The Villain Slaps The Protagonist’s Halo - Chapter 38

Chapter 38: I'll Tell You Who's the Boss

Shi Si remained unfazed, a hint of affection twinkling in his eyes. He reached out to halt Nie Jia's attempt to tug at his collar, involuntarily kissing his fingertips. To him, Nie Jia was as endearing as a feverish child insisting on eating ice cream.

"Your waist injury hasn't healed yet. How do you expect me to proceed?" Shi Si raised an eyebrow, implying with a playful nibble on Nie Jia's knuckles, his voice carrying a tantalizing tenderness. "Knowing how much you're suffering, I ache for you. Do you think I can stand it?"

Nie Jia exhaled slowly, feeling the heat rise in his cheeks unconsciously.

Shi Si affectionately ruffled his hair, teasing, "Clearly, you're seeking affection, yet you're blushing."

"N-No..." Nie Jia felt his face growing warmer, his bright eyes darting away from Shi Si's gaze. He initially lowered his head but couldn't resist burying it in Shi Si's embrace, holding onto his neck tightly.

It was then that Shi Si realized Nie Jia's breath had also warmed up, his every exhalation tingling against Shi Si's collar.

"I really like you a lot," Nie Jia murmured shakily, hiding his face against Shi Si's shoulder.

Gently patting Nie Jia's back, Shi Si chuckled softly, "I'll never let your feelings go to waste."

Nie Jia's heart swelled with an overwhelming mix of discomfort and sweetness. His voice husky, he replied, "I know."

Nie Jia finally understood that no one, not even himself, could shake Shi Si's feelings for him.

In the afternoon, Chen Tian called to discuss the final match details, but Shi Si had coerced Nie Jia into hospital rest after lunch. The call was answered by Fang Fang, who dodged Nie Jia's presence by taking it in the corridor. "Tian Ge, our leader is in the hospital. His back injury hasn't healed yet."

Fang Fang was a bit annoyed; couldn’t they let their leader rest after just finishing recording? They were pushing their leader to the brink... Honestly, remembering their leader at music festivals or shooting MVs, nobody used to consult him.

"Still in the same ward?" Chen Tian asked.

"Yes," Fang Fang replied.

Chen Tian simply acknowledged and hung up.

While Nie Jia was napping, Shi Si stayed with him for a while and then excused himself with a phone call, allowing Nie Jia to rest peacefully. The assistants were all present, seemingly calm in the ward, but in reality, they were engaged in a lively conversation on WeChat.

"Is the person who brought the leader to the hospital the one the leader is giving flowers to?!!" [Shared Document for Online Reading and Sharing]

"I think so! That look in their eyes, I didn't expect it to be the public fox... Why do I feel a bit happy, hahaha."

"Maybe it's just your wild guesses. This isn't good; Non-Ge will be mad if he finds out." Xiao Liu said seriously.

Fang Fang and another girl replied in unison, "You clueless straight guy!"

Xiao Liu looked innocent. Seeing this, the other two male assistants nervously deleted the "That's it" they hadn't sent yet.

When Chen Tian arrived, the assistant team was still actively brainstorming on WeChat. Nie Jia was sound asleep until Chen Tian's opening of the door disrupted him. With a creased brow, Nie Jia, not fully rested, felt a bit irritable.

"Sorry for disturbing you," Chen Tian gently closed the door. He hadn't expected Nie Jia to be napping.

"What's up?" Nie Jia lay for a moment, settling his emotions before swinging his legs off the bed.

"Director Fang Hong informed us that the final match will be broadcast live, with changes in the format. Also, it seems the venue won't be the studio; they're considering a theater. The exact address isn't clear yet, but the production team has submitted the application for approval." Chen Tian and Nie Jia walked towards the nearby couch.

Fang Fang poured Nie Jia a glass of water, reminding him to take his medicine. With the pill in his mouth, Nie Jia mumbled, "Is it because they find the studio too small?" Broadcasting the final match from a theater meant at least ten thousand audiences attending live—a far cry from a mere program; it was more like a small-scale concert.

Accepting the coffee poured by Xiao Liu, Chen Tian's gaze turned serious. "Our just-recorded episode will undoubtedly cause a stir once aired. The program probably wants to capitalize on that. I'm not entirely sure; the director didn't elaborate much."

