Chapter 3: The Fish-Scale Pattern on His Legs
A crescent moon hung on the tips of the branches outside, casting faint shadows on the ground.
Beads of sweat formed on Chi Xiasheng’s forehead. As soon as he entered the room, he placed the graduation certificate he’d just collected on the table and downed several glasses of water, finally easing the feverish heat and thirst inside him.
He didn’t know why, but lately he was constantly plagued by a dry mouth and throat. His skin was even cracking from dryness, and he only felt some relief when he was in contact with water.
Since leaving the Su family, Chi Xiasheng had been staying in a cheap hotel while he sorted out his graduation. Today, after spending the entire day at school taking graduation photos, he had finally received his certificate.
The day spent under the scorching sun had only intensified his feeling of dehydration. The long, slender legs under his jeans were particularly bad, so dry that a fish-scale pattern had appeared on the skin.
The itching was unbearable. Chi Xiasheng scratched his calves a couple of times, and red marks immediately appeared on his fair skin. The fish-scale texture, however, seemed to fade a little.
Unseen by him, a row of small, colorful birds had gathered on the windowsill outside. They had flown instinctively toward a place that felt comfortable, but as they neared the window, the pleasant, soothing aura suddenly faded, dissipating into the air. The simple-minded birds quickly scattered, their fluttering movements rustling the nearby branches and knocking off the few remaining leaves.
Chi Xiasheng took a shower. His parched skin seemed to drink its fill, returning to its normal state.
As he dried his hair, he realized he had developed an intense craving for water recently. If it weren’t for how long it took, he felt like he could live in the water forever.
When will this agonizingly hot summer finally end? Chi Xiasheng worried.
The phone on the table rang. Chi Xiasheng glanced at it.
In the days since he’d left the Su family, only Mother Su had called him once. After that, there had been no contact. Chi Xiasheng felt like a small pebble tossed into the vast, deep ocean—it created a tiny ripple, then vanished without a sound.
To the Su family, he truly was insignificant. If he disappeared, he would simply be gone.
This call, however, was from his agent.
Chi Xiasheng was the epitome of a cool and detached beauty. His exceptional looks had caught the eye of an agent who was scouting at his university. It had taken a lot of persuading, but the agent finally managed to lure him into the entertainment industry.
Chi Xiasheng’s features were exquisite. His pale face was set with a pair of light-colored pupils that shone like translucent glass, making him appear even more aloof and stunning. His sharp, slender profile was incredibly captivating, like a snow lotus blooming alone on a frozen mountain. A single glance was enough to capture one’s full attention, as if the world had faded to white, leaving only his refined, otherworldly face.
With looks like these, the agent had been certain Chi Xiasheng would become an overnight sensation and the biggest star under his management.
Unexpectedly, Chi Xiasheng was not only cool on the outside—his acting was just as expressionless.
He had been in the industry for over a year, and his only role was in a drama called The Legend of Jialan. He was torn to shreds by netizens for his “paralyzed face” acting and became the target of endless ridicule.
The drama had been a surprise hit. Everyone else in the cast gained a significant number of fans thanks to their roles. This was especially true for Chi Xiasheng’s “brother,” Su Chimian, who shot to stardom with the series. His portrayal of a beautiful, strong, yet tragic young prince had moved audiences to tears, turning countless viewers into devoted fans.
In contrast, Chi Xiasheng, the most beautiful of them all, attracted few fans and a massive number of haters, especially from the original novel’s fanbase. Now, no matter what project he was associated with, his haters would follow, determined to tear him down. As they say, the most loyal followers an idol has are their haters, chasing them to the ends of the earth just to curse them out.
His agent hadn’t wanted him to take the role at first. He genuinely wanted to make Chi Xiasheng famous and had planned to craft a career path specifically for him. Acting was fine, but he should have started with smaller roles suited to him, slowly honing his skills.
“Sigh, it’s all my fault,” the agent’s weary voice came through the phone, tinged with regret. “Su Chimian convinced me, and I helped you get the role. The show became a hit, but you were dragged through the mud.”
At the mention of Su Chimian’s name, a sharp pain shot through Chi Xiasheng’s otherwise calm heart. He closed his eyes for a moment before replying, “It’s not your fault. I agreed to it back then.”
At the time, Chi Xiasheng had just returned to the Su family. He still believed Su Chimian was his lively and adorable biological brother. After Su Chimian’s persistent pleading, he had agreed to join the cast with him. When he agreed, Su Chimian had spun around happily in front of him, saying they would be the best of brothers for life.
Thinking of it now, Chi Xiasheng found it deeply ironic.
Brother, hah.
It seemed he was the only one who had been so naive.
“You got so much negative press from that show, I was thinking it would be best for you to lay low for a while. But an acquaintance of mine is filming a slow-life reality show, and I think it’s a good opportunity…”
His agent, Li Ge, had truly been looking out for him. Even though Chi Xiasheng’s reputation was in tatters, he hadn’t given up on trying to salvage his career.
“This show fits perfectly with what audiences want right now—a slower pace of life. I think it has the potential to be a hit. What do you think, want to join?”
Hearing Li Ge’s words, a warmth spread through Chi Xiasheng’s chest. Since entering the industry, Li Ge had never forced him into anything, always discussing every job with him first. It was a shame he hadn’t become the star his agent hoped for and had instead become a magnet for controversy.
“I think I can do it.”
Chi Xiasheng had just graduated and was short on cash. Participating in the show would earn him some money and help him get through his current predicament. After all, he had only paid for five nights at the hotel. If he didn’t find work soon, he’d be sleeping on the streets.
They quickly came to an agreement. After confirming the dates, all that was left was to wait for filming to begin.
The show’s cast and schedule had already been set, but one of the guests had a last-minute scheduling conflict, so they needed an emergency replacement.
