Ning Shixue’s cheeks instantly burned red.
His skin had an unusual, cool pallor, so the redness was especially noticeable.
The tips of his ears beneath his dark, disheveled hair were almost red enough to bleed.
He had committed a crime.
The police should come for him, not make him suffer this social death until he couldn’t lift his head.
Xie Zhaozhou was wearing a pair of black leather gloves.
He took them off and held Ning Shixue’s ice-cold hand.
It was so cold in the northern city at night.
His fingers were frozen stiff.
How had he managed to argue with the bullet comments?
Little madman.
Ning Shixue’s fingertips curled involuntarily.
Xie Zhaozhou’s palm was warm, with a gentle yet irresistible force, completely enveloping his hand.
Xie Zhaozhou didn’t intend to play daddy, but he pressed his thin lips together and couldn’t help pulling Ning Shixue off the car hood.
His narrow, dark eyes curved as he asked quietly,
“You’ll get cold sitting on the car. Aren’t you afraid your stomach will hurt?”
Ning Shixue: “…”
At a time like this, he was supposed to worry about a stomach ache?
There was still snow on the hood of his down jacket.
Xie Zhaozhou half-lowered his eyes, brushed it off, then pulled the hood up and put it over Ning Shixue’s head.
Ning Shixue’s head drooped lower and lower.
Xie Zhaozhou stared at his reddened ear and couldn’t help chuckling softly.
Through the down jacket hood, he gently pinched the back of Ning Shixue’s neck and asked slowly,
“Wasn’t it you who asked me to come? Why aren’t you paying attention to me?”
“I didn’t ask you to come…”
Ning Shixue’s ears burned as he looked up to retort.
He had clearly said don’t come.
The moment Xie Zhaozhou spoke, the director suddenly snapped out of it.
The bullet comments were still lagging.
The live stream’s popularity skyrocketed.
The number of online viewers increased at a terrifying rate.
This wasn’t just the popularity of a variety show anymore.
A large swath of deep red ‘explosive’ symbols covered the trending searches.
The director had never seen anything like this in his life.
Who wouldn’t recognize Xie Zhaozhou?
The last film he made before retiring won awards endlessly.
When he won at the Cannes Film Festival, countless media outlets praised him as “gold and jade amidst blazing fire,” a truly deserving film emperor.
Especially since he was only in his twenties.
No one could accept his sudden retirement.
The media’s praise turned into genuine regret.
“…Director Meng,”
the assistant director went over to him shakily.
The director wiped the sweat from his forehead and palms, lowered his voice, and hissed,
“What are you calling me for?! Go add more cameras! Open a few more live streams! Tonight’s broadcast absolutely cannot be interrupted!”
Luckily, his program team was cooperating with Whale Live, the biggest live-streaming platform in the country.
They wouldn’t drop the ball entirely.
The bullet comments soon returned to normal.
When they fully recovered, Xie Zhaozhou was already pulling Ning Shixue by the hand towards the villa.
The director no longer bothered filming the snowy scenery.
With Xie Zhaozhou here, why film that stuff?
[Sniff, I’m crying on the spot, tears streaming. I thought I’d never see Brother Xie again in my life. Last night I even re-watched Snow Ridge.]
[No wonder Director He took such good care of my wife. Reasonably suspect Brother Xie asked him to help.]
[So Brother Xie really is a member of the Xie family??? Did he retire to take over the family business???]
Xie Zhaozhou was 187 cm tall, more than half a head taller than Ning Shixue.
Facing those cold, deep black eyes, the cameraman didn’t dare get too close, so they couldn’t pick up much audio.
But whenever Ning Shixue looked up to speak, Xie Zhaozhou would slightly lower his head to listen.
His red lips curved slightly.
No one knew what he said, but the tips of Ning Shixue’s ears, already red, now burned a deep crimson.
He angrily jabbed Xie Zhaozhou with his elbow.
Xie Zhaozhou just raised his hand and placatingly held his wrist.
On his pale, slender knuckles, he was still wearing his wedding ring.
Before the bullet comments could finish freaking out, they fell silent.
