AMMSCF Chapter 32

The time that had originally been planned for just the two of them was gone again.

After Duan Baisui left, Zuo Nian began slowly putting on his clothes. To say he didn’t care was impossible. Even though he trusted Duan Baisui completely, his own husband had been paired with CPs again and again. Those sweetly edited videos and the blurry line between real and fake news mixed together, leaving a bitter taste in his heart.

Back then, the reason Duan Baisui didn’t let him appear in the media wasn’t his personal choice, but a decision made jointly by both families to protect him.

His little shop often saw people coming and going, while Duan Baisui worked in the entertainment industry and had quite a number of admirers. Their parents didn’t want him to be harassed by fans or reporters because of Duan Baisui’s job. Especially Ason and Zuo Jun. They had always hoped he could do what he liked, that he could live a peaceful and happy life. So at the time, only Duan Baisui’s marriage announcement was made public, and he himself wasn’t placed in the spotlight.

Back then, he’d thought it was a good thing. After all, he had a bit of social anxiety and was afraid of dealing with unexpected situations. But now, he didn’t want that anymore. He wanted to tell everyone that he was Duan Baisui’s lover. They belonged to each other, and only to each other. Duan Baisui belonged to him alone!

Listless and dispirited, Zuo Nian arrived at the shop. There weren’t many customers in the morning, and he leaned over the counter, endlessly searching for information about Ju Xiao.

This man hadn’t had it easy. During the competition, he’d landed in the pending zone several times, but ultimately broke through thanks to his strong professional skills. In the round from twelve to eight, Ju Xiao ended up in the pending zone again and was very likely to face off against the then-popular king Rong Jin. His chances of winning would’ve been extremely, extremely slim. But right at that crucial moment, Duan Baisui used his one-vote pass to let him advance smoothly.

However, some fans said that Ju Xiao’s first PK match was against a sweet Omega, and the judges weren’t exactly impartial. Ju Xiao had clearly performed better and received the loudest cheers, but the judges were habitually biased toward Omegas and unexpectedly sent him to the pending zone. Duan Baisui was merely upholding fairness by pulling him back, not abusing his authority.

After the talent show ended, it was no surprise that Ju Xiao signed with Xing Entertainment. Compared to the other three Alphas, his resources were indeed a bit weaker. But Ju Xiao had never slacked off just because he didn’t have many jobs. On the contrary, he was even harsher on himself. Later, whether on stage or in TV dramas, he always amazed everyone. His progress was clearly visible.

It was hard to imagine that, at that time, he had still been enduring bullying from his three teammates.

From being a marginal figure to becoming a rising star in high demand, Ju Xiao had put in far more effort than most. His ambition had been watered with sweat and tears. Now, he was finally reaping the rewards he deserved.

Someone like that was hard not to admire. Even Zuo Nian, after reading through the popular posts about Ju Xiao, couldn’t help but feel a sense of respect for him.

After exiting the superfan account’s Weibo page, Zuo Nian saw that the trending topic, which had finally dropped down, was pushed back up again.

This time, it was because of paparazzi photos. After the awards ceremony, Duan Baisui and Ju Xiao had met up privately and were chatting happily.

The paparazzi also revealed that the two had left by car one after the other, but headed in the same direction—very likely checking into the same hotel.

Zuo Nian scrolled through his phone. On the night Duan Baisui attended the awards ceremony, he indeed hadn’t replied to any of his messages. It wasn’t until the next morning that Duan Baisui said he had gotten up.

He pursed his lips, unconsciously picking at his phone case with his fingers.

Like some kind of self-torment, Zuo Nian scrolled through the comment section.

CP fans were shouting that they were shipping it hard. Ju Xiao’s fans were scolding the CP fans. Meanwhile, Duan Baisui’s fans said: Every time Ju Xiao has a new drama airing, he ends up on a trending topic with Duan Baisui again. Isn’t this just intentional clout-chasing? Duan Baisui only helped him out once, and now he’s clinging on like some kind of leech?

