The Ex's Tears Are So Hot - Chapter 28
Lin Qi’s fierce expression was completely different from usual…
Guan Jinnian was holding back laughter so hard that his mouth twitched. He was afraid that laughing out loud would hurt Xie Zhixin’s pride.
“It’s okay, just pick a simple song,” he tried to comfort him.
Xie Zhixin looked at him quietly for a few seconds, then stubbornly asked, “Am I really that off-key?”
“Well… how should I put it…” Guan Jinnian looked a bit embarrassed, seemingly trying to find a more tactful way to say it.
He hesitated for a long time but couldn’t bring himself to say it.
Actually, his reluctance was already an answer, but Xie Zhixin refused to believe it and rephrased the question: “How do you feel when you hear me sing?”
“Do you want the truth or a lie?”
“Of course the truth.”
“Are you sure?” Guan Jinnian tried once again to save face for him.
“Mm-hmm!” Xie Zhixin nodded stubbornly.
“Maybe it’s like…” Guan Jinnian hesitated, then with the sincerest expression and gentlest voice, said the cruelest thing: “It’s like using chopsticks to pick up slippery fish balls. You just managed to pick one up and bring it to your mouth, but it drops. You pick it up again, it drops again, and then it keeps happening in an endless loop.”
The metaphor was so vivid that Xie Zhixin almost broke down.
[“Hahahahaha, what kind of genius metaphor is this? It’s too vivid. Just hearing it makes me angry.”]
[“Mr. Guan, you really know how to make a metaphor. No wonder you work in the internet field—such talent! 👍”]
[“Xie: The description is accurate, but please don’t describe it next time.”]
[“Hahaha so it means Xie Zhixin is always just a little bit off-key but can never quite hit the note?”]
[“I’m more curious now what his singing actually sounds like!”]
Wang Yue probably had been tipped off by the production team about Xie Zhixin’s running off-key, so when he saw that Xie was assigned to sing a love duet, he couldn’t help but laugh.
“How’s it going, Teacher Xie? Still confident now?” He deliberately asked Xie Zhixin.
Xie Zhixin looked expressionless at Wang Yue, his cold and stern brows making the audience feel like they were seeing the cold-faced male god before he became the “crying guy.”
[“Look at his cool and aloof look, who would’ve thought he’s so crybaby in private…”]
[“First time seeing such obvious double standards: cold and aloof to outsiders; whining ‘wife, come here’ with Guan Jinnian. Hahaha.”]
[“Aww, that’s the charm of contrast. When will I get someone like that?”]
[“But always having to take care of his emotions must be exhausting. Whenever he cries, someone has to comfort him…”]
[“Guan Jinnian has been comforting him all along. You can tell by how tired he looks.” 😂]
Wang Yue said, “Teachers, you can go prepare for the show now. We rented a rehearsal room in the county; feel free to use it if you need.”
As soon as he finished speaking, He Chengcheng turned and left, very uncooperative. Lin Qi’s face flickered with a shadow of gloom, unnoticed by everyone except Guan Jinnian and Xie Zhixin.
“Sorry, I’ll go talk to her,” Lin Qi said with a fake smile, then headed toward where He Chengcheng left.
Everyone else was used to their moods and pretended not to notice. After they left, the others gathered to discuss the program schedule.
Lu Yue looked at Wu Yi and Qi Ming, helplessly crying out, “Why did I get assigned to dance…”
Qi Ming said, “Then what about Director Qin…”
“Oh, he can play the piano and accompany me,” Lu Yue shrugged. “I can’t let him dance, that’d be even more disastrous.”
“Pfft… can’t even imagine it,” Wu Yi chuckled but quickly stopped when Qin Jin shot her a glare. Then she asked Guan Jinnian, “What about you two? What are you planning to sing?”
“No idea.” Guan Jinnian reached over and tapped Xie Zhixin’s arm. “Do you have anything in mind?”
“You should ask what I can sing,” Xie Zhixin, still a little crushed by Guan Jinnian’s brutally honest metaphor, said gloomily.
“What’s wrong, Xie? You tone-deaf?” Lu Yue asked curiously.
Mentioning the sore spot only made Xie Zhixin more withdrawn.
Guan Jinnian tried not to laugh, “It’s not that bad, just not very good.”
