Deeply Affectionate Male Supporting Character Topped the Protagonist 61

Chapter 61: Who Loves Him

Min Zhi wasn’t dealing from a marked deck for the first time. He had previously drawn a 10 and still insisted on hitting, changing cards if he went over, blatantly cheating.

However, the probability of Min Zhi drawing a 10 was strangely high, yet he never managed to get a Blackjack after all his changing.

But this time, he didn’t even look at his remaining card, and it turned out to be a Blackjack, exactly like Rong Haigao’s, his luck incredibly good, winning based on the rule of the dealer winning with the same hand total, completely crushing Rong Haigao.

After thinking for a moment, Xi Leng looked at the dealer, his expression hidden behind his sunglasses.

He understood.

All the cards, all the cards that made Rong Haigao ecstatic, all the cards Min Zhi discarded…

were deliberately arranged by the dealer, following Min Zhi’s instructions.

Xi Leng shook his head, chuckling softly.

Rong Haigao was already broken, saving the bodyguards some effort.

Min Zhi looked down at him coldly, not forgetting to add insult to injury: “Remember to pay up.”

Rong Haigao, his eyes unfocused, his body limp, was dragged out by the bodyguards.

Min Zhi stood up and walked towards the glass wall, his side of the glass just a mirror. Xi Leng’s breath hitched, realizing that Min Zhi’s gaze wasn’t focused on him.

He couldn’t see him.

But Min Zhi still walked over, knocking on the glass.

Xi Leng watched him, then after a while, asked: “Can you hear me?”

Unfortunately, Min Zhi couldn’t hear him either, studying the glass on his own, walking further and further away from Xi Leng.

Xi Leng hurriedly followed, maintaining eye contact.

Min Zhi knocked a few more times, then suddenly placed his palm against the glass.

Xi Leng didn’t understand.

But he didn’t think too much about it and also placed his palm against the glass.

Their palms met, separated by the cold, one-way mirror.

Only after Min Zhi withdrew his hand did Xi Leng realize the absurdity of his action.

“I thought there was a mechanism.” Min Zhi said to the air. “Wait, I’ll be right over.”

“…”

Back in the car.

Xi Leng couldn’t remember how many times he had glanced at the person beside him, his movements discreet, yet not escaping Min Zhi’s notice.

“Why do you keep looking at me?”

After thinking for a moment, Xi Leng said: “What if you’re photographed at the casino? Doing this for him… it’s not worth it.”

“I think it’s worth it.” Min Zhi smiled nonchalantly, glancing at him. After driving for a while, he continued, “Don’t worry, the people we encountered along the way, I already talked to them.”

Xi Leng wasn’t reassured.

Besides his sensitive status as a public figure, Min Zhi also had the Jiang family behind him, a powerful and influential family with intense competition for inheritance. His presence at a casino could be twisted into something scandalous.

Even if Min Zhi was the protagonist of this world, his involvement with him, a short-lived cannon fodder, could change his usually smooth-sailing life.

“It might cause me some trouble.” Min Zhi confessed honestly. “But it’s not a big deal, a problem I have to solve eventually, it just happened sooner, it has nothing to do with you.”

Xi Leng looked at him.

Min Zhi suddenly added: “Not much to do with you.”

Xi Leng paused: “…Does it have anything to do with me or not?”

“I don’t want you to feel like I’m being distant, that’s why I’m telling you it’s related.” Min Zhi even joked, “A little bit, but not much.”

Xi Leng wasn’t usually interested in other people’s private matters, but Min Zhi repeatedly threw out these hooks, and he couldn’t help but bite, asking: “Family matters?”

Min Zhi corrected: “Jiang family matters.”

The novel didn’t elaborate on Min Zhi’s family background, only providing key information.

Mainly about the conflict between Min Zhi and Jiang Songnan, his cousin, and the subsequent love triangle. And Jiang Songnan’s father, Min Zhi’s uncle, Jiang Jingxian, the novel only described him as being capable, inheriting most of the Jiang family’s businesses. He did the work, while Min Zhi, favored by their grandfather, simply collected dividends and owned a bunch of properties.

Although half of the Jiang family’s assets were taken by Min Zhi, it was rightfully his and his father’s. Jiang Jingxian also received quite a bit, and he held the real power in the company, so the distribution was quite fair.

Even if the plot deviated, the old man’s favoritism towards Min Zhi wouldn’t be easily swayed, and Xi Leng thought carefully, what Min Zhi said was probably true, it wasn’t a big deal.

