After the Secrets of the Passerby Were Leaked, He Was Cherished by the Entire Family of Antagonists

To prevent Ye Leyao and Huo Yan from getting into another argument, and to ensure everyone could peacefully enjoy the drama that was about to unfold, the Huo family members quickly stood up to diffuse the situation.

“Forget it, forget it. Little Yao, don’t bother with your clueless second brother,” Huo Mom said.

“You really shouldn’t say things like that so casually,” Huo Dad whispered as he pulled Huo Yan aside. “You know how easily embarrassed Little Yao is!”

Huo Ze hurried forward, stopping Ye Leyao in his tracks. “Alright, alright. You know Big Brother hasn’t been in many relationships all these years. He’s just jealous!”

Huo Jing nodded in agreement.

Huo Yan, on the other hand, gritted his teeth in frustration. *Jealous? What would I be jealous of?* He was about to argue back, but Huo Dad cut him off. “Enough from you! Stop talking!”

Qin Yao stood up at just the right moment, taking Ye Leyao’s hand. “How about we take a walk?”

Without waiting for Ye Leyao’s agreement, he gently pulled him outside.

The hottest part of the day had passed, and the crew members who had been resting began emerging from their lounges, preparing for the afternoon shoot.

Song Zhehan and Zhang Qiran followed the pair out as well. Zhang Qiran was just about to suggest they rest in his lounge when Ye Leyao tugged at Qin Yao’s sleeve. “Over there!”

The group’s gaze followed his.

Not far from their resting area, the director and assistant director stood outside, chatting with a young man who looked like a college student.

They were too far away to hear the conversation, but it was clear from the director and assistant director’s expressions and body language that they were very satisfied with the young man.

Ye Leyao’s eyes lit up. “That’s Cao Qu!”

He didn’t even need to say it—everyone had already guessed.

Song Zhehan glanced at the young man and let out a light scoff. “He looks like a person, at least.”

Zhang Qiran sighed, rubbing his forehead. “First of all, he *is* a person…”

Song Zhehan shot Zhang Qiran a glance.

Zhang Qiran instantly stopped talking.

Ye Leyao burst into laughter.

Qin Yao wasn’t quiet when he commented, “Looks like someone’s feeling a bit territorial.”

Ye Leyao laughed even harder, nodding his head repeatedly.

*Territorial?* It was more like the entire vinegar jar had tipped over!

Just then, the director and assistant director noticed Zhang Qiran and called out, “Xiao Zhang, come over here! I’ll introduce you to someone.”

Ye Leyao, always one to enjoy the drama, mimicked Song Zhehan and Zhang Qiran’s earlier tone, letting out a playful, “Wow, they’re even going to introduce you personally!”

Zhang Qiran groaned, “Stop stirring things up!” He glanced at Song Zhehan, and immediately felt a headache coming on.

Song Zhehan didn’t seem angry at all; in fact, he even had a faint smile on his face.

Zhang Qiran was about to take a step back when Song Zhehan placed a hand on his shoulder, flashing him a seemingly kind smile. “Why are you backing away? Didn’t you hear the director calling for you? Go on.”

Zhang Qiran took a deep breath and tried to explain, “…It’s just work between us!”

He emphasized again, “*Work!*”

Song Zhehan gave an indifferent hum in response.

Zhang Qiran added, “Besides, Ye Leyao already said it! That was the previous plotline. Now, it’s not certain that he’ll fall for me at first sight!”

Song Zhehan hummed again, just as indifferently.

Zhang Qiran felt like he was punching a cloud—there was no resistance. Frustrated, he shot a glare at Song Zhehan before turning to walk away.

Ye Leyao wrinkled his nose. “Why do I smell something sour?”

Qin Yao nodded in agreement. “I smelled it earlier. It’s a strong whiff of jealousy.”

As they watched Zhang Qiran walk away, Ye Leyao looked back at Song Zhehan, only to see his face had dropped. Ye Leyao couldn’t help but laugh again. “You’re really not going?”

With his hands in his pockets, Song Zhehan didn’t even glance in Zhang Qiran’s direction, pretending to ignore Ye Leyao’s teasing.

Ye Leyao giggled as he took Qin Yao’s hand. “If you’re not going, then Qin Yao and I will.”

