Chapter 63: The Hypocritical Senior 05 Part 2

“The senior looks out for me.” When the comments asked about their relationship, Li Xia stuck to a very professional line. But the quirk at the corners of his mouth and the flush at his ear tips gave away his real feelings.

“Is this a couple’s shoot?” Li Xia read one comment aloud on purpose. “The drama we’re filming does feature a couple… well, we haven’t wrapped it yet…”

“He’s not mean at all. Kinda cute, actually.”

He kept calling him “senior.”

Viewers first thought the term sounded too formal, but Li Xia’s tone and expression turned it into something like an intimate nickname.

[Senior~]

[Why not hop on voice chat with Brother Sui?]

[Scared of getting called out for riding coattails?]

[The newbie’s smooth. Knows how to play the room.]

Comments on Yu Sui’s stream were blowing up too, asking why he wasn’t linking up with Li Xia since the guy was live.

“Oh?” Yu Sui put on a surprised face, though he knew full well the company wouldn’t pass up a golden opportunity like this.

“Let me see.” He checked his follows and clicked into Li Xia’s stream room.

Yu Sui’s entrance triggered a special alert there.

Viewers flooded in fast.

He propped his chin on one hand and sent over a bunch of gifts.

Li Xia blinked in surprise. “Senior, you don’t have to spend like that.”

Inside, though, his heart exploded along with that rocket—crackling fireworks leaving him buzzing with numbness.

“Why didn’t you give me a heads-up?” Yu Sui said, playing it like he’d just found out.

“I…” Li Xia’s face turned red as he avoided the camera. “Cough, I…”

Yu Sui kept up his mild smile on the surface while cursing up a storm inside. Couldn’t this guy fake it just a little?

As the senior, he had to keep the stream’s energy up. Narrowing his eyes, he said, “What’s with you, Li Xia? Don’t wanna chat with me?”

He was trying to stir the pot with some passive-aggressive bait.

“No, that’s not it,” Li Xia rushed out. “I do want to.”

He stared straight into the camera, then caught himself with the netizens watching. “I… I have a lot of respect for the senior.”

The excuse landed worse than no excuse at all.

Yu Sui’s mood soured further, but he stayed polite. “I’m rooting for you too.”

The comments went wild. Yu Sui shot them a glance, his nails digging into his palm.

“Hm? A PK battle?” He paused. “What do you say, Li Xia?”

“Mm-hm.” Li Xia gazed at the camera, clearly not registering what he’d said.

“Pay attention,” Yu Sui ground out.

“Cough.” Li Xia straightened up like a schoolboy, hands flat on the desk.

[Holy crap, this is too sweet.]

[They have to be dating for real.]

[Brother Sui, you training your pup?]

[Never pegged Brother Sui as so hot with another guy.]

[Alright, I’m hooked.]

[No outright flirty lines, but everyone’s grinning. That’s the CP magic, huh?]

Li Xia spotted the comments, his eyes lighting up.

“Let’s do a singing battle,” Yu Sui suggested.

He needed a way to crush the guy thoroughly.

Li Xia nodded. “Sure.”

Yu Sui picked a trending hit, slipped on his headphones, and tweaked his setup.

“One verse each?”

Li Xia donned his headphones and pulled up the song on his phone. “I haven’t heard it much. Don’t make fun of me, senior.”

“Oh, I’ll roast you mercilessly,” Yu Sui quipped, only half-joking.

It was an upbeat track. Yu Sui tapped the rhythm on his fingers and sang steady and smooth.

Li Xia cupped his cheeks with both hands, elbows planted on the desk as he stared, unblinking, at Yu Sui on his screen.

The English lyrics—translated—were bold and teasingly intimate, and that husky male voice sent his heartbeat into overdrive.

His turn came quick for the second verse. Yu Sui muted himself and nodded for him to go.

Li Xia faltered, coming in a beat late.

Yu Sui watched him slip, amusement in his eyes.

But Li Xia quickly found his groove.

He owned his verse even harder, his gaze on Yu Sui turning downright predatory—no holding back his intentions.

[Li Xia, that look says you wanna devour Brother Sui.]

[White knight on the outside, black heart within.]

[You guys know the lyrics? Perfect duet.]

[Little lovebirds, 99% match.]

[Bet they’re legit together. Brother Sui’s always been the Long Aotian lone wolf type, untouchable persona intact. First dual-male-lead gig, and that video? Shy vibes all over.]

[So sweet.]

Yu Sui already had massive popularity on the platform, and that video had blown up. Now with the linked streams ripe for clipping, both rooms were exploding with viewers.

The song wrapped, and the PK results dropped.

Li Xia’s loss was no shocker.

But Yu Sui wasn’t thrilled. For a newbie, the guy was way too good…

“I lost,” Li Xia said, gazing at Yu Sui with open anticipation for his punishment.

The comments overflowed with ideas—most of them the kind that made you cringe.

“Push-ups it is.” Yu Sui couldn’t suggest anything prankish like smearing his face black; not with his friendly-senior image.

He stewed inwardly.

“Okay.” Li Xia stepped back to ensure the mirror caught him.

He breezed through them.

[Wanna test Little Xia’s stamina?]

[Damn, Little Xia’s got endurance.]

[Brother Sui, happy now?]

The comments spun nonsense again. Yu Sui nearly spat blood inside. Why did it make him sound like the scheming one? Pure slander against an innocent man.

Li Xia finished his ten and stood to straighten his hoodie—letting it ride up just enough to flash his abs, all casual-like.

