The Nation Watched Him Flirt With His Wife… But No One Knew They Were Already Married

Xie Zhaozhou lowered his voice.

The bullet comments couldn’t hear what they were saying and were so anxious they started cursing the director.

[??? What is there that my esteemed VIP membership can’t hear! I’m going to throw a tantrum, sniffle. Going crazy.jpg]

[I’ve already joined this family, and you still won’t let me be part of your little game???]

[What a crappy program team. They don’t film what they should, and they film everything else randomly. Can’t the director just take a camera and shove it in their faces? If you can do that, you deserve a spot in the imperial temple. Hands clasped.jpg]

[@director, you’re so ungrateful / don’t know what’s good for you. I’ll give you three minutes. Tell me everything they said.]

Director: “…”

In the end, he bore the brunt of it all.

He would have loved to get closer and film them.
But Xie Zhaozhou gave him a cold glance, and he didn’t dare approach.
He could only leave the camera in this awkward position.

In the original story, after Ji Xiao got hurt, this show was actually cancelled, and there was no next season at all.

The original host left the show after abusing the child.
The director tried to find a replacement guest.
But then Ji Xiao got hurt.
Just a few days into filming, and two kids were almost seriously injured.
It was considered unlucky.
No one was willing to bring their kids anymore.

The director didn’t know about these butterfly effects.
He was nervous and excited now.
This overwhelming stroke of luck had finally come to him.

The official Weibo for Let’s Go, Baby! was flooded with private messages, people urging him to ask Xie Zhaozhou if he was planning a comeback.

Multiple media outlets, upon hearing the news, were ready to buy tickets to the northern city that very night.
Even if Xie Zhaozhou wasn’t willing to give interviews, just taking photos of him and Ning Shixue would be enough.

A few paparazzi had arrived in the northern city a few days earlier, originally intending to secretly film Xie Hanzhou and Ji Qing at a hotel.
Who knew they’d stumble upon such good fortune?
They immediately left Xie Hanzhou’s film crew overnight.

Tonight, you couldn’t even find anyone cursing Ning Shixue on the trending searches.

Of course, there were still people doing it.
Many were cursing him, a B-list drama queen, for not being worthy of Film Emperor Xie.
But they were all overwhelmed by Xie Zhaozhou’s fans and casual netizens.

This show was live.
Everyone heard Xie Zhaozhou tell Ning Shixue he came to comfort him.
Everyone saw Xie Zhaozhou voluntarily take Ning Shixue’s hand and put his hood up for him.

When he leaned down to speak to Ning Shixue, his usual aloofness and coldness seemed to fade.
His eyes reflected the snowy night, and within that snowy night, Ning Shixue’s beautiful, vivid face.

No one could find any trace of acting.

They could only conclude he had fallen in love.

Xie Zhaozhou had always been an actor, not a traffic star propped up by fans.
Besides, his reputation and status in the industry, even if he hadn’t retired, were enough for him to do as he pleased.
If he wanted to date, if he wanted to get married, that wasn’t something fans could control.

Xie Zhaozhou was already protecting this drama queen like this.
What else could fans do but follow suit and protect him too?

And if not for Ning Shixue, they might truly never have seen Xie Zhaozhou again in their lives.

Whoever dared to curse Ning Shixue was just picking a fight with them.

Brother Xie’s wife was their sister-in-law!

[Whether he’s worthy or not is none of your business. If you curse him now, Brother Xie will have to comfort his wife again tonight.]

[Where are your real couples? Xie Hanzhou didn’t say a word to Ji Qing all night and even went to find Ning Shixue. I don’t know who’s chasing who anymore.]

[I wanted to say this before. If Xie Hanzhou doesn’t like Ning Shixue, why did he accept the car he gave him? You’re so pure, so great, you just love being chased?]

[To be honest, when I was watching Slaying the Whale back then, I genuinely shipped him and Ji Qing. I genuinely thought Ning Shixue was a homewrecker. Now I’m completely unsure. Rather than Ning Shixue intruding, isn’t Xie Hanzhou just a scumbag himself? Wasn’t he just leading him on? Suddenly feel sorry for the little drama queen.]

[Xie Hanzhou really is scum. After he was photographed with Ji Qing at the hotel, wasn’t he still rumored to be involved with that actress from the crew?]

