Chapter 22 – The Substitute

Not long after Xiao Fang hung up, Zhang Hang came to find him. The two of them hailed a cab and went to the restaurant Xiao Qi had arranged, where he had been waiting for quite some time.

When Xiao Qi saw him, his expression was normal, which probably meant Zhang Hang had given him a heads-up.

Xiao Fang didn’t expect Xiao Qi to suddenly start treasuring him. It didn’t bother him in the slightest that he wasn’t even as close to his brother as Zhang Hang was. As long as Xiao Qi didn’t actively work against him, it was fine.

Xiao Qi was dressed in a limited-edition outfit from the current season, which added a touch of nobility to his appearance. However, he seemed cold and distant, lacking any sense of warmth.

He and Zhang Hang went over, exchanged greetings, and then started looking at the menu.

Zhang Hang did most of the ordering. When the menu was passed to Xiao Fang, he simply ordered a red date and yam soup for himself, along with a plate of kung pao chicken.

Xiao Qi frowned as he looked at the menu. “Didn’t you used to hate yam the most?”

It wasn’t that he paid particularly close attention to his brother, but this young master had been incredibly willful back in their school days. Once, when yam was served for dinner at home, he had thrown such a fit that he smashed his bowl. Ignoring his father’s furious expression, he had berated the new maid and had her fired the very next day.

Xiao Fang paused for a moment, then replied calmly, “That was when I was a kid. My tastes have changed.”

Xiao Qi grunted in response, handed the menu to the waiter, and fell silent. Xiao Fang had nothing to say either, so the two sat on opposite sides of the table, each in their own world.

Zhang Hang looked between the two of them, feeling like he was about to grow mold from the sheer awkwardness of the situation. He had thought bringing Xiao Fang along would liven things up, but it turned out to be even worse than coming alone.

This tense silence persisted until all the dishes had been served. Xiao Qi carefully placed some of Zhang Hang’s favorite foods on his plate, treating him with all the care one would show a beloved younger brother.

“Just eat your own food. I can serve myself,” Zhang Hang said, disliking the feeling. Age aside, he always felt that Xiao Qi was deliberately trying to curry favor with him, which made him uncomfortable.

Xiao Qi put down the serving chopsticks and began to eat. As expected of the novel’s protagonist, his table manners were countless times more elegant than Xiao Fang’s.

“Zhang Hang, what are your plans after this drama wraps up?” Xiao Qi asked, making routine conversation.

“I’ll see what the company arranges,” Zhang Hang replied. He glanced over at Xiao Fang, who was devouring his food with gusto, and suddenly the dishes on the table seemed much more appetizing.

Xiao Qi frowned. “How can you just let them decide? Did you tell the company what you’re capable of? Your agent might just give you any random role, like this time…” He shot a look at Xiao Fang, who was eating so happily he seemed completely oblivious to their conversation. “I have some good resources. You should go for those. You’re destined for fame; you can’t let your potential be wasted here.”

Zhang Hang waved a dismissive hand, not taking his words to heart. He wanted to rely on his own abilities, not pull strings. Besides, with his family’s influence, what top-tier resources couldn’t he get his hands on? He certainly didn’t need any from Xiao Qi.

Xiao Qi’s brow furrowed in displeasure, but he ultimately said nothing more and returned to sullenly picking at his food.

Zhang Hang lowered his head and continued to eat, only to feel a kick to his shin. He shot a suspicious glance at the source, but Xiao Fang was eating with a perfectly straight face, acting as if nothing had happened.

Thinking it was just a joke, Zhang Hang went back to his meal. A moment later, another kick landed on his shin.

“You!”

The two Xiao brothers looked up at the same time, their faces a picture of innocence.

Zhang Hang grit his teeth, stood up, and announced, “I’m going to the restroom.”

Xiao Fang gave him a satisfied smile. Zhang Hang nearly fainted from frustration. No wonder the guy had been stuffing his face the whole time—he himself had barely eaten a thing!

