Chapter 03

True to his word, Xu Qiuluo spent the evening watching TV dramas with Fang Ying.

Three Kill aired prime time at 8 PM, so by 7:30, Fang Ying was already planted on the couch. At that hour, the channel normally ran a poverty-alleviation pig-raising show — yeah, despite how much society changes, that pig farming program marched on like clockwork.

At around 7ish, Xu Qiuluo just sat quietly watching Fang watch the TV. The old farmer on screen was bragging: “Last year, we sold over a thousand pigs. April was the best month, with over 300 sold!”

Fang Ying: “Wow...”

Xu: “?”

The farmer went on: “Our pig farm still has 88 sows, 230 piglets, and last year pure profits hit 140,000 yuan!”

The TV farmer laughed heartily while Fang Ying — for some mysterious reason — got all emotional:
“Not easy, not easy...”

He turned and shot Xu Qiuluo’s eyes a look full of unspoken hopes — maybe a comment from his idol?

Xu played along with a lazy smile: “There’s a saying: every profession breeds a master.”

Fang gave a wholehearted “Mm!”

Farmer’s finale: “Remember, to get rich, raise pigs first!”

Fang wanted to applaud but, well, one hand can’t clap.

He sulked, glancing down at Big Chunk, his husky, and suddenly brightened:
“Luo-ge...”

Xu immediately perked up: “What do you need?”

His idol really was everything — handsome, sweet, and smart.

Fang laughed goofily: “When Big Chunk was two months old, I bought him a toy — a plastic hand slap thing— but he never played with it. Could you grab it for me?”

Xu thought: ...Who told you dogs like that stupid thing???!!!!

Too lazy to roast him, Xu asked: “Where did you put it?”

Fang scratched his head: “Hmmm… should be in the study, upstairs, first room on the left.”

Xu headed upstairs, and Fang went back to concentrating on pig farming — but the show ended without Xu coming back down.

The TV switched to commercials, and Xu was nowhere in sight.

“Luo-ge?” Fang’s voice called from the couch, “Are you coming down? The episode’s starting!”

No answer.

What’s going on? Could a fairy be lurking in the study?

Halfway up the stairs, Fang froze — there was...

the study...

there were...

books... in the study!

Mom, save meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!

Fang bolted like a sportsman doing his college gym test, ready to sprint down the stairs — but Xu Qiuluo had already come down, clutching four fanfic collections by Big Cucumber herself.
On top of these books sat Fang’s expensive “LuoZong” figurine, arms wrapped with limited-edition horizontal banners sold by the “LuoZong Bar” fandom.

Xu was nearly shaking with rage: “Fang Ying, you better start explaining right now!”

Fang’s mind screamed the only question: “How to die fast and painlessly? Help! Super popular star Fang Ying, universe-level spin attack urgent.”

Xu took another step down; Fang scooped up the wobbling figurine, cradling it like a spoiled kid:
“Careful, that’s pricey!”

Xu exploded: “Now’s the time to talk about price?! No, I’m asking, WHAT IS THIS?! WHY DO YOU HAVE STUFF WITH ME AND XU... uh… THAT GUY?!”

Dude, aren’t you a LuoYing shipper?!

The last part was too embarrassing to spit out, so Xu swallowed it hard.

Fang lowered his head, shuffled his eyes for a few seconds, then looked Xu straight in the face—completely calm: “This stuff’s my younger brother’s.”

Xu sneered: “You’re an only child, right?”

“Nope, cousin Fang Huai,” Fang said quickly. “We’ve always been close. He’s sickly and recovering in the countryside. Every year he comes to stay with me for a bit. He’s a fan of you and Xu Zong… well, more like a shipper. It’s his hobby. Maybe you can’t accept that, but he never wanted you to see all this. It’s my fault for not keeping his stuff safe. I’m really sorry. But he truly likes you and Zong-ge. Please don’t hate him for this.”

Half-truths, half-lies, all emotionally real.

Fang’s last sentence was so soft it carried three parts fear and seven parts apology.

He blinked, perfectly timed. The light caught his eyes — shimmering, brimming like something might spill over.

