AAMIBBSBY 7

“The right knee.”

Just now, Xia Zhi was worried about making Shen Shixiao angry. He had been anxiously trying to contact a watch repairman, so he hadn’t paid much attention to the injury on his leg.

Now, a dense, throbbing pain surged up.

He didn’t have a delicate personality, but being asked by Shen Shixiao like this made him feel genuinely a bit wronged, and his eyes grew sour.

The butler furrowed his brows tightly, unable to believe that Shen Shixiao actually wasn’t angry. It should be known that when he was first sent to serve Shen Shixiao, he had seen with his own eyes what Shen Shixiao looked like in a fit of rage. 

It was all because a servant, while doing the laundry, had stained the white shirt given to Shen Shixiao by his first love.

The pant leg was rolled up, revealing a large bruise on the knee where it had been knocked.

“I’ll help you over there.” Shen Shixiao wrapped an arm around Xia Zhi’s shoulder, looking at the butler with a reproachful gaze. “Bring the medical kit.”

A trace of warmth transferred from his shoulder. Shen Shixiao’s arms were very long, and as they walked, he gently supported Xia Zhi’s back, giving him an inexplicable sense of security.

When Xia Zhi worked as an extra, because he played corpses or villains, being covered in bruises was a common occurrence. When had he ever been so earnestly cared for? He slowly looked up, and Shen Shixiao’s handsome side profile was close at hand.

Shen Shixiao was actually a very gentle person.

He felt inexplicably a little touched.

Seeing Shen Shixiao pick up the medical kit, preparing to apply the medicine for him, Xia Zhi hurriedly stopped him. “I can just do it myself.”

“It’s inconvenient for you to move, rest your leg over here.” Shen Shixiao skillfully took out several topical ointments for reducing swelling and relieving pain, his voice suddenly turning freezing cold. “He’s been injured for so long. Why didn’t you get him medicine?”

These words were directed at the butler, as well as all the servants in the room. Although the voice wasn’t loud, falling into the quiet room, it felt like the arrival of a freezing glacier.

The butler couldn’t answer for a moment, lowering his head and saying, “Apologies. It’s because your watch was damaged, so we were anxious to find a solution.”

Xia Zhi looked up and cast him a glance.

Old liar, spouting nonsense with his eyes wide open.

Just now, he was clearly the only one who was anxious.

A burst of warmth came from the back of his knee. Shen Shixiao’s left hand gently supported it, while his right hand held a cotton swab, applying the medicine bit by bit.

Xia Zhi’s right leg bent unnaturally for a moment, and his pretty eyes deliberately looked elsewhere.

He seemed to be a little shy!

The last time someone touched his leg like this was when he was as small as a beanstalk.¹Literally “little bean.” It’s an affectionate slang term used for toddlers or very small children.

While applying the medicine, Shen Shixiao’s movements were very gentle. His straight, broad back slowly leaned over, and due to the sagging of his sweater collar, it revealed his sexy, beautiful Adam’s apple.

Who knew what kind of perfume Shen Shixiao had sprayed on himself, but a faint woody scent lingered around him, which smelled surprisingly good.

Xia Zhi quickly closed his eyes.

Can’t look, can’t look, he will get a stye.²There is an old Chinese superstition/joke that looking at something “inappropriate,” naughty, or peeping at others will cause a stye to grow on your eyelid.

Applying the medicine felt as agonizingly long as a century. After it was over, Xia Zhi hung his head and stammered, “Thank you. I’ll go upstairs to rest first, goodnight.”

Shen Shixiao stood up together with him. “I’ll walk you back to your room.”

Helping him upstairs?

He really wasn’t that delicate.

Despite this, under Shen Shixiao’s concerned gaze, Xia Zhi was still helped upstairs by him.

Sitting on the bed in the bedroom, Xia Zhi sheepishly scratched his head. “Thank you, Mr. Shen. Are you thirsty or hungry? There are snacks in the small cabinet in my room.”

As soon as he finished saying this, Xia Zhi regretted it. How could someone like Shen Shixiao like eating snacks?

Who would have expected, Shen Shixiao, who was originally planning to leave, suddenly turned around. “Okay.”

