Chapter 17: An Intimate Photo
“The hidden camera mission is of course a reward!” Sheng Jiao earnestly educated the amateur guest. “More screen time, more exposure in front of the audience, that’s traffic, and traffic equals money.”
The last sentence successfully motivated Xi Leng, and he readily agreed: “Okay, what should I do?”
Xi Leng received a mini camera.
The “hidden camera” in variety shows was a common prank format, secretly filming celebrities without their knowledge to capture their most genuine reactions. Of course, this prank wouldn’t be too extreme, and it could always be edited out in post-production. Pre-arranged scenarios, turning it into acting, were also common.
Secretly hiding the mini camera on his person was beyond Xi Leng’s knowledge base. He fumbled with it for a long time without success when the door was knocked again.
He didn’t turn off the camera, putting it in his pocket first, then draping a shirt over his shoulders, the knotted long sleeves covering the front of his neck, before going to open the door.
Unexpectedly, the uninvited guest at the door was Jiang Songnan.
The slicked-back man was sharp and imposing, his eyes fixed on him like a hawk.
“Is something the matter?” Xi Leng asked calmly.
His attitude was as if he was treating the other person as a not-so-familiar neighbor, rather than an unapproachable celebrity.
Jiang Songnan felt inexplicably irritated, his brows furrowed as he clicked his tongue: “You joining ‘Unlimited Escape Room,’ you must have gotten Min Zhi’s approval, right? I mean, he invited you, so you can cooperate with him and play the fan-loving role to improve his image.”
Xi Leng’s calm hazel eyes remained undisturbed, revealing no emotion.
The first sentence was the best opportunity for probing, but Jiang Songnan returned empty-handed. He was momentarily speechless and got straight to the point: “How much did he pay you? I can give you double.”
Xi Leng: “…Huh?”
Jiang Songnan, sensing the change in his expression from hope, the prolonged indifference instantly transforming into powerful motivation, blurted out everything on his mind: “It’s simple, I don’t need you to break your contract with him, just play dumb on the show, hold him back. He’s easily provoked. After the show airs, you just post a Weibo update hinting that you’re disappointed in him and no longer a fan.”
But Xi Leng’s reaction and words were impeccable: “Is that so?”
Jiang Songnan suddenly sensed something was wrong, his expression changing slightly: “Are you recording?”
The other person’s amateur status had preconceivedly occupied Jiang Songnan’s thinking, coupled with his deceptively indifferent appearance, creating an unrealistic illusion—that he couldn’t persuade him simply because he hadn’t offered enough.
Jiang Songnan, the seasoned actor, had clearly lost the vigilance a celebrity should have, his acting skills not even making an appearance.
“Are you recording?” Jiang Songnan gritted his teeth, asking again.
Xi Leng smiled, silently saying, “Guess.”
It was the first time Jiang Songnan saw this cold face thaw, a smile blooming.
No wonder there was the saying of building anticipation before the reveal. He was stunned, his mind wandering.
Having grown accustomed to that cold and indifferent face, the current smile seemed incredibly precious, even more… alluring.
Unfortunately, that precious smile vanished in a flash.
Jiang Songnan came back to his senses and looked down at him arrogantly: “Since you’re filming a variety show, choosing to be in the public eye, you should know how important reputation is, and you should also know how many ways I have to ruin your life.”
Xi Leng chuckled again: “Hm? Threatening me?”
He deliberately dragged out his words, slowly.
“Threaten me again.”
Jiang Songnan, completely unaware of where his arrogance came from, was so surprised he couldn’t speak.
Xi Leng didn’t bother being polite anymore and closed the door.
Jiang Songnan stood there for a long time, still stunned.
Until another chuckle, with a different tone, reached his ears.
Jiang Songnan turned around with a darkened face, seeing Min Zhi’s punchable face, the row of earrings shimmering with his muffled laughter, his dark eyes deep, looking at him with a smirk.
“Why are you here?” Jiang Songnan asked irritably.
“Passing by.” Min Zhi squinted slightly, his disdain evident. “By the way, I wasn’t even thinking of signing a contract with my fan, thanks for reminding me. But I don’t think it’s necessary.”
He had seen and heard with his own eyes the sincerity and firmness of Xi Leng’s feelings for him.
His good mood made even the unpleasant Jiang Songnan seem somewhat tolerable.
Meanwhile, Xi Leng, facing the bathroom mirror, adjusted the shirt draped over his shoulders, clipping the mini camera to the slipknot at his collarbone, quickly adjusting it until only a small, inconspicuous black dot was visible.
He then walked out, through the softly carpeted corridor, to the elevator lobby on the 12th floor, where the staircase was also located.
However, just as he arrived, a familiar scent of tobacco drifted into his nostrils.
He paused, and the closer he got to the staircase, the stronger the smell of smoke became. Finally, he ran straight into a pair of cold, star-like dark eyes.
Min Zhi’s cigarette had just burned down. He emerged from the dimly lit stairwell and stubbed out the cigarette butt on the ashtray between the two elevators.
He was a public figure and had hidden in the stairwell to avoid being seen by people coming out of the elevators. Xi Leng, an ordinary person, choosing to take the stairs when there was an elevator, was unusual.
“Why are you taking the stairs?”
