Chapter 65: Relationship Problems
A quick sketch drawn with a blue ballpoint pen.
Unlike pencils, ballpoint pens couldn’t be erased, but the artist’s every stroke was confident, the lines fluid and relaxed, capturing the image of a man sitting on a barstool, drinking alone, with just a few strokes.
But Min Zhi was sleeping soundly when he drew this, it was undoubtedly the profile of Min Zhi from his memory.
“He’s really handsome.” Zhu Minglang couldn’t help but admire, only closing his mouth after receiving a glare from Min Zhi.
Along with the drawing was a half-full glass of whiskey. The heavy crystal whiskey glass was the perfect paperweight.
Min Zhi picked up the glass that appeared out of nowhere and finished the remaining whiskey in one gulp.
“Hey, hey, hey!”
Zhu Minglang protested again.
Min Zhi ignored him, continuing to look at the drawing.
The main subject was him, but in the background, in a corner, was a chair with a… penguin sitting on it.
The little penguin’s head was drooping, its black tail feathers sticking up because of its human-like posture, holding what seemed to be paper and pen in its flippers.
So cute.
He shook his head, trying to get rid of this thought, then, after looking at it for a while, suddenly asked a random question: “Was he wearing black pants today?”
Zhu Minglang: “…?” How would he remember that?
Min Zhi clicked his tongue in annoyance, then, after a moment of thought, carefully folded the piece of paper and put it in his pocket.
Having barely slept all night, Min Zhi, according to the original schedule, took the morning flight back to Beijing.
Zhu Minglang thought he might change his plans, he hesitated, then decided not to say anything and cause trouble for himself.
But Min Zhi wore sunglasses from the moment they left the hotel, even after settling into his seat on the plane and putting on his neck pillow, the sunglasses remained.
Zhu Minglang tentatively asked: “Boss… you didn’t secretly cry under the covers last night, did you?”
Min Zhi, without hesitation: “No.”
“Then why are you wearing sunglasses on the plane?”
“None of your business.”
“Yes, sir.”
Perhaps seeing that his boss was truly heartbroken, Zhu Minglang, unusually, didn’t argue with him.
Min Zhi: “…”
Annoying. Did he look that pathetic?
After a while, Min Zhi lifted his sunglasses slightly, glancing over to see Zhu Minglang staring at him with sympathy and pity, he didn’t know how long he had been watching.
Min Zhi, expressionless, quickly put his sunglasses back on.
Zhu Minglang sighed softly: “See, you just need to be less talkative, even completely drunk, and Xi Leng will come looking for you. That’s just his personality, cautious, he already mustered a lot of courage for you, if you could just show some weakness…”
“Seriously, whose manager are you?” Min Zhi said irritably. “I’m angry, can’t you tell?”
Zhu Minglang silently looked away: “…”
He really couldn’t tell.
The recording of the first episode of “Shining Boys” ended, its popularity soaring, various rumors and leaks circulating online, even some trainees’ reputations ruined before the show even aired.
Perhaps because of loose lips within the production team, or perhaps it was a form of pre-show hype. Anyway, without asking Min Zhi, Xi Leng had already gathered quite a bit of information about Rong Xingyi.
Rong Xingyi was a complete amateur, without any agency backing him, unlike many trainees with established fan bases. Initially, very few people paid attention to him, only occasionally mentioned for being the youngest.
But within a few days, this kid gained a group of fans with his official photo and self-introduction video, even reportedly being among the few trainees who advanced to Class A through the theme song evaluation.
The segment where trainees called their families would be aired after the theme song MV, so Xi Leng could only wait patiently.
Besides that, Min Zhi’s trip to Nandao easily stirred up drama. Not only did he criticize a popular trainee harshly, he was also rumored to have relationship problems, or rather, a change in his relationship status, which explained his short temper.
It made sense.
Even Xi Leng couldn’t deny it.
The clues hinting at Min Zhi’s possible relationship were dug up by netizens again, analyzed according to the timeline. Firstly, his sudden fan service was suspicious. According to experienced fans, this usually meant the idol was in a relationship, a way to compensate for their guilt towards their fans.
Although Min Zhi was someone who acted according to his whims, there was no need to worry, there was other evidence.
Deliberately wearing someone else’s hair tie at the airport and going through the economy class lane… The increased frequency of his public appearances, his improved temper on “Unlimited Escape Room,” his uncharacteristic teamwork, and even queerbaiting… all pointing to one thing—
Your gege is in love.
The trending topic #MinZhiRelationship# was a complete chaotic mess.
【According to my ten years of experience as a fan, when your bias suddenly becomes your hubby, it’s because someone is actually calling him hubby…】
【Thankfully, mzgg has always been very hubby-like】
【The most obvious sign of a male celebrity dating is rejecting delusional fans, right?】
【Aaaaaah I’m heartbroken [/Cracked]】
【Min-ge has been rejecting girlfriend fans since his debut, there’s no way he’s been in a secret relationship, he said he would announce it if he was dating! I believe in Min-ge!!】
【…I’ve given up, he can date whoever he wants, whoever can tame Min-ge is a queen】
But the current situation was more than just him casually dating, the marketing accounts, in a very leading manner, claimed that there was a change in Min Zhi’s relationship status, his cold expression and sunglasses throughout his trip back from Nandao perfectly aligned with the news of him criticizing the trainees on “Shining Boys.”
