“I”

Shu You’s mind was in a daze. He hadn’t fully processed Lin Mingxu’s words yet. He hesitated and said, “I need to think about it.”

Think, think clearly.

Lin Mingxu held his hand and gently kissed it, his eyes filled with tenderness. “Okay, take your time to think. I’ll wait until you’re clear.”

Shu You’s face instantly turned red, and he stammered, “Y-you don’t have to make people think like that.”

“Mm.”

Lin Mingxu continued to look at him, making him blush even more. Shu You said, “Then, how do you want me to think? I’ll do as you say.”

Shu You: “…”

Damn it.

He was just being bold because he had confessed his feelings.

Shu You bit his lip and suddenly blurted out, “Can I refuse?”

“…”

Lin Mingxu paused, then squeezed his hand again and calmly said, “You can.”

“Will you get angry?” Shu You hesitated and tentatively asked, “Will you retaliate against me?”

“I won’t get angry, and I won’t retaliate against you.”

Lin Mingxu’s heart ached. He looked deeply into Shu You’s eyes and answered seriously, “If you reject me, I will continue to like you, pursue you, and become better for you every day until you agree.”

Shu You’s mind exploded like a firework, a particularly dazzling one.

His last trace of sanity was about to collapse, but it seemed that he couldn’t hold on for long.

Why was Lin Mingxu so good at talking?

Was it because he was the protagonist in this relationship?

No, wait, he was the protagonist too.

Shu You suddenly snapped back to reality and stuttered, “Then, what if you start liking someone else?”

Lin Mingxu raised an eyebrow. “Only in your dreams.”

Shu You’s gaze avoided him. “Mm.”

“Shu You.”

Lin Mingxu sighed.

“I don’t know what you’ve dreamt of, but I can tell you that before meeting you, I’ve never had feelings for anyone else.”

Without Shu You, he was just the person who had lost everything and felt cold in high places.

He was someone whose heart had turned into a rock, without any ripples of emotions.

“And, let’s not mention that dream.”

Lin Mingxu whispered softly, “I can tell you a hundred times, a thousand times, ten thousand times that I like you now.”

“It’s you, the current Shu You.”

The previous ‘Shu You‘ had disgusted him once he discovered his true identity.

So at that time, he had no interest in an acrobatic clown who had already met his deserved end. He just wanted to drive him away and quickly move on to more important matters.

If he had known that he would fall in love with Shu You…

“Shu You.”

Lin Mingxu stared into his eyes, his gaze unwavering. He said in a low voice, “You can’t punish me for something that hasn’t happened yet.”

“I…”

Shu You felt that what he said made sense.

If Lin Mingxu was telling the truth, then he was indeed too obsessed with those plotlines.

He thought he knew his own ending and wanted to change it. So he desperately tried to please Lin Mingxu, not letting him drive him away. But inadvertently, he made Lin Mingxu truly fall in love with him.

And he had also fallen in love with Lin Mingxu.

At this moment, a sentence appeared in his mind.

An old saying.

“Love, it doesn’t make sense.”

Shu You couldn’t help but say, “Lin Mingxu, do you really like me?”

“I do.”

The man still held his hand and didn’t let go for a moment. It was as if he wanted to keep holding it like this forever, for a very long time. He leaned closer, whispered in Shu You’s ear, “I like you.”

“If you don’t believe it, if you have doubts, I’ll say it every day until you believe, until you have no doubts.”

Unexpectedly, Shu You looked up at him, hesitated, and said, “Then, what if I believe?”

“You… Will you stop saying it then?” Lin Mingxu suddenly laughed.

He found Shu You incredibly adorable.

Shu You lacked a sense of security, which was why he always avoided, why he asked such strange questions.

Lin Mingxu suddenly understood him, understood why he left without saying goodbye, why he chose to be a coward.

But what should he do?

He liked Shu You even more in this state.

Without realizing it, Lin Mingxu sat beside him and held him in his arms, gently embracing him, filling his heart with the softest things.

Clouds, cotton candy, the breeze of spring.

Each one resembled Shu You.

He felt even more protective of him.

Lin Mingxu’s arms involuntarily tightened, as if he wanted to merge the person in his arms into his own body, to become one, so he could keep him by his side, take care of him, pamper him, and make him the most confident and secure person in the world.

So, Lin Mingxu couldn’t help but kiss his forehead.

“Shu You.”

The man maintained this posture, his heartbeat and voice resonating from his chest, “Just like I told you before.”

“I won’t suddenly start liking you, and I won’t suddenly stop liking you.”

“W-what if you slowly stop liking me then?” It seemed that Shu You, who had finally seen the legendary ‘protagonist uke“Uke” refers to the receptive or submissive partner in the relationship. They are typically portrayed as more delicate, vulnerable, and passive.‘, tilted his head slightly and stubbornly demanded a definite answer.

Lin Mingxu softly replied, “Then I’ll slowly fall in love with you.”

This sentence came out more quickly than he had imagined.

It was easy to say.

Because there was only one Shu You in the world, and there was probably no first rebirth.

No step earlier, no step later, no one day earlier, no one day later.

It was that moment, that moment, those two people.

So this person was Lin Mingxu, and the other person was Shu You.

Shu You was a bit stunned.

The impact of Lin Mingxu’s words was too strong.

It was so powerful that the rational voice in his mind suddenly vanished, and he couldn’t even see its shadow.

He opened his mouth but realized he couldn’t ask anything anymore.

At least in terms of words, Lin Mingxu had given him the most definite answer.

He had nothing to say.

It seemed that because of that sentence, he liked Lin Mingxu even more.

Shu You fell silent, and Lin Mingxu held his waist, starting to kiss him.

Forehead, center of the eyebrows, bridge of the nose, tip of the nose, and finally the lips.

One by one, pecking kisses.

Like an endless, repetitive task that would never become tiresome, always full of excitement.

And then, he didn’t forget to change the subject.

“Don’t dwell on things that haven’t happened.”

“Think about something else.”

“…”

Shu You couldn’t help but giggle because of his kisses. “D-don’t… don’t kiss me anymore.”

Lin Mingxu briefly released him, allowing his cheek to move away from his lips. Shu You quickly moved away, smiling and crying helplessly, “What do you want me to think about?”

“Think…”

Lin Mingxu pondered for a moment, “Think about how we’ll decorate our new home.”

Shu You: “…”

Oh no, he thought of the ‘uke‘ again.

It was all because of his profession as an interior designer, and he personally delivered the design plans right before his eyes.

Shu You expression didn’t look right, and Lin Mingxu’s brow twitched as he suddenly asked, “Who am I together within your dreams?”

“Um…”

Shu You immediately lowered his head, looking left and right, and said evasively, “Actually, it’s just a sign, not anything particularly specific.”

He couldn’t remember anymore. Hundreds of thousands of words, such a long time, he had almost forgotten everything.

I only remember that the majority of it was about how the protagonist, the ‘seme“Seme” refers to the dominant or active partner in the relationship. They take on a more assertive and protective role in the dynamic.,’ revitalized his family’s business and achieved great success. It was filled with various struggles and conflicts, which he found exciting and satisfying.

But if you ask him for specific details from within the story, he couldn’t apologize enough. As a noble genuine reader, he reads extensively every day and is well-educated. He also follows many other novels.

If it weren’t for his fondness for the character Lin Mingxu, he might not have even realized that he had transmigrated into a book.

He didn’t want to say it, and the timing wasn’t right. Lin Mingxu didn’t want to ruin the hard-won good situation, so he didn’t ask further.

Shu You quickly changed the subject, “Lin Mingxu, you promised that you won’t like anyone else.”

“Yes.”

