Chapter 34: Judgement from the Idol
Xi Leng’s neck was bare, and he was carrying a plastic bag of groceries he had just bought from the supermarket downstairs. This was the domestic and everyday side of him that he only showed in front of Rong Xingyi.
It was infuriating enough to make even the most rational person lose their mind, but… ge?
That one word “ge” shattered all potential conflict.
Min Zhi snapped out of his daze: “…What?”
“Ge!” Rong Xingyi called out again, more clearly. “Give me back my phone!”
Xi Leng, his face still cold, took out the phone from his pocket and tossed it over.
Rong Xingyi jumped up excitedly to catch the phone, immediately forgetting about the two people at the door, scurrying back to his room.
Xi Leng quickly assessed the situation—Rong Xingyi’s cries for help at home had attracted Min Zhi next door to unlock the door, and then, either because of Rong Xingyi’s pestering or Min Zhi being overly responsible, he had stayed to watch over Rong Xingyi until now.
Of course, there was also the possibility that Min Zhi had other intentions, but Xi Leng didn’t care about that, only instinctively shielding the scar on his neck, regretting removing his scarf too early.
Putting it back on now would seem like he was guarding against his “idol” like a thief.
He felt uncomfortable all over, lowering his head, his lips pursed slightly.
Fortunately, Min Zhi didn’t pay too much attention to his scar, but stared at his face, especially his eyes, for a while, then said: “You two don’t look alike, and your surnames are different.”
Xi Leng didn’t explain much: “Mm-hmm. We have the same father, different mothers.”
He kept his head lowered, walking to the open kitchen and putting down the plastic bag. He took out the groceries one by one, a variety of items, yet only occupying a small area of the island counter.
He immediately wiped away a water droplet that accidentally splashed onto the marble countertop, cherishing it carefully.
He seemed completely out of place. He wasn’t used to Min Zhi’s sudden appearance at his home, nor was he used to the overly luxurious apartment.
This was completely different from his indifferent and calm demeanor in the dilapidated rented apartment before.
This made him seem more alive.
The more Min Zhi watched him, the more interested he became, walking over and asking: “Can you cook?”
“Not really.” Xi Leng said honestly. “Just… edible.”
Occasionally, Xi Leng would crack a joke with that cold face of his.
Not very funny, but his demeanor was endearing.
Min Zhi couldn’t help but smile and asked: “Then can I join you for dinner?”
Xi Leng, however, hesitated, acting coy in a way that was unfamiliar even to himself. He didn’t know what image he was trying to maintain, but he couldn’t give a definite answer, saying vaguely again: “It’s not very good.”
He probably wanted Min Zhi to back off.
But Min Zhi said: “It’s fine.”
“I’ll help you, so it’ll be faster. Your didi said he was starving.”
“…Okay.”
The two started bustling around in the kitchen.
Rong Xingyi, after playing with his phone for a while, came out to witness this astonishing scene.
Knowing that his cooking skills were questionable, and for the sake of his growing younger brother’s nutrition, Xi Leng specifically bought some pre-made dishes, braised beef and shredded chicken, which Min Zhi mixed with seasonings and heated in the microwave.
As for the staple food and vegetables, they used the most basic cooking method, boiling everything in one pot.
Xi Leng turned on the stove, first throwing in a handful of dried noodles, then cracking three eggs, stirring them, adding the washed vegetables, the clear broth gradually turning milky white, but no matter how you looked at it, it didn’t look appetizing.
Finally, he added some soy sauce and salt, and it was done.
Min Zhi, who was just there for a free meal, hesitated several times, but ultimately didn’t offer any suggestions.
Before serving, Xi Leng considerately pointed at the pot of mush and asked him first: “Are you sure you want to eat this?”
“Mm-hmm.” Min Zhi said resolutely. “…Give me a bowl.”
Xi Leng’s movements seemed reluctant as he filled a small bowl, saying he could have more if it wasn’t enough.
Rong Xingyi’s bowl that night was full, under the guise of a growing child’s big appetite.
“Help me…” Rong Xingyi stuck out his tongue with a look of distress. “This is awful.”
Min Zhi ate two mouthfuls of noodles with a straight face, saying seriously: “Perhaps there’s something wrong with your taste buds.”
Rong Xingyi was stunned: “…?”
Since his idol said so, then it must be true.
However, the idol’s tone and expression when saying this were eerily similar to how his brother lied to him, saying he was dreaming…
Rong Xingyi ate in misery.
But today was far less miserable than usual, because his idol, whom he had only seen on TV before, was sitting right across from him! Although he had more than one idol, only this one was present!
And eating noodles cooked by his brother with him…
Rong Xingyi complained incessantly in his mind, occasionally stealing glances at Min Zhi, his eyes shifting, who knew what he was thinking.
