Chapter 48 – I Want to Protect You

After that, the main branch of the Xiao family didn’t bother Xiao Fang for a good while, and he once again lived a peaceful life at home. However, Father Xiao never contacted Xiao Fang again. Xiao Fang could understand, but he didn’t want to contact Father Xiao too soon either. The two of them remained in this stalemate.

“Buzz buzz!” Xiao Fang’s phone buzzed with a transfer notification. It was two thousand yuan from Xiao Bai Lian. Xiao Fang smiled triumphantly and showed the transfer information on his phone to Fei Xiangnan, who was working on the side.

“Look, your shirt money is back!”

Fei Xiangnan looked dotingly at Xiao Fang’s money-grubbing eyes. “Keep it to top up your games. After this incident, great-aunt will probably be unsettled for over a month.”

Xiao Fang accepted the payment with a sly smile and said gleefully, “I wasn’t planning on giving it to you anyway, so isn’t this better? I think your family members are all just idle. They have money but don’t live good lives, and they always have to harass you, their cash cow. I really don’t understand the thinking of rich people.”

Fei Xiangnan propped his hand on his chin and thought for a moment. “Everyone has their own interests. It’s normal to do things. I’m used to it. Besides, aren’t you a rich person yourself? There should be many things in common.”

I’m not a rich person at all, Xiao Fang silently complained in his heart. For over twenty years, he had been a professional in the home-buying demographic.

“But, my family doesn’t have so many twists and turns. My dad wanted to divide the property equally from the beginning. Don’t look at his slick exterior; he’s actually very decisive in his actions. Although I don’t like Xiao Qi, Xiao Qi will get everything he deserves, not a single thing less,” Xiao Fang analyzed matter-of-factly.

“Then didn’t Xiao Qi still target you even after knowing that?” Fei Xiangnan’s single sentence choked Xiao Fang, who finally concluded with one sentence, “The human heart is hard to fathom, whether for ordinary people or those in power.”

Fei Xiangnan was not yet thirty, but he had already seen through the human heart, all thanks to that family of Feis.

Xiao Fang felt a pang of sympathy and leaned over, hugging Fei Xiangnan. “Don’t worry, I will never plot against you.”

Seeing Xiao Fang’s sincere eyes, Fei Xiangnan raised an eyebrow, a plan forming in his mind. “A verbal promise doesn’t count. It needs to be stamped.”

Xiao Fang looked at him suspiciously. It wasn’t until Fei Xiangnan’s gaze drifted to an indescribable place that Xiao Fang realized. “You… you stay away from me! I… I’m being sincere! No need!”

Before he could finish, Fei Xiangnan had already silenced him. The tall man held the person in his arms tightly, their lips meeting, filling the entire afternoon with a sweet atmosphere.

In the evening, Xiao Fang started sulking with his phone.

“It’s all your fault. There was a very important event this afternoon with lots of rewards!” Xiao Fang held his phone, fuming, not wanting to pay any attention to Fei Xiangnan.

“Meow~” Nuomici, a daddy’s boy, also meowed in agreement.

Fei Xiangnan didn’t seem annoyed and happily warmed some milk for Xiao Fang. “If you want those rewards, I can call the boss of that game company and get you double. We happen to have a partnership, so he should be happy to help.”

Damn rich people!!!

Putting down his phone, he held Nuomici in his arms. “No thanks, you don’t understand the fun of games. Nuomici, kisses~” Extremely bored, Xiao Fang started tormenting his furball again.

Nuomici, who liked its daddy but didn’t quite like playing the kissing game with him: Meow~ I’m no longer a clean little male cat~

Fei Xiangnan brought the warm milk over and took the tormented furball from Xiao Fang’s hands. “Drink the milk first. Your TV show is about to start. Don’t drink while watching, it’s not good for digestion.”

Speaking of which, Xiao Fang felt a little shy. He had never watched a show he acted in with someone so close to him. At first, he didn’t want to watch it with Fei Xiangnan, but under Fei Xiangnan’s pressure, he still obediently waited with him for the eight o’clock prime time slot.

