As soon as he took a bite, he realized it—this breakfast was even better than it looked. Even though Li Chu ate carefully, normally indifferent to food, he found himself unable to lift his head from the meal.

It wasn’t surprising that Su Ning could cook, and cook well. After all, when he first entered the industry, he started from the bottom as an assistant, managing everything on his own. In the early days, the artists he worked with weren’t instantly famous. He practically had to handle every detail of their lives himself, from food to clothing, housing to transportation.

Many artists are picky with food, especially since they have to maintain a strict diet for body management. However, when they’re not eating enough, their mood and health both take a hit. So Su Ning had specifically learned to cook as a work skill he acquired early on.

As Li Chu ate with his head down, Su Ning took a few closer looks at him.

When people are hungry, they tend to ignore everything else—especially someone as young as Li Chu. Li Chu was only in his early twenties, about the same age as most trainees the company hired. Eating quietly like this, he resembled a little bunny nibbling on a carrot. Despite that, his appetite was still small; after a long time, he had only eaten a bit.

Su Ning was observing him at that moment, and Li Chu was also observing him.

As he was eating, Li Chu started to slow down and sneaked glances at Su Ning, who was sitting opposite him. The young master had evidently woken up early; he had already finished eating and was engrossed in his phone with a slight frown. Li Chu couldn’t see what he was looking at.

After a while, Su Ning seemed to have accidentally turned on a voice message, and the next second, the content of the conversation came out loud and clear.

“If you mess with me again, I’ll beat the crap out of you! You got yourself into such big trouble—where the hell are you? Get your ass to the company right now!”

“For the press conference today, memorize the script well. Apologize properly, and if you mess up even one word, I’ll break your legs and freeze all your bank accounts!”

The voice was full of vigor, roaring in anger like someone scolding their son, though it wasn’t Su Ning’s parents.

Though, as a low-level trainee with little contact with the company’s higher-ups, Li Chu was aware of basic information that wasn’t exactly a secret.

Su Ning’s father, the former chairman of Guang Ying Entertainment, Su Honghui, passed away last year due to illness. Su Ning’s mother had died even earlier, so most of the shares and assets were left to Su Ning, the only son, according to the will. A small portion of the shares and temporary management rights went to Su Ning’s uncle, Su Hongda.

However, Su Ning’s reputation as an incompetent young master led to Su Hongda taking the chairman position instead. Su Hongda was known to be a domineering character.

There were probably more angry words in the voice message, but Su Ning quickly cut it off, leaving the loud scolding to die out.

“Kids shouldn’t listen to this,” Su Ning remarked, looking at Li Chu. “Just focus on eating.”

Li Chu: “…”

You’re only three or four years older than me. We’re both adults, so who’s the kid here?

Stupid jerk, hope you get cursed to death.

“Yes, Young Master, you should eat more, too,” Li Chu replied obediently, though he was inwardly cursing him.

You’ll be in for it today, thought Li Chu mischievously.

Given Su Hongda’s temper, Su Ning’s current situation didn’t look great. His controversies weren’t calming down and were actually worsening; even bowing his head in apology might not change things.

This was what Li Chu had wanted to see, but strangely, he couldn’t help feeling a little stifled inside, perhaps because he hadn’t accomplished what he intended yesterday. He comforted himself with this thought.

Meanwhile, Su Ning looked utterly calm, showing no signs of panic. Li Chu couldn’t tell if it was genuine or just an act.

This morning, he didn’t get much time to talk to Su Ning. After breakfast, as promised, Su Ning took him back.

Su Ning was unexpectedly thorough in his arrangements, even preparing two sets of new clothes at some point. After breakfast, Li Chu changed out of his sleepwear into one of the outfits, which fit perfectly. The other set was packed for him, with Su Ning reminding him, “Yesterday’s shoes and pants should be thrown out; don’t wear them again. Consider this my compensation.”

