Fu Xiuning went to the company’s legal department.
There was no one working in the legal department on weekends, but there were always staff on duty to handle potential emergencies.
At this moment, the staff on duty was napping out of boredom when suddenly the boss himself walked in. In his panic, he nearly tripped over himself and quickly stood up to give a formal greeting.
Fu Xiuning ignored the reaction and asked, “Where are the trainee contracts?”
The staff member barely had time to wipe his sweat before quickly pulling out a file box from the cabinet. “They’re all here.”
Fu Xiuning took the box and said, “I’ll bring it back to my office and return it later.”
The staff member immediately nodded. “Okay.”
The original contracts were kept in a secure location, and the ones stored here were just photocopies, so it wouldn’t be an issue even if something happened to one or two documents.
Fu Xiuning returned to his office, retrieved Xing Shi’s contract, and checked the date—it was signed during the winter break, with the original owner’s signature.
He made a copy of the contract, placed the original back into the binder without any creases, returned it to the legal department, and then drove home with the duplicate.
As soon as he arrived, he went straight to the newly installed bookshelf, pulled out Xing Shi’s class notebook, and flipped through it. By comparing it with the textbook, he confirmed that the notes covered recent lessons. Then, he took it to his study, made a copy, and called his assistant.
When the assistant arrived, Fu Xiuning handed over a document folder.
“Find a handwriting authentication agency to verify if the writing inside belongs to the same person, and bring the results to me personally as soon as possible,” Fu Xiuning instructed.
With the system in play, he couldn’t risk directly testing Xing Shi, and since Xing Shi had amnesia, he likely wouldn’t have any answers himself. This was the most straightforward and effective method.
He added a final warning: “Don’t tell anyone about this.”
The assistant, startled by the unusual request, nodded and took the folder.
Fu Xiuning watched him leave and quickly reviewed his plan in his mind.
The system wouldn’t waste energy on unnecessary surveillance, and since the other hosts were all out of town, it was highly unlikely they were monitoring him.
Lin Kecheng was in the same city, but his focus was elsewhere for now. Besides, Fu Xiuning had left his phone far away while handling these documents—so even if a host happened to ask their system to check on him, they wouldn’t find anything.
His personal assistant had been trained by the Fu family and had previously resisted bribery attempts from several hosts over the past two years, proving his reliability. Additionally, since the assistant regularly handled minor errands for him, the hosts had long since lost interest in investigating him.
After confirming there were no flaws in his plan, Fu Xiuning returned to his usual routine.
As usual, Xing Shi trained at the company late into the night.
The previous day, when he went to retrieve his clothes from the apartment, Yu Yi and the others were still at the company, so they had no idea he was moving.
Since he had no intention of bringing it up just yet, he simply said, “I won’t be going back to the apartment tonight.”
Yu Yi and the others naturally assumed he was heading back to school since classes resumed on Monday.
They casually reminded him to “be careful on the road” before they went their separate ways.
Fu Xiuning’s residence was located between the company and the school, forming an uneven triangle. While there was a subway station nearby, it was a bit of a walk away. Xing Shi simply rented a shared bicycle, just as he had in the morning, and rode back.
When he entered the password to unlock the door, the lights in the entrance and living room were on.
Xing Shi changed his shoes and walked in, immediately noticing someone sitting on the sofa.
Fu Xiuning was dressed in loungewear, exuding a gentle aura under the soft lighting. He was less distant than usual, appearing more grounded and real.
He was casually scrolling through his phone but looked up when he heard the door open. With his usual mild tone, he greeted, “You’re back?”
Xing Shi hummed in response and walked over.
As the distance closed, a familiar system prompt sounded in his mind.
【Didi】
[Current Favorability Value: -4]
It had dropped back to -5 at lunch and now had climbed up again by evening.
Xing Shi ignored it and curiously observed the rarely-seen relaxed side of Fu Xiuning. “Why are you still up?”
Fu Xiuning put away his phone. “You’re the one coming back late. How did you get home?”
“Shared bike,” Xing Shi replied.
Fu Xiuning frowned slightly. “Do you need a driver? Qi Changyi is covering the salaries, after all.”
Xing Shi shook his head. “No need. I’m just a trainee—having a driver would be too excessive.”
He thought for a moment before suggesting, “Why don’t I get an electric scooter? I saw some students riding those at school—they look pretty nice. I’ll buy two helmets, and we can go for a ride sometime.”
Fu Xiuning flatly refused to entertain the mental image and simply stood up. “Go to bed early.”
It was Xing Shi’s second night staying here, and his sleep quality was even better than the first.