[…]
[I admit I’m full. I’m just stupid. Why did I have to open this live stream? Puppy hugging leg crying.jpg]
[Thanks. I’m like a dog, peacefully sleeping, then suddenly kicked by a passing couple. Not satisfied with one kick, they turn around and kick me again.]
[Help!!! I don’t even know who to envy anymore. Why not let me join this family too? This country has monogamy. I have one husband and one wife. What’s wrong with that??? Crying.jpg]
[Count me in. When President Xie isn’t home, I can help comfort wife to sleep. Don’t be polite with me. Shy.jpg]
[??? President Xie will assassinate you tonight.]
[I’ll admit it. I’ve never wanted so badly to be part of someone else’s little game.]
Xie Yaoyao had been playing, making snowballs with his chubby little hands.
When he looked up, he suddenly spotted Big Daddy.
He dropped the snowball and pattered over towards Big Daddy and the baby.
Ning Shixue hadn’t forgotten his kid.
He turned and took Xie Yaoyao’s little hand.
Once inside the villa, Xie Zhaozhou first went to greet He Lin’s father.
“Uncle He.”
He Lin’s father was holding He Miao.
He nodded and smiled.
…
Ji Qing stood frozen in the entrance hall, his hands and feet numb.
His phone vibrated, probably a message from his agent.
But his palms were icy and slick with cold sweat.
His fingers couldn’t bend.
He couldn’t even reach for his phone.
Ning Shixue’s husband was actually Xie Zhaozhou?
And Ning Shixue called him Second Brother.
Was Xie Zhaozhou Xie Hanzhou’s brother?
Didn’t Xie Hanzhou only have one brother, Xie Sui?
Ji Qing’s mind was buzzing.
He hid to the side and finally, with trembling hands, went to check Weibo.
The trending searches were completely dominated.
Tonight, he should have had the most buzz.
Now he was nowhere to be found.
Even opening the trending search for the variety show ‘#Let’sGoBaby#’ didn’t show his name at all.
What was the point of him getting Xie Hanzhou to come?
His recent acting projects had been lukewarm.
His agent had managed to get him on this show.
He had wanted to use Ji Xiao and Xie Hanzhou to get popular again.
He had even deliberately cleared over a month of his schedule for the show, turning down several other jobs.
What was the point now?
Ji Qing almost dug his nails into his palm until they bled.
The malice in his eyes was almost impossible to hide.
A staff member had to call him several times before he finally heard.
He turned around in a panic.
“Wh-what?”
“Teacher Ji, you forgot to bring Xiaoxiao back,”
the staff member said, handing Ji Xiao to him.
Just now, all the guests had followed the others back to the villa.
Ji Xiao was the kind of child who got absorbed in his own world and easily missed what was going on around him.
He was focused on making a snowman and didn’t realize everyone had left.
Ji Qing had forgotten all about him.
He looked up, bewildered, standing alone in the snow.
His eyes were red-rimmed, on the verge of tears.
Luckily, the cameraman had been filming the kids the whole time.
Seeing Ji Qing hadn’t come, he brought Ji Xiao along.
The bullet comments were unusually critical of Ji Qing.
[What’s wrong with Ji Qing? Why is he so pale? How could he forget the kid?]
[Is seeing Film Emperor Xie really that scary?]
[Give Xiaoxiao a hug. My poor little one.]
Ji Qing forced a smile, took Ji Xiao, and said to the staff member,
“Thank you.”
[Is it just me, or does Xie Hanzhou seem off too? What’s up with those two tonight?]
[Help, what kind of ultimate showdown is this? Xie Hanzhou came and barely talked to Ji Qing. But he kept staring at Ning Shixue. I’m starting to wonder, was it really Ning Shixue chasing him unrequited?]
Xie Hanzhou couldn’t care less about Ji Qing now.
His blood was boiling.
His expression was dark.
Was Xie Zhaozhou insane?!
Coming on a variety show for a drama queen like Ning Shixue?
When Xie Zhaozhou hadn’t retired, he had only appeared on variety shows two or three times in several years, and only when necessary for movie promotions.
