010 Open and Unashamed Favoritism

When Qu Wan opened her eyes, she found herself lying on Jiang Zeyu’s arm, her own arms wrapped around his waist, and one leg draped across his stomach. She sneaked a glance at Jiang Zeyu, then sheepishly withdrew her leg. When she looked up again, Jiang Zeyu was already awake.

Qu Wan gave a sheepish grin. “Good morning.”

Jiang Zeyu pressed his fingers to his brow and replied, “Good morning.”

Seeing that he wasn’t in a hurry to get up, Qu Wan nestled in his arms a while longer. “You still haven’t told me why you came over yesterday. Are you sure it’s okay for us to be on the same show? The internet seems to be in an uproar. I heard your fans are cursing and threatening to unfollow you.”

“They should be used to it by now,” Jiang Zeyu’s voice was hoarse, his expression somewhat indifferent as he spoke.

“There are just too many girlfriend fans. Can’t be helped—you’re just too likable,” Qu Wan said with a light laugh.

Jiang Zeyu glanced down at her. “Does it bother you when they insult you like that?”

Qu Wan shook her head, and the next second, she simply sprawled across Jiang Zeyu’s chest. “Why should it bother me? It doesn’t affect my life. Besides, let them say what they want. Right now, I’m the one holding you, aren’t I? I even get to take advantage of you a little.”

As she spoke, Qu Wan’s restless hand slipped under the hem of Jiang Zeyu’s pajamas, tracing over his abs.

Jiang Zeyu promptly caught her hand. “We’re still filming, you know.”

“Oh.” Qu Wan quickly pulled her hand back, a little too pleased with herself.

Then she heard Jiang Zeyu say calmly, “You can touch them all you want when we get home.”

Qu Wan tried not to laugh, but she couldn’t help herself. Jiang Zeyu had just promised she could touch his abs when they got home—which girl could resist a line like that?

Watching him get up to wash, Qu Wan hugged a pillow, a complicated feeling in her heart. She had always tried to avoid riding the wave of his popularity, never mentioning Jiang Zeyu in public, not wanting to cause him trouble. But Jiang Zeyu didn’t seem to care about any of that. From their public announcement to several interviews afterward, Jiang Zeyu had always protected her. Even in this show, it was the same. Yet, there was no real relationship between them. He was being too good to her. Why was he so good to her? Was it really just because her older brother had paid him too much?

Jiang Zeyu and Qu Wan went downstairs one after the other, and the livestream began. As soon as Jiang Zeyu appeared, the comments were flooded with “Good morning, husband.”

A new day of hard work and earning money had begun.

Qu Wan looked serene and sweet, but once she opened her mouth, her image was shattered. She had no qualms about calling out to attract customers.

Jiang Zeyu wasn’t a talkative man himself; he simply watched the girl working hard, occasionally smiling.

None of them had expected the elderly lady who’d bought sugarcane yesterday to return.

The moment she saw her, Qu Wan greeted her warmly.

“After I got home last night, my grandson called me and said he saw me on TV,” the old lady said.

Qu Wan smiled, guiding the grandmother in front of the camera to greet the viewers.

Then the old lady shot a mysterious glance at Jiang Zeyu and whispered to Qu Wan, “Is that your husband?”

Qu Wan glanced at Jiang Zeyu, then nodded.

The old lady continued, “He certainly is handsome.”

“Of course. If he weren’t good-looking, I wouldn’t have chosen him,” Qu Wan replied. If he weren’t handsome, she wouldn’t have bothered marrying him.

The old lady suddenly sighed. “Handsome he may be, but he’s too quiet. A young man who doesn’t talk much—my dear, you have it tough.”

“It’s fine. I talk plenty for both of us. We complement each other,” Qu Wan replied with a smile.

[Are these two openly showing off their love? She’s teasing him for being so silent?]

[Qu Wan is really shameless! She dares to complain about Jiang Zeyu?]

[Why do they look like a married couple who’ve been together for years? Who was it that said they had no chemistry? Their chemistry is off the charts now.]

[This grandma is adorable!]

[Has the chat gone mad? Are you really shipping this couple?]

After the grandma left, Qu Wan nudged Jiang Zeyu’s arm. “Mind if I ask how you feel? You were just criticized, you know.”

“Mm, I’m just lucky I look decent,” Jiang Zeyu replied with a soft laugh.

Qu Wan’s smile froze. Was this man really holding a grudge?

Gu Siyuan, standing to the side, watched them and wondered if he was just an extra here, third-wheeling while they flaunted their affection.

He turned to the camera and announced, “Alright, I’ve had enough. I can’t take it anymore.”

[Hahaha, Siyuan is killing me. Single dog!]

[I bet no one would argue if I said Gu Siyuan is the number one shipper of “Go With the Flow”!]

[Every time Gu Siyuan sees them interact, he has that doting smile, just like me—I can’t help but grin.]

[What is there to ship? They have zero chemistry!]

After two days of hard work, their efforts paid off.

Qu Wan’s team earned a total of 3,745 yuan, ranking first. But their team needed to buy three tickets since, although Jiang Zeyu was a guest star, he still counted as a team member. The guests for the next episode would need them to cover travel and living expenses.

The recording of the first episode officially wrapped up.

Once the livestream ended, Qu Wan relaxed and stretched.

“Wanwan, are you heading back tomorrow?” Gu Siyuan called out.

“I’m flying back tonight—gotta leave in a bit.”

“What about you, Zeyu?” Gu Siyuan asked.

“What do you think?” Jiang Zeyu replied coolly.

“Never mind, forget I asked,” Gu Siyuan clamped his mouth shut. Of course, the couple would go back together.

“Zeyu, we’re about to have dinner—want to join us?” Sun Yuxin asked with a smile.

“No, you all go ahead. I have a flight soon,” Jiang Zeyu declined.

Dragging her suitcase out, Qu Wan shoved it into Jiang Zeyu’s hands with a grin. “Yuxin, why don’t you ask me?”

Sun Yuxin’s smile faltered. “Well, Qu Wan, would you like to join us?”

Qu Wan linked her arm through Jiang Zeyu’s. “Sorry, I can’t either. We’re heading home.”

She deliberately emphasized the word “home.”

“Heh. I’ll leave you to it, then,” Sun Yuxin said, turning away.

Jiang Zeyu glanced at his arm, surprised. Qu Wan had never shown such affection in public before.

Jiang Zeyu hadn’t even brought an assistant this time—he came alone, and when they left that night, the two of them were bundled up and slipped out through the VIP channel.

Only after they boarded the plane did Qu Wan breathe a sigh of relief. “I was terrified we’d run into your fans at the airport. I kept thinking they’d throw acid at me.”

“…I doubt they’d do that.”

“You never know. The deeper the love, the deeper the hate, you know?”

Jiang Zeyu suddenly fell silent. “I’ll make sure to rein in my fans.”

Hearing the guilt in his voice, Qu Wan panicked a little. “No, that’s not what I meant. I was just joking. Fans aren’t so extreme these days—they just curse me online, but I don’t care about that.”

Jiang Zeyu pressed his lips together. “Qu Wan, I’m afraid you’ll get hurt.”