Min Zhi’s visit to the casino to meet Rong Haigao was quite discreet, but it still caught the attention of someone with ulterior motives.

Jiang Songnan had been filming “Unlimited Escape Room” with Min Zhi for the past few months, and Jiang Jingxian called him back for questioning, asking about the relationship between Min Zhi and another guest, Xi Leng.

Weren’t they just an idol and his fan? Perhaps with some exchange of benefits. Jiang Songnan didn’t quite understand.

“This man, is Xi Leng’s father, you know that, right?” Jiang Jingxian showed him the photos gathered by a private investigator. “You even leaked information about Xi Leng to discredit Min Zhi, just to make him spend money to suppress the news? How much impact do you think that would have on him?”

Jiang Songnan didn’t respond.

“But you did well this time.” Jiang Jingxian, in a rare moment of gentleness, praised him.

Jiang Songnan looked up in disbelief, his face not showing joy, but a deep frown.

“He took care of those negative comments for that kid, that’s nothing, he has to protect his fan after all. But that’s not all—” Jiang Jingxian became increasingly excited, his gentle facade gradually cracking, blurting out, “Min Zhi even helped him deal with his gambling-addicted father. A public figure, going to a casino with his little lover, how brazen.”

Jiang Songnan’s frown deepened as he listened, unable to help but ask: “…A casino?”

Jiang Jingxian’s expression changed slightly: “This isn’t something you should be concerned about.”

“Dad,” Jiang Songnan pressed on, asking, “He went to a casino? How did you know?”

Jiang Songnan had connections with a few paparazzi agencies, but even those ubiquitous people hadn’t revealed such explosive news to him.

And Jiang Jingxian never cared much about Min Zhi’s private life, his actions of discrediting and targeting Min Zhi met with disdain.

“Shut up.” Jiang Jingxian’s gaze darkened, his voice low as he warned, “Don’t ask about things you shouldn’t.”

“…Yes, Father.” Jiang Songnan lowered his head.

Everyone in the Jiang family favored Min Zhi, even his strict father was gentle and kind towards him, like a doting uncle.

Even though he knew it was just a facade, he had never received even that fake affection.

Until today, at this moment. Jiang Jingxian, having just lashed out at him for overstepping, now spoke to him gently, asking: “Does Min Zhi really like men?”

The old man’s love for Min Zhi was merely because of his deceased son. He allowed him to keep his mother’s surname, but he would never indulge him to the point of allowing him to end their family line. Or rather, knowing his father, Jiang Jingxian understood that he was waiting for Min Zhi to give him a great-grandchild, who would take back the Jiang surname.

Jiang Songnan was stunned by this unexpected question.

Honestly, after filming several episodes together, Jiang Songnan really didn’t see anything between Min Zhi and Xi Leng. Neither of them seemed like the homosexuals he had encountered before.

Min Zhi suppressing the negative news about Xi Leng and letting netizens ship them wasn’t surprising. Although he never used this kind of marketing tactic before, no one would refuse popularity and money, especially since Xi Leng was incredibly good-looking, with a unique personality. Even he couldn’t help but take a few more glances, often getting annoyed and irritated by him.

Xi Leng was special, he thought.

And now his father was asking him if Min Zhi liked men?

This was an answer he had never considered. He froze, then saw his father shaking his head, a look of disappointment in his eyes.

“Sometimes I really wonder, are you really my son, or Jiang Cishao’s?”

Jiang Cishao was Min Zhi’s deceased father, Jiang Songnan’s uncle, the good-for-nothing second son of the Jiang family who was spoiled despite being useless.

Jiang Jingxian’s face was filled with disappointment, coldness, and disgust.

“Kneel.”

Jiang Songnan, used to this, immediately knelt down.

Jiang Jingxian took a long, black whip, raised his hand, and lashed out at his kneeling son.

Jiang Songnan bit his lip tightly, not making a sound.

Today’s punishment ended earlier than usual. Min Zhi’s rebelliousness seemed to have pleased him. After venting, he resumed his stern and imposing fatherly demeanor, saying to Jiang Songnan: “Now it’s perfect, not only does Min Zhi refuse to take the Jiang surname, he’s involved with a man, there probably won’t be any heirs now…”

Jiang Songnan listened with his eyes downcast, silent, until—

“You’re not young anymore, you’ve been in the entertainment industry for so long, what have you accomplished? It’s better to get married and have children, prove your worth.” Jiang Jingxian said. “You’re the eldest grandson, your son will be the eldest great-grandson, perhaps the only one—a daughter is also fine, I’m old now, I don’t have high expectations for the younger generation, just being sweet and obedient is more important than anything.”

