Chapter 32 – A Lesson

In a private room at the Sandalwood Hotel, located in the city center, the director, assistant director, screenwriter, and other staff from the Sweet, Sour, Bitter, Spicy crew were having a pre-production meeting. The lead actor, Xiao Qi, was also present.

Getting a role in Ruan Tan’s film was by far his biggest surprise of the year. If all went well, he could use this movie to solidify his position as a Film Emperor, ensuring that those who had looked down on him in the past would never dare to do so again. He would repay every condescending glance and every bit of discrimination he had ever suffered!

After a few rounds of drinks, the conversation around the table grew less inhibited. The assistant director, his tongue loosened by alcohol, brought up the recent hot topic.

“I say, Director Ruan, there’s… there’s something I really don’t get, old buddy. Why did you have to speak up for a minor supporting actor? Look at how they’re flaming you online. I think you just made things harder for yourself!”

Xiao Qi elegantly sipped his wine. Hearing those words brought him a strange sense of satisfaction. Indeed, it was an unnecessary gesture. When Xiao Fang had run into trouble, he had planned to just watch from the sidelines. After all, he couldn’t believe it when he heard Xiao Fang had passed the audition. Even for him, Director Ruan had only sought him out after reviewing his past achievements. Why would he seek out that good-for-nothing Xiao Fang?

When Ruan Tan was in a bad mood, he didn’t like to engage with people. He shot a glare at the assistant director, his eyes conveying just how terrible his mood was.

The glare sobered up the assistant director in an instant. The others who were about to join in the heckling were silenced by a sweeping glance from the assistant director. It was a classic case of the big fish eating the small fish, and the small fish eating the shrimp.

Now, everyone knew not to bring up Xiao Fang, but their minds were already busy constructing various scenarios about Director Ruan and Xiao Fang’s supposed family connections.

Xiao Qi set down his wine glass and, under the guise of being drunk, said, “Xiao Fang is my brother. I know what he’s like better than anyone. The role he got is a minor one among minor ones. There was really no need to trouble you, Director Ruan, and tarnish your reputation.”

Ruan Tan glanced at Xiao Qi. He was slightly taller than Xiao Fang, and his every move exuded a carefully concealed elegance. However, it did nothing to make Ruan Tan like him any more. They were brothers, yet instead of avoiding suspicion, he was stepping on his own brother to elevate himself. This was what he despised the most. And as a brother, it was one thing not to help when his sibling was in trouble, but to pour cold water on the situation here… Heh.

“There are plenty of people who want the lead role. If you got into trouble, should I abandon you for the same reason?”

Ruan Tan’s light, airy words made Xiao Qi’s face turn utterly grim. He gritted his teeth and didn’t respond.

The assistant director watched the two of them, the tension between them palpable. Both were of the third gender, and both had powerful backers. He was powerless to intervene.

While Xiao Qi was fuming, the person he resented was being treated to a delicious meal by his legitimate husband.

Xiao Fang was happily gnawing on a pig’s trotter while Fei Xiangnan sat beside him, handing him napkins.

“Eat slowly,” Fei Xiangnan’s voice was tinged with indulgence. Xiao Fang was only ever his most authentic self when he was eating. His love for food greatly diminished his usual politeness towards Fei Xiangnan, and Fei Xiangnan, in turn, experienced a joy in his company that was different from their usual interactions. Even without eating, he felt full.

“Que Jiang told me your appetite has been getting better. That’s a good thing.” Fei Xiangnan nonchalantly used the serving chopsticks to place some vegetables in his bowl. He had figured it out—Xiao Fang was a sworn enemy of vegetables.

Xiao Fang, who was chewing on the soft, glutinous pig’s trotter, saw the green vegetables in his bowl and his mouth immediately drooped. He shot them a look of utter disgust.

Fei Xiangnan almost laughed at his expression. Suppressing his amusement, he said with mock sternness, “You need a balanced diet.”

Xiao Fang’s eyes, filled with protest and resentment, glared at Fei Xiangnan. He reluctantly put the greens in his mouth, chewed a few times, and quickly swallowed before returning to his pig’s trotter.

A calculating glint flashed in Fei Xiangnan’s eyes. Treating it like medicine, are we? Does he really think that’s all he has to eat?

