Chapter 2

In the novel, Ji Qingyuan’s eventual rise to the position of a top male star in the entertainment industry was inseparable from the protection and support of his half-brother, Ji Linyu.

Although Ji Linyu doesn’t appear often, every time he does, it’s a significant rescue. Some readers say that as long as they see the name “Ji Linyu,” they know everything will be fine.

However, the author has planted multiple hints in the novel, both overt and subtle, indicating that the relationship between these two brothers is not simple. Some readers, analyzing these hints, believe that Ji Linyu might be the biggest villain of the entire book. Judging from Ji Qingyuan’s attitude towards Ji Linyu, it’s likely that the brothers will turn against each other and become arch-enemies later on.

Zhu Xinyue stood frozen in place, realizing that she had just… confessed to the male lead’s arch-enemy?!

Would the house and resources she was about to inexplicably receive still be given to her by the male lead?

Zhu Xinyue realized that her actions had deviated from the original plot, and her tears became even more genuine.

Could she still switch to someone else now?

Zhu Xinyue rubbed her eyes and turned to look at the male lead, Ji Qingyuan, who was walking towards her.

If Ji Linyu’s appearance could be described as handsome, with well-defined features, starry eyes, and the demeanor of a taciturn swordsman from a martial arts novel, then Ji Qingyuan’s looks were a blend of heroism and gentleness, with crescent-shaped eyes and a warm smile, resembling a spoiled young master.

Ji Qingyuan caught the towel thrown by a friend and casually wiped his wet hair. Seeing Zhu Xinyue still staring at him, he naturally put his arm around her shoulder.

He was clearly accustomed to interacting with “Zhu Xinyue” in this manner, treating her like a close brother or friend, without any excess intimacy. Their bodies were separated by a distance, with only his wrist resting on her shoulder, maintaining the perfect balance.

Zhu Xinyue frowned slightly; to her, Ji Qingyuan was a stranger.

But considering the original owner’s relationship with Ji Qingyuan, if she rejected him now, wouldn’t it confirm that she liked Ji Linyu and wanted to distance herself from Ji Qingyuan?

Enduring small inconveniences for the sake of her big house and resources, she decided to tolerate it!

“I didn’t expect your standards for choosing a partner to still be all about looks.” Ji Qingyuan’s words, though directed at Zhu Xinyue, were meant for everyone.

His words not only complimented his brother’s good looks but also helped Zhu Xinyue out of her predicament, explaining her earlier confession as mere admiration for Ji Linyu’s appearance, thus reducing the embarrassment of her rejected confession.

Zhu Xinyue couldn’t help but marvel at Ji Qingyuan’s emotional intelligence.

Ji Linyu glanced at his watch.

“Brother, are you leaving? I’ll see you off,” Ji Qingyuan casually changed the subject, releasing Zhu Xinyue’s shoulder and walking out with Ji Linyu.

Zhu Xinyue could now only see the two people closest to her.

Without her glasses, she felt insecure. The poolside was dark and slippery, and she was wearing high heels, making it easy to fall. If the two of them left, she would be of no use here, so she decided to follow them.

Lowering her head, she noticed Ji Qingyuan beside her, wearing only swim trunks. She quickly averted her gaze and instead focused on Ji Linyu passing by her.

He was dressed in a well-tailored suit, wrapped up tightly, with his sleeves covering his wrists. The dark jacket and the faintly visible white shirt overlapped, and the watch face glimmered under the light.

To Zhu Xinyue, people were just colors, shapes, and lines. Ji Linyu caught her eye because of his well-proportioned figure, like a male model from a fashion magazine.

Zhu Xinyue followed Ji Linyu closely, using him as a guiding light, knowing she couldn’t see clearly if she strayed too far.

Her close pursuit of Ji Linyu might have simple reasoning, but to those watching, it was a different story.

Ji Qingyuan glanced at Zhu Xinyue following them and then resumed chatting with his brother.

The shortest route to the front door required passing through the interior.

Once inside, the surroundings quieted significantly, leaving only the sound of their footsteps and the conversation ahead.

“Brother, can I move in with you? The security at Lishan is better. Last week, they caught a paparazzi sneaking into my complex, and the other residents complained, saying I disturbed them.”

“Come whenever you want. You’re always welcome.”

“Thanks, bro! Also, about those scripts recently sent to me…”

Zhu Xinyue focused intently on the people ahead. Ji Linyu, tall with long legs, was hard to keep up with. Wearing ten-centimeter heels on a polished floor, her footsteps echoed loudly.

On his left, Ji Linyu listened to his younger brother talking incessantly about his plans, hoping that he would invest in the drama he wanted to shoot. On his right, he listened to the woman’s messy footsteps, which were like stepping on his eardrums, making a rattling, messy sound, disturbing his mind.

A bit annoying.

Ji Linyu glanced at the woman who was only half a step behind him, his brow furrowing slightly.

She was following him more closely than his bodyguard.

The evening breeze swept through the hall, and her perfume, an overwhelmingly sweet and cloying powdery scent, followed him persistently.

They were so close that her skirt was almost brushing against his suit pants.

Ji Linyu, unable to avoid it, quickened his pace as if being chased by a ghost.

Ahead, there was a threshold that Ji Linyu easily stepped over.

Zhu Xinyue, already struggling to keep up with his long strides, did not notice the threshold and almost tripped. Losing her balance, she instinctively reached out for something to steady herself.

