Handsome Enough to Trend, This Face in a Press Release Would Be a Game-Changer

"Finished eating? Let's go."

Zhou Yi stood up and paid the bill without hesitation.

Xia Qiuzhi had barely touched her food, her appetite lost, yet she obediently rose and followed him.

Tentatively, she reached out again, her eyes reddened, trying to grasp Zhou Yi's sleeve—only for him to sidestep her.

Tears welled up uncontrollably in Xia Qiuzhi's eyes, streaming down her cheeks.

Zhou Yi regarded her with an impassive expression. "Why are you crying?"

"You’ve been ignoring me... Wuwu..."

In the past, Zhou Yi would never have let a single tear fall from her eyes.

He stopped walking and turned to face her. "Do you really care about me?"

Xia Qiuzhi seemed baffled by the question.

"Of course I do! You’re my only—"

Her words trailed off.

Only what?

"Friend" didn’t quite fit. "Brother" wasn’t right either.

Zhou Yi smirked, a hint of mockery in his smile. "Your only simp, is that it?"

The girl frantically shook her head. "No! That’s not what I meant. I just wanted to say... you’re important to me."

"Do you even believe that yourself? Look at your actions—have any of them shown you care? Be honest."

[Xia Qiuzhi’s regret value +10.]

Zhou Yi turned and strode ahead.

"I came today to see the director, not to reminisce with you."

Xia Qiuzhi hurried after him.

"But you said we’d have lunch together later—with Wang Xuan too!"

"I didn’t say I wouldn’t go."

"Then why... why are you acting so cold toward me?"

"Ah-Zhi, I just want you to understand—I won’t treat you the way I used to. Some things are Wang Xuan’s responsibility, not mine."

The unspoken message: They could still keep up appearances as acquaintances, but he was done being her devoted follower.

Xia Qiuzhi floundered, unsure how to explain herself, while Zhou Yi’s brisk pace soon brought them to the orphanage.

The director, a woman in her fifties with streaks of silver in her hair, looked every bit the weary caretaker of countless parentless children.

When she saw Zhou Yi and Xia Qiuzhi, she sat up from her sickbed and shuffled over to pour them water.

Xia Qiuzhi glanced at Zhou Yi beside her. "Director, do you know who this is?"

The woman smiled warmly. "It’s Xiao Yi, isn’t it?"

Even Zhou Yi was taken aback—she was the first person here to recognize him since his transformation.

"How could you tell? Yi-gege looks so different now!"

The director chuckled, her eyes crinkling.

"He has changed, but who else would be by your side besides Xiao Yi?"

"Back then, you two were the closest among all the children—stuck together like twins."

"Ah-Zhi, be good to your Yi-gege. He’s suffered a lot for your sake."

Xia Qiuzhi’s nose stung, her teeth sinking into her lower lip to hold back the tears threatening to spill.

She knew she’d messed up, but it felt like there was no way to fix it now.

Neither Zhou Yi nor Xia Qiuzhi mentioned their argument, chatting with the director as they always had and inquiring about her health.

Fortunately, it was just a cold—though for someone her age, even that wasn’t trivial.

Finally, Zhou Yi got to the point of his visit.

"Director, I’d like to donate to the orphanage."

He was serious; this had been his main purpose in coming.

Xia Qiuzhi stared at Zhou Yi’s upright figure, her heart stirred.

Maybe Yi-gege hadn’t changed after all. He still remembered where he came from—hadn’t forgotten the past.

[Xia Qiuzhi’s affection value +10.]

The director blinked in surprise before hesitating.

"Huh? But you’re still in school! Keep your money for your studies—don’t worry about this place."

"Here, have an apple."

Her hands, calloused and thin, peeled the fruit with practiced ease.

She knew Zhou Yi meant well, but she couldn’t accept money from someone who’d once worked part-time jobs just to get by.

Zhou Yi accepted the apple, his voice low but firm.

"Director, I’ve found my birth parents. The donation is their idea—please don’t refuse."

The woman’s face lit up. "You found them? That’s wonderful, truly..."

"But even so, you mustn’t overextend yourselves. What amount were you thinking?"

"Fifty thousand for now. Would that be acceptable?"

Her eyes widened slightly. "Fifty thousand? That’s no small sum!"

Xia Qiuzhi chimed in, "His family is well-off. Please accept it."

Still uneasy, the director clasped her hands together, murmuring thanks and expressing hope to meet his parents someday.

Zhou Yi demurred, explaining they were abroad for business.

Later, she gave them a tour of the orphanage.

The buildings were worn with age, the children’s belongings hand-me-downs—replacements were a luxury they couldn’t afford.

Among Huaihai’s many orphanages, few chose to donate to the remote Xingxing Orphanage.

Zhou Yi’s contribution was one of the largest in recent years, and his youth quickly drew the children’s attention.

A cluster of little girls swarmed around him, chattering excitedly.

"Big brother, you’re so handsome!"

"Big brother, you’re the prettiest person I’ve ever seen!"

This seemed to be their unanimous verdict.

Amused, the director guided Zhou Yi toward the main building.

"Come, let’s take a photo with the children. The reporters will interview you afterward—prepare yourself."

"Reporters?"

"Yes, it’s standard for donations, though we haven’t had any in a long time."

Such events usually warranted press coverage, even if just local news. Charitable acts were always newsworthy.

Soon, two journalists arrived, followed by another crew rushing in last-minute to intercept Zhou Yi.

Baffled but obliging, he agreed.

More crews trickled in, leaving him puzzled—until he overheard a reporter’s phone call.

"Xingxing Orphanage—some rich, gorgeous guy just donated fifty grand! The clicks will go through the roof!"

"I’m serious, he’s ridiculously good-looking! Front-page material!"

"Hurry, or he’ll leave!"

She knew Zhou Yi’s face would guarantee viral headlines.

Sure enough, news of his donation spread rapidly, even trending online.

The main reason? A single photo—one dubbed the "killer shot"—where not even Huaihai TV’s unforgiving HD cameras could dull his striking features.