TSSRWAB Chapter 21

「Uncle Xie is so old-fashioned.」

 

The young man angrily gripped the balcony railing, and the next second, the lights in the entire manor came on.

 

Happy Birthday.

 

A sea of flowers intertwined with twinkling lights.

 

On a chilly November night, the wind was cold, but the young man’s heart warmed.

 

He didn’t expect that Uncle Xie, whom he despised as old-fashioned and unromantic, would actually remember his birthday and secretly arrange this surprise for him.

 

「Xie Zhuhan, I love you so much.」

 

「Lu Xi will always love Xie Zhuhan.」

 

Under the deep blue starry sky, fireworks exploded.

 

Amidst the dazzling brilliance of shooting stars, the young man’s unrestrained love was swallowed by the roar of the fireworks. Behind him, Xie Zhuhan, the Demon King, heard every word clearly.

 

Lu Xi will always love Xie Zhuhan.

 

In the peach blossom forest, petals fluttered through the air. The same young man who had once vowed to love him forever is now leaning over another woman, his delicate fingers brushing a stray petal from her face. His starry eyes filled with tender affection as he slowly lowered his head.

 

The wind stopped, and the petals fell still in the air.

 

Xie Zhuhan appeared beside the young man in an instant, his expression cold as he raised a hand and lightly touched the boy’s pink lips with his fingertips.

 

They were damp.

 

It was just like that night.

 

Under the fireworks, Lu Xi threw himself into his arms, stood on tiptoe, and kissed him.

 

Petals fell, and a gentle breeze blew the little male fox’s long hair.

 

“Cut!”

 

Director Hu wore a satisfied expression. The second take had gone perfectly in one shot. As he reviewed the footage, however, he frowned. Huh? The kiss in the shot looked a little off. The petals had drifted too close to Lu Xi’s lips, making it seem like they didn’t actually kiss.

 

But he saw them kiss just now.

 

This-

 

Director Hu was confused for a moment.

 

The set was already being cleared. Lu Xi walked over to check the footage and casually asked, “What’s wrong, Director? Is it not good?”

 

The female lead came over, too. Hearing Lu-ge’s question, she perked up and looked at the director with anticipation.

 

If it wasn’t good, they could shoot it again!

 

Lu-ge smells so good.

 

She was ready!

 

The director glanced at the female lead. “It’s usable. We’re good. Xiao Sun, wipe the saliva from your mouth.”

 

Female lead Xiao Sun: …

 

“Aiya, Director Hu, I have no idea what you’re talking about!”

 

“Keep pretending. Our Boss Xi belongs to the whole crew. Xiao Sun, draw your sword. I challenge you to a duel!” The second male lead joined in with playful banter.

 

This was just how the crew’s atmosphere was. Everyone joked around during work.

 

The morning light was perfect, capturing the sweet, romantic vibe they wanted. Next up was the dark, murderous version of the little fox.

 

“Xixi, my pretty boy, time for a costume change!” Xiao Sun said happily, tossing a smug look at the second male lead. “See that?”

 

The second male lead had already changed outfits, just waiting for the three-way showdown to film.

 

The production team was broke, so they rented two rooms to use as dressing rooms and makeup rooms. One room was shared by the three main actors, with two small cubicles where they could lock the doors and change their clothes. The other room was for the extras.

 

When Xiao Sun said this, everyone knew she meant they would each go into their own little cubicles to change.

 

Across the peach blossom forest, Xie Zhuhan’s gaze was cold.

 

“Master.”

 

The butler’s voice carried a hint of urgency. His master had already used magic to damage the peach trees earlier, and now he froze the time again. He feared his master might act impulsively, but he knew better than to try stopping him. He could only follow closely behind.

 

On the corridor leading to the break room.

 

Lu Xi spotted Xie Zhuhan.

 

???

 

For a second, he thought his eyes were playing tricks on him. What was Xie Zhuhan doing here?

 

“…Let’s go get spicy hot pot for lunch. I heard the place is really good–” Xiao Sun flirted shamelessly with Lu-ge. Even though she knew he already has two adorable little sons, he was still single, and so was she. Lu-ge was gorgeous and charming. She figured having a fun romance wouldn’t hurt.