“Put marriage on the agenda.” Jiang Jingxian quickly arranged his son’s marriage. “I’ll choose a few suitable young ladies for you, you just have to make time to meet them.”

Jiang Songnan finally became anxious, unable to help but call out: “…Dad!”

But when those cold eyes swept over him, he felt a lump in his throat, the words he wanted to say stuck there, and he lowered his head, respectfully changing his address: “Father.”

Jiang Jingxian seemed satisfied and nodded: “Okay, then you can go back now.”

Min Zhi wouldn’t meet any of the Jiang family outside of work, but this time, it was Jiang Songnan who initiated the meeting.

He could roughly guess Jiang Songnan’s intention and readily agreed.

Jiang Songnan got straight to the point: “You and Xi Leng… what’s going on between you two?”

Min Zhi countered with a question: “What, still thinking about my fan? Do you enjoy being scolded that much?”

Although Min Zhi was often criticized online for his offensive remarks, when it came to matters that directly affected his interests, his answers were always meticulous and impeccable.

He could also easily infuriate those trying to pry information out of him.

Jiang Songnan chuckled a few times, subtly provoking him: “He’s quite interesting…”

Min Zhi didn’t beat around the bush: “If you want to be with a man, then forget about the Jiang surname, Jiang Jingxian will kill you.”

With just a few words exchanged, they had already seen through each other’s intentions.

But Jiang Songnan couldn’t let it go. He was the one trying to get information, yet he couldn’t help but say more, “As long as I get married and give him a grandchild, he doesn’t care about anything else. Anyway, in this industry, those married couples mostly live their own separate lives, even he’s the same.”

“Whatever.” Min Zhi took a sip of his coffee, then suddenly changed his tone, looking directly at Jiang Songnan and saying, “But Xi Leng, don’t even think about it.”

Jiang Songnan’s pupils constricted. He unconsciously touched the recording pen in his pocket.

Min Zhi’s gaze, however, clearly indicated that he knew about it. Yet Min Zhi seemed unconcerned, smiling faintly as he put down his cup and clearly said: “I’m going to marry him.”

He had been thinking carefully and rationally these past few days. He had left the music industry for years now, why was his resentment towards Meng Huai Zhi growing stronger with each passing day?

It was probably because Meng Huai Zhi was the first top-tier celebrity to come out, and he loved showing off his affection, practically wanting to have “married” and “happily and stably married” tattooed on his forehead.

Although he was reluctant to admit it, it was true, he was jealous, his composure broken.

“I’m going to marry Xi Leng.” Adding his name, Min Zhi repeated it again.

Jiang Songnan: “…”
Jiang Songnan: “?”

After the shocking declaration, Min Zhi, the instigator, added fuel to the fire, “And he’s someone you can’t have even if you want him, his appearance, his wealth, and our absolute devotion to each other, the kind of lifelong marriage you can only dream of.”

A long silence.

Jiang Songnan, his gaze complicated, looked at the unfazed Min Zhi, hesitantly saying, “…You know I’m recording this, right?”

Min Zhi was still unconcerned: “So what?”

Jiang Songnan, however, frowned, disagreeing.

He had no intention of reminding Min Zhi, their stances different, he would definitely hand over this recording to his father, which would eventually reach their grandfather.

After a long while, he still didn’t say anything, neither mocking nor sarcastic.

“You don’t understand.” Min Zhi’s smile was carefree as he looked up at the sky outside the window, “I even defy fate, what is the Jiang family to me?”

The next day, Jiang Jingxian excitedly went to the Jiang family’s old residence, under the guise of visiting his elderly father.

While chatting, he casually brought up the matter of Min Zhi being involved with a man.

“Both kids in the family are in the entertainment industry, don’t you think I understand how things work?” Jiang Bing’ang, however, was very stubborn, not easily swayed. He didn’t take it seriously, instead lecturing his eldest son, “I heard it’s popular to create CPs now, especially male-male CPs, you’re overreacting…”

Jiang Jingxian had no choice but to risk playing the recording Jiang Songnan gave him, Jiang Songnan’s voice altered, while Min Zhi’s voice, every word he said, reached the old man’s ears clearly.

Jiang Jingxian observed his father’s changing expression, his confidence growing.

