Lin Yan moved his finger and clicked on the notification.

“As we all know, Lin Yan and Lu Jin had no previous interactions. They got to know each other through the variety show ‘Ambiguous Mind.’ In the show, they interacted very naturally, with obvious chemistry. The ‘Red Sunset CP’ received unanimous praise from the audience and became an overnight sensation. Even the editors are highly anticipating their future performances.

However, insiders revealed that Lin Yan’s manager, Yang Shu, had a chance encounter with Lu Jin’s manager, Liang Qinghe, and proposed the idea of promoting their relationship on the variety show, solidifying this CP. What do you all think?”

This tweet was very brief but included an attached audio recording at the end.

Lin Yan clicked on the play button.

The audio was obviously secretly recorded, their voices were a little far away, and there were some noises.

After two seconds of silence, Yang Shu’s voice came through, “Hello, Brother Liang, I’m Yang Shu, Lin Yan’s manager. Thanks to Teacher Lu taking care of Lin Yan, I was wondering if Lin Yan could be friends with Teacher Lu? It would also be convenient for future collaborations.”

“Future collaborations?”

“Just some interactive daily exchanges between the two teachers.”

The recording abruptly ended here.

There was no reply from Liang Qinghe, leaving more room for imagination.

Did Liang Qinghe agree, or did he refuse?

Lin Yan suddenly felt that this matter was not only aimed at him but also at Lu Jin.

Now that the Love variety was starting and their CP was gaining popularity, such a situation emerged. Regardless of whether Lu Jin’s side agreed or not, it was a tricky situation.

Agree? It would prove that this CP had strong intentions, and the natural interaction they had before became tainted with manipulation and deliberate actions, making it less genuine.

Disagree? It would indicate that Lu Jin didn’t want any interaction with Lin Yan outside of the variety show. Their relationship was just that bad, and the CP fans were left feeling lonely. Rejecting on one side while participating in a reality show about love on the other side made him appear inconsistent and unappealing.

Lin Yan didn’t reply. After sending a few more messages, Yang Shu also disappeared.

Five minutes later, Yang Shu sent a string of exclamation marks.

Lin Yan guessed that Yang Shu probably knew by now.

Sure enough, Yang Shu didn’t send another message but made a phone call.

“Lin Yan, let’s not reply for now. Let’s handle this matter calmly. I’ll send out some other press releases to overshadow this incident. Major marketing accounts have already started posting about it. It’s not on the trending topics yet, so we still have a chance to salvage the situation. I’ll try to get them to delete the posts.”

Whether Lin Yan replies or not at this point, it would draw ridicule. The focus was on Lu Jin’s attitude.

Even if Yang Shu publicly stated that it was his personal action, no one would believe it.

Everyone in the industry knows about using connections for personal gain and publicity, but making it so overt is unattractive.

Lin Yan didn’t have much of an opinion on the matter. “Alright, handle it as you see fit.”

Yang Shu sighed again. “It would be great if we had some connections to find out what Teacher Lu thinks.”

Based on Lu Jin’s previous behavior, he would definitely come out and reject the speculation.

But this time outright refusal won’t do them any good.

Yang Shu regretted it deeply, but he didn’t have time to say more to Lin Yan and quickly hung up the phone.

Sitting in the car with nothing better to do, Lin Yan opened Weibo.

He refreshed his homepage, and the marketing accounts he followed had already posted about the audio.

Garden of Gossip: #LinYanHoldsThighs# Oh my god, is this true? Is the Red Sunset CP going to start their business? [Audio]

Thousands of comments flooded the post.

Lin Yan: “…”

The tone was really sarcastic.

The comments section was chaotic as well.

—Lin Yan? Impossible? He’s willing to hold someone’s thigh now that he’s getting popular?

—Well, maybe he just didn’t find the right opportunity before. Teacher Lu, with that ‘Tang Monk Flesh,’ many want a taste.

—As I said before, there’s nothing good about this pair. It’s so fake. The shift in their public image is too abrupt. Are they using a bunch of fake accounts?