[Dammit, suddenly feel that this crazy yet beautiful wife really isn’t worthy of Xie Hanzhou. Good thing she didn’t marry into his family. Crying.jpg]

…

The director didn’t dare get close to film what Xie Zhaozhou and Ning Shixue were saying.
But that didn’t stop the bullet comments.

Some people even lip-read.

[…I think I need to go to an eye doctor. How did I see Ningning saying something about playing favorites, and then President Xie saying something like ‘with such a good husband, it’s hard not to play favorites’???]

[You’re definitely wrong. Punishment: watch it again.]

But no matter how many times they watched, it seemed to be the same.
The bullet comments unanimously chose to deceive themselves.

[Brother Xie couldn’t possibly be that flirtatious.]

Xie Zhaozhou and Xie Hanzhou didn’t look much alike.
Xie Zhaozhou had repeatedly denied being a member of the Xie family.
So for years, no one suspected they were brothers.

But the one thing they did share was that aura of being both passionate and cold.

He Lin had always thought no one in the Xie family was any good.

When Xie Zhaozhou first started acting, his scandals were few and far between.
Even his fans thought it was the former.

The bullet comments saw Xie Zhaozhou finish speaking, and then the tips of Ning Shixue’s ears suddenly reddened.
He glared at Xie Zhaozhou angrily.
But those peach blossom eyes were full of moisture and didn’t have much force.

Then he said something quickly to Xie Zhaozhou.

The bullet comments were completely focused on lip-reading.

[…]

Ning Shixue ate this meal with a heavy heart.
He was thinking about how to kill someone without breaking the law.
But it seemed impossible.
So he simply turned his head and focused on Xie Yaoyao.

Xie Zhaozhou seemed to let out a soft laugh.

“…”
Ning Shixue’s cheeks burned.
He couldn’t help raising his hand to cover his ears and mumbled,
“…What are you laughing at?”

Xie Zhaozhou stopped teasing him.
His bowl was already stuffed full by Ning Shixue.
Ning Shixue was like he was afraid he’d be wronged, serving him a portion of every dish.
His rice bowl was also piled high.

Xie Zhaozhou had long passed the age of having expectations for Xie’s father and Liao Yanwan.
But when he was a teenager, he still cared.
That’s why he had no appetite at family dinners.

Liao Yanwan was already busy enough with Xie Sui and Xie Hanzhou.
She couldn’t even spare a word for him.

Xie Zhaozhou often left early.

Xie’s father couldn’t stand this behavior and would frown, dissatisfied.
“What are you going to do now?! Who are you showing that cold face to at the family dinner? Does someone owe you something?”

Xie Zhaozhou simply ignored him.

But every time, someone would leave a meal tray outside his bedroom door.
At first, Xie Zhaozhou thought it was the old butler.

Later, he discovered it was Xie Sui.

But Xie Sui took care of him, perhaps out of guilt.
What was this little madman doing it for?

Ning Shixue stole a glance and saw Xie Zhaozhou half-lowering his eyes, already picking up his chopsticks to eat.
He turned back again.

Xie Yaoyao used to need the old butler to feed him at home.
Even then, he sometimes refused to eat.
Now, he didn’t need anyone at all.
Unless something was too far for him to reach, and Ning Shixue would help.
He just ate happily by himself.

Even Tang Haohao was very well-behaved tonight.

Yan Ting’s movements were very refined.
He ate slowly and methodically.
Tang Haohao sat beside him, wiggling his bottom, wanting to go get his Ultraman.
But in the end, he obediently sat still and quietly stuffed food into his mouth.

He even served Yan Ting.
“Little Dad, you eat this.”

Little kids knew who to bully and who to be afraid of.
Tang He’an was baffled.
Why wasn’t Tang Haohao afraid of him?

Was his fist not hard enough?

The director wanted to film a while longer.
But it was already past nine.
The kids needed to go to sleep.
He had to reluctantly give up.

Xie Yaoyao, wearing his little padded jacket and furry hat, reached his little hand out to Ning Shixue.
“Baby!”

The northern city was covered in snow.
The roads were hard to walk at night.
If the kids went out on their own, they’d fall all the way.
Ning Shixue had to carry him.
Xie Yaoyao was already a solid little lead weight.
Now, with all these clothes on, as soon as Ning Shixue picked him up, his arms went weak.