[“‘Just not very good’”]
[“Listen to the art of how he phrases things. Everyone learn from this, fam!”]
[“And the wife defending him, you should be grateful~”]
[“I always thought Guan Jinnian’s love for Xie Zhixin was a bit blind. Even he can’t stand his singing, so how bad can it be, hahaha.”]
[“Didn’t you hear the metaphor? Maybe it’s not that it sounds ‘bad’, but that it makes people ‘uncomfortable’ to listen!”]
[“6, the text messages here really know how to play with words.”]
“Don’t worry, Xie, just sing Phoenix Legend. You just do the Yoyo part!” Lu Yue comforted.
Qi Ming couldn’t hold back a laugh.
When he laughed, others also started chuckling.
“…”
Xie Zhixin blew cold air out in frustration and turned to Guan Jinnian with accusing eyes.
“Moon姐, you better do your best too. If not, just do broadcast calisthenics,” Guan Jinnian teased while laughing, but quickly defended him so he wouldn’t sulk and he’d have to comfort him later.
“Wait, who told you that?” Lu Yue blinked and then pointed at Xie Zhixin with a teasing scold, “Was it you? You little rascal. Director Shi praised you for being clever, and now you’re being sneaky!”
“The video was from Director Shi,” Xie Zhixin quickly outed the director.
When Lu Yue worked with Director Shi, her role had a dance scene, but she danced terribly and had to use a body double. The footage was still kept.
Every time they talked about it, Director Shi loved to show it to others.
“Damn, how does he spread it everywhere!” Lu Yue was so mad she almost called to yell at him.
[“Hahahahahaha”]
[“I love watching people spill each other’s secrets.”]
[“Aww, their atmosphere is so good now. Without some people, the vibe is much more harmonious.”]
[“Big guts to joke about our little King of Flames, aren’t you afraid of being chased and scolded?”]
[“Heh, who dares to offend him in the entertainment industry? Everyone avoids him at all costs; only Lin Qi puts up with him!”]
[“So people say Lin Qi tolerates him either because he has some ulterior motives or he’s mentally twisted~”]
He Chengcheng and Lin Qi’s fans went to their personal livestreams after the two left, almost no one stayed in the main livestream room, so the barrage was relatively peaceful, mostly one-sided complaints without arguments.
They chatted for a while, then Wu Yi and Qi Ming planned to go to the rehearsal room, and Lu Yue needed to practice, so they went together to the county by car.
Guan Jinnian and the others didn’t plan to go; just picking a suitable love song for two people to sing was hard enough.
On the way back, they took a shortcut—a secluded path flanked by bamboo groves, making it especially quiet.
Xie Zhixin was still sulking and didn’t say a word.
“Come on, let’s try a song first. What if you surprise us?” Guan Jinnian tried to coax him.
“You sing well and I sing badly. What if the fans think we’re not a perfect match?” Xie Zhixin muttered.
Guan Jinnian laughed, “So it turns out you care about that?”
“Otherwise, what?” Xie Zhixin asked back.
He was about to say more but suddenly stopped.
Faint arguing sounds came from the direction of the pavilion. From Xie Zhixin’s height, he could only see the edge of the pavilion roof.
[“What’s going on? Someone’s arguing?”]
[“I think I heard something about the show, cooperation, image…”]
[“Can we go check? I want to see the drama!”]
Guan Jinnian also heard it. “Sounds like Lin Qi and He Chengcheng.”
They exchanged looks, feeling it was unethical to eavesdrop, and were about to walk away when the volume suddenly increased and the argument became clearer.
“My little ancestor, I beg you, can you just finish recording the show properly?”
That was Lin Qi’s voice, but his usual gentle demeanor was gone, replaced by impatience.
“I can tolerate your temper, but others can’t, especially since this is live. Even if you hate me, can you consider your own image?”
“Who begged you to be on this show with me? Who was it on the phone begging me? If it wasn’t for my dad convincing me, do you think I wanted to be with you?”
That immature voice was clearly He Chengcheng.
“Didn’t your dad tell you? Finish the show properly and increase your exposure.” Lin Qi tried to restrain himself, “But now you’re so uncooperative. Have you seen your online reputation?”
