Chapter 33: The Film Emperor and the Husky 16

“Hello, Young Master Zong.” Tang Bin replied politely.

“Just in time, Ah Rui, since you’re here, I can introduce you to some people.” Zong Yuanyi smiled at him with a gentlemanly and gentle expression.

“?”

Tang Bin didn’t quite understand. His relationship with Zong Yuanyi wasn’t close, and their families could even be considered competitors. Why would Zong Yuanyi want to introduce people to him?

While he was wondering, Young Master Zong smiled and clarified, “Haha, Ah Rui, don’t misunderstand. It’s just that Mr. Lin, the film emperor, is my friend. I don’t think you two are very familiar with each other, so I thought I’d take you to meet him.”

Halfway through his sentence, Zong Yuanyi leaned in closer to Tang Bin, deliberately lowering his voice and speaking in a mysterious tone, “Ah Rui, if you want to develop in this circle, there are some important people you must meet. You must understand, right?”

Tang Bin: “…”

So Zong Yuanyi was trying to connect him with important people?

In terms of work, Tang Bin was definitely the type to bury his head in hard work. Social interactions were way beyond his level, not to mention these business-like gatherings.

However, since he was now fully committed to supporting and cultivating Lin Moning as his benefactor, he had to play the part. Some things he simply had to do, and some people, he had to meet.

So, Tang Bin mustered up his courage and said to Zong Yuanyi, “Let’s go then.”

He added, “Thank you, Young Master Zong.”

“No need to thank me, Ah Rui.” Zong Yuanyi smiled slyly, like a fox. “Come with me, let’s go inside.”

Just as Tang Bin was about to follow him, he suddenly felt a tight grip on his wrist. Before he could turn around, he heard Lin Moning’s cold voice: “Where are you going, Young Master Rui? I’ll go with you.”

“To meet Lin Xiang, the film emperor.” Tang Bin answered honestly. Considering that introducing Lin Moning directly to Lin Xiang might be much more effective than playing the middleman himself, he nodded and said, “It’s fine if you come with me.”

“Wait a minute.”

Zong Yuanyi suddenly raised his voice to stop them. Tang Bin turned to look at him, his pure, clear eyes full of questions, as if asking, “What’s wrong now?”

Zong Yuanyi froze for a moment. It seemed that he had only just realized that Luo Rui had come here for Lin Moning. Since he had already brought it up, he couldn’t stop Lin Moning from going along with Luo Rui.

He gave a dry laugh, “The position of the film emperor is over there. I thought Ah Rui wouldn’t mind, so I dared to bring you over. But still… not everyone can meet the film emperor.”

The implication was clear: with Lin Moning’s current status in the industry, he wasn’t qualified to meet Lin Xiang.

Tang Bin thought that saying something like this in front of others was rather hurtful.

If he were the one involved, he would probably feel embarrassed.

Although Lin Moning, upon hearing this, didn’t show any reaction or change, he stared at Zong Yuanyi the entire time, his gaze sharp, filled with rejection and wariness.

After thinking for a moment, to preserve Lin Moning’s dignity, Tang Bin said, “If the film emperor doesn’t want to meet Ah Ning, then I won’t go either.”

“Ah Rui?” Zong Yuanyi seemed surprised by his firm response. He looked around, then tried to get closer to Tang Bin again, reminding him, “Film Emperor Lin is a member of the Lin family. This isn’t just about the entertainment industry…”

But Tang Bin had already moved to stand beside Lin Moning, still resolutely saying, “I’m not very familiar with business matters. When the film emperor is willing to meet Ah Ning, I’ll go with him then.”

As he said this, Tang Bin couldn’t help but puff out his chest, looking quite dignified and full of confidence, almost like a force to be reckoned with.

To outsiders, even though he had been in a good mood lately, he was still the unpredictable and hard-to-read Young Master Rui.

No one knew that this confidence actually came from the fact that as he spoke, he noticed that the favorability score above Lin Moning’s head had jumped from 89 to 92.

It had increased by three points in an instant!

For Tang Bin, whose favorability had been stuck below 90 for so long, this felt like a long-awaited blessing. He couldn’t describe how exciting it was.

And this also hinted to him that his words had clearly pleased Lin Moning.

