hearing this sentence, Lu Ciheng’s smile became even brighter.
Zhong Mingxiu hurriedly reached out his hand. “I’m Lu Ciheng’s childhood friend, Zhong Mingxiu. Hello, hello.”
Xie Shibai stared at Zhong Mingxiu’s extended hand for a few seconds. After considering, he reached out and shook it naturally, stopping at a touch. “Hello, Xie Shibai.”
Zhong Mingxiu was shocked. “You are Xie Shibai?”
He had been abroad before. Although he hadn’t met him, he had heard Xie Shibai’s name many times.
Before Lu Ciheng could say “no need to shake hands,” he saw the two hands clasping. His pitch-black gaze stared tightly at Xie Shibai’s hand. Dark possessiveness grew wildly in his heart instantly. Displeasure and strong jealousy permeated, even wanting to lock Xie Shibai up so he could only touch him.
He thought for a long while and felt really unhappy, glaring at Zhong Mingxiu.
Zhong Mingxiu inexplicably shivered, his head full of question marks.
Xie Shibai followed Old Master Xie’s request to visit the head of the Zhong family first. After offering congratulations, he headed to the main hall of the banquet.
Passing through the outdoor corridor, away from the noise of the crowd, the garden lights in the backyard cast a dim glow. When turning a corner, someone blocked Xie Shibai’s path.
Xie Lingxi blocked Xie Shibai, smiling provocatively. “Long time no see, brother.”
Xie Shibai raised his eyes, his tone faint. “Something the matter?”
Xie Lingxi said bluntly, “Of course there’s something. I’m here to show you a clear path.”
“I advise you to withdraw voluntarily. It’s better than being kicked out by Grandpa later and becoming the laughingstock of the entire circle.”
Xie Shibai’s gaze fell on Xie Lingxi without a ripple, the corner of his lips slightly hooking into an arc filled with ridicule. “You looked for me just to say this?”
Xie Lingxi firmly believed that Grandpa letting him come to the Zhong family banquet was intentional to see his ability. Previously revealing the matter of the company going public, Grandpa was obviously already very satisfied with him. This was a signal.
Wait until his company goes public and completes the gambling agreement, thoroughly trampling Xie Shibai under his feet. This way, everyone would look at him with new eyes, and mentioning him would no longer be as “Xie Shibai’s younger brother.”
“Brother, admit it, you’ve been abandoned by Grandpa.” Xie Lingxi was triumphant. “I said long ago you are the most superfluous person in this family. Without you, Grandpa and my dad wouldn’t have become like this. I advise you to give up early.”
Xie Lingxi recalled the first time he saw Xie Shibai at the Xie family home; Xie Shibai had this expression too. So what if he was proud? Wasn’t he driven out with just one sentence from him?
Before, Grandpa couldn’t see through Xie Shibai’s nature. Now Grandpa was on his side too. He was the heir to the Xie family.
Xie Shibai: “You think you will inherit the Xie Corporation?”
Xie Lingxi was confident. “Of course. You don’t know yet, right? My company is about to go public. Grandpa has taken a fancy to my ability. You’d better never return to the Xie family.”
Xie Shibai asked back unhurriedly, “Do they know the gambling agreement you signed involves five percent of Xie Corporation’s equity?”
Xie Lingxi was startled, looking around nervously. Seeing no one, he sighed in relief and stared fiercely at Xie Shibai. “How did you know? You investigated me?”
Xie Shibai didn’t speak. His cool gaze seemed to be looking at a stolen pig’s head. He lost the desire to continue the conversation and turned to leave.
Afraid Xie Shibai would reveal the news to Grandpa, Xie Lingxi strode forward and reached out to grab Xie Shibai’s shoulder. “Make yourself clear!”
Smack—
Lu Ciheng blocked in front of Xie Shibai, effortlessly pinching Xie Lingxi’s hand. He didn’t spare a single glance for Xie Lingxi, turning his head: “Honey, I just took my eyes off you for a moment, and you ran into this kind of fanatical sasaeng fan.”
“F*ck!” Xie Lingxi cursed, holding his stinging wrist. “Are you crazy? Only a blind person would like being his fan.”
Lu Ciheng chuckled lightly. “Yo, the sasaeng fan is flying into a rage out of humiliation.”
Xie Lingxi’s eyes widened. If he didn’t speak, he would be taken as a sasaeng fan; if he spoke, he would be taken as flying into a rage out of humiliation. Neither way was right, almost suffocating himself until his face turned red.
Lu Ciheng checked if Xie Shibai was injured. “Honey, let’s go. Security will come to kick him out in a while.”
Xie Shibai gave a soft “En,” turning to leave with Lu Ciheng.
Hearing Lu Ciheng’s form of address, Xie Lingxi had a sudden flash of insight. “You are Xie Shibai’s marriage partner?”
He laughed out loud. “Do you know Xie Shibai is sick? He’s been a freak who can’t touch people since he was young. Has he let you touch him? Xie Shibai was locked up in Red Mountain Sanitarium for three years without being cured. Marrying you is using you! Xie Shibai, just you wait. When Grandpa finds out, you’re finished. You aren’t cured at all; you’re a mental patient!”
Lu Ciheng stopped in his tracks.
