Strategy to Capture That Scum Gong

Chapter 72 - A Best-Seller

Translated by Eve

Edited by Kara

3.A Best-Seller

Yi Ze’s gaze was icy.

He had been wondering why Si Minghui hadn’t been looking for him and kicking up a fuss. He had thought it was because the other man was being sensible, but it seemed that it had just been because he had been feeling secure, knowing that he had his next backer already lined up, despite being nothing but a contemptible plaything! When Yi Ze was tired of him, anyone could take him. However, for Xie He to be pretending to be lovable and obedient at his side, while shamelessly fooling around with other people, this was simply a provocation towards him!

Yi Ze advanced forward in large strides, pulling Xie He up by the arm.

Xie He came back to himself. Seeing that Yi Ze had suddenly appeared, he revealed a flustered look. “Yi ge.”

Yi Ze stared at Xie He’s panicked expression and thought that it was because he felt guilty. He used a sharp and icy gaze to look at him. “What, are you that surprised to see me?”

Xie He nodded...and then promptly shook his head. He looked helpless and flustered.

Fu Yuan looked at Xie He’s cautious appearance in front of Yi Ze and suddenly felt quite jealous. In front of Fu Yuan, Xie He acted neither servile nor overbearing. Fu Yuan quirked up an eyebrow and flashed a shallow smile. “President Yi? What are you doing, pulling him in public? Minghui and I are just having a meal together, that’s all. Need you be so agitated?”

Yi Ze sneered, “Is that so? But it doesn’t seem like that to me?”

As if he didn’t know what kind of person Fu Yuan was. There had been countless stars who had been played with by him. Moreover, you’d only miss his coveting gaze towards Xie He if you were blind.

Xie He saw that they were about to kick up a fuss. He was a public figure, so it would be terrible if this was captured by the paparazzi. Therefore, he promptly pulled on Yi Ze’s hand and said in a low voice, “We really were just having a meal together. Don’t be angry.”

“Angry?” Fury flashed through Yi Ze’s eyes. Xie He knew that he would get angry and yet he had still betrayed him. It seemed that he had really grown up! He didn’t pay Xie He any more attention and gave Fu Yuan a warning look. “President Fu, it would be in your best interests to not touch other people’s things so casually, don’t you agree?”

Fu Yuan slightly narrowed his eyes. Looking at Yi Ze’s appearance, it was clear that he had misunderstood something. Although he felt distressed for Xie He...why should he have to explain things and help them get together? Fu Yuan chuckled, “Minghui is a living, breathing person. Isn’t it a bit disrespectful to call him your thing?”

Yi Ze’s gaze frosted over and his tone carried a menacing undercurrent, “Oh? President Fu cares so much about something as trifling as what I call him. It can’t be that you’ve really taken a liking to him?”

“So what if I did?” Fu Yuan laughed, gaze unwavering as he looked at Yi Ze.

Yi Ze met his eyes directly, voice low, “Then, I will offer you some advice. It’d be best if you didn’t. You won’t necessarily be able to handle the consequences.”

Fu Yuan smiled. As if he wasn’t willing to continue this meaningless argument with Yi Ze, he turned to look at Xie He gently. “I was serious with what I said just now. I hope that you will consider it.”

Xie He evaded his gaze and said, “I’ve already given you my answer.”

Fu Yuan did not get angry and slowly said, “There’s no need to make a decision so soon. I will wait for you.”

After saying that, he smiled at Yi Ze, “Sorry, I will take my leave first.”

Yi Ze did not stop him. He looked back at Xie He with a glacial gaze.

Actually, he wasn’t particularly angry at Fu Yuan. Although Fu Yuan had played with many celebrities, his reputation was not that bad. His standards were high, and those who he played with basically sent themselves to his doorstep. However, that last part was also precisely why he was angry in the first place. If Xie He hadn’t taken the initiative to seduce him, how could Fu Yuan have taken a fancy to him?

