Chapter 4: A Prank, a Plea, and a Sweet Whisper

Ji Xiao answered the phone. “Darling, are you done filming?”

A moment of silence passed on the other end. “We haven’t even started filming yet…”

“That voice of yours,” Ji Xiao said, pulling out a cigarette and placing it between his lips. He leaned slightly towards Cheng Tian. “Did something happen?”

Understanding the unspoken request, Cheng Tian picked up a lighter and leaned in, igniting it for him.

****

At the variety show set.

Pei Yu’s ears were faintly flushed. He forced himself to look at the card the host held up, murmuring:

“There’s something I really want to do. Would you… would you do it with me?”

Meanwhile, the live chat for *Entertainment Above All* was a storm of comments.

[Did you hear that? That person called him ‘darling’! And it’s a man!]

[The phone contact isn’t CEO Xiao? Could it be… *that* CEO Xiao?]

[Are Pei Yu and Xiao Chi… involved?]

[He has such good resources, and became a Film Emperor so young. Could it be because of Xiao Chi?]

[I can’t believe Pei Yu is like this!]

[Silence! Brother isn’t like that! It’s just a joke nickname!]

[Exactly, I call my buddies ‘darling’ and ‘sweetheart’ too. It means nothing.]

[Brother has a great personality and has been at Star Ocean for so long. It’s normal for him to be good friends with CEO Xiao, isn’t it?]

[I don’t believe it…]

Ji Xiao took a deep drag from his cigarette, his expression unperturbed, but his voice was remarkably gentle. “Of course, I wouldn’t refuse any of your requests.”

Pei Yu saw the next card the host revealed, and his breathing hitched. He uttered with difficulty:

“I want to try wearing a skirt. Would you… would you accompany me?”

Ji Xiao: “…”

[Hahahahaha, I bet CEO Xiao is completely dumbfounded right now!]

[This show crew is so cruel! To make Brother say he wants to wear a skirt, his face must be beet red!]

[Look at Pei Yu’s ears, they’re so red.]

[Am I the only one focused on ‘I wouldn’t refuse any of your requests’? That’s clearly not something normal friends say!]

[It’s rare to see Pei Yu looking so shy and embarrassed! He’s never played a character like this in dramas!]

[Pei Yu and CEO Xiao are definitely involved. Confirmed!]

Ji Xiao flicked the ash from his cigarette.

He didn’t genuinely believe Pei Yu harbored a desire to wear a skirt.

This was undoubtedly a variety show prank.

“You’re convinced I see you as a brother and want to prank me, aren’t you? Tell me, is this being recorded?”

Pei Yu let out a sigh of relief.

It seemed Ji Xiao had guessed correctly.

“No recording. Actually, my next film has a scene where I need to wear women’s clothing, but I’m not sure if it suits me. So, I wanted to try it on first.”

Ji Xiao clicked his tongue softly. “And you have to drag me into it?”

“If I try it on alone, I can’t really see the effect, can I? CEO Xiao, Boss Xiao, please do me a favor and join me?”

“Alright. You’re one of my company’s cash cows; I can certainly help with a small favor like this.”

“Thank you in advance, then! The variety show is about to start filming, so we’ll schedule another time.”

“Okay.”

Once the call ended, the variety show set, which had been silent as a chicken, immediately erupted into noise.

The host looked at him with a smile. “Congratulations on completing the task! It seems you and your CEO Xiao have a very good relationship, Pei Yu.”

Pei Yu responded generously. “Yes, we have a very good relationship.”

****

At the hotel.

Ji Xiao put down his phone and said to Cheng Tian, “Stay here tonight.”

Cheng Tian’s face first paled, then flushed, and he nodded with a sweet smile. “Okay!”

Ji Xiao’s expression was calm. “You can make requests to me. Tell me if there’s anything you want. However, what happens tonight must not be revealed to anyone, understand?”

“Understood. I won’t tell anyone.” He barely had time to keep it a secret; why would he ever reveal it?

Ji Xiao: “Can you give massages?”

Cheng Tian paused. “A little.”

Ji Xiao snuffed out his cigarette and lay on the sofa. “Massage me.”

“…Alright.”

Cheng Tian went to the restroom to wash his hands, then knelt at one end of the sofa. “Shall I start with your head?”

Ji Xiao closed his eyes. “Mhm.”

Cheng Tian saying he knew ‘a little’ was an understatement.

In truth, his massage technique was excellent.

Ji Xiao’s expression grew increasingly relaxed…

Cheng Tian diligently massaged his head, then moved to his shoulders and neck.

Just then, Ji Xiao’s phone rang again.

“Who is it?”

He showed no intention of opening his eyes.

Cheng Tian stretched his neck to glance at the screen. “CEO Xiao, it’s Ye Sheng.”