Why was he coming on some parenting show now?
No matter how beautiful Ning Shixue’s face was, was it worth being this obsessed?
A mass of resentment churned in Xie Hanzhou’s chest.
He had never gotten along with Xie Zhaozhou since childhood.
He had lived abroad with his parents and elder brother Xie Sui for several years.
It wasn’t until they returned to Yan City that he met this second brother for the first time.
He was cold, aloof, and distant from everyone in the Xie family.
Even though he was raised by Old Master Xie, he was still very distant with him too.
Xie Hanzhou once wondered if Xie Zhaozhou was his father’s illegitimate son.
What was the difference?
But Old Master Xie had always favored him.
He had even left a will and share transfer agreement.
Once he became critically ill or lost the ability to care for himself, his shares would all go to Xie Zhaozhou.
These shares alone wouldn’t make him president of the Xie Group, but they were undoubtedly a great help.
Compared to being a singer, Xie Hanzhou wanted to enter the Xie Group much more.
Three years ago, Xie Zhaozhou had shut him out, not even letting him start from the bottom, and had even stripped their father of some of his authority.
His ambition was obvious for all to see.
The car accident back then was probably also Xie Zhaozhou’s doing.
Xie Zhaozhou competed with him for everything.
Now even Ning Shixue… this dog he had kept, wanted to bite him back.
The bullet comments scrolled past dizzyingly, when someone suddenly asked:
[!!! So President Xie is also a Xie family member. What’s his relationship with Xie Hanzhou?]
[Wifey calls him Second Brother. Is he Xie Hanzhou’s brother? Doesn’t the Xie family only have two children?]
The director wanted to know too.
But he didn’t dare ask Xie Zhaozhou.
His face was full of conflict.
Stuck in between, he was about to burst.
[I suddenly understand why Ning Shixue changed his mind. Any hesitation on my part would be me being unable to appreciate the favor.]
[This bloodline suppression. Why did I used to think Xie Hanzhou was kinda handsome? Covering mouth crying.jpg]
Xie Hanzhou looked more like his father.
Xie’s father had been handsome in his youth too, but Xie Hanzhou had an added arrogance.
But Xie Zhaozhou looked more like Liao Yanwan.
The Liao family were often intensely featured: pale faces, deep-set eyes, a pair of narrow phoenix eyes like thin spring mountains and water, only their lips were red.
Under the camera, the effect was especially strong.
Xie Hanzhou’s fans could no longer control the comments and bullet comments.
How could they?
Xie Zhaozhou was his second brother.
They didn’t know how their relationship was, though it didn’t seem great.
But could they go and curse Xie Hanzhou’s own brother?
Besides, this person was Xie Zhaozhou.
Before the words even reached their lips, their faces already hurt.
What could they possibly compare to a triple crown film emperor?
The most vicious curse they could think of was wishing that drama queen Ning Shixue and him a hundred years of happy marriage.
But Xie Zhaozhou gaining a wife didn’t seem like a loss either.
Was there such a thing as a win-win in this world?
What was even more devastating was that Xie Zhaozhou’s fan base was quite enormous, plus casual fans.
So many of Xie Hanzhou’s fans were actually Xie Zhaozhou’s movie fans.
The internal structure had collapsed.
Xie Hanzhou was now completely open to public ridicule.
Xie Hanzhou almost ground his teeth to powder.
He should have left by now.
His agent was urging him constantly.
But how could he leave now?
Leaving like this would be like fleeing in defeat.
[Wait! Does no one care about this? So Xie Yaoyao is Brother Xie’s child with who? Could it be with Ning Shixue? What kind of earth-shattering gossip did I just stumble upon…]
[How could that be? Xie Yaoyao is three and a half. Ning Shixue is only twenty-one. That would be underage parenthood, thanks.]
[And Yaoyao said he had a mom, right?]
The director was also dying of curiosity.
Film Emperor Xie secretly married and had a child.
Even if not for the buzz, he was curious himself.
But he couldn’t just go and ask Xie Zhaozhou.
He wanted to live a few more years.