Although Lin Moning’s expression and the corners of his mouth hadn’t changed in the slightest, Tang Bin was still sure that, compared to going to meet the film emperor alone for the sake of his career, Lin Moning preferred the situation where they moved forward together.

“I’m so hungry.” Tang Bin chose to ignore Zong Yuanyi and rubbed his stomach, turning to Lin Moning. “Let’s go over there and see if there’s any food, and then we’ll figure things out.”

“Okay.” Lin Moning replied.

It probably wasn’t just his imagination, but Tang Bin felt that Lin Moning’s expression was unusually soft.

Then, apologetically, he said to Zong Yuanyi, “Sorry, Young Master Zong. I’ve let you down.”

“…It’s fine.” Zong Yuanyi replied. By this time, Tang Bin had already led Lin Moning to the buffet table, where he picked up a chocolate puff and started eating.

Tang Bin hadn’t eaten anything before leaving, so now that he was enjoying a sweet treat, his mood improved significantly.

While he ate, Lin Moning stood next to him, watching him. The sight of the two of them—one in black, the other in white—standing together looked particularly striking and complementary.

Zong Yuanyi, watching from a distance, flashed a vicious look in his eyes, though no one noticed.

He maintained a gentlemanly smile, took a glass of champagne from a passing server, took a small sip, and then walked into the room holding his glass.

As soon as Zong Yuanyi left, others began to approach Tang Bin again.

However, it seemed that either they were too focused on watching Young Master Rui eat or on how close he and Lin Moning were, but no one could get any closer this time. People only watched from a distance, and no one approached him directly.

The quieter it got around him, the more focused Tang Bin became on his food. After finishing his sweet treats, he chose some savory dishes and sampled them, savoring the flavors. While chewing, his mind drifted to today’s host—Lin Xiang, the film emperor—and his illustrious achievements.

Lin Xiang was indeed talented and gifted, but when he first debuted, the domestic entertainment industry was struggling. Gaining fame, especially becoming an internationally renowned star, wasn’t something that could be achieved by talent or hard work alone.

Without a doubt, the force behind Lin Xiang’s rise was the Lin family.

No one knew exactly what his relationship was with Lin Chan, the head of the Lin family. The Lin family had always been low-key and mysterious, and it seemed they didn’t want to be associated with the entertainment industry at all.

In fact, very few people even knew that Lin Xiang was from the Lin family. This was considered an open secret among the high society of Sanjiu City.

Since the Lin family had never publicly acknowledged it, everyone just pretended not to know, and rarely mentioned it.

Even so, Lin Xiang still wielded great influence in the industry.

When it comes down to it, even a few of the Huayu Group’s top people couldn’t compare to the status of a single Film Emperor Lin.

So, if he could indeed connect with this person, it would be like adding wings to a tiger.

Tang Bin understood the power of such a connection, but he didn’t particularly like Zong Yuanyi. Even though Zong Yuanyi had more connections in the circle than him, and might even be familiar with the Film Emperor Lin, Tang Bin simply didn’t want to have any ties with him.

“We still need to make sure we’re noticeable in front of Film Emperor Lin,” Tang Bin said while eating, casually mentioning some rumors about Lin Xiang’s background. He wasn’t hoping Lin Moning would do anything, but just wanted to give him a heads-up in advance, so that they didn’t offend anyone without realizing it.

Lin Moning nodded in response, though he seemed somewhat absent-minded.

As Tang Bin spoke, he couldn’t help but worry, “Maybe I’ve really made you miss an opportunity.”

Lin Moning replied, “It’s just Lin Xiang. It’s nothing special.”

Tang Bin was speechless, thinking to himself, What a bold young man.

Lin Moning continued, “Even if you meet him, he might not help me. Besides, my current development doesn’t yet require the support of an international movie star.”

“Oh.” Tang Bin nodded, agreeing with that point.

He then muttered to himself, “But I still need to meet Film Emperor Lin later. Who knows…?”

Lin Moning didn’t respond, but his expression remained unchanged.

What caught Tang Bin off guard, however, was that before he could even meet Lin Xiang, the Film Emperor was already standing right in front of him.

The reason why Lin Xiang was famous far and wide wasn’t just due to good timing, luck, and strong connections, his own assets were also incredibly important.

Although he was almost forty years old this year, he looked youthful thanks to proper maintenance. His youthful appearance also gave him a mature charm, making him both handsome and captivating.