However, what awaited him was the furious thud of a cane against the floor, and a sharp shout—

“Kneel!”

Jiang Jingxian’s heart skipped a beat, his body reacting before his mind, expertly kneeling down.

The old man’s parenting style was polarized. For his eldest son, it was the “spare the rod, spoil the child” approach, he learned from his first experience raising a child and cultivated a capable heir, while for his younger son, Jiang Cishao, it was extreme indulgence, giving him all his fatherly love.

“Cishao never wanted to compete with you, and he couldn’t even if he wanted to, he died so young…” Jiang Bing’ang’s face and neck were flushed with anger, his hand trembling as he held a whip, “He’s his only son, your own nephew! Jiang Jingxian!”

Jiang Bing’ang was an incredibly perceptive man, moreover, Jiang Jingxian’s hostility towards Min Zhi was evident in this recording.

He couldn’t possibly not know that Min Zhi, claiming he was going to marry a man, was the rebellious one, he couldn’t possibly not know that Min Zhi, as a celebrity, was usually very careful with his words, his current bluntness a clear challenge to his grandfather!

But Jiang Bing’ang was so biased that he immediately sided with Min Zhi.

“Dad, I just thought you should know.” Jiang Jingxian endured the pain, saying calmly, “I’m also concerned about his marriage…”

Jiang Bing’ang’s anger subsided slightly after a few lashes.

But his gaze towards his eldest son was cold, as if looking at a stranger.

“Worry about your own mess first.”

Jiang Jingxian sensed danger, but his face held a flawless, gentle smile, he seemed genuinely puzzled, asking his father: “Dad, did that kid Jiang Songnan upset you again?”

“I’m talking about you, don’t you understand?” Jiang Bing’ang’s tone was even colder, “I’m asking you, is the Jiang family lacking anything, do I owe you anything? I let you manage the company, not to use it as gambling chips. If this is exposed by the media, the stock price will plummet, the capital chain will break, even the largest and strongest companies can collapse overnight! I worked hard my whole life, and I’ll be buried with you because of your mistakes!?”

Jiang Jingxian’s face turned pale, instantly realizing that his father knew about his investment in the casino. He tried to explain: “Dad, let me explain…”

Jiang Bing’ang ignored him, hitting him with his cane, “Get out!”

“Dad…!”

Jiang Jingxian was dragged out by his father’s bodyguards.

The villa was still in turmoil. Jiang Bing’ang’s rapid breathing echoed in the spacious, mahogany-furnished living room.

Until he shouted again: “Come out.”

Min Zhi, calmly and unhurriedly, emerged from behind the screen.

“Using your uncle to threaten me, just for this?” Jiang Bing’ang, his fierce, cold, and upturned eyes fixed on Min Zhi, asked word by word, “Wanting to marry a man?”

Min Zhi met his gaze without flinching, saying directly: “That’s right.”

“Do you even know…” Jiang Bing’ang tried to calm his breathing, suppressing his anger and reasoning with him. “Failing to continue the family line is the greatest act of disobedience! If you change your mind now, I can forgive all your past mistakes and foolishness.”

“I am filial.” Min Zhi actually chuckled, “Just not to the Jiang family. My surname is Min, you know that.”

“Min Zhi!”

“Yes, Min Zhi.” Min Zhi deliberately emphasized his name, adding fuel to the fire. “Aren’t you perfectly clear about that?”

The faint resemblance to his deceased second son, in those cold and resolute eyes, instantly vanished.

Jiang Bing’ang raised his hand.

Min Zhi, anticipating this, easily restrained the elderly man: “You have no right to hit me, I’m not a Jiang.”

The waiting bodyguards swarmed forward, pulling Min Zhi away.

“You, you…” Jiang Bing’ang’s chest heaved with anger. “Look at you, do you even resemble your father in the slightest?”

Min Zhi stopped struggling, looking at him and smiling: “What if I don’t?”

Jiang Bing’ang was incredibly sharp and suspicious.

Min Zhi remembered that when he was eight, he lived with his grandmother, relying on minimal subsidies, their life becoming increasingly difficult. At that time, a group of men in black suits came to their door.

They came three times.

The first time, like robbers breaking in, they searched the house and took photos, perhaps even taking a few strands of his hair.

A week later, they came again, informing his grandmother that Min Zhi might be the grandson of the wealthy Jiang family, taking him and his grandmother to the hospital.