"In about half a month, when the show transitions to live broadcasting, even if the production team doesn't consider the budget, preparing the theater's on-site equipment and stage is impossible within that timeframe," Nie Jia remarked.

Chen Tian chuckled. "You're worrying too much. The funding aspect is covered by the Wankai Group's sponsorship. That's why the venue change happened suddenly."

The assistant team, previously engrossed in their phones nearby, reacted like a bunch of rabbits startled in a thicket upon hearing the name "Wankai Group." They gaped at Chen Tian, stunned. Though the show was popular, compared to the Wankai Group, the entire TV station seemed insignificant. To think the Wankai Group would sponsor this program...

Nie Jia furrowed his brow upon hearing this. Shi Si hadn't mentioned anything about sponsoring the production team. Could it be Shi Yanshen... No, Shi Yanshen was still in a phase of wanting to distance himself from the Shi family. He couldn't possibly have asked the company to sponsor the production team.

Seeing Nie Jia's surprise, Chen Tian spoke, "Quite surprising, isn't it? I was taken aback too." He leaned on his knee, a faint excitement in his demeanor. "Nie Fei, the production team attaches great importance to the finals. After yesterday's episode, the finals are bound to garner tremendous attention. I believe this could be a new opportunity for our DDD. We're going to reach new heights."

"Provided we win," Nie Jia remarked nonchalantly. "Losing would be a global embarrassment."

Chen Tian chuckled wryly. "With you around, there's no way we'd lose. Don't tell me you only plan to record that one episode?"

"I'm here to ensure D Group wins, not to drop out halfway. Otherwise, what's the point of recording just one episode?" Nie Jia was idling away, tapping impatiently on the sofa armrest with his fingertips. Fang Fang tossed him a lollipop to chew on.

Chen Tian nodded. "Thank you, Nie Fei. I came here today to discuss your thoughts on the finals... especially after the 'War Song' in the semifinals was so stunning. Our previous repertoire might not surpass the impact of 'War Song.'"

Nie Jia remained composed. He crunched the candy absentmindedly. "Then, write a new one."

In fact, Nie Jia had already decided on this idea when the audience voted heavily for the 'War Song' during the highest ticket count yesterday. If the audience liked rock and excitement, he'd let them have it during the finals!

"Can it be done in time?" Chen Tian had no doubt about Nie Jia's creative talent; after all, Nie Fei had once composed lyrics and music within an hour. "I mean, the choreographer might not catch up with your speed in composing a song. Besides, our rehearsals also need time, especially for Xie Yihang." Chen Tian sighed. Even if they released the song and dance just before the finals, he and Shi Yanshen could rehearse all night, but expecting Xie Yihang to master a new song's singing and choreography in such a short time was wishful thinking unless the audience and judges turned a blind eye.

"What dance? My back hurts. I won't dance," Nie Jia said. "You can leave. I'll send it back to the company once I finish."

Chen Tian agreed. Releasing a new song for the finals would already cause a stir. He nodded and stood up. "Take good rest then."

Chen Tian's attitude was notably different from before. Coming to see Nie Jia today, he displayed visible humility and respect. After the relentless bombardment last night, Chen Tian seemed to have sobered up. Once the show aired, any sensible viewer hearing Chen Huanyin's barrage would likely react similarly to Chen Tian.

But it wasn't enough. One couldn't underestimate the power of die-hard fans. Fanatic supporters viewed even adoring an idol as an expression of individuality. Nie Fei had suffered too much from such fanatics.

Nie Jia calmly dismissed Chen Tian and immersed himself in contemplation.

In the late afternoon, around three o'clock, Shi Si returned. Upon entering, he saw the handsome young man basking in the radiant sunset, seemingly napping peacefully. With head bowed, the elegant contour of his neck was covered by the glossy strands of black hair twined behind his ears, revealing soft-looking earlobes. He sat on the armchair with a music score on his knee, seemingly composing a new song, but the pages were filled with messy, dark, chaotic lines resembling a tangled ball of yarn scratched by cat claws, enough to distress anyone, almost as if peeking into someone's turbulent and twisted mind.

Staring at the chaotic page in the music score, Shi Si was suddenly taken aback. He gently lifted Nie Jia's chin, calling softly, "Fei Fei?"