The environment was quiet—unlike in an apartment or dormitory, where various noises could wake him up.
Since both of them had morning classes, they left for school together after breakfast.
This was Xing Shi’s first appearance on campus with his new hair color, and he attracted plenty of attention along the way.
As soon as they stepped into the classroom, the excited reactions from classmates erupted into loud gasps and cheers. Everyone was familiar with each other by now, so they didn’t bother holding back their excitement.
A few of his roommates—who had once dramatically declared they wanted to “have his babies”—stared at him in awe. “You really look like a full-fledged idol now.”
Xing Shi grinned and took his seat beside them. “Mainly because I’m good-looking.”
His roommates laughed and playfully cursed at him, but none of them denied it.
Despite the occasional glances from his classmates, Xing Shi calmly finished his morning class. Then, he received a message from Lin Kecheng, asking to meet.
He agreed without hesitation and asked the system, “After he checked my favorability score last time, he only replied with a ‘congratulations’? Nothing else?”
The system confirmed, “Yeah. Do you think he believed it?”
“We’ll find out soon,” Xing Shi replied.
Lin Kecheng hadn’t had a peaceful moment since that day.
After deciding to target Xing Shi, his first move was to have the system investigate the people around him to find anyone he could manipulate. Instead, he discovered that Xing Shi was the son of He Fengbo.
Previously, when they had researched Qi Changyi, they had also uncovered Qi Changyi’s connection to He Fengbo. The two had never publicized their relationship, and even the media was unaware. Lin Kecheng had initially planned to use this information to his advantage—perhaps by subtly playing one side against the other.
Yet, before he could even make a move, the situation flipped on him.
Based on this revelation, Qi Changyi could technically be considered Xing Shi’s cousin. While the data indicated Xing Shi had conflicts with He Fengbo, the key issue was that the person occupying this body wasn’t the original owner—it was a time traveler!
Lin Kecheng completely lost it.
All the connections, status, and privileges he had struggled to obtain were things Xing Shi had effortlessly acquired by sheer luck.
With a twisted laugh, he muttered, “So much for ‘random.’ Really, what a joke.”
The system was equally shocked. “How could he have such a background?”
Lin Kecheng sneered. “Has the main system already picked a winner, and we’re all just fighting for second place?”
The system protested, “That’s impossible! All hosts have the same chance!”
Lin Kecheng snapped back, “With looks and background like his, you’re telling me we have the same chance?”
The system faltered, struggling for a rebuttal. After a few seconds, it hesitated and muttered, “But… but he’s a fool!”
Lin Kecheng suddenly calmed down.
Sensing his shift, the system quickly continued, “Not only is he stupid, but he also has amnesia. He’s not as smart as you. If we take advantage of that, we can make him work for us and turn him into an asset.”
Lin Kecheng mulled over it for a moment before responding, “You’re right.”
The system sighed in relief and analyzed, “Fu Xiuning must already know his identity—his favorability value returning to -5 proves it. We can use Xing Shi to get closer to Qi Changyi. Do you still want to target Fu Xiuning?”
Lin Kecheng didn’t even hesitate. “Why not?”
“My ultimate goal is Fu Xiuning. First, I need to see if he treats Xing Shi differently from others—then we’ll decide our next move.”
The system had just spent time convincing him to stay rational, so it had no choice but to agree. “Alright.”
Lin Kecheng and Xing Shi met at a campus coffee shop.
It was the same one where Xing Shi and Fu Xiuning had shared dessert before.
When Xing Shi walked in, Lin Kecheng was already seated. He waved at him in a friendly manner and gestured for him to place an order.
In keeping with his established persona of being naïve and lacking social awareness, Xing Shi always let Lin Kecheng pay when they met.
Without hesitation, he went to the counter, ordered a latte and a small cake, and then sat across from him on the sofa.
Lin Kecheng took a close look at his new appearance and couldn’t help but feel a surge of jealousy. If I had these conditions, my favorability value wouldn’t be stuck at -5.
Xing Shi caught the fleeting envy in his expression, but since Lin Kecheng quickly composed himself, he asked with an innocent tone, “The alliance hasn’t expired yet, so what did you want to talk about, senior?”
Lin Kecheng replied, “I was also at the roadshow on Saturday.”
Xing Shi feigned surprise. “Really? Then why didn’t you come say hello? Fu Xiuning was there too.”
Lin Kecheng explained, “I saw you two arrived together, and I got the feeling that he’s interested in you. So I checked your background.”