There were quite a few snacks in the cabinet: potato chips, chocolate, and some biscuits.

Shen Shixiao picked out a bag of tomato-flavored potato chips, sat down next to Xia Zhi, and started eating.

The crisp crunching sound was right by his ear. Xia Zhi couldn’t help but feel that everything was a bit unreal. Was this kind of mundane³Literally translates to “the mortal realm.” Xia Zhi views Shen Shixiao as someone aloof, untouchable, and almost god-like, so seeing him eat junk food feels shockingly grounded and human. eating sound really coming from Shen Shixiao?

“I didn’t expect you to like eating potato chips.”

Xia Zhi opened a bag and started eating along with him, going “crunch, crunch”.

“When I was in college, I would get nervous during public speeches. Eating potato chips would relieve some of the mental pressure.”

This was the first time Shen Shixiao took the initiative to talk to Xia Zhi about his time studying abroad.

Xia Zhi laughed in disbelief. “Potato chips can actually relieve stress?”

Shen Shixiao: “Mm, someone else told me that.”

Xia Zhi didn’t even have to guess to know that this “someone else” was Shen Shixiao’s first love. Puffing out his cheeks as he chewed the chips, he said, “The first time I saw you, I thought you must be really amazing. I didn’t expect you to have moments of nervousness too.”

Shen Shixiao’s eyes darkened slightly. “That day at the film and television city wasn’t our first time meeting.”

Xia Zhi: “???”

Turning his gaze to Xia Zhi, Shen Shixiao said meaningfully, “We met once a month ago, but you probably don’t remember. After all, my aura is very ‘ordinary’.”

The word ordinary carried a lot of underlying meaning. Xia Zhi remembered the over-the-top flattery he had spouted, and his ears turned red unconsciously.

He genuinely didn’t remember actually meeting Shen Shixiao a month ago.

“Thank you for the potato chips.”

“Remember to help me fix my watch. If you buy me a new one, I won’t mind.”

Before leaving, Shen Shixiao’s palm lightly rested on Xia Zhi’s head, not pressing down firmly, a hard-to-detect smile surging between his brows.

As the sound of the door closing echoed, Xia Zhi stared blankly at that watch.

A newly bought watch must be very expensive.

Sigh, just treat it as a financial hit.

Right before going to sleep, Xia Zhi thought it over and over, and finally told Shen Shixiao about the butler. After all, there were too many suspicious points. The butler had been acting strangely ever since he first moved in.

Afraid the other party would misunderstand and think he was shirking responsibility, he explained a lot. Finally, after Shen Shixiao told him that he was aware of the situation, Xia Zhi breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Rolling back and forth under the covers, Xia Zhi decided to pick out a new watch for Shen Shixiao. Even though the old watch could be repaired, he still felt quite embarrassed about it.

After checking various official websites, Xia Zhi’s heart grew colder and colder.

Luxury watches were simply too expensive. No wonder they say “the poor play with cars, the rich play with watches⁴A well-known modern Chinese saying. It highlights that while luxury cars are expensive, high-end horology (watch collecting) has a virtually limitless price ceiling and is a true indicator of deep, “old money” wealth..” A single top-brand watch was worth several million, and that wasn’t even a limited edition.

Xia Zhi was stricken with grief and despair.

He was so poor.

After resting at home for a week, in the blink of an eye, it was time for the recording of the first episode of “Best Actor.” Xia Zhi had long since memorized the script by heart.

Are you kidding?!

It was only one line of dialogue in total, how could he not memorize it?

The production team had sent out a notice in advance. They would provide food and accommodation for the trainees participating in the recording, and whether to stay there or not was up to their own choice.

Xia Zhi figured that the film and television city in the suburbs was an hour and a half drive from here. Not wanting to trouble the driver with pick-ups and drop-offs every day, he made up his mind to stay in the dorms and carried his suitcase downstairs.

Shen Shixiao, who was eating breakfast downstairs, seemed a little unhappy upon seeing the suitcase. After asking clearly about the reason, he said in a low voice that he would arrange for a driver to pick him up and drop him off, and had the servants help Xia Zhi take the suitcase back up.

Xia Zhi was happy to be at ease, being able to return to the mansion every day.

