Chapter 10

Lin Si stared nervously at the line of text, frantically looking for a way to retract it.

Y didn’t give him much time to dwell, quickly replying with: [?]

The phone suddenly felt like it was burning hot, and Lin Si tossed it onto his stomach in a panic.

Even his head recoiled backward by two inches in fear.

“What’s wrong?” Liao Ji asked, noticing his reaction.

“I…”

Lin Si lowered his head, picked up his phone, feeling a mix of grievance and helplessness. Finally, unsure whether he was trying to comfort himself or brush off Liao Ji, he muttered, “Nothing, it’s nothing…”

I mean, it’s just me cracking up on the spot, that’s all.

He felt his hands were cursed. Y never responded instantly to his messages, but now, on the rare occasion something this awkward happened, Y acted like they were online 24/7, ready to surf the web at high speed.

Bracing himself, Lin Si typed: [It was an accident.]

Y: [Mm.]

Lin Si waited for two minutes. When Y didn’t say anything further, he curled his fingers nervously and typed again: [I didn’t reply earlier because I didn’t know what to say.]

Y didn’t seem to be on the same wavelength and asked instead: [Did you match with someone suitable today?]

Lin Si lowered his gaze: [No, I was busy today and didn’t have time to match.]

Y: [Mm.]

“We’re almost there. I didn’t have time to go backstage to find you earlier, but I heard some people left the venue. Not sure where they went,” Liao Ji said, patting Lin Si’s hand. “I’m not sure what’s happening inside so stay alert.”

Lin Si nodded, glanced at his phone to confirm that Y hadn’t said anything further, then put it away and got out of the car.

The address Lu Wei provided turned out to be a very legitimate teahouse. The environment was elegant, with a serene atmosphere. In the main hall by a hot spring, a master in a long robe was playing the guzheng, the melody blending with the mist to create a sense of ethereal tranquility.

They were led to a secluded backyard. As Lin Si walked through the archway, the refreshing scent of bamboo filled the air, making him feel unusually relaxed.

Lu Wei and the others were in a private inner room. When Lin Si stepped inside, he was momentarily taken aback. Apart from Lu Wei, the attendees included several prominent figures from the film industry—renowned producers, directors, and actors.

Two of them stood out most in Lin Si’s memory: Ye Gaotan, the director who won an international gold award last year for the art film Surrounding the Sea, and Lin Zisong, the film’s lead actor.

This kind of private gathering was clearly not a place for Liao Ji to linger. He discreetly tapped Lin Si’s phone with his fingers, signaling him to reach out immediately if anything came up, then quietly exited the room.

Lu Wei, seated casually, turned his palm upward. His middle and index fingers bent slightly, gesturing with a subtle beckoning motion. “Come here.”

Lin Si had the impression that Lu Wei seemed to be in a relatively good mood.

In the past, whenever there were gatherings like this, Liao Ji would always attend on Lin Si’s behalf. Lin Si wasn’t skilled at socializing or pandering to others, and Liao Ji worried he might fall into someone’s trap, so he never allowed Lin Si to attend any banquets or parties.

Lin Si quietly took a seat next to Lu Wei, but his hand unconsciously pinched the edge of his suit pants pocket.

The emotions below his neck were his own—not those of “Lin Si.”

At this moment, in this room, the only person he felt he could trust was Lu Wei.

“Lin Si, an artist from Shengshi Entertainment,” Lu Wei introduced him in an entirely formal tone, devoid of any camaraderie.

Lin Si stood up again, bowed slightly to the others, and offered a humble, straightforward self-introduction.

A few of the younger attendees smiled and said they had already heard of him. Since he was in the music industry, they simply hadn’t had the chance to meet him before.

Ye Gaotan, who was brewing tea, poured water from the kettle into a cup. When it was Lin Si’s turn, Lin Si stood, holding the tea cup with both hands across the table as he handed it over.

“No need to stand,” Ye Gaotan said, filling the cup and pushing it back toward him.

No one in the room seemed surprised or overly interested in Lin Si’s presence. They sipped tea and chatted casually, discussing various topics, including a lot about capital and investments. Lin Si listened quietly, committing unfamiliar terms to memory, planning to ask Liao Ji about them later.

The conversation turned to Ye Gaotan mentioning that he was currently planning a new film, with the script already completed.

“Your go-to lead actor is sitting right here, so what’s there to worry about?” a producer who was well-acquainted with him joked.

Ye Gaotan waved dismissively. “I’m not talking about Zisong’s role; there’s another character that hasn’t been decided yet.”

“Director Ye’s scripts are notoriously challenging to act in,” Lin Zisong said with a smile, sipping his tea. “Whoever plays my younger brother better be prepared to be scolded by Director Ye every day from the first day of shooting to the last.”

