Did Assistant Xie Make the Trending Searches Today? - Chapter 7

Chapter 7: Cause of Death

Speaking of Xie He-ting’s cause of death, it was truly a farcical injustice.

Young Master Xie had been frail since childhood. One spring day, while everyone else was drinking iced perilla ginger tea, he took just one small sip fed to him by his elder brother. That very night, he developed a fever that raged for three days. It took four or five physicians claiming he was beyond help and his mother pounding on the palace gates at midnight to summon the best Imperial Physician to save him.

As he grew older, his body remained like a withered leaf. While his brother had been training in the sweltering heat of summer and the freezing depths of winter since the age of four, He-ting reached ten without ever having touched a rein or a red-tasseled spear.

Since childhood, he had envied those strong, sturdy children who could eat and sleep heartily. This led to a bond with a close childhood friend—the youngest son of the Great General Zhu, the brilliant young General Zhu.

The two grew up together, one devoted to the arts and the other to the sword—true childhood sweethearts of a sort. This spring, after He-ting fell ill again and nearly died, his father discussed with friends whether he should be married off to “bring good luck” and drive away the illness.

Xie He-ting felt that since he had reached his capping ceremony, it was indeed time to wed. He wrote a letter to his best friend, boastfully telling him to prepare for wedding wine. To his horror, the reply he received three days later was a passionate confession. The final line—”I wish to wed Young Master Xie”, scared him so much he shrieked and threw the letter, breaking into a cold sweat.

He had always viewed the young General Zhu as a blood brother. This was no different from his own brother saying he wanted to marry him! Xie He-ting felt as though a series of spring thunders had detonated in his mind, one louder than the last, making his vision go dark. In his daze, he accidentally slipped into his family’s lake and breathed his last.

Then, he woke up in this strange place.

Thinking of his “cause of death,” Xie He-ting truly felt like crying. It was all Zhu Zhenming’s fault! He was living perfectly well; why did he have to propose?

And they expected him to like someone else? Did he dare? Could he? To him, “feelings” were a potent poison—touching them shortened one’s life!

The more he thought, the angrier he got. The delicious food turned to ash in his mouth. “I’m feeling a bit unwell and want to go up to rest. Please enjoy your meal,” he said, leaving the table.

Shen Ji watched his retreating back with concern. Silence fell over the table for a moment. Mu Ying and Mu Shenyu exchanged a look and sighed. “It seems we touched upon a sad memory. Everyone, try to avoid the topic of ‘exes’ around He-ting in the future.”

“I’ll go check on him.” Shen Ji put down his chopsticks and followed him, worried.

Meanwhile, Jin Huaifeng was feeling disgruntled because of Xie He-ting’s declaration. No one he likes? Then what was that active seduction earlier? Hmph, what a duplicitous guy. However… Jin Huaifeng narrowed his eyes, staring unpleasantly at Shen Ji’s back. Why is this Shen Ji so free? One moment he’s giving a spoon to Lan Chi, the next he’s comforting Xie He-ting. He’s everywhere.

Back in the room, Xie He-ting could no longer hold it together. He knew there were cameras, and being a young noble, he refused to let everyone see his tears. He ducked into the bathroom and shut the door. Once alone, the grievances flooded out. He didn’t want to be on this show falling in love, he wanted to go home! The more he thought, the more miserable he felt, so he sat on the toilet and started wiping away tears.

He thought no one could see him, but he forgot—or perhaps never realized, that while cameras record images, they also record sound. The room was quiet, and although the door was closed, the thin glass offered no soundproofing. His rhythmic sobbing and sniffling leaked through the cracks.

Who could bear to see a beauty weep? The bullet comments were boiling with rage!

“Crap, crap, crap! Baby, don’t cry, my heart is breaking.”

“Who is it? Which absolute bastard hurt our He-he? My blade is ready,  come out and I promise to leave your corpse in one piece.”

While most were heartbroken, some remained skeptical. “I really don’t like this Xie He-ting. Such a White Lotus. Why is he crying for no reason? So effeminate.”

“+1. So ‘tea-like’. He’s clearly trying to stir up emotions in front of everyone on purpose.”

Xie He-ting continued his private cry. Grand Secretary Xie had no daughters. Because He-ting was constantly ill before the age of three, his mother followed a traveling Taoist’s advice and raised him as a girl. He grew up as delicate as carved jade and as precious as a pearl until the age of seven. He was the palm-held darling of the whole family. Consequently, he had a “shallow eyelid”—whenever he encountered something sad, he cried.

“He-ting, can I come in?”

Startled by the voice, Xie He-ting scrambled to wipe his tears. No matter what, he couldn’t cry in front of others! “Who is it?”

“It’s me, Shen Ji. Are you alright?” Shen Ji stood at the door. He-ting’s voice sounded muffled and thick with a nasal tone; he had to lean closer to hear.

He-ting hurriedly straightened his disheveled clothes and caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror—the fair youth’s eyes were rimmed with crimson, looking utterly pitiable. He was too embarrassed to be seen like this. “I’m fine. Let me stay by myself for a while.” He added, “Thank you for the concern, Brother.”

