Chapter 89

"Huh? Got a new fan~ Good omen! Let's celebrate today—eat something delicious!"

Bai Liang refreshed his Weibo backend, casually made up an excuse, and cheerfully invited Sister Yanzi to dinner, saying his boss self was handing out employee benefits again.

But Sister Yanzi firmly refused:

"What's there to celebrate over one fan?... Besides, Xiao Bai Ge, you're in a growth phase—your follower count will only keep rising. Celebrate when you hit two million!"

She said she was truly worn out from worrying, and had to help him control his spending so he wouldn't blow through his last few ten thousand yuan.

She quickly shifted the topic: "Xiao Bai Ge, you promised Zha Jie you'd check on her house renovation—haven't you gone yet these past few days?"

"Hmm, guess not~"

Bai Liang hadn't gone these past few days for a reason—Shuangzi had been a constant trending topic, her "love-hate drama" with Hu Yanbing heating up the internet.

He felt if he showed up at that residential complex, he'd be photographed and couldn't easily explain it.

True, his name was already in their "story," but he didn't care—still, Zha's newly bought house was right there; what if the fire got directed at her?

But over the past two days, things had calmed slightly, and Shuangzi seemed to have "three rabbit holes"—she owned more than one residence in Shanghai; the paparazzi had just snapped her in another upscale neighborhood.

So Bai Liang hopped on Sister Yanzi's electric scooter and zipped off to Zha's new home to inspect the renovation progress.

He hadn't even had time to register or greet at the gate when he spotted the guard—same guy from before, full of conviction.

So this time, he skipped registration entirely.

The guard greeted him warmly again: "Young brother, how's that dog of yours last time?"

"Still getting treated—doing fine, don't worry."

"Good to hear. I'll tell you, lately lots of people try sneaking in to photograph female stars—I've caught plenty."

"Bro, you're awesome! Keep it up!"

After chatting with the guard for a while, Bai Liang rode his scooter into the compound.

He'd barely parked when he spotted a familiar figure.

Oh no—fate throws enemies together again!

When Bai Liang saw Shuangzi, she saw him too.

They stared at each other in silence, but Shuangzi's expression was sour—nothing like the innocent little flower she'd been during their first audition meeting.

Bai Liang remained unchanged, his attitude unaffected; he took off his helmet and prepared to head upstairs and check the renovation progress.

But then, for some reason, Shuangzi walked over—quickly.

One, two, three...

Whoosh—thud!

Ssshh... Bai Liang winced just watching it—but he wasn't surprised; so this is how it happens...

Gentle fortune never explodes violently.

A small punishment, a big warning.

But everyone is an independent individual.

When people are on top, they hear nothing; when they're shattered, they can't speak at all.

A fall makes some more careful where they step, but others keep charging ahead regardless.

For a contestant like Shuangzi... Bai Liang is barely a small bump in her life.

Just fall once, that's enough.

After all, they're unlikely to cross paths again.

But this fall was no light one—purely anime-style: left foot tripping right foot, falling straight down.

"Are you okay?"

Shuangzi didn't speak, but her sharp intake of breath was unmistakable.

Bai Liang helped her to a nearby step and sat her down, then glanced at her knee—bruised purple and blue.

At least her face wasn't scarred.

It was quite cold outside, yet she'd gone out in just a dress—bold, really.

Typical her.

He couldn't see any other injuries—he wouldn't dare lift her clothes.

"Can you stand?"

Shuangzi didn't answer, but when she tried to push up, she gasped again.

"Forget it—I'll take you to the hospital." Bai Liang sighed, gently scooped her into a princess carry, and carefully placed her on the scooter's rear seat.

The girl was lighter than air; the moment he lifted her, he immediately retracted his earlier assessment that "Hu Yanbing eats well."

"Wait."

"What?"

Shuangzi's expression was strange: "You don't need to care for me—why are you helping me?"

"Fair point~"

So Bai Liang thought she had a point, and gently set her back down from the scooter.

"Do you have your phone? Call your assistant or family."

Shuangzi stayed silent, hugging herself tightly, as if shutting down completely.

Just as Bai Liang considered going upstairs to check the renovation or calling the guard for help, she spoke again:

"I treated you like that... why are you helping me? You should hate me."

"I don't like poodles, but I'd still take one to the hospital," Bai Liang said naturally.

Mentioning dogs made Shuangzi shut down even more.

But this time, she opened up faster—her gaze at Bai Liang was like seeing some bizarre creature, say, a sow that climbs trees...

"Do you think I'm an idiot or a lunatic?" Shuangzi suddenly asked.

This time, Bai Liang actually took a step back. "You're asking for a spirit seal on your skin?"

"You fucking—" Shuangzi nearly laughed in rage. "Yeah, so what? You got the guts to perform a spell and strike me down?"

"You've been enduring me for a long time, haven't you?!"

She took a deep breath and felt the pain in her body lessen slightly. Frowning at Bai Liang, she asked, "If I harmed you, don't you want to take revenge?"

This time, Bai Liang grew slightly serious, then smiled and shook his head. "No one can harm me."

His tone was casual, his voice not loud, yet utterly unquestionable.

It also made people instinctively feel… he was telling the truth.

In that instant, Shuangzi felt the person standing before her had suddenly shifted posture.

Looking down from above, even the sun was blocked out.

As if her previous actions meant nothing to him—not even worth a single thought.

He had never regarded her as anything at all.

This attitude hurt her more than if he had reacted with "revenge achieved" after seeing her humiliated!

What did her actions amount to in his eyes?

A wave of shame curled around her heart…

But after just a moment's pause, the figure before her was again that good-natured capybara, smiling warmly and brightly.

Like a big clump of cotton—harmless and innocent.

Unresisting, yet making one feel… if you drew near, it would be comfortable, warm.

She had never met anyone like this.

For a moment, her gaze on Bai Liang grew unfocused.

A few seconds later, Shuangzi instinctively shuffled a little closer to Bai Liang—only for him to step back again, tilting his head and giving her a look:

"The princess carry was only because you were hurt. Don't you dare take advantage, Shuangzi~"

Killing with words!

She was now completely shut down.

A wave of helplessness spread through her entire body; she longed to lean into a warm, solid embrace.

Yet the warmest person she'd ever met in her life stood just two meters away—but felt as distant as a chasm between heaven and earth.

Fortunately, at this moment, Hu Yanbing, the "big sucker," arrived.