He sighed, appearing helpless. “Junior, we’re allies. You need to share information with me so I can help strategize for you. If I had known about your connection to Qi Changyi earlier, I could’ve helped you come up with several plans to win over Fu Xiuning—and maybe even arranged for myself to work at the company, making it easier for us to collaborate.”
He put on a disappointed look and sighed again. “The other hosts are all watching us closely. They’ve been here longer, so of course we need to act as quickly as possible. Just think of how many opportunities you’ve already wasted.”
Xing Shi refused to fall for this emotional manipulation and instead said naively, “But Qi Changyi and I don’t have a good relationship.”
He continued, “Look carefully—my conflict with my dad affected my stepmother. Qi Changyi actually dislikes me. Every day when I go to the company, I’m always on edge, afraid of running into him.”
Feigning anxiety, he added, “You don’t even know what he said at dinner that night! He offered to take me on variety shows and even help me act in movies. At first, I thought he was being nice, but then my system reminded me—what if he just wants to isolate me so he can punish me?”
Of course, this was a complete fabrication.
At first, he and his system had worried Qi Changyi might be hostile, but after observing him over two days, it was clear he had no ill intentions.
However, Lin Kecheng tended to project his own scheming mindset onto others, so he immediately assumed the system’s analysis was correct.
Seizing the moment, he lectured, “Then you should have told me so I could help you neutralize the threat.”
Xing Shi put on a guilty look. “I was afraid senior would think I was dragging him down.”
Then he changed the subject. “But it was a blessing in disguise! I complained that I wasn’t getting enough rest, and Qi Changyi used that as an excuse to invite me to live with him. Then, because my dad was there, Fu Xiuning politely offered as well. His tone sounded pretty half-hearted, but I didn’t care whether he was sincere or not—I agreed on the spot!”
Lin Kecheng’s smile froze. “What?”
Xing Shi beamed. “I already moved in! Fu Xiuning set me up in a guest room near the entrance, with the living room separating our rooms. I leave early and come back late, so I don’t see him often. But it’s fine! I’ll find ways to spend more time with him!”
Lin Kecheng clenched his fists but forced a polite smile. “That’s… great.”
Xing Shi happily agreed, “Right?!”
At that moment, the waiter brought their coffee and dessert.
Lin Kecheng downed his coffee like he was being tortured, then quickly made up an excuse and left.
Xing Shi, still eating his dessert, remained seated.
The system asked, “Why did he call you here today? Just to scold you?”
Xing Shi chuckled. “Obviously. He wanted me to realize my ‘mistakes’ and be more obedient.”
The system was unimpressed. Naïve. If I can’t even control my host, how does he expect to control you?
It then voiced a concern, “He knows about your background now. If you ever have a falling out, won’t he get angry and expose you? That’s why I said you shouldn’t have allied with him in the first place! Otherwise, no one would’ve suspected that you’re a host.”
Xing Shi remained calm. “That’s why I told him I moved in with Fu Xiuning. I’m too valuable—he has to put up with it, no matter how pissed off he gets.”
The system wasn’t convinced. “But what if he sees your favorability score rising, realizes he’s no match for you, and joins forces with the others to take you down?”
Xing Shi’s lips curled into a smile. “That would be perfect. I could wipe them all out at once. Then we win, right?”
The system: “???”
Meanwhile, Lin Kecheng and his system were also discussing Xing Shi.
The system still believed that as long as Xing Shi lived with Fu Xiuning, he could be useful. Whether Fu Xiuning truly favored him or not, they could observe and take their time. There was no need to act rashly.
But Lin Kecheng refused to listen. He admitted that he was just jealous and wanted to teach that idiot a lesson.
Ever since they met, he had been repeatedly provoked and humiliated by that fool. He had to do something about it—Xing Shi wouldn’t even suspect him anyway.
“I don’t care if my plan to recruit him failed. I can accept that,” he said coldly. “But I refuse to just let this slide. He needs to learn his place.”
The system, knowing its host had a petty streak and was already mentally unstable, didn’t argue. “Fine. What do you want to do?”
Lin Kecheng smirked. “Don’t worry, I won’t get my hands dirty. Scan the trainees again—find me someone who dislikes him.”
The system ran a quick check. “There are people who aren’t fond of him, but because of Fu Xiuning, no one dares to act against him.”
Lin Kecheng wasn’t satisfied. He thought for a moment before asking, “I heard them talking about a talent show. The spots are limited. Is he on the list?”
The system checked. Coincidentally, something had changed that day.
The list had been finalized, but that morning, the director team visited June Culture and specifically requested Xing Shi.
The trainees were already gossiping in their private group chat, wondering if he would be added or if he would take someone else’s spot.