What surprised Tang Bin even more was that Lin Xiang looked even better in person than he did on TV or in magazines. When Lin Xiang appeared by his side like a gust of wind, Tang Bin was momentarily stunned.

Unconsciously, Tang Bin began imagining if Lin Moning maintained himself well, would he look like this at forty…?

As Tang Bin was lost in thought, Lin Xiang flashed him a gentlemanly smile.

Over the years, this was the usual reaction from anyone who met him for the first time. He was already used to it.

However, Young Master Rui of the Luo family also had quite a reputation, especially with all the recent news surrounding him. Even the people around him often mentioned him, which made Lin Xiang particularly interested in this person. So, when he was under the focused gaze of Young Master Rui, Lin Xiang couldn’t help but feel somewhat flattered.

He was surprised. The rumored spoiled young master of the Luo family, the one everyone said was reckless and pampered, had eyes that were so clear. At the banquet, he ate without care, his cheeks puffing up as he chewed, looking like an innocent, harmless creature.

This Young Master Rui didn’t quite match the rumors after all…

Unfortunately, before Lin Xiang could observe him any further, another person beside Young Master Rui caught his attention.

More specifically, it was the person’s gaze—sharp and fierce, carrying a hint of warning—that made it hard not to feel intimidated.

Lin Xiang had no choice but to shift his focus to Lin Moning, who was wearing the same style of suit as Young Master Rui…

This person seemed…

“Haha, it seems like Ah Rui has already met Film Emperor Lin!” Zong Yuanyi laughed loudly as he walked over to them, breaking the unusually calm atmosphere.

He seemed completely unaware of the strange vibe around them, squeezing between the three of them and casually placing an arm over both Tang Bin and Lin Xiang’s shoulders. With a friendly tone, he said to Lin Xiang, “Brother Lin, this is Ah Rui, the one I mentioned earlier. I didn’t expect you two to have already met! Haha, let’s go, let’s go, let’s grab a drink!”

It seemed that Zong Yuanyi had a very good relationship with Film Emperor Lin. Not only did Lin Xiang not object to this behavior, but he also smiled warmly and said, “I’ve heard a lot about the young master of the Luo family, and now I finally get to meet him. It’s always better to meet in person than to hear a hundred times. We should definitely go and have a drink.”

“Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go!” Zong Yuanyi said, pushing both of them forward. Before Tang Bin could protest, he leaned in and whispered in his ear, “What’s wrong? Is Ah Rui upset? I was just joking with you earlier. When I said I would introduce you to Film Emperor Lin, I promised I’d make it happen.”

As he spoke, Zong Yuanyi glanced at Lin Moning, who had clearly been left behind because of his actions.

Seeing that Lin Moning didn’t follow, Zong Yuanyi couldn’t help but smile with a sense of triumph and superiority.

Indeed, their level was far above that of a minor celebrity. If he had any self-awareness, he wouldn’t try to follow them.

As expected, he was just someone Ah Rui was supporting. If he knew when to advance and retreat, he might survive for a long time in this circle.

“I…” Tang Bin wanted to resist, but then he realized it was just going to have a drink, nothing too outrageous.

Besides, it was Film Emperor Lin after all. Since he had invited him, Tang Bin felt he shouldn’t refuse.

So, Tang Bin agreed, reluctantly turning his head to look at Lin Moning, wanting to tell him he would be back soon.

But Lin Moning stood there, unmoving, seemingly lost in thought. Tang Bin noticed that he wasn’t even looking at him anymore.

…Anyway, it was just for a drink.

Tang Bin reassured himself, telling himself it wasn’t a big deal.

The party was being held in the garden of a villa owned by Film Emperor Lin. The villa itself was private property, and only those who were invited or were familiar with Lin Xiang could enter.

Since Tang Bin was with Lin Xiang, the bodyguards at the gate didn’t stop them. They respectfully opened the large villa door, and Tang Bin followed them inside the two-story white building. The door closed behind them, shutting out the noise from outside. Inside, though the decor was magnificent, it still had a somewhat cold and empty feel to it.

“Come, don’t be shy, make yourself comfortable.”

Lin Xiang said, taking the lead and sitting on the main seat of the sofa in the living room.