Xie Lingxi thought his words had taken effect. Before he could be smug, he heard a low sigh from the opposite side.
“Didn’t want to get physical today.”
Xie Lingxi froze. His wrist was still throbbing with pain. He subconsciously took half a step back. “What do you want to do?”
Lu Ciheng rolled up his cuffs. Without any nonsense, he punched Xie Lingxi hard in the face.
Xie Lingxi covered his face and screamed, “F*ck! You dare hit me? Don’t you know who I am?! You actually dare to hit my face!”
He was just preparing to fight back, but before he could touch the other side, with a bang, the other side of his face took a solid punch.
Xie Shibai’s eyelashes moved slightly. He deliberately waited for a while before actively holding Lu Ciheng’s hand. “That’s enough.”
Xie Lingxi’s face was swollen symmetrically, with one punch on each side in about the same position. The burning pain and swollen face made him feel he had lost all face. He shouted, “Just you wait! Causing trouble on the Zhong family’s turf, you’re finished. Wait to be blacklisted!”
Xie Shibai held Lu Ciheng’s hand, sweeping a light glance at him.
Unknown from where the tacit understanding came, Lu Ciheng seemed to understand Xie Shibai’s meaning in an instant. His hand naturally rested on Xie Shibai’s waist in an intimate posture.
Xie Shibai paused, his fingers tightening. If Xie Lingxi wasn’t there, he wanted to give Lu Ciheng a slap to tell him he misunderstood. “Xie Lingxi, go ahead and tell Grandpa. Tell anyone about what happened today. Ideally, let everyone know what you did with the Xie Corporation’s shares.”
Xie Lingxi looked at the two’s posture, his expression astonished. Covering his face with one hand, he pointed at Xie Shibai, stuttering “You” for a long time.
He was tricked again?! Is Xie Shibai’s illness really cured?!
“You guys wait!” He dropped a harsh word, covering his face that had been punched twice, and ran away very fast as if his feet were on fire.
Xie Shibai exhaled. Just as he was preparing to tell Lu Ciheng to let go, he looked up and met a pair of black, bright eyes dyed with excitement.
Lu Ciheng’s tone was somewhat delighted. “Honey, you can accept forty percent now.”
Xie Shibai’s body was inevitably a bit tense. Anxiety gradually emerged with a delay. “…Let go.”
Lu Ciheng didn’t move. The strength of his arm’s embrace didn’t decrease. His eyes were bright as he observed for a few seconds, switching to looking down face-to-face. “Teacher Xie, a rare opportunity. Just consider it today’s desensitization therapy. Do you feel uncomfortable now?”
Xie Shibai wasn’t used to the excessively close distance between the two, leaning back slightly.
The forty percent hug therapy had only happened twice so far. The first time he was in a somatic state and only remembered severe nausea. The second time was the accidental contact during the building sweep; he had given Lu Ciheng an elbow strike then.
Compared to the previous two times, the symptoms were much lighter this time, and the level of acceptance was also a huge notch higher than before.
But these were not reasons for Lu Ciheng to lean closer and closer, especially with an expression like a dog seeing a bone.
Xie Shibai pressed his brow down impatiently, pushing the person away. “Don’t get so close.”
On the other side, the paparazzi with a hat squatting in the bushes for a long time without capturing anything was somewhat irritable. “Are you sure we can get something? Squatting here for half the day and haven’t even seen a shadow. Where did you get the news? Is Zhou Ziyi really coming to the Zhong family with her sugar daddy today?”
The paparazzi with glasses next to him was zooming in with his camera to shoot along the windows. After searching for a long time without seeing Zhou Ziyi, he was also a bit unconfident in his heart. “Absolutely true news. Just shoot honestly. If we catch it, the two of us can become famous in one battle.”
“I think it’s a location problem. There’s too much security here. Might as well go squat by Zhou Ziyi’s car at the entrance.”
The glasses paparazzi was speechless. “She came with a sugar daddy, would she drive her own car? Use your brain.”
Just as he was preparing to retract the lens, two figures appeared in the lens. The glasses paparazzi paused, zoomed in to observe carefully for a few seconds, then looked incredulous.
“Holy crap.”
The hat paparazzi was puzzled. “What’s wrong? Did you get it?”
The glasses paparazzi nodded blankly. “Someone even more heavyweight than Zhou Ziyi.”
The hat paparazzi couldn’t guess who it was. “Who?”
The glasses paparazzi was ecstatic. “Lu Ciheng! Although I didn’t see clearly who the person he was hugging is, I can’t care about that much now. To be able to come here for the banquet, they must have some status. We captured the romance of the popular Best Actor. We’re going to be famous!”
The hat paparazzi hurriedly leaned over to look. “Holy crap, holy crap! Post it quickly, it would be bad if someone beat us to it.”
The glasses paparazzi hurriedly ran back to the car. After a random edit, he sent out this video.
In the next second, netizens surfing the internet out of boredom swiped onto a blurry video.
Following closely behind was a trending search that parachuted in.
#Popular Top Star Lu Ciheng’s Romance Exposed!#
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I think this chapter was uploaded to the wrong novel?
Hi, thank you for letting me know. I’ll check it out.
I have edited it. thanks!
Thanks for the fix! 🥳