The three fanbases were locked in a chaotic war, while the bystanders watched the drama unfold and didn’t forget to stomp on Duan Baisui a couple of times for good measure.

【CottonSocks: So this Young Master Duan is cheating now?】

【BreakingThroughTheSiege: There’s no smoke without fire. Isn’t the Crown Prince having a bit too many scandals lately? I remember he was spotted on that Freedom Island not long ago.】

【BlueSkyWhiteClouds: Even his teammates said he got… well, you know, that kind of special treatment. If you know, you know.】

【GrowBiggerStronger: Betas are great, huh. No scent traces no matter how you play. They can’t be marked either. The Crown Prince sure knows how to play it smart.】

【LittleBearBeiBei: Wait, what about the Crown Prince’s wife?? Can they come out and call them out already? Smash that scumbag Alpha and shameless Beta!】

Zuo Nian bit his finger, his anxiety and unease peaking. He didn’t want to see Duan Baisui being cursed out online, yet at the same time, he was desperate to know what exactly had happened that night.

Eventually, he ended up digging his way into the CP SuperTopic for Duan Baisui and Ju Xiao. There, he found a recent interview video featuring Ju Xiao.

The host asked, “What’s your ideal type?”

Ju Xiao answered with a smile, “Someone responsible, with the right values, someone I can talk to, and someone who will stand by me unconditionally.”

Host: “Do you think you’re a strong person?”

Ju Xiao: “Not really. I actually have a pretty timid side too.”

Host: “Then would you prefer your partner to be a strong, assertive person? Someone who can lead you and help you find direction?”

Ju Xiao: “Actually, I’d prefer someone gentle. I’ll keep growing, and we can find our direction together.”

CP fans’ interpretation: He answered in so much detail. He’s clearly describing that person specifically!!! His ideal type is someone who unconditionally stands by him. During that bullying incident back then, wasn’t it the Crown Prince who stood by him without question!!

And that line—“I’d prefer someone gentle”—wasn’t it meant for the Crown Prince? Right? Right?! Was he talking across the airwaves, asking the Crown Prince to be a little gentler?!

Zuo Nian: …

Fans even dug up their earliest schedules.

When Ju Xiao was filming in G City, the Crown Prince just happened to be in K City—only an hour’s drive away.

There were many more “pieces of evidence” like that.

As Zuo Nian exited their CP SuperTopic, he finally made up his mind. He couldn’t just sit and wait for the storm to pass. He had to do something.

—

Duan Baisui had just returned to the company and was holding a meeting.

The PR department had already released an official clarification, and Ju Xiao’s side was also drafting a statement. It would only be published after PR had reviewed and approved it.

His wording had to be handled with care. Otherwise, netizens might maliciously twist it again.

As for their CP SuperTopic “SuiXiao”, Duan Baisui didn’t even bother looking. He said impatiently, “Take it down. It has to be completely cleaned up.”

He was genuinely afraid Zuo Nian would see all of it. That silly little thing was so pure and so easily swayed. What if he got misled by all this mix of truth and lies? Duan Baisui could ignore what others thought of him, but he couldn’t bear to see his little fool upset.

The way his little fool looked at him this morning nearly broke his heart.

His recent wave of scandals had been so frequent it was baffling. Over the past two months, the company has issued more statements for him than for any of their artists. He was trending more than their entire talent roster.

Duan Baisui rubbed his brow tiredly. Just then, Luo Yin knocked on the door and came in, speaking cautiously, “Um… Director Duan, Mr. Zuo… called me.”

Duan Baisui looked up. “Was he asking for me?”

“No…” Luo Yin hesitated. Under Duan Baisui’s gaze, he finally continued, “He asked me to help him make an appointment with Mr. Ju.”

Duan Baisui was stunned for a moment. “Ju Xiao?”

“Yes.”

Duan Baisui lowered his head in thought. “Is Ju Xiao in A City?”