He was more than willing!

Arriving at the car door, Xia Zhi hesitated for a moment, turned around, and waved both hands at Shen Shixiao.

Shen Shixiao took very good care of him, and he understood that.

In the early morning sunlight, Xia Zhi smiled sweetly. “Mr. Shen, I’m heading off!”

Shen Shixiao was slightly taken aback, a faint smile surfacing. “Wishing you explosive popularity.”

The driver arrived at the recording location—the fil and television city outside the capital.

The first episode of this variety show had a total of 40 trainees; many were somewhat famous internet celebrities or rookie actors, so disparities when assigning roles were inevitable.

Being able to have one line of dialogue himself, Xia Zhi already felt was pretty good.

However, he heard that the bulk of the screentime for the first recording was still on the mentors, like Film Emperor Liang, top-tier idol Wu Linxi, Film Empress Chu, TV Emperor Bai. Being able to invite so many people at the same time was truly not easy.

Xia Zhi quietly pondered getting an autograph from Film Emperor Liang when he had free time. He was, after all, a little fanboy of Film Emperor Liang.

In the makeup room, the trainees lined up to get their makeup done.

Looking at himself in the mirror, Xia Zhi let out a life-questioning doubt.

Why was he playing a courtesan⁵Historically, a huākuí was the top-ranking courtesan or the most famous entertainer in a high-class brothel. They were renowned for their beauty, poetry, and musical talents, not just sex work.?

Could anyone tell him if there were actually male courtesans in ancient times?

A white robe whiter than snow, the silk fine and smooth. 

Xia Zhi in his period costume had picturesque features; the small mole at the corner of his eye was emphasized with color, adding a touch of alluring charm. 

Ink-black long hair hung down to his waist, tied up with a white ribbon, capable of capturing souls if one wasn’t careful.

Sigh, as expected of a courtesan.

The online livestream portal for the first episode had just opened, and hundreds of thousands of viewers flooded in instantly. Most of them came from the various fan clubs of the mentors and some young people interested in variety shows.

After all, “Best Actor” had always flown the banner of being a subversive acting reality show.

The livestream page was designed very mysteriously. Outside the video window, there were makeup posters of the mentors dressed in period costumes.

The bullet screen was already full. Besides comments anticipating their own idols, there were praises for the production team’s innovative broadcasting method, which was unprecedented.

After all, daring to play like this, not afraid of acting trainwrecks⁶Literally “a car flipping over.” In internet slang, it means a severe fail, an embarrassing mistake, or a situation going completely wrong—in this case, actors embarrassingly exposing their bad acting live., was truly awesome.⁷The raw text says 666. A very common Chinese gaming and internet slang. The number 6 (liù) sounds like the word 溜 (liū), which means smooth, skilled, or awesome. Typing “666” is the equivalent of clapping or saying “bravo.”

As the show started, every viewer received a pop-up window of this episode’s script, making it convenient for them to understand the plot.

It was worth noting that the script for each episode of the variety show was created by the screenwriters based on the actors’ star values from the previous episode. Whoever the audience voted higher star values for would have more screen time in the next episode.

It was a bit thrilling.

Courtesan Xia squatted at his performance spot—the edge of the city wall, squinting his bright eyes and rubbing his hands together in the cold wind. At first glance, he looked quite pitiful.

Listening to the staff talk about the current number of people watching the livestream, he was shocked but at the same time felt a sense of wonder.

It was the first time he felt so close to the audience.

The variety show began. Episode one: Night Raid on Chang’an.

The courtesan played by Xia Zhi was the sweetheart that many men and women in Chang’an City flocked to.

Xia Zhi muttered quietly, Men and women???

The male courtesan was unintentionally drawn into this power struggle, and the long flute in his hand was an important prop critical to solving the mystery of Chang’an.

Filming was taking place below the city wall. From Xia Zhi’s angle, he could only see scattered points of light below.

The sound of clashing swords rang out, it should be the actors fighting.

Courtesan Xia carefully clung to the city wall and poked his head out, listening with keen interest.

Meanwhile, the bullet screen was also bustling with activity.

[Is that guard a rookie actor hahaha, his lines are so funny.]