As Su Ning was saying this, the car had already arrived downstairs to pick him up—but there were two cars.

Li Chu looked up, blinked, and asked in a soft voice, “Young Master, aren’t you coming back to the company with me?”

“I’ll naturally return to the company,” Su Ning replied, “but for now, you’d better keep your distance from me.”

Li Chu, backpack on, wanted to say something but swallowed it down, replying dryly, “…Oh.”

Su Ning watched him get into the car, which Guang Ying Entertainment had arranged, with specific instructions to the driver.

As an established company in the entertainment industry, they knew what to do. The car left through the back exit, taking a long detour before returning to Guang Ying Entertainment. The company had rented solo dorms for trainees nearby, so since Li Chu hadn’t debuted, no one outside would notice his whereabouts.

For an undiscovered trainee, this level of treatment was unprecedented. At first, he hadn’t realized why such measures were necessary and thought Su Ning was overreacting. But once back in his dorm, he retrieved his phone from behind his pillow.

Since he’d anticipated going to that kind of place yesterday, he’d brought a cheap backup phone, which had been easily found by those people as a decoy.

The small phone with its basic functions could only send messages, unable to receive internet updates. Once his real phone turned on, Li Chu first messaged Zhou Chunqing to let him know he was safe, then the trending news from yesterday flooded in.

Even now, Su Ning’s scandal was still trending online, tangled with the positive spotlight on Shen Huai.

Shen Huai…

Li Chu lingered on Shen Huai’s profile for a while, staring at that gentle-looking face with a murky expression. Sitting on his bed, he muttered to himself, “It’s not my fault; Su Ning brought this on himself.”

The one being cursed on trending searches was his true self; the kindness from last night was just an act, a sugar-coated bombshell. None of it was real.

Li Chu kept repeating this in his mind until he gradually felt calmer.

He knew the young master’s true nature and didn’t believe a person could change overnight. Even the bag Su Ning had packed with new clothes didn’t deserve to be kept. Li Chu had planned to throw it away, but as he picked it up, he heard something inside—a sound that suggested more than just clothes. Too preoccupied with other thoughts, he hadn’t noticed it during the trip.

After hesitating for a moment, Li Chu opened the bag.

Inside was a thermos he didn’t remember packing, giving off a faint herbal smell, topped with a handful of chubby goji berries. It smelled similar to the tea he’d had last night, but with a richer aroma, as if more ingredients had been added.

There was also an insulated bag containing two sandwiches, still warm. A label was stuck on it that read, “Lunch. Remember to eat.”

Li Chu: …

He fell silent once again.

Goji berries in a thermos. What an old man’s hobby.

And I’m a grown adult. Can’t I make my own lunch? Does he really think I’m a toddler?

Wait, why did I say “again”?

Li Chu furiously threw a few air punches around the dorm.

Now, he finally looked like someone in his early twenties.

Since last night, Su Ning seemed to have many quirks, as if someone else had taken over his body.

Li Chu glared at the items Su Ning had given him for a long time, like he had done with the trench coat last night, wanting to toss them out but ultimately didn’t.

When he checked the trending searches, he noticed something apart from the public’s anger—Su Ning hadn’t exposed him to divert attention or explained anything about last night’s events. This left Li Chu completely out of the public eye, without any backlash.

He paced around his small dorm room, frustrated. The items Su Ning had given him were left untouched, but they were out of sight, out of mind. Like usual, he changed clothes and headed to the company’s dance studio.

The dorm was just a five-minute walk from the company building, and when he reached the elevator, he saw the ever-present Su Ning coming through the main entrance.

They’d only been apart for less than an hour, but now Su Ning was surrounded by people—Public Relations Director Yao Xiaolan and a few other staff members were hastily briefing him on various matters.

Outside the main door, a crowd of reporters and media were blocked by security. The entire scene was noisy, with camera flashes continuously lighting up the background.

In the midst of this chaotic scene, Su Ning stood tall in the center, his face and height making him stand out even more. He’d added a suit jacket, making him look more formal.

