After Dumping the Scumbag, I Ended Up with His "White Moonlight” - Chapter 13

Shen Nian had just finished his scenes for the day. He rested with his eyes closed while the makeup artist delicately used a cotton pad to remove his makeup, terrified of doing anything to irritate him.

Lately, Shen Nian’s temper had been explosive. Aside from his manager, Xu Sen, and his assistant, Xiao Yang, no one knew the reason. The atmosphere in the dressing room was suffocatingly heavy.

“Brother Shen, you remember Xia Di’an, right?” The makeup artist said, hoping to break the silence. She didn’t notice Shen Nian’s eyes snap open at the mention of the name, nor did she see the flash of sheer terror on Xiao Yang’s face.

She babbled on, oblivious: “He just returned to the country and took on a variety show. They were even live-streaming at noon today.”

Beside them, Xiao Yang’s face grew paler by the second. Of course, he knew about the stream. He also knew that not only was Xia Di’an in it, but Qiu Yuyi was there too and they were apparently roommates! As one of the few who knew the tangled web between these three, Xiao Yang prayed to the heavens that Shen Nian wouldn’t be curious.

The heavens weren’t listening. Shen Nian signaled for the makeup artist to stop, then turned his gaze toward Xiao Yang. The meaning in his eyes was unmistakable.

Shen Nian: Find the replay of that stream for me.

Xiao Yang: On it.

With a long face, Xiao Yang nodded and opened his phone. The makeup artist, belatedly realizing she had stepped on a landmine, finished the removal as quickly as possible and fled the room with a flimsy excuse.

Once Shen Nian had washed his face, Xiao Yang respectfully handed over the phone. “Brother, Brother Shen,” he said piteously, “Please, stay calm.”

Shen Nian shot him a cold look and took the phone. One minute later, Shen Nian’s face turned black. Thirty minutes later, his expression was murderous. He gritted his teeth and barked at Xiao Yang: “Go. Contact the Leisure Time crew.

Tell them I’m joining as a guest.”

Xiao Yang’s face scrunched up in distress. He knew it. Fortunately, Shen Nian’s remaining scenes weren’t many, but he’d still have to negotiate with the director to adjust the schedule. Not daring to object, Xiao Yang bowed his head and went to make the call.

The Leisure Time production team was overjoyed. To have two top-tier idols and a Film Emperor in one season? The director was already grinning at the prospect of record-breaking ratings.

“Brother Shen!” Shen Jiashi smiled and stepped forward to greet the newcomer. Because they shared a surname, his agency had marketed him as “Little Shen Nian” when he first rose to fame.

Shen Nian was well aware of him. Even though he disliked the young man riding his coattails, he couldn’t show it in front of the cameras. Besides, he was here for something much more important.

His eyes landed on Xia Di’an, and his heart skipped a beat. After forcing his pulse to steady, his gaze shifted to the person beside Xia Di’an—meeting Qiu Yuyi’s apprehensive eyes.

Seeing Xia Di’an and Qiu Yuyi standing so close together made Shen Nian’s blood boil. With a stiff face, he handed his suitcase to Shen Jiashi and marched straight toward Xia Di’an.

He’s coming. He’s walking over. Qiu Yuyi’s fists clenched so tight his nails dug into his palms, but he didn’t feel the pain. The scumbag ex, the stand-in, and the White Moonlight were all in one room. The thought made him feel like he was suffocating.

He stole a glance at Xia Di’an. Aside from a slightly cold expression, the man looked calm. This confirmed Qiu Yuyi’s theory: Xia Di’an had no idea about his past with Shen Nian. Fine. As long as I stay far away from both of them, I’ll be okay.

Qiu Yuyi was surprised to find that seeing Shen Nian again didn’t hurt. Aside from the initial nerves and the awkwardness of the situation, the heartbeat he used to feel and the agony of the breakup had vanished. It was better this way.

His feelings for Shen Nian had been nothing but a one-sided delusion from the start.

Clearing his mind, Qiu Yuyi fixed a polite smile on his face. “Hello, Senior Shen.”

At the formal address, Xia Di’an shot him a surprised look, though his own expression softened. He then turned to the newcomer. “Brother Nian.”

Shen Nian suppressed the irritation at being called “Senior Shen” by Qiu Yuyi. He looked at Xia Di’an with a gaze so tender the intimacy was impossible to ignore. “I didn’t expect you to take on a variety show. You didn’t even tell me.”