Tang Bin sat on the other side of the sofa, next to Zong Yuanyi.

A waiter in a black-and-white suit approached with a tray, carrying several square glass cups filled with ice cubes and light brown liquid. Lin Xiang smiled, picked up one of the cups, and signaled the waiter to place the remaining glasses in front of the guests. He smiled and said, “This whiskey was something I brought back from abroad. It’s almost discontinued now. I wanted to let Yuanyi and Ah Rui try it.”

Zong Yuanyi took one of the glasses, and Tang Bin had no choice but to pick up the last one.

As soon as he held the glass, the sharp scent of alcohol filled his nose.

Tang Bin knew it was the kind of high-proof liquor that he wasn’t fond of.

At this point, Lin Xiang and Zong Yuanyi had already taken a sip of their drinks. When they saw Tang Bin hadn’t moved, Zong Yuanyi kindly explained, “Lin and I have spent a lot of time abroad, so we’re used to this. Ah Rui just turned 18 this year, so it’s normal for him to not be used to this kind of drink.”

“Ah Rui is only 18 this year?” Lin Xiang appeared somewhat surprised, but when Tang Bin looked at him, his expression had already returned to normal. As a film emperor, Lin Xiang was skilled at controlling his facial expressions. “What I mean is, although Ah Rui looks quite young, I’ve heard he’s very capable in business. It’s hard to believe he’s still a young man, haha…”

“Ah Rui is indeed very talented.” Before Tang Bin could speak, Zong Yuanyi continued, “Lin, you don’t know. Recently, many of our resources have been taken by Huayu. Everything’s going to that Lin Moning kid. Ah Rui really has genuine feelings for him…”

After all, as the heir of the Zong family, Zong Yuanyi spoke in a joking tone, even with a bit of playful teasing between old friends, making it hard to tell that he was criticizing anyone. His words sounded as casual as if he were drinking from his own cup of water.

As a result, the conversation didn’t falter. Film Emperor Lin smiled along and gave Tang Bin a deeper, more thoughtful look.

However, Tang Bin explained, “Huayu’s strong support for Lin Moning is for a reason. This is a business secret, and I’m not at liberty to share it with Young Master Zong.”

“As for whether I truly… love Lin Moning,” Tang Bin hesitated when he said these two words, suddenly feeling a bit shy, almost blushing. But he forced himself to continue, “Whether it’s true love or not, it has nothing to do with Young Master Zong.”

“Yo.” Zong Yuanyi, who had been openly rejected, still laughed without any sign of frustration. “I was just joking, Ah Rui, don’t be upset. The wine’s quite good, so you should try it. Don’t let Brother Lin’s kind gesture go to waste.”

Tang Bin glanced at the untouched glass in his hand but still held his breath and took a sip.

After all, it was to honor Film Emperor Lin.

But the drink was truly unpleasant. The strong alcohol burned as it went down, almost making him cough, but fortunately, the original owner had some experience with whiskey, so he didn’t end up choking.

His expression remained fairly composed, even though the taste was unbearable.

“Good, isn’t it?” Zong Yuanyi asked.

Tang Bin didn’t answer, but Film Emperor Lin, ever polite, said, “If you like it, drink some more. I don’t have anything else, but the alcohol is plentiful.”

Then, with a curious tone, he asked, “The Lin Moning you’re talking about, is he the one outside earlier?”

“Yes.”

“So that means he’s the rising star that Ah Rui is supporting? Why didn’t you bring him in?”

Even though he said this, Film Emperor Lin didn’t seem to have any intention of calling Lin Moning in at that moment.

“Brother Lin doesn’t know, but I’ve heard that Lin Moning is quite an interesting person…” Zong Yuanyi continued chatting cheerfully with Film Emperor Lin, but Tang Bin could no longer hear the conversation clearly.

After taking a sip of the drink, his head started to feel a bit dizzy. After a little while, his brain seemed to be buzzing, and Tang Bin realized that not only was his vision becoming blurry, but his hearing was also affected. He could no longer make out what Film Emperor Lin and Zong Yuanyi were saying.

His mind grew fuzzier and fuzzier, feeling drowsy and hot. Only then did Tang Bin realize that something was wrong.

Even though he didn’t like strong liquor and hadn’t drunk much of it, the original owner had some experience, and normally, he wouldn’t get drunk so quickly on whiskey.