Lin Kecheng smirked as he pulled out his phone. “What do they call this? Delivering a pillow when you’re feeling sleepy.”
The system watched him type and cautiously advised, “Just try it out this time. If it doesn’t work, let it go, okay?”
Lin Kecheng, in a much better mood after chatting in the group chat, relented, “Alright.”
Although he was making moves in secret, he still wasn’t satisfied. “If only you could manipulate public opinion online, the chances of success would be even higher.”
Unfortunately, the system could only retrieve information—it couldn’t directly interfere in small actions like this. He had to do everything himself.
The system reminded him, “I can upgrade, as long as you gain enough favorability points.”
Lin Kecheng was confident. “I will.”
Xing Shi was halfway through his dessert when he received a message from Fu Xiuning, asking for his location.
He sent the name of the coffee shop, and soon after, a call came in.
Fu Xiuning asked, “Are you done?”
Xing Shi replied, “Almost. I’ll be heading back to the company soon for training and then back to class in the afternoon.”
Fu Xiuning said, “Wait for me by the roadside. I’ll drive over and take you back.”
Xing Shi remembered that Fu Xiuning had said in the morning that he had two morning classes, so he shouldn’t be leaving until noon. Feeling puzzled, he ended the call, finished the rest of his dessert, and walked outside.
When he got into the car, he found out the reason.
“The director contacted you?” he asked. “Didn’t I reject them yesterday?”
Fu Xiuning replied, “He’s persistent.”
Xing Shi frowned. “Can you reject him again for me?”
Fu Xiuning said, “I did, but he insists on a meeting. You should at least hear him out.”
Xing Shi was curious. “Is he that influential?”
Fu Xiuning explained, “Yes, he specializes in variety shows. He’s produced several hit programs and has quite the reputation.”
That’s why he had decided to return to the company early.
After all, he planned to send several batches of hosts into the industry to earn money in the future, and they would inevitably participate in variety shows. Maintaining a good relationship with this director might be beneficial.
As soon as they arrived at the company, they headed straight to the reception room.
Director Wei and his assistant had been waiting. When they saw Fu Xiuning and Xing Shi walk in, their eyes lit up.
The director had just heard from June Culture that the boss himself was escorting Xing Shi back, but he still double-checked, “This is Mr. Fu, correct?”
Fu Xiuning nodded slightly. “Director Wei.”
Director Wei took a deep breath. He glanced at Fu Xiuning, then at Xing Shi, and suddenly had the urge to sign both of them. Just standing on stage, they could drive fans into a frenzy.
But he knew the boss wouldn’t agree, so he set that thought aside, shook hands with Fu Xiuning, and turned to Xing Shi with a warm smile. “Xing Shi, right? We finally meet in person.”
The talent show had already selected its candidates well in advance. However, since June Culture’s first batch of trainees had already debuted, the show needed fresh faces from their newer trainees, so their submissions had been delayed.
When Xing Shi and his group first went viral, the production team had taken notice, assuming that he would be one of the company’s top picks. But when his name didn’t appear on the list, they were surprised.
From the moment Director Wei saw Xing Shi, he knew the young man would generate buzz. If luck was on their side, he could even become the highlight of the show. Naturally, they didn’t want to miss this opportunity, so they had come today with full sincerity.
But June Culture emphasized respecting the artists’ personal choices, so Director Wei had to persuade Xing Shi in person.
Sitting across from them, Xing Shi listened patiently and then said politely, “Sorry, I have no interest.”
Director Wei’s smile stiffened slightly. “Are you concerned about something?”
Xing Shi responded, “I just started as a trainee. I don’t know anything yet.”
Director Wei reassured him, “That’s okay! There will be training before the show begins. We’ve scouted a lot of people this time, including complete newcomers. Many of them don’t have any experience either.”
Xing Shi remained firm. “No.”
Director Wei pressed on, “We can negotiate your contract terms. I can offer the highest guaranteed income and make sure you stay in the competition until the end.”
Xing Shi still refused. “No.”
Director Wei studied him for a moment before trying a different approach. “Are there any conditions? If so, feel free to bring them up. You can even invite a friend to participate with you—we can discuss everything.”
Xing Shi blinked. “Anything?”
Seeing a glimmer of hope, Director Wei immediately nodded. “Yes! Just name it.”
Xing Shi pointed at Fu Xiuning. “If he goes, I’ll go too.”
Director Wei: “???”
Fu Xiuning: “…”
Everyone else in the room: “???”