Fans’ emotions were on a rollercoaster, no one could be certain, the wind shifting directions constantly.
【So, did they break up? If they did, then I’m relieved】
【Perhaps it ended before it even began, a career-focused Min-ge is the most handsome!!】
【It’s okay, gege… you can just continue being yourself from now on… scold and yell all you want… I can pretend not to notice your subtle displays of affection [/Smile][/Smile]】
With the power of the internet, someone always managed to guess correctly, and with Min Zhi’s immense popularity, even a random comment could get tens of thousands of likes.
Xi Leng rubbed his temples, he had a headache.
Unexpectedly, at this crucial moment, Min Zhi suddenly logged into Weibo, posting screenshots of the marketing account’s post about his relationship problems, and a few fan comments, thoughtfully censoring the usernames of those who weren’t celebrities.
The comments he screenshotted and posted—including those saying he might have been in a relationship since his debut, those saying he broke up, those saying it ended before it even began, and those who believed he wasn’t dating, telling him to focus on his career.
These seemingly unrelated comments, a total of nine screenshots, he responded to with three simple words.
@MinZhiV: Fake, don’t believe it.
Fans were in an uproar again.
【？？？】
【What’s fake?? Which part is fake???】
【Holy shit, Min-ge actually personally debunked the rumors???】
【So, they didn’t break up? They’re still together but had a fight??】
【Explain clearly, please aaaaah】
An hour later, Xi Leng checked Weibo again.
The trending topic #MinZhiRelationship# was still there, another one joining it—
#MinZhiExplainClearly#
Min Zhi, however, remained silent, disappearing from the internet.
Whether it was the effect of the alcohol or the aftereffects of his intense emotions subsiding, after returning to Beijing, Min Zhi’s mind was still sluggish, he felt listless and had no interest in dealing with his fans.
Chaos reigned online, while the two people involved were living peacefully.
Xi Leng returned to Beijing soon after and once again considered moving.
Moving might anger Min Zhi again, but if he ignored it and gave him the cold shoulder, it seemed Min Zhi couldn’t cool down on his own. And if he had to explain, he could only carefully choose his words, typing and deleting repeatedly.
The evidence was undeniable, all of Min Zhi’s guesses were correct; he had nothing to explain.
He dragged his luggage, taking the elevator upstairs, his attention completely on his phone. It wasn’t until the ding sounded that he looked up at the slowly opening elevator doors.
Min Zhi, having noticed his fear of elevators, often waited for him here.
Min Zhi showed him that overcoming fear wasn’t just about facing it until you got used to it, it could also be about replacing it with a different, beautiful memory.
Like, for example, the person standing outside the elevator doors now.
But that usually vibrant face, the lowered eyelids revealed fatigue, his dark eyes dull and listless.
“…”
After a long silence, with neither of them moving or speaking, the elevator doors automatically closed.
After waiting for a few minutes, Xi Leng pressed the button again.
The person outside was gone.
Min Zhi leaned against his door.
His phone vibrated in his pocket.
Lao Zhu: 【Boss, take a look at this video?】
His head was still throbbing from the hangover. He was about to block the annoying Zhu Minglang when his finger accidentally touched the video.
He clicked play, the image brightening.
It was the surveillance footage from the casino that day, from the room Xi Leng was in.
The wall was a mirror on his side, a transparent glass on Xi Leng’s. From the camera’s perspective, he saw Xi Leng in the room, and himself outside the glass.
He had thought about it for a long time and ultimately didn’t send Xi Leng the video of him dealing with Rong Haigao. He had been relatively lenient at the casino, after all.
Considering that Rong Haigao was still Xi Leng’s father, he had some reservations. But seeing Xi Leng in the video, there was no trace of familial affection for his biological father. His cold and indifferent face only showed nervousness when he was at a disadvantage.
Finally, because of his overwhelming victory, Xi Leng, where he couldn’t see, revealed a rare and genuine smile, unrestrained because he wasn’t being observed.
What did that mean, couldn’t he smile more in front of him? Playing hard to get.
Min Zhi, annoyed, continued watching.
Having been playing mind games with Sheng Jiao on “Unlimited Escape Room” recently, his imagination ran wild, he thought, there might be a secret passage in the casino, a hidden button that would turn the glass two-way, or rotate and bring him to the other side.
So he, like a fool, searched along the glass wall in the video.
Xi Leng followed him, from one end to the other.
In the end, he placed his hand against the mirror, trying to find a mechanism. And Xi Leng placed his hand against the glass, their palms meeting.
…Looking even more foolish than him.
He had never encountered such a Master Angler Xi, silly and clueless, his fishing skills terrible.
“Idiot.”
“This is infuriating!”
But that night, a certain someone, like a fish in a hot pan, tossed and turned in bed, thoroughly roasted on both sides.