Nie Jia woke up in a daze, sunlight streaming into his eyes, casting a golden hue upon his gaze like pale gemstones. Yet within the brilliant eyes lay a fleeting, turbulent rage, reminiscent of an icy nest—a sensation, perhaps, born from Shi Si’s imagination.

When he spotted Shi Si, Nie Jia smiled without a hint of suspicion. "You're back."

"Don't sleep with your head lowered from now on; it's bad for your neck," Shi Si crouched down, softly advising, hiding the sheet music behind him. Even though he saw adoration in Nie Jia's sunny eyes, there lingered an unease within him, as if those lines harbored a concealed ferocity, unsettling his heart.

Nie Jia seemed to have forgotten the incident, nodding obediently. "I fell asleep while sunbathing and listening to music."

That evening, after dining with Nie Jia, Shi Si made an excuse to leave. Nie Jia spun around in place, unable to find his sheet music. It felt like a dream, so he grabbed a new one and started drawing and coloring again.

Meanwhile, Shi Si showed the old one directly to a friend of a psychology Ph.D., wearing a cold expression. "Take a look at this. What's going on here?"

Xie Yihang, dealing with incessant messages from his mother about marriage, glanced over and almost dropped his phone. "You drew this?!"

"No," Shi Si replied impassively.

Xie Yihang quickly calmed his racing heart. "You scared me! I thought not only were you limping but you’d developed a psychological illness too."

"What's the issue?" Shi Si's heart sank at Xie Yihang's words.

Xie Yihang carefully examined the sheet music for a while, his jovial expression fading. He spoke seriously, "This is a typical case of bipolar disorder... It's quite severe. It wouldn't be surprising if he harmed someone someday. Who is it? Do you need help?"

Shi Si's heart sank further. "My lover. But I don't think he has such a severe manic-depressive disorder."

Xie Yihang had heard this morning about Shi Si's impending marriage from his mother. Though unaware of who the partner was, preparations for the wedding were underway in the Shi family, prompting his mother's bombardment.

Xie Yihang touched his nose. "I haven't met the person in question, so I can't guarantee anything. Bipolar patients aren't always emotionally unstable. This might have been drawn during an emotional breakdown. You need to observe carefully. Whatever triggers his intense mood swings, avoid those situations. Although your lover’s condition is serious, don't worry excessively. He's fighting within himself. His emotions are intense, and despite his current mental state, he has a sense of resistance. You must help him, try not to let him be alone."

Shi Si was in turmoil, unable to fathom the extent of agony his beloved had endured to have developed such a severe bipolar disorder.

"What should I do?" Shi Si asked urgently.

Realizing Shi Si seemed reluctant to reveal the identity of his lover, perhaps due to inconvenient circumstances, Xie Yihang reassured, "I told you not to worry too much. Just ensure he gets enough sleep, avoid leaving him alone for long periods, make him know you need him. Given the extent of his inner struggle, he will eventually recover, although it might take a while. Prepare yourself mentally for a long journey."

Despite Shi Si's adept emotional management, when he left Xie Yihang's place, he nearly ground his teeth to dust, the pain in his heart as sharp as a stab wound.

Back at the hospital, Nie Jia was sitting on the couch, wearing headphones, engrossed in writing and drawing. He shifted position, previously back facing the door, now facing it directly, seemingly wary of not noticing Shi Si's return.

This little detail of the obedient and well-behaved Nie Jia tugged at Shi Si's heartstrings. He deliberately closed the door a bit harder, alerting the young man who was diligently composing songs.

Nie Jia looked up, immediately taking off his headphones, hurrying over to offer support.

Without a word, Shi Si enveloped him in a tight, affectionate hug.

"What's wrong?" Nie Jia asked, puzzled.

"Nothing, just a bit of business trouble," Shi Si's gentle voice caressed Nie Jia's head.

Nie Jia nestled closer, softly saying, "It's okay, I'll always be with you."

Shi Si smiled but remained silent, holding Nie Jia even tighter.

Sensing Shi Si's emotional disquiet, Nie Jia discreetly inquired with KK.

Of course, KK knew the reason behind Shi Si's mood but dared not speak up. Revealing the director’s secret might lead to its replacement by others like AA, BB, or CC—those flashy, cheap creatures.

KK solemnly said, "It's just some normal business matters, you know."

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