Lin Mingxu assured him once again, “I only like you.”

The previous suppression vanished, and a different kind of sweetness filled the air. Shu You’s emotions fluctuated like a roller coaster throughout the day.

He couldn’t help but laugh.

A silly, foolish laugh.

“Lin Mingxu.”

Shu You suddenly threw himself into Lin Mingxu’s arms, holding him tightly, resting his chin on his shoulder. “You like me.”

“Yes.”

Lin Mingxu answered without hesitation, “I like you.”

“You liked me first.” Shu You emphasized this point with glee, thinking that the order of events was important.

“I liked you first.”

Lin Mingxu admitted without hesitation, “I was the first to be moved.”

He even added with a hint of complaint, “But you were clueless all this time.”

“Cough.”

Shu You coughed dryly and quickly raised a smokescreen, “But you hit me so hard just now and scolded me so fiercely.”

“It was my fault, I’m sorry.”

Lin Mingxu readily apologized, going with the flow. “I’ll make it up to you until you’re satisfied, alright?”

“An eye for an eye.”

Shu You reluctantly agreed, but he cunningly blinked and grinned, “But I haven’t agreed to start over with you.”

Lin Mingxu: “…”

Almost forgot, Shu You was the one who played word games professionally.

Helpless, Lin Mingxu tightened his arm and kissed Shuyou’s cheek once again. “Then tell me, what do I need to do for you to agree?”

“Well…”

Shu You started to think seriously.

Beat up Lin Mingxu to vent his anger.

No, no, he couldn’t possibly do that.

Scold Lin Mingxu to vent his anger.

No, no, he couldn’t bear to scold him either.

After much consideration, he realized there wasn’t a good solution. Shu You pouted and muttered, “Let me calm down first, and then I’ll agree.”

Lin Mingxu: “…”

He suddenly had a bad feeling.

Shu You glanced at the time and suddenly muttered to himself, “I feel like I’ve forgotten something, but I can’t remember.”

It was already past eleven in the evening.

But Shu You was hungry, tired, and sleepy. He hesitated to ask, “Lin Mingxu, have you had dinner?”

Lin Mingxu hadn’t even had lunch.

He was angry.

With an unchanged expression, Lin Mingxu said, “What do you want to eat? We can order takeout, or we can go to a hotel.”

Shu You checked his phone and realized it was too late. The hotel restaurant had already closed, so only takeout was an option.

He tapped on the screen and suddenly brightened his eyes. “Lin Mingxu, this place has a late-night couple set menu, and they even offer champagne.”

Champagne.

Lin Mingxu’s mouth twitched, and without thinking, he reflexively said, “You can’t drink alcohol.”

“But I want to.”

Shu You blinked his eyes, looked at him with pleading eyes, and playfully pestered him. “I want to drink, just for today. I really want to.”

Suddenly, he really, really wanted to drink.

Lin Mingxu: “…”

Recalling Shu You’s reaction after getting drunk, he was about to refuse with a firm heart. However, in the next second, Shu You quickly changed his expression and softly said, “Lin Mingxu, you don’t love me anymore.”

“You won’t even let me drink, yet you say you like me.”

---

Shu You straightened his clothes and tried to stand up.

His eyes were still moist. At this moment, he just wanted to find a place where nobody was around and have a moment of peace.

But the next second, Lin Mingxu spoke.

The man’s eyes were still deeply intense. He casually asked, “Where are you going?”

This was the third time he asked Shu You this question.

The previous two times, the question was filled with anger, but this time it was much calmer. However, if Shu You observed carefully, he would notice that Lin Mingxu’s heart was not calm at this moment.

His knuckles clenched and turned pale, as if he was trying to restrain something. The man’s eyes were deep and dark, and he repeated the question once again.

“Where are you going?”

“I…” Shu You hadn’t thought about where to go at all.

The filming was over, and Lin Mingxu had agreed for him to leave. He could go wherever he wanted.

However, like a kite with a broken string, Shu You suddenly realized that he had nowhere to go.

The first person Shu You saw after becoming ‘Shu You‘ was Lin Mingxu.

The most familiar place was also the home he shared with Lin Mingxu.

He had arranged the room, changed light bulbs, paid utility bills, and even carefully painted the corners where the paint had peeled off the walls to make the whole house look neater.

He knew which bus routes were available downstairs, which one would smoothly take him to Lin Mingxu’s company, and which one would take him to the place where he had a part-time performance.

In his heart, that place had already become his home.

Leaving home, where could he go?

Shu You hung his head, momentarily speechless.

The tall figure of the man stood in front of Shu You, blocking his way. Looking down at Shu You, he observed his disheveled and soft hair, messy, just like their current state of mind.

Damn it.

Lin Mingxu’s heart softened.

At the moment when Shu You fell, he softened.

He hadn’t properly cherished and cared for the person in front of him, yet he felt so distressed when he saw him crying.

Shu You cried like a stray puppy on the street, and each sob shook him to the core. It shattered his self-control, which he took pride in, and revealed his most genuine thoughts.

He wanted Shu You.

Even if he had deceived him, even if it was for this absurd reason that he left without saying goodbye.

He still wanted him.

Lin Mingxu had thought that being reborn had no meaning for him, but Shu You’s appearance gradually changed his mind.

Unconsciously, his entire attention was drawn to the young man, and unconsciously, he developed so many feelings for him. When Shu You revealed the truth, Lin Mingxu’s heart momentarily stopped.

He thought Shu You was hiding something for some reason, but he never imagined it would be that kind of truth.

At that moment, his anger became difficult to suppress.

He was angry that he was just a dream for Shu You, an existence he could abandon at will.

He was angry that in Shu You’s heart, he was nothing more than a cruel revenge target, an object to be feared and avoided.

So he said hurtful words, trying to force Shu You and himself.

The result was already clear.

Shu You cried in pain, and he too felt a heart-wrenching agony.

But if he regained his composure and thought carefully, how did this situation come to be?

Lin Mingxu knew best what

he had done and what kind of person he was.

Was Shu You wrong to be afraid?

He was just trying to protect himself, out of fear and worry.

Once he put himself in Shu You’s shoes, many things became justifiably explained.

He should have realized it sooner.

When he believed that being reborn had no meaning and couldn’t bring back his parents, he overlooked the biggest change in this rebirth and didn’t value Shuyou enough.

He should have recognized himself earlier, much earlier.

“Shu You.”

Lin Mingxu took a deep breath and finally spoke, “Let’s talk.”

“…”

Shu You kept his head down and didn’t look at him. He simply said in a low voice, “Go ahead.”

After all, he was the one who had done something wrong. Lin Mingxu could scold or punish him, and he was willing to bear it.

Seeing Shu You like this, Lin Mingxu felt a pang in his heart.

“Shu You.”

Lin Mingxu helped him up and sat him down on the edge of the bed.

He turned and went to the bathroom, wetted a towel with warm water, and returned, bending down and squatting, gently wiping away the tears on Shuyou’s face.

First the cheeks, then under the eyes, and then the hands. Gradually, he wiped them clean.

His movements were gentle and soft, as if he was treating a precious treasure. He even used his fingers to gently comb through Shu You’s disheveled hair.

His slender fingers weaved through the soft strands. As he continued his actions, Shu You gradually regained consciousness, blinked his eyes, and a hint of liveliness returned to his gaze.

Shu You’s swollen and sore eyes felt a bit relieved. He couldn’t help but raise his eyes to look at the man, feeling a indescribable bitterness in his heart.

In reality, Lin Mingxu was very gentle.

For example, despite being angry with him so many times, he hadn’t actually done anything.

When he hit him, he didn’t use much force, mainly because it was too embarrassing.

