Chapter 18: Flaunting for Whom?

He had clearly hinted at her to come to his room earlier—why was he acting coy now?

In the original story, the male lead she had written was deeply affectionate but also reserved.

But she wasn’t the female lead.

So he could openly flirt with her!

“Yes, I told you to come to my room…” Yue Yuze admitted, but before he could finish, the woman threw herself at him again.

Tang Yun thought the kiss earlier wasn’t bad, so why not kiss him again? She leaned in and planted a peck on the corner of his lips. “Then that’s settled! Let’s not waste time!”

… The sooner she completed the task, the sooner she could claim her reward!

“You—you woman…” Yue Yuze was caught between frustration and amusement at her brazen enthusiasm. Gripping her wrists tightly, he pulled her into the room and shoved her onto a nearby sofa. Then, seating himself in a single chair across from her, he fixed his gaze on her.

This damned woman… daring to step out dressed like this!

Tang Yun: “…” With such an intense stare, are you really not planning to do anything with me?

Sure, I believe you… not!

After a while, Yue Yuze averted his gaze slightly and said in a deep, hoarse voice, “I asked you to come because, after eating your fried noodles earlier, I agreed to get you a good role.”

“A good role?” Just for a plate of noodles?

Yue Yuze continued, “I looked into Under the Sky’s script. Actually, the most likable female character isn’t the main lead but the supporting female lead of a side CP, Su Xin. Her character begins as a naïve and romantic noblewoman but later becomes self-sacrificing and resilient. Compared to the occasionally saintly main female lead, she’s more relatable and endearing.”

“So, this role… is for me?” She pointed at herself, uncertain.

A character with that setup would be very appealing to the audience—basically, a role primed for popularity.

But…

“President Yue, you must be joking. Giving me such a great role… isn’t that just a waste?” Tang Xin’s cheeks flushed as she scratched her head awkwardly. “My, uh, my acting skills are terrible…”

Yue Yuze sneered. “Ha, at least you’re self-aware.”

Tang Yun: “…” If you know this, why are you giving me such a good role?

Don’t think for a second I’ll believe it’s just for the noodles…

When a big boss gives a small-time actress a great role, the implication is clear: unspoken rules.

And unspoken rules… don’t come without certain transactions.

She was dressed provocatively, with large expanses of fair, soft skin exposed, while the man across from her wore a tightly belted bathrobe, modest to the point of austerity. The stark contrast made her feel increasingly uneasy.

Tang Yun thought, with Yue Yuze’s reserved nature, he’d never outright say what he wanted. He’d probably want her but wouldn’t want to bear the stigma of unspoken rules. So… he wanted her to make the first move, while giving him an out.

In that case, how should she proceed?

She was lost in her own thoughts for a while…

Yue Yuze, seeing her suddenly quiet and sitting there obediently, assumed she was worried about not performing well. With a soft sigh, he said, “Don’t worry. I’ve already arranged for someone… The actor you’ll have the most scenes with will guide you. He’ll help make your performance somewhat passable.”

Tang Yun: “…” Ouch. That hurt. And yet, I can’t argue with it.

… Because it’s true.

“Thank you, President Yue… You’ve really gone all out for me…”

“What did you say?” Yue Yuze’s sharp gaze darkened instantly.

Tang Yun: “Oh, no, I meant… you’ve gone to great lengths for me! President Yue, you’ve truly been considerate!”

Yue Yuze gave her a deep, penetrating look before standing up. Turning slightly away, his peripheral vision still lingered on her. “Now that this is settled… you can leave.”

“Oh.” Tang Yun stood up as well, her movements deliberately slow.

But just as she turned to leave, Yue Yuze seemed to hesitate. His thin lips pressed tightly together, and his deep eyes watched her. His lips moved slightly as though he wanted to speak, but in the end, he said nothing…

The perfect definition of hesitant to speak.

Yes, Tang Xin thought, this was Yue Yuze’s masterful portrayal of those three words!

This man, who outwardly told her to leave but inwardly wanted her to stay, wasn’t just hesitant—he was also flirtatious in denial.

