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Chapter 23 – Like Being Stripped Bare…

The shallow wound she had accidentally inflicted was long gone, the injury already treated. Lin Keying hadn’t given it a second thought and had even forgotten about it entirely. But now, she was stunned by the man’s sudden action.

Her fiancé had kissed her finger!

The once cool pad of his finger grew warm, the rising heat threatening to melt her entirely, drowning out all the words of protest she had prepared to say.

Lin Keying could barely feel her finger anymore—only a jolt like electricity surged from her fingertip through her whole body, leaving her breath unsteady and her heart racing.

After an unknown length of time, the man slowly raised his head and looked straight at her. His eyes were as dark as polished onyx, deep and unfathomable like a bottomless lake, capable of pulling someone in and drowning them.

Lin Keying twitched her right index finger. It seemed to still carry the warmth and breath of the man. The heat made her scalp tingle, and she instinctively withdrew her hand.

Most of the staff at Huanyu Tower had already left for the day. Outside the general manager’s office was quiet. Inside, only the two of them remained, staring silently at each other.

Cheng Wanting was handsome, but his current gaze was far too aggressive—like a hunter eyeing his prey. It reminded Lin Keying of how decisive and ruthless he had been during the Kowloon Warehouse negotiations, determined to seize victory.

His gaze was so intense that Lin Keying could barely bear it. She felt exposed, as if completely naked under his eyes, unable to hide anything—her identity, her secrets—nothing was safe.

Her legs weakened. She could barely stay standing.

Her step backward happened almost unconsciously. She steadied herself with her right hand on the desk, but accidentally knocked over some documents and a pen. The dull thud on the floor snapped her out of her panicked daze.

“I…” Lin Keying instinctively sensed danger and turned to leave. “I’m going back now.”

Not waiting to see his reaction, she fled the enclosed office. Only once she was safely inside the private elevator did she finally breathe a sigh of relief.

It was then she realized her cheeks were flushed and burning. In the reflective metal of the elevator wall, she saw her blushing face—radiant and glowing like a blooming peach blossom.

When she returned by car to the Mid-levels villa, Lin Keying went straight to her room to rest. Too much had happened that day—the high-stakes scramble for Kowloon Warehouse, having her finger held in his mouth in the office… and that intense, predatory gaze at the end…

Lin Keying consoled herself: after all, she was a fraud. That feeling of being stripped bare, completely exposed, was probably just guilt over her stolen identity after time-traveling.

That night, the Mid-levels villa turned off its lights early. Cheng Wanting didn’t return until nearly dawn.

Uncle Zhong and Aunt Hua saw that the young master seemed to have stayed up all night and rushed to check on him.

Cheng Wanting appeared in good spirits and only asked, “Has Miss Lin gotten up yet?”

Aunt Hua, while preparing breakfast, reported, “No, would you like me to wake her?”

“No need.” Cheng Wanting walked into the living room and casually hung his suit jacket. “Let her rest.”

…

Lin Keying slept soundly and woke up to bright morning sun.

Her stomach grumbled in protest. She got dressed and went to wash up, just in time to smell the rich aroma of seafood soup Aunt Hua was preparing. She took a deep breath—it smelled delicious.

“Miss Lin, the young master is waiting for you to eat together,” Aunt Hua said while bustling around with two other maids to set the table, then went upstairs to knock on the study door.

Lin Keying’s heart skipped. Why was her fiancé still home at this hour?

…

At the long rectangular dining table, Lin Keying sat beside her fiancé. The moment she saw him, her right index finger began to itch again, as if his warmth and breath were still lingering there.

She quickly withdrew her hand and focused on her food.

The TV in the living room was reporting on yesterday’s Kowloon Warehouse takeover, covering the events in appropriate detail.

Lin Keying pricked up her ears to listen. She had participated deeply in a multi-billion project—yet the news didn’t mention her at all.

Not even a vague phrase like “female assistant” was used.

She peeked at the man calmly eating beside her and quietly gave him a glare.

Cheng Wanting, as if he had eyes on the back of his head, casually said, “Director Wan has ties to some shady groups. It’s better for you to stay out of the spotlight.”

Of course, there was another reason—one he kept to himself.

Lin Keying put down her chopsticks, understanding what he implied. She accepted it without argument.

But then she noticed he hadn’t appeared on TV either. Instead, Huanyu’s deputy GM had given the interview. Curious, she asked, “You’re not appearing either?”

“No.” Cheng Wanting answered naturally. “I never appear on camera. No TV program or magazine in all of Hong Kong has my photo.”

Lin Keying pouted and muttered, “You’re really good at staying low-key.”

After lunch, before heading out, Cheng Wanting invited Lin Keying, “I’m going to discuss the stock transfer details with Mr. Guo. Want to come?”

After all, she was the one who discovered that Guo Changda was nearby and had helped make the initial two-minute phone call that eventually persuaded him to transfer the stock.

Lin Keying shook her head quickly. “I’ll pass. You two go ahead.”