Shu You, with a strange impulse, whispered, “Lin Mingxu, you’ve hit me already. Just go ahead and scold me a few more times, okay?”

He wanted to get it over with in one go, to endure it and move on.

However, Lin Mingxu’s expression remained unchanged as he calmly said, “No.”

“…”

Shu You lowered his head, feeling like a clown.

The atmosphere was extremely awkward, and he felt embarrassed. He softly said, “Then go ahead and hit me again.”

Unexpectedly, Lin Mingxu said, “I won’t scold you, and I won’t hit you.”

Such extreme and excessive actions driven by anger were unnecessary.

Shu You was stunned.

He stared blankly at the other person, not moving a muscle, like a silly goose.

His face and hands were clean.

Apart from slight redness and swelling in the corners of his eyes, there was nothing unusual.

After finishing, Lin Mingxu himself sat on the edge of the bed, his gaze level with Shu You’s, and said softly, “Are you feeling better?”

“…”

Shu You pursed his lips and nodded.

The temperature of the warm towel was just right, and he had also calmed down.

He looked at Lin Mingxu, waiting for his next words.

But the man didn’t say anything further.

He just gazed at him, as if he wanted to carefully, earnestly imprint him in his mind.

Shu You couldn’t help but blink his eyes again, and involuntarily met Lin Mingxu’s gaze.

“Shu You.”

Lin Mingxu looked at him for a long time before speaking, “It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have pushed you like that.”

Shu You was dumbfounded, as if he didn’t hear clearly what he said.

“I was too angry and said hurtful things in the heat of the moment, and I even hit you.”

“I shouldn’t have hit you.”

Lin Mingxu softly and slowly continued, “I shouldn’t have treated you like that.”

Shu You felt a bit dazed.

He hadn’t expected Lin Mingxu to say these things.

He heard Lin Mingxu say further, “I’ve thought it over. I can’t blame you for hiding this from me. It was just a misunderstanding caused by a lack of proper communication between the two of us.”

Shu You said, “Ah.”

“Besides, I also have my share of responsibility.”

Shu You widened his eyes, finding it hard to believe what he was hearing.

Lin Mingxu paused for a moment and let out a faint sigh, “I should have realized earlier that I liked you.”

He said “liked” again.

Lin Mingxu was so clear and straightforward, once again saying “liked” in front of him.

He always seemed more sincere in expressing that word than Shu You.

“In the past…”

Lin Mingxu’s words continued to flow, like a barrel of aged wine that had been brewing for a long time.

“Many things have happened, just as you dreamed. Out of the anger of revenge, many methods were used that weren’t entirely clean.”

“It is indeed as you thought. I am someone who has been called cruel and devilish by many people.”

“At that time, I was extreme. I lost my parents, lost my former life, lost everything.”

“I had nothing left to lose. Even the things I once cherished were no longer there. So I took desperate measures without any boundaries. I would do anything as long as it achieved the goal.”

“And then I met you.”

The man’s deep gaze locked onto him, focusing solely on him, as if he was attentively observing his entire world.

“You are different.”

But Lin Mingxu initially failed to perceive it.

It was only when he almost lost him that he truly understood his own feelings.

“Shu You.”

“You are different.”

He repeated the words and then softly added, “Meeting you has been my lucky encounter.”

At this moment, Lin Mingxu was grateful for his rebirth.

“Shu You.”

Lin Mingxu looked deeply into his eyes, slightly leaning forward, and suddenly embraced him.

The man’s deep voice echoed in Shu You’s ears, stirring waves upon waves in his heart. Their warm chests pressed against each other, intimately close.

The sound of his heartbeat and his words were equally clear, like an unending melody that lingered on.

Shu You heard a sentence.

“Thank you for coming into my life.”

Thanking him for making his rebirth meaningful.

Shu You accepted the embrace in confusion.

He was caught off guard.

He had thought Lin Mingxu would retaliate fiercely, scold him for the harm he caused, call him a fraud and a liar, a lousy villain.

He really hadn’t expected Lin Mingxu to apologize.

“I…”

Shu You opened his mouth and murmured softly, “It’s my fault.”

It was his fault for deceiving Lin Mingxu in the first place, for leaving home without a word twice. It was understandable that Lin Mingxu would be angry.

“You are good.”

Lin Mingxu let go of him, but his arms still encircled him. Deep affection filled his eyes, so profound that Shu You couldn’t understand it but wanted to immerse himself in it. He spoke softly yet solemnly, contradicting his words.

“To me, you are the best, the right one, the perfect one.”

Lin Mingxu held his hand, transmitting a warmth that was deeply comforting. He spoke softly once again, “Shu You.”

“I like you.”

“I don’t know what you saw in your dreams, but at least for me, they don’t represent everything.”

“I like you.”

“I like the Shu You who is optimistic and cheerful, bringing laughter to those around him.”

“I like the Shu You who is occasionally vulnerable and actually lacks a sense of security.”

“I like the Shu You who acted out love for me so convincingly, making me unable to resist.”

“I’m willing to be deceived by you for a lifetime, as long as you’re willing, you can continue deceiving me.”

“As long as you’re willing, as long as you don’t leave.”

“Shu You.”

Lin Mingxu squatted in front of him, looking up at him. His brows relaxed, and his eyes were focused solely on him, completely engrossed.

“We can start over.”

“You don’t need to fear me anymore, don’t worry about anyone coming between us.”

“Don’t think about your dreams, don’t dwell on things that haven’t happened yet, things that shouldn’t cause excessive anxiety.”

“This time, you don’t need to do anything, and you don’t have to go out of your way to please me.”

“Try to get along with me well, give your affection and my affection a chance.”

“A chance for us to try being together.”

“Let’s start over.”

“Okay.”

---

Shu You was shocked.

He stuttered, trying to stop the other person, “Lin Mingxu, you, you can’t do this.”

“Domestic violence and hitting people are both wrong and should be punished.”

Shu You had never seen Lin Mingxu so angry, so out of control.

He trembled, completely lacking his usual cleverness. He watched Lin Mingxu move forward, but his body was stiff and powerless, as if frozen in place.

Shu You trembled as he tried to persuade, “Lin Mingxu, I was wrong, I really was, you can make me compensate you in any way, even if it means hitting me, but please don’t beat me to death. Can I write a will first?”

He still had a lot of savings in the bank, the money was not spent yet.

If today next year was his death anniversary, he would at least donate the money.

Lin Mingxu just sneered.

“I won’t kill you.”

The man had already approached him, gazing into his eyes, and said lightly, “So you don’t need to write a will.”

Shu You thought, so that means it’s better to be dead.

He widened his eyes, motionless as he watched Lin Mingxu approach. He couldn’t help but start rambling, “Then let me go. It’s wrong to hit people, and it’s also wrong to arrest them. Lin Mingxu, you’re still starting a business. You don’t want to be the protagonist of a social news story, do you?”

“You can make me compensate you in any way. I’m willing to compensate you. I have money, and I can earn more.”

Lin Mingxu coldly snorted, “You compensate me?”

He stared deeply at Shu You, “You’re usually so frugal, and now you’re willing to give me money?”

“I…” Shu You was stunned.

He didn’t expect Lin Mingxu to say that.

His voice became somewhat tearful, and Shu You gritted his teeth and said, “As long as you let me go, I’m willing to work for you for a lifetime, as long as you provide me with food.”

It was his fault for betraying Lin Mingxu, so he accepted any amount of compensation, as long as he could keep his life.

However, Lin Mingxu coldly sneered, “Is that so?”

Shu You became anxious, “It’s true.”

Because he was too anxious, he almost choked on his own saliva. Suddenly, he coughed violently, “Cough, cough, cough, cough. I-I mean it, believe me, believe me this time.”