He actually dared to fool around with others behind his back and try to two-time him. Hehe...perhaps it wasn’t just Fu Yuan. Although he didn’t pay attention to the entertainment industry, he also knew that no one within it was clean.

Yi Ze pulled Xie He by the arm and shoved him into his car. He then instructed the chauffeur, “Return home.”

Xie He held his breath as he sat rigidly in the car. He secretly snuck a glance at Yi Ze, worry and glee mixed in his eyes. He was really worried that Yi Ze would misunderstand what was going on between himself and Fu Yuan, but seeing how angry he was...it couldn’t be that he actually cared for him just a little bit?

The car returned to Yi Ze’s home very quickly. Xie He followed Yi Ze from behind, entering the villa.

As soon as the door was shut, Yi Ze pressed Xie He to the wall, hand around his throat! Immediately, Xie He found it difficult to breathe. Both his hands were trying to pry Yi Ze’s fingers off his throat. He looked at the furious Yi Ze in fear. “Yi ge, you....”

Yi Ze squeezed Xie He’s neck with his hands, bringing his own face near Xie He’s. Seeing that Xie He’s eyes were full of fear, the corner of his cold, thin lips rose. “Now you’re afraid?”

Xie He found it hard to breathe. Tears dripped out from the corners of his eyes, and his lips trembled.

Yi Ze lowered his head and slowly said, “How did you seduce Fu Yuan, hm? I didn’t expect you to have any skills.”

He thought back to the gaze Fu Yuan had directed towards Xie He and the words he’d said. Fu Yuan had likely really been moved...When he thought of the possibility of Fu Yuan genuinely liking Xie He, an antsy feeling welled up in his chest.

Xie He tried to explain with much difficulty, “I&#k2014;I didn’t&#k2026;.”

Yi Ze scoffed, “You didn’t tempt him? Do you expect me to believe that he came to seduce you of his own will?”

Xie He’s eyes were teary. “P-President Fu has only ever expressed goodwill towards me. However, I have already rejected him&#k2026;I would never betray you&#k2026;.”

Yi Ze didn’t believe him at all. How could a mere plaything be worth Fu Yuan’s pursuit? How could he be worth being treated so lovingly?

Yi Ze threw Xie He onto the floor, pushing his legs apart with his knees. He used a bone-chilling voice to ask, “Have you slept with him?”

This posture was extremely frightening to Xie He, and he shook his head repeatedly. “No! I didn’t!”

Yi Ze said, “Not yet?”

Xie He was so scared that his voice shook, “No...I won’t sleep with him...I don’t like him.”

Yi Ze’s smile was full of ridicule. “Then, who do you like?”

Xie He suddenly bit his lips, refusing to speak. He wasn’t stupid to that degree. If he said it now, he would only anger Yi Ze more. Yi Ze would think that he was lying.

Yi Ze didn’t believe him at all.

Yi Ze looked at the young man beneath him. Because of his fear, that handsome face was deathly pale as if drained of blood. His fair skin against the dark carpet made him look like snow during the night. His elegant brows were slightly furrowed, and his beautiful eyes were full of tears as he looked at Yi Ze pleadingly. His lips quivered slightly like petals shaking under the onslaught of the rain.

This face didn’t lose to Jian Zihan’s. It was even a bit better. Yi Ze had heard that Xie He had recently been crowned Best Actor. Now, Xie He had both fame and fortune. Even Yi Ze’s friends had said that Yi Ze had good taste and asked him if he would let them have a taste once he was tired of playing with him.... Xie He had long since stopped being that boy who couldn’t get onto the stage and was just waiting to be bought. No...he was worth a lot now.

Indeed...he could now tempt people.

【Ding, the target, Yi Ze’s Favourability Value +10. The current Favourability Value is 60.】

Yi Ze’s fingers flitted across Xie He’s face, sweeping past his eyelashes, the bridge of his nose, and finally landing on his velvet lips. This beautiful rarity had been discovered by him. Of course, he was his.... As his possession, Xie He had to first learn how to be obedient.