And right now… he didn’t feel like he was drunk.

But how could this be?!

He was at Film Emperor Lin’s house! Lin Xiang was a renowned film emperor, highly respected in the industry. How could he possibly use such a method…?

Tang Bin’s thoughts became more fragmented. He tried to open his heavy eyelids, and through his blurred vision, he saw Zong Yuanyi standing up from his seat, leaning toward him…

“Ah Rui?”

Tang Bin heard him call out, and felt Zong Yuanyi’s hand wave in front of him.

But everything felt so heavy—his eyelids, his head, his limbs…

He couldn’t even lift a finger, let alone speak a full syllable.

What’s happening to me…? Tang Bin felt frantic inside, but it was of no use.

Just as his consciousness was about to slip away, his hearing suddenly seemed to return. He heard Zong Yuanyi say:

“Hey, Brother Lin, I really owe you a favor this time…”

Then he heard Film Emperor Lin’s voice: “This young man is drunk. You help Young Master Zong, and together, carry him to the guest room to rest.”

No, I’m not drunk, I’m not drunk…

Tang Bin tried to struggle, but his body was already being lifted. He couldn’t do anything.

He felt unbearably uncomfortable, as if he were a fish skewered on a wooden stick, roasting over a fire—so hot, so uncomfortable, and yet he couldn’t escape.

Finally, he was laid down on a soft bed.

But Tang Bin still felt like he was burning, and lying on the bed didn’t help. The burning sensation and the rushing, steamy heat made him lose all sense of reason. He wanted to break free from the restraints, desperately pulling at his collar, trying to rip off the buttons, hoping that it would help cool him down…

“I’ll take care of him here. You can leave now,” Zong Yuanyi said to the servants.

The servants didn’t object.

Anyone with eyes could tell what was going on with this young man.

But it wasn’t their business. The two servants exchanged a glance, then bowed to Zong Yuanyi, quietly left, and closed the door behind them.

Zong Yuanyi then locked the door from the inside. He turned around, his gaze landing on the person half-leaning on the bed, with flushed cheeks. His usual gentlemanly demeanor disappeared, replaced with a wicked smile.

He grinned as he sat at the edge of the bed, gently holding the chin of the person still struggling. His voice was hoarse as he said, “Ah Rui, you’re always so blunt and willful, showing everything on your face about whether you like someone or not.”

“Although you don’t like me… I actually like you just like this.”

“Don’t worry, Ah Rui, when you wake up tomorrow, you’ll only remember how much you like me, how much you love me…”

His eyes were filled with a sickly obsession, and he reached out his hand toward the collar of the person on the bed.

But before his hand could even touch the collar, the sound of a window shattering sharply cut through the air. Before Zong Yuanyi could react, he felt a sharp pain in his wrist and was knocked to the ground in shock!

A giant… dog? It wasn’t clear how, but a massive dog had crashed through the room’s tempered glass and protective bars and was now fiercely biting Zong Yuanyi’s wrist with lightning speed!

One second, two seconds, three seconds—Zong Yuanyi, stunned, stared into the eyes of the enormous dog for a full three seconds before reacting, letting out a scream of pain—

“Ah!!”

The scream, full of agony, immediately caught the attention of the servants and the maids outside the door. Even Tang Bin, whose consciousness had been slipping away, was startled back to his senses by the loud cry.

Tang Bin instinctively opened his eyes, though only a sliver. His vision was blurry, but it was enough to see… a large, fluffy, yet fiercely imposing dog? It was gnawing at Zong Yuanyi with such ferocity, its eyes filled with anger, as though contemplating whether it should just bite off Young Master Zong’s hand in one go.

Forget about Zong Yuanyi—Tang Bin, even in his disoriented state, almost wanted to scream himself.

The dog was at least two meters tall, its massive body taking up most of the room. He had never seen such a large dog before.

…Am I starting to hallucinate? Tang Bin wondered uncertainly, feeling the heavy, fuzzy sensation returning. The burning heat spread through his body again, and he couldn’t help but groan.

The soft, small, and pitiful sound successfully captured the giant dog’s attention. The furry giant beast finally released Zong Yuanyi’s bloodied hand and turned its head toward the person lying on the bed, radiating a flush of warmth.