****

At the variety show set.

“The twelfth person in the contacts, huh? Also CEO Xiao? Is it the same CEO Xiao, hahahaha.”

Ye Sheng: “…”

Pei Yu’s eyes narrowed slightly.

The host continued, “Oh, right, Ye Sheng and Pei Yu are from the same company! No wonder they both have CEO Xiao’s phone number, hah.”

Ye Sheng gave a shy smile, offering no response.

Though it had only been a month, under the company’s careful cultivation, he had already gained some recognition and a small fanbase.

This variety show was also secured for him by the company.

“Receiving calls from two artists from the company consecutively, I wonder what CEO Xiao must be thinking. Come, let’s dial the number and see what Ye Sheng’s task is.”

****

At the hotel.

Ji Xiao still didn’t open his eyes, saying languidly, “Answer it for me, put it on speaker next to me, and keep massaging.”

“Okay.”

Cheng Tian obediently did as he was told.

After the call connected, Ye Sheng’s somewhat nervous voice came through: “C-CEO Xiao…”

“Mhm,” Ji Xiao didn’t dwell on why Ye Sheng was calling him, asking directly, “Is something wrong?”

[Compared to Pei Yu, CEO Xiao seems colder towards this Ye Sheng.]

[One is a loyal employee and good brother of many years, the other is a new artist. Can they be the same?]

[Honestly, CEO Xiao’s voice is really nice.]

[Are you guys trying to make CEO Xiao debut again?]

[Emmm]

Xiao Chi, the CEO of Star Ocean Company, was young and promising, possessing a handsome and charmingly stern face.

Many people used to spam posts about wanting him to debut.

[Isn’t anyone curious why Ye Sheng, a rookie, has CEO Xiao’s number?]

****

At the variety show set.

Ye Sheng looked at the card the host held up, his heart pounding wildly.

He felt somewhat at a loss.

The host winked at him.

Ye Sheng swallowed hard: “CEO Xiao, c-can I borrow some money from you?”

Upon hearing his words, Ji Xiao said without thinking, “Didn’t Secretary Zhou give you the card?”

Ye Sheng’s face went pale.

The people on set also quickly covered their mouths, trying hard not to make a sound.

Meanwhile, the live chat’s comments were already going wild.

Pei Yu’s hands unconsciously clenched.

Ye Sheng’s mind went blank. “CEO Xiao, actually, I…”

“Send me your account number,” Ji Xiao said.

Ye Sheng could feel the eyes of those below him, filled with disdain, sarcasm, and disgust.

His lips trembled as he thought of his unconscious father and CEO Xiao’s support.

He said, “Secretary Zhou gave it to me. Thank you, CEO Xiao, for lending me a hand and advancing my salary as a new artist. I will work hard, earn more money, and repay you as soon as possible.”

Ji Xiao opened his eyes.

‘No way? It’s only been this long, and Ye Sheng is already capable of appearing on the same variety show as Pei Yu?’

“You have a lot of potential; you’ll become famous, and your father will recover,” Ji Xiao said, feeling comfortable from the massage. He suppressed a sigh that was about to escape, took two breaths, and continued, “How much more do you need? I’ll transfer it to you. Anyway, you’ve signed a long-term contract with the company, so I’m not worried you won’t pay it back.”

Ye Sheng touched the tears that had somehow fallen at the corner of his eye:

“Thank you, CEO Xiao, I still need one hundred thousand.”

“Alright, in a moment… Hmph.”

Ji Xiao’s words were cut short by a muffled grunt.

Cheng Tian quickly pulled his hand back, panicking. “I’m sorry, CEO Xiao, I didn’t mean to use so much force! Please give me another chance, I’ll be gentler. I’m so sorry!”

Ji Xiao: “…”

Cheng Tian asked cautiously, “Shall I continue?”

Ye Sheng saw the host’s widened eyes opposite him and quickly hung up the call.

[Holy crap! Exciting!]

[Sisters! Tell me, I wasn’t the only one who heard that gasp just now!]

[You are not alone—]

[I’m just curious, that person said ‘be gentler’, so, is CEO Xiao the sub?]

[That voice sounded so sweet… probably not very old.]

****

Ji Xiao sat up. “No need. Go take a shower.”

Cheng Tian responded and entered the bathroom.

Ji Xiao lit a cigarette. “Cat, what was that variety show Pei Yu was on called again?”

The black cat: “*Entertainment Above All*.”

Ji Xiao, cigarette dangling from his lips, searched for and entered *Entertainment Above All*’s live stream.

The host was already trying to smooth things over.

He was looking for the next guest to perform a task.

Ji Xiao immediately noticed Pei Yu’s tensed jawline and the anger simmering deep in his eyes.

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