And so, Xiao Fang’s worst nightmare came true. For every three bites of meat he took, a chopstick-full of green vegetables would land in his bowl, accompanied by Fei Xiangnan’s “benevolent” smile. He could only swallow them down with a grateful smile plastered on his face.

Hmph, only rabbits eat grass!

Buzz! The phone in his pocket suddenly vibrated. Xiao Fang looked at the vegetables that had just landed in his bowl, and a plan formed in his mind.

“I’ll get it for you.” Fei Xiangnan was sitting right next to him and could easily reach it.

Xiao Fang casually wiped his hands with a napkin and mumbled, “No need,” as he went to get the phone himself. But his hand was a bit greasy, and the phone slipped and fell to the floor. This was not part of his plan. He immediately bent down to pick it up.

Xiao Fang’s belly was already starting to show. How could Fei Xiangnan let him bend over to pick up a phone? He quickly leaned down to help him up, but Xiao Fang moved surprisingly fast. His soft hair brushed against Fei Xiangnan’s chin as he straightened up. Before Fei Xiangnan could fully process the tingling sensation, Xiao Fang’s pale lips brushed right over the tip of his nose.

Fei Xiangnan froze instantly. The tingling sensations in two different spots grew stronger, hammering against his heart.

Xiao Fang sat up, replaying the moment, and was suddenly overcome with embarrassment. His heart was pounding, and he didn’t know what to say. The two of them fell silent, an awkward half-meter of air between them.

This was the first time in a long while that Fei Xiangnan had been so close to Xiao Fang, but it was far more stimulating to his senses than that hazy night. The person he held in his heart like a piece of warm jade brought him sensations that far exceeded his imagination. Fei Xiangnan had to do a lot of mental preparation to suppress the impulse that was about to burst out.

“Aren’t you going to answer the phone?” Fei Xiangnan changed the subject once he had calmed down.

Only then did Xiao Fang snap back to reality. He looked at the caller ID, marked as a spam call, and immediately swiped to reject it.

“What’s wrong?” Fei Xiangnan’s deep voice sounded.

Xiao Fang unnaturally turned his face away, his ears turning red. “Nothing, just a spam call.”

Fei Xiangnan didn’t doubt him. “Then let’s keep eating. The food’s getting cold.”

That pleasant voice, that gentle persuasion—Xiao Fang was momentarily dazed and put the greens into his mouth. By the time he realized what had happened, it was too late to spit them out.

Xiao Fang looked at Fei Xiangnan with an expression that screamed, “I’ve been tricked!” Fei Xiangnan couldn’t help but ruffle his hair. Faced with the big boss, the timid-as-a-mouse Xiao Fang didn’t dare to move, his watery eyes just staring at Fei Xiangnan.

Fei Xiangnan knew when to stop. After all, nothing was more important than Xiao Fang’s meal right now. He had finally gotten a chance to eat with him, and he couldn’t scare him away like this. It was better to take things slow.

After dinner, since Xiao Fang didn’t need a check-up today, Fei Xiangnan thought about it. There weren’t any entertainment options suitable for a pregnant person, and going to the movies was awkward given their ambiguous relationship. So, he could only send him back to the hotel early, cherishing what little extra time they had together.

Buzz, buzz! Xiao Fang’s phone rang again. This time it wasn’t a spam call, but Xiao Qi.

To be honest, Xiao Fang had no desire to speak to this so-called protagonist. Even though he had always been polite to him, Xiao Qi’s personality was thoroughly unlikable, even disgusting to Xiao Fang.

“Hello?”

Fei Xiangnan paused his steps towards the car.

“Do you have any idea how much trouble you’ve caused the production? You should know that your acting is nowhere near Director Ruan’s standards. It’s not too late to turn down the role,” Xiao Qi said coldly. Normally, Xiao Qi would beat around the bush, but the alcohol had loosened his tongue, and he had lost all restraint.

He had suffered so much humiliation since childhood, all because of this brother. Now that he had finally reclaimed what was rightfully his, he absolutely would not let Xiao Fang ruin it.

“Xiao Qi, I’m just a supporting character with ten minutes of screen time,” Xiao Fang said, all his good mood evaporating.

Xiao Qi scoffed. “And I was just a son of a concubine, with no chance of inheriting your family fortune. Why did you have to target me at every turn?”

Anger flared on Xiao Fang’s face. He was actually comparing these two things!