After yesterday’s incident, she wasn’t eager to be alone with her fiancé again. That intensely possessive look of his was still fresh in her mind.

Until now, he’d only kissed her in proper places. Who would’ve thought he’d kiss her finger? She wondered if he had other unusual habits… The thought alone made her blush furiously.

Once he left, Lin Keying also went out to check the renovation progress of Phase II of the Mid-levels villas.

The villa was nearly complete—clean white walls made the already spacious home feel even more open. Floor-to-ceiling windows gave an unobstructed view of the garden and swimming pool.

Beige and light apricot-colored furniture had started arriving, perfectly complementing the villa’s fresh style. The sight alone lifted her spirits.

Lin Keying wandered through the villa, practically itching to move in immediately.

The surrounding Mid-levels area also had several luxury villas already open for pre-sale, mostly to the wealthy and influential.

Recently, many families were preparing to move into their fully furnished homes. One such villa diagonally across from Lin Keying’s had already been occupied.

As she walked past on her way to a dessert shop, she caught sight of a mother and daughter talking in the garden. Their conversation drifted over, just loud enough for her to catch bits of it.

“Mom, Young Master Cheng doesn’t even want to see me. How am I supposed to marry into that family?” the young woman muttered, annoyed.

“Lixin, haven’t I taught you anything? Men must be pursued,” the elegant and well-dressed middle-aged woman lectured. “The Cheng family is one of the most powerful in Hong Kong, and the young master is very capable. He just took over Kowloon Warehouse! Marrying a man like that ensures you a lifetime of wealth and comfort.”

She continued, “This time, the Chen family’s daughter-in-law helped us with the setup. You have no idea how much effort I put into this. You must seize the chance. Get close to Cheng Wanting’s sister, Cheng Min—build a relationship, then find ways to get near him. I’ve even heard some insider info: apparently, there’s a female secretary beside Cheng Wanting now.”

Jiang Lixin was stunned. “But isn’t he supposed to avoid women? Doesn’t he have a spotless reputation? How is there a female secretary now?”

Liu Xiu’e wasn’t surprised. “What man doesn’t enjoy the company of women? The fact that there’s a woman now means you have an opening! Who knows what kind of seductress she is—she must be really skilled to make Cheng Wanting break his own rules.”

After a moment’s thought, Liu Xiu’e made up her mind. “I’ll ask your aunt to get you a job at Huanyu. The Chen and Cheng families are close—getting you in shouldn’t be hard. If you can squeeze out that woman and become Cheng Wanting’s secretary yourself, wouldn’t that make winning him twice as easy?”

---

Jiang Lixin became excited after being reminded by her mother.
“Alright!” she exclaimed.

++++

The fake secretary, Lin Keying, had no idea that her villa neighbors were gossiping about her behind her back. At the moment, she was at the dessert shop settling the month’s earnings with Sister He.

Since the dessert shop opened, customer flow had been stable and business was booming. They were often so busy the place would be packed. Lin Keying had already asked Sister He to hire two more waitstaff to help ease the load.

Over the past three months, Sister He and her husband had made decent money—so much so that they’d saved up a ten percent down payment for an apartment and were now planning to buy a home by the end of the year.

“That’s wonderful,” Lin Keying said. “Once you move into your own place, you can manage it however you want.”

She had originally offered to let them stay in one of her rental units, but Sister He was focused solely on working hard. Plus, the public housing they were in now was closer to both the dessert shop and the wholesale market. She had her eyes set on buying a home before moving, so she declined Lin Keying’s offer to take advantage.

Sister He was cooking mango coconut sago, a new item recently introduced to the menu that had become quite popular. As she stirred continuously, she chatted with Lin Keying.

“Tingting and Ah Qiang have never had rooms of their own. They don’t say anything, but I know—they envy their classmates who live in big homes.”

Lin Keying, who only collected the money and didn’t contribute much else, was fully reassured seeing how well the dessert shop was doing.

“When you move into your new place, I’ll have to gift you a big appliance. Let Tingting pick it… Wait, where is Tingting?”

The little girl used to love hanging around the dessert shop during her free time, even doing her homework there.

Sister He smiled. “Lately, I don’t know what she’s been up to. She pointed at the TV and said she wants to be a singer and actress, and go into acting.”

Hong Kong’s entertainment industry was thriving. The late ’80s and early ’90s were the golden era of Cantonese TV, film, and music, so it was no surprise that many had dreams of becoming stars.

Lin Keying got up and headed toward Sister He’s public housing unit.
“Tingting’s got ambition, huh? If she really becomes famous, I better get an autograph.”

…

Sister He’s public housing unit was cramped and small, but it held the dreams of everyday people.

When Lin Keying arrived, Tingting was hunched over the entertainment section of the newspaper, flipping through it over and over again. She didn’t even notice someone had entered.

“Tingting, are you really planning to become a big star?” Lin Keying scooped the girl up and took her along to pick curtains, tablecloths, and other décor items for the villa.