“I already asked his manager. Mr. Ju has a business event today. He’s doing a promotional appearance at Mingli Mall, right here in A City.”

“Check if he has time. Help my wife make the appointment,” Duan Baisui said.

“Ah?” Luo Yin was caught off guard, then quickly replied, “Right away.”

Duan Baisui thought, if Zuo Nian needed to go to Ju Xiao to seek the truth, he would never stop him, as long as it could bring Zuo Nian peace of mind.

Just as Luo Yin was about to leave the office, Duan Baisui thought of something and called him back, “Assistant Luo.”

“Your instructions?” Luo Yin stopped in his tracks.

“Do you know how to create a SuperTopic?” Duan Baisui asked.

“…What?” Luo Yin almost thought he’d misheard.

“A double-person SuperTopic. Set one up,” Duan Baisui said.

Luo Yin: “Alright, then the SuperTopic name will be…”

Duan Baisui smiled. “Nian Shen Sui Jiu.”[mfn]Year after year, a time long and deep.[/mfn]

Luo Yin: …

—

The private room in the café was secluded and quiet. Other than the soft background music, almost no other sounds could be heard.

As the time of the meeting drew near, Zuo Nian grew increasingly nervous. His palms were slick and sticky with sweat, and his heart felt like it was about to burst out of his chest.

He silently repeated the words he had prepared in his mind over and over again, afraid that he would lose his momentum the moment they met.

The hot cocoa in front of him had already cooled. Just then, the door was pushed open, and a fully disguised person appeared at the entrance.

He wore a black trench coat, a baseball cap, and a mask. On the bridge of his nose was a large dark sunglasses.

The girl following behind him whispered, “Brother Xiao, we have to hurry. The event’s in half an hour.”

The man nodded. “Alright.”

The door closed behind him. The man took off all his disguises, revealing his face. It was Ju Xiao.

With a gentle smile, he reached out his hand and said, “Apologies, there was traffic. I’ve kept you waiting.”

Zuo Nian stood up, wiped his hand on his clothes, shook Ju Xiao’s hand politely, and said, “I’m the one taking up your time.”

“Not at all, please don’t say that,” Ju Xiao said naturally as he took a seat. “Mr. Zuo, did you ask to see me because of the trending topic?”

Zuo Nian straightened his back and said, “Yes. I’m Duan Baisui’s lover. We’ve been married for almost a year now.”

“I know,” Ju Xiao said. “We met before, at the annual party. I’m really sorry for always causing trouble between you two, but there really isn’t anything going on between me and Director Duan.”

Zuo Nian placed a golden piggy bank on the table. With his soft, babyish face pulled into a serious expression, he said solemnly, “Mr. Ju, this kind of news isn’t the first time. For my husband, it seriously damages his reputation. For me, it hurts my feelings. And for you, it’s not good for your career. I believe you two don’t have anything going on now, but your names keep getting tied together, and I really can’t accept that.”

“There’s 645.5 yuan in the piggy bank. I also have two cards…” As he spoke, Zuo Nian took out two bank cards and placed them on the table.

“One has two million, the other has seventy-eight thousand. With the piggy bank, that’s a total of 2,078,645.5 yuan. It’s all yours. Please stay away from my husband immediately. I know the market price is five million. I’ll pay the rest in installments.”

Afraid he’d lose confidence, Zuo Nian rushed to finish everything in one breath.

Across from him, Ju Xiao looked completely stunned. He glanced at Zuo Nian, then at the bank cards. “You… might have misunderstood.”

Zuo Nian stood up with a whoosh, bowed deeply, and said, “Then I’ll trouble you. I hope this is the last time I see your names tied together.”

“Mr. Zuo…” Ju Xiao tried to say something more.

But Zuo Nian had already flung the door open and run out with his head held high. He thought to himself, I finally did something brave. I defended my marriage. Since Ju Xiao took my money, he shouldn’t be able to refuse my request now, right?