There was the soft clink of a teacup being set down on the table. Lu Wei, who had spoken very little so far, broke his silence, his tone uncharacteristically playful as his final word carried a faint upward inflection: “Oh, really?”

Ye Gaotan leaned back in his chair, his hands resting leisurely on the armrests of the nanmu wooden chair. “Zisong likes to smear my reputation outside.”

Lu Wei swirled his teacup and calmly refilled it for himself. Then, without looking up, he placed the teapot in front of Lin Si. “Director Ye’s cup is empty.”

Lin Si froze for a moment, glanced sideways at Lu Wei, then lowered his gaze. Picking up the teapot, he leaned over half the table and filled Ye Gaotan’s cup to the brim.

“President Lu hosting this gathering and even bringing you along to drink tea with us—what a rare honor. But still, with President Lu taking over Shengshi and making such a significant investment right off the bat, it’s a testament to his trust in me. A promising young man like you is bound to achieve great things in the future.” Ye Gaotan accepted the tea, his words shifting with a faint smile. “It’s just that, with my temper as an old man, I doubt I could ever bring myself to be stern with President Lu.”

“That depends on Director Ye’s intentions,” Lu Wei said calmly.

Lin Si was still digesting the undertones of their conversation when this line pulled his attention away momentarily.

He couldn’t believe Lu Wei’s temperament would actually cater to anyone else’s intentions. Scratching the back of his head, he found it amusing, and the thought brought a genuine smile to his lips.

Unfortunately, Ye Gaotan caught the smile mid-flash.

Lin Si instantly wiped it away, subtly adjusted his posture, and sat up straighter.

Ye Gaotan leaned forward slightly, his expression unreadable. “Drink tea, everyone, drink tea.”

The soft light above reflected on the surface of his tea, revealing a few scattered tea bubbles. Before Lin Si could investigate the crumpled tea leaf at the bottom of his cup, the gathering wrapped up.

As the others stood, Lin Si followed suit and positioned himself by the wall to see them off.

After shaking hands with Lu Wei, Ye Gaotan turned to Lin Si with a polite smile, patting his shoulder before leaving.

Once everyone had gone, Lin Si asked in a hushed tone, “Where’s Liao Ji?”

“Maybe Duan Yang pulled him away,” Lu Wei replied.

“No way,” Lin Si said.

Liao Ji wouldn’t have left him here alone without good reason.

In the stillness of the corridor, Lu Wei turned to look at him, silent for a long moment. “Then stay here and wait for him.”

Unable to stop himself, Lin Si blurted out, “Why can’t I wait for him outside? Can’t I just call him instead…?”

Lu Wei’s response was indifferent: “Do whatever you want.”

Lu Wei thought Lin Si might need to go back to middle school—or maybe even elementary school.

Ten seconds later, he decided to drop the “might.”

Lu Wei took the lead and walked ahead, leaving Lin Si to follow behind. Determined to overtake him, Lin Si quickened his pace but was caught off guard when Lu Wei suddenly stopped.

Lin Si barely managed to avoid colliding into him, flailing his arms slightly to regain balance before stumbling a step back, putting a small half-meter distance between them.

“Why did you stop so suddenly?” Lin Si asked, a mix of confusion and mild exasperation in his tone.

Lu Wei turned back, his brows faintly furrowing as if considering whether to argue with Lin Si. But he seemed to decide it wasn’t worth the effort and simply resumed walking.

As they neared the main hall, Lu Wei finally spoke. “Have Liao Ji find you a teacher to take acting lessons.”

“But my schedule is already full before the end of the year,” Lin Si replied.

“That’s not my problem,” Lu Wei said matter-of-factly. “After the New Year, prepare to audition for Ye Gaotan’s new film.”

Lin Si’s eyes widened in surprise.

Lu Wei glanced sideways at him and caught the shimmer of excitement in his gaze, prompting his sharp brows to furrow again. “Stop making expressions like that everywhere.”

Lin Si quickly lowered his gaze, suppressing his reaction. Inwardly, he reflected that while Lu Wei could be infuriating, he was also someone who always, always followed through on his words.

When Lu Wei had taken the liberty of rejecting the lead role in ‘Missing You Sixty-Six’ on Lin Si’s behalf, he had promised there would be a better opportunity. At the time, no one had taken him seriously.

But now, it seemed Lu Wei had meant it—and he was delivering on that promise.

Whether it was for investment purposes or otherwise, at least Lu Wei was giving him a chance.

In this moment, Lin Si found Lu Wei significantly more agreeable and even felt a twinge of guilt for having misunderstood him earlier.