Director Wei had initially wanted to sign Fu Xiuning anyway, so he turned to him for confirmation. But when Fu Xiuning simply gave him a calm, unreadable look, Director Wei turned back to Xing Shi and asked cautiously, “Can I ask why?”
Xing Shi replied seriously, “He’s my brother. I feel safer when he’s around.”
Director Wei internally thought, Oh, so that’s why.
He had wondered why the company didn’t seem to have much authority over a single trainee. So that’s the connection!
Still unwilling to give up, Director Wei reasoned, “Your brother is the boss—he’s very busy. And what if he never debuts? Would that mean you won’t debut either?”
Xing Shi explained, “I’ll debut when I feel ready. Right now, my skills aren’t strong enough. If I perform poorly, people will criticize me. My fans won’t accept it, and they’ll start arguing with the haters. Your show is popular, so no one will care about my suffering. But if my brother is there, and we get criticized together, I’ll feel better. If he’s not there, I’ll feel lonely.”
Director Wei: “…”
Everyone else: “…”
What kind of sibling loyalty is this?
Fu Xiuning immediately knew that he was being used as a shield.
Tilting his head slightly, he said, “Alright, enough stalling. Go back to class.”
Xing Shi obediently bid his farewells and left the reception room, feeling relaxed.
When he stepped into the practice room, all eyes were on him. He guessed that the news had already spread and calmly walked to the back of the line.
This was the last class before lunch.
After class, he headed upstairs to the cafeteria with Feng Zifan and the others, as usual.
They always took the stairs since the elevator was usually too crowded.
Feng Zifan climbed two steps ahead, glanced at Xing Shi’s composed expression, and couldn’t hold back his curiosity. “I heard Director Wei was here?”
Xing Shi nodded. “Yeah.”
Feng Zifan asked, “Was he really here for you?”
Xing Shi confirmed, “Yep.”
Feng Zifan couldn’t help but hiss in amazement.
He wanted to ask more, but when he noticed the upperclassmen ahead slowing down, he decided to wait until there were fewer people around before continuing.
Lunch was quiet. Though many people around them were eager to hear gossip, they were tactful enough not to interrupt. No one brought up the topic, and they simply finished their meal before heading downstairs as usual.
Feng Zifan was just about to continue their earlier conversation when laughter and playful scolding echoed from behind.
With a resigned sigh, he gave up once again and continued walking down the stairs—until a startled voice suddenly exclaimed, “Oh shit!”
One of the people playing around lost his balance, stumbled forward, and crashed into Yu Yi.
Yu Yi, caught off guard, was pushed straight into Xing Shi.
Xing Shi had just finished eating and was slightly sluggish. His right foot was about to land on the next step when Yu Yi’s impact threw him off balance.
Even so, the reaction ability honed from years in high-risk environments was no joke. In an instant, he instinctively shifted his weight, pushed off with his left foot, and skipped two steps downward. At the same time, he turned swiftly and caught Yu Yi by the shoulders, steadying him. The entire process took less than three seconds.
Feng Zifan, walking beside them, had no time to react. Only after everything was over did he hurriedly reach out to support Yu Yi.
Seeing this, Xing Shi let go and lifted his gaze toward the people above.
The person who had stumbled hurriedly grabbed the handrail to steady himself. Seeing that he had knocked into others, he quickly ran down the stairs.
The two who had been playing alongside him also rushed forward, apologizing repeatedly:
“Sorry, sorry! We were just fooling around and weren’t paying attention. Are you guys okay?”
Yu Yi rubbed his nose, his eyes slightly red—on the verge of tears but holding back.
Xing Shi was unharmed, and Feng Zifan had been unaffected. The others quickly gathered around Yu Yi in concern. Once they confirmed that he was fine, they collectively sighed in relief and apologized once more.
The small commotion passed quickly.
Xing Shi went to the third-floor lounge and sprawled onto the sofa with practiced ease.
Feng Zifan sat beside him, sneaking glances at him every now and then.
Xing Shi noticed and asked lazily, “What do you want to say?”
Feng Zifan hesitated before touching his nose. “I swear I’m not trying to stir up drama, but… don’t you think that was a little too much of a coincidence?”
Xing Shi had already noticed that two of the guys from earlier had been avoiding eye contact. He wasn’t surprised by Feng Zifan’s words and played along, “What coincidence?”
Feng Zifan leaned in slightly. “Gu Zheng was one of the guys messing around just now, and the one who bumped into Yu Yi was his roommate. Gu Zheng is also ranked last on the company’s nomination list for the talent show. If someone were to be replaced… it’d be him.”
