By now, they could almost hear the angry footsteps downstairs. Xia Xianning decisively lifted the blanket and pulled Luo Yingbai out, almost carrying him and stuffing him under the water bed on the other side of the bedroom.
Young Master Luo had high living standards, with a winter and summer bed. The summer bed’s small platform could just fit a person. Xia Xianning spread a bedsheet on the water mattress, letting the hanging sheet completely cover Luo Yingbai.
Then the bedroom door slammed open, and Luo Xiao angrily walked in.
He was holding a leather belt.
Xia Xianning nervously wiped his palms behind his back and adjusted his tone, calling out “Teacher”.
Luo Xiao was about to curse but was surprised to see Xia Xianning. His anger slightly subsided, but he still had a stern face and asked unhappily: “Where’s your senior brother?”
Xia Xianning said: “Senior brother… just went out.”
Luo Xiao angrily said: “Is that little bastard filming again!”
Xia Xianning said: “No, he had something to do and went back to school. He just left.”
Luo Yingbai carefully and slowly backed up, trying to hide himself more thoroughly. The tip of Luo Xiao’s belt kept swaying in front of his eyes, making him feel creepy.
Luo Yingbai tried to flatten himself against the wall.
Since I’ll be on a business trip and won’t have time, let Yingbai go in my place. I’ve already prepared the gift.”
Xia Xianning leaned against the door and said: “Teacher has gone to a lot of trouble.”
Luo Zhao nodded absent-mindedly and was about to leave again. When he casually closed the door, he felt something was caught, so he used force—
The door, along with his son, was pulled towards him.
Luo Yingbai: “Ouch, don’t pull! My clothes are caught on the doorknob!”
Luo Zhao: “…”
Xia Xianning: “…” Sigh!
Luo Zhao was stunned for a moment before reacting: “You’ve gotten bold now, hiding and not showing yourself? I’ll break your legs!”
“Hey, hey, hey! Dad! Dad—” Before Xia Xianning could come to the rescue, Luo Yingbai rushed over and hugged Luo Zhao, rubbing his head against his shoulder shamelessly, “Don’t hit me, I was wrong, I was truly wrong!”
Luo Zhao angrily said: “Let go, looking to get kicked? Always embarrassing yourself outside, give me a reason not to beat you!”
“Because, because…” Luo Yingbai’s brain short-circuited, and he blurted out, “I’m pregnant.”
Luo Zhao was stunned for a moment, and Luo Yingbai also realized what he’d said, couldn’t help but laugh, and quickly let go, hiding behind Xia Xianning, hugging his waist.
His silly laughter made both Luo Zhao and Xia Xianning lose their anger.
Xia Xianning couldn’t help but lower his head, covering his mouth with the back of his hand, and used his other hand to hide Luo Yingbai behind him.
Luo Zhao was both angry and amused, slapping Xia Xianning’s head and scolding Luo Yingbai hiding behind him: “I really don’t understand whose genes you inherited! You’re neither like me nor your mother!”
Luo Yingbai, who always pretended to be nonchalant, was most sensitive to his father mentioning his mother. His heart slightly constricted, then he laughed: “This just proves I’m unique and special~”
After saying this, Xia Xianning suddenly reached back and gently, imperceptibly patted Luo Yingbai’s back. Luo Yingbai was stunned. In that moment, he felt a mix of emotions, suddenly feeling a bit sour, yet wanting to smile.
Xia Xianning immediately returned to his cold demeanor, nodding slightly with a stern face. Luo Yingbai laughed, “Don’t joke around.”
Zhou Junyi chuckled and asked, “By the way, will you participate in the variety show half a month from now?”
Luo Yingbai asked, “What variety show?”
Zhou Junyi said strangely, “Don’t you know? Before ‘Yan Chi Xiao Hong Qiao’ airs, the cast will participate in a related variety show, like playing games or performing small scenes from the drama, as a kind of promotion.”
It’s just that the male second lead Chang Weiyu and female second lead Zheng Yishan can’t make it due to scheduling conflicts, and now we don’t have enough people. It would be great if you could go.”
Luo Yingbai laughed, “What use would I be? I’m not in that line of work.”
Xia Xianning said, “Senior.”
Luo Yingbai turned his head, and Xia Xianning picked up a piece of broccoli with his chopsticks and handed it over, “Eat while we talk, or the food will get cold.”
“Don’t talk while eating.”
Luo Yingbai glanced at it and said disgustedly, “I don’t like vegetables.”
Zhou Junyi’s gaze swept between the two and answered Luo Yingbai’s previous question: “Because in this variety show, there’s a segment where deleted parts from the original work are performed by the actors. Since the incident with Chang Weiyu, many are looking forward to seeing you play Yue Huan.”
He was referring to Chang Weiyu’s recent interview where he was asked about playing Yue Huan. Chang Weiyu confidently shared his experiences, adding to his impression. But the next question was less friendly. The reporters, from some unknown source, asked if he could only pass the audition by imitating Luo Shao.
This was Chang Weiyu’s most sensitive issue. Although true, no actor wants to be told they can only perform by imitating others. Moreover, Chang Weiyu had been overshadowed by Luo Yingbai since joining the cast, and the better his development, the more dissatisfied he became with this situation.
So Chang Weiyu firmly denied the claim.
But his misfortune was that a crew member present was Luo Yingbai’s fan. She had personally witnessed both auditions and saw Chang Weiyu imitating Luo Yingbai. Hearing Chang Weiyu’s denial, she immediately refuted him, causing Chang Weiyu to lose face and be mocked online.
Luo Yingbai had already agreed with Director Deng that related videos would not be released, but the fan’s description made people even more curious. Thus, Zhou Junyi mentioned that many were looking forward to seeing him play Yue Huan.
Zhou Junyi said, “I still remember how you repeatedly asked Chang Weiyu if he was sure about playing this role. You probably anticipated this situation from the start, right?”
Luo Yingbai, aware of the situation, shrugged, “Human nature. I was concerned he might have this attitude, so I let him choose. But since he insisted, I don’t care how he does. If he messes up, it’s not my problem.”
Zhou Junyi laughed, “Fair enough.”
Luo Yingbai’s focus was elsewhere: “Do you know which part of the original work it is?”
Are there any confrontation scenes between the male lead and male second lead?”
Zhou Junyi looked at him, smiling slightly, “If I say yes, would you be willing to come?”
Luo Yingbai immediately said, “I’ll go!”
Xia Xianning: “…”
Then Luo Yingbai turned to him, “Xianning, let’s go together.”
At that moment, Xia Xianning suddenly had a childish urge to laugh. He said with curved eyes, “Okay, of course I’ll accompany you.”
Zhou Junyi shrugged, “I’m off then. Yingbai, Director Xia, see you later.”
Luo Yingbai asked, “Xianning, are you unhappy?”
Xia Xianning said, “No, I just find Chang Weiyu annoying. Knowing your identity and still acting like this, he’s too stupid.”
Luo Yingbai laughed, “That’s precisely his cleverness. He’s someone who reads people well, knowing I don’t pay much attention to or care about such news. So he tried to exploit that. But being too clever can backfire, as he underestimates others.”
Chang Weiyu was just an insignificant character. Luo Yingbai instead remembered the recently quiet Xia Zheng, saying, “But your brother is quite interesting. Let me think… Our earliest CP rumors probably started with the child rescue incident, with just that one photo of you holding my wrist. It became a huge topic. I remember it was his doing.”