—Don’t make me laugh by saying that Lu Jin is the one manipulating this. In this show, Lu Jin is just a big bag of blood, pure and simple!

—Thanks for paying attention to the Red Sunset CP. How about taking a look at this picture? O(?_?)O [Image]

—Damn, the atmosphere in this picture. Sisters, can I get the original picture?

Lin Yan clicked on the picture.

It was the scene where they looked at each other in their school uniforms.

It appeared as if the perennially mischievous bad student had blocked the disciplined and strict class monitor in the corridor, all for the purpose of having his name crossed off a list. He lowered his head and pleaded for mercy.

The pleading didn’t seem sincere; as his gaze conveyed a sense of just engaging in a brief conversation with the person in front of them.

Meanwhile, Lin Yan raised his head slightly, his expression cold as if rejecting the request. The sunlight in his eyes melted into a soft glow, making his rejection seem not entirely resolute.

After a few seconds of hesitation, Lin Yan saved the image.

It had to be admitted, it was well-edited, and he looked good in it too.

As this thought circulated in his mind, Lin Yan suddenly became speechless.

Why did he just praise himself for looking good?

Did he catch something?

Fortunately, the taxi arrived at the entrance of their residential area. Lin Yan closed the Weibo app, settled the fare, and got out of the car.

He didn’t have much work to do these days, so he decided to watch a movie at home.

Lin Yan didn’t expect Lu Jin to respond to this matter, and he had no intention of calling to ask.

After arriving home, he lay on the couch and watched a movie for a while. Unconsciously, he drifted into a deep sleep…

……

Not long after Lu Jin got home, he found out about this situation.

Liang Qinghe briefly recounted the incident and asked, “Following your usual style, should we just clarify the situation? After all, I have directly rejected their invitation.”

Lu Jin didn’t speak.

Liang Qinghe continued, “I didn’t even agree to you participating in this love variety show in the first place. This CP hype is just trying to exploit you. If it doesn’t catch on, it won’t affect you either. At most, it’s an experience in the romantic reality world. Anyway, your… brain processes are normal for doing anything.”

“If he wanted to exploit me, why wait until now?” Lu Jin murmured to himself.

Liang Qinghe didn’t hear clearly: “What did you say?”

Lu Jin stood by the window, absentmindedly touching a half-dead cactus, and calmly said, “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Liang Qinghe paused for a moment before realizing what he was referring to, “Do you need to be informed about such a small matter? It’s always been a direct refusal. What difference does it make if you know? You’re still going to decline, right?”

Lu Jin responded, “I wasn’t planning on declining.”

Liang Qinghe: “?”

Lu Jin let the cactus prickle his hand without flinching. He suddenly smiled.

Even though it had thorns, and it couldn’t harm him, it really looks like a person.

Lu Jin said with a hint of laughter in his voice, “I mean if they want to create a hype, let them. I’ll cooperate.”

Liang Qinghe gasped, “Are you insane?”

Lu Jin: “Not really. Besides, I’ve gained more fans, haven’t I?”

Liang Qinghe took a deep breath, “Who is he to you? Boyfriend?”

Not making his personal emotions a topic of conversation had always been Lu Jin’s principle.

Lu Jin denied: “No.”

Liang Qinghe let out a sigh of relief, “Then what is it?”

Lu Jin remained silent.

He wasn’t sure whether Lin Yan would want him to tell anyone.

Last year, Lu Jin had asked him, “What if people find out?”

Lin Yan answered without hesitation, “My market value will decrease.”

Lu Jin: “???”

Lin Yan pouted: “Maybe they will think there is something wrong with my eyesight.”

Lu Jin was quite dissatisfied at the time and could only retaliate with “Let’s cut ties for five minutes”

With each moment of silence from Lu Jin, Liang Qinghe’s heart grew heavier.

Could this still be considered an undisclosed relationship?

Perhaps a pao friend¹It means fuck buddy or friend with benefits relationship?

After a while, Lu Jin said, “It’s nothing. Just consider it an impure relationship.”

Between coughs, a sudden realization hit Liang Qinghe. He recalled the mocking sound he had sent to Yang Shu.