“Unfortunately.”

Lin Mingxu coldly said, “In my eyes, you no longer have any credibility.”

He would never believe any of Shu You’s lies again.

No matter how persuasive or sincere they were.

It was because he had believed him time and time again that led to the situation today.

It was all fake, all lies that Shu You himself admitted.

The content of last night’s phone call was so provocative that he now wanted to lock up the person in front of him and punish him severely.

He stepped forward, and Shu You retreated step by step. Unconsciously, he was forced to the edge of the bed, and he sat down. Lin Mingxu stood there, looking down at him, his eyes lowered.

Looking down on him.

Shu You instinctively swallowed his saliva.

Because he didn’t know what Lin Mingxu would do, he was even more scared, more nervous. Shu You’s heart was pounding in his throat, about to burst out. He opened his

mouth, but suddenly heard Lin Mingxu’s deep and clear voice saying, “I’ll give you one last chance.”

“W-What?” Shu You couldn’t believe his eyes as he stared at him.

Those beautiful eyes were filled with fear, nothing like him.

Lin Mingxu controlled his impulses and coldly said, “Now I ask, you answer.”

Shu You quickly nodded, “You ask, you ask.”

Lin Mingxu said, “You said that you didn’t leave because you were afraid of my revenge and lied to me. So I’m asking you, why didn’t you leave when I asked you to leave later?”

Shu You was stunned for a moment.

“I-I was still afraid. I didn’t know if what you said was just anger or deliberate.”

“Oh,” Lin Mingxu listened, neither confirming nor denying, and continued, “Then why did you say it later?”

“I was still scared.”

Shu You stammered, “I feel that we are not suitable for each other. I can’t keep deceiving you and being with you. You… you should find someone more suitable for you.”

“Lies.”

Lin Mingxu’s face remained cold and tense. His deep and gloomy eyes stared at Shu You, and he said each word with emphasis, “You’re still lying to me.”

“I am not.”

Shu You instantly panicked and instinctively tried to move back. But he was already sitting on the bed, and moving back would only result in flailing his legs. He desperately curled up, trying to protect himself, “Lin Mingxu, I… I’m telling the truth.”

Lin Mingxu didn’t listen further.

Shu You’s vision blurred, and the man was already sitting beside him on the bed. He extended his arm and forcibly lifted Shu You, pressing him down on his lap.

The young man struggled to escape, but he had no leverage. The position of being facedown made his blood rush, leaving him in a daze, and then…

Lin Mingxu took off his coat.

“Smack!”

Before Shu You could even feel the temperature of the room, he felt a sharp pain behind him.

His blood rushed to his face, and Lin Mingxu hit him again and again in that spot.

Anger, shame, and embarrassment mixed with unspoken sincerity, all blending together. Shu You tried to bite his lower lip to endure, but the man’s big hand landed with the first hit, then the second, and the third hit followed.

At the same time, Lin Mingxu coldly questioned, “Still trying to deceive me?”

“I-I’m not…”

“Smack!”

“Still trying to deceive me?”

“I…”

“Smack!”

“Still dare to deceive me?”

“I…”

“Smack!”

Tears flooded his eyes, whether from pain, shame, or a reflexive reaction. Shu You burst into tears, crying, “Lin… Lin Mingxu, let go of me.”

“Stop… stop hitting me.”

“Smack, smack, smack…”

In response, the man’s hand struck harder.

Warm, broad, and particularly powerful, each hit caused both pain and numbness. Gradually, those sensations intertwined and spread to other parts of his body.

It was no longer just about the pain. Shu You blushed, his legs went weak, and he couldn’t struggle anymore.

He cried uncontrollably, with tears and snot streaming down his face, like a pitiful little kitten. Finally, Lin Mingxu released him, and in a cold voice, he said, “Speak.”

Shu You immediately curled up, choked up, and asked, “Speak about what?”

“Speak about how heartless you are.”

Lin Mingxu’s voice was light, as if a speck of foam on the waves, but it felt like a storm, continuously battering Shu You’s innermost being. “Tell me about the reason you’ve always refused to tell me, what is it?”

Shu You froze.

Tears still flowed from his eyes, large droplets rolling down his small, palm-sized face, trembling and falling. Each drop fell into Lin Mingxu’s heart.

But Lin Mingxu knew that if he missed this opportunity, Shu You would retreat like a little turtle, never coming out of his self-perceived shell again.

He hardened his heart, raised his hand again, and indifferently said, “If you don’t speak, you know my methods.”

Shu You hesitated.

His voice changed, hoarse from crying out, “I… I said it, you can’t hit me anymore.”

Lin Mingxu naturally lowered his hand and placed it on the area that had been struck, with deep meaning in his words, “Speak, let me hear it.”

“I…”

As soon as he said that, Shu You dared not reveal the truth. But if he didn’t say it, it seemed that today would not end well.

Feeling the faint pain behind him, he shivered and mustered the courage, “I’ll tell you, I’ll tell you.”

He took a deep breath.

“I’m actually not Shu You, but I’m also called Shu You.”

Shu You hadn’t wiped away his tears, and he couldn’t see Lin Mingxu’s expression due to the position. He carefully continued, “I don’t know what happened either. I just turned into this Shu You.”

Lin Mingxu’s guess was confirmed, and he remained composed as he made a sound of understanding. “And then?”

“And then…”

Shu You was temporarily immersed in his own thoughts, not thinking much about why Lin Mingxu reacted so calmly. He continued hesitantly, “I know some things about you.”

“Not the past, but some things about the future.”

Lin Mingxu paused for a moment, a certain thought quickly coming to his mind.

“It’s like I had a dream.”

Shu You finally sorted out his thoughts, and his words became smoother. “I dreamt about you, using cruel methods to seek revenge against those who had wronged you, including the previous Shu You who met a tragic fate.”

“And you were successful in your career, and…”

He suddenly stopped.

Lin Mingxu furrowed his brow. “And what?”

Shu You lowered his head, biting his lower lip, and difficultly uttered the words, “I dreamt about you being with someone else.”

He forcefully pursed his lips and murmured softly, “That person wasn’t me.”

Lin Mingxu fell silent.

He understood it now.

Perhaps, taking his own rebirth as a reference, although Shu You’s words were unheard of, they were not as difficult to accept as he had imagined.

Moreover, he suddenly had a conjecture.

A conjecture that was very close to the truth. Did Shu You know about his ‘previous life‘?

Indeed, he had sought revenge ruthlessly in his previous life, and he had indeed brought a tragic end to the original Shu You.

But now, he had been reborn.

And he had encountered a completely new Shu You.

Fate, in this way, had given him a new beginning.

“Shu You.”

Lin Mingxu helped him up, not completely letting go but embracing him in his arms, still holding on firmly, indicating his true feelings.

“Because of this, you wanted to break up with me.”

…

Shu You didn’t dare to admit it directly, but he tacitly acknowledged it.

Now, Lin Mingxu understood it all.

A sense of immense absurdity welled up in his heart.

Despite having already anticipated it, having already prepared himself mentally, it still felt absurd upon learning the truth.

After a while, he completely let go of Shu You and looked deeply into his eyes.

“So, that’s how it is.”

Lin Mingxu’s tone was extremely light. “So, you never truly liked me.”

It was only out of necessity.

Only to prevent retaliation against the “Shu You.”

Only an illusion.

Shu You’s eyes flickered, he opened his mouth but couldn’t say anything.

Lin Mingxu stood up.

His tall figure remained the same, but there was an inexplicable sense of desolation. He glanced at Shu You one last time and said in a faint tone, “Since that’s the case, I won’t force you.”

“You can leave.”