Shen Ji couldn’t just push the door open. He withdrew his hand and hesitated. “Alright. If you need someone to talk to, you can find me anytime.”

“Okay, thank you.”

Shen Ji stood there for a moment longer to ensure the crying had stopped before leaving. Xie He-ting’s emotions had flared up momentarily, but he adjusted quickly after the cry. Realizing he had worried everyone, he composed himself and opened the door.

He was met by another person. Shi Jixing stood at the top of the stairs with his arms crossed, his silver earring flashing. Seeing someone so suddenly was quite a shock; He-ting nearly jumped.

“Uh… Little Brother, are you waiting for me?” He hadn’t spoken to Shi Jixing yet, but since the boy looked younger than him, calling him “Little Brother” seemed appropriate, right?

The audience collectively gasped. “Xie He-ting! You can’t call Shi Jixing ‘Little Brother’! He’s going to explode!”

“Oh man, given Shi Jixing’s temper, they’re going to fight. Can He-ting’s frail body take one of his punches? Serves him right, who told this ‘Green Tea’ to call everyone ‘Brother’ and ‘Little Brother’ all day? So annoying.”

Because Shi Jixing was young, many people tried to pull rank on him when he debuted. Some self-proclaimed “seniors” loved calling him “Little Brother” with a disdainful tone. Thus, the term had become a landmine for him. The last person who called him that sarcastically had two teeth knocked out by his fist.

Predictably, some of Shi Jixing’s fans hated He-ting. They declared confidently: “Just watch, Xiao Xing is going to teach you a lesson.”

However, the expected scene of Shi Jixing scolding him or throwing a “fist of shame” didn’t happen.

“Just passing by,” Shi Jixing said tonelessly, adding as if incidentally, “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, thank you.”

“Mhm. Don’t cry your voice into ruin.”

Xie He-ting looked at him, puzzled. “Hmm?”

Shi Jixing turned his face away, his voice drifting. “Your voice… it sounds very good.”

“Huh? That’s it? He didn’t even yell?”

“Look at his ability to focus on the point!! Shi Jixing is praising his voice!!! My god!”

“What’s wrong with praising the voice? He-he’s voice is beautiful—pleasing and comfortable.”

Shi Jixing’s long-time fans started typing: “Xiao Xing is a voice-fetishist!!!!”

“The better the voice, the better his attitude!”

The comments flooded: “It’s over, he’s in love.”

Xie He-ting watched Shi Jixing’s back, feeling quite baffled. When he reached the bottom of the stairs, Mu Ying waved at him. “He-ting, come quick! We’re discussing the cooking arrangements.”

The first phase of recording lasted a full week. During this time, aside from date nights, they were free to move. However, to increase interaction, breakfast and dinner had to be prepared by the guests themselves; the crew would provide ingredients.

“Alright, let’s see who can cook.”

Zhou Yanrong, Shen Ji, and Wen Zhou all raised their hands.

“Hahaha, a group of seven and four people only know how to eat.”

Mu Ying clearly hadn’t expected this either. “It’s okay, I can cook too. I’ll help. We have six days left. Yanrong, Brother Shen Ji, and Xiao Zhou will take two days each. The rest of you check your schedules and make a rota to assist us. Is that okay?”

The “big rice buckets” who could only eat but not cook obviously had no objections. Among the civilians, except for Jin Huaifeng who was only free the day after tomorrow, everyone else was free the whole week.

Shen Ji asked who was available when he was in charge on Tuesday and Thursday. Xie He-ting, being relatively familiar with Shen Ji, was about to raise his hand when a powerful hand gripped his and forced it back down.

Contacting the warm skin, He-ting felt an electric shock and instinctively yanked his hand back. His ears flushed deep red. Seeing no one noticed them, he whispered to Jin Huaifeng, “What are you doing?”

Jin Huaifeng glanced at him sideways and said expressionlessly, “You choose Wen Zhou’s group.”

Wen Zhou was responsible for tomorrow and the day after that.

“Why?” He-ting was confused.

Jin Huaifeng squinted at him for a long time, trying to determine if the boy was genuinely ignorant or just acting. I just said I’m only free tomorrow. This guy shouldn’t be playing dumb instead of volunteering to be in my group, right?

“What do you think?”

Xie He-ting felt a bit spooked by the look in his eyes. Since cooking was just helping out and any day would do, he said tactfully, “I also think Brother Xiao Zhou’s group is good.”

That’s more like it. Only then did Jin Huaifeng show mercy and let him go.

So, the final cooking arrangement was set: Shen Ji and Lan Chi. Zhou Yanrong and Shi Jixing. Wen Zhou and Xie He-ting. Since Jin Huaifeng was only free tomorrow, he was also in Wen Zhou’s group.

Xie He-ting watched Jin Huaifeng’s back. He felt like crying but had no tears left. It was only the first day. This was going to be a long week.

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