Geng Shanglou replied instantly.
【Geng Shang Lou: Sister, you’re shipping CP too!!】
【Geng Shang Lou: You have great taste!!】
【Geng Shang Lou: Here are some links for you! Ah—open wide and eat the candy! No need to thank me!】
【Geng Shang Lou: 】
【Geng Shang Lou: Oh, right, and this one!】
【Geng Shang Lou: [animated image]】
The linked videos couldn’t autoplay, and the video thumbnails bubbling with pink hearts made Yu Xi avert his eyes, though he could barely tolerate them.
But when he saw the thumbnails of the animated GIFs that the rich lady sister had posted, Yu Xi took a deep breath and immediately tried to exit the app.
Unfortunately, his phone chose that exact moment to lag. No matter how he tapped, he couldn’t close it, and pressing the lock screen did nothing. He could only watch helplessly as the animated GIF loaded automatically, playing in the highest resolution.
In the GIF, Yi Chen gazed at Yu Xi with sincere affection, his eyes locked firmly on him, burning with intensity. Yu Xi looked back at Yi Chen—perhaps because he was tired—propping his chin slightly, his eyes lowered at the corners, curving into a beautiful arc, as if he were smiling.
Yu Xi: “…………”
The next second, Yu Xi shoved his phone under his pillow.
As long as his eyes didn’t see it, nothing had happened online!
Nothing! Nothing at all!!!
He took several deep breaths before he barely calmed down. He looked at Ji Ruiou in disbelief. “No way, that’s not even from the same layer! How did they mash it together?!”
Not to mention anything else, just that animated GIF.
Was that him looking at Yi Chen?
No, it was because the boss had walked by leading his Big Yellow. Big Yellow was well-fed by its owner, its fur glossy and shining. It had a great temperament too—not shy at all. It grinned enthusiastically at the guests, its tail wagging so hard it nearly took off.
He had been looking at the dog! The doggo!
Yi Chen just happened to be in the direction the dog was coming from!
Yu Xi didn’t dare to scroll on his phone anymore.
Now, the big data algorithms on all major internet apps pushed content aggressively. If he clicked into one topic, similar stuff flooded in from all sides. If he looked at a couple more, his little surfing alt account would be ruined!
Yu Xi tossed his phone onto the bed, finished washing up, then forcibly confiscated Ji Ruiou’s phone too. The two of them squeezed in front of the small tea table to eat together.
They hadn’t even finished the meal when Ji Ruiou’s phone rang.
He seemed to have been waiting for this call for a long time. The moment he heard the ringtone, he eagerly picked up, chatted a few sentences, grabbed his keys, and said to Yu Xi, “I have to head out for a bit.”
Yu Xi: “Aren’t you off today?”
Ji Ruiou was thrilled: “Audition! I have to go!”
“The role you mentioned before?”
“Yeah!”
Yu Xi wasn’t entirely reassured: “Tell me which crew it is first. I’ll check it out for you.”
“I’ll tell you once I get the role! Can’t pop the champagne mid-game! I promise, it’s a legit production! I’m heading out now. Rest up later and take out the trash for me! We’ll chat on WeChat!”
Ji Ruiou rushed out the door.
Yu Xi didn’t stay much longer at Ji Ruiou’s place. Guan Zifan called him back to the company.
The moment he entered the office, Guan Zifan didn’t give Yu Xi any time to react before dropping a bombshell.
“The higher-ups issued a direct order. From now on, you’re going to collaborate with Yi Chen on business CP-ing—that is, selling the bromance.”
Yu Xi: “?”
Guan Zifan sighed. “You know I’ve been running around arranging your next endorsements. D·A·Y even sent an invitation.”
D·A·Y, an international luxury brand. Partnering with them would elevate the fashion resources he could access by a whole level.
“But they explicitly stated they want you and Yi Chen to endorse together.”
Yu Xi: “?”
“Endorsements come bundled now?”
“They’re qualified for it—their status is top-tier. If they asked for a whole soccer team of A-listers to endorse, everyone would still fight tooth and nail for those spots.” Guan Zifan continued, “Not to mention they specifically named you and Yi Chen.”
Yu Xi couldn’t fathom their logic: “Why?”
Guan Zifan’s mouth opened exaggeratedly, spitting out a tongue-rolled foreign word.
Yu Xi: “Speak human.”
Guan Zifan: “Chemistry.”
Yu Xi: “?”