Xu’s anger melted instantly, replaced by awkwardness: “Alright, alright… stop giving me that look. I’m not mad. it’s just… fine if you like to read this kind of thing, but why does your little brother also have to like it?!””

He added: “Is this a family problem, or what???”

Fang: Ծ‸Ծ

“Family’s all about being tight-knit…”

Xu: 凸 (middle finger)

And just like that, a huge storm fizzled out, and the two settled together on the couch — finally ready to watch the drama.

Fang was good with memory — tonight’s episode was the famous cliff scene with Xu Qiuluo and Xu Zong.

Xu was still a bit awkward after the discovery, really struggling to get into character, while Fang bawled uncontrollably.

Xu wiped his nose and tears, but no matter how much he tried, the scene felt oddly familiar, yet he couldn’t remember when it had happened.

On screen, Xu Zong hid endless madness beneath calm words: “Zhang Ye, you lost. You’ll never catch me yourself. I’ll make sure you suffer this torment your whole life.”

Xu Qiuluo rushed toward him, but was too late—Xu Zong turned and jumped off the cliff.

“Brother!!”

“Zong-ge!!”

Two heart-wrenching cries echoed, startling Xu.

On screen, Fang Ying’s brother character was sobbing his heart out.

Off screen, Fang was sobbing even harder.

Through hiccups and tears, Fang choked out: “Why… why am I always late?”

Xu Qiuluo had no clue. Earlier that day, Fang had read a fanfic about the cliff scene — so who knows where that “always” came from.

He just thought, damn, Fang sure cries a lot — maybe three times since they met?

Xu didn’t care about dramas himself and always thought actors couldn’t binge TV, until Fang…

A guy who could watch a pig farming show for half an hour.

Looking at Fang crashed on the couch, Xu was speechless.

Maybe some folks were born TV sets in a past life, destined to be drama queens this time.

With a sigh, Xu awkwardly handed Fang tissues: “You sure know how to cry. Someone who doesn’t know’d think Zong-ge really died.”

Xu’s offhand remark hit a nerve. Fang turned, eyes shot little daggers: “Why did you have to kill Zong-ge?”

That line rang a bell...

Xu blinked, blurting out: “I didn’t! He killed himself. Didn’t you watch him jump?”

“You pushed him!” Fang shouted. “Why did you push him?!”

Actually, this wasn’t Fang venting — it was a scripted line. And Xu’s comeback was scripted too, from their rooftop showdown after filming wrapped.

That rooftop scene went viral on social media, with many drama bloggers calling it the peak of their acting skills. Even Xu remembered watching the reviews, feeling it might be his own acting highlight.

During that scene, Fang’s character stood defiant on the edge, eyes filled with hatred, asking with a gun:
“Why did you push him?”

It hurt Xu’s heart seeing the passion, piercing with madness.

Tonight, the two basically reenacted the classic — Fang fully immersed, Xu along for the ride cluelessly.

Can you blame Xu? Who else but Fang would keep going after wrap?

Fang shouted once more: “Why did you push him?!”

Xu almost lost it: “What the hell?! Xu Zong is the villain, the spoiled rich kid!”

Fang gave up, sighing: “I know…but it still hurts...”

Xu frowned, thinking Fang was too deep in the role.

He’d been in the entertainment circle long enough to know some actors are “method actors,” who merge too much with their parts. Most eventually bounce back, but some get lost in the haze and end up needing psychologists.

Especially younger actors with talent, like Fang — role mixes with self, hard to break free.

Xu didn’t mind their style but worried all the same. He seriously stared at Fang.

Fang looked right back, eyes burning like a tiny flame.

Xu was about to comfort him when Fang smiled slightly and changed the subject:
“Luo-ge, do you have any pictures with Zong-ge?”

“Especially sweet, cute ones. Can you send one over? It might cheer me up.”

Xu silently thought: method actor, my foot. Fang just loves drama way too much.

Xu wanted to punish his own foolish feelings with three drinks.

“Some weak cousin? No way, the one fangirling over me and Xu Zong? That’s YOU!” Xu stood, teeth gritted.

Fang: Σ(▽ )

“It’s not that way, Luo-ge!”




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