Yue Yuze wanted to watch her leave, but when he saw her pausing, as if waiting for him to stop her, he turned his gaze away, refusing to give her the chance to think she could seduce him.

But seeing her linger so obviously, he made an abrupt decision to turn away completely—

The hint couldn’t be more blatant!

Tang Xin thought this man was so sly… sly and reserved all at once.

Clearly, he wanted her to stay, yet he acted so pretentious about it!

But this serious, sulking man… oh my, wasn’t he quite adorable?

Her crimson lips curled into a smile, her eyes crescent-shaped as she grinned. Slowly, step by step, she shuffled toward the man, eventually moving behind him. She reached out and gently wrapped her arms around him.

“Tang Xin, you…” Yue Yuze’s tall body stiffened, completely caught off guard by her audacity.

Hadn’t he already warned her?

Tang Xin heard the man’s low, restrained voice and knew her guesses were probably right on target.

So, emboldened, her soft little hand slipped under his bathrobe and rested on his smooth, firm chest.

Wow! So firm, so toned, it felt amazing…

“Ah—” Suddenly, her hand was grabbed and yanked away with force.

Tang Xin yelped in pain, and in the next moment, she was unceremoniously thrown onto the sofa. Dizzy from the abrupt movement, she lay there in a daze, watching as the man loomed over her. Breathing softly, she muttered, “President Yue… so you actually like it rough…”

“Shut up!” Yue Yuze’s handsome face darkened with rage. He spun around, walked to the door, and flung it open. Gritting his teeth, he spat, “You have five seconds to leave my room immediately, or I won’t hesitate to throw you out myself!”

Hearing this, Tang Xin finally snapped out of her daze. She quickly sat up and protested, “No, no, no… wait a second! Didn’t you already give me a role? Aren’t you trying to have an unspoken rule with me? And don’t unspoken rules involve, uh… sleeping together?”

Yue Yuze let out a bitter laugh, thoroughly exasperated. “Who said I wanted an unspoken rule with you? Get out!!”

“Wait, are you telling me all it takes is a bowl of fried noodles to get a good role?” Tang Xin’s eyes widened in disbelief. So she had misunderstood?

Yue Yuze sneered but said nothing.

Tang Xin suddenly stood up. “Ah, so it’s that simple? You should’ve said so earlier!” If she’d known, she wouldn’t have gone to all that trouble begging directors. She could’ve just made this dog of a male lead a bowl of fried noodles!

Hearing her words, the faint trace of amusement in Yue Yuze’s eyes vanished.

… So, the reason she dressed like this, trying to seduce him, wasn’t because she liked him—it was simply to gain benefits from him?

How was this different from Fan Bei’s cynical speculations?

She was only interested in the wealth and power he represented, not in… him as a person.

“Tang Xin, what do you take me for? Unspoken rules? Sleeping together? Not everyone qualifies for an unspoken rule, nor are they worthy of being asked to sleep with someone!” He strode over, yanked her up from the sofa, and wrapped her tightly in a large bath towel he had just put down.

Dressed like this—who was she trying to flaunt for?!

Bang—

Tang Xin, now bundled up in the bath towel, was promptly pushed out of his room.

Knock, knock, knock—

Snapping out of her stunned state, Tang Xin lifted her hand and banged on the door. “President Yue, open the door! Please open the door! My shoes are still inside! How am I supposed to walk back to my room barefoot?”

The next second, the door opened. The man’s sharp phoenix eyes darkened as they fell on her fair, delicate little feet.

“President Yue—ah! What are you doing?!” Tang Xin had just opened her mouth when, in the blink of an eye, the man bent down, grabbed her, and slung her over his shoulder.

“Put me down! Put me down!”

Yue Yuze carried her straight back to her room and dumped her onto her bed.

Tang Xin lay there, looking up at the man standing by her bed. “President Yue, so you actually wanted to play the role of my shoes, huh…”

Yue Yuze: “Tang Xin, you’re going to be the death of me someday!!” With that, he turned and stormed out of the room.