Shu You was stunned.

“You… you really want me to leave?”

He wiped away his tears, cautiously speaking, “Is that true?”

“Yes.”

Without looking at him, Lin Mingxu turned his back, his voice was very faint, so faint that it felt heavy, directly weighing on Shu You’s heart.

“You can leave.”

In a place where Shu You couldn’t see, Lin Mingxu’s body stiffened slightly, his fingers hanging down, involuntarily trembling.

He heartlessly refused to look at him and indifferently said, “Since you don’t like me, there’s no point in me forcing it.”

“I…”

Shu You slowly stood up, unable to describe the emotions in

his heart at this moment.

All this time, he had been pretending in front of Lin Mingxu just to save his own life.

Later, he gradually mixed in some genuine feelings, but the appearance of the protagonist awakened him.

And then, under Lin Mingxu’s explicit and implicit suggestions, he finally understood his own heart.

Why did it take so long for me to realize my own feelings?

Now, he had revealed all the hidden truths.

He no longer had any reason to stay.

Shu You stood upright, his body motionless, just standing there.

“The eyes are lost in the moon, the clothes are in disarray, and the person is restless.”

Lin Mingxu suddenly turned around and looked coldly at him. “Why aren’t you leaving?”

“I…”

Shu You hesitated to speak, but couldn’t produce any sound.

Lin Mingxu coldly sneered, “I told you to leave, didn’t you hear?”

He violently threw the table lamp on the bedside table against the wall. “If you want to leave, then leave quickly.”

Shu You was startled.

In a state of confusion, he took random steps forward. However, due to certain objective factors, he only took one step before stumbling and falling to the ground with a thud.

It was painful.

Shu You felt dazed.

Lin Mingxu’s heart trembled, but he didn’t move.

Shu You struggled to get up, but for some reason, the harder he tried, the more he couldn’t get up. Instead, with a thud, he hit his head on the bedside table.

Shu You…

Countless grievances suddenly surged up, and he squatted on the ground, silently shedding tears.

Lin Mingxu asked him to leave.

He didn’t want him anymore.

He didn’t want him anymore.

He thought he could leave Lin Mingxu and live a good life on his own, returning to the peaceful days before.

He thought he could generously bless Lin Mingxu and be with someone else, accepting the other person’s new feelings and companionship.

He thought…

It was all just his imagination.

When this moment really arrived, he realized how pathetic he truly was. Just one sentence from Lin Mingxu could leave him breathless.

He was the one who wanted to leave, but now he couldn’t bear to.

He felt so miserable.

Miserable to the point of almost dying.

Shu You grabbed his clothes over his heart and felt his breath being suffocated, as if he were being tortured to the point of suffocation.

Tears kept flowing.

His vision became blurry, and he couldn’t see anything clearly. He only knew that he deserved it, and he brought it upon himself.

At some point, Lin Mingxu squatted down in front of him, with a complex expression, and asked, “Why are you crying?”

“I…”

Shu You no longer cared who was in front of him and unconsciously answered, “I… I just had a breakup, and I feel so sad.”

“You had a breakup?”

The man sneered, coldly saying, “But you never had any feelings in the first place, so how can you have a breakup?”

“No, that’s not true.”

Shu You choked, vigorously shaking his head. “I… I had feelings.”

What made him fall for Lin Mingxu?

The everyday companionship, gradually creating a warm little family, becoming each other’s support in reality.

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day, the “good night” before going to sleep.

Planning life expenses, playing and laughing together.

It was the warmth that Shu You, who had lived alone, couldn’t resist.

He felt so lonely.

And because he was lonely, he became excessively thrifty.

Because he had to rely on himself for everything.

Only a pampered child could be carefree and willful. But Shu You couldn’t, he wasn’t one.

He had to calculate his own living expenses, plan his daily necessities, and handle his past, present, and future properly because he was all alone, and he was his only support.

But unexpectedly, he became “Shu You,” and Lin Mingxu appeared in his life.

The man was willing to be his support, giving him a sense of security, sharing joy and sorrow in life, joking and bantering with him, and listening to his nonsense.

He was a combination of family, relative, and lover.

So he fell for him.

Unfortunately.

It was too late.

Shu You cried harder and louder, not caring about anything anymore. For the first time in his life, he honestly faced his own heart.

He sobbed and finally spoke the truth, “I…”

“I really like him, I like him so much.”

“I… I like Lin Mingxu.”

I like him.

I like him so much.

Because he liked him so much, he couldn’t face it.

He was afraid that all this overwhelming affection would go in vain, that it would be nothing but a dream, and that he would only get a cruel ending.

It wasn’t that he was afraid of Lin Mingxu, but he was afraid of getting hurt. He was afraid that the pain would be so unbearable that he would shatter and be unable to survive.

Like a strong and urgent will to live.

With tears in his eyes, Shu You raised his head and looked at the man. “I… I’m leaving now.”

---

Late at night, in the quietness, Wu Youzhe looked at Shu You and couldn’t help but ask, “Shu You, are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

Shu You propped two fingers against his cheek, pushing upwards forcefully. “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine for work tomorrow.”

“But…”

Wu Youzhe looked worried, “But you seem really tired.”

He was genuinely concerned. “Shu You, if it’s not possible, let’s go back and rest.”

“Well, you’re just here to make up the numbers anyway. Although it’s difficult to explain to the production team, I’ll go talk to them and see if there’s another way.”

“I’m really fine.”

Shu You insisted, “This is a chance to earn a lot of money.”

Although he hadn’t spent much of Lin Mingxu’s money before, now that he no longer had his wealthy boyfriend, he had to be self-reliant.

He had to stand on his own.

Shu You patted his chest and assured, “I can do it, I’ll manage. If there are any job opportunities, feel free to find me.” He wanted to drown himself in busy work and plenty of money.

Wu Youzhe knew this was Shu You, but something felt off.

But since Shu You was so determined, he could only give a few more reminders and then return to his own room.

As soon as Wu Youzhe left, Shu You lay alone on the large bed, stretching his arms and staring blankly at the ceiling.

It’s been said.

This feeling is truly strange.

It’s exhilarating, painful, and hateful all at once.

In short, there’s that inescapable word.

He felt uneasy, not knowing where his courage came from.

Perhaps it was while making a phone call, knowing that even if the other person wanted to beat him up, they would have to buy a plane ticket first.

Shu You, oh Shu You, you’re truly a cunning little devil.

“Knock, knock, knock.”

The door suddenly knocked.

Shu You was immediately startled, forgetting about the two bodyguards.

Could it be that someone rushed in to harm him?

No, no, no, it couldn’t be.

Shu You hesitated and went to open the door. When he looked outside, he saw Duan Siqi standing there, holding a bag in his hands.

Shu You “…”

He inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief.

Duan Siqi looked around suspiciously, lowered his voice, and said, “Shu You, your manager isn’t here, right?”

“No, he’s not. What’s up?”

“Well,” Duan Siqi cleared his throat, “I bought some things, but Brother Luo doesn’t want me to eat them because he wants me to maintain my figure.”

Duan Siqi and Shu You were different. Duan Siqi was an idol, and his manager was indeed very strict about his physique.

Shu You understood and made way, saying, “Come in.”

Duan Siqi swiftly entered without saying a word, and on his small coffee table, he laid out a barbecue, beer, and side dishes, all quite complete.

Shu You instinctively touched his own stomach.

Duan Siqi instantly devoured the food, his mouth full of oil, and he invited Shu You, “Do you want to eat? Tomorrow’s going to be a tough shoot for the next round.”

Shu You curiously asked, “Why would the next round be tough?”