As they walked, Ye Leyao whispered to Qin Yao, “I’ll message Mom and Dad. Looks like Cao Qu’s interview is over, and the real drama’s about to begin…”

Ye Leyao quickly sent a message but then noticed someone following behind them.

Turning around, he saw Song Zhehan with a cold expression on his face.

“I thought you weren’t coming?” Ye Leyao teased.

Song Zhehan replied, “Who said I came for him? I’m here for the gossip.”

Ye Leyao clicked his tongue and whispered to Qin Yao, “It’s been two years, and Professor Song is still the same as ever.”

Qin Yao agreed, “Stubborn.”

Song Zhehan: “…”

“You’re not one to talk,” Song Zhehan retorted calmly.

Ye Leyao took it as a compliment and quickened his pace, dragging Qin Yao along with him.

At that moment, the rest of the Huo family saw the message and came out of the lounge as well.

The director and assistant director were only planning to introduce Cao Qu to Zhang Qiran since the two had a scene together later, and it made sense for them to meet in advance.

What they hadn’t expected was that calling Zhang Qiran over would not only bring him but also Ye Leyao, Qin Yao, Song Zhehan, and the entire Huo family.

The director knew Qin Yao, and everyone in the industry was aware of Song Zhehan and Zhang Qiran’s relationship, so their presence wasn’t surprising.

But what was the entire Huo family doing here?

Did they all want to meet Cao Qu too?

Or was Huo Jing dissatisfied with the casting choice?

The director and assistant director were both anxious.

As for Cao Qu, he was even more nervous.

Cao Qu had only been in the entertainment industry for about a year. Though he had acted in a few films, all his roles were minor, and some didn’t even have names.

This was his first chance to audition for a decent role—male lead number four—but right after he passed the audition, a whole crowd had gathered in front of him.

Unable to resist, Cao Qu cautiously observed them.

Of course, he recognized Zhang Qiran and Song Zhehan—both were famous actors and a popular couple in the industry.

Behind them stood Qin Yao. Anyone who had studied acting knew about Film Emperor Qin. As for the person standing beside him—

He looked familiar, but Cao Qu couldn’t recall his name.

But those people weren’t what mattered. What mattered were the people standing behind them!

There was Huo Yan, Huo Ze, and their eldest brother, the investor in this production—Huo Jing.

Cao Qu took a deep breath, pressing a hand over his thudding heart.

*The investor must think I’m unsuitable for the role and plans to replace me, right?*

Sweat began to bead on Cao Qu’s forehead.

Just then, Huo Jing spoke up, “Don’t mind us, carry on. We’re just here for a look around.”

Both the director and assistant director let out a sigh of relief, and Cao Qu felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

*As long as they’re not dissatisfied with the casting and don’t plan to replace me!*

The director quickly responded, “Alright, Huo Jing. Feel free to look around. I’ll take Xiao Cao to meet Ling Feng.”

Hearing this, Ye Leyao immediately tugged at Qin Yao’s hand. “We’re coming too.”

The director was confused. “?”

Qin Yao hadn’t even said anything before Huo Jing chimed in, “That would be great, thank you.”

The director: “…”

He wasn’t sure what they were up to, but with Huo Jing speaking, and Qin Yao standing right there, the director had no choice but to politely lead them all to meet Ling Feng.

Ling Feng’s first scene of the afternoon was coming up, so he was already in the makeup room getting ready.

When the director arrived with a whole group in tow, Ling Feng was startled.

After hearing the director’s explanation and introduction, Ling Feng began to understand what was going on. However—

Why were so many famous actors and big shots here just to introduce Cao Qu to him?

What kind of background did Cao Qu have?

Ling Feng couldn’t help but size up Cao Qu, who was also looking at him.

And what he saw on Cao Qu’s face was unease.

Huh???

Wait, why did Cao Qu look nervous?

Did Cao Qu not know what was going on either?

For a moment, Ling Feng’s expression became very complicated, and there was even a hint of sympathy in his eyes as he looked at Cao Qu, like two old comrades meeting on the battlefield.

Standing to the side, Ye Leyao watched their expressions and reactions, barely able to contain his laughter.

He was dying to comment.

But with the director and assistant director still present, it wasn’t the time.

To prevent Ye Leyao and Huo Yan from arguing again, and to make sure everyone could enjoy the drama they were about to witness, the Huo family quickly stood up to intervene.