Through the glass windows of the main hall, the bamboo grove outside was visible. A pristine layer of white snow rested on the railings, and the aftermath of consecutive snowstorms had left everything looking spotless. The light snowfall drifting down now seemed delicate and ethereal, like a blend of stars and clouds ground into fine sand, gently cascading to cloak the world in a soft, thin veil.

Lin Si liked snow. It was as if, in his quiet rebellion against a predetermined life, he found solace in the neutrality of white and all its lighter shades.

In the corners where he didn’t have to act like an Alpha, Lin Si carefully nurtured his own personality.

Standing far from the heater, he felt the chill seep through his body. Having left the venue in a hurry, he was still wearing his suit underneath, and his down jacket had been left in the car.

He moved cautiously, appearing to admire the guzheng performance but was, in fact, edging closer to the nearby hot spring for warmth.

The sharp scent of sulfur wafted through the air, mingled with a faint trace of a peculiar pheromone. Lin Si took a few breaths but quickly found it overwhelming. Covering his nose, he struggled to adapt as a wave of nausea surged from his throat.

Unable to suppress it, he hurriedly left the area but couldn’t immediately locate a restroom.

“What’s wrong?” Lu Wei’s voice came from behind him.

Lin Si managed to squeeze out two strained words: “Restroom.”

Lu Wei asked someone nearby for directions, but before they could point him in the right direction, Lin Si had already bolted off in the general direction Lu Wei’s raised arm indicated.

Wearing a suit and running awkwardly, looking slightly disheveled.

The door to Lin Si’s stall was slightly ajar. Lu Wei didn’t enter; instead, he stood by the sink.

Not long after, Lu Wei heard the sound of dry heaving. He moved closer, stopping one door away from the stall, and asked in a cold voice, “What’s wrong with you?”

Lin Si didn’t vomit anything out. He bent over, one hand pressed against the wall. His voice was hoarse, tinged with vulnerability: “I’m fine.”

“I’ll take you to the hospital,” Lu Wei said decisively. He took another step forward and pushed the door open.

Lin Si turned back and instinctively retreated, as if Lu Wei were some kind of beast.

What Lu Wei saw, however, was a pair of slightly reddened eyes. Even the tip of Lin Si’s nose and his cheeks were faintly flushed from keeping his head down.

If he were to describe Lin Si as an animal, at that moment, Lu Wei thought he resembled a young deer—one that had drunk dirty river water, unable to throw it up, looking so wronged it was on the verge of tears.

And this little deer seemed terribly afraid of him.

“I’m not going to the hospital,” Lin Si said, inhaling slowly. His eyes were filled with defiance, stubborn and unwavering.

The fleeting harmony they had in the hall earlier was now tainted by a flood of unpleasant memories.

“Call your private doctor,” Lu Wei said, dialing Duan Yang’s number.

It wasn’t until two minutes after Lu Wei left the stall that Lin Si slowly came out. He wandered over to the sink, pretending to wash his hands with great focus.

Lu Wei noticed him wiping off the water off of his lips with the back of his hand. When Lin Si looked up, their gazes met in the mirror.

The mirror, as if struggling under the weight, barely managed to hold their exchanged looks.

Lin Si hadn’t expected Lu Wei to stare at him so intently.

Lu Wei was very different from Lu Shaoming—or at least, that’s what Lin Si had gathered. From what he knew, the new president of Shengshi Group was swift and decisive, ruthless, and cold-hearted, leaving no room for sentiment.

Even media reports about him used terms like “dignified” and “a favored child of heaven” to describe him.

It was no surprise that someone like him wouldn’t concern himself with ordinary people’s struggles or spare anyone a glance.

Lost in these thoughts, Lin Si noticed in the mirror that Lu Wei, expressionless, had already averted his gaze.

…

What kind of “favored child of heaven” has such a bad temper?

Lin Si lowered his eyelids, avoiding Lu Wei’s gaze, silently relieved that he couldn’t detect the scent of pheromones from him.

Duan Yang and Liao Ji finally returned, explaining that they had been entertaining the assistants and drivers who came with those prominent figures. Lin Si absentmindedly nodded to show he understood, then bypassed everyone and climbed into the nanny van first.

The moment Liao Ji saw Lin Si, he knew something was off. He immediately turned to Lu Wei and asked, “President Lu, what happened?”

Lu Wei saw no need to explain. He stepped into the snow, his leather shoes crunching audibly against the ground.

“Follow our car to the hospital,” he said before getting in. Then, as if an afterthought, he added, “Whether Lin Si wants to or not.”

T/n: New chapter is up!🤩 From now on, the next chapters will be locked. The new updated locked chapters will be unlocked after 2 weeks with one chapter unlocked a week. If you want to support me in any other way, you can buy me a Ko-Fi or go to my paypal page. Happy Reading ❤️🎊