Chapter 95

Chapter 95: I Only Ever Use Others for Clout

“Sorry, Sister Qiao.” Inside the café, Xi An Xi sat across from her, voice soft and pitiful. “I really didn’t expect we’d get photographed. If I’d known, I would’ve started a livestream right away to clear it up.”

Qiao Qing Yan stared at the light drizzle outside. The rain was easing now, no longer as fierce as before.

“Sister Qiao,” he said again, searching her face. “Then I’m starting the livestream now.”

Qiao Qing Yan finally pulled her gaze back from the window. Her clear, ethereal eyes settled on him.

“Do your best, little brother.”

She smiled—light, effortless—and stood up.

Her movements were smooth and decisive, without a hint of hesitation.

Xi An Xi didn’t even have time to react. By the time he rose from his seat, Qiao Qing Yan was already out of the café.

“Sister Qiao…” He hurried after her and blocked her path. He blinked innocently, wide eyes wet and harmless. “Sister Qiao, what about the trending topic?”

He bit his lower lip, flustered, looking uncertain what to do.

Xi An Xi was a newly risen young idol in the entertainment industry. He debuted through a survival show. With delicate, puppy-like looks and a sweet voice, calling “sister” over and over, he had successfully drawn in a huge crowd of sister fans.

In the end, he took third place and officially entered the industry.

Qiao Qing Yan looked at him calmly.

A white short-sleeve shirt. Blue casual pants. Bright and youthful.

Especially those damp lashes and glistening eyes—most people would feel reluctant to say anything harsh to him.

It was just a pity…

“Little brother,” she said, voice gentle, “shouldn’t you grab the heat and hurry up and boost your presence?”

“Then in a few days, tell the netizens you and I aren’t familiar—you just happened to pass by and ran into me. Nothing ambiguous. No relationship.”

She smiled as if she were offering friendly advice. “See? Won’t your fan count go up again?”

To Xi An Xi, it felt like she had peeled off every layer of his disguise, exposing everything underneath.

Qiao Qing Yan tilted her head slightly. The smile at her lips deepened, turning sharper without turning cruel.

“There has only ever been me, Qiao Qing Yan, using other people’s clout,” she said calmly. “You’re the first one who’s dared use mine.”

“Little brother…”

She pressed those last three words hard enough to make his skin prickle.

A chill ran down his spine.

It was clearly August, yet it felt like he’d stepped into ice.

Right before getting into the car, Qiao Qing Yan suddenly turned her head back.

“Oh, by the way. Didn’t your agent tell you that ‘sister’ is only twenty-two?”

“And you’re already twenty-three.”

Now that she had called out his age so directly, it felt like a slap.

Watching the car disappear into the drizzle, Xi An Xi stood frozen, cold seeping down his back as if he’d fallen into an ice pit.

“An Xi, that’s enough.” Several staff hurried over with umbrellas. “The reporters already got their photos and went back to write it up. Hurry and get in the car and change clothes. Don’t catch a cold.”

Even though the rain was lighter now, in just a short while, Xi An Xi was already soaked through.

“Brother Xi, why do you have to get involved with that kind of person?” someone muttered bitterly. “People like her… they have no heart.”