“Well, you weren’t here that day, so you probably don’t know,” Duan Siqi explained, “It’s all because of the VIP who’s guaranteed a spot in the final round. He’s the main sponsor of the show.”

“He’s quite particular and troublesome. We have to film repeatedly until he looks his best, redoing any inappropriate lines.”

Duan Siqi was just a guest on the show and could sit back and watch the whole time, which was fine for him.

But Shu You had to accompany him throughout.

That was indeed…

But he didn’t have much appetite.

He stared at the lamb skewers on the coffee table for a while. Duan Siqi noticed that he wasn’t eating and couldn’t help but ask, “What’s wrong with you?”

Shu You paused for a moment and said, “It’s nothing.”

“You’re saying it’s nothing when you haven’t taken a bite.”

Duan Siqi looked him up and down, surprised, “If I didn’t know you had a boyfriend, I would think you just broke up from the look on your face.”

“Shu You said insincerely, ‘Can’t I eat a lot at night? Aren’t I hungry now?'”

“You can’t,” Duan Siqi replied. “It’s already late, and the dinner you had earlier hasn’t fully digested yet.”

Shu You felt rare, and Duan Siqi’s words made a lot of sense.

Why did everyone feel that something was wrong with him?

Clearly, he had just returned to where he should be.

After finishing the meal, Duan Siqi left, leaving Shu You alone in the room again.

He lay on the large bed and suddenly realized that he wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight.

Perhaps it was because no one said goodnight.

Shu You subconsciously touched his phone, remembering that he had turned it off and couldn’t turn it on now.

But the two bodyguards were staying next door.

If Lin Mingxu wanted to contact him, he could still reach him.

Although this thought seemed far-fetched, Shu You, out of some strange impulse, turned on his phone again.

The phone had no SIM card, and the screen was normal.

No missed calls, no unread messages, nothing.

His mind relaxed.

But his heart was twisted into a knot, empty, like hanging in mid-air and being squeezed by a big hand.

But he had to adapt sooner or later.

Finally, he whispered to himself, “Shu You, goodnight.”

The first day of shooting was indeed tiring.

That VIP sponsor was inexplicably demanding, frequently requesting pauses, complaining about the angles and inappropriate lines.

We had to redo it several times, and everyone’s faces weren’t looking good.

Only Shu You ran around energetically, just as spirited as the first take.

As they watched, the disparity became apparent.

During the lunch break, the director couldn’t help but approach, with a friendly smile, asking, “Is Shu’s manager here?”

Shu You was standing, engrossed in eating his boxed lunch, and pointed to the side in response.

The director took a look but didn’t find anyone. “Who is it?”

Shu You earnestly said, “Just look down.”

He lowered his head and saw Wu Youzhe, crouching and eating his boxed lunch.

The director “…”

It had been a long time since he had seen such a fresh and elegant combination, a bit novel.

Wu Youzhe quickly finished the last piece of meat, wiped his mouth, and enthusiastically said, “Director, hello, hello, I am Shu You’s manager, you can call me Xiao Wu.”

The director paused for a second, awkwardly smiling, “How about I call you Lao[mfn]”Lao” is a Chinese term often used as an honorific or term of respect when addressing someone who is older or more senior in age or position. It is similar to the English terms “elder” or “sir” and is typically added after the person’s name or as a standalone term of address.[/mfn] Wu?”

“Lao Wu is fine too,” Wu Youzhe said without realizing, “A name is just a code, haha.”

The two of them chatted for a while. It turned out that the director thought highly of Shu You’s work attitude and wanted to give him a separate interview.

This interview would be interspersed before his performance, adding a lot of shots and exposure. Wu Youzhe was very happy and even added the director’s contact information.

Soon, the staff came over and adjusted Shu You’s hairstyle, making him look much more spirited.

The scriptwriter approached with a notebook, smiling, and said, “Don’t be nervous, I’ll just ask a few questions.”

Most of the questions were about the show, about the performance. Towards the end, the scriptwriter smiled again and asked, “Shu You, can you talk about your personal life?”

Shu You didn’t even blink and said seriously, “I don’t have a personal life, I’m currently focused on my career.”

“Hahaha,” the scriptwriter had never heard someone sound so decisive, jokingly said, “Really? I don’t believe it.”

This time, Shu You blinked his eyes and said seriously, “But I do.”

The scriptwriter “…”

In no time, Shu You went on stage to perform.

This was the official recording, and the audience was seated below. Shu You performed skillfully, receiving a round of applause before being eliminated.

At this stage, those who were leaving had to make a statement, say something.

When it was Shu You’s turn, he hesitated for a moment and asked, “When will the show be aired?”

“In about a week,” the host replied.

“About a week,” the host responded. “Shu You, is there something you want to say?”

“Yes,” Shu You took a deep breath and said loudly, “I want to say a few words.”

The camera shifted towards him, giving him a close-up shot.

The handsome young man stood under the spotlight, facing everyone’s gaze, and pursed his lips.

“Many people don’t know that my first stand-up comedy performance was about roasting my boyfriend.”

At that time, he was in a rush and only watched other people’s stand-up comedy performances on his phone for half an hour.

“I made a lot of jokes about my boyfriend, some were true, and some were artistically exaggerated. Actually, he is a very talented and capable person, the most outstanding person I have ever met.”

To be able to have a relationship with someone like him, even if it’s fake, is his luck.

The audience below looked at him, their eyes fixed on him.

But in those eyes, there was no Lin Mingxu.

So, some words could be said, they could be spoken out.

“I hope he can become better and happier.”

“So, I’ve decided that I won’t tell any more jokes about him because he has succeeded in his entrepreneurial venture.”

Goodbye, Lin Mingxu.

Shu You’s face had a radiant smile, but there was nothing in his eyes.

After finishing, he bowed to everyone and quickly left the stage.

His heart was still pounding.

He hurriedly walked, almost running, towards the backstage exit, not even hearing Wu Youzhe calling him from behind. Suddenly, he bumped into someone.

Shu You looked up in confusion and met Lin Mingxu’s eyes.

Lin Mingxu coldly said, “Where are you going?”

“I…” Shu You’s brain went blank.

He didn’t know how Lin Mingxu had arrived so quickly, but he knew that Lin Mingxu had come for him.

The two bodyguards appeared behind him, their expressions complex, and said, “Mr. Shu, let us take you back to the hotel.”

Back… back to the hotel.

Shu You felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured on him, and his whole body trembled. “No, I can go back on my own.”

His belongings were still at the hotel.

Originally, Shu You planned to quickly go back, take his things, and leave, but Lin Mingxu’s appearance disrupted everything.

He instinctively wanted to leave, but he was blocked on both sides, with a tall figure in front of him.

Shu You dared not look at him, only kept glancing around and said, “Big brother, please let me go.”

His voice was trembling.

Lin Mingxu felt a pang in his heart. He gritted his teeth and said, “Shu You, let me ask you, where are you going?”

“I…” Shu You lowered his head, trembling, “I’m not going anywhere, Lin Mingxu, I was wrong, it’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have lied to you.”

“You shouldn’t have lied to me.”

A storm seemed to brew in the man’s eyes, his gaze sharp and cold. “So from now on, I won’t believe anything you say.”

“Shu You.”

Lin Mingxu glanced at him deeply, coldly saying, “The words you said on stage just now were also very pleasing.”

“And you don’t have to say them again in the future.”

Shu You “…”

Lin Mingxu took him directly back to the hotel, to the room assigned by the production team.

The door clicked shut, and Shu You stood on the carpet, stunned,

his mind blank.

His hands and feet turned cold, and his whole body stiffened, unable to move. He stuttered, “Lin… Lin Mingxu, what are you going to do?”