He simply called a cameraman to go with him to the playroom.
He wanted to try and get information from the kid.
Xie Yaoyao and the others were playing with building blocks in there.
“Yaoyao, can you tell uncle what your mommy’s name is?”
the director asked in a high-pitched voice.
Xie Yaoyao swung his little feet.
He pouted, not wanting to answer this uncle.
The director kept asking.
The little kid got annoyed.
Xie Yaoyao, holding the little Alaskan, finally looked up and told him,
“My mommy name Jiang Yan.”
After saying it, he propped his chubby face in his hands and sighed.
“You asked, now go away. Your blocks knocked mine over.”
Director: “…”
Having completely lost his loyal fan, Xie Yaoyao didn’t love him at all anymore.
The director shed bitter tears.
The name Jiang Yan wasn’t very familiar, but a quick search would find her.
In his life, Xie Sui had only done two things to defy Liao Yanwan.
One was marrying Jiang Yan.
The other was not letting Liao Yanwan name Xie Yaoyao when she wanted to.
Jiang Yan’s family wasn’t wealthy.
She was just a middle school teacher.
Liao Yanwan had been very displeased with her.
[So Xie Yaoyao is Xie Sui’s child? Brother Xie is actually his second uncle???]
[This is a real little treasure. He could walk sideways in Yan City. Ning Shixue’s raising him like a little puppy.]
[??? What’s wrong with a puppy! We want Xie the Puppy!]
The guests hadn’t eaten dinner yet.
The director had originally planned for them to come back in the evening and each cook a few dishes.
Since the special guests were here, they could show off their skills too.
He Lin’s father was also a director, but he didn’t make movies.
He did food variety shows.
Tonight should have been his moment.
But he hadn’t expected Xie Zhaozhou to suddenly appear.
The director was so excited he completely forgot about it.
It was too late to order takeout now.
The streets were covered in snow.
Even if they could deliver, it would take an hour or two.
“I’ll cook,”
Tang He’an said, standing up.
In the past, Ji Qing would have gone to help.
But now he was completely panicked.
The intense jealousy was suppressed, replaced by endless terror.
…What if Xie Zhaozhou found out it was him who tipped off the gossip accounts?
He had thought Ning Shixue’s arranged marriage partner was just some old man who was indifferent to him.
But Xie Zhaozhou still hadn’t let go of Ning Shixue’s hand.
They were like newlyweds, glued together.
Xie Zhaozhou chatted with He Lin’s father while playing with Ning Shixue’s pale, slender fingers.
Ji Qing had a very clear view from this angle.
He felt like his eyes were going to burn out.
They couldn’t let Tang He’an cook for everyone alone.
He Lin also stood up.
“Director Meng, maybe just stick to the original plan. We’ll just eat a little later.”
The director discreetly observed Xie Zhaozhou’s expression.
Seeing that Xie Zhaozhou didn’t object, he put on a flattering smile and said,
“Sorry for the trouble, teachers. I’ll find a few staff members to help.”
Xie Hanzhou was still standing there stiffly.
He didn’t know if leaving now was more embarrassing, or staying was.
As Ning Shixue passed by him, he couldn’t help it anymore.
His gaze dark, he turned and called out to Ning Shixue.
“Wait.”
Ning Shixue wasn’t stupid.
He knew Xie Hanzhou had been staring at him all night.
But he couldn’t be bothered with Xie Hanzhou.
Xie Hanzhou was born scummy.
Born into a wealthy family like the Xie family, he got whatever he wanted.
He had never been rejected.
This wasn’t liking him; it was just unwilling to accept defeat.
If this possessiveness towards the original host counted as ‘like,’ the original host would rise from the dead from anger.
He didn’t want to be with him, yet wanted him to love him forever.
There was no such thing, even in dreams.
“I have nothing to say to you,”
Ning Shixue’s voice was cold.
“Can you stay away from married people?”
Xie Hanzhou was so angry he laughed.
Wasn’t it Ning Shixue who had come after him even though he was already married?
But he couldn’t stay another minute.
So many cameras were on him, like countless eyes.