How could he begin to have dishonest thoughts after gaining just a bit of success?

He bent down at the waist and whispered into Xie He’s ears, “Don’t provoke me.”

.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

This was a merciless, punishing possession. Xie He had tried to escape from Yi Ze, who had flown into a violent rage, but every time he crawled away, he would be ruthlessly pulled back.

When Yi Ze got up, the person on the ground was already rendered half-conscious. His pale skin was littered with purple bruises.

But, Xie He was just a toy who didn’t know how to discriminate between good and bad behaviour, that’s all. Yi Ze had no interest in showing him any tenderness. He furrowed his brows slightly and said with a cold voice, “Go wash up.”

Xie He’s eyelashes trembled. It was like there was a layer of fog before his eyes. He bit his lips and slowly crawled up, tottering towards the bathroom.

Yi Ze stared at his back and then looked away. However, before he walked very far away, he heard a crash coming from the bathroom. He hesitated for a moment before walking in. There, he saw that Xie He had fallen to the floor. There was a red lump on his forehead. Even after a long time, he didn’t crawl back up.

Yi Ze was silent for a moment before he walked over and picked him up.

He looked down at the person in his arms.

The person in his arms was frowning in pain. His eyelashes were also stained with tears. There were marks from having been abused all over his body. It made one want to take pity on him....The expression in Yi Ze’s eyes changed. He actually wanted to feel sorry for this plaything. It was probably...because of his face, ba.

Yi Ze could see that Xie He would not be able to clean himself up today, so he carried him into the tub.

Xie He felt his body being immersed into hot water. He slowly came back to reality and discovered that he was currently sitting in Yi Ze’s arms. A trace of hope emerged in his originally still eyes.

This was the first time Yi Ze hadn’t thrown him away after finishing. It was also the first time he was helping him wash up.

Yi Ze must have some feelings for him, right...? Xie He was like a man travelling through the desert, sprinting towards the direction of the mirage in despair, only to suddenly receive a drop of water. So long as Yi Ze gave him even the tiniest bit of kindness and gentleness, he would not be able to stop himself from indulging in his hopeless delusions from which he had no way of escape.

No one knew just how much he loved this person. He loved him like Yi Ze was his god.

Xie He slowly turned around to look at Yi Ze. Soft words, full of his love, spilled out of his lips that he’d bitten apart, “Yi ge....”

Yi Ze met Xie He’s gaze and was startled.

If he didn’t know that the person in his arms was the kind of person who would sell anything for the sake of money, he would have actually thought that Xie He loved him. This expression was full of deep affection, those eyes full of love, that gentle and lovable appearance...Moreover, there was no resentment for having been treated the way he had been treated. If these emotions had been real, if such emotions had really existed in this world, then he would have been willing to treat him a bit better.

【Ding, the target, Yi Ze’s Favourability Value +5. The current Favourability Value is 65.】

Although he knew it was fake, this appearance still provoked his tenderheartedness. He couldn’t conjure up any anger.

Yi Ze pinched Xie He’s chin and said with a bland tone, “Remember, if there’s a next time, I won’t let you off so easily.”

Xie He’s lips parted as if he wanted to explain. However, he didn’t say anything in the end.

When someone was certain that they knew what kind of person you were, any and all explanations were meaningless. Moreover, he didn’t even have the right to explain himself. At that time, he had indeed chosen to fall into depravity. If Yi Ze had not chosen him on that day, he could have ended up with a middle-aged, wealthy merchant with a large gut. He would then have had to jump from bed to bed, finding himself underneath the bodies of different men.

He would have ended up in even more tragic circumstances.

This version of him had no right to talk about love. So long as he could stay by Yi Ze’s side, he had nothing else to ask for.

Even if he was a substitute, it didn’t matter.

That was probably the only thing about him worth anything.

Yi Ze waited for Xie He to regain some of his strength before having his chauffeur drive Xie He home.