While waiting for the results, Min Zhi and his grandmother stayed in a luxurious hotel. The third time, Jiang Bing’ang personally came to see him. A few days later, he was finally taken to the Jiang family.

Min Zhi’s appearance combined the best features of his parents, and perhaps because he was also a man, he resembled his father more.

But now, the more Jiang Bing’ang looked at this defiant person before him, the more he felt like a stranger.

After hesitating for a moment, he instructed his subordinates: “I’m going out, take him with me. Lao Zhang, go to my study… bring Cishao’s baby hair.”

Min Zhi’s arm was grabbed by bodyguards again, and he was thrown into the backseat of a car.

Their destination was a private hospital, using the VIP lane. In a luxurious ward, a doctor Jiang Bing’ang trusted personally came and, under Jiang Bing’ang’s watchful eyes, took blood samples and hair from both of them.

Jiang Bing’ang followed the doctor, supervising the entire paternity test process. Another sample was sent to a public Class A hospital, double insurance.

When he found Min Zhi over ten years ago, he had conducted four or five paternity tests, testing hair samples from Min Zhi, himself, and Jiang Cishao. He also did blood type tests and imaging tests.

Min Zhi was undoubtedly Cishao’s child.

But today, provoked by Min Zhi, he suddenly remembered that he hadn’t personally supervised the testing process, always having his subordinates deliver the reports.

Once his suspicion was aroused, all of Min Zhi’s past defiance and his stubborn refusal to change his surname now seemed like undeniable evidence.

This rebellious child, perhaps he wasn’t a Jiang after all!

However, he didn’t know whether to be disappointed or relieved.

—The results confirmed their blood relation.

He received the same results again.

Returning with the report, Jiang Bing’ang saw the empty room and became angry again, shouting at the bodyguards huddled in the corner: “Where’s Min Zhi!?”

“Um…” the bodyguard’s expression was troubled, he said cautiously, “The young master called someone, insisted on leaving, we didn’t dare to stop him.”

Before the results came out, the bodyguards still treated Min Zhi with respect, as the young master of the Jiang family. Jiang Bing’ang could only vent his anger by throwing the report, not blaming them.

Min Zhi asked his assistant to bring his car, telling him to expense the overtime pay, leaving him at the hospital entrance and driving off alone.

Before, he might not have known where to go. He had over a dozen properties, half bought with his own money, half gifted by his grandfather.

Now, before even realizing it, he was already on the highway to Cloudtop One.

It was ironic, he had almost a hundred million fans, some loved his looks and talent, some his status and wealth, some the blood running through his veins, but it seemed no one loved the real him.

But.

The image of Xi Leng’s cold and indifferent face appeared in his mind, and that occasional, faint smile.

【Home?】

Min Zhi sent a message to his homebody neighbor.

Xi Leng was usually home, always right next door, quiet and slow, like a soft snail confined within his apartment.

However, asking was a mistake, today, Xi Leng unexpectedly gave a negative answer.

Leng: 【Not home, just went out. Xiao Yi is filming “Shining Boys” soon, he won’t be back for three months, I’m taking him and his mother out for dinner, I’ll be back later.】

One, two, three, four…

Min Zhi poked his phone screen boredly, counting.

Xi Leng actually replied with 49 characters, including punctuation, clearly explaining the situation, even reporting to him that he would be home late.

Heh.

The corners of Min Zhi’s lips curved upwards.

Leng: 【What’s wrong?】

Xi Leng even sent another message.

Heh, 53 characters now.

Min Zhi: 【Where are you eating?】

Xi Leng replied with the name of the restaurant, followed by the specific branch, because it was a chain, there were five locations in Beijing.

Min Zhi changed the destination on his navigation, adding the exact same address.

The next red light was long. His fingers itched, and he picked up his phone again, scrolling through Xi Leng’s fan account, “WinterSunshineForZhi.”

He froze slightly.

The last time he checked, there were over ten thousand posts, why were there only a few dozen now?

A light swipe, and he reached the bottom.

The few remaining posts, the earliest one being the pencil sketch Xi Leng drew of him, his current phone wallpaper and screensaver.

Where were the earlier posts? Most of them were quite normal, and he had screenshots of the… less normal ones, what was the point of Xi Leng deleting them?

He frowned, lost in thought, then found the screenshots, carefully looking at them one by one.

The more he looked, the more unfamiliar they felt.

These comments, the ones that had captivated him, even driven him to kiss his little fan… were they really posted by Xi Leng?