Xie Yaoyao wrapped his arms around his neck, his soft face buried in the hollow of his throat.
He didn’t think he was heavy at all.

He was still a little kid.

“…I’ll carry him,”
Xie Zhaozhou said, following over.
He pressed his lips together and said quietly to Ning Shixue.

Ning Shixue was stunned.

Xie Zhaozhou didn’t dislike Xie Yaoyao.
He just didn’t love him.
Since he had custody of Xie Yaoyao, taking care of him until adulthood was his obligation.

But there was no need to do anything extra.
He had never carried Xie Yaoyao before.

The day he picked Xie Yaoyao up from the Xie residence, he just lifted him and let Song Li carry him.

“I can carry him,”
Ning Shixue said, looking up, knowing he wasn’t very keen on it.

Xie Zhaozhou looked into his eyes.
The corner of his mouth seemed to curve slightly.
But he still took him from Ning Shixue’s arms.
“It’s fine.”

Xie Yaoyao’s dark eyes widened.
His chubby face was a mix of confusion and excitement.
Big Daddy had never carried him before.
He didn’t dare wrap his arms around Xie Zhaozhou’s neck.
He just curled up silently in Xie Zhaozhou’s arms like a little quail.

But this way, no one was holding the baby.
The baby would get lost.
He couldn’t help worrying.

Xie Yaoyao the Great Demon King didn’t think it was Ning Shixue carrying him.
When he was in Ning Shixue’s arms, he was there to show him the way.
Otherwise, what if the baby got lost?

“Baby hold me,”
Xie Yaoyao tried hard to reach his little hand over Xie Zhaozhou’s shoulder and grab a few of Ning Shixue’s fingers.

Ning Shixue raised his hand and let him hold on.

When they finally reached their hot spring hotel, Ning Shixue’s arms were still sore.
It wasn’t much different from carrying Xie Yaoyao himself.

Xie Zhaozhou put Xie Yaoyao down.
Xie Yaoyao flopped onto the bed.
Ning Shixue suddenly remembered a fatal problem.

The hotel only had this one bed.
How were they supposed to sleep?

Xie Zhaozhou seemed to guess what he was thinking.
His dark eyes looked at him with a hint of a teasing smile.

The tips of Ning Shixue’s ears burned slightly.
His toes curled as he whispered,
“I’ll sleep on the sofa.”

He couldn’t sleep with someone next to him.
Xie Yaoyao was okay, just a silly kid who would fall on his bottom trying to scare him.
But Xie Zhaozhou…

He would only make him feel like he was in danger.

Xie Zhaozhou had already taken a pillow and blanket and put them on the sofa, his voice very calm.
“I’ll sleep here.”

Ning Shixue felt bad about this.
He felt like he owed him.
He struggled for a long time, then steeled himself and said to Xie Zhaozhou,
“…Second Brother, if you don’t mind, just sleep in the bed.”

He could wait until Xie Zhaozhou was asleep and then go to the sofa.
He stayed up late anyway.

Xie Zhaozhou stared at him for a moment.
He didn’t say anything more and put the pillow back on the bed.

The Xie Group’s affairs were very busy.
Even if he came to film the variety show, he couldn’t just abandon the company’s matters.
Xie Zhaozhou went to the balcony to make a phone call, then worked on his laptop.

Ning Shixue quickly picked up Xie Yaoyao and went to shower.

He put Xie Yaoyao in the children’s bathtub and gave him a few little ducks that could squirt water.

Xie Yaoyao squeezed a little duck with his chubby hand, shooting out a stream of water.
He played by himself while Ning Shixue took a quick shower.

Xie Yaoyao already knew how to bathe himself.
He just needed help occasionally.
He lowered his head and rubbed bubbles onto his soft little legs.
His little belly was also covered in foam.

Ning Shixue showered quickly.
He didn’t put on clothes either.
He just crouched down and rinsed water over the kid.

The bedside lamp in the bedroom was dim yellow.
Xie Zhaozhou’s features were outlined more deeply.
His cold, dark eyes were hidden in the darkness.
He didn’t stand up until the sound of water in the bathroom stopped.

Xie Zhaozhou raised his hand and knocked on the bathroom door.

Ning Shixue was startled.
He hurriedly wrapped himself in a bathrobe and opened the door just a crack.
His skin was already pale.
Now, touched by the steam, his pale collarbones were tinged with red.
His damp, shoulder-length black hair hung down.
The bathrobe partially covered him, revealing a section of his calf.
Even his ankles were beautiful.