The director initially had no interest in Chi Xiasheng. He was drowning in negative press, and while his looks were undeniably stunning, they had to consider the show’s reception. But then, Su Chimian’s agent also called, saying he wanted to join the show.
The director was ecstatic and immediately finalized both of them.
Everyone knew Chi Xiasheng and Su Chimian were biological brothers, but one’s reputation was in ruins while the other was a rising star. Netizens loved gossip and drama. The stark contrast between two brothers would only make for more compelling viewing. Besides, the biggest fear for a slow-life reality show was a lack of buzz. With both Su Chimian and Chi Xiasheng on board, drama-loving netizens were sure to tune in. They wouldn’t have to worry about ratings at all. Moreover, haters were still viewers. Chi Xiasheng’s hater-magnet constitution might just be what the show needed to go viral.
The director’s mental abacus clacked away.
Meanwhile, Chi Xiasheng, completely unaware of the production team’s scheming, was diligently packing his things in his hotel room.
Two days later, he checked out and flew to the city where the show was being filmed, arriving at the hotel designated for the cast.
The production team had booked rooms at the only three-star hotel in the area, which was also the best hotel in the city. The lobby was decorated in a tacky, golden castle style, with a thick, brown-and-red patterned carpet covering the floor. Chi Xiasheng made no sound as he pulled his suitcase across it.
A staff member waiting for the guests had sharp eyes and spotted Chi Xiasheng, who was wearing a black face mask.
“Mr… Mr. Chi?”
The staff member jogged over and helped Chi Xiasheng with his suitcase.
Chi Xiasheng gave a slight nod. “Hello. Which floor am I on?”
It was impolite to speak to someone with a mask on, so he took it off. His light-colored eyes, like crystalline amber, looked at the staff member.
The staffer was stunned by his incredible beauty up close. She stood there dazed for a moment before stammering, “On… on the seventh floor. All the guests are on the seventh floor.”
Chi Xiasheng wasn’t a man of many words and simply nodded. But the staff member was clearly still mesmerized by his looks, following behind him in a daze. She had heard of Chi Xiasheng before; the rumors said he was cold and ill-tempered, though admittedly good-looking.
But this was more than just “good-looking”!
A white shirt was tucked into his slim waist, and the legs under his light-blue pants were long and straight. A small, light-brown mole at the corner of his eye added a touch of softness to his features, yet his entire demeanor was so aloof and detached that it stirred a restless desire in one’s heart. Standing together in the elevator, the staffer even felt like Chi Xiasheng’s cool, pale skin was faintly glowing.
Ah, he’s so, so handsome, sob~
“We’ll start filming tomorrow as we leave the hotel. The other guests have already arrived. Mr. Qiao Ning is the team leader for this segment.”
The staff member was a sucker for a pretty face and couldn’t care less about Chi Xiasheng’s bad press. She eagerly filled him in on the details.
Chi Xiasheng had read the script provided by the production team and had a general idea of the schedule, but he still gave her a grateful smile. The smile sent a rush of heat to the staffer’s head. She quickly lowered her eyes and muttered a prayer. With a beauty like this so close, she was terrified she would lose control and pounce on him!
After settling into his room, Chi Xiasheng received a call from Qiao Ning.
The premise of the show was to travel to undeveloped but scenic rural villages, integrate into the local life, and show the audience the beauty of the villages and their way of life. At each location, one guest would be designated as the team leader, responsible for gathering the others, assigning tasks, and so on.
This time, the leader was Qiao Ning, a young idol who had become famous from a high school romance drama.
On the phone, Qiao Ning’s voice was cheerful. After a few pleasantries, he got straight to the point. “We’re meeting at 8:30 tomorrow morning. Xiaosheng, you can get up by then, right?”
Chi Xiasheng reached to put his phone on the desk to pick up the room key he had dropped. As he did, his finger accidentally hit the record button on the screen. He paused for a second, missing Qiao Ning’s question.
“Xiasheng, are you listening? 8:30 tomorrow morning. No need to be early. We’ll meet at the back entrance of the hotel. Try to pack light, and bring…”
Chi Xiasheng didn’t pay much attention to the recording and, after picking up his key card, confirmed the time and place with him again.
Qiao Ning sounded slightly impatient. He felt like Chi Xiasheng wasn’t listening to him, and his tone became a bit stiff. “Yes, 8:30. No need to arrive early. Everyone’s tired on the first day, so get some good rest.”
Hearing Qiao Ning deliberately repeat “no need to arrive early” twice, Chi Xiasheng frowned slightly. His tone felt strange.
“Okay, I’ll be there at 8:30.”
Since it was the first day of filming, Chi Xiasheng felt he should take it seriously, so he went to bed early.
A ray of golden light pushed back the inky blackness of the night sky, splitting it into light and shadow. Eventually, the brightness spread across the horizon, and the cool morning air gave way to the glaring sun.
When he woke up, Chi Xiasheng felt like he was running a slight fever again. He checked his phone and saw it was only a little past 7:00 AM.
Lately, he had been getting these inexplicable fevers, and his skin was constantly dry and cracked for no reason. It was a real headache.
The craving for water won out. Chi Xiasheng got up and took a quick shower, which made him feel much better. Even the feverish symptoms seemed to recede.
When he returned to the main room, he saw his phone vibrating wildly on the table. It was his 7:40 AM alarm and a series of frantic, non-stop calls from Qiao Ning.
He answered the call, his clear, cool voice carrying a hint of confusion. “Hello? Brother Qiao Ning?”
Qiao Ning seemed surprised that he picked up so quickly. He paused for a second before demanding angrily, “Chi Xiasheng, where are you?! We’ve all been waiting for you for half an hour! How can you be so unpunctual?!”
