Help! My Fanservice Partner is Looking at Me Differently Lately - Chapter 15

“Fine,” Gao Yuan said. He was only responsible for delivering the message and had not guaranteed that anyone would actually show up, so he decided to indulge in some gossip on the spot. “Regarding Xie Weishui, he is a completely different person on and off camera.”

“That is obvious,” Chi Li replied, leaning lazily against the doorframe. “Are you not going to call Shen Xunye?”

“I already did. He said to call him again only if you decide to go,” Gao Yuan whispered. “Did you two know each other before this?”

“We did not.” Even if Gao Yuan was halfway to becoming an ally, Chi Li had no intention of sharing his secrets.

“Then I suppose it is just natural for the two of you to be close since you joined at the same time,” Gao Yuan said, providing a logical explanation for Shen Xunye’s behavior. “Since you are not going to see Xie Weishui, let me give you a heads-up.”

“Come in and talk,” Chi Li said, stepping aside to let Gao Yuan enter.

“Okay.”

Chi Li closed the dormitory door and pulled a chair over for Gao Yuan to sit on. “There is no water in the room, so you will have to make do.”

“It is fine,” Gao Yuan replied, not caring about the lack of hospitality. “I will get straight to the point. Xie Weishui gathers everyone in the media room every day for a small meeting. He starts by criticizing whoever performed poorly during the livestream and then begins assigning the script for the next day.”

Chi Li was both surprised and speechless. “Every day?”

If nothing else, Xie Weishui certainly had a lot of energy.

“Yes, every day,” Gao Yuan nodded emphatically. “For various reasons, I have not participated for two months. But he invited me again today, likely because of you and Shen Xunye.”

Chi Li asked curiously, “Why do the others accept this kind of control?”

“Because his scripts actually provide a temporary boost in popularity.”

“Has no one realized that he only gives out supporting roles?” After watching the livestream for three days, Chi Li had easily grasped the ecosystem of the Nurture House. “In these scripts, Xie Weishui is the sole protagonist. Fang Jin and Zhou Yang are the main supporting characters who enhance his charm, while everyone else is just a minor extra to make the lead look better. Even you, without a script, have been automatically cast in the role of the antagonist who creates trouble for the hero.”

Gao Yuan looked stunned. That last sentence hit him like a physical blow. He had realized the first part and even thought that being excluded from the meetings was a good thing because he was free from Xie Weishui’s arrangements. He had never considered that his exclusion was actually another form of arrangement.

“You are so obsessed with opposing Xie Weishui that you have completely forgotten to showcase yourself,” Chi Li pointed out.

“It is true,” Gao Yuan said, feeling a sudden moment of enlightenment followed by a bitter smile. “I really have cared too much about his existence.”

“It does not matter; I am here now,” Chi Li smiled at him. “Leave the business of opposing him to me.”

Gao Yuan did not doubt Chi Li’s ability for a second. During today’s welcome party and dinner, Chi Li had been the protagonist, completely overshadowing Xie Weishui.

“Do you have some kind of grudge against him?” Gao Yuan asked tentatively.

“No,” Chi Li shook his head. “If anything, I actually owe him a favor.”

He was genuinely grateful that Xie Weishui had taken that jerk Zhou Yang away from him.

“What? Then,” Gao Yuan’s eyes widened.

“It is not a case of biting the hand that feeds me,” Chi Li said, knowing what Gao Yuan was thinking. “I simply benefited from one of his actions, but he did not do it specifically for my sake.”

Calling it a favor was just a joke; he could not actually treat Xie Weishui as a benefactor.

“If that is how you calculate it, then he owes me a favor too,” Gao Yuan laughed. “Currently, seventy percent of my paying viewers are his anti-fans.”

“Well, that is just human nature,” Chi Li laughed. “After all, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

“But I still do not understand why you chose to oppose him,” Gao Yuan said honestly.

“This is a workplace,” Chi Li explained the true nature of the show. “If you want good results, you must fight for resources, and resources are limited. It is that simple.”

The main livestream room always had the most viewers, all of whom were potential paying customers. A small detail could trigger their impulse to pay. If you do not fight for camera time in the main room, you will never win over those viewers. Compared to cautiously trying to catch the camera’s eye, seizing the spotlight was a much more efficient operation.

“Master, I understand now,” Gao Yuan said.

“Of course, the fact that I dislike his personality and style is also a reason why I chose to oppose him rather than fit in.”

“I knew it!” Gao Yuan clenched his fists. “His act is just so annoying! But I am still a little worried about you.”

“There is no need to,” Chi Li began.

A series of rapid, loud knocks interrupted him. Even without asking, he knew who was outside.

“Chi Li, open the door!” Zhou Yang’s high-pitched voice came through the wooden panel.

Gao Yuan immediately stood up, unable to hide his nervousness. “I suppose he grew tired of waiting for me to bring you over and sent someone to hurry us up.”

“It is fine. I will handle it.”

Chi Li walked to the door and pulled it open. Zhou Yang was still in the middle of a knocking motion, his face looking somewhat distorted. He looked truly ugly. Without the boyfriend filter, Chi Li found the man’s face more disgusting with each passing day.

“Go away,” Chi Li said succinctly.

“What is with the attitude? Calling you to the meeting is for your own good. Gao Yuan?” Zhou Yang’s sentence was cut short when he noticed Gao Yuan sitting in the room. “What the hell are you doing in his room?”

This guy had been clinging to Chi Li all day, and now he had followed him into his bedroom. Zhou Yang wondered if the man had any shame.

“What about it?” Gao Yuan did not understand why Zhou Yang was so agitated. “What does it have to do with you?”

“It has everything to do with me!”

Zhou Yang was furious. He pushed Gao Yuan aside as the latter walked out to speak, then grabbed Chi Li and dragged him into the room, slamming the door shut.

Chi Li frowned in pain and forcefully shook off Zhou Yang’s hand. “Are you insane?”

“Chi Li, I admit you won,” Zhou Yang said, his eyes turning red. “Seeing you being intimate with other men hurts me deeply. I am not going to ignore you anymore. Let us get back together right now.”

A question mark slowly formed in Chi Li’s mind.

“I give up,” Zhou Yang said in a pained tone. “Please stop trying to make me angry on purpose, okay?”

“Do you think you are in an idol drama?” Chi Li was almost moved to laughter by the absurdity. “Who exactly are you having a tragic romance with?”

“Stop denying it,” Zhou Yang said, taking a step forward and grabbing Chi Li’s shoulders. “If you did not want to reconcile with me, I cannot think of any reason for you to be here.”

He suddenly pinned Chi Li against the wall, pouting his thick lips and trying to force a kiss. Chi Li turned his head to avoid the disgusting gesture, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

He raised his knee and slammed it hard into the other man’s groin with a clean, swift motion. Zhou Yang let out a scream and collapsed to the floor, curling into a ball.

Chi Li looked down at his pained, distorted face. “I was wrong. Idol dramas do not cast male leads as ugly as you.”