Now, only the two of them remained in the private room. Xiao Fang also put down his chopsticks, but it was Xiao Qi who broke the silence.

“I didn’t expect you to agree to have dinner with Zhang Hang. I figured you wouldn’t have the time to waste eating with me. Something must have happened with Fei Xiangnan,” Xiao Qi stated bluntly.

Xiao Fang forced a smile. “Why wouldn’t I want to eat with you? I’d come find you even if nothing was wrong.”

Without even lifting his gaze, Xiao Qi poked at the rice in his bowl with his chopsticks. “Spit it out. Do you want to break up with him? Being with someone like that is pure torture. I’ll do everything I can to help you.”

“That’s not it,” Xiao Fang said, a knot of discomfort tightening in his chest, though he didn’t let it show.

Xiao Qi looked at him in disbelief. “Then what else could you possibly want from me? Why are you so damn stubborn? Do you really expect someone like him to love you? I don’t need to help with that kind of thing. I was just confused before. Now…”

“I think he’s a good person, not as flawed as you make him out to be,” Xiao Fang interrupted. “Or is it…” He looked at his brother with a rare seriousness.

“Do you like him?”

Clang!

Xiao Qi shot to his feet, glaring at Xiao Fang as his chair scraped harshly against the floor. His voice was a mixture of anger and ridicule. “Me, like someone like him? A person like him doesn’t deserve to be loved! He’d do anything to achieve his goals. He spent a little money and destroyed Yunyang’s company without a second thought. If he can do that to me now, who’s to say he won’t do the same to you later? I’m telling you, let him go. Dad’s company is nothing to him. When the time comes, he’ll crush it without batting an eye!”

“He won’t,” Xiao Fang said with conviction.

Xiao Qi let out a laugh at his brother’s naivety. “He won’t? Heh, do you really think he treasures you that much? You’re just a substitute.”

The word “substitute” hit Xiao Fang like a physical blow. Him, a substitute? This was the first time he had ever heard such a thing. He had never considered himself a substitute. After all, Fei Xiangnan didn’t treat him like anyone else. They had simply made a deal. Once the transaction was complete, he would still be himself. It had nothing to do with being a substitute.

Seeing Xiao Fang’s silence, Xiao Qi assumed his words had struck a nerve and pressed his advantage. “He likes me. How could he possibly fall for someone else overnight? What sweet nothings did he whisper to make you think he likes you? Use your brain for a second. If he really liked you, would he let you act in such a cheap production? It has no future whatsoever.”

Xiao Fang looked up, a ball of anger tightening in his chest. He could be a sycophant to the protagonist, but he wouldn’t abandon his own principles. He had gotten the answer he came for, and he knew he couldn’t afford to make an enemy of Xiao Qi. He had to swallow the words he truly wanted to say.

“He made a promise, and he won’t go back on it. If this gamble fails, I’ll take full responsibility. I absolutely will not drag the family into this.”

“Hmph, you’re so certain? How long does the novelty of a substitute last?” Xiao Qi mocked, wanting nothing more than for him to give up.

Xiao Fang wiped his mouth with a napkin and stood up, his gaze calm, almost cold as he looked at Xiao Qi. “A year, I suppose. A year will be enough. I accepted this deal, and I won’t back out now.”

***

After playing three competitive games in the restroom and getting trolled in two of them, Zhang Hang stood up, stretched his aching back, and walked out. When he returned to the private room, he found only one person there.

“Where’s Xiao Fang?”

Xiao Qi looked terrible, and his tone was just as foul. “He left. Had something to do.”

It was the most transparent lie imaginable. For an actor as skilled as Xiao Qi to not even bother putting on a performance, it was obvious the two of them had argued.

“What did you two fight about to make you so angry?” Zhang Hang asked, picking up his chopsticks, his curiosity getting the better of him.

Xiao Qi scoffed. “I was just advising him not to fall for someone he shouldn’t.”