“If you don’t have the ability, don’t drag others down with you. This is a warning. I advise you to turn it down early. And why did Director Ruan help you? Heh, you must have used Father’s money to pay your way in again. Instead of spending that money, you should be helping Father manage the company. Stop making him worry about you all the time.” Xiao Qi thought he had Xiao Fang’s character all figured out.

Xiao Fang was so angry he wished he could break through the phone. The once pitiful protagonist was now so malicious when he speculated about others’ intentions.

Suddenly, the phone was snatched from his hand. Xiao Fang stared in surprise as Fei Xiangnan pressed the phone to his ear.

“President Fei, don’t.” He’s the protagonist’s love interest! He didn’t want Fei Xiangnan to get dragged back into that mess.

Fei Xiangnan was standing very close, so he had heard everything the other person said clearly. This Xiao Qi was quite the schemer. It was time to give him a reality check.

“Xiao Qi.” The voice, authoritative without being angry, instantly sobered Xiao Qi’s nerves.

“Fei… Fei Xiangnan?” Talking to this man always filled him with dread.

“I was the one who asked Director Ruan to speak up for Xiao Fang. I was also the one who got him the role. Do you have a problem with that? Or are you planning to use your Film Emperor status to suppress my partner?” Fei Xiangnan narrowed his eyes dangerously.

Xiao Fang, on the other hand, was left reeling by the words “my partner,” momentarily forgetting to snatch the phone back.

Xiao Qi’s lips trembled with anger. The man who had once been devoted to him was now opposing him for the sake of the person he hated most. It had only been a few months. How disheartening.

“His skills will only tarnish my next film,” Xiao Qi said, forcing himself to remain composed.

Fei Xiangnan sneered. “Oh? You seem quite confident in your own skills. Every role you’ve gotten—did you fight for them with your own ‘personal’ efforts?”

Xiao Qi’s face turned ashen. “What… what are you talking about? I don’t understand.”

Fei Xiangnan looked at Xiao Fang, who was standing there like a good little boy. The thought of how Xiao Qi had been suppressing him all this time, and that “substitute” comment, made him want to crush Xiao Qi.

“We both know what’s going on, so let’s not play games. If you don’t want to see yourself on the hot search tomorrow with Yan Yunyang, you’d better behave! Don’t let me find out you’ve caused any more trouble.” The blatant threat nearly drove Xiao Qi on the other end of the line mad. He thought no one would ever know about that, not even Yan Yunyang…

Fei Xiangnan never dragged things out. He hung up directly, essentially placing Xiao Qi on the guillotine and showing him the trigger. That itself was a form of torture.

“If something like this happens again, just tell me. There’s no need to keep it to yourself. You’re pregnant right now, and being in a bad mood isn’t good for the baby’s development.” Fei Xiangnan tucked Xiao Fang’s little yellow duck phone back into his pocket.

Xiao Fang glanced at him worriedly. This was the protagonist, someone he, a cannon fodder villain, couldn’t afford to offend. Yet Fei Xiangnan had not only offended him but had threatened him viciously, though he didn’t know what leverage he had.

“President Fei, I don’t think it’s a good idea to make too many enemies. Xiao Qi… he just has a sharp tongue. We can just pretend we didn’t hear him.” Xiao Fang didn’t know how to explain his reasoning but still tried to explain it earnestly.

Fei Xiangnan could tell there was more to it, but Xiao Fang was unwilling to say it.

He said he didn’t care, yet he was muttering about it in his fever. Xiao Fang had built a thick shell around himself, letting no one in. He had been watching that shell, wondering if he could ever get inside and make this person open up to him. Whatever the truth was, he was willing to try and accept it.

He ruffled Xiao Fang’s hair again, pressing down the small tuft that stuck up. Fei Xiangnan’s eyes grew very gentle.

“If others don’t mess with me, I won’t mess with them. You and I are in the same boat now, so it’s only natural that I help you. Don’t overthink it. Do you have enough snacks? I can take you to buy more. The next time I pick you up will be after you wrap filming.”

There was only half a month left until the drama wrapped, and Fei Xiangnan’s project was expected to be finalized around the same time.

“I have enough!”

“What about yogurt?” Two boxes were only about twenty-something bottles.

“I finished it.”

“You can’t go without that. I’ll take you to buy two more boxes to last you until you wrap up.”

“Okay~”