 

Then her steps faltered.

 

Xiao Sun spotted a man standing up ahead. Her heart went wow. Because of his aura, she didn’t even dare entertain any bold thoughts. He didn’t look like your typical rich second-gen, more like someone from an old-money aristocratic family.

 

And the refined, middle-aged gentleman trailing a few steps behind him, is that a butler?

 

Wow, wow, wow.

 

This was like straight out of idol dramas.

 

Only, it felt a little cold. Xiao Sun’s sixth sense tingled. This man is dangerous. She whispered, “Lu-ge?” urging him to leave quickly. Who knew what kind of big-shot business this man was here for?

 

Xie Zhuhan’s gaze was as cold as ice as he glanced over indifferently.

 

Xiao Sun shuddered.

 

She felt danger.

 

“You go ahead,” Lu Xi said.

 

Xiao Sun hesitated for a moment, then made a quick decision and left first. Once the icy presence faded and the danger ebbed away, her thoughts gradually returned. Does Lu-ge know that big shot?

 

This was her first time seeing someone like that. Huh? What did he even look like?

 

Xiao Sun suddenly couldn’t remember. Even though she was totally captivated just a moment ago, now she couldn’t remember a thing.

 

All that was left was a vague impression that he’s not easy to mess with, has a powerful aura, and is very rich.

 

The butler withdrew to wait elsewhere.

 

The corridor was now empty except for Xie Zhuhan and Lu Xi, standing about two meters apart.

 

“What is it? Speak up.” Lu Xi spoke first.

 

Xie Zhuhan remained silent.

 

“Don’t tell me you just happened to run into me on set.”

 

“You still care about me,” Xie Zhuhan stated.

 

Lu Xi let out a laugh, as if he heard a hilarious joke. The little male fox’s outfit made him look cute and lively even when he was being sarcastic. “Xie Zhuhan, what are you imagining? Since it’s not important, just say what you want to say and don’t waste my time.”

 

Silence again.

 

Lu Xi has no patience for this. He turned to leave and change out of his costume.

 

His styling would take time.

 

“Who is the mother of those two children?” Xie Zhuhan asked coldly.

 

Lu Xi paused, then turned back to Xie Zhuhan with a sweet smile. He rolled his pretty eyes and huffed, “What’s it to you? They’re my kids, not yours.”

 

“You were with someone else while we were together,” Xie Zhuhan asked, looking into the young man’s beautiful eyes.

 

Lu Xi didn’t need to calculate the timeline. He nodded firmly. “Yes.”

 

Xie Zhuhan’s eyes grew even colder.

 

This person is like that; often silent, with a cold face and little expression. His eyes held depths that might mean everything or nothing at all. Lu Xi used to find it intriguing. Now, he didn’t care.

 

He looked back into Xie Zhuhan’s eyes and said calmly, “Is that why you came today? To ask who the mother of my children is? When were they born? Now that you’ve heard I had them while we were together, Xie Zhuhan, what else do you want to ask? What else do you want to say?”

 

“I loved you back then.”

 

“But don’t forget, when you were with me, you were also in love with someone else.”

 

Lu Xi sneered, “Our past relationship was a joke.”

 

“Or maybe you just fell in love with me… as a substitute?”

 

Xie Zhuhan stared into the young man’s eyes. They were still as bright as ever, but no longer filled with the warmth of love. He thought of the actress nestled in the young man’s arms, of how he had fathered children with another woman while they were together.

 

A surge of anger settled heavily in his chest.

 

“I don’t love you,” Xie Zhuhan said coldly and looked away.

 

“Great. I don’t enjoy playing the substitute either.” Lu Xi said and left immediately. He knew Xie Zhuhan had misunderstood the truth about Doubao and Dougao. But so what? He didn’t care.

 

Frost spread along the hallway.

 

Xie Zhuhan’s expression was cold and stern. “Let’s go. From now on, there’s no need to report Lu Xi’s affairs to me.”