[Our Linxi is so handsome in historical costume!! This variety show is so interesting!]

[Am I seeing things? Why is Xia Mingxuan here? Is he a mentor?]

[I heard TV Emperor Bai temporarily backed out of the variety show, and TV Emperor Xia is acting as a substitute.]

[With TV Emperor Xia’s world-destroying acting skills, are we sure he’s not just here to attract hate?]

Half an hour into the variety show’s broadcast, the number of live stream viewers had already broken through 20 million, and the invincible panoramic viewing angle left the audience completely satisfied.

It’s the first time being this close to the acting, right?!

At the same time, the actors’ starlight values were shooting up.

The highest starlight value among the mentors had already reached one hundred thousand, with Xia Mingxuan at the bottom. 

Compared to the mentors, the trainees’ starlight values looked a bit dismal. The highest one ranked sixth with only 2000 starlight value.

The fight grew increasingly fierce. The swordsman played by Film Emperor Liang pointed his sword straight at the city wall, and the staff member next to Xia Zhi reminded him, “It’s your turn!”

Courtesan Xia shivered and slowly walked out holding the long flute.

A cold wind brushed past, the long hair at his waist fluttering gently. The camera slowly zoomed in, and a slender white figure gradually became clear.

The first thing to appear in the close-up shot was the wrist holding the long flute. 

The wrist was slender and fair, seemingly soft and boneless. 

The joints of the fingers caressing the long flute were distinctly defined, as beautiful as the bright moon tonight.

[Seeing these hands, I’m diving in!]

[Please, please, with hands this beautiful, it has to be a pretty jiejie⁸The term is an internet slang derived from “姐姐” (older sister). In modern Chinese usage—especially in livestreams, fandom culture, and entertainment contexts—it does not literally mean “older sister.” Instead, it functions as an affectionate and admiring way to refer to a young woman, often implying that she is pretty, charming, or appealing.!]

[Director! Hurry up and give us a close-up of the front face!]

[A rookie jiejie? Looking forward to it!]

The camera seemed able to read the audience’s minds. After keeping them in suspense for a long time, it slowly panned up.

A pair of starry eyes entered the frame, and the bullet screen exploded.

[F*ck, f*ck, f*ck! It’s a xiao gege⁹While it literally means “older brother,” in modern Chinese internet and entertainment contexts it is commonly used as an affectionate and admiring way to refer to a young man.!]

[A-Wei is dead again¹⁰This is a hilarious and classic Chinese internet meme. It is a phonetic play on the acronym AWSL, which originally stands for “啊，我死了” (Ah, wǒ sǐ le – “Ah, I’m dead!”). Fans use it when something is so cute, beautiful, or attractive that it “kills” them. Because AWSL sounds like the name “A Wei Si Le” (Ah Wei is dead), netizens created a fictional persona named “Ah Wei” who constantly dies from witnessing extreme cuteness or beauty.! Wuwuwu!]

[Ah this… Sisters, I’m diving in!]

[Is this level of beauty meant for the mortal realm?]

Xia Zhi couldn’t see the bullet screen, much less know where the camera was pointing. He only kept in mind the core of his character: gentle and charming, as affectionate as water.

Wuwuwu, he was about to freeze into ice water!

Below the city wall, Film Emperor Liang said, “You’re a man?”

The courtesan’s eyes took on a hint of teasing at the corners, and gently curling his lips, he said, “Young master, do tell, why can’t a courtesan be a man?”

[Ahhhhh! Letting out a marmot scream¹¹Chinese internet slang referring to screaming at the top of your lungs in pure excitement or shock. It originates from a viral meme video of a marmot standing on its hind legs and screaming loudly.!]

[His voice sounds so good! I’m in love!]

[Are we sure this is a rookie actor? Where did the directing team dig up this treasure?]

Yan Wenqing sat in front of the camera and said to everyone, “See that? That’s the treasure I dug up.”

Seeing Xia Zhi act so well, while bowing down to his looks, the staff shouted at him, “Awesome! Awesome!”

Courtesan Xia was taken aback, was this adding another scene?

Was it because he acted so well?