In the next moment, it opened its mouth and grabbed onto Tang Bin’s clothes, quickly pulling him through the shattered window and running out with the speed of the wind.

“…Ahhh!” Zong Yuanyi watched as the person was carried away but couldn’t even think of stopping it.

His hand was on the verge of being severed. He had never suffered such an injury in his life. The shock caused him to scream out repeatedly.

“Young Master Zong? Are you okay?” the bodyguards, who had been called to the scene, asked from outside the door. However, because the door had been locked from the inside, they couldn’t open it and had to resort to forcefully breaking the door down.

But it would take time.

By the time they managed to break the door down, Zong Yuanyi was already lying in a pool of blood, clutching his mangled hand, on the verge of death.

—

Tang Bin, who had been carried away, felt like he was flying.

The speed was so fast, and they were probably high up, with the wind blowing fiercely, which helped to cool down the heat in his body and provided him with a brief sense of relief.

Finally, he felt a bit better.

Tang Bin, feeling a bit aggrieved, thought to himself. Just as that thought crossed his mind, he suddenly felt a sharp drop, followed by his body crashing onto a hard surface.

The reason he felt like he was lying on the ground was because he smelled the earthy scent of mud.

He was a little angry and also helpless, but before he could open his eyes to see where he was, the heat surged again, accompanied by a deeply uncomfortable itch from deep within his body. Tang Bin, unable to bear it, rolled on the ground before finally collapsing on the grass, exhausted.

He finally opened his eyes.

In his blurry vision, he saw a hazy figure. Tang Bin thought he was hallucinating again.

—He saw Lin Moning standing next to him, his eyes cold and filled with anger, just a step away.

Lin Moning often had a serious expression, and when he frowned, he could look quite intimidating.

But never had he looked this cold, this fierce.

Tang Bin was frightened by the murderous aura and trembled all over. He then felt even worse.

The unbearable sensation drove Tang Bin to use his arms to drag himself closer to Lin Moning, inching his body toward him.

He was in so much discomfort, so desperate to be freed from it.

He reached up and clung to Lin Moning’s leg, lifting his face, flushed and struggling, to look up at him.

But Lin Moning still seemed angry.

…He stood there, unmoving.

Tang Bin felt a rush of desperation and was on the verge of tears.

“Hurts…hurts so much…please, please…wuu wuu wuu…”

A tear slid down from the corner of his eye, completely a physiological tear, but his little appearance was so pitiful that it was hard to describe how wronged he felt.

Lin Moning squinted his eyes and finally moved.

It was raining.

Tang Bin felt as if he had been transported to the sea.

A violent storm raged across the sea.

He was tossed up and down by the waves, with heavy raindrops relentlessly battering his face. He had no choice but to cling tightly, wrapping his limbs around the only piece of driftwood he could rely on, pressing his body tightly against it to prevent himself from being swept away by the powerful waves.

After a while— or perhaps it had been a long time— Tang Bin felt the storm subside, and he found himself in a warm, vast ocean.

Exhausted, he relaxed his grip, letting his limbs go limp, resting his body against the warm bed behind him, as if he were soaking in a hot spring. The warm water gently flowed over him in waves, washing away the fatigue from his body…

Although Tang Bin couldn’t remember the last time he had soaked in a hot spring.

But at least he finally felt comfortable.

Comfortable enough to fall into a deep sleep…

“Mmm…”

Tang Bin had a dream.

The dream was bizarre and surreal. At least, after he woke up, he didn’t remember anything.

But it felt strangely familiar.

It must have been a beautiful dream, because when he opened his eyes and sat up from the bed, he felt an unprecedented sense of well-being.

It was a feeling he had never experienced before…

But wait!

How did he end up back in his own bed?!

Tang Bin suddenly realized, frantically trying to recall what had happened before he fell asleep…

His memories came flooding back. Although many fragments were hazy and unclear, he didn’t have complete amnesia about what had happened…

So…

Tang Bin scrambled off the bed, only to realize his limbs were sore and weak. His waist and a certain private area were in excruciating pain.

“Hiss…”

The sharp pain made it difficult for him to land smoothly. Tang Bin almost fell to the ground, but just as his body was about to hit the floor, two strong and powerful arms caught him. In the next moment, he was lifted up and gently placed back onto the bed.