He unlocked his phone, pulled up a group chat, and passed it over. “Did you even check your messages?”
Xing Shi took the phone and saw a familiar name.
Lin Kecheng.
Lin Kecheng: [I heard there’s going to be a talent show. Are you guys in?]
Trainee A: [Yeah, I am.]
Trainee B: [Me too, but not all of us made it.]
Lin Kecheng: [Congrats! Now I can brag that I know a future star. I’ll rally people to support you.]
Trainee C: [Thanks, senior!]
Trainee D: [We’ll vote for each other too!]
Lin Kecheng: [By the way, getting selected is great and all, but don’t push yourselves too hard. Sometimes when I watch movies, I feel sad when a contestant has to withdraw last-minute because of an ‘unexpected accident’… it’s such a tragic cliché.]
Trainee E: [Hahaha, yeah, it really sucks.]
Lin Kecheng: [So be careful, okay? Take care of yourselves and don’t overdo it.]
Xing Shi raised an eyebrow.
Feng Zifan scoffed. “Senior Lin just made that comment, and now something like this happens to you?”
He paused, then added, “Or maybe word got out that Director Wei came specifically for you. Lin Kecheng’s message wasn’t long ago, and these guys got inspired… Of course, that’s just my malicious speculation.”
Yu Yi sniffled and mumbled, “B-But… wouldn’t it be too obvious? They’re personally involved. They’d definitely be suspected.”
Feng Zifan chuckled. “Yeah, but think about it—who in their right mind would dare mess with Xing Shi when the boss himself backs him up? Gu Zheng had to do it himself.”
He continued, “Maybe they wanted to make it look too obvious on purpose. Like, ‘Come on, everyone knows this would be suspicious. Clearly, it was just an accident.’ That way, if we accuse them, we’ll seem unreasonable for making baseless claims.”
Yu Yi was still skeptical. “But… but they don’t even know if Xing Shi accepted the talent show invite.”
Feng Zifan shrugged. “Maybe they panicked. Everyone knows Director Wei is persistent. And Gu Zheng? He’s older than all of us. He worked his way up, but his abilities are just average. If he doesn’t make it this year, he’ll get overshadowed by younger trainees next year. His debut chances will only get worse. I’ve said before—the trainee survival rate is brutal. The competition is tougher than you think.”
He turned to Xing Shi. “Anyway, be careful these next few days. By the way… are you actually going to the talent show?”
Xing Shi answered without hesitation, “No.”
Feng Zifan relaxed. “That’s good. Once word gets out, this mess should settle down.”
Xing Shi hummed in response and returned the phone.
Feng Zifan didn’t doubt Lin Kecheng at all—understandably so. From his perspective, there was no way Lin Kecheng could’ve known Director Wei would suddenly show up and ask for Xing Shi.
But Xing Shi knew better. Lin Kecheng had a system. He had access to all kinds of information. And Xing Shi had already personally witnessed him manipulate Shao Jianbai into stabbing someone.
It seems he’s still unhappy with me and wants to cause trouble.
Technically, Lin Kecheng hadn’t directly tried to harm him—at most, this was just a test, which didn’t violate their agreement.
But Xing Shi decided it was time to strike back.
He called out to his system, “When does my alliance with Lin Kecheng expire?”
System: “Tomorrow afternoon at 2:43.”
Xing Shi smirked. “Perfect.”
The system hesitated. “Shouldn’t you be more focused on dealing with those trainees? Are you just going to let this slide?”
Xing Shi scoffed. “Of course not.”
The system perked up. “Whatever you’re planning, I’m in!”
Xing Shi’s plan was simple.
He pulled out his phone and sent a message to Fu Xiuning.
Xing Shi: [Brother, I think someone is trying to set me up.]
Fu Xiuning: [?]
Xing Shi: [Help me check the surveillance footage.]
Not the hallway cameras—those wouldn’t show much.
Instead, he requested footage from the cafeteria before the incident.
When he saw Gu Zheng glance at their group as they left, then immediately get up and follow, it was obvious.
“His roommate is close to him,” Xing Shi observed. “That’s why he dared to take the risk.”
Fu Xiuning skimmed through the footage and said nothing. He simply motioned for Xing Shi to finish lunch.
Later that afternoon, when work resumed, Fu Xiuning made a call to the training department.
“Send me Class 1’s ranking list.”
After confirming that Gu Zheng’s roommate wasn’t ranked directly behind him, he made a casual decision.
“Swap them out.”
The instructor hesitated and asked tentatively, “Uh… is something wrong?”
Fu Xiuning smiled faintly. “No. I’m just happy.”
