Even If the World Ends, I’ll Stand on Your Side

Xie Zhaozhou’s brow bone was cold and sharp, making his eyes seem especially gloomy and deep.

Ning Shixue bit his lip.
His pale cheeks still bore wet tear tracks, and his toes curled with embarrassment.

After all, this was the original novel’s main antagonist.
He couldn’t possibly not be able to handle a little social death like this, right?

President Xie?
Ning Shixue called out quietly.

Couldn’t really blame He Lin, though.

With Ning Shixue’s face, the sicker he looked, the more intensely beautiful he became, inexplicably suggestive.
And crying like this on top of it?
It was impossible not to have certain thoughts.

Xie Zhaozhou suppressed the irritation in his heart.
He seemed unwilling to say more to him and said coldly,
Get up.
Come with me to see Grandpa He.

Ning Shixue shut his mouth and obediently stood up.

He wasn’t actually afraid of Xie Zhaozhou, but offending him brought no benefit.
Why would he pick a fight with the original novel’s main antagonist?

Besides, Xie Zhaozhou hadn’t made things difficult for him.

Ning Shixue followed behind Xie Zhaozhou.
Suddenly remembering the original novel’s ending, he couldn’t help but glance up.

After his cannon-fodder character was drowned in the sea and fed to the sharks, the main male lead started targeting Xie Zhaozhou.

Old Master Xie died of illness.
Xie Yaoyao also died in a kidnapping case.
Forced out of the Xie Group and completely bankrupt, Xie Zhaozhou committed suicide that very night.

His family was destroyed, his reputation ruined.

The parenting show had already started filming.
Now, there was actually less than a year left until the original novel’s ending.

Ning Shixue didn’t know why Xie Zhaozhou committed suicide.
The original novel was written around the main couple.
Even if Xie Zhaozhou could do whatever he wanted in Yan City, he was still just a cannon-fodder antagonist.

Anyway, it definitely wasn’t just because of bankruptcy.

Call him cold-blooded if you want, but Ning Shixue didn’t want to meddle.
He had seen too many dead people.
In the instances, someone you met a minute ago might die horribly right before your eyes the next.

He couldn’t even muster any emotion for his own death.

But thinking that in a little over six months, he’d never see the chubby little kid again, Ning Shixue lowered his eyes and rubbed his cold knuckles.
He probably wouldn’t forget Xie Yaoyao.

Even Xie Zhaozhou… he didn’t really want him to die either.

After all, this unfortunate nominal husband was genuinely very good-looking.

The Ning family had no connection with the He family, and Elder He didn’t recognize this D-list little star.
Ning Shixue accompanied Xie Zhaozhou to offer a toast, and then he was free to go.

You don’t need to follow me.
Xie Zhaozhou’s face was cold and pale as jade, his eye sockets deeply set.
He had been drinking, his thin lips a vivid red.
With a somewhat lazy air, he held his jacket, using it to block Ning Shixue.
You can do whatever you want, but don’t cause me any trouble.

Xie Zhaozhou truly didn’t care who Ning Shixue liked.

Or rather, he didn’t care at all whether Ning Shixue lived or died.

Whether he went looking for Xie Hanzhou, or wanted to have an affair with anyone, it didn’t matter.
As long as he didn’t stir up any serious scandals that could affect the Xie Group’s stock price.

Ning Shixue was already eager to leave, but he still, with reddened ears, hooked his finger around Xie Zhaozhou’s.
Second Brother, I’ll come find you later.

Xie Zhaozhou stared at his retreating back, his eyes darkening.

In the end, he said nothing.

Ning Shixue parted ways with Xie Zhaozhou and first went to the restroom.

His alcohol tolerance was very low.

The original host was sickly and weak; even when he went to bars, he rarely drank.
He himself was even more abstinent.
Years in the instances had taught him to stay alert at all times.
Otherwise, he’d probably have died ten thousand times over.

He reluctantly splashed some water on his face.
Icy droplets dripped down the tips of his lashes, finally easing the uncomfortable burning sensation throughout his body.

Ning Shixue had already eaten quite a bit following Xie Yaoyao that evening.
His stomach was still full.
He didn’t feel like socializing in the banquet hall, so he crossed the corridor and headed towards the terrace.

But as soon as he looked up, he regretted it.

Qiu Mingchuan, a cigarette dangling from his lips, turned his head and immediately raised an eyebrow.
He nudged the shoulder of the person next to him, winking suggestively.
Brother Zhou, here to ambush you again.

With him were a few other rich second-generation heirs.
Ning Shixue didn’t recognize them but could probably guess who they were.

In the center should be Xie Hanzhou.

Xie Hanzhou wore a black shirt with suit pants underneath.
The cigarette at his lips still glowed with a red ember.
His gaze, filled with intense disgust, turned towards Ning Shixue.

After all, he was the scum gong of the original novel.
His appearance was indeed good.
But Ning Shixue’s recent days of fever and discomfort were all thanks to this very person.
Now, facing that face, he only felt annoyance.

Ning Shixue’s eyes were cold.
He turned and left.

Young Master Ning really is persistent, huh,
Qiu Mingchuan drawled, snickering.
How’d you know we were here?

“…”
Ning Shixue stopped in his tracks, hands in his pockets, expressionlessly retorting,
What’s the matter?
Are you the only ones allowed in this place?
Didn’t see you staking a claim.