This mocking laughter seemed to have rebounded back to him.

The clown was himself.

Liang Qinghe developed a strong curiosity toward Lin Yan.

What kind of person could make Lu Jin willingly break his principles?

Lu Jin recalled something, “I have to go, something came up.”

Liang Qinghe became wary, “Is there something else?”

Lu Jin replied, “Don’t worry, it has nothing to do with you.”

Lu Jin hung up the phone, took out a mint candy from his pocket and bit into it, then opened Weibo.

He scrolled through the comments under the marketing posts—quite a mixed bag. Some were excited to keep discussing, some were waiting for responses with hearts broken, and others were starting to mock the situation.

Lu Jin crunched the candy, and the taste of mint surged through his senses.

Holding his phone, he posted a Weibo.

Lu Jinv: @Lin Yan Good afternoon, my friend. Please accept my sincere wishes and await your follow-back. [Image]

The attached image depicted a smiling angel in white robes, holding a heart shape in its hands. The image had some well-wishing words: “Wishing you good health and all the best…”

Netizen: “…”

Was this his response? Why did it seem a bit odd?

It was too late when Liang Qinghe realized something was wrong.

He checked Lu Jin’s Weibo and almost fainted.

This was supposed to have nothing to do with him?

Damn it, it had everything to do with him.

Liang Qinghe opened Lu Jin’s comment area and found that the netizens had already chatted with him.

—Is this the beginning of the interaction? Does that mean they’re trying to stir up a CP

Lu Jin replied: Not quite. If I were trying to stir things up, I’d send out press releases for the whole world to see. But there aren’t any right now.

—Are you using water armies? (t/n: hired online commenters)

Lu Jin replied: Do you have any misconceptions about my charm?

—What does that mean now? Feels like a lonely response.

Lu Jin replied: We don’t need to create a sensation. Our interaction is already genuine and attractive. Why not get to know the Red Sunset CP? [Gazing emoji]

Liang Qinghe: “…”

At first, Lu Jin picked a few questions and answered them, and then he started selling his CP.

Liang Qinghe scrolled through, finding that the doubts were getting drowned out by supportive comments from fans.

—Could anyone truly believe that a reality show romance is real? Aren’t there scripts?

—Having a business CP is great too. Be open about being in a relationship when you should be, and decently “break up” when the time comes. Everyone’s happy.

—Is this Lulu’s first time promoting like this? Quite a rare sight.

Liang Qinghe suddenly froze.

Lu Jin replied again, this time was the comment from Lin Yan’s manager, Yang Shu.

—Apologize to everyone. Lin Yan had told me not to bother Teacher Lu, but I didn’t listen to his advice and caused so much trouble for both teachers. I’m truly sorry.

Lu Jin replied: Sigh, no wonder I can’t get his follow-back [grievance].

The comments under Yang Shu’s reply were exploding.

Fans were condemning him, saying he shouldn’t mislead artists for no reason.

There were also skeptics who thought it was a cover-up for Lin Yan, but their comments were quickly drowned out.

When Lin Yan woke up, the situation had calmed down.

With Lu Jin’s response and Yang Shu’s clarification, there was no follow-up to this matter, and the melon-eating crowd dispersed.

The press releases were deleted and gone, soon to be forgotten.

The marketing accounts had also deleted their posts.

This left Lin Yan a bit speechless.

[Lin Yan: So rich that they deleted everything?]

[Yang Shu: Wasn’t me.]

[Lin Yan: Definitely wasn’t you.]

[Yang Shu: …]

Although Yang Shu had received countless scoldings, he felt much lighter.

He didn’t want Lin Yan to carry any misunderstandings for him.

[Yang Shu: There won’t be a next time. I’ll behave.]

[Lin Yan: You’re annoying.]

[Yang Shu: …]

Lin Yan switched to Lu Jin’s chat and suddenly noticed that Lu Jin had changed his profile picture.

From his own selfie to a potted cactus.

This cactus… looked quite ugly.

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  It means fuck buddy or friend with benefits