Water droplets traced down his dazzlingly pale calf, soaking the ankle bone until it was tinged pink.

Xie Zhaozhou’s Adam’s apple moved.
He politely looked away and told him,
“He Lin wants me to go for a drink. He’s at the hotel bar.”

“…”
Ning Shixue was confused for a moment.
Why was Xie Zhaozhou telling him this?
He always felt Xie Zhaozhou was up to no good.
He hesitated, then couldn’t help whispering,
“If you want to go, just go. Why are you asking me? If I say don’t go, will you not go?”

Xie Zhaozhou’s arm was draped with his black coat.
He looked down at him, his voice lazy.
“Mhm. If you say don’t go, I won’t go.”

Ning Shixue: “…”

My mistake. Can’t out-flirt him.

The tips of Ning Shixue’s ears were bright red.
He slammed the bathroom door shut with a bang.

Xie Zhaozhou seemed to pause outside the bathroom door for a moment.
Half a minute later, Ning Shixue heard his footsteps heading towards the entrance.

The hotel had a separate small bar.
It was very quiet at night, with not many people.
When Xie Zhaozhou arrived, He Lin was already there, with a few bottles of wine.

A few days ago, he had to sleep with Miaomiao.
Now that Grandpa He was here, someone could take care of her.

He finally had time to go out.

Seeing Xie Zhaozhou arrive, He Lin turned and waved him over.

Xie Zhaozhou sat down next to him and took a sip of wine.
It was sweet and spicy.

It seemed to be a local specialty ice wine.

“I asked you before, and you said you weren’t coming. Why the sudden visit?”
He Lin raised an eyebrow, his smile not quite proper.

Xie Zhaozhou lowered his eyes and didn’t speak.

Actually, he had decided at the last minute.
Ning Shixue’s agent had already arrived at Yan City Airport.
He had Song Li send him a message telling him not to come.

Xie Zhaozhou didn’t say anything, so He Lin didn’t press.
He asked instead,
“I heard the old man woke up?”

News had come out these past few days that Old Master Xie had recovered from his serious illness and was awake, but still couldn’t leave the hospital.

But meeting Xie Zhaozhou’s indifferent gaze, He Lin knew it was definitely fake.

“The doctor says, if he doesn’t wake up, he’ll only last another year or two at most,”
Xie Zhaozhou said, his voice emotionless.

He Lin understood.

He really needed to make plans early.
Only Old Master Xie had survived the accident back then.
Maybe he knew something.
Xie Zhaozhou had removed most of the bodyguards from the Xie family’s private hospital and released this news.
Then he left Yan City himself.

It looked too much like a trap.
But it was also a rare opportunity.
What if the old man really woke up and said something?

If they didn’t act now, who knew how many years they’d have to wait.
The other party would probably not be able to resist.

But even if Xie Zhaozhou wanted to leave Yan City, he didn’t necessarily have to come film this show.
He had originally planned to go abroad, attend a new product launch, and visit the branch office.

But before leaving, he happened to glance at the live stream.
The bullet comments were gradually becoming unbearable.

He inexplicably remembered the night before, when Ning Shixue told him his clothes were dirty.
Actually, Ning Shixue’s voice was very calm.
It sounded like he had just said it casually.
But his voice was hoarser than usual, with a faint accent, making it sound especially soft and aggrieved.

Xie Zhaozhou suspected that if he didn’t come, he would have to face those moist, beautiful eyes again.

How was this different from acting cute and throwing a tantrum?

He had known He Lin for years and worked with him countless times.
Much didn’t need to be said.

But He Lin couldn’t resist teasing him.
“Even if you’re not in Yan City, you didn’t have to come this far.”

“I was passing through,”
Xie Zhaozhou said, pouring himself another glass of wine.
His Adam’s apple moved as the cool liquid slid down.
He glanced at the bar clock out of the corner of his eye.
It was already eleven o’clock.

“…”

Like hell you were.

Why didn’t you just pass through the North Pole?

Because your wife isn’t in the North Pole?

He Lin wanted to say more.
But before he could speak, Xie Zhaozhou stood up.
He was stunned.
“It’s still early. Why are you leaving so soon? Not having another drink?”