However, they actually wanted him to twist¹²Awesome / Twist (牛 / 扭 – Niú / Niǔ): This is the core comedic misunderstanding of the scene! The staff is shouting “Niú” (牛), which is slang for “Awesome/Badass/Amazing.”?

Twist facing forward, twist sideways, or twist seductively?

The camera was right in front of him, and Courtesan Xia maintained his alluring smile. Steeling his heart¹³An idiom that implies throwing caution to the wind, biting the bullet, or resolving to do something slightly reckless or embarrassing because you feel you have no other choice., if he has to twist, he will twist.

Just at the moment the camera was about to pan away, the courtesan raised his brocade sleeves, and gently twisted his waist in the cold wind, the charm between his brows growing even more intense.

In all his life, this was his first time twisting his waist!

Below the city wall, Film Emperor Liang was stunned, the directing team was dumbfounded, the audience went crazy, and Xia Zhi’s starlight value skyrocketed.

Shen Shixiao had thought about it for a long time, and made time to hurry to the suburban film and television city. Yet just as he stepped onto the filming site, he saw the beautiful, soul-stealing silhouette on the city wall, covertly making eyes¹⁴A poetic idiom that literally translates to “secretly sending autumn waves.” It means to covertly cast flirtatious glances or make romantic overtures toward someone. at the man below.

The gentleness between Shen Shixiao’s brows gradually vanished.

• 1
  Literally “little bean.” It’s an affectionate slang term used for toddlers or very small children.
• 2
  There is an old Chinese superstition/joke that looking at something “inappropriate,” naughty, or peeping at others will cause a stye to grow on your eyelid.
• 3
  Literally translates to “the mortal realm.” Xia Zhi views Shen Shixiao as someone aloof, untouchable, and almost god-like, so seeing him eat junk food feels shockingly grounded and human.
• 4
  A well-known modern Chinese saying. It highlights that while luxury cars are expensive, high-end horology (watch collecting) has a virtually limitless price ceiling and is a true indicator of deep, “old money” wealth.
• 5
  Historically, a huākuí was the top-ranking courtesan or the most famous entertainer in a high-class brothel. They were renowned for their beauty, poetry, and musical talents, not just sex work.
• 6
  Literally “a car flipping over.” In internet slang, it means a severe fail, an embarrassing mistake, or a situation going completely wrong—in this case, actors embarrassingly exposing their bad acting live.
• 7
  The raw text says 666. A very common Chinese gaming and internet slang. The number 6 (liù) sounds like the word 溜 (liū), which means smooth, skilled, or awesome. Typing “666” is the equivalent of clapping or saying “bravo.”
• 8
  The term is an internet slang derived from “姐姐” (older sister). In modern Chinese usage—especially in livestreams, fandom culture, and entertainment contexts—it does not literally mean “older sister.” Instead, it functions as an affectionate and admiring way to refer to a young woman, often implying that she is pretty, charming, or appealing.
• 9
  While it literally means “older brother,” in modern Chinese internet and entertainment contexts it is commonly used as an affectionate and admiring way to refer to a young man.
• 10
  This is a hilarious and classic Chinese internet meme. It is a phonetic play on the acronym AWSL, which originally stands for “啊，我死了” (Ah, wǒ sǐ le – “Ah, I’m dead!”). Fans use it when something is so cute, beautiful, or attractive that it “kills” them. Because AWSL sounds like the name “A Wei Si Le” (Ah Wei is dead), netizens created a fictional persona named “Ah Wei” who constantly dies from witnessing extreme cuteness or beauty.
• 11
  Chinese internet slang referring to screaming at the top of your lungs in pure excitement or shock. It originates from a viral meme video of a marmot standing on its hind legs and screaming loudly.
• 12
  Awesome / Twist (牛 / 扭 – Niú / Niǔ): This is the core comedic misunderstanding of the scene! The staff is shouting “Niú” (牛), which is slang for “Awesome/Badass/Amazing.”
• 13
  An idiom that implies throwing caution to the wind, biting the bullet, or resolving to do something slightly reckless or embarrassing because you feel you have no other choice.
• 14
  A poetic idiom that literally translates to “secretly sending autumn waves.” It means to covertly cast flirtatious glances or make romantic overtures toward someone.