 

The butler sighed inwardly. This was the second time his master had said this.

 

Yet his heart clearly felt otherwise.

 

Young Master Lu had children with another woman, and you’re unhappy, Master.

 

—

 

The scene remains the same, still the peach blossom forest.

 

Director Hu noticed the change in Lu Xi after the costume change. Now, he exuded a cold, ruthless lethality, perfectly embodying the murderous fox spirit.

 

“See? Boss Lu’s already in character.”

 

The romantic, petal-filled scene from earlier had been cleaned up, leaving only trampled mud and fallen petals.

 

Just like the empress and the little fox’s past.

 

Director Hu shouted, “Action!”

 

The second male lead quickly got into character, pulled in by Lu Xi’s energy.

 

The fox spirit was no longer a fox. His eyes glowed faintly red and his presence reeked of bloodlust. The once-elegant, beautiful youth was now cold and merciless.

 

The empress was no match for him.

 

Pinned beneath the peach tree where they once pledged their love, she now faced death in the same spot.

 

“Fox… you’re holding back,” the second male lead said, gazing at the fox with obsession.

 

The empress’s face turned ashen as she gasped the fox’s name. For a fleeting moment, a trace of gentleness flickered in the killer’s eyes, as if remembering the past.

 

Everyone, including Director Hu behind the camera, was fooled into thinking the fox still loved her and couldn’t bring himself to kill her. But in the next second, the fox killed the empress. The empress’s body crumpled to the ground. The second male lead was overjoyed and wrapped his arms around the fox’s slender figure from behind.

 

“A-Li… my beloved A-Li.”

 

In the shot, the second male lead hugged the fox tightly, as the fake peach blossoms in the background turned faintly frosty.

 

The air temperature dropped suddenly.

 

“Cut!”

 

“Today went smoothly. We got this shot in one take,” said Director Hu happily.

 

The second male lead let go of Lu Xi’s hand and said, “Why did it suddenly get colder? It’s a bit chilly.” He then sneezed a few times.

 

—

 

In the black car leaving the film lot, the partition had been raised to block the front seats. In the empty backseat, Xie Zhuhan sat, a cold aura emanating from him.

 

The butler sat in the front passenger seat, pretending not to know the master had disappeared for a while.

 

As for where he went…

 

—Definitely not to see Young Master Lu. The butler smiled faintly.

 

After all, the master said he wouldn’t concern himself with Young Master Lu’s matters anymore.

 

“We’ll stay at a hotel tonight. It’s too late to return.”

 

Xie Zhuhan lowered the partition to speak.

 

“Yes, master,” the butler replied with a kind smile.

 

—

 

Today’s shoot went smoothly, and everyone finished early.

 

The empress was dead, but not really. The fox spirit strangled her, but the transmigrator’s soul returned to the body. Regaining consciousness with all her memories, she now knew everything the empress had done to her beloved little fox in her absence.

 

From here, the story descended into a second half of heartbreak and suffering.

 

The little fox’s ambiguous relationship with the second male lead emperor, and his deep, painful love with the female lead.

 

All the way to the finale.

 

“Lu-ge’s acting earlier scared me to death. It felt so real,” Xiao Sun said, rubbing her neck. Lu-ge controlled his strength and didn’t use too much force, but she was so caught up in the scene that she still felt a little scared when she thought back to Lu-ge‘s gaze.

 

It felt like he really wanted to kill her.

 

“Lu-ge, if you broke up with someone, would it be… one of those deadly breakups?” Xiao Sun tested.

 

Lu Xi gave her a look like she were a silly child. “In real life, people break up peacefully. I’m not the little fox in the drama. Why would I kill anyone?”

 

Xiao Sun felt something was off. “What if it’s not peaceful? What if the other person cheats? What if they fall in love with someone else?”

 

“…What do you think?” Lu Xi didn’t answer. Instead, he smiled.

 

Just like that cunning little fox.

 

–

 

 

 

 

The author has something to say:

Lu Xi’s birthday is November 11th. He is a Scorpio and has a natural tendency to hold grudges.

 

 

 

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