"Please sit... I actually can’t believe I have the world champion in my presence. It is an honour," said the beautiful sports reporter for a very popular TV network and streaming platform.

Qie Xieling smiled slightly as he sat opposite her. Unlike in the advertisement, he was dressed more casually with a black leather jacket with green badges and some flags.

"You praise me too much. It’s really nothing special," he said while fixing his sleeve.

"Wah, so handsome and humble too. Your girlfriend must be so lucky," she said her face looking like she wanted an answer like yesterday.

Luo Muchen stepped out of the firing range and took off the earmuffs. He called out to his subordinate to hand him his cell phone that was on the wireless charger.

But after getting no response he turned his head sharply and found that he wasn’t there. He decided to get it himself but when he opened the door, he was met with Qie Xieling’s voice and two heads pressed against each other while watching a small screen.

"What are you doing?" he asked and the two figures almost lost their souls as they yelped.

With a clatter the cell phone fell to the ground and a crack appeared. "Si-sir we uh," stammered one of them while the other was already sweating bullets.

Luo Muchen bent down and picked up the cell phone and it was at the part Qie Xieling was denying that he had a girlfriend.

The reporter was very diligent in asking questions that everybody want answered. She pulled up an image of a white t-shirt signed by Qie Xieling with a tiny heart at the end. She wasn’t afraid to ask the questions because according to the broker who facilitated this interview it was open season on Qie Xieling. As to who that broker is? Well, it was none other than the fairy godmother.

"But how about this? You signed this, didn’t you?... To everyone else it looks like love is blossoming," she said and Qie Xieling suddenly felt like this was a set-up. He glanced at Jolie who was on the other side with the cameras and couldn’t help but complain.

"Uh... it’s not like that. I just did something casual for her. She said she is my fan... that’s all."

When were they going to talk about his drifting skills or the fight with Bager? He would rather talk about that than this.

"But that’s not how you always sign for fans. They are so aggrieved that Miss Haejin got preferential treatment."

Qie Xieling, "..."

"... and you also dropped her off at her hotel after the shoot. Is it that some romance spilt over beyond the screen."

Qie Xieling, "..."

She might as well stuff an apple in her mouth and roast him. This was too embarrassing.

"Still... there is nothing between us. I was just being a gentleman. If I am really dating someone I wouldn’t hide them. I will lay claim to them and let the whole world know there are taken," he explained his voice serious his expression stern.

If Luo Muchen let him he would announce it right now. The reporter bit her lower lip her heart stirred by him. The way he said it in that voice made it difficult for anyone not to want to be that person.

"... Is there anyone in particular that you are sort of interested in?... For the sake of the bachelorettes that would like to pursue you? Is there still a chance," she finally asked but the answer was unexpected.

Qie Xieling rubbed his palms on his thighs with a sly smile showing his tiger tooth. "There is but... I think I am going to give up. They really don’t like me," he said and Jolie smiled cheekily. And there it was, the black-bellied side that could only come from Qie Ranzhe had finally reared its ugly head.

With that kind of stunt, there was no way Qie Xieling wasn’t getting attacked tonight. The snare was set and hunting season had begun.

’Just don’t drop the soap tonight,’ said Jolie and Qie Xieling’s brows furrowed.

Jolie was right. The moment Qie Xieling said that Luo Muchen’s eyes darkened. He tossed the cell phone to its owner and said, "Get back to work."

The two men, "..."

What work? They had been following him all day, that’s what work was. "Should we follow him?" asked one of the men and the taller one who loved his life shook his head no. He had no plans of dying tonight.

***

"Oh my gosh. That was so embarrassing. Did you see how she looked at me? She looked like a hungry hyena ready to pounce," complained Qie Xieling before gnawing on the turkey leg. The way he was biting it looked like he was biting off someone’s head.

Bo Ailun flinched when he saw how big that bite was. "Is he imagining that as your head?" he asked Secretary Chen and Jolie glanced down at his crotch wordlessly.

Bo Ailun covered his crotch in fear. He would rather die than lose his meat stick. He had also been dragged into this because he was the one who accepted dropping off Haejin back to her hotel on his behalf. Now everyone thought that they were dating. That picture being circulated everywhere was the nail in the coffin.

"And you... you just had to agree to take her back to the hotel. If I can’t get my man I will also hold you responsible."

Bo Ailun had never been this terrified in his entire life. "What do I do?" he asked Secretary Chan genuinely scared that that turkey leg would turn until his little brother in the next.

"Give him some wine coolers as an offering and make yourself scarce.... oh and spicy chicken wings too. He loves those," said Jolie before she turned around to leave. She didn’t want to be here when things became extra spicy.

Bo Ailun did as told and brought over two six-packs and twenty-four spicy wings from the restaurant downstairs. It was like giving offerings to a bodhisattva to quell their anger.

Qie Xieling’s anger seemed to simmer down a little as he gorged himself with little to no restraint.

While he was on the four wing the door of the apartment was knocked. Thinking it was Bo Ailun who had left something, he got up and found a familiar face standing on his doorstep.

"Uh... can I help you? You got the wrong address," he said putting on a straight face like he actually meant it. If anyone heard him say it they might truly believe that this person was lost.