That evening, Zuo Nian sat in the living room, tapping away at his calculator. His monthly income was unstable. Sometimes over ten thousand, with a high of thirty thousand. If he paid Ju Xiao twenty thousand each month… Wait, would he charge interest?

Zuo Nian bit the end of his pen, feeling a bit troubled. If he included interest, how much would be reasonable?

The front door of the villa opened, and Duan Baisui appeared at the entrance to the living room. He was dressed neatly in a well-tailored suit, with a shiny golden pig’s head tucked under his left arm, completely out of place with his otherwise polished appearance.

“Gege!” Zuo Nian called out joyfully, not noticing at all the item tucked under Duan Baisui’s arm.

Duan Baisui sat down on the sofa and patted his leg. Zuo Nian obediently snuggled over. “You got off work early today?”

Duan Baisui wrapped an arm around his waist and held up the piggy bank. “Look familiar?”

Zuo Nian didn’t even need to look closely to recognize it as his own. After the initial shock came urgency. “He—how did he give it to you?”

“Why did you give him money?” Duan Baisui asked in return.

Zuo Nian wasn’t sure if Duan Baisui was angry. He lowered his head like a child who had done something wrong. “I… I wanted him to stay away from you.”

“So you tried to buy me out with money?” Duan Baisui tilted his chin up, making him meet his gaze.

“That’s how they always do it in dramas…” Zuo Nian mumbled.

“I told you to stop watching those brainless shows.” Duan Baisui was both exasperated and amused. “And you even offered to pay in installments? Is your business doing that well every month now? How much did you earn today?”

“Forty-eight. I put it all in the piggy bank,” Zuo Nian said sheepishly.

“You made forty-something in a day, averaging five yuan per sale, and you dare promise five million?”

“T-That’s the market rate! I was afraid that if I gave too little, he wouldn’t agree… Look, I even said five million, and he still returned it… Then—then how much is appropriate?” Zuo Nian’s voice was full of grievance, on the verge of tears.

“Are you silly or what?” Duan Baisui pinched his cheek. “He doesn’t want the money. He’s going to start his own studio soon. There won’t be much overlap between us anymore, got it?”

“Then that night, you two…” Zuo Nian trailed off, hesitant to finish.

“We did say a few words at the entrance,” Duan Baisui explained seriously. “He came to apologize about being falsely accused by Rong Jin. After that, I went back to the hotel, and he returned to the filming site. We did travel the same road for a while, but we parted ways very quickly. He just posted online. He’s already clarified everything.”

“Really?” Zuo Nian’s eyes widened, and he said with regret, “Then what should I do? I said so many harsh things today. I was really awful… I must have hurt him.”

“Not at all. He completely understands how you feel. He even said you’re very cute,” Duan Baisui said, kissing him. “Hmm? How are you this cute? That was your entire fortune? Even your dowry?”

That two million yuan had been given to Zuo Nian by Zuo Jun and Ason when he married Duan Baisui. Calling it a dowry wasn’t far off.

“Not cute at all…” Zuo Nian murmured weakly. “I went dark this afternoon… totally lost my mind.”

Duan Baisui laughed aloud. “You went dark, huh? Were you scary today? Gave away your pig and still call that going dark?”

Zuo Nian pouted. “Are you making fun of me?”

“How could I?” Duan Baisui said. “My wife spent five million to buy me out. I’m too flattered to laugh.” He tapped Zuo Nian’s nose. “You really love me, don’t you?”

“Did you just… call me wife?” Zuo Nian looked at him in disbelief, his face instantly turning red.

They’d been married for so long, and the most intimate thing Duan Baisui had ever called him was baby. This was the first time he’d ever called him wife.

“Mm. Don’t like me calling you that?” Duan Baisui asked.

“No…” Zuo Nian bit his lip and smiled shyly. “I like it.”

“Go get your ring and put it on,” Duan Baisui said, patting his butt.

“What for?” Zuo Nian asked.

“Gotta let the world know who my good little wife is,” Duan Baisui raised a brow. “Time to show off a little?”

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