Kill him, torture him, break his legs…

Under the threat of death, having his legs broken seemed like a choice.

However, Lin Mingxu actually smiled.

It was a mocking, crazy smile that made Shu You shudder uncontrollably.

Shu You had never wanted to see Lin Mingxu smile.

“What am I going to do?”

Lin Mingxu took off his coat, leisurely rolled up his sleeves, revealing his strong and powerful arms. “Since you’re so afraid of me, then maybe I should do what needs to be done.”

He coldly said, “Come here.”

---

Not long after, Lin Mingxu returned to his office. The building was empty, and it was already past ten in the evening.

The man picked up his phone and dialed an unfamiliar number.

“Ring, ring, ring.”

The call connected, and the voice of his bodyguard came from the other end. “Boss.”

Lin Mingxu made a sound of acknowledgment and listened as the bodyguard reported every detail of what Shu You had done today.

Finally, there was a hesitation on the other end. “Boss, you asked me to pay special attention to a conversation between Mr. Wu and Mr. Shu, but they were at a distance, and I couldn’t hear it clearly.”

Lin Mingxu furrowed his brows slightly. “What did they say?”

“Um.”

The bodyguard hesitated for a moment, slightly embarrassed. “I only heard Mr. Wu telling Mr. Shu to take care of his health.”

Take care of his health.

Lin Mingxu hung up the phone, his brows deeply furrowed. Could it be that Shu You was sick?

Thinking of how Shu You insisted on breaking up, refused to give a reason, and left without a word,

His thoughts were still unsettled, and then he heard the bodyguard stammering, “I think I heard a few sentences, but I didn’t catch them clearly.”

“Something about Mr. Shu being pregnant or something.”

Lin Mingxu “…”

He looked at the screen of his phone again to make sure he hadn’t dialed the wrong number.

But then he realized, it was Shu You on the other end.

Lin Mingxu sighed.

Well, after dealing with some matters, he could go and find Shu You.

This time, no matter what means or methods he had to use,

He wouldn’t let go.

Shu You followed the staff of the program and entered the buffet restaurant.

The feeling of being able to eat casually without spending money was truly irresistible.

He stood by the table, struggling to choose between crayfish and roast duck, unable to extricate himself.

In the end, he filled his plate with grilled meat.

After eating his fill and returning to the room, Shu You couldn’t help but burp. “Oops.”

Wu Youzhe followed him in and asked curiously, “Why did you eat so much? Have you not been eating well these past few days?”

“Um.”

Shu You indeed hadn’t been eating much these past few days, but it didn’t hinder his performance. He immediately answered, “That’s right, I have no appetite. I’m fully focused on my career.”

Wu Youzhe was taken aback. “Are you really pregnant?”

Shu You “…”

Why did everyone around him suddenly become strange?

What was the reason behind all this?

He could only cough awkwardly and say, “Brother Wu.”

“Are you eager to have a child?”

Wu Youzhe blushed again. “Well, I do want to, but the problem is I can’t bear children.”

“Indeed.” Shu You agreed wholeheartedly. “So you have to remember, men can’t give birth.” The original book didn’t mention anything about giving birth, so why talk about it?

Wu Youzhe understood.

It was still early, and the two of them sat in the room, staring at each other, with nothing to do. Shu You couldn’t resist and picked up his phone.

Then, unintentionally, he entered Lin Mingxu’s chat interface.

Hmm.

He didn’t know what to say.

He didn’t know if he should say anything.

But he clicked on it anyway.

He was inexplicably

hesitant, his finger pausing here, and his inner struggle began again.

He wasn’t that foolish.

If Lin Mingxu had already realized something, but Shu You wasn’t sure what exactly he knew.

He was just feeling guilty, particularly guilty.

So he pretended to be clueless every time he faced himself.

If Lin Mingxu found out that he was just trying to save his own life, that’s why he confessed his love to him, wouldn’t he be driven crazy with anger?

If Lin Mingxu went crazy with anger, wouldn’t Shu You’s legs be broken?

If his legs were broken, considering the average lifespan, what would he do with the remaining fifty years?

As soon as he thought about not having legs, being locked in a basement, crawling around like Sadako, or being directly killed by Lin Mingxu in a fit of rage, the images were either too exciting or too bloody. Shu You didn’t dare to imagine further.

Lin Mingxu’s words at the airport shocked Shu You, making him even more afraid to tell the truth.

But not telling the truth was something he couldn’t get past.

And what was even more shameful was that he felt like he had some feelings for Lin Mingxu.

After spending so much time together, it would be a lie to say that there were no feelings involved.

From the character he initially liked in the book to the high-quality romantic partner right in front of him, the words of liking and love confused Shu You at times, blurring the line between truth and fiction.

After all, he wasn’t a professional actor, and even professional actors sometimes found it hard to separate themselves from their roles.

Thinking back and forth, he had no idea what to do. Shu You sighed softly, “Brother Wu, how are you and your wife doing?”

Wu Youzhe looked up at him, “Just the same.”

The two of them exchanged glances and sighed in unison.

In their frustration, Shu You’s phone rang.

Visibly, his face turned red, but he casually picked up the phone and went into the inner room.

Wu Youzhe “…”

He appeared, in a world where only he was hurt.

It was Lin Mingxu’s call.

Shu You answered, and a deep, pleasant male voice came from the other end, calling his name just like countless times before.

“Shu You.”

Shu You couldn’t help it, “Lin Mingxu.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, he startled himself. Was that the voice he could produce?

Soft, gentle, almost like coquetry.

On the other end of the phone, Lin Mingxu’s lips curved with a hint of a smile. “Missed me?”

Shu You “…”

For some reason, he used to be able to say all sorts of shameless words, but ever since he broke through that barrier, he could no longer speak recklessly without reservation.

He stumbled over his words, unable to say anything, his mind going blank. “Do you miss me?”

“I do.”

Lin Mingxu immediately responded, “I miss you a lot.”

That’s what a boyfriend would say.

Sweet nothings.

Shu You couldn’t help but feel a flutter in his heart. “Since you put it that way, I’ll reluctantly admit that I also miss you.”

Lin Mingxu raised an eyebrow, “Are you really that reluctant?”

“Cough,” Shu You quickly changed the subject, “Is there something you need?”

“No, nothing.”

Lin Mingxu’s voice turned gentle. “So when there’s nothing, I can’t call my boyfriend?”

Shu You “…”

He made a mistake. He regretted not sticking to his words about not breaking up.

But at that moment, under the circumstances, he couldn’t even see the sun outside the room without changing his stance.

So Shu You also complained, “Because I’m scared.”

Lin Mingxu asked softly, “Scared of what?”

“It’s not that I don’t like you.”

Perhaps it was because of the distance, the phone call, not seeing the person face-to-face, Shu You blurted out some words that were stumbling and hesitant.

“It’s just fear.”

Shu You squatted against the wall, incoherently saying, “I’m scared of many things.”

Lin Mingxu fell silent.

After a long while, the man spoke softly, “I know you have some concerns.”

His words were light and gentle, but each word landed clearly in Shu You’s heart.

“But you can’t completely dismiss everything based on preconceived notions,” he said, taking a deep breath. “Nor can you dismiss our relationship that we’ve had all along.”

Speaking these words over the phone might not be appropriate, but he couldn’t bear it anymore. The thought of Shu You leaving, even if it was because of his own fear, ignited a fire within him, burning away at his heart.

Lin Mingxu’s fingers curled, as he restrained himself and calmly said, “I once promised you that I wouldn’t deceive you anymore, and I won’t now.”

“Shu You, I just have one question for you.”

Shu You opened his mouth, “What is it, Lin Mingxu?”

“I have only one question.”