"Alright, alright, Little Yao, don’t argue with your unreasonable second brother," Huo Mom said.

Huo Dad lowered his voice, pulling Huo Yan aside. "You really shouldn’t say such things so carelessly. You know how sensitive Little Yao is."

Meanwhile, Huo Ze hurriedly stepped forward to stop Ye Leyao. "Okay, okay, you know that big brother hasn’t really had any relationships in all these years. He’s just jealous!"

Huo Jing nodded in agreement. "Mm."

Huo Yan, gritting his teeth in frustration, was about to retort when Huo Dad cut him off. "Enough, say no more!"

Qin Yao also stood up at the right moment, taking Ye Leyao's hand. "Shall we go for a walk?"

Without waiting for Ye Leyao’s agreement, he gently led him out the door.

The hottest part of the day had passed, and the staff from the production crew were starting to come out of their break rooms, preparing for the afternoon shoot.

Song Zhehan and Zhang Qiran followed them out. Zhang Qiran was about to suggest they visit his lounge when Ye Leyao tugged on Qin Yao’s sleeve. "Over there!"

Everyone’s gaze followed his gesture.

Not far from their resting area was the director’s lounge. At that moment, the director and assistant director were standing at the entrance, chatting with a young man who looked like a university student.

Though they were too far to hear the conversation, the pleased expressions and body language of the director and assistant director made it clear that they were very satisfied with the young man in front of them.

Ye Leyao’s eyes lit up. "That’s Cao Qu!"

Even without Ye Leyao’s confirmation, the others had already guessed as much.

Song Zhehan glanced at the young man for a moment before sneering, "He looks like a decent person."

Zhang Qiran face-palmed. "Well, of course, he's a person..."

Song Zhehan shot Zhang Qiran a cold look.

Zhang Qiran immediately went quiet.

Ye Leyao couldn’t hold back his laughter.

Qin Yao spoke up, loud enough for everyone to hear. "Seems like someone’s really bothered by this."

Ye Leyao nodded enthusiastically, laughing. "Bothered? He’s already resorting to personal attacks. Looks like the jealousy’s spilling over."

At that moment, the director and assistant director noticed Zhang Qiran and called out, "Xiao Zhang, come over, I’d like to introduce someone to you."

Ye Leyao loved a bit of excitement and, mimicking Song Zhehan and Zhang Qiran’s earlier tone, chimed in, "Wow, they’re even introducing you personally!"

Zhang Qiran, exasperated, replied, "Stop making it worse!" Then he glanced at Song Zhehan and immediately felt a headache coming on.

Song Zhehan didn’t appear angry; in fact, there was even a faint smile on his face.

Just as Zhang Qiran was about to take a step back, Song Zhehan placed a hand on his shoulder, giving him a friendly smile. "Why are you hesitating? Didn’t you hear the director calling you? Go on over."

Zhang Qiran took a deep breath and explained, "It’s just work between us, nothing more!"

He emphasized once more, "Work!"

Song Zhehan responded indifferently with a hum of acknowledgment.

Zhang Qiran added, "Besides, as Ye Leyao said, that was just part of the original storyline. It doesn’t mean he’ll still fall for me today!"

Song Zhehan again responded with the same indifference.

Feeling as if his words were falling on deaf ears, Zhang Qiran glared at Song Zhehan before turning and walking toward the director.

Ye Leyao sniffed dramatically. "Why do I smell something sour?"

Qin Yao nodded in agreement. "I smelled it earlier. Such a strong whiff of jealousy."

Watching Zhang Qiran’s retreating figure, Ye Leyao looked back at Song Zhehan, only to see his face darkening. Unable to hold back his laughter, Ye Leyao asked, "You’re really not going to join him?"

With his hands in his pockets, Song Zhehan didn’t spare a glance in Zhang Qiran’s direction and refused to acknowledge Ye Leyao’s teasing.

Ye Leyao, grinning, grabbed Qin Yao’s hand. "Well, if you’re not going, Qin Yao and I will."

As they walked, Ye Leyao sent a quick message to his parents. "It looks like Cao Qu’s audition is wrapping up, so the drama should be starting soon…"

After sending the message, he suddenly realized someone was following them.

Turning around, he saw Song Zhehan, his face still cold, trailing behind.