Fu Xiuning curved his lips slightly. “Privately have someone fill out the form and submit the revised list, then announce it on the final day.”
The teacher’s heart skipped a beat.
If the change was only revealed the day before entering the training camp—when Gu Zheng had already assumed everything was settled, with his luggage packed and his mind at ease—he would lose it.
She was now certain that something was definitely going on, but she didn’t dare ask any further questions. She simply nodded and left.
Xing Shi returned to school for his afternoon class, then went back to the company and trained until evening as usual.
Feng Zifan and Yu Yi had been waiting for news since noon. They knew Fu Xiuning had investigated the incident, but with no updates so far, they finally whispered, “What did the boss say?”
Xing Shi replied, “Told me not to worry about it.”
Feng Zifan pressed, “And then?”
Thinking about Fu Xiuning’s questionable moral character, Xing Shi smirked, “Just wait.”
Regardless of Fu Xiuning’s personal stance, Qi Changyi was around. There was no way Fu Xiuning would let this matter slide.
Before leaving, Xing Shi waved, “Still not going back to the apartment tonight.”
As expected, Fu Xiuning was once again sitting in the living room playing with his phone.
He greeted Xing Shi as usual when he walked in.
Xing Shi plopped down beside him, curiosity getting the better of him. “Brother, how did you handle it?”
Fu Xiuning replied casually, “Replaced him.”
Xing Shi raised an eyebrow. “But I haven’t heard anything.”
Fu Xiuning smiled. “It’ll be announced on the last day.”
Yes, Xing Shi thought, that’s exactly the kind of thing Fu Xiuning would do.
Satisfied, he changed the subject. “Are you busy tomorrow afternoon?”
Fu Xiuning replied, “I’ll mostly be in the company.”
Xing Shi named a specific time. “No meetings then, right?”
Fu Xiuning glanced at him. “No. Why?”
Xing Shi leaned in slightly. “Wait for my signal. Once I text you ‘class is over,’ call me.”
Fu Xiuning narrowed his eyes. “What for?”
Xing Shi grinned. “If you’re unsure whether something will go smoothly, it’s best to keep it secret.”
The next afternoon, Xing Shi arrived at school well-rested and full of energy.
After class, he called Lin Kecheng. “Senior, I want to renew the contract.”
The night before, Lin Kecheng had the system check Xing Shi’s status. He had learned that Xing Shi had rejected Director Wei’s offer and that the trainees were already talking about it.
Like them, he had clicked his tongue in disappointment.
But after his little secret maneuver, he felt much better—so he didn’t delay renewing the contract and arrived at the meeting spot without hesitation.
He waited at the entrance of the teaching building for a while, but Xing Shi didn’t show. Eventually, he called him.
Xing Shi answered immediately. “Senior, I’m still finishing up something in the classroom, so I might be a little late. Why don’t you just come up?”
Lin Kecheng had no objections and headed upstairs.
Meanwhile, Xing Shi had the system track Lin Kecheng’s location in real-time.
As soon as he saw the other party enter the stairwell, he stood up, holding a book in one hand while fiddling with his phone in the other.
He looked up, spotted Lin Kecheng, and smiled. “I’m done. Just let me reply to this message real quick.”
Lin Kecheng nodded and turned to head back downstairs.
Xing Shi followed one step behind and sent three simple words to Fu Xiuning.
Two seconds later, his phone rang.
He answered in an exaggeratedly cheerful voice, “Hello, Boss~”
Fu Xiuning hummed in response.
Lin Kecheng, walking ahead, froze upon hearing Fu Xiuning’s name.
But Xing Shi didn’t stop.
Instead, he crashed directly into him.
Lin Kecheng instantly lost his balance. He instinctively reached for the nearby handrail—only for Xing Shi to stumble theatrically and knock his outstretched arm aside.
Lin Kecheng’s hand missed the railing entirely.
Completely off balance, his survival instincts kicked in, and he grabbed the closest person—Xing Shi.
Xing Shi didn’t even try to dodge.
He let out a bloodcurdling scream and fell down the stairs with him.
The fall happened fast, but Xing Shi handled the entire process with ease.
At the last moment, just as Lin Kecheng crashed onto the buffer platform, Xing Shi pushed down hard.
A sharp, agonized scream rang out.
“AHHHH——!!!”
Fu Xiuning, still on the phone: “…”
Xing Shi ignored him and groaned dramatically as he picked himself up. “Oww… Senior, are you okay?”
Then, rubbing his arm, he accused Lin Kecheng. “Why’d you stop so suddenly? You pulled me down with you!”