“…” Tang Bin exclaimed in surprise, “Lin… Lin Moning…!”

“Hmm.” Lin Moning’s attitude seemed even colder now.

It was as if he were as cold as ice.

Tang Bin, who was being looked at from above by Lin Moning, was not only surprised but almost losing his mind.

Everything was too chaotic.

Tang Bin couldn’t understand how Zong Yuanyi had dared to… and he couldn’t understand why someone as influential as Lin Xiang would help Zong Yuanyi harm him.

Of course, what confused him even more at that moment was how he had been carried away by a dog earlier, yet somehow, he ended up with Lin Moning instead.

The dog shouldn’t have been fake.

After all, Young Master Zong had bled a lot from the bite, and his screams… Tang Bin could still remember them. There was no way that could have been fake.

Lin Moning also shouldn’t have been fake.

After all… the scene of him clinging to Lin Moning like a lifeline was so vivid that Tang Bin couldn’t forget it even if he tried.

“Uh…” Tang Bin hesitated, not good at lying or hiding his feelings. He’d been holding it in for a long time but finally asked, “So… you were that dog?”

—

It was hard to tell if it was his imagination, but after asking, the entire room fell into an almost suffocating silence.

Tang Bin cautiously observed Lin Moning’s expression, not daring to speak.

After what felt like a long time, Lin Moning finally spoke.

His tone was no longer as cold, his voice slightly trembling, and Tang Bin could hear that Lin Moning was almost laughing at him.

Lin Moning said, “Not a dog, a wolf.”

He even bared his teeth.

“…Alright.” Tang Bin blinked. Given how chaotic everything had been, it was understandable that he hadn’t paid attention to details.

Moreover, he didn’t have any clear images of wolves in his mind and didn’t really know the difference between wolves and dogs.

So if Lin Moning said it was a wolf… then it must be a wolf.

“So you’re a wolf spirit? No, what was the term… werewolf?”

Lin Moning corrected him, “…I’m a wolf king.”

Tang Bin: “…Oh.”

“Then, was that your real form yesterday? How did you know I was in danger? Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

“Didn’t expect you to grow up so big. Oh, by the way, did you save me? Thank you!” Tang Bin said sincerely.

He didn’t know why, but once he connected Lin Moning with the mighty wolf from yesterday… he felt like the other person was so fluffy and warm, much more familiar and less intimidating than before, almost like his own pet Haha.

More importantly, Lin Moning’s favorability had skyrocketed to 98.

Although he didn’t know why, it didn’t stop Tang Bin from feeling happy!

Tang Bin, feeling happy, momentarily forgot the discomfort in his body, but as soon as he moved slightly, the memories of what had happened earlier flooded back. His face turned red, and he suddenly felt so embarrassed that he wanted to bury himself under the blanket.

And so, he did.

Lin Moning, still standing at the bedside, watched as Tang Bin babbled on and then awkwardly maneuvered himself to hide under the blanket. He couldn’t help but feel a bit speechless.

At that moment, Tang Bin peeked out from under the blanket and blinked at him. “So… what exactly happened yesterday?”

He would have been fine not mentioning it, but as soon as he did, Lin Moning got angry.

He had already felt that Zong Yuanyi kept approaching with the intention of being alone with his litter box cleaner.

Curious about what he actually wanted, Lin Moning had pretended to allow his litter box cleaner to leave for a moment, just to see what that persistent Zong guy would do.

What he didn’t expect was… that shameless person…

Lin Moning was so angry that he immediately transformed back into his true form!

Before, he had always thought his litter box cleaner was a person of some standing. At least the Luo family wasn’t just for show, and no one should dare to touch him.

But to think… this person had no fear at all!

Lin Moning trembled with rage, thinking he had gone too easy on him yesterday.

He was also angry at Lin Xiang, who was nothing but a minor figure from the Lin family’s side branch. Just because he had become a movie king and had some fans, he thought he could act like a big shot in the circle and even dared to touch his people…

Of course, Lin Moning was even angrier at Tang Bin. Why did he drink whatever others gave him so easily, without any caution…

But he had to admit, if it weren’t for that anger, yesterday’s scene wouldn’t have happened.