He was a true fan, and after observing for so long, he naturally noticed the new piercing on Min Zhi’s right ear.
“Min Zhi-gege.” He spoke up as soon as he noticed. “Is the piercing on your right ear new? What’s the meaning behind it?”
His words suggested that all of Min Zhi’s other piercings had some special meaning.
Xi Leng, unaware of this, slowed down his eating.
Min Zhi hummed in agreement but didn’t elaborate.
He still maintained his usual aloof distance with this little fan.
Min Zhi silently observed Rong Xingyi across from him.
Actually, looking closely, this kid didn’t resemble Xi Leng much at all. He guessed they probably looked more like their respective mothers. But after repeated comparisons, he could still sense a subtle resemblance in their expressions and overall aura.
Rong Xingyi’s appearance was undeniably striking and endearing, easily making people like him.
Just like his brother.
It was just that Xi Leng didn’t smile much and was incredibly quiet, but rare things were precious.
In comparison, Xi Leng was superior in every aspect.
Thinking that Zhu Minglang had nothing better to do, and Xi Leng seemed to care about his younger brother quite a bit, Min Zhi had an idea and asked: “Have you ever thought about becoming a celebrity?”
“…Huh?” Rong Xingyi was stunned, instinctively looking at Xi Leng.
Xi Leng, focused on eating, ignored him.
Rong Xingyi blinked, giving a clearly insincere, official response: “I think I should focus on my studies at this age.”
As if anyone would believe that.
But the two older brothers didn’t expose him, leaving him to struggle on his own, glancing left and right.
Fine.
The bland noodles became even more tasteless. Rong Xingyi, having stuffed himself, excitedly spoke to Min Zhi again: “Min Zhi-gege, can you sing at my wedding when I get married?”
“Ow!”
He was kicked! His foot throbbing in pain, Rong Xingyi immediately glared at Xi Leng, the culprit, who maintained a blank expression.
“How old are you,” Min Zhi’s gaze shifted between the two, noncommittal, throwing the question back, “already thinking about marriage?”
Rong Xingyi pouted: “I’ll definitely get married before my ge.”
Min Zhi said curiously: “…He’s six years older than you, right?”
“So what if he’s six years older?” Rong Xingyi said nonchalantly, his tone certain, “He’s frigid, he won’t get married.”
Xi Leng: “…?”
“He even changed his name, see…” Rong Xingyi said, holding a spoon in his mouth, his eyes shifting. “He knows it himself, I’m not making this up.”
Xi Leng: “…”
After finishing the meal and sending Min Zhi off, Xi Leng felt a chill on his back, realizing he was covered in a cold sweat.
He straightened his face, lecturing his outspoken younger brother: “Don’t talk nonsense in front of Min Zhi.”
Rong Xingyi naturally wasn’t convinced: “What nonsense did I say?”
There was too much to list, so Xi Leng picked something minor: “Like asking him to sing at your wedding.”
“I was just saying that, it’s not going to happen.” Rong Xingyi’s expression was calm. “I just hope he’ll continue singing, even just once, he clearly liked it so much…”
Xi Leng paused slightly, still avoiding the topic: “Anyway, just listen to me from now on.”
He then offered a bait the child couldn’t refuse: “If you’re obedient, I’ll buy you a new phone.”
Rong Xingyi’s eyes lit up, burning with anticipation: “Really?”
Xi Leng’s coffers were quite full now, so he casually promised: “Mm-hmm, I’ll buy you an iPhone 19 Pro.”
But the anticipation on Rong Xingyi’s face instantly vanished.
“？？？”
“You’re lying to me again! The iPhone 16 is coming out this year!!”
Xi Leng: “…”
He forgot about the rebirth.
That night, Xi Leng was putting the finishing touches on Min Zhi’s portrait in his upstairs studio.
Suddenly, he heard the creaking sound of the door opening. Startled, he quickly turned the easel, not wanting the head poking in through the door to see it.
It felt a bit like he was hiding something. He scratched his hair, looking at the unlocked door below, and asked: “What’s wrong?”
The unlocked door seemed to put Rong Xingyi in a good mood. He even dared to take a few steps inside, looking up at the person in the loft from the bottom of the stairs.
Xi Leng leaned against the railing with one hand, looking down at him, wondering what he wanted.
“Ge.” Rong Xingyi hesitated for a while, then finally spoke, “You’re not going to, sneak away again while I’m asleep, are you?”
“This is my home.” Xi Leng sighed inwardly, retorting, “If anyone’s running away, it should be you, right? Or rather, running away from home? Last time you…”
Rong Xingyi stuck out his tongue and turned to run without a word. Just as Xi Leng was about to go downstairs and close the door, he suddenly rushed back, blocking the door with a wary expression: “Where are you going!?”
“To close the door, why didn’t you close it yourself?” Xi Leng replied calmly.