Lin Kecheng’s face had turned deathly pale from the pain. His lips trembled, but he said nothing.
Xing Shi inspected his arm with a frown. “Ugh, it’s gonna bruise…”
Halfway through his sentence, he noticed Lin Kecheng lying completely motionless.
Immediately, he squatted down in feigned panic.
“Senior? Senior?! Say something! Don’t scare me!”
He grabbed his phone and urgently told Fu Xiuning, “Boss, Senior Lin isn’t responding! He might be dying! I have to go—remember to ask the teacher for leave for me! Senior, hold on—!”
Fu Xiuning: “…”
It was right at the end of class.
With so many students passing by, the commotion quickly attracted a huge crowd.
An ambulance arrived shortly after, and Lin Kecheng was rushed to the hospital.
Xing Shi followed, wearing a perfectly concerned expression the entire ride.
He watched as Lin Kecheng was wheeled into the emergency room, then wheeled back out, looking utterly miserable.
Xing Shi felt immense satisfaction.
Good. Just lie there quietly and be a well-behaved little patient.
During this time, Fu Xiuning called to ask for the hospital address and soon arrived in person.
When he walked into the ward, he saw Lin Kecheng’s right foot suspended in a cast.
Broken. Badly broken.
It was still in the initial stabilization phase. Surgery and metal plates would be needed next. Recovery would take months, meaning Lin Kecheng would be completely out of commission for the foreseeable future.
Fu Xiuning had overheard Lin Kecheng’s conversation with his system on Saturday and had been thinking about how to deal with him.
He hadn’t expected that just two days later, the guy would be crippled.
Upon seeing Fu Xiuning, Lin Kecheng struggled to sit up to maintain his dignity. “Senior, you came.”
Fu Xiuning’s voice remained as gentle as ever. “Lie down. Don’t move.”
He asked calmly, “What happened?”
Lin Kecheng forced a bitter smile. “I… lost my balance on the stairs.”
Fu Xiuning nodded sympathetically. “Be careful next time.”
Lin Kecheng nodded weakly, his face still ghostly pale from pain.
Xing Shi, sitting nearby, remained perfectly composed.
Inside, he was laughing his ass off.
Fu Xiuning looked at Lin Kecheng, then at Xing Shi, and took a moment to process everything.
There was nothing he didn’t understand.
Lin Kecheng had tried to set up Xing Shi.
And then, using the exact same method, Xing Shi had sent Lin Kecheng to the hospital instead.
A faint creaking sound came from the door.
At the same time, the system notification sounded:
【Didi】
[Current Favorability Value: -3]
When he realized who had entered, Fu Xiuning looked up.
Xing Shi walked in, holding a stack of medical examination reports. Upon spotting Fu Xiuning by the bed, his face instantly brightened—like he had just found his guardian.
“Boss, you’re here!”
Fu Xiuning’s eyes swept over him, deliberately assessing. His voice was gentle. “How are you? Are you hurt?”
Xing Shi answered with an easy smile, “Just a few bruises. Senior Lin took the real hit.”
Fu Xiuning nodded. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
As he spoke, his phone vibrated in his pocket. Seeing his assistant’s name on the caller ID, he said lightly, “I’ll step out and take this call.”
Exiting the ward, he walked a few paces down the hospital corridor.
Then, as soon as he was far enough—he let out a quiet chuckle.
He pressed the answer button.
The assistant’s voice came through, “Boss, the authentication results are in.”
Fu Xiuning’s amusement faded. “Where are you?”
“I’m in the hospital parking lot.”
“I’ll be right there.”
A few minutes later, Fu Xiuning met his assistant by his car.
The assistant handed him a sealed file bag.
Handwriting authentication was a meticulous process.
Normally, private institutions took up to 30 working days to complete an analysis and issue an official report. The process depended on an expert’s experience, and photocopies—like the ones Fu Xiuning had submitted—were far less ideal than original documents or high-resolution scans.
But his assistant had gotten lucky.
When he arrived at the authentication agency, he discovered that the evaluator in charge was actually his college senior. Even better—several leading experts happened to be in City Z at the time and were available to take on new cases.
And once money was involved, everything moved much faster.
Fu Xiuning accepted the file bag, then subtly gestured for the assistant to leave.
Once alone, he got into the driver’s seat, placed the envelope on his lap, and traced his fingers over the sealed edge.
His gaze lowered slightly.
Slowly, he peeled the seal open.
His eyes skimmed through the professional terminology and analysis.
Then—finally—he reached the conclusion.
Confirmed: The handwriting belonged to the same person.