Just talking to him made Qiu Mingchuan’s anger flare.
But with Xie Hanzhou present, he held back, only sneering inwardly.

It was just Ning Shixue putting up a brave front.
Soon enough, he’d come crawling back to Xie Hanzhou, acting coy and acting spoiled.

Ning Shixue,
Xie Hanzhou flicked his ash, frowning as he stared at Ning Shixue’s reddened eye corners.
His tone was like coaxing a child, yet still condescending.
This is Elder He’s birthday banquet.
Don’t make a scene with me.

Ning Shixue: “…”

It wasn’t that he was targeting anyone specifically, he just thought everyone present had issues.

Could they spare him a bit of that confidence?

Ning Shixue looked up, all his laziness gone.
He was back to the look Xie Hanzhou was most familiar with.
Xie Hanzhou bit down on his cigarette, the disgust in his eyes replaced by an inexplicable emotion.

Hard to imagine.
Ning Shixue, clearly a little madman, could have eyes like this.

Ning Shixue’s lashes were thick and long.
His gaze was gentle and melancholic.
He almost didn’t dare meet Xie Hanzhou’s eyes, yet he forced himself to.
Then his reddened lips parted, his voice soft.
Sworn brothers deciding who’s boss, who do you think you are?

Xie Hanzhou: “…”

Xie Hanzhou was stunned for a moment, thinking he’d misheard.
But the coldness and mockery in Ning Shixue’s eyes were unmistakable.
His face darkened.

You know this is Elder He’s birthday banquet, and we can’t disgrace the Xie family,
Ning Shixue kindly taught him.
So have some manners.
I don’t mind you calling me ‘sister-in-law,’ or you can call me ‘brother’ if you prefer.
Just don’t forget next time.

Xie Hanzhou was thoroughly amused, his voice turning icy.
Are you drunk and crazy?!

He still held his motorcycle keys in his hand.
He took a step forward, raising his hand to pat Ning Shixue’s face.

It was a very humiliating gesture.

But before he could make contact, Ning Shixue dodged, sidestepping.
Then he snatched the keys from his hand and raised an eyebrow.
Is this your bike? You riding it?

Xie Hanzhou truly was scum.

He wasn’t even willing to be friends with benefits with the original host.
But he accepted everything the original host gave him.
This motorcycle was the original host’s birthday gift to the scum gong just days ago.
A new model worth ten million.

If he’d had that ten million back then, he wouldn’t have had to go on the parenting show.

When the original host came looking for him, he didn’t refuse.
Sometimes, when the original host cried from anger, he would even comfort him.

Always keeping him at arm’s length.

Xie Hanzhou simply enjoyed the feeling of pushing this pretty little madman further over the edge.
Making him crazier, with eyes still full of him.

Xie Zhaozhou could only be linked by marriage to such a madman.

Just thinking about it felt satisfying.

What exactly do you want?
Xie Hanzhou gritted his teeth, his patience wearing thin, his gaze exceptionally dark.

This was the first time Ning Shixue had ever treated him like this.

His face practically stung.

Ning Shixue’s face was full of innocence as he told the truth.
‘I now realize I was blind before.
I regret giving you this bike too.
So I want to take it back and sell it.’

He needed to save up some money.
What if Xie Zhaozhou really went bankrupt?

He couldn’t end up on the streets with the kid, right?

But facts proved, people just couldn’t handle the truth.
The moment he finished speaking, Xie Hanzhou gave a cold laugh and left with a dark expression.

Ning Shixue paid no more attention to Xie Hanzhou’s terrible mood.
He sent Xie Zhaozhou a message and went to wait in the car.

He still had to go to the old Xie residence that night.

He slept in the car.
When he woke up, the seat next to him held a soft, chubby little kid, still stewing in anger.

The car’s air conditioning was on full blast, but the lights were off.
Only the dim side overhead light was on.

Ning Shixue pinched Xie Yaoyao’s little leg.

He didn’t really want to admit it, but seeing Xie Yaoyao actually made him feel more at ease than anyone else could.

Xie Yaoyao had his arms crossed over his chest.
His profile was puffed up like a little steamed bun, and his eyes were swollen like peaches.

What wrong with you?
Ning Shixue asked, a little guiltily.

Xie Yaoyao pouted.
You not talk to me.
I not friends with you anymore!

‘Is that so,’
Ning Shixue said, unmoved.

He pulled out the little cakes he’d taken when leaving the banquet.
The sweet, creamy fragrance filled the entire back seat of the car.

Xie Yaoyao couldn’t help but swallow.

He was also a bit wronged.

He hadn’t eaten.
Grandma had held him and cried the whole time, squeezing his chubby little body until it hurt.

But Ning Shixue was eating little cakes all by himself.

Tears were already welling up in Xie Yaoyao’s eyes when he suddenly heard Ning Shixue call out,
Xie Xingxing.

Xie Yaoyao: ???

Xie Yaoyao doesn’t want to be friends with me anymore.
Can Xie Xingxing be friends with me?
Ning Shixue hugged his knees, sitting sideways.

The light inside the car was dim, making his already vivid features seem almost gentle.
He said with a hint of a rogue,
Whoever is friends with me gets to eat the little cakes.

“…”

A few seconds later, Xie Yaoyao swallowed and pressed close, eyes pleading.
Is me oh, I am Xie Xingxing.