Xia Di’an’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “You’re joking, Brother Nian. You’re busy enough with filming; there’s no need to worry about me.”

Qiu Yuyi tried to shrink behind Xia Di’an to lower his visibility. Although he had resolved to keep his distance from Xia Di’an while Shen Nian was around, his body instinctively leaned toward the person he felt safer with. He was a bit confused—judging by the tension, did Xia Di’an and Shen Nian have a bad breakup? He didn’t even occur to him that Shen Nian’s feelings might be entirely unrequited.

Sensing the frost, Cao Ziping stepped in as peacemaker. “The Film Emperor’s presence truly makes this place shine!”

Shen Nian was respectful toward the veteran host. The two exchanged pleasantries for the camera. Suddenly, Cao Ziping clapped his hands, startling Qiu Yuyi.

“The thing is, the house is full,” Cao Ziping said, looking conflicted. “You’ll have to share a room with me or Jiashi. Or, you can stay on the second floor. There will be other guests there, but you can just lock your door.”

At the mention of rooming, Qiu Yuyi’s eyelid twitched, and he hid even further behind Xia Di’an. Xia Di’an noticed and looked down to hide the amusement in his eyes.

Predictably, Shen Nian’s gaze darkened. Seeing Qiu Yuyi hiding behind Xia Di’an like a frightened chick made his voice turn cold. “I heard Di’an and Xiao Qiu are roommates. Xiao Qiu, why don’t you move in with Jiashi or Brother Cao?

Di’an and I can use the time to catch up on our ‘mentor-student’ bond.”

Cao Ziping blinked. “Sure. Xiao Qiu, why don’t you pack up and move into my room?”

Noticing Shen Nian’s predatory look toward Qiu Yuyi, Xia Di’an stepped sideways, completely shielding the boy. He spoke calmly: “Brother Nian, the room is too small for two men. It’s better if you stay on the second floor.” Seeing Shen Nian’s persistent look, Xia Di’an smiled thinly. “Or, you can take our room, and Xiao Qiu and I can move to the second floor together.”

He looked at Shen Nian with a gaze that said, I am not living with you.

I’m dead. Shen Nian definitely hates me now. Qiu Yuyi closed his eyes in despair. At the restaurant, Shen Nian’s attitude was clear: he didn’t want the “substitute” anywhere near the “White Moonlight.”

Shen Nian suppressed his fury. “No need for the trouble. I’ll stay on the second floor.”

Cao Ziping breathed a sigh of relief. He could tell there was a massive secret between these three. Wiping sweat from his brow, he glanced at Lin Xuemeng, who was watching in silence. He silently vowed that no matter who the next guest was, he would never again try to make decisions for them.

Lin Xuemeng caught his eye and wordlessly mouthed: Idiot.

Only after Shen Nian left for the second floor did Qiu Yuyi emerge. Xia Di’an teased him with a smirk. “Done hiding?”

Shen Nian is gone, why would I hide? Qiu Yuyi gave a hollow laugh. Seeing a group of customers arrive, he was overjoyed. He used them as an excuse and rushed over to greet them.

Silly boy. Xia Di’an turned and headed into the kitchen in a good mood. “Sister Lin, I’m here to help.”

Hu Shasha, seeing Xia Di’an enter the kitchen, happily took over the front desk. Her dress was brand new; she certainly didn’t want it ruined by grease.

Qiu Yuyi took the orders and headed to the kitchen. “Sister Xuemeng, I’m here to help too.” He saw Xia Di’an in an apron, already working. He braced himself and walked over.

When Shen Nian and Cao Ziping came back down, they found only Hu Shasha and Shen Jiashi in the lobby. “Shasha, where’s Xiao Xia?” Cao Ziping asked.

“Brother Xia said he’d help in the kitchen.” Hu Shasha glanced at Shen Nian and offered her seat. “Brother Shen, why don’t you sit here? Brother Xia usually sits here. Since he’s busy, why don’t you take over the register for him?”

Hearing that Xia Di’an usually sat there, Shen Nian’s mood improved. He even gave Hu Shasha a small smile. He sat at the front desk, his eyes constantly darting toward the kitchen, hoping Xia Di’an would walk out.

However, Xia Di’an stayed in that kitchen all day. Qiu Yuyi popped out occasionally to deliver dishes, but he moved like lightning. Aside from an accidental eye contact at the start, he spent the rest of the day pointedly ignoring the burning gaze Shen Nian fixed on him.

By the end of the day, Shen Nian’s expression was even darker than when he had arrived.