“What are you pretending here for? You only got with me for benefits, and now you act all high and mighty?” He Chengcheng’s voice grew louder, trying to overwhelm Lin Qi.
“…”
“Why aren’t you answering? Should I expose all your dirty secrets online so everyone knows what kind of scum Lin Qi is? I remember everything clearly! How does it feel to be kept by Boss Du?”
“Stop talking!” Lin Qi’s voice was tight, holding back anger.
“I really don’t know how I ever liked you. You were cheating on me with other bosses behind my back. Didn’t you have enough money from me? Every night out, who knows what shady things you’re doing!”
The incident happened so fast that the cameraman hadn’t even turned off the livestream, and their entire conversation was broadcast live.
[“?????”]
[“Am I hearing this right???”]
[“Whoa, huge scandal!”]
[“Wait, I’m confused. Can someone summarize?”]
[“I got it! According to He Chengcheng, Lin Qi is a kept man, and she got with him for his family background, but he wasn’t satisfied and messed with multiple bosses.”]
[“OMG, this is explosive. Is it real?”]
[“Sounds real… He Chengcheng wouldn’t make this up. She must have found out something to break up.”]
The director immediately called the filming PD, who hurriedly cut the livestream.
But it was useless; the scandal heat soared and related topics quickly trended.
Lin Qi’s backers tried to remove the trending topics, but new ones kept popping up.
Neither party knew about it; the argument in the pavilion went on.
“I warn you, say two less words and finish the show properly, or I can’t guarantee what I might do,” Lin Qi’s voice turned dark and fierce, completely unlike usual.
Hearing this, Guan Jinnian instinctively grabbed Xie Zhixin’s wrist and secretly turned on the voice recorder on his phone.
“Do you know how much a delicate young master like you can sell for a night? Your type is very sought after,” Lin Qi’s tone grew colder, like a venomous snake lurking in the dark, “I believe you wouldn’t want to go through that, right?”
He Chengcheng didn’t reply, seemingly frightened.
“Haha, I’m joking.”
Lin Qi quickly returned to his old, friendly self.
“Be good, cooperate and finish the show well. Don’t test my patience, baby…”
Footsteps approached, getting closer.
Xie Zhixin reacted quickly, pulling Guan Jinnian and running away. The cameraman and PD followed immediately.
They only stopped when they reached their lodging, panting heavily.
“Phew… what was that about those two…” the PD asked.
Xie Zhixin waved his hand, “Don’t worry about it, let them handle it themselves.”
“They’ll probably stop the broadcast today. You all rest. We’re going to find the director,” the PD said and left with the cameraman.
Guan Jinnian played the recording. Lin Qi’s last few words echoed in the room.
“Unfortunately, nothing useful was recorded,” he said, backing up the audio.
Xie Zhixin poured water for him with his left hand.
“No worries, the evidence we’ve collected before is enough to put him away for a long time.”
Guan Jinnian tried to help but was refused, watching him awkwardly bring over the cup.
He took it and reflexively said, “Thank you,” but got flicked on the forehead by Xie Zhixin.
“What’s ‘thank you’ for?” Xie Zhixin complained.
“…Got it.” Guan Jinnian didn’t know what to say and changed the subject.
“Will they take this chance to expose what Lin Qi has done?”
“Maybe, we’ll find out in a couple of days,” Xie Zhixin said casually.
Guan Jinnian looked worried, “Wait, since this blew up in our livestream, could it affect you…”
“What kind of effect could it have on me?”
“Could Lin Qi’s backers target you?” Guan Jinnian’s face grew serious.
Xie Zhixin suddenly chuckled.
Though Guan Jinnian’s face was serious, Xie Zhixin found him inexplicably adorable.
“Why are you laughing when we’re talking about serious stuff?”
Xie Zhixin leaned close with a shameless grin.
“You care so much about me?”
Guan Jinnian just wanted to slap him, “Can you be serious for once?”
“Okay, okay, serious. I’m serious.”
Xie Zhixin smiled again, then said seriously, “Don’t worry, after so many years, I’m not just hanging around. It won’t be easy to take me down.”
“Really…” Guan Jinnian was still worried, tightening his grip on the water cup.
“If I go down, you’ll be the first to know,” Xie Zhixin said lightly.