Ji Linyu, sensing movement behind him, quickly stepped forward and then turned around to face Zhu Xinyue, watching her with a cold, indifferent gaze.

In that brief second, countless thoughts flashed through Zhu Xinyue’s mind—her mistaken confession was already hard to explain, and if she fell towards him now, it would only confirm her interest in Ji Linyu.

Zhu Xinyue twisted her body, forcefully changing her trajectory away from Ji Linyu, and instead fell towards the nearby bodyguard.

“Crack!” The sudden turn of events was met with silence, the sound of her bones misaligning was deafening, resonating in their hearts and causing anyone to wince in pain.

Ji Qingyuan gasped, unable to look directly.

Ji Linyu froze in place, his previous annoyance melting away, replaced by a strange emotion.

Was she… maintaining her distance because of his earlier rejection?

The bodyguard caught the falling Zhu Xinyue.

Tears streamed down Zhu Xinyue’s face from the pain, but she didn’t utter a sound, biting her lower lip, collapsing into the bodyguard’s arms.

She was accustomed to enduring pain.

Or rather, she had long forgotten that she could cry out in pain.

To the onlookers, Zhu Xinyue looked pitiful, her brows furrowed, eyes red, tears welling up and even wetting her curled eyelashes, falling onto her red gauze skirt like raindrops.

As if unwilling to cry so uncontrollably in front of others, she closed her eyes, bit her lower lip, and tried to suppress her pain, taking a deep breath. When she opened her eyes again, she had composed herself.

Fragile yet resilient.

Ji Linyu’s fingers curled, a fleeting feeling of regret passing through his heart.

He had misunderstood her; she was different from other women.

Ji Qingyuan had seen “Zhu Xinyue” cry in front of him before—crying endlessly, without reason, throwing tantrums, hysterically demanding attention until she was appeased. He found her tears bothersome, so when Zhu Xinyue cried now, it initially didn’t move him.

But this time was different.

This was the first time he saw her cry quietly, in a way that tugged at his heartstrings.

Zhu Xinyue, in immense pain, clutched the bodyguard’s sleeve so tightly that she wrinkled it.

She sniffled, raised her head, and said to the bodyguard, “Thank you. I’m sorry for wrinkling your shirt.”

Her voice was choked with sobs, and when she looked up, her tear-filled eyes sparkled like tiny diamonds, her tone sincere, enough to disarm anyone.

The bodyguard stammered, “It’s, it’s okay.”

“How about you give me your contact information so I can iron your shirt and return it to you?” Zhu Xinyue, considering her own perspective, thought the bodyguard’s clothes must be expensive given their quality.

Ji Linyu stared at the wrinkled sleeve of the bodyguard’s shirt, his lips forming a thin line.

The wrinkles were deep, showing how much she had sacrificed to avoid him.

Ji Qingyuan raised an eyebrow, his gaze shifting between Zhu Xinyue and the bodyguard. Before the bodyguard could speak, he interrupted, saying, “Is your foot okay? Do you need to go to the hospital for an X-ray?”

Supported by the bodyguard, Zhu Xinyue tried to stand on her good left foot, but her unfamiliarity with high heels made her unstable.

“An X-ray? No need. It’s probably just a sprain. I can apply some safflower oil and it should be fine.”

Hospitals were expensive. The original Zhu Xinyue had run away from home for Ji Qingyuan and entered the entertainment industry. The Zhu family had tried to force her back, cutting off her financial support. How could she afford medical bills?

Ji Qingyuan disagreed, “Didn’t you say you live on the fifth floor? How will you climb the stairs like this?”

Zhu Xinyue bit her lip, silent, seemingly contemplating his words.

“Qingyuan!” A voice called from the pool area, apparently someone looking for him.

Ji Qingyuan looked towards the pool, his mind clearly more focused on the party.

Zhu Xinyue noticed Ji Qingyuan’s distraction and was about to speak when a steady voice interrupted.

“Today is your day to celebrate. Go enjoy yourself.” Ji Linyu gently pushed his brother’s shoulder, indicating he should return to the party, “I’ll take Miss Zhu to the hospital.”

His gaze lingered briefly on Zhu Xinyue, whose blurry vision couldn’t discern his expression, only his actions.

Ji Qingyuan seemed at ease leaving Zhu Xinyue with his brother, cheerfully saying, “Okay, I’ll leave her to you then.”

With that, he returned to his party.

The room fell silent again.

Ji Linyu walked towards her, and Zhu Xinyue caught a whiff of his clean, elegant, and uniquely cool scent, reminiscent of spring rain soaking through trees and grass, releasing a fresh, plant-like aroma.

In her field of vision appeared once more the overlapping dark and white sleeve, the clothes meticulously pressed, the sleeve’s lines crisp, his hand hanging by his side, its veins visible like mountain ranges.

Unlike the previous time, this time he actively approached her.

“Miss Zhu, I’ll take you to the hospital,” said the owner of the sleeve.

Zhu Xinyue coughed lightly, her gaze wandering. The fingers clutching her skirt tightened and loosened repeatedly as she hesitated, “It’s really not necessary. I… I don’t have money for medical bills.”

Her voice grew quieter and quieter.

Ji Linyu stared at her ears, which turned from pale to pink. On a whim, he made an unprofitable deal:

“I’ll pay.”