“In short, the higher-ups have already approved and signed the contract. And to keep the endorsement hype going, they’ve roped you two into joint business CP-ing. The CP contract with Yi Chen’s side is signed too—black and white, no room for backing out.”
Yu Xi was dumbfounded by Guan Zifan’s barrage. He rolled up his sleeves and headed for the elevator. “I’m going to find them! Who gave them the right to decide for me?!”
“No use.” Guan Zifan drawled. “To avoid you tracking them down and giving you a chance to renege, our dear Boss has gone abroad.”
Guan Zifan patted Yu Xi’s shoulder. “If you don’t want to pay the breach fee, just play along. It’s only for a bit—won’t take long.”
Yu Xi: “.”
Guan Zifan handed him a file folder. “This is the business CP contract. It lists the dos and don’ts. I went over it—it’s pretty fair. Take a look when you have time.”
Yu Xi numbly took the folder. His entire energy seemed to have been snapped off like a branch after a storm.
He sat silently on the sofa, wanting to scroll his phone to cool off.
But.
He tapped into V Blog, and CP videos topped the homepage.
Tapped into T Forum, and CP promo posts were marked red and pinned.
Tapped into D Station, and CP edits shot up the hot list.
It was as if overnight, the whole world knew he and Yi Chen were dating—except him.
Yu Xi glumly tapped into his private chat with 【Geng Shang Lou】.
【Zhen Bu Chi Yumi: Sister, you really think they match?】
【Geng Shang Lou: Super match!! If only they would sell the bromance!!】
【Zhen Bu Chi Yumi: Don’t you want your fave to shine alone?】
【Geng Shang Lou: I want him to be happy!】
Yu Xi: “……”
Crazy. This world had gone mad!
Meanwhile, Yi Chen set down his phone.
His agent, Liu Yun, walked into the room and informed him about the D·A·Y contract and the higher-ups’ decision for joint business CP-ing.
Liu Yun personally supported the joint business model. It could boost Yi Chen’s traffic and popularity in a short time, paving the way ahead—a highly effective business strategy.
She had discussed it with Guan Zifan before.
—but the collaboration she envisioned involved consulting the artists first, mutual agreement, and cooperation. Not like now, where the higher-ups bypassed them entirely, signing without giving the artists any time or chance to communicate.
Too forceful.
But she had no choice but to notify Yi Chen.
“It’s like this.” Liu Yun said. “The higher-ups signed a contract recently. For the next while, you might have to do a little business CP-ing.”
Yi Chen: “?”
Yi Chen: “Business CP-ing? With who?”
Liu Yun sighed. “With Yu Xi.”
Yi Chen’s expression changed abruptly.
Liu Yun’s tone was helpless: “I originally wanted to discuss it properly with you, but the higher-ups went over our heads and signed it. Here’s the contract. Take a look—I already reviewed it. The terms are actually fine. Just be a bit ambiguous on camera; off-camera, we won’t interfere.”
Yi Chen took the business CP contract and flipped through it carefully. Then he looked up. “You mean business CP-ing with Yu Xi?”
Liu Yun nodded.
“Yun Jie, do you think I’d agree? When we partnered before, we agreed absolutely no hype with the opposite sex, right? Now it’s not opposite sex—it’s same-sex selling instead?”
“Not to mention you don’t know how overboard Yu Xi is. After the show ended, he left without even saying goodbye. He slipped away quietly, and I sat in the room with the lights on, waiting like an idiot all night. You want me to sell bromance with him? I don’t agree!”
Liu Yun pondered how to phrase her persuasion for Yi Chen to accept the contract.
Yi Chen was principled. If he said no hype, no one could ride his coattails.
While Liu Yun agreed with the business cooperation, she didn’t approve of the higher-ups forcing it this way.
If push came to shove, she’d have to negotiate with the higher-ups to maybe push back the contract dates.
Liu Yun didn’t plan to continue the topic. “Alright.”
Seeing Liu Yun look like she was giving up on persuading him.
Yi Chen quickly added: “Though I don’t agree to selling bromance, but—”
He slapped the contract on the table, his momentum surging: “If you’re really going to force me, then I have no choice.”
Liu Yun: “?”
![I Cultivate Immortality Alone [Infinite Flow]](https://i1.wp.com/dobynovels.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/inf.jpg?resize=151,215 "I Cultivate Immortality Alone [Infinite Flow]")
