The Black-Clothed Person: "..."
Netizens: "..."
The barrage went silent for a second.
— "Holy crap, I didn’t know you could take a hit for someone else!"
— "Shen Sizhan reacted almost instinctively—dude, you’re down bad!"
— "Wait, what’s up with Xie Guanyan’s hand?"
— "OMG, he literally teleported over there, scared the hell out of me!"
— "Xie Guanyan is such a gentleman, truly!"
By the time Lin Mo realized she’d been staring at Xie Guanyan for too long, it was already too late.
Dead eyes—hold it in!
She closed her eyes, bracing for the foam hammer to land on her.
But all she heard was a loud "thud."
She felt nothing.
Her long, curled lashes fluttered open.
The first thing she saw was the man’s white dress pants.
Her gaze traveled upward instinctively.
Two hands were raised above her head, arms crossed like an X-ray beam firing over her.
The arm that had been lower quickly shifted on top of the white-clad one.
Lin Mo: "..."
— "LMAO, Shen Sizhan was closer and reached out first, but Xie Guanyan was a split second slower, so his arm ended up on top—and took the hit! Then Shen Sizhan moved his hand up, practically chasing the hammer!"
— "Shen Sizhan fighting to get hit? Bro’s got some masochistic tendencies!"
— "Does anyone else feel the sheer redemption in two people protecting one person? It’s cinematic!"
Shen Sizhan had known his sister would stare at Xie Guanyan.
After all, it’s not every day you see your childhood rival after eleven years—a few extra glances were understandable.
So he’d been on high alert, ready to shield her if the Black-Clothed Person struck.
The moment the Black-Clothed Person lunged, he sprang up, arm outstretched to block the hammer.
The director never said substitutions weren’t allowed.
What he didn’t expect was someone else stepping in.
And of all people—Xie Guanyan.
Huh. The guy’s decent.
After a stunned second, Shen Sizhan lifted his hand higher.
No one was stealing his chance to protect his sister!!
But before he could speak, Xie Guanyan beat him to it. "Why hit her?"
The director, witnessing this, felt a pang of admiration.
Rumors had long circulated that Xie Guanyan was the most gentlemanly of the industry’s elite—kind, refined.
And here was the proof!
Hearing Xie Guanyan’s question, the director hurried to explain, "Mr. Xie, it’s part of the game. Lin Mo broke a rule."
Jiang Wan’s eyes sparkled, her lips curling into a grin.
The next second, she got whacked.
No more smirking.
Li Huanyu yelped as she was hit too. "Ah!"
But zero people glanced her way.
Gu Jingchuan’s nose practically twisted in fury.
Xie Guanyan, showing off right out the gate!
— "Wait, Xie Guanyan didn’t even block for Jiang Wan!"
— "The director said it’s a game. Xie Guanyan’s just playing by the rules."
Xie Guanyan glanced at Shen Sizhan and offered a mild smile.
Then he looked down at the radiant girl before him.
The one who’d gifted him a night of grand illusions.
Dressed in a sunflower-yellow dress, she sat like a bloom in full glory—vibrant, luminous.
Last night, he’d fainted at the theater, and the janitor called an ambulance.
He woke up shortly after arriving at the hospital.
Jin Yang had already dug up the information.
Xie Guanyan immediately had him make arrangements and boarded the earliest flight here.
He could’ve arrived right on time.
But he’d stopped at a hotel first to freshen up.
Shanshan had confessed she loved his beauty and elegance.
He had to maintain that image.
As he walked in, he saw the hammer swinging toward the girl.
His body moved faster than his mind—instinct drove him to shield her.
Her skin was too delicate; the lightest touch left marks.
Had the traces he’d left on her thighs that day on the sofa faded yet?
"Black-Clothed Person! Xie Guanyan’s been staring at my sister for 5.5 seconds—hammer him!" Shen Sizhan shouted again.
The director’s eye twitched. "Mr. Xie just got here, he—"
Shen Sizhan scowled. "Director, are you seriously sucking up right now? Don’t make me cause a scene!"
The director had no way to handle this troublemaker. He turned to his assistant. "Get another Black-Clothed Person in here."
— "LMAO, I crown Shen Sizhan the Judge of Variety Shows!"
— "He genuinely fears nothing. Xie Guanyan’s a top-tier investor—could vanish him from the industry with a snap!"
— "Xie Guanyan wasn’t staring on purpose. Just a reflexive glance, and Shen Sizhan caught it."
— "Shen Sizhan’s guarding her like a watchdog (no offense)."
— "Xie Guanyan doesn’t even know Lin Mo."
— "The more I look at Lin Mo, the more familiar she seems. Like I’ve seen her somewhere, but I can’t place it!"
The villa had been rented specifically for filming.
The living room had two sofas—one horizontal, one vertical.
The horizontal one was already full.
Xie Guanyan had no choice but to head to the vertical sofa.
He unhurriedly shrugged off his suit jacket and draped it aside.
His long legs folded as he sat, the white shirt stretching taut over his lean waist.
Only now did everyone notice the eye-catching gold bamboo bracelet on his right wrist.
Elegant. Refined.
— "Gold’s having a moment! Even the elites are wearing it now!"
— "Used to think gold was tacky as a kid. Turns out I was just pretentious!"
Soon, a towering Black-Clothed Person strode in.
He swung the foam hammer straight at Xie Guanyan’s shoulder.
Jiang Wan couldn’t hold back—her laughter exploded, teeth on full display.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
— "Jiang Wan, maybe laugh quieter? You look like you’re about to devour someone!"
— "Spare me, sis—I’ll confess everything!"
Lin Mo sat rigidly, gaze fixed straight ahead, unwavering as a soldier pledging loyalty to the Party.
No more looking at Xie Guanyan!
This was her test!
The director, calming his racing heart, reintroduced the day’s rules.
Xie Guanyan’s brows furrowed slightly. "No looking at or caring for the opposite sex?"
The director’s stomach dropped. "Y-yes... Do you have any—"
"Understood."
Xie Guanyan’s reply was gentle, devoid of protest.
Shanshan’s little brother was here.
Her concerns were his.
The rule was fine.
He’d do his best to restrain himself.
Truthfully, he hadn’t bothered learning much about the show.
Too exhilarated, he’d skimmed nothing Jin Yang sent.
His mind had been filled with the girl onstage.
He needed to see her. Immediately.
Relieved, the director moved on. "Mr. Xie, we’ll now play a rapid-fire Q&A game. I ask, you answer—no hesitation."
Xie Guanyan nodded. "Ah, you’re asking about this gold bamboo bracelet? My beloved gave it to me."