Rong Xingyi obediently closed the door for him, then opened it again a moment later, peeking in to make sure Xi Leng was still upstairs and wouldn’t disappear again, finally leaving with a reassured look.
Xi Leng looked away, suppressing a smile, and turned the easel back.
The lifelike oil portrait of Min Zhi appeared on the canvas.
In the quiet night, moonlight streamed in through the skylight, like silk, gently caressing the portrait, casting a poetic silver glow on the shimmering earrings.
This time, Xi Leng specifically painted his right profile, with only one silver earring on his earlobe, not too flashy, allowing his handsome features to stand out.
Xi Leng took out his phone, snapping a photo. The two albums named “Min Zhi” and “Portfolio” each gained a new photo.
This time, he planned to post the portrait on his main account, waiting until daybreak to see if any revisions were needed, perfecting it before posting.
The other thing was the phone he promised Rong Xingyi.
Rong Xingyi’s personality seemed completely opposite to his, but they were actually quite similar deep down, strong-willed, responding better to kindness than harshness. Confiscating his motorcycle key wasn’t a long-term solution.
Xi Leng was afraid his actions would cause another butterfly effect, leading to the tragedy of Rong Xingyi’s car accident and amputation repeating itself, or even happening earlier.
So, he would first adopt a gentler approach, giving him a phone, keeping him at home during the holidays, and then transferring him to a boarding school next semester, let’s see how he races then.
One hundred and thirty-six thousand yuan sat quietly in his bank account, more than enough to transfer him to a better private school.
But this thirty-six thousand…
Xi Leng couldn’t figure it out, so he opened WeChat and sent a message to Qiao Yusen: 【Jackson, can you give me the landlord’s contact information? I want to thank him personally.】
Qiao Yusen replied quickly, but his reply was—
【I’m usually busy at this time~】
Xi Leng: “…”
Fine.
He could only ignore this small bump for now.
Having been busy with moving and dealing with Rong Xingyi recently, Xi Leng hadn’t used his Weibo fan account.
Unexpectedly, at this delicate moment, Min Zhi made a callback he could never have imagined.
Zhengzhu (Idol): [Picture][Picture][Picture][Picture]
Min Zhi suddenly sent him a bunch of screenshots.
Xi Leng clicked on them, puzzled.
The next second, his pupils constricted, his fingers spasming.
They were all screenshots from his Weibo fan account.
A chill instantly ran down his spine.
He clicked on the first one.
@WinterSunshineForZhi: Speechless, who is this, so handsome! His face is even more perfect than a museum sculpture! Who irresponsibly released this work of art?? Can’t stop the nosebleed… drool drool //@MinZhiFanClub…
Xi Leng’s vision darkened.
This unrestrained comment didn’t contain “hubby” or “ge,” perfectly escaping his targeted search, surviving until now.
Besides this screenshot, there were over a dozen more below.
One always had to pay for their mistakes, what was coming was inevitable.
Xi Leng covered half of his face with one hand, calmly continuing to scroll.
He hadn’t expected Min Zhi to have done a shirtless photoshoot. This was good, fan service, he understood now.
He understood perfectly, but he still couldn’t imagine that a celebrity simply taking off his shirt, nothing indecent or suggestive, could make ordinary people lose their minds. The previous owner of this account, a high school student, seemingly just a normal, innocent, and cute girl, could also be so… thirsty.
@WinterSunshineForZhi: Seen the abs, when can we see the muscles? [/Horny][/Horny][/Horny]
Xi Leng despaired, his fingers mechanically scrolling.
@WinterSunshineForZhi: Baby, look, they’re all saying such suggestive things [/Pitiful][/Pitiful] not like me, I can only bite my lip and moan [/Pitiful][/Pitiful][/Pitiful]
He didn’t want to look anymore.
A fake idol, a real judgement, a dreamlike night.
Then Min Zhi sent another message.
Zhengzhu: 【I’ve gone through all your Weibo posts on your fan account, I took quite a few screenshots】
[Translator’s note: Zhengzhu is slang used by fans to refer to the celebrity or artist they admire, ‘the idol’ or ‘the main person’. Here, it refers to Min Zhi interacting with Xi Leng on Weibo, his fan. Fans often use this term when discussing their idol’s actions or sharing information about them online.]
Meaning, it was too late to delete them now.
He had gone through over ten thousand posts, truly not afraid of trouble.
Zhengzhu: 【Unexpected】
Meaning, quite shocking.
Xi Leng agreed.
In the deathly silence, the neighbors separated by a wall looked at their phones, each with their own thoughts.
The “typing…” indicator flickered on and off.
Min Zhi typed and deleted, finally sending only six words.
【Hmm~ Just a shallow fan?】
“…”
His memory was terrifyingly good.