"Didn’t you say you weren’t coming?" Ye Leyao asked, amused.

Song Zhehan replied, "I’m not here for him. I’m here to enjoy the drama with you."

Ye Leyao clicked his tongue and leaned toward Qin Yao, whispering, "Two years have passed, but Professor Song is still the same as ever."

Qin Yao, with a sharp remark, added, "Stubborn."

Song Zhehan: "..."

"You’re not much better yourself," Song Zhehan retorted coolly.

Ye Leyao took that as a compliment and hurried ahead with Qin Yao.

The rest of the Huo family, having received Ye Leyao’s message, also emerged from the resting area.

The director and assistant director were simply planning to introduce Cao Qu to Zhang Qiran, since they had a scene together later, and it wouldn’t hurt for them to meet beforehand.

But what they hadn’t expected was that by calling Zhang Qiran over, they would end up attracting not just him but also Ye Leyao, Qin Yao, Song Zhehan, and the entire Huo family.

The director was familiar with Qin Yao, and Song Zhehan’s relationship with Zhang Qiran was well-known in the industry, so their presence wasn’t surprising.

But why had the entire Huo family come along too?

Were they all here to meet Cao Qu?

Or was Huo Jing unhappy with the casting choices?

Both the director and assistant director were nervous and anxious.

As for Cao Qu, he was even more flustered.

Cao Qu was just a relatively new actor, having only been in the industry for about a year. Although he had appeared in a few films, his roles were mostly minor, with some not even having names.

This time, he had finally gotten a good opportunity to audition for the fourth male lead in a film. But just as he passed the audition, a large group of people suddenly appeared in front of him.

Unable to help himself, Cao Qu began cautiously scrutinizing them.

He easily recognized Zhang Qiran and Song Zhehan, both popular stars and a couple well-known in the industry.

Behind them stood Qin Yao—the legendary actor whose name was known to every performing arts student. But the man next to him...

He looked familiar, but Cao Qu couldn’t quite remember his name.

However, none of them mattered as much as the people standing behind them.

There was Huo Yan, Huo Ze, and their older brother, Huo Jing—the investor behind the very project he had just auditioned for.

Cao Qu took a deep breath and clutched his chest, feeling his heart pound in panic.

Was the investor dissatisfied with him and planning to replace him?

Beads of sweat began to form on Cao Qu’s forehead.

At that moment, Huo Jing spoke, "No need to worry about us. We’re just here to look around."

Both the director and assistant director visibly relaxed, and Cao Qu sighed in relief.

So they weren’t unhappy with the casting and weren’t planning to replace him.

The director quickly added, "Alright, feel free to look around. I’ll take Cao to meet Ling Feng now."

Upon hearing this, Ye Leyao immediately tugged on Qin Yao’s hand. "Let’s go too."

The director: "?"

Before Qin Yao could respond, Huo Jing added, "Please, go ahead."

The director: "..."

Though he had no idea what their intentions were, with Huo Jing giving the green light and Qin Yao present, the director had no choice but to lead the group to Ling Feng.

Ling Feng’s first scene of the afternoon was about to start, so he was already in the makeup room getting ready.

When he saw the director leading such a large group into the makeup room, Ling Feng was taken aback.

After hearing the director’s explanation and introductions, Ling Feng understood the situation. However, he couldn’t help but wonder...

Why had so many big-name actors and important figures shown up just to introduce Cao Qu to him?

What was Cao Qu’s background?

Ling Feng couldn’t help but size up Cao Qu, who was also looking back at him.

And then Ling Feng saw the unease on Cao Qu’s face.

Huh???

Wait, why was Cao Qu so nervous?

Did even he not know what was going on?

For a brief moment, Ling Feng’s expression became particularly complex, and his gaze toward Cao Qu softened, as if they were kindred spirits encountering each other in the chaotic world of the makeup room.

From the sidelines, Ye Leyao observed their expressions with great amusement.

He nearly burst out laughing and desperately wanted to make a comment.

But since the director and assistant director were present, Ye Leyao

 held back his laughter and came up with another idea.

The next moment, a familiar voice echoed in the minds of the Huo family, Qin Yao, and even Song Zhehan and Zhang Qiran.

