Perfect Divorce [Entertainment Circle] - Chapter 17

“Highlighting the main point: He only loves HIM!! KKKKK, Papa Ye is still your Papa!”

“Brother Huai is legendary; anyone who dares to climb over the wall (switch fans) will be suppressed by me!”

“As a fan of another group, I’m truly envious of Huai-Zhou fans. In our ‘cold’ circle, appearing in the same frame equals candy, and speaking to each other equals going to bed… when will we ever have this? o(╥﹏╥)o”

“Seeing Ye Huai so proactive in answering questions, I thought Great God Ye had changed his nature and returned to the secular world, giving up his ‘high status’—until that last sentence, I’m dying laughing! An arrogant prick is an arrogant prick; who dares to covet my things?”

“…Brother Huai is a wife-protecting maniac, he didn’t deceive me.”

The “Huai-Zhou CP” Super Topic was a scene of joy, with everyone shouting that it felt like Chinese New Year. Ye Huai took a satisfied look, exited Weibo, and then turned his head to look at Yuan Xingzhou.

Yuan Xingzhou had been staring at him with a look of grievance since they got into the car.

“What is it?” Ye Huai looked at him with disdain. “What’s with that face?”

Yuan Xingzhou said gloomily: “I can play the piano, the guitar, and I can cook?”

Ye Huai: “Mmh-hmm.”

“I’m so legendary—how come I didn’t know?” The moment the interview ended, a female guest had cheerfully greeted Yuan Xingzhou, expressing that she wanted to cook with him later. Thinking about it, Yuan Xingzhou felt like he wanted to die.

Ye Huai, however, looked even more surprised than him, asking suspiciously: “You can’t?”

Yuan Xingzhou: “…”

Yuan Xingzhou: “Do I look like I can?”

Ye Huai: “Yeah.”

Yuan Xingzhou: “…”

“One look at you and you seem very domestic, very obedient,” Ye Huai summarized. “The kind that is very suitable to be ‘married’ home…”

This was the first time Yuan Xingzhou had heard that he had a “virtuous wife” face.

“A ‘bringer-of-luck-to-the-husband’ face,” Ye Huai added after taking a long breath.

Yuan Xingzhou: “…”

“Thank you,” Yuan Xingzhou said, his mouth twitching. “But at this moment, I’d rather commit ‘husband-murder.'”

Ye Huai burst into a mischievous laugh.

“But thank you anyway,” Yuan Xingzhou said after a moment’s thought. “Although I can’t cook, if I practice for a few days, it should be in time.”

Ye Huai: “Why are you practicing that?”

“I heard from Sister Li that the production crew’s process is a bit different,” Yuan Xingzhou said. “The focus isn’t just on rehearsing short plays; there’s a lot of time to show off personal talents. Yuan Cheng brought a guitar, so he probably learned it specifically. In that case, I can’t perform the guitar—cooking will have to do.”

“Sister Li” was the female guest who wanted to cook with him. Her name was Li Yi, a host for Papaya TV. She had subtly hinted at a few things while chatting with Yuan Xingzhou.

First, although the production crew bought the foreign rights, they didn’t copy the original format exactly. The overseas version focused on the mutual selection of the eight guests and their interactive acting. The domestic version added more daily life and social scenarios where everyone needs to live together.

Second, the location they are staying at is very likely a rural farmhouse (nongjiale).

Currently, the guests were staying in hotels, and the crew had only filmed part of the “blind selection” yesterday. Li Yi heard from insiders that after the blind selection, everyone would change filming locations.

Seeing celebrities making fools of themselves in strange, difficult environments has always been a highlight that variety shows love to exploit. Thus, everyone was currently being kept in the dark.

Therefore, the “cooking” Li Yi mentioned wasn’t a joke. If everyone really lived in a remote suburb, they would definitely have to solve the food situation themselves. At that time, whoever could cook would naturally get more screen time.

“Practice well at home and come up with two signature dishes,” Li Yi had reminded him. “You be the head chef, and I’ll be your assistant.”

Yuan Xingzhou had bitterness he couldn’t speak, so he could only nod and say gratefully: “Alright, thank you, Sister Li.”

“No need to thank me,” Li Yi laughed. “If only you could replace Yuan Cheng, I would definitely ‘cue’ (highlight) you.”

Yuan Xingzhou: “…”

During the interview, everyone was clearly staring at Ye Huai. It was rare for someone to express that he was quite good too. Yuan Xingzhou’s vanity was strongly satisfied.

“We only record for three or four days, and I just downloaded a cooking app,” Yuan Xingzhou calculated and said seriously. “Starting now, I’ll learn one dish a day and make four meals a day. It should be in time.”

Ye Huai looked over with a face of sheer horror.

Now it was Yuan Xingzhou’s turn to laugh mischievously.