Lin Mingxu’s voice sounded distant yet close, light yet heavy. Shu You bit his lip, holding his breath and attentively listening.

He said, “After being together with me for so long, have you ever wavered in your feelings for me?”

Just a little bit.

Just a tiny bit would be enough. If Shu You had even a moment of hesitation, it would mean that he had a place for Lin Mingxu in his heart, and that would be enough for Lin Mingxu to seize that opportunity.

“I…”

Shu You hesitated. This direct and honest question left him with no room to maneuver, nor any excuses to rely on. It was Lin Mingxu’s style—straightforward and decisive.

That sentence resurfaced in his mind, clear and deadly. It was the most effective way to deal with someone like him, a coward.

“Lin Mingxu, I…”

Summoning his courage, Shu You finally began to speak, but before he could complete a full sentence, Lin Mingxu suddenly interrupted him.

“Wait.”

Shu You had finally managed to get the words out, and he wondered what Lin Mingxu meant by this. If Lin Mingxu were in front of him, he would surely glare angrily.

On the other end of the phone, the man spoke calmly, “I’ll come over now and listen to you say it face to face.”

Face to face.

Shu You immediately tensed up. “No, no, no, that’s not possible.”

“I won’t be able to say it if you come over.”

“Even if you can’t say it, you still have to.”

The man’s composure and determination drove Shu You to the brink of madness. Lin Mingxu calmly stated, “Shu You, these things will have a conclusion sooner or later, and you can’t avoid them.”

Shu You froze.

Yes.

Sooner or later, there would be an ending, whether it was good or bad.

But Lin Mingxu had undoubtedly pushed him into a corner, leaving him with no way out.

“Lin Mingxu…”

Shu You’s nose suddenly felt a bit sour, and Lin Mingxu’s words shattered his last remaining illusion. He gritted his teeth and said resolutely, “I’ll say it now. I’ll tell you everything.”

“I-I stayed at first because I was afraid of retaliation.”

“All those words were fake. I made up nonsense because I was afraid you would kick me out.”

“I deceived you because I saw that you weren’t in a good state at the time.”

He said almost everything except for his transmigration. Without mentioning that, his words seemed a bit illogical. Shu You could only explain as best as he could, saying, “I’m sorry, I always felt that we weren’t suitable for each other, but I thought it wasn’t the right time before. I thought I would wait until you succeeded in your business.”

“Now that your situation has improved, I don’t want to and can’t deceive you anymore.”

“I’m a terrible person, a big liar. I’ve done terrible things to you. Please forget about me and find someone better and more suitable.”

Like the protagonist.

He’s handsome and talented, so why bother with someone like him, a cannon fodder character?

A heavy burden was lifted from his chest, replaced by a more complicated and bitter feeling. Shu You blurted out all of this, and quickly said the last sentence.

“Lin Mingxu, I’m sorry.”

Without waiting for a response from the other end of the phone, he immediately, abruptly, and decisively hung up.

And then he turned off his phone.

He didn’t want to say these things to Lin Mingxu face to face.

He didn’t want to see disappointment, anger, disgust, and that initial icy gaze on the man’s face.

This was just perfect.

Shu You walked out of the room with an empty expression. Wu Youzhe was still there, and he was startled when he saw him.

“Shu You, are you…”

“I’m fine.”

Shu You’s voice was hoarse, and he unexpectedly spoke rationally. “I just learned a lesson.”

“What lesson?” Wu Youzhe asked.

“Prolonged pain is worse than short-lived pain.”

Wu Youzhe paused, “That’s true.”

But Shu You continued, “But no pain is better than any pain.”

Wu Youzhe “…”

---

Shu You was dumbfounded.

They were both men. Just now, they had been through various things with Lin Mingxu, so he naturally understood what the other person meant.

With a stiff scalp and stuttering, he reluctantly said, “I-I’m afraid I won’t do it well.”

“Well, after all, in this kind of situation, you know best how to do it comfortably.”

Lin Mingxu mercilessly mocked him, “Then why were you so comfortable just now?”

Shu You remained silent.

Instantly, his face turned as red as a ripe tomato.

I can’t accept this face.

Shu You was filled with shame and anger. He rolled up his sleeves, frustrated, and said, “Alright, come on then!”

He looked like he was about to fight with an enemy.

So…

“Don’t move, let me do it.”

“Hey, don’t move. If you move, I won’t know what to do.”

“Ah, be gentle, gentle, gentle.”

If someone didn’t know, they would have thought there was a pig being slaughtered in the room.

Two hours later, a thoroughly exhausted Shu You was sent to the airport by Lin Mingxu.

Lin Mingxu personally helped him get the plane ticket and handed it to him, saying, “Go early, come back early, and stay safe.”

Shu You took the ticket, avoiding eye contact, and said, “I understand, I understand.”

As he lifted his leg to leave, Lin Mingxu suddenly said, “Shu You.”

Shu You stopped in his tracks and looked up at him.

Lin Mingxu whispered, “You won’t run away, right?”

Shu You opened his mouth and stammered, “I-if I did run away?”

Lin Mingxu’s gaze darkened. “That’s simple.”

In the bustling airport, amidst the noise and commotion, the whispers of men seemed to be within reach, resounding in his ears like thunder.

“If you run away…”

Lin Mingxu stared at him, his eyes reflecting his figure. He deliberately paused, as if it took some effort to restrain his imagination.

“I will find you.”

“I will break your legs.”

“I will lock you in the basement.”

“I will make it so that you can only see me for the rest of your life.”

“Only hear me.”

“Only speak to me.”

Shu You remained silent.

He was shocked, his eyes wide open, finding it hard to believe what he had just heard. “Aren’t you afraid that I’ll… hate you?”

“I don’t care.”

A slight curve appeared on Lin Mingxu’s lips, but his eyes remained cold, deep, and unfathomable. He calmly said, “By then…”

“You won’t be able to leave me, forever.”

Even after boarding the plane, Shu You’s mind was still buzzing.

As if it had been repeatedly struck by an eighty-pound hammer.

He didn’t expect Lin Mingxu to say such things.

Although he knew how terrifying it could be when the main character turned dark, but right now, he was the one involved.

It seemed like a tragic ending, but something felt off.

Shouldn’t these words from Lin Mingxu be said to the legitimate protagonist?

And also…

He didn’t seem to really mind if Lin Mingxu did those things to him.

The previous kiss, too. He didn’t actually dislike doing those things with Lin Mingxu.

Shu You realized that he had indeed enjoyed it.

Not the kind of simple pleasure he had given himself, but a mixture of emotions and feelings.

It felt completely different, multiplied.

And even after Lin Mingxu uttered those threatening, crazy words, he still didn’t dislike it.

In the face of such madness and terror, he was just shocked. Could it be that deep down, he was also twisted?

It’s over, it’s over, it’s over, it’s over, it’s over.

Shu You’s mind began to replay those thoughts again.

Because they needed to sign some supplementary agreements, Wu Youzhe also flew to the shooting location urgently. Shu You had been waiting at the airport for almost half a day when Wu Youzhe finally arrived.

The manager saw Shu You in a daze, walking towards him with unfocused eyes, and immediately became anxious. “Shu You, Shu You, snap out of it!”

Shu You turned his head blankly and looked at him. “Ah, Brother Wu.”

“It’s me, it’s me.”

Upon seeing that he could still recognize him and respond, Wu Youzhe breathed a sigh of relief. He asked, “Are you okay? What’s wrong with you?”

“I…” Shu You hesitated for a moment and whispered, “I’ve discovered something.”

“What is it?” Wu Youzhe asked.

“I…” Shu You paused, struggling to speak, “I think I’m a pervert.”

Wu Youