Did Assistant Xie Make the Trending Searches Today? - Chapter 13

Chapter 13: Boldness

“Sorry, did I startle you?”

Zhou Yanrong’s earth-shattering sentence shocked Xie He-ting so much that the champagne in his mouth sprayed out, getting all over himself. He was in a pathetic state.

“I’ll do it, I’ll do it myself.” His face flushed a deep reddish-purple. He awkwardly dodged Zhou Yanrong’s hand and turned his back to tidy his clothes.

To get wine all over himself in front of an outsider was truly too impolite.

The surrounding area fell into a strange silence.

The azure water surface was gently rippled by the breeze, much like Xie He-ting’s wrinkled heart.

Little Xie lived in an era where “emotions arise from the heart but stop at etiquette.” However, he had also seen many lovers turn into bitter enemies. He wasn’t stupid; it was obvious there was a story between Zhou Yanrong and Wen Zhou. The words “lingering feelings for Zhou Yanrong” were practically written on Wen Zhou’s face.

As for Zhou Yanrong’s behavior, Xie He-ting couldn’t understand it.

Perhaps he didn’t actually dislike Wen Zhou that much? Xie He-ting even vaguely felt that Zhou Yanrong felt a sense of guilt and pity toward Wen Zhou.

So, what was the point of asking him on a date now?

Xie He-ting was young, after all, and he couldn’t hide things in his heart; it was all written plainly on his face.

Even though he hadn’t asked aloud, Zhou Yanrong already understood what he wanted to say.

Zhou Yanrong shrugged helplessly and took the initiative to explain: “I know what you want to ask. There is a bit of a story between Xiao Zhou and me. I thought he had moved on, but it seems he hasn’t.”

“Is it some irreconcilable conflict?” Xie He-ting asked cautiously.

“No.” Zhou Yanrong’s eyes were classic phoenix eyes—long with upturned corners. He also loved to smile; whenever he looked at someone, it seemed like he was conveying affection.

When those beautiful fox-like eyes curved up, they practically gave off electric sparks.

“Then… is it that your parents don’t agree?”

“My parents probably wouldn’t object; they’ve never really bothered with me. As for his, I’m not too sure.”

Xie He-ting didn’t understand. If there were no problems with their feelings for each other and the parents hadn’t explicitly disagreed, why would they separate?

“Because we’re incompatible,” Zhou Yanrong said. “Our meeting was an accident that we both felt was very beautiful. Later, because of work, I went abroad… or perhaps I should say returned home. My work focus has always been in Country F. Once my work here was finished, I went back.”

“When I went to Country F, he was very unhappy. There were differences between us.”

Xie He-ting understood: “Brother Xiao Zhou didn’t want you to leave?”

Zhou Yanrong smiled and lay lazily on the lounge chair, pouring himself another glass: “A beautiful relationship ending at just the right time. Don’t you think that’s another kind of… romance?”

“I’ve always felt that ‘possessing’ isn’t necessarily fulfillment. Enduring a flawed life is also a type of happiness. However, it must seem strange to you that I think this way.”

Xie He-ting looked into Zhou Yanrong’s eyes, shook his head, and said seriously: “I don’t understand. But you have your own answer. Do you still like him?”

Zhou Yanrong laughed. His gaze was distant and long, looking into the distance without focus. His smile was easygoing, but a smile can be faked; eyes cannot lie.

There was a blankness in his eyes that he hadn’t even noticed himself.

The camera faithfully and silently recorded all of this, providing a close-up.

The bullet chat had originally been harshly criticizing Zhou Yanrong’s “love doesn’t have to mean being together” speech, feeling that this man truly lived up to being a top-tier “Sea King” (player). But when they saw Zhou Yanrong’s facial expression clearly, the chat suddenly went quiet.

I feel… forget it, I don’t know how to put it.

I feel the Great Beauty still has feelings for the dog (Wen Zhou). But… maybe there are many other reasons for their separation. Didn’t the Great Beauty say they were incompatible? Tsk, that’s actually quite fatal.

This was the first time Xie He-ting had encountered such a situation. He could understand every word Zhou Yanrong said, but he couldn’t understand the deeper meaning behind them. He could see that Zhou Yanrong was smiling, yet he didn’t understand why such a beautiful smile was so bitter.

When Zhou Yanrong turned back and saw the various tangles of confusion on Xie He-ting’s face, he couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

“I’m silly for telling you all this. You probably can’t understand any of it.”

Xie He-ting looked at him innocently, his gaze clear as water.

“He-he, come a bit closer.” He beckoned to Xie He-ting. There were cameras here, and he didn’t want others to hear what he was saying. He whispered into Xie He-ting’s ear: “Wen Zhou will definitely choose me. I hope you and I can choose each other.”

“But…” Xie He-ting didn’t really care who he chose, since he didn’t have anyone he wanted to choose anyway, but…

He looked at Zhou Yanrong with some hesitation: “Isn’t this a bit unfair to Brother Xiao Zhou?”

“No. Giving him hope while being unable to respond is even more unfair.” He could only choose someone else. Based on his understanding of Wen Zhou, even if he abstained, Wen Zhou wouldn’t give up. This would hurt him the most, but it was also the most direct.

“Alright, I understand. I promise you.” After a moment’s thought, Xie He-ting agreed.

“Thank you!” Zhou Yanrong showed a genuine smile: “Such a strange request… perhaps only you would agree to it.”

(Poking fingers) What are they whispering about? Baby wants to hear too!

I want to be at the scene! Go to the official Weibo to play the blind guess game. If you get lucky and guess the list right, maybe you can go be an onlooker and observe the romance up close.

Jin Huaifeng was about to push the door open but froze. Through the floor-to-ceiling glass, he saw Zhou Yanrong’s hand resting on Xie He-ting’s shoulder, their heads pressed together, their faces almost touching.