This was the first time Fei Xiangnan had ever waited with another person to watch a TV show. The feeling was strange, and also very happy.

“It’s starting,” his lover said expectantly beside him, his eyes shining.

“Mhm.”

On the large, soft sofa, the two of them snuggled together under the comfortable cool air conditioning, sharing the same blue blanket. A small white cat curled up, purring comfortably. On the television, a grand song began to play. With Fei Xiangnan’s resources, the production team had used very experienced personnel for post-production. The magnificent scenes, with the figures of three young people flashing by one after another. For the first time, Xiao Fang saw his own figure occupy so much screen time in the opening theme. Many emotions were mixed in his heart, and he didn’t know which one to express.

The first episode had a very lighthearted tone, basically about the male and female leads meeting. The chemistry between the two of them sparked a heated discussion online, but before that, it also stirred up a sea of jealousy in Fei Xiangnan’s heart.

“I’ve never seen you smile at me like that,” a certain jealous person began to speak coolly when Xiao Fang saw the princess and smiled.

Uh…

Xiao Fang was embarrassed and tapped his man’s shoulder with his finger. “Ahem, this is acting!”

Fei Xiangnan grabbed Xiao Fang’s hand and said with great interest, “Then you can act it out for me too.”

What kind of perverse request was this!!!

Xiao Fang turned his head away and said weakly, “Your servant is unable to do so.”

Fei Xiangnan unwillingly turned Xiao Fang’s chin back and looked at him with great confidence, encouraging him, “You can do it!”

Faced with his unreasonable partner, Xiao Fang now had only one method. He gave him a bear hug, trying to make him forget about this matter.

Fei Xiangnan always welcomed his lover’s embrace. He hugged him back without any refusal and also demanded countless kisses. After a round of fooling around, tonight’s two episodes were over. When the somewhat lyrical ending theme started to play, Xiao Fang, out of breath, let go of the certain someone. Having such a little charmer by his side was truly exhausting!

“Smile at me like that,” Fei Xiangnan said with a serious face.

Xiao Fang, resigned to his fate, pushed away the face that was about to press against his and opened Weibo with one hand. Now was the time to truly check the results.

He searched for news about “Dynasty.” As expected, the two episodes that had just aired had already shot to the top of the hot search. One of the topics was about Xiao Fang’s acting skills.

#Xiao Fang’s Acting is Explosive#

[Holy crap, Xiao Fang’s acting is actually this good? I looked at his previous few dramas, and they’re not on the same level at all! I suspect he was hiding his skills before!]

[Oh my god, that smile in the teahouse was too good! I’m a passerby-turned-fan for Xiao Fang, sob~]

[Wait for me, sister upstairs, that smile was too healing!!]

[I suddenly feel like I’ve been slapped in the face. Daddy, forgive me!]

… …

Xiao Fang’s eyes curved into crescent moons as he saw these comments. The support of these people was the greatest encouragement for his hard work these past few months. He used his alternate account to like every comment he came across. But there were still many unpleasant remarks.

[It’s just average acting. It’s because he was so bad before that you have the illusion that his acting is good!]

[He’s just riding on his brother’s coattails to gain popularity. I already thought their relationship was bad. How come all of my Xiao Qi’s endorsements were dropped, and Xiao Fang suddenly rose up? He must have a backer!]

[He’s not even that good-looking. I wonder which blind old man has taken a liking to him. Yuck!]

[It must be a greasy old man, no refutations accepted!]

[And he must have a big belly! And yellow teeth when he smiles!]

… …

Xiao Fang felt very uncomfortable as he watched the comments get more and more off-topic. His partner was not like that at all!!!

“My belly isn’t big, and my teeth aren’t yellow,” Fei Xiangnan, who had been watching with Xiao Fang, suddenly spoke, very seriously.

My dear President Fei, you’re questioning the wrong thing, okay???

“Alright, let’s not be angry. It’s normal to have anti-fans.” Xiao Fang coaxed his partner, but his partner was no longer buying it.