And it wouldn’t have made him realize…

Lin Moning licked his lips. The person who had re-entered the blanket on the bed hadn’t wrapped himself properly. His shoulders and thighs were exposed, and he was looking at Lin Moning with innocent, obedient eyes… completely unaware of how much of a temptation this was to him…

Lin Moning’s eyes darkened, as though he was contemplating how to handle such an alluring sight.

This decision seemed to be difficult for him.

Just as Lin Moning was feeling conflicted, a series of footsteps suddenly sounded from outside the door, followed by a knock.

“Baby?” A warm, feminine voice mixed with the knocking came through the door. Tang Bin instinctively pulled himself further into the blanket.

The voice belonged to Madam Luo, his current mother!

Although she was often naive and unaware of many things, he still knew that if she saw the scene inside the room right now… things would get complicated!

“Baby? Why haven’t you come out for breakfast? Are you not feeling well? Open the door for Mom.”

The knocking continued, and Madam Luo clearly knew he was inside, her tone filled with concern.

Tang Bin knew that in just a moment, if he didn’t respond, Madam Luo would unlock the door with a key.

So, he shouted toward the door, “…Mom, I just woke up late. Please wait a moment…”

His voice sounded noticeably hoarse compared to usual.

Madam Luo’s voice sounded strange, but there was more concern than anything else as she said, “When did you come back last night? Open the door and let Mom in.”

“Oh, okay… I’ll be right there,” Tang Bin quickly got out of bed, scrambling to find something to wear from the wardrobe. As he passed by the mirror, he caught a glimpse of the marks all over his body, even on his neck… A wave of despair rose in his heart.

He didn’t know why, but despite having a clear goal of being with the male lead in this world, he couldn’t control himself. He wanted to consider the feelings of the Luo family, not wanting to disappoint his parents and grandmother…

Tang Bin pulled out a two-piece pajama set from the wardrobe and, while putting it on, anxiously glanced at Lin Moning. Thinking his room had an en suite bathroom, he wanted to tell Lin Moning to hide there.

But just then, an unforgettable scene unfolded before his eyes. Lin Moning rapidly changed, shrinking in size at a visible rate. His clothes became loose and too large until they completely collapsed onto the floor.

Then, with a “howl,” a fluffy little creature emerged from the pile of clothes—two raised eyes, ears standing up, a snout protruding, and a cute expression between its brows…

This was his beloved dog, Haha!

Tang Bin froze in place. At the exact moment, Madam Luo managed to open the door, turning the handle to enter.

Along with her came the nanny, who had been responsible for looking after Haha when Tang Bin wasn’t around. Upon seeing Haha sitting on the floor, she sighed in relief and said, “We noticed the little thing was gone last night. We searched the whole yard for a long time but couldn’t find it. Looks like it ran back to the young master’s room to hide, just as we thought!”

The nanny continued with a more helpless tone, “This little thing is too lazy, unlike the other dogs. Other people’s dogs are always running around waiting to be walked, but not it. It doesn’t like to play in the yard, only likes to stay in the young master’s room.”

Tang Bin: “…”

The lazy dog: “…”

“By the way, when did the young master come back yesterday?”

“Huh?” Tang Bin’s eyes widened. He didn’t know how to answer this question and could only look helplessly at Lin… Oh, no, at Haha.

Haha sat there, panting with its tongue out, a perfectly stable dog, seemingly completely detached from the world. It didn’t seem to understand anything around it.

Of course, the nanny was just asking casually.

With the dog found, the nanny was relieved and mumbled as she went to prepare breakfast for Haha.

Madam Luo then took a moment to ask Tang Bin how he was feeling, but Tang Bin, worried that his mother might notice the marks on his neck, quickly crawled back into bed and wrapped himself tightly. He told her he had gone to a party yesterday, came back late, and hadn’t woken up properly yet, asking Madam Luo not to worry.

Madam Luo, surprised by how thoughtful her son had become after working hard recently, didn’t want to disturb him and, after a few words of reassurance, quickly left.

The room was left with one person and one dog, staring at each other for a long time. Then, with a “bang,” the dog on the floor transformed back into Lin Moning.

Lin Moning still didn’t show much expression, simply going about dressing himself in a calm and methodical manner.

However, his expression wasn’t as composed as usual. He carefully observed the person on the bed, his gaze mirroring the same apprehensive look Haha often had when it knew it had done something wrong.