Help! My Fanservice Partner is Looking at Me Differently Lately - Chapter 7

This was perfect.

Compared to Xie Weishui, who appeared gentle but was actually extremely controlling, Zhou Yang naturally preferred the more beautiful and obedient Chi Li. However, he could not let Chi Li have his way too easily; he had to leave him hanging for a while first.

“Do you two know each other?” Gao Yuan, who had been planning to recruit more allies, instantly pulled a long face. If Chi Li knew Zhou Yang, he would likely end up joining Xie Weishui’s camp. Why was his luck so bitter?

“We were trainees in the same period. We have met at the company, but we are not close,” Chi Li said as he walked into the room, scanning the surroundings inconspicuously. “Hello everyone, my name is Chi Li.”

“Chi Li, why did you not tell me you were coming?” A confident smile returned to Zhou Yang’s face. “If I had known you were coming, I definitely would have taken a taxi two miles out just to pick you up.”

Chi Li looked at him with a beaming smile. “It is a good thing I did not tell you. Otherwise, I would have had to pay for the taxi fare.”

Trainees at Starlight Entertainment received a basic subsidy, but it was pitifully small. Consequently, during the time the two were dating, almost all expenses were covered by Chi Li, whose family background was slightly better.

“You,” Zhou Yang clearly understood the implication behind those words. He lowered his voice and muttered, “Stop being so petty all the time.”

He must still be a little angry, Zhou Yang thought. Since he specifically came on the show to make peace, there is no need to fuss over such small things.

“Hello, my name is Gao Yuan.” Gao Yuan keenly sensed the strange atmosphere between the two and immediately regained his enthusiasm. “Next to me is another newcomer who arrived today, Shen Xunye. Over there are the others.”

After a brief introduction of everyone in the room, Gao Yuan looked meaningfully at Xie Weishui. “When does the welcoming ceremony start?”

“Oh, right,” Xie Weishui said, acting as if he had just remembered. “We have prepared a welcoming ceremony for you. Please, our two newcomers, take a seat in the center of the sofa.”

“Wait,” Chi Li said, laying his suitcase flat and half-kneeling to open it. “I brought gifts for everyone.”

Zhou Yang could not help but chime in, “Does everyone get one?”

Chi Li replied, “Of course.”

“I knew it,” Zhou Yang said, a look of smug satisfaction appearing on his face. He assumed Chi Li must have bought gifts for everyone just so he could give one to him specifically.

“Here, this is yours.” Chi Li handed the first gift to Gao Yuan. “Noise-canceling headphones. I heard this was at the top of your wish list. I could not afford the most expensive ones, so I bought a mid-range pair. Please do not look down on them.”

“Are these really for me?” Gao Yuan could hardly believe his ears. “This is really too embarrassing.”

With Gao Yuan’s current income, it was not that he could not afford a pair of noise-canceling headphones; he was simply reluctant to spend the money. He never expected to receive such a gift from a stranger.

“Go ahead and take it. My arm is getting tired,” Chi Li said, nudging the gift forward.

“Thank you.” Gao Yuan did not hesitate further. He took the gift and hugged it to his chest. “I think I am falling in love with you!”

Shen Xunye tilted his head to glance at him. After confirming that this person was not much of a competitive threat, he looked away nonchalantly. The others watched Gao Yuan receive his gift, and a spark of anticipation rose in their eyes. Since they were all strangers, the gifts should be of a similar value.

“Fang Jin.” Chi Li called out to Fang Jin, who was standing the furthest away, and waved a shopping bag at him. “This is for you. Is it convenient for you to come and take it?”

Before Fang Jin could move, Xie Weishui took a few quick steps and grabbed his arm to lead him over. “I have captured him for you!”

“Thank you,” Chi Li said with a polite nod, signaling for Fang Jin to take the gift. “Check and see if you like it.”

Fang Jin maintained his usual indifferent expression. He reached into the bag and pulled out a green hat.

Pfft, is he really insulting him to his face like that? Was that on purpose, or was it an accident? It was purposefully accidental. I have a feeling this Growth House is about to get restless. The newcomer is so good at being sarcastic. I love it. Maybe he just liked the style of the hat? It just happens to be green. After all, hats from this brand are not cheap. Exactly. Who would go out of their way to offend someone the moment they arrive? Gao Yuan’s gift was very normal. Everyone, do not overthink it.

“What is the meaning of this?” The expression on Fang Jin’s face nearly crumbled. Although he did not care about the fan pairing with Xie Weishui, it did not mean he was willing to accept such an unreasonable provocation.

“Hmm?” Chi Li’s expression was one of pure innocence. “It means I am giving you a gift and I hope you like it.”

Wei Xuan gloated, “It really suits you.”

“Oh, do you not like it?” Chi Li acted as if he had just realized something, looking puzzled. “But when I searched your name, the first related keyword was green hat. I thought you particularly liked green hats.”

Fang Jin’s mouth twitched. He truly could not tell if this person was being genuine or playing dumb. “Never mind.”

“There is a receipt in the shopping bag. If you do not like it, just go and exchange it,” Chi Li said with an apologetic smile. “I am sorry to make you run the errand yourself.”

“Fine.” Fang Jin put the hat back into the bag. He chose to believe this person was truly that naive.

Jiang Lele’s eyes were full of envy. “That hat looks like it costs over 2,600 dollars.”

The corners of Fang Jin’s tightly pressed lips rose by a fraction of a millimeter.

“Alright, next one. Let me see,” Chi Li said, pulling out a plastic bag before calling a name. “Zhou Yang.”

“Is it my turn already?” Zhou Yang thought he would be last. “What is it? A plastic bag?”

What kind of decent person gives a gift in a plastic bag? He suddenly had an ominous feeling.

“Yes, the plastic bag and the things inside are all for you,” Chi Li said, stuffing the item into Zhou Yang’s arms. “I selected these very carefully.”

“Fine.” Zhou Yang looked down to untie the knot, but it was tied too tightly. In a fit of irritation, he simply tore the bag open. The contents fell directly to the floor: a large, old cucumber and a mini bucket of green paint.

“An old cucumber painted green,” Chi Li introduced the meaning of his gift cheerfully, giving no one in the room time to react.

Zhou Yang’s face instantly dropped. “You are giving me this kind of thing?”

He was being sarcastic just now. Has his anger still not faded?

“Not just that. The plastic bag is also a gift for you.” Chi Li pointed down at the ruined black plastic bag. “Now, some confused viewers might ask, why give a plastic bag?”

Gao Yuan immediately played along. “Yes, why?”

“Because,” Chi Li said, looking at Zhou Yang with a half-smile, “just like you, it is meant for holding trashy goods. Oh, but now that you have ruined it, it is just a piece of trash.”

“Pfft!” Shen Xunye suddenly burst out laughing.

I am actually dying of laughter. Who else gets this? This is a personal grudge, right? It is definitely a personal grudge! Hahaha! Let me see who still dares to say that green hat was not intentional. Actually, I get the old cucumber painted green joke. It probably refers to him being older than Xie Weishui but still calling him Senior. Then the trashy goods and trash parts are just straight-up insults.