“I’m a married man,”
Xie Zhaozhou said, picking up his coat and lowering his dark eyes, speaking slowly.
“I can’t stay out all night.”

He Lin: “…”

Bastard.

Who wasn’t married?

He Lin suddenly felt a pang of sadness.
Others brought their husbands or their sugar daddies.
He just brought his dad to film the show.
Now, after drinking, he’d have to go back and face his dad’s ugly mug.

He might as well have just asked an assistant to come.

Xie Zhaozhou left.
Ning Shixue finished bathing the chubby kid and went to make the bed.
He put Xie Yaoyao’s little pillow between his and Xie Zhaozhou’s.
For the first time, he was glad to have a kid.

It avoided a lot of awkwardness.

Xie Yaoyao the Great Demon King’s eyes sparkled.
He lay on the bed, kicking his little feet.
He had never slept with Big Daddy before.
Tonight, he was actually going to sleep between Big Daddy and the baby.

He was the happiest kid in the world.

Ning Shixue pulled back the covers.
Xie Yaoyao went over and hugged his neck, rubbing his face against his, his milky voice uncertain.
“Baby, we really, sleep with Big Daddy?”

You and Big Daddy will sleep, Ning Shixue thought.
He would make a run for it in the middle of the night.

But he nodded.
“Yes.”

Xie Yaoyao had just showered.
He was only wearing his baby pajama pants.
His whole body was white and soft.
He stuck out his little bottom and burrowed under the covers.
He patted the blanket beside him for the baby to lie down.
Then he hugged Ning Shixue’s arm.

Waiting for Ning Shixue to tell him a bedtime story.

Lately, Ning Shixue hadn’t been tricking him.
He told Xie Yaoyao stories about aliens.
This led to Xie Yaoyao the Great Demon King dreaming every night of fighting aliens.

“Are there, little black pigs in outer space?”
Xie Yaoyao asked his most pressing question, lying in Ning Shixue’s arms.

Ning Shixue looked confused.
“What little black pig? There’s no such thing.”

Xie Yaoyao excitedly kicked his little feet under the covers.
Great! No little black pigs in outer space!
Could he and the baby go live in outer space?
They could come back once a year to see Big Daddy.

Anyway, Big Daddy wasn’t home most of the time.
Xie Yaoyao the Great Demon King had automatically excluded him.

He listened for half an hour, finally couldn’t hold on, rubbed his eyes, and fell asleep.

Ning Shixue thought he wouldn’t be able to sleep with Xie Zhaozhou there.
But by the time Xie Zhaozhou got back, he was already asleep, holding the chubby kid, his fair cheeks flushed.

He didn’t even hear Xie Zhaozhou come back.

Xie Zhaozhou stared at him for a while, then went to another room next door to shower.
But when it was time to sleep, he hesitated for a moment, then still walked back.

Late at night, it started snowing again in the northern city.

Ning Shixue’s body was weak.
His breathing was also very light.

Xie Zhaozhou wasn’t sleepy.
He lay with his eyes closed, listening to Ning Shixue’s faint breathing next to him.

But after an hour, Xie Yaoyao the Great Demon King suddenly sat up.

Xie Yaoyao rubbed his chubby face and sighed.
He used all his might, his fair cheeks puffing out, to move Ning Shixue’s arm, which was tightly wrapped around him.

The bad stepdad was way too clingy.

During the day, Ning Shixue rarely hugged him on his own, unless necessary.
But at night, as soon as he fell asleep, he couldn’t help pulling him into his arms.
The little kid felt a bit hot from being held.

Xie Yaoyao used to be able to move away.
But now, with Big Daddy sleeping next to him, he was very sensitive to the fact that Big Daddy didn’t like him very much.
He probably didn’t want to sleep next to him.

Let Big Daddy哄 the baby sleep tonight.
Xie Yaoyao the Great Demon King was going on strike.

Xie Yaoyao picked up his little pillow, grabbed his little blanket, and huffed as he toddled on his short legs towards the other side of Ning Shixue.
His soft, plump little back was full of determination.

Xie Zhaozhou didn’t know what he was doing.
He propped himself up slightly to look.
Ning Shixue reached out but didn’t grab the chubby kid.
Groggily, he tilted to the side.

His body carried a faint scent of medicine.
He was warm and soft, bumping into Xie Zhaozhou’s arms.

Xie Zhaozhou’s whole body stiffened.