“They can hate, but don’t slander,” Fei Xiangnan was very unhappy. He himself was reluctant to scold Xiao Fang, so how could he let others do it? And they were even slandering him for being kept! Was this being kept? They had gotten a marriage certificate from the Civil Affairs Bureau!

After thinking for a while, Fei Xiangnan made a decision. “Let’s announce it.”

Xiao Fang’s brain stalled for a moment before he realized what Fei Xiangnan was saying. He didn’t look like he was joking. “I think this matter still needs to be discussed.”

“Is there anything else to hesitate about?” Fei Xiangnan was puzzled.

Xiao Fang picked up a drowsy Nuomici and analyzed seriously, “If we announce it now, what will people think? It’ll be solid proof that I’m relying on a backer. And there’s that matter with Xiao Qi. My public image will be completely ruined.”

Fei Xiangnan didn’t want Xiao Fang to live so humbly at all. He never lacked money and would definitely let Xiao Fang live a better life, at least much better than what this industry could bring him. His person, he never wanted him to bear any blame. He didn’t need to endure others’ gazes. He would protect him from all of this.

Fei Xiangnan rubbed Xiao Fang’s head and said seriously, “You don’t need to live so hard at all.”

Xiao Fang held Fei Xiangnan’s hands with both of his and said just as seriously, “Xiangnan, I’m a man too. There are many things I need to bear, like the negative aspects of my profession. And everything about you. I also want to grow up and be able to protect you with my own strength, so that those demons and monsters in the Fei family won’t dare to say a single damn word!”

“No swearing,” Fei Xiangnan corrected sternly.

Caught in the act, Xiao Fang’s little cowlick wilted. He had thought this was a passionate confession!

Fei Xiangnan’s expression immediately softened, and he hugged Xiao Fang tightly. “I know your intentions. I think the same as you. I don’t want you to be spoken ill of by some people, and I don’t want you to get hurt.” President Fei, who hadn’t doted on anyone for over twenty years, gave all his affection to Xiao Fang.

Xiao Fang tried hard to breathe in the faint scent on Fei Xiangnan. It was very comfortable and made him feel very safe. “We’re both the same, so we can solve things in a different way now.”

“What way?”

“For example, with the anti-fans, just ignore them. Out of sight, out of mind!”

President Fei frowned. To be honest, he couldn’t quite do that. President Fei, who really wanted to fight back, was a little unhappy.

“We have another way.”

“What?” Xiao Fang popped his head up.

“For some of the more excessive remarks, we can hire a water army to fight back. This should be a normal operation in the entertainment industry, right? It’s not illegal! And I have money!” Fei Xiangnan analyzed seriously. Xiao Fang was speechless. President Fei, there’s really no need to show off your wealth at this time, really!

This time, Xiao Fang couldn’t stop him. He could only watch as his man pressed one hand against his forehead and called his all-powerful Secretary Chen with the other.

“Yes, send over five hundred thousand water army members first.”

“Don’t say anything too harsh!” Xiao Fang tried to struggle.

Fei Xiangnan thought for a moment. “Then just refute the overly harsh insults. A little appropriate praise will do.” President Fei’s “appropriate praise” was not really just “appropriate.”

The next morning, when Xiao Fang checked Weibo again, he felt like he was seeing a paradise. There were no more excessive remarks or personal attacks. Even if there were criticisms, they were only about the plot and acting, which could be said to be very rational hate.

Xiao Fang didn’t know what kind of mood he should be in to laugh. With someone treating him so well, how could he still be sentimental and say this and that? He could only slowly accept that kindness.

At this moment, his phone suddenly rang. Seeing Xiao Ma’s name, Xiao Fang immediately answered.

“Brother Xiao, bad news! The agent arbitrarily signed you up for a TV series at the company today. That director has a terrible reputation, and the script is a book-to-drama adaptation that many netizens despise. It wasn’t supposed to be filmed, but for some reason, they suddenly came to our company. I just argued with him a bit, and he threatened to fire me if I said anything more. Now the contract is signed, I’m really about to die of anger!” The voice on the other end, Xiao Ma’s, was exceptionally furious.

Xiao Fang’s mood was also stirred to a point of displeasure.