Along the way, the girl was clearly excited, her eyes sparkling as she talked about anything and everything. She couldn’t take her eyes off the movie star posters outside the theater.

“What’s this? You really want to become an actress?” Lin Keying sensed something unusual in the high schooler’s behavior.

Tingting looked like she wanted to say something but hesitated. Finally, she made up her mind to share the secret with her favorite older sister.

“Keying-jie, I’ll tell you a secret. I ran into a talent scout last week. He said I could act as the younger version of a movie star in a film. It’s called part-time acting. Just one week of work and I’ll get paid a thousand bucks!”

Tingting had a sweet and refined look. Though only sixteen, she was already a graceful beauty, especially with her expressive eyes. Her smile exuded a natural charm. She was the embodiment of the “pure and innocent girl” aesthetic currently popular in Hong Kong.

It wasn’t surprising a scout had taken notice. Lin Keying, having read up on the Hong Kong entertainment scene, knew that talent scouts were common. They often approached good-looking people on the streets, handing out business cards in hopes of finding the next big star.

Lin Keying herself had been approached in the three months she’d been in Hong Kong, but had no interest in the entertainment industry and declined outright.

Tingting’s eyes lit up.
“That company the scout is from has made several films in recent years. Some of the stars and singers we know are signed with them.”

She named a few films, and Lin Keying had indeed heard of them. They were both critically and commercially successful.

They picked out curtains and decorations at the market. Lin Keying paid a deposit and wrote down the villa’s address so the shop owner could have everything delivered.

As they parted ways, Lin Keying reminded her,
“You’re still in high school. If you really want to be a star, it’s better to finish school first. And you should definitely talk it over with your parents before deciding.”

Tingting nodded.
“Keying-jie, my parents work so hard selling dessert. I used to be sick and cost the family a lot. Now that I’m better, I want to help make money too. Besides, filming only takes a few weekends. It won’t affect my studies. Don’t worry, I’ll talk to my parents tonight. When I’m famous, I’ll sign an autograph for you!”

Seeing the teenage girl’s dream of stardom, Lin Keying couldn’t help but smile along with her.

Privately, Lin Keying asked Secretary Yang to investigate the company called “Red Victory Entertainment.” It turned out the company was indeed a legitimate film production house. The scout who contacted Tingting was a verified employee, and the upcoming movie matched what they’d described.

When Sister He and her family heard about Tingting’s encounter, they were shocked—and skeptical. Could such a good thing really fall from the sky?

But Tingting was always a well-behaved and top-performing student. She was unusually eager this time and repeatedly promised it wouldn’t affect school. She would only need to spend three weekends—just six days in total—for the filming.

Eventually, Sister He gave in, thinking her daughter had just recovered from illness and deserved to pursue something she loved.

Lin Keying later learned that filming had already started, and Tingting would join the production the following Saturday.

Lin Keying, never one to ruin the mood, wished the girl stardom and even listened as Tingting chose an English stage name. She’d already begun practicing her autograph.

But that night, lying in bed at the mid-level villa, Lin Keying felt uneasy about Tingting’s part-time acting job. It felt like there was some crucial detail she couldn’t quite remember—something important, floating just out of reach.

She couldn’t figure it out and couldn’t focus on anything else.

That night, the man who hadn’t been back to the villa in five days returned, interrupting her train of thought.

Kowloon Wharf had changed hands, and Huanyu had become its largest shareholder. As the key decision-maker, Cheng Wanting was understandably swamped.

He had only managed to sneak away for a short visit. Finding the living room empty, he knocked directly on the lit-up guest room door.

“Young Master, is Kowloon Wharf all sorted out? Why are you here so late?” Lin Keying could see the fatigue between his brows.

Cheng Wanting, clearly burdened with work, said simply:
“Mr. Kwok has transferred the shares. Huanyu is officially the largest shareholder. Board member Wan from Jardines has also been handed over to the police. But now that I’ve just taken over Kowloon Wharf, things will be hectic. I won’t be able to visit much. You…”

“Mm, alright.” Lin Keying responded curtly.

Her mind was still on Tingting and the acting job, trying to grasp that elusive memory. She barely spared any attention for her fiancé’s words and answered absentmindedly.

She seemed to recall something in the book she’d transmigrated into—something about a Hong Kong actress…

Cheng Wanting looked at the woman in front of him. She was frowning, clearly unhappy, distracted even in response. Nothing like her usual self.

He smiled faintly, pulled her into his arms, and kissed her forehead softly.
“I’ve just been too busy lately. Once things settle down, I’ll spend more time with you.”

Lin Keying, still trying to recall the plot:
“…?”

I never said I wanted you to!

Cheng Wanting stayed at the villa for just over an hour. He had too much to handle and left soon after.

Lin Keying absentmindedly saw him off. That night, she finally recalled the blurry scene in a dream—

In the original book, there had been a side character who appeared over thirty years later: a Hong Kong softcore film star who once met the original protagonist.

Her name?

He Yating.

Tingting’s full name.