Chapter Twenty-One: Zhou Ziheng Attempts a Secret Meeting with Yu Tang

Yu Tang carelessly pulled open the door, and when she saw who was standing outside, she raised her eyebrows. Crossing her arms over her chest, she leaned against the doorframe, looking at Zhou Ziheng.

“What are you doing here?”

Zhou Ziheng glanced around. After all, he was somewhat famous now. If anyone caught him knocking on an actress’s door during filming, his reputation would be ruined.

Making sure no one was around, Zhou Ziheng stepped forward, intent on entering.

Yu Tang immediately propped one foot against the opposite doorframe, her brows drawn in stern defiance, exuding boldness. “What, you think you can just come in whenever you want? Aren’t you being a bit presumptuous?”

Zhou Ziheng frowned. “I need to talk to you.”

“If you have something to say, why not just say it?”

“It’s not convenient here.”

Yu Tang sneered, “And you think it’s convenient to enter a female actor’s room?”

Zhou Ziheng realized he couldn’t communicate with her and gave up. Maybe he was also finding it hard to put his thoughts into words.

He rubbed his neck, his eyes wandering. “Why… why did you come on this show?”

Yu Tang seemed to think of something, a half-smile on her lips. “What do you think?”

At her words, Zhou Ziheng’s frown deepened. “If you came because of me, then don’t get any ideas.”

“I won’t agree to anything.”

Yu Tang was startled by his words. Normally, a male star knocking on a female star’s door would be to her advantage. But if the media twisted his statement out of context, she’d be ruined.

Her instinct for self-preservation, honed in her past life as an award-winning actress, kicked in. She steeled herself, withdrew her foot from the doorframe, aimed at Zhou Ziheng, and kicked him squarely in the rear.

As soon as she hit her mark, she slammed the door shut at lightning speed.

Zhou Ziheng was caught off guard and tumbled to the floor. A dull ache spread through his stomach—not from the fall, but from an urgent need to use the bathroom.

But he didn’t dwell on it. Realizing how awkward he must look, he scrambled to his feet.

He pounded on Yu Tang’s door.

“Yu Tang! Yu Tang! Open the door! We need to talk this out!”

Inside, Yu Tang was scared out of her wits.

“If you have something to say, say it right there! Don’t get me in trouble!”

“Even if you don’t care about your own reputation, you could at least not bite the hand that feeds you!”

Her voice carried clearly through the door.

Zhou Ziheng’s stomach pain grew worse, to the point where he could barely stand upright. Seeing that Yu Tang had no intention of opening the door, he considered leaving.

But as he turned, a familiar figure appeared around the corner.

Xie Yi emerged from the shadows. He stood at about six feet tall, not short by any means, and in that moment, his presence was imposing.

He wore a white T-shirt and wide-legged cargo pants, his black hair falling over his eyes, making his expression hard to read.

He walked toward Zhou Ziheng, step by step.

Zhou Ziheng had to look up at him, bent double from the pain in his stomach.

“What are you doing here?” he asked.

As Xie Yi drew closer, Zhou Ziheng could see the naked mockery in his dark eyes—none of the clarity they once held.

“What’s with that look?” Zhou Ziheng snapped. “Who do you think you’re looking down on?”

His gentle persona crumbled again and again, especially under Xie Yi’s gaze, making him even more irritable.

Xie Yi’s lips curled into a smirk. He lowered his head. “What did you come here for, to see my sister?”

“Mind your own—”

But before he could finish, a foul smell wafted between them.

Xie Yi’s previously dark expression froze.

“You—?”

Zhou Ziheng realized he’d accidentally let out a fart. Embarrassed, he stiffened his neck, “What, haven’t you ever had a bodily emergency?”

But the discomfort didn’t really ease. His voice grew weaker.

Still, pride wouldn’t let him back down. Even as he suffered, his expression only grew harsher.

Xie Yi rolled his eyes, about to retort.

Suddenly, the doorknob turned.

Xie Yi immediately wiped away his irritation, lowering his lashes to look obedient and gentle.

The door opened fully.

He slowly lifted his gaze, looking pitifully at Yu Tang, who had only poked her head out the door.

“Sis…”

Yu Tang, looking furtive, craned her neck out and checked both ways.

When she saw Xie Yi standing there, she asked in confusion, “Xie Yi, what are you doing here?”

Xie Yi, at her words, produced a box of strawberries from somewhere. “Sis, I just got these from the crew. I’ve already washed them. They’re for you.”

He looked the picture of innocence.

Zhou Ziheng stared, dumbfounded at Xie Yi’s change of demeanor. “Wait… you…” You weren’t like this a moment ago…

Before he could finish, two more abrupt noises sounded.

Yu Tang didn’t even have time to react; her body betrayed her first.

“Ugh—gross!”

She exclaimed, “Dude, this isn’t the place for that kind of thing!”

With that, she quickly pulled Xie Yi inside and shut the door without a second thought.

But the stench still lingered, suffocating and inescapable.

A thought suddenly flashed through her mind.

Outwardly calm, Yu Tang called out inwardly, “System! Where’s my gas mask? Put it on me now!”

“Understood, host. Your request has been detected. Gas mask is now equipped.”

As expected, the system’s products never failed her. With the mask on, the smell was almost gone.

Still, Yu Tang couldn’t have guessed she’d use the gas mask for something like this.

Xie Yi tugged at her sleeve.

“Sis, don’t blame Zhou Ziheng. He must have really been unable to hold it in.”

“But if it were me, I’d never do something so inelegant.”

“After all, a man’s appearance is his wife’s pride. Now that I’m in a team with you, if I embarrass myself, I’m embarrassing you.”

He spoke softly, his head lowered, his voice gentle. In the dimly lit room, the words sounded strangely intimate.

Even Yu Tang, who’d seen all kinds of people as a “Best Actress,” was a little stunned.

After the shock came a rush of excitement.

Inwardly, Yu Tang cheered: Thrilling!

Swayed by his few words, she nearly lost her bearings, pulling Xie Yi to sit with her on the sofa.

“Come, come, come, sit with me.”

Looking like she was about to devour him, Yu Tang’s demeanor didn’t scare Xie Yi at all. He simply lowered his gaze, a shy smile on his lips.

Outside, Zhou Ziheng had reached his limit. He no longer cared why Yu Tang joined the show. Clutching his stomach, he ran desperately back to his own room.