“…Taking a walk.” Xi Leng replied vaguely. Since his idol had conveniently appeared, he directly made his request. “What a coincidence. Actually, I’ve been wanting to ask you…”
Hearing this, Min Zhi indeed stopped dwelling on the stairs issue, looking at him, waiting for him to continue.
Xi Leng paused for a few seconds, then expressed a bit of a fan’s shyness and hesitation, an extremely rare sight on his usually indifferent face.
“Um, can I… take a photo with you?”
Min Zhi had anticipated this request since their first meeting at the airport. He hadn’t expected to finally hear it almost two months later.
He looked at the cold and aloof young man standing two meters away from him, his heart as if softly enveloped by the melting night outside, tingling with every beat.
He let out a soft sigh, a mixture of helplessness and indulgence.
“Mm-hmm, come here.”
Xi Leng suppressed the smile of his fulfilled wish and cautiously approached him.
However, instead of the poses he had practiced for taking photos with his idol, Xi Leng simply stood beside him, an arm’s length away, and took out his phone.
“I’ll take it then. Three, two…”
His finger hovered over the capture button, the word “one” just about to leave his lips.
Suddenly, a strong force pressed against the back of Xi Leng’s head, his startled finger pressing the shutter button.
At the same time, a bitter-sweet tobacco scent enveloped him from all directions, his cheek, through the thin fabric, pressed against Min Zhi’s chest. He could almost hear the other person’s strong heartbeat.
Xi Leng was so startled that he almost broke character and struggled, but thankfully, Min Zhi let go after the photo was taken.
Xi Leng, reservedly and slowly, resumed his standing posture, his crumbling fan persona barely pieced back together.
And in his phone was the photo he had just accidentally taken.
The aloof idol, seeing through the shy little fan’s thoughts, generously and forcefully pulled him close, his slightly widened eyes, a beautiful color, peeking out from his slightly curled black hair in surprise.
Min Zhi above him wasn’t looking at the camera, but down at him, the phone creating a slightly blurry image, his handsome features as if covered by a milky filter, adding a touch of gentleness, even his sharp earrings seemed to soften.
The two leaned closely together, completing an intimate photo.
After looking at the photo, Xi Leng looked up.
Min Zhi was still looking at him, saying: “Actually, you can be greedier.”
…Greedier?
Xi Leng came to his senses, looking at him blankly for a few seconds. He thought for a moment, then decided to tell the truth about the hidden camera.
A conflict was pulling at him. He wanted to play the role of a fan well, but he didn’t want to overdo it and be overly intimate with Min Zhi. Moreover, if he hid the camera, although it was just for the show, it might lower Min Zhi’s impression of him.
No matter how he thought about it, telling the truth was better, of course, only the truth about the hidden camera.
Xi Leng decisively took out the mini camera from his collar and handed it to Min Zhi: “You deal with it, you can give it to Sheng Jiao or not. It also recorded Jiang Songnan, but only audio, listen to it before you decide what to do.”
Min Zhi froze.
He hadn’t expected Xi Leng to reveal even the incident with Jiang Songnan trying to poach him.
Xi Leng’s eyes were sincere as he waited for his response.
Min Zhi looked down, fiddling with the mini camera in his hand, his feelings complicated.
Setting aside the Jiang Songnan incident, so Xi Leng wanting to get close to him, to take a photo with him, also needed to be done under the guise of a mission?
He had clearly said that Xi Leng could be greedier, but Xi Leng seemed not to have heard, reverting back to his distant and polite demeanor.
He suddenly didn’t know what to do with this little fan, his helpless gaze fixed on him, his eyes still that bottomless black that could swallow a person whole, but the aggression and pressure were gone.
“Next time you have a request, just ask directly—”
“Boss, you’re here after all!”
Min Zhi’s words were interrupted by Zhu Minglang’s surprised face appearing in the open elevator doors.
“Shall we talk in the room?” Zhu Minglang, unaware of the preceding events, enthusiastically invited the two. “Boss, you come too.”
Min Zhi pursed his lips and followed them to Xi Leng’s room.
Zhu Minglang pulled a chair and sat opposite the sofa. The script he placed on the coffee table was something he drafted beforehand, very rough, only creating opportunities for the two to interact more and for Min Zhi to lose his temper less. After all, tomorrow’s variety show filming didn’t have a script, he couldn’t arrange specific actions for certain segments.
“Let me ask first, Xi Leng.” Zhu Minglang said. “You have a separate fan account, right?”
Min Zhi hadn’t expected Zhu Minglang to ask this directly, but he was quite satisfied, his gaze, along with Zhu Minglang’s, fixed on Xi Leng.
Xi Leng paused slightly, his mind racing to analyze the situation, quickly deciding on a positive answer: “Mm-hmm.”
“If you’re willing, could you tell us your fan account?” Zhu Minglang was very perceptive, continuing under Min Zhi’s approving gaze, “Don’t worry, it’s just me and the boss, if we see any inappropriate content, we’ll remind you, we won’t make it public, unless you agree. After all, your artist account is really…”
Completely devoid of anything related to the boss!
But before Zhu Minglang could finish speaking, Xi Leng gave his fan account ID: “My fan account is ‘WinterSunshineForZhi’, you can search for it.”