It was just, all that Yi Ze could think about that night was Xie He: Xie He’s crying appearance beneath him, his appearance when begging him, those black eyes with love fixed onto him, the way he looked calling him “Yi ge” with his soft and warm voice...He could not erase these images from his mind.

Yi Ze’s eyes darkened. So, it seemed that what he thought was a shoddy counterfeit product to pass the time with had actually turned into something that could catch his eye without him even realizing.

......................................................................................................

Xie He’s neck and forehead had both been injured, and makeup could not cover up the injuries. For a short period of time, he could not go out or be seen with this appearance. Wei Zhangqin was extremely angered when he saw the injuries. He showered down on him a torrent of admonishment, “How can you be seen like this?! Tomorrow’s program and the programs next week have to all be cancelled! The movie filming also has to be delayed! Shouldn’t you know President Yi’s temperament by now? You’ve been with him for so many years, and you’ve still managed to incur his wrath?!”

Xie He listened to his scolding obediently. He lowered his head in dejection and did not say anything in his defense.

After scolding Xie He for a while, Wei Zhangqin began to feel anguished on Xie He’s behalf. He could read Xie He’s thoughts. He sighed, “Look at you. How is this worth all the trouble!? You and President Yi cannot be together! How about you find a chance to tell President Yi that you want to leave? He won’t stop you. Right now, you don’t necessarily have to be with him.”

These words were said from a friend’s perspective. Although Xie He had both reputation and status now, having Yi Ze’s support was still very important. Wei Zhangqin only tried to persuade Xie He to leave Yi Ze because he thought it to be for his own good.

Xie He finally reacted a bit. He looked at him gratefully. “Thank you, but I’m really fine. I just wasn’t careful this time. I won’t anger him again.”

Although he didn’t directly answer Wei Zhangqin, his attitude made it clear that he would not be leaving Yi Ze.

Wei Zhangqin really felt resentful of Xie He’s inability to meet expectations and his failure to improve in this aspect. However, he didn’t continue to try and persuade him. It was already not easy for him to say what he had already said. He heaved a deep sigh and then left. Although it was a bit annoying, it was also rare for Xie He to make him feel troubled about him.... He was already much more fortunate than those other managers who had to clean up their charges’ messes everyday!

Xie He sent Wei Zhangqin off and sighed.

Actually, it was rather exhausting to be a star. He could finally relax for a bit. He wouldn’t have minded having his injuries be a bit more serious. Perhaps Yi Ze would have even regretted things a bit if he had managed to send him to the hospital.

【444：Host dada, Jian Zihan is about to return, wah! Why don’t you feel worried, wah?!】He had wanted to say this earlier, but he had been afraid of affecting Host dada’s performance, so he had held himself back all this time!

【Xie He：To tell the truth, I’m looking forward to it.】

【444：( ⊙o ⊙) Ah?】

【Xie He：I found that I’m always rather pleased with my body in every world I’ve transmigrated into. However, it’s no fun just staring into a mirror. I didn’t expect that there would be a Jian Zihan this time. He’s really to my liking, ah. We will certainly become good friends. Smile.JPG】

【444：You can’t OOC, ah! Σ( °△°|||)︴】

【Xie He：Baby, calm down.】

【444：I can’t calm down! You’ll die if you OOC!】

【Xie He：I know. 】

【444：Really? QAQ】

【Xie He：Baby, when have I ever worried you?】

【444：......】His words seemed very reasonable, and he couldn’t refute them...but then, why did he still feel uneasy...? _(:зゝ∠)_

Xie He rested for a few more days, and his injuries got much better. After putting on some makeup, one couldn’t even see them anymore. Only then did he continue his life of participating in all sorts of programs without rest.

In between, he encountered Fu Yuan a few times. Xie He acted extremely cold towards him. He didn’t even bother acting polite anymore. He only maintained the most basic level of respect towards the other. According to Si Minghui’s personality, he absolutely would not do anything that would possibly make Yi Ze misunderstand again.