**Ye Leyao**: *No wonder Tang Yan was interested in both of them. Their brainwaves are totally in sync right now.*

Hearing Ye Leyao’s inner thoughts, the entire Huo family couldn’t suppress their smiles, a mix of nostalgia and amusement filling their faces.

And honestly, Ye Leyao had a point!

Both Song Zhehan and Zhang Qiran, after their initial shock, quickly composed themselves.

Since they had already accepted Ye Leyao’s identity as a system, experiencing a bit of supernatural phenomena didn’t seem all that strange anymore.

But then, Song Zhehan realized something and turned to Qin Yao. "So this is how you guys always managed to stay one step ahead of me?"

Zhang Qiran, about to ask what he meant, suddenly recalled the strange coincidences from the variety show two years ago.

His eyes widened. "So, back then, you were also..."

Qin Yao nodded.

The next moment, Ye Leyao’s inner voice echoed again: *Here he comes. Tang Yan’s here!*

Everyone immediately perked up and followed Ye Leyao’s gaze, hearing the sound of two people chatting outside the makeup room.

"You didn’t have to, bringing us gifts like this. I’m really touched…"

"Please, accept them. They’re not anything expensive. It’s just a small token of appreciation for all your hard work taking care of Feng-ge. I can’t be with him all the time, so I’m counting on you to look after him."

"Looking after Feng-ge is part of my job as his assistant, but still... Yan-ge, I’m really moved!"

Ye Leyao immediately glanced at both Ling Feng and Cao Qu.

Ling Feng, clearly recognizing Tang Yan’s voice, suddenly looked delighted.

Meanwhile, Cao Qu blinked slowly, his eyebrows furrowing. He muttered, "Wait… that sounds like my boyfriend’s voice."

His voice was so soft that it was almost impossible to hear.

Unfortunately for him, no sound could escape the watchful ears of the system overseeing everything.

Ye Leyao's lips curled up as he thought to himself, "Could it be that this is your boyfriend?"

The sound of Tang Yan talking to his assistant grew closer and closer outside the door. Then, the door handle turned from the outside, and the assistant cheerfully called out, "Feng-ge, look who's here!"

After saying that, the assistant even thoughtfully took a step back.

The Huo family members, being equally considerate, moved aside as well, clearing just enough space for both Cao Qu and Ling Feng to see the person standing at the door.

Cao Qu's eyes widened in shock—he never expected it to be Tang Yan!

Ling Feng, on the other hand, was thrilled. It had been a long time since he had seen Tang Yan. Without thinking, he stood up and was about to rush over to him when Cao Qu suddenly asked, "Tang Yan, why are you here?"

Standing in the doorway, Tang Yan was already frozen in place, utterly stunned by the sight of everyone in the room, especially Cao Qu. His lips moved, but it took him a long time to force out a response, "C-Cao Qu, you... what are you doing here?"

Ling Feng glanced at Cao Qu in confusion and then back at Tang Yan. "You two know each other?"

Cao Qu’s mind was in chaos. He had overheard the conversation between Ling Feng’s assistant and Tang Yan just now. 

Why was Tang Yan bringing a gift for Ling Feng’s assistant? And what was that about not being able to visit frequently and asking the assistant to take care of Ling Feng...? Could it be that Ling Feng was somehow related to Tang Yan?

Cao Qu asked cautiously, "You... are his...?"

Tang Yan’s pupils shrank. He quickly tried to interrupt, but Ling Feng spoke faster, saying, "He’s my boyfriend. Why do you ask?"

In the next moment, Cao Qu burst out in a near-hysterical shout, "He’s my boyfriend too!"

The volume of his voice was so loud that every word seemed to be screamed from the depths of his throat.

The room fell silent. You could hear a pin drop.

Ye Leyao watched as Tang Yan, now trembling all over, stood frozen at the door, his lips tightly pressed together, struggling to hold back laughter.

**I can’t laugh... I mustn’t laugh...**

But then the inner voice cracked:

**Hahahahahahahaha!**

Ye Leyao couldn't hold it in anymore.

Everyone else in the room seemed to be struggling just as hard not to laugh.

Ye Leyao could even feel Qin Yao’s hand gripping his own a bit tighter, his hand trembling slightly, too.

A quick glance around the room told Ye Leyao everything:

**Yep, looks like everyone is trying really hard to hold it in.**

The others shot Ye Leyao slightly resentful glances.