“What are you doing!” Jin Huaifeng narrowed his eyes slightly, a murderous intent rising in his gaze.

The blood pressure he had finally managed to lower shot right back up!

He was genuinely baffled. Xie He-ting, exactly what kind of “dish” are you? You’re so popular that everyone who sees you wants to take a bite!

In all his life, Jin Huaifeng had never encountered such a situation. It was abstract—too abstract.

But the bit of rebelliousness in his heart was completely triggered.

Why was everyone after his dish? Are they all professional “crop thieves” from a social media farm game?!

Shura Field!!

Young Master Jin’s gaze is so scary. I feel like Zhou Yanrong’s hand is already a prosthetic.

“Young Master Jin, we’re just chatting. Is it that hard to guess?” Zhou Yanrong reacted quickly, taking a step forward to block Xie He-ting.

Jin Huaifeng’s lips pressed into a line. He gave Zhou Yanrong an extremely threatening glare and said to Xie He-ting in an unnaturally cold voice: “Come over here!”

Xie He-ting swallowed nervously but just stood where he was, unmoving.

“We were drinking champagne.”

He looked cautiously at Jin Huaifeng’s dark face and turned to ask Zhou Yanrong: “…Brother, did you take his champagne?”

“Pfft—” Zhou Yanrong let go of Xie He-ting’s shoulder and laughed so hard he couldn’t straighten his back.

“Brother Yanrong, are you okay?”

Zhou Yanrong hurriedly waved his hand: “I’m fine, I’m fine. Don’t mind me!”

When he looked at Jin Huaifeng again, his eyes held a bit more sympathy—To have fallen for a treasure like Xie He-ting is your ‘blessing,’ Young Master Jin!

Zhou Yanrong patted Xie He-ting on the head and slipped away immediately before Jin Huaifeng could explode.

“I have things to do. Bye!”

In the blink of an eye, by the huge pool, only Xie He-ting and the dark-faced Jin Huaifeng were left staring at each other. Xie He-ting felt his scalp tingle. Looking at the other’s dark face, he had a sudden inspiration and deliberately played dumb: “…Um, is champagne very expensive?”

His fingers twisted together in a pathetic manner: “I don’t have any money right now. Tell me the price, and I’ll save up to pay you back.”

The bullet chat was already bursting with laughter.

He, where on earth did you come from? Are you an alien? Can’t you see Brother Jin is jealous? Haha!

Put yourself in Brother Jin’s shoes; he’s already about to spit blood. Never mind that the person he’s interested in went out to drink with someone else, but to then ask if the wine is expensive—how can someone be this oblivious? He-ting, are you an undercover agent sent by the production team to cause trouble??

Little He is aggrieved, Little He has no money, Little He pokes his fingers.

Brother Jin, are you okay? I hope the internal injury you got from pulling the barbell doesn’t get worse.

Jin Huaifeng took a deep breath, his fists clenching and unclenching.

He grit his teeth, the words jumping out one by one: “It’s. Not. About. The. Champagne.”

“Oh!” Little Xie’s acting skills were currently peaking as he continued his polite inquiry: “Then, Brother, what are you angry about?”

“Your face looks very bad?”

His eyes were large and round, like a deer’s—clean, translucent, and blinking. He just looked at you with a face full of innocence, as if you had done something unforgivable.

Damn it, He, can you stop making that expression? My heart really can’t take it. I’m about to faint from your cuteness!

Eight Hundred Idiots: Screenshot archived. For those who need it, follow @WhiteCraneRisingToTheBlueSky.

Hahaha, Idiot-bro, you’re everywhere!

Question Idiot-bro, understand Idiot-bro, become Idiot-bro. Mommy, I want to be a ‘face fan’ for He-he too!

Uh, even though I’m a ‘black fan’ (hater) of He-ting, I admit, in the face of his looks, my ‘black’ is turning into flaxen brown.

Jin Huaifeng looked at him with a face full of speechlessness and silently put on his sunglasses.

“Brother, there’s no sun. Why are you wearing those black glasses?”

Why? I’m afraid I’ll do you!

Jin Huaifeng took two deep breaths to calm himself down and spoke directly to the point: “You know Lan Chi came to find me just now, right?”

Xie He-ting thought to himself, I didn’t know. But seeing his expression, he nodded: “I know now.”

Jin Huaifeng: “…”

Jin Huaifeng suppressed his temper and hinted: “He said he wanted to choose me. I refused.”

On the surface, Xie He-ting nodded obediently, but in his heart, he was scratching his head in confusion. Why tell him this?

Jin Huaifeng made a fist with his right hand, pressed it to his lips, and gave a light cough. He said in a low voice: “You understand what I mean, right?”

Xie He-ting really wanted to shout that he didn’t understand! What did Jin Huaifeng not choosing Lan Chi have to do with him? He didn’t want to choose Lan Chi either!

But seeing Jin Huaifeng’s grim gaze, he immediately nodded obediently: “I understand, I understand.”

Seeing him so compliant, Jin Huaifeng’s previously unpleasant mood turned from “sunny” to “overcast” (wait, it should be improving—likely “overcast to sunny”).

Hmph, at least he knows what’s good for him.

He still knows to choose me; he’s not hopelessly stupid.

I’ll forgive him this once.

“Alright then. See you tomorrow.” Jin Huaifeng emphasized the word “tomorrow.”

Xie He-ting watched his domineering, wind-swept back, feeling that something was wrong everywhere.

Everyone’s behavior confused him, but he couldn’t figure it out.

Sigh, the people of this world are so complicated and hard to understand. I’ll go back tonight and look at the books again. The things taught in the books are very useful!

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