“Don’t order takeout for the next few days,” Yuan Xingzhou laughed loudly. “I’m going to put your suggestion into practice. We are a collective entity. Tomorrow we’ll eat…”

He actually pulled out the cooking app and searched the rankings.

“…How about Japanese fried chicken?” Yuan Xingzhou asked. “Fried chicken wings in the morning, fried chicken breast at noon, and fried chicken legs in the evening… three meals a day without stopping. I should be able to master it then.”

Ye Huai: “…”

The next morning, Yuan Xingzhou began his culinary journey.

He and Ye Huai were recording for the second episode and wouldn’t leave until this Friday, so there was some hope if he studied seriously in the meantime.

Ye Huai strongly opposed this, but was overruled by Yuan Xingzhou.

“You’re the one who said it!” Yuan Xingzhou was full of energy, humming a song as he changed clothes, shouting to the outside: “I love Brother Huai the most, most, most! The food I make is only for him to eat!”

“Shut up!” Ye Huai’s game wasn’t going well, and hearing him chatter for so long, he stormed over with a face like he was constipated, only to find Yuan Xingzhou in the middle of taking off his pants.

Ye Huai: “…”

Yuan Xingzhou had his back to the door, completely unaware. Under the T-shirt, his thighs were long and firm, but the skin was overly fair and smooth, giving a visual impact that felt a bit carnal.

Ye Huai’s face turned red in a “shua” and he walked away sheepishly.

Ten minutes later, Yuan Xingzhou finished changing and was about to urge Ye Huai again when he heard the man in the shower. Completely unaware that he had just been seen, he thought to himself that “Princess Dragon” was easy to coax, and went back to his room to wait.

After lingering for more than half an hour, Ye Huai finally finished his shower and changed clothes.

The neighborhood supermarket was large, and usually not many outsiders came by, but the two still wore disguises. Yuan Xingzhou wore a baseball cap, and Ye Huai picked out a pair of plain glasses.

Yuan Xingzhou thought he looked great in glasses—there was a mysterious “refined scoundrel” (siwen bailei) vibe. He went back to his room to rummage, but he only had large-frame glasses that made him look like a student.

Yuan Xingzhou was about to take them off in frustration, but Ye Huai spotted him.

“Come here,” Ye Huai beckoned, making Yuan Xingzhou stand with him. He took off Yuan Xingzhou’s hat and critiqued them in the mirror: “Does this look like a teacher and student?”

In the mirror, Ye Huai was a head taller than Yuan Xingzhou. He wore a double-faced denim shirt and loose jeans—the cut was similar to a ski suit, strikingly handsome. The gold-rimmed glasses added a sense of “abstinence” (jingyu), giving him a powerful aura just by standing there.

Yuan Xingzhou was dressed in black sportswear. Although he looked clean and fresh, he was obviously outshone.

“A P.E. teacher?” Yuan Xingzhou said expressionlessly. “I don’t do teacher-student romances, thank you.”

“A P.E. teacher has no depth.” Ye Huai raised an eyebrow, saying dismissively: “Do I look like a math teacher?”

Yuan Xingzhou said: “…Our math teacher was balding.”

Ye Huai: “An English teacher then?”

“The English teacher was bald,” Yuan Xingzhou introduced helpfully. “The Chinese teacher is a woman, as is the Chemistry teacher. The Geography teacher is a bit short…”

“No wonder.” Ye Huai looked at him with sympathy. “If I were you, I wouldn’t dare do a teacher-student romance either.”

Yuan Xingzhou: “???” What does that have to do with anything?

But he could see Ye Huai was in a good mood.

Yuan Xingzhou decided not to argue with him. He took the shopping bags and walked along the neighborhood path with Ye Huai. After greeting countless old men along the way, they finally rushed into the supermarket just as it opened.

The two planned to buy four days’ worth of ingredients at once. After all, going out was a bit of a hassle; although they could come to the supermarket downstairs, Ye Huai was a bit wary of entering public places.

Yuan Xingzhou might not have time every day either. Once the Lost City crew finished wrapping up completely, he would have to go back for dubbing. By then, he would be leaving early and returning late; buying groceries would be inconvenient.

Their plan was good, but it fell apart as soon as they entered. Ye Huai pushed the cart straight to the snack section, grabbing whatever he saw. Junk food, alcohol, and drinks went in as if they were free.

Since they hadn’t driven over, buying too much alcohol meant carrying it by hand. Yuan Xingzhou had to keep intercepting him.

By the time he led the Young Master to the vegetable and raw meat section, Yuan Xingzhou felt dizzy again, staring at small ribs, spare ribs, large ribs, rib tips… He simply took a portion of each. He went to buy chicken and saw the freezer filled with “Three-Yellow” chicken, Wenchang chicken, black-boned chicken, free-range chicken…

Yuan Xingzhou: “…”

“You really don’t know anything at all?” Seeing him standing there in a daze, Ye Huai could only ask: “What do you plan to cook?”