Ye Leyao averted his gaze at just the right moment, turning his attention back to the three people at the center of this drama.

Ling Feng felt like a whirlwind had just swept through his brain, leaving it in complete disarray. He stood motionless, staring at Cao Qu, before slowly turning back to Tang Yan. "What... what is he talking about?"

Tang Yan’s face was bright red, and he could no longer contain himself. He turned on his heel to leave.

But neither Cao Qu nor Ling Feng was about to let him go that easily.

Both of them rushed after him.

"Tang Yan! What the hell is going on?" Ling Feng shouted angrily.

Cao Qu’s eyes were bloodshot as he cried out, "You told me you were going home these past two days—was it just so you could meet up with him?"

"What exactly is your relationship with Cao Qu?" Ling Feng pressed further.

Cao Qu, eyes red and glaring at Ling Feng, shouted back, "I’ve been with you for more than a year, and this is how you treat me?"

"Tang Yan!" Ling Feng growled.

"Say something!" both of them demanded.

Ye Leyao and the others followed them out of the room, and as they listened to the confrontation, the corners of their mouths couldn’t help but twitch upwards.

**What do they expect Tang Yan to say?**

**To admit that he's been cheating on both of them—and probably seeing several other people at the same time?**

It was the middle of the afternoon, and the set was bustling with people.

Cao Qu and Ling Feng made no attempt to lower their voices, attracting countless curious glances from crew members and background actors alike. Small groups began to gather around, approaching carefully to get a closer look at the drama unfolding.

Tang Yan had originally wanted to make a quick exit, but by this point, both Cao Qu and Ling Feng had blocked his path.

With more and more people gathering to watch, Tang Yan grew increasingly frantic. "Move! Both of you, move!"

"I’ll let you go if you explain yourself!" Cao Qu shouted.

Ling Feng added, "Same here."

Tang Yan’s face turned bright red in fury. "Explain what? What’s there to explain?"

"You both have eyes and ears, don’t you? Can’t you see and hear for yourselves? The facts are right in front of you—what else do you want to know?!"

Tang Yan was clearly ready to throw in the towel.

Both Cao Qu and Ling Feng froze in shock, and even the crowd of onlookers went silent.

Wait... so, does that mean...?

The director and assistant director were completely dumbfounded.

Can you really say something like that in front of so many people?

The director was about to step in to stop the escalating situation, but Huo Jing suddenly turned and glanced at him.

The director blinked in confusion.

Huo Jing shook his head slightly, signaling to leave it be.

The director hesitated for a moment before shrugging.

**Fine, whatever you say. It’s your show.**

And so, thanks to Huo Jing’s simple shake of the head, the entire group stood by and watched this spectacle unfold for a good long while.

Cao Qu, trembling with rage after hearing Tang Yan admit to his relationship with Ling Feng, stood rooted to the spot, tears streaming down his face. "Tang Yan! How could you do this to me?! How could you?!"

Cao Qu broke into loud sobs.

Ling Feng, even angrier, shouted, "So you’ve been lying to me this whole time? Last week when I tried to see you, you told me you were too busy. Was that when you were meeting up with Cao Qu?!"

Still sobbing hysterically, Cao Qu managed to shout back through his tears, "I didn’t see Tang Yan last week!"

Tang Yan calmly interjected, "I wasn’t with him last week."

Ling Feng’s face turned purple with fury. "So there are others? How many more people have you been sneaking around with behind my back?!"

"Oh, there are plenty more!" Tang Yan shot back, fully embracing the chaos.

And so, the crowd watched as the three of them stood at the door of the dressing room, going over every detail of their tangled relationships.

The more they talked, the more hopeless Cao Qu and Ling Feng became.

As for Tang Yan, he had put on a mask and cap at some point. Once he noticed that the fury of the other two had simmered down, he simply turned on his heel and walked away.

At that point, an entire hour had passed.

Cao Qu had cried himself dry, and Ling Feng had finally broken down into sobs. "I... I treated him so well... Why did he have to betray me?!"

Cao Qu: **"..."**

**Why? He’s wondering the same thing!**

He had been with Tang Yan for so long!

And so, two heartsick, betrayed men, now united in their misery, hugged each other and sobbed loudly.

As pitiful as their situation was, their crying was a little... funny.

The crew and bystanders exchanged glances, unable to suppress their smiles.