This only piqued Zhang Hang’s interest further, and the question slipped out before he could stop it. “Who?”

Xiao Qi paused, giving Zhang Hang a suspicious look before replying, “Someone you don’t know.”

***

Xiao Fang’s scenes in the drama were nearly finished. Today, he was filming his farewell to the crown prince. The prince’s rebellion had failed, and his pride wouldn’t allow him to accept his defeat, so he chose to take his own life with poison.

“Action!”

Xiao Fang stood before the bed. Zhang Hang, playing the prince, stared blankly at the canopy above him. “The victor is crowned king, the loser is cast aside,” he said, his voice strained. “This is my fate. I have no regrets.”

Xiao Fang looked at him, his face devoid of expression. “Truly no regrets?” he asked in a low voice.

Zhang Hang slowly raised a hand. After a moment’s hesitation, Xiao Fang took it, their fingers intertwining. Zhang Hang managed a weak smile and called out his character’s pet name.

“I always thought, with your spirit, you were destined to find solace in the mountains and rivers. I remember when you were little, always clamoring to become a great hero who punished evil and promoted good. I thought then that I had to become a good emperor, to bring happiness and prosperity to the people, to ensure peace in the land. That way… when you went off to right the world’s wrongs, I wouldn’t be left all alone.”

Xiao Fang slowly sank to his knees, clutching Zhang Hang’s hand tightly. After months of bitter struggle, in the end, they couldn’t bear to part.

“You shouldn’t have taken the poison. What about Mother? What about Father Emperor?” Xiao Fang’s eyes reddened.

Zhang Hang smiled faintly. “Why don’t you ask what you should do? Seeing you cry… it makes me very happy.”

Xiao Fang’s eyes widened, his jaw trembling. “This is the last time.”

Zhang Hang gripped his hand tighter. “This one time is enough for me.”

“Promise me one thing, little brother. I want you to always, always hate me,” Zhang Hang said, his words almost cruel. “I want to tell you a secret.”

Xiao Fang looked at him, uncomprehending.

Zhang Hang let out a dry laugh and slowly pulled himself up, leaning in to whisper in Xiao Fang’s ear, “Weren’t you always curious about her identity? She… is the sole princess of our neighboring kingdom. My dear little brother, aren’t you furious? You were just a puppet. The one who truly held you in their heart wasn’t her. It was always me. Me.”

Xiao Fang’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Impossible… impossible! You’re lying! You’re lying to me!”

The figure on his shoulder went still. Xiao Fang froze, then called the prince’s name again.

“Imperial Elder Brother?” he called out, his voice trembling.

One of the intertwined hands slowly slipped away.

“Imperial Elder Brother,” Xiao Fang said again, this time with certainty. There was no answer. He looked around, disoriented, then took the limp hand again, clutching it helplessly. But there was no response.

Xiao Fang’s lower lip trembled as he cradled the prince’s lifeless body, his eyes completely red. A hot tear fell onto the prince’s robe. There was no one else around; Xiao Fang had sent them all away beforehand. Only now, in the solitude, did he let out a choked, trembling whisper, “Brother.”

The assistant director standing nearby couldn’t hold back her tears. She grabbed her makeup artist friend, whimpering, “The ship I’ve been sailing for two months has sunk.”

Xiao Ma was also wiping his eyes, tugging on Que Jiang’s sleeve. “Brother Xiao’s acting was incredible.”

Que Jiang gave him a speechless look. Why did this grown man cry like a girl? He pulled a tissue from his pocket and held it out to Xiao Ma. “Wipe your tears.”

Xiao Ma, who was on much better terms with Que Jiang now, took the tissue and continued to dab at his eyes. “You just don’t know how to appreciate it. I think the prince and the imperial prince had amazing chemistry. Just you wait, once this scene airs, tons of girls are going to ship them.”

“Oh, really?” a voice interjected from behind, dripping with skepticism.