Help! My Fanservice Partner is Looking at Me Differently Lately - Chapter 21

“I don’t think he did anything wrong.” Xie Weishui was not about to take Chi Li’s suggestion. “As for the matter between Fang Jin and me, it is best not to involve unrelated people.”

“So, you want to enjoy the best of both worlds? No, wait, you want a ménage à trois? Well, that is not right either, but I cannot find the right phrasing at the moment. Regardless, you understand what I mean, do you not?”

[Talk about being serious while being sarcastic.]

[The words are crude, but the point is valid. It is clearly what Xie Weishui is thinking.]

[Dating one while keeping the other on a string—you think you are pretty clever, do you not?]

[Anyone else here just for the drama and the ménage à trois?]

[The drama and the ménage à trois are fun, but with these three, I can only say it is bland and lacks any sexual tension.]

[↑ To put it bluntly, their looks are a bit underwhelming.]

Xie Weishui was furious, but he had no choice but to pretend he did not understand the overt and veiled sarcasm in Chi Li’s words. “Of course, I hope Zhou Yang and Fang Jin can get along peacefully. In fact, they do not have any real conflict, do they?”

After all, what was presented to the public was “friendship,” and “friendship” does not require absolute loyalty. Since it does not require loyalty, naturally, the more people involved in the mix, the more exciting it becomes.

“If that is what you want, I will persuade Fang Jin to agree,” Chi Li said, acting very understanding.

Fang Jin remained silent.

Xie Weishui did not really want Chi Li interfering with his “script.” “How are you going to persuade him?”

“You do not need to worry about that,” Chi Li said with complete confidence. “I guarantee that Fang Jin will not argue with you about this again.”

Xie Weishui glanced at Fang Jin and said, “If you can really do that, then I would be very grateful to you.”

To give Chi Li space to persuade Fang Jin, Xie Weishui left first.

Fang Jin ate his meal in a slow, measured way. “Actually, I am curious how you are going to persuade me.”

“Let’s go somewhere else to talk.” Chi Li stood up and motioned for Fang Jin to follow.

Fang Jin stood up hesitantly. “The only place without cameras is the restroom, and I am currently eating.”

“It is fine. I know one other place without cameras. Follow me.”

“Oh.”

A moment later, Chi Li knocked on Shen Xunye’s door. The door opened almost immediately, as if someone had been waiting right by it. Shen Xunye did not ask anything; he simply gestured for the two of them to come inside.

“You should step out for a moment,” Chi Li said, tilting his chin to signal Shen Xunye to leave.

“I definitely cannot leave.” Shen Xunye closed the door, his expression innocent. “If only you two are in here, there is a high probability of some unfavorable rumors, right?”

Audiences always love to make up strange rumors when they cannot see what is happening.

Chi Li retorted, “If there are three of us, would that not create even worse rumors?”

Shen Xunye turned the tables: “The dirty-minded see everything as dirty.”

“Did you not start it?” Chi Li was amused to the point of anger.

“Regardless, this is my room, and I am not leaving.” Shen Xunye sat on a chair with a broad, imposing posture, looking as if he were saying, “What can you do about it?”

Chi Li replied, “Suit yourself.”

Fang Jin did not interject to make his presence known; he just held his meal and ate politely.

“So, Fang Jin,” Chi Li leaned his head on his hand and thought for a moment.

Fang Jin replied, “Yes?”

“Xie Weishui probably would not agree with you making peace with Zhou Yang, right?” Chi Li began the conversation.

Fang Jin nodded: “He already sent me a message earlier warning me.”

Chi Li asked, “But you will agree.”

“Why?” Fang Jin asked, confused. Chi Li seemed to be full of confidence in everything he did, but they were not exactly close.

“Do you not want to be the lead in the script?” Chi Li raised an eyebrow, a determined smile playing on his lips.

Fang Jin asked, “What does that mean?”

“It means you do not have to work hard to break free from Xie Weishui’s script,” Chi Li analyzed in a low voice. “You just need to agree to get along peacefully with Zhou Yang, and the lead of the script will naturally shift from Xie Weishui to you.”

Fang Jin seemed to understand a little, but not entirely.

Chi Li continued to explain: “Most of the audience has a natural sympathy for the underdog. In any given situation, if you are the one suffering more losses or feeling wronged, you will receive more attention, and more people will speak up for you. If you choose to make peace with Zhou Yang, from the audience’s perspective, you are the one making sacrifices, and the public will naturally fight your corner. If you pin the negative emotions of sulking and arguing on yourself, the only person who benefits is the other guy.”

Fang Jin’s chewing slowed down. “Xie Weishui will not agree to it.”

If he chatted privately with Chi Li and then rashly changed Xie Weishui’s script, even a fool would realize there was something fishy going on.

“If you want to be the lead, you should just do it; you do not need his permission to make that happen,” Chi Li corrected his mindset.

Fang Jin looked blank. Although he did not like Xie Weishui’s later tactics, he could not deny that without Xie Weishui, his own personality would have made it very difficult for him to stand out in the training house.

“This is not a betrayal,” Chi Li said, knowing what Fang Jin was hesitating about. “And you do not owe him anything.”

“Even if you say that…”

“How about this? Let’s run an experiment.” Chi Li never expected to break up their little group just by talking. “You do what I said first, and then we will see what he says and does during your meeting tonight.”

Fang Jin asked, “What do you think he will say?”

Chi Li smiled. “You should already have a predicted answer in your heart, do you not?”

After a long silence, Fang Jin finally spoke: “Fine, let us run the experiment.”

After seeing Fang Jin off, Chi Li finally had time to look around Shen Xunye’s dorm. There did not seem to be much to look at. Shen Xunye had likely only done one thing: moving his clothes from his suitcase to the closet.

“Why do you always stay in your room?” Now that he was here, Chi Li decided to care a little for his fanservice partner.

Shen Xunye replied, “Waiting.”

Chi Li asked, “Waiting for what?”

“What do you think?” Shen Xunye pushed himself up from his legs, standing still in front of Chi Li, his shadow completely enveloping him. “Naturally, waiting for when you need me.”

Chi Li looked up, his eyelashes fluttering slowly. “I will not need you all the time. You can do things you enjoy.”

“I do not have anything else I enjoy.”

Shen Xunye lowered his gaze, his eyes tracing Chi Li’s features like fingertips, from his long lashes to his slightly reddish eye corners, and the tiny, hard-to-notice mole hidden there. And the two small versions of himself reflected in those clear, bright eyes.

“We seem a bit ambiguous now.” Chi Li raised his hand to cover Shen Xunye’s eyes. “Do not look at me like that.”

Shen Xunye’s lips curled up slightly. “Ambiguous is exactly right.”