Fu Yuan didn’t mind nor did he force Xie He. He was a patient man...There was no meaning in doing things now. He believed that there would be a much better opportunity for himself very soon.

Time passed in this fashion. Soon, it was time for Xie He’s new movie to begin filming.

As a newly crowned Best Actor with a glittering reputation, regardless of whether they were sincere or not, everyone treated him with great enthusiasm. At the opening ceremony for the filming, Xie He was surrounded by a huge crowd. However, Xie He didn’t care about this. What he cared about was the one person who was standing calmly just outside of the joyous crowd. His temperament, that was different from the rest of the crowd’s, made people’s gazes unable to help but linger on him.

Although he’d only ever seen a picture of him, Xie He could recognize him with one glance. That was Jian Zihan...He was the costume designer for this film.

Fu Yuan probably already knew about this. That was why he had talked about Jian Zihan.

Xie He smiled. This world was really proceeding much more smoothly than expected. He didn’t even have to think of some way of getting Jian Zihan back into the country. As the white moonlight in Yi Ze’s heart, how could Xie He let him continue living far away? No matter how amazing Xie He was, there was no way he could compete with an imaginary, perfect love. Therefore, it was essential for Jian Zihan to come back.

Xie He’s expression changed. Then, he walked over.

【444 was instantly agitated：Host dada! What are you going to do?】

【Xie He：I’m going to go and become friends with him. Smile.JPG】

【444：Why do you have to become friends with him? You’re rivals-in-love, ah! Rivals-in-love!】

【Xie He：Baby, Jian Zihan does not see me as his rival-in-love, ah. Right now, he doesn’t even know me, ne. Moreover, think about it. Si Minghui loves Yi Ze so much. How could he remain indifferent when meeting the white moonlight in Yi Ze’s heart? Naturally, he’ll think of a way to get close in order to find out more about him.】

【Xie He：Therefore, this is me in a complicated, unwell, curious, and tricky state of mind, scouting out my rival-in-love.】

【444：Really...? (⊙o⊙)】

【Xie He：Really.】

【Xie He：Baby, what’s Jian Zihan’s Favourability Value?】

【444：30....】

【Xie He：Looks like he’s a casual fan, ah. 】

Xie He slowly walked over to Jian Zihan and smiled, “Hi.”

Jian Zihan nodded politely. “Hello.”

He recognized Si Minghui. He’d seen a few of his works, and his impression of the other wasn’t bad. However, Si Minghui shouldn’t recognize him. Jian Zihan was curious over why he had come over.

Xie He could see this. He smiled while explaining, “I had just overheard a few girls chatting about how there was a handsome designer on the crew, how he was ‘like our Huihui’s twin.’ My interest was extremely piqued upon hearing this...I was curious, so I came over presumptuously. I hope that you don’t mind?”

Jian Zihan smiled. He didn’t expect for Big Star Si to be such a charming person. He laughed, “Of course not.”

Xie He seemed very happy. A flash of some complex emotion flitted through his eyes but soon disappeared. He looked at the other with clear eyes and said, “I feel like fate has brought us together. Please take good care of me in the future.”

Jian Zihan laughed in spite of himself, “It should be me asking you, this great big star, to take care of me.”

Xie He directly met with his gaze and pursed his lips. “You’re being modest...Although I’m a celebrity, I’m just an actor, that’s all. Besides, I’ve always admired people like you, who are both talented and capable. I believe that I have much to learn from you. I am extremely honoured to have the privilege of meeting you.”

Jian Zihan could see the sincerity in Xie He’s eyes and could feel the modest, gentle aura that he emitted. Immediately, he felt goodwill towards the other, “I am also very happy to meet you. I believe that we will definitely get along.”

【Ding, Jian Zihan’s Favourability Value +30. The current Favourability Value is 60.】

Eve: Jian Zihan, our gentle supporting gong of this world <3. Also I was reading some comments for this arc on jjwxc and one I found funny was something about how ‘two shous cannot be together for long’ and a reply that was ‘one of them must become the gong’. Hahahaha.