“Just fried chicken… or roasted chicken?” Yuan Xingzhou said. “Is there an oven at the farmhouse? Or maybe Beggar’s Chicken?”

“Beggar’s Chicken requires yellow mud and lotus leaves,” Ye Huai asked. “Are you sure they have those there?”

Yuan Xingzhou looked blank: “They don’t?”

Ye Huai: “…”

“Just get the broiler chicken then,” Ye Huai said. “Three-Yellow chicken is fine too. Broilers have more fat and are easier to cook. Since you’re a novice, don’t ask for it to be too delicious.”

Yuan Xingzhou nodded and reached for a chicken, only to hear someone behind him say: “Broiler chicken has no character. Wenchang chicken is great for soup, and free-range is also good. Do you want to reconsider?”

Behind them was a man in a shirt and trousers, with short hair and a coat draped over his arm, looking very elegant. Ye Huai glanced at the man’s shoes—GG brown leather shoes, 238,000 yuan.

“Xiao Zhou,” the man smiled at Yuan Xingzhou, “Long time no see.”

Ye Huai was completely ignored. He looked at the man warily, then at Yuan Xingzhou.

Yuan Xingzhou frowned slightly. After staring at the man for a full minute, he shouted in disbelief: “Class Monitor??”

The newcomer was Zhu Yueming, Yuan Xingzhou’s college class monitor. The two hadn’t seen each other in nearly ten years; no wonder Yuan Xingzhou couldn’t recognize him at first. Compared to most people who gain weight after graduation, Monitor Zhu’s image management was very successful. Standing before two stars like Yuan Xingzhou and Ye Huai, he didn’t lose his presence at all.

Of course, the other person’s net worth was also high. This imported supermarket was owned by him—it was a national chain with hundreds of stores.

After a few pleasantries, Zhu Yueming smiled at Ye Huai and nodded in acknowledgment.

“When you participated in the competition back then, all the classmates were very happy for you,” Zhu Yueming said. “But no one expected you to go and never come back. During our gatherings over the past few years, everyone would mention you.”

Yuan Xingzhou had debuted through a talent show. He told his classmates when he won an award, but no one expected him to be “frozen.” In the two years following, classmates graduated or went to grad school, while he—the “big star” in everyone’s mouth—vanished without a trace.

Feeling he had no face, Yuan Xingzhou gradually lost contact with everyone. When he joined ST later, he was too busy with training and schedules and too exhausted maintaining relationships with teammates to have a chance to contact old classmates.

In truth, compared to the relationships within ST, Yuan Xingzhou missed his former classmates more than once.

“It was my fault for losing everyone’s contact information,” Yuan Xingzhou said. “I really didn’t expect such a coincidence. I definitely have to see everyone when there’s a chance.”

Zhu Yueming smiled at him: “Does ‘when there’s a chance’ in social terms mean ‘there is no chance’?”

“No, no,” Yuan Xingzhou waved his hands hurriedly.

“Then let’s add each other on WeChat.” Zhu Yueming moved with refined composure and the assertiveness of a successful man, taking out his phone and waving it.

They scanned QR codes and added each other.

“You want to learn to cook?” Zhu Yueming said enthusiastically. “I happen to know some culinary arts. Chicken dishes are actually easy to learn. If you don’t mind, I can teach you.”

Yuan Xingzhou’s eyes lit up; live teaching was much faster than following a recipe.

Furthermore, their class monitor had always been excellent; if he admitted he knew how to do something, he must be exceptionally good at it.

Zhu Yueming clearly had other things to do. He left his contact information and address and was called away.

Yuan Xingzhou hadn’t yet recovered from the joy of reuniting with an old friend. He held his warm cheeks and turned back to get the free-range chicken. However, when he turned around, he saw that Ye Huai had put all the chicken in the cart back.

Yuan Xingzhou: “???”

“What’s wrong with you?” Yuan Xingzhou asked, confused. “I’m just about to learn how to make roast chicken from him!”

“No chicken. I hate eating chicken the most. What’s so good about chicken?” Ye Huai crossly put back the chicken wings and legs as well.

Seeing him being unreasonable, Yuan Xingzhou took the chicken out again, “…If you don’t eat it, I will.”

Ye Huai went to take it again, but Yuan Xingzhou grabbed his wrist.

“Hey, be reasonable,” Yuan Xingzhou said, grabbing his hand and staring in protest. “You can’t stop me from eating it too, can you? What did the chicken do to you?”

Ye Huai: “…”

Yuan Xingzhou: “…”

Two handsome men stood holding hands and staring at each other. Not far away, someone was quietly looking over. Someone’s camera sound hadn’t been turned off, and a click startled the two of them.

Yuan Xingzhou quickly let go and glanced at the source of the sound.

“If you want to eat it, go eat out,” Ye Huai said, his face flushing slightly with anger as he said righteously: “I’m allergic to anything with two legs.”