Chapter Twenty-Four: The Assistant Director's Devoted Fan

“Oh, so many people here—did I come at a bad time? If I’d known he was coming, I wouldn’t have shown up.” Xie Yi strolled over with his hands in his pockets. Despite his docile features, his expression was cold, almost frosty.

Yu Tang saw the look on Xie Yi’s face and, for reasons she couldn’t explain, felt a sudden pang of guilt. She sheepishly withdrew her hand from Shen Tianshi’s face.

With a sweet smile, she greeted, “Xie Yi, you’re here?”

Seeing Yu Tang’s slightly obsequious demeanor, Xie Yi’s expression softened a little.

“Big Sis left me alone in the room just to come here?”

“She didn’t even tell me she was going—if I’d known she was coming to find them, I wouldn’t have stopped her...”

Xie Yi’s long lashes drooped, casting a shadow over his lids, making him look delicate and alluring. Is this a good angle for me? Are my lashes too short? He made a mental note to schedule an appointment for lash extensions next time he had a break.

[No way! Can someone please explain what’s happening?]
[Yu Tang! If you don’t explain soon, I’m going to start making up rumors!!]
[Xie Daiyu looks so weak and delicate, I just want to bully him. (drools)]
[This fake innocent is killing us.]
[Am I the only one who wants to know what’s going on?]
[I’m telling you, they ate those unripe bean pods!!]
[Bean pods are troublemakers.]

Bai Yang had perked up the moment Xie Yi appeared. The instinct for gossip was etched into his DNA; suddenly his waist didn’t ache, his legs didn’t hurt, and he even grabbed the director's massive camera to capture every possible angle of the scene. As expected, Yu Tang was the ultimate headline generator. It seemed he’d really struck gold this time—though he still wondered what Yuan Yi was thinking, trying to prop up Xiang Youran while bringing in someone like Yu Tang for contrast. Wasn’t this just a one-sided blowout?

He remembered running into Yu Tang on the way to Yuan Yi Entertainment. When he saw her beaming golden smile, he’d known right away—Yu Tang had a natural sense for variety shows. Now, it was clear he’d truly discovered a gem.

After hearing Xie Yi’s words, Yu Tang suddenly felt like the villain. She nervously licked her lips, batted her eyes, and stammered, “I... I, I promise next time!”

Xie Yi lifted his gaze, glancing at Jiang Wuyang with a hint of danger. Next time?

But only for a moment; he quickly lowered his head again, eyes gentle and submissive. “Alright.”

Zhou Ziheng, perhaps unable to bear any more, squatted in the corner and meekly raised his hand. “Um... can someone look after me?”

[Did no one else think Xie Yi looked incredibly handsome when he lifted his head just now?]
[He gives off that overbearing younger brother vibe—love it!]
["Obsessed with the sickly green tea type online, but in reality, call the cops!"]
[LOL, somebody help Zhou Ziheng, he looks exhausted.]
It was only then that everyone remembered—there were still two patients here.

Yu Tang was about to say something when the sound of an ambulance siren wailed outside. The medics didn’t even bother unloading the stretcher. Zhou Ziheng took three giant strides and boarded the ambulance himself. No one cherished their own life more.

[Did I just see something flash by?]
[Zhou Ziheng moves so fast—was he even really sick just now?]
[I could spend a lifetime learning how he took those two steps.]
[This is hilarious!]

Watching Zhou Ziheng leap into the ambulance, Yu Tang’s competitive streak was stoked. She scooped up Shen Tianshi in a princess carry and strode over. No way was she letting Zhou Ziheng go alone.

Shen Tianshi, feeling that familiar sensation, instinctively crossed his arms over his chest and bashfully closed his eyes. It wasn’t until Yu Tang set him down on a seat that he opened them again.

Yu Tang had planned to get off the ambulance—there was no reason for her to tag along to the hospital. But both her hands were suddenly seized.

Shen Tianshi pleaded pitifully, “Yu Xiao Tang, don’t go, come with me.”

Zhou Ziheng, awkward, added, “The crew will be coming over later anyway. Why not just ride with us now?”

Yu Tang snorted, “Do you think I’m an idiot?”

Even if the crew came, they wouldn’t bring every guest along. In the end, most of them would end up resting in their rooms.

The thought of possibly scoring half a day of paid leave filled Yu Tang with delight. She turned to get off, but for some reason, her legs felt as heavy as lead. Glancing down, she saw that Shen Tianshi had wrapped himself around her leg.

Catching her eye, Shen Tianshi gave a shy, silly grin, but his grip didn’t loosen in the slightest.

Yu Tang closed her eyes, about to land a couple of punches on Shen Tianshi, when she heard the nurse at the ambulance door: “We can take one more. Anyone else coming?”

Xie Yi immediately stepped forward.

Bai Yang, moving faster than lightning, shoved the heavy camera into Xie Yi’s hands with all the gravity of entrusting him with a sacred mission. Xie Yi pressed his lips together but accepted it.

[Yes! That’s it! Take us along!]
[I knew it—Xie Yi is everyone’s favorite.]
[LOL, did I just see Young Master Shen sitting on the ground? That must be freezing!]
[Did anyone catch what Zhou Ziheng and Yu Tang said just now? Any lip readers?]
[Bro, you’re just making things hard for us. They were so far away, we couldn’t even see their mouths.]

Once on the ambulance, Xie Yi snapped the camera cover shut. After all, it wouldn’t do to livestream from inside an ambulance. But the audio still got picked up.

[It’s so dark, I can’t see a thing.]
[Xie Yi is surprisingly polite.]

Yu Tang, having failed to escape and now trapped among this group, was in a foul mood. She glanced at Shen Tianshi still clutching her leg and let out a cold laugh.

“Are you planning to let go, or are you waiting for me to pierce your temple with an earring?”

Her words carried loud and clear into the live broadcast.

[Whoa, Yu Tang’s this fierce?]
[Um... so this is what she’s like off camera...]
[Am I the only one who finds this hilarious? Piercing an earring in his temple, genius.]
[LOL, surely no one takes this seriously? It’s obviously a joke.]
[Wait, why do I feel like I’ve forgotten something important?]

Bai Yang, meanwhile, was nervously watching the barrage of comments, heart lurching like he was on a rollercoaster. He turned to consult the assistant director, only to see him typing furiously at the computer with a grave expression.

[Yu Tang is hilarious, she’s amazing!]
[No way, no way, surely no one’s taking this seriously?]

Bai Yang: ...

So, it turns out his own assistant director was a die-hard Yu Tang fan...