As he walked forward, the camera lights in the background seemed to cast a glow around him, like a scene straight out of a movie.

…Completely unlike the middle-aged man who stuffed sandwiches, goji berries, and strange herbal tea into a bag this morning.

The other people around the elevator retreated a few steps in silence at this display, including Li Chu, who also moved back.

However, he hadn’t retreated far enough, and the shifting crowd pushed him to the front.

As regular employees, they had to wait for the elevator, while Su Ning used the exclusive one, so he walked right past them.

When the private elevator doors closed, Li Chu saw Su Ning turn and look at him through the glass, frowning slightly.

Several people around them avoided looking up, but Li Chu dared to meet his gaze. He thought Su Ning seemed to mouth something, and from the lip movements, it looked like, “Dressed too lightly.”

Li Chu was in his usual dance attire, indeed a bit thin for the weather, especially since it was a short-sleeved shirt. It was much lighter than the outfit Su Ning had given him in the morning.

Li Chu: …Yan Shanting.

In a daze, he thought he saw glimpses of a parental figure in Su Ning. The next thing he might do would be to offer a set of thermal underwear.

But the elevator doors soon closed, and that feeling vanished.

The people around him exhaled in relief and started whispering, gossiping about yesterday’s scandal.

“The press conference is probably starting soon, right? And the young master is only arriving at the company now?”

“I saw some influencer accounts saying that Su Ning isn’t planning to quit the show. He’s been securely in the debut lineup, and this season of Idol Star Map has high ratings. With a few popular contestants in the top ranks, the debut group is guaranteed to get attention. He wouldn’t want to give up such an opportunity.”

Li Chu had seen this on the trending page as well, with several accounts associated with Jiang Chenfeng stirring up controversy. Even some official accounts had joined in. Jiang Chenfeng was bitter and confident that Su Ning wouldn’t quit the competition, using this as leverage to fan the flames. Influencers all asserted they had insider information, fueling public outrage against Guang Ying Entertainment and the program’s producers.

In the elevator, Li Chu could still hear people behind him discussing quietly.

“I saw in the group chat that Teacher Shen Huai arrived half an hour ago. He’s probably here to support him at the press conference.”

“Wow, Shen Huai! I really want to meet him.”

At the mention of this name, there was a small wave of excitement in the elevator, as no one could resist Shen Huai’s appeal.

But Li Chu still frowned.

This guy was even worse than Su Ning.

At least…at least Su Ning made herbal tea with goji berries, and his cooking was pretty good.

This wasn’t something he was in a position to comment on, but the thought wouldn’t leave him, while the people behind continued gossiping.

“It’s become such a scandal outside, yet he still plans to debut? Seriously? Our company would actually protect him?”

“Why not? Didn’t you see the fans trying to clean up his image yesterday? Besides, he’s Chairman Su’s biological son. A little scandal won’t actually push him out. You’re new to this industry, aren’t you?”

“True enough. Sigh, our company has no morals—might as well go bankrupt.”

Public opinion was sometimes critical, sometimes trivial.

Based on past experience, everyone within the company was certain Su Ning wouldn’t quit. A simple press conference apology would suffice; once the public’s anger died down, the matter would pass.

There wasn’t any direct evidence of coercion, and other issues like bullying, low scores, a bad temper, and poor skills weren’t illegal. Plenty of stars with broken images were still hanging on in the industry, and Su Ning’s background was formidable.

Su Ning himself was well aware of this. If he were to quit, the official social media account would have announced it yesterday to quell the public’s anger. Holding a press conference today and preparing an emotional apology script clearly indicated they didn’t want him to leave.

That morning, he’d already met with the Public Relations Director, Yao Xiaolan, who had stayed up all night dealing with this mess, her eyes bloodshot.