But when a few kind-hearted onlookers stepped forward to offer comfort, it only made things worse—Cao Qu and Ling Feng immediately started crying even louder, feeling even more wronged.

By now, it was clear that the day’s filming was a total write-off, but the director and assistant director weren’t worried in the slightest. After all, the investor himself hadn’t said a word, so they weren’t in any rush. Once the show was over, the director casually waved his hand to signal the rest of the crew to disperse.

Naturally, Ye Leyao and his group also left the scene.

The show was over, the drama was resolved—there was no reason to stick around.

Once outside the set, Zhang Qiran and Song Zhehan called out to Ye Leyao and Qin Yao, "Want to grab some dinner together?"

Ye Leyao, already thinking the same, smiled. "Let’s go!"

After dinner, it was already 9 PM by the time they left the restaurant.

Zhang Qiran had filming the next day, and Song Zhehan had a schedule to follow, so despite their reluctance, they waved their goodbyes.

Just before leaving, Zhang Qiran couldn’t help but ask, "We’ll... see you again soon, right?"

Ye Leyao smiled brightly.

The warm glow of the streetlights outlined his figure, casting a soft, golden light that made his silhouette seem even gentler, his eyes sparkling with laughter.

Zhang Qiran stared, momentarily stunned.

Ye Leyao laughed and said, "I won’t be leaving anymore. If you want to meet up, just call me!"

Song Zhehan quickly nudged Zhang Qiran into the car. "We’ll be in touch. See you soon."

Ye Leyao smiled and nodded. "Yes, see you soon."

As the car doors closed, and their figures disappeared into the distance, Zhang Qiran murmured, "Compared to before, he’s really become part of our world."

Song Zhehan thought back to the time he first met the young, childlike Ye Leyao during one of the earlier resets.

After a long pause, Song Zhehan nodded. "Yes."

Not now, but long ago, he had fully become part of their world.

And it was because he understood emotions that the once emotionally oblivious little system had tried so hard to change their fate.

Leaning on Song Zhehan's shoulder, Zhang Qiran suddenly straightened up. "Ah! I forgot to thank him today!"

Song Zhehan smiled warmly as the lights outside flickered by, reflecting in his eyes.

"I already thanked him," Song Zhehan said softly.

Zhang Qiran blinked in surprise. "When?"

Without taking his eyes off the passing scenery, Song Zhehan's smile widened. "A long time ago."

Zhang Qiran gazed up at Song Zhehan’s jawline and didn’t

 ask further. After a long while, he smiled too. "In that case, I won’t say it either. He doesn’t seem to like hearing us say thank you anyway."

Song Zhehan nodded slightly.

That’s right.

They just needed to keep their gratitude in their hearts.

...

Meanwhile...

After Zhang Qiran and Song Zhehan left, Ye Leyao and Qin Yao got into their car and prepared to head home.

On the way back, Ye Leyao couldn’t help but ask, "Are you sure you don’t need to go back?"

Qin Yao knew exactly what Ye Leyao was worried about. Smiling, he shook his head. "No need."

His older brother, Qin Hongxi, was taking care of things at the company. Qin Yao had even received a message from him earlier that day, telling him to spend more time with Ye Leyao.

Reassured, Ye Leyao took out his phone, ready to browse Weibo for a while, when suddenly, a call came in.

He answered, and the voice on the other end was Huo Mom’s. "Hey, Little Yao, have you checked Weibo yet?"

"Weibo?"

"Yes, something from earlier today—when we were watching all the drama—someone recorded it and posted it online. And they... well, they happened to capture you and Little Qin in the video."

Ye Leyao put the call on speaker, and Qin Yao quickly took out his phone and opened Weibo.

The moment he opened the search page, the top trending topic caught his eye—it was labeled "爆" for breaking news, and the title read:

**Let’s Give a Warm Welcome to the Return of the Melon King**

Ye Leyao: **"..."**

**This over-the-top title—are you sure my third brother didn’t buy me this trending spot?**

Ye Leyao hung up with Huo Mom.

A second later, his phone started buzzing again.

He glanced down—it was a call from Li Siyuan.

Ye Leyao hesitated and didn’t answer.

The ringtone stopped, only for another call to come through.

This time, it was from Zhou Zijian.

Holding his buzzing phone, Ye Leyao suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of tension...