[Master manipulator.]

[Tsk tsk tsk.]

[Little Xia, you’re not even subtle.]

[Peacock in full display, little bro.]

Li Xia settled back at his computer and cleared his throat at the comments. “Senior, all done.”

Singing got stale quick for stream views, so they took a viewer suggestion: rock-paper-scissors across screens. Loser takes a punishment.

Pure luck.

Yu Sui cracked his knuckles. He wasn’t about to lose.

“Rock, paper, scissors.”

Hands flashed.

“Senior, I win!” Li Xia pumped his fist.

“Hit me with it,” Yu Sui said, stomach twisting. Kid better not go overboard.

“Um…” Li Xia made a show of pondering.

“Spit it out,” Yu Sui prodded.

“Can I ask you a question, senior?” Li Xia fixed him with a look.

“What? How’s that a punishment?” Yu Sui blinked.

“Just say yes or no.”

“Nothing too wild.”

“Mm-hm.” Li Xia nodded. “What’s your ideal type like, senior?”

Blunt as a hammer. Comments scrolled like mad.

Yu Sui’s brain short-circuited for a second.

This kid…

“Pretty and gentle.” He tossed it out offhand.

Li Xia froze, falling silent.

[Our Little Xia’s super gentle.]

[Little Xia could pass for pretty.]

[Straight to the point?]

[Hold up, Brother Sui…]

Yu Sui hadn’t realized how obvious it sounded—comments immediately linked it to Li Xia.

But they were doing fan service; he couldn’t go too direct. He chuckled. “Don’t get the wrong idea, guys. We’re just good friends.”

Li Xia caught the shift in tone. He wasn’t arrogant enough to think it was about him—especially since the senior hadn’t even glanced his way.

He tugged at a smile.

The stream didn’t run long, leaving viewers hungry for more.

For Li Xia, the rest of it dragged.

Once it wrapped,

he got up and went looking for Yu Sui.

Yu Sui was heading out when he spotted him and paused. “Something wrong?”

“I… I need to talk to you about something, senior,” Li Xia said, clenching his hands.

Yu Sui nodded.

They ducked into a lounge.

“That pretty and gentle type—is it a guy or a girl?” Li Xia stared him down.

“Of course it’s…” Yu Sui met his eyes, faltered, and looked away. “A girl.”

Li Xia’s mind went blank with a buzz, thoughts grinding to a halt.

“You alright?” Yu Sui asked, concern flickering at his ashen face.

“I…” Li Xia bit his lip. “It’s nothing.”

He shook his head and strode out fast.

Yu Sui watched his retreating back. “That ought to kill his crush.”

[You… you really like girls?] the System asked.

“Come on, I told you I’m straight,” Yu Sui replied.

[What kind, though?]

“None of your business,” Yu Sui shot back, tuning it out.

Li Xia trudged along with his head down, a cold aura rolling off him.

He hit the bathroom, locked the door, cranked the faucet, and splashed icy water on his face.

Yu Sui didn’t like him after all?

Then… that “like” he’d been so sure of before…

He bit his lip until he tasted blood, then finally lifted his head.

That letter…

Was that letter his true feelings from the heart? Did Yu Sui find him disgusting?

Li Xia’s face paled, his heart aching fiercely.

He picked up his phone and stared at the text from that account.

These… these were all Yu Sui’s real thoughts?

He hated him that much? Did he think Li Xia wasn’t worthy to stand by his side?

His eyes reddened as Li Xia’s breathing grew rapid, his fingertips whitening from gripping the phone so tightly.

Did Yu Sui find him annoying but only put up with him out of politeness, chasing him away like this behind his back?

Had it all been Li Xia’s one-sided infatuation this whole time?

His cheeks burned hot.

He left in a daze.

Su Shan was at his house, the phone playing the live stream of the two of them.

He wanted to observe their relationship and decide what to do next.

At first, he felt extremely uncomfortable—Li Xia’s foolish behavior struck him as strange and eerie.

But after Yu Sui’s words, Li Xia’s mood had shifted.

Others might not have noticed, but having grown up together, Su Shan knew him very well.

He recalled what he’d overheard the night before. Clearly, that Yu Sui really didn’t like him.

He’d finally had it coming.

Su Shan clutched his stomach, bursting into laughter.

When Li Xia returned, Su Shan was humming a cheerful tune.

The young man’s expression was gloomy, like a murderer from a suspense thriller. Su Shan looked up. “Yo, why the long face? Not smiling anymore?”

Hearing this, Li Xia shot him a fierce glare but said nothing.

“Looks like not everyone likes you, huh?” Su Shan laughed even harder. “Your charm must be wearing thin.”

“So if all those actions of his weren’t from liking you, then they could only mean hate.”

His laughter turned shrill, his eyes bulging.

Su Shan pounded the sofa dramatically. “Hahaha, Li Xia, you’re killing me! Fantasizing all on your own that someone has a crush on you, mooning around like a lovesick boy every day—hahaha!”

Unable to bear having it all laid bare, Li Xia’s face twisted in fury. He snatched the glass from the table and hurled it at him.

Su Shan quickly blocked it with a throw pillow.

The glass cup fell to the floor and shattered into pieces.

“Even if you’ve lost your composure, it doesn’t change a thing. He hates you—hates you with a passion.”

Li Xia ignored him and headed straight for the master bedroom.

Su Shan was in high spirits. He gazed at Yu Sui on the phone screen and found him more appealing than ever.

He liked being able to see through Li Xia’s true colors.