He could almost hear the pointing and whispering in his ears.
Xie Hanzhou’s Adam’s apple bobbed violently.
Without a word to anyone, his face ashen, he strode away.
Ning Shixue ignored him and headed straight for the kitchen.
Xie Zhaozhou followed behind him.
Suddenly, he grabbed Ning Shixue’s wrist, then took his right hand and slipped a ring onto his ring finger.
Ning Shixue was stunned for a second.
He remembered now.
The original host’s wedding ring had also been with Xie Zhaozhou.
At the wedding, afraid the original host would cause a scene, they had even cancelled the vow and ring exchange.
After the wedding, the original host had still gone to find Xie Hanzhou.
Of course, he wouldn’t wear the ring.
Ning Shixue had never been married before.
He had no experience.
Since the show started filming, he hadn’t even thought about the ring.
But Xie Zhaozhou had been wearing his all along.
Him not wearing his was indeed inappropriate.
So Ning Shixue let Xie Zhaozhou put it on for him.
[??? Did Brother Xie really come to coax her?]
[Reasonable suspicion Ningning had a fight with Brother Xie, then took the kid and ran away from home, which is why she’s on the show.]
[What is this ‘pregnant with the heir and running away’ trope? I’m shipping it to death. Covering mouth crying.jpg]
Ning Shixue was assigned to make little fried meatballs.
The meat filling was already prepared, but he didn’t know how to make them.
He had to look up a recipe.
Xie Zhaozhou grabbed his wrist.
“I’ll do it.”
Ning Shixue paused.
He looked doubtful, then asked expectantly,
“Second Brother, can you cook?”
Xie Zhaozhou didn’t say anything.
He rolled up his shirtsleeves and quickly fried a plate of little meatballs.
They were golden brown and smelled delicious.
Xie Zhaozhou had started living alone in middle school.
He only occasionally went back to the Xie residence.
He didn’t bring a nanny either.
He cooked for himself.
Ning Shixue had originally wanted to assist him, but couldn’t find the chance.
He could only hover around Xie Zhaozhou.
There were no cameras in the kitchen, only one at the door, which couldn’t capture them.
Xie Zhaozhou stopped having much physical contact with him.
Ning Shixue breathed a sigh of relief.
When the meatballs were finally done, and the other guests had mostly finished their dishes too, Xie Zhaozhou lowered his eyes, rolled his sleeves back down, and was about to go out.
Ning Shixue suddenly called out quietly,
“Second Brother.”
“What is it?”
Xie Zhaozhou looked up.
Ning Shixue picked up a little fried meatball and held it to his lips.
“You try one first.”
Xie Zhaozhou’s eyes paused.
His gaze was very deep, pressing down like a cold cloud.
He bent down and ate it, asking nothing.
Ning Shixue kept serving him dishes all evening.
The other guests served their kids first, then their partners.
But Ning Shixue always served Xie Zhaozhou first.
Only when Xie Zhaozhou stopped him did he put down his chopsticks.
“Why do you only serve me?”
Xie Zhaozhou lowered his voice so only they could hear, asking knowingly.
Ning Shixue hesitated for a moment.
“Can’t I play favorites with you?”
He didn’t know why Xie Zhaozhou had come.
Probably not purely for him.
But regardless, he had helped him out.
He was just repaying the favor.
Xie Zhaozhou’s eyes widened slightly.
It was the first time he’d heard someone so confidently say they were playing favorites with him.
Even if most of what this little ancestor said wasn’t true.
Xie Zhaozhou didn’t speak again.
Ning Shixue bit his lip, feeling a bit anxious.
He stole a glance at Xie Zhaozhou and met his frivolous, ambiguous gaze.
“True,”
Xie Zhaozhou’s dark phoenix eyes curved, his voice carrying a lazy teasing as he leaned closer.
“With such a good husband, it’s hard not to play favorites.”
If You Notice any translation issues or inconsistency in names, genders, or POV etc? Let us know here in the comments or on our Discord server, and we’ll fix it in current and future chapters. Thanks for helping us to improve! 🙂