Yet, despite her anger, she had to restrain herself when speaking with the young master. All the way, she kept reminding him to stay calm at the press conference, be sincere, and that the media present were all briefed. As long as he handled it well, there was still room to turn things around.

“No need to be too nervous,” she said. “Teacher Shen Huai will also be on stage. He’ll represent the production team, and he’ll do most of the talking to help you.”

Su Ning asked, “Teacher Shen…Shen Huai?”

“Yes,” Yao Xiaolan’s stiff face softened slightly at the mention of him. “If it weren’t for his statement yesterday, we’d be in a terrible situation. This press conference was his idea, to show the public we’re being open and sincere. He’s been a great help—he’s truly a good person.”

A good person?

Su Ning chuckled.

And you’re still laughing? Pathetic.

Yao Xiaolan silently cursed him in her mind but cautiously glanced at his expression, carefully asking, “Is there anything else you need?”

Surprisingly attentive and uncharacteristically calm, he responded with an unusually patient attitude.

“No, I understand,” she heard Su Ning say as he turned to her. “Don’t worry. I’ll handle the press conference myself. This situation is entirely due to my actions; whatever happens, it’s my personal responsibility. If things go poorly, the PR department won’t be blamed, so there’s no need for you to worry.”

Yao Xiaolan was genuinely taken aback by his response.

To be honest, she still didn’t have any fondness for the young master—she was only doing this for her paycheck. Yet, his willingness to shoulder responsibility was unexpected.

But then Su Ning added, “Just one small request.”

Of course, she thought. This rogue was only putting on a front, and she braced herself for his inevitable demand.

Su Ning continued, “I noticed that the new trainees are still wearing such thin clothes in this cold weather. It doesn’t look good—let’s get them some warmer outfits.”

He’d noticed the Guang Ying logo on Li Chu’s clothing earlier, probably company-issued. It looked like summer wear, and he felt chilly just seeing it.

Yao Xiaolan: …That’s it?

It was completely unrelated to today’s matter, and she didn’t understand why he suddenly cared about this. She knew he never wore company-issued clothes himself. Slightly bewildered but realizing it was about time for new clothing anyway, she nodded.

As they spoke, they arrived at the door of the president’s office. Su Ning opened the door, and the room instantly went silent.

He had barely stepped inside when a plastic water bottle flew toward him. Quick to react, he dodged, the bottle passing right by his cheek as a booming voice, much like the breakfast voice message, sounded beside him.

“You little bastard! How dare you show up here?!”

Ignoring the outburst, Su Ning turned and surveyed the room.

He was the last to arrive. The Idol Star Map production team was already present, as well as several board members who had assembled to address the matter. The person seated in the center was his uncle, Su Hongda, who had just hurled the bottle.

The man appeared to be in his mid-forties, with a square face and an intense demeanor. He slammed his hand down on the table and yelled, “What are you standing there for? You disgraceful brat, get over here and apologize!”

He even rolled up his sleeves, as if preparing to strike. The board members restrained him, trying to calm him down.

“There’s no need for this; he’s still just a kid.”

“Chairman Su, don’t get so worked up—you need to watch your health.”

If the original Su Ning were here, he’d surely explode in frustration and argue back. But now, he simply stood there, head slightly bowed, and said, “You’re right; this is all my fault. I apologize to everyone.”

His easy admission surprised even Su Hongda, who paused in shock.

At that moment, others in the room began speaking up, attempting to smooth things over.

Shen Huai, seated in the center, exuded the same gentle demeanor seen online, kindly advising, “It’s good that Xiao Ning realizes his mistake. He’s young and a bit thoughtless, but we should give him the chance to learn from this.”

But Su Ning’s attention wasn’t on him.

It was on Shen Mingzheng.

Shen Mingzheng was also there.

He’d quietly settled in behind the production team members, focusing on some papers in his hand, seemingly detached from the commotion around him.

He wore a simple suit. Though seated off to the side, he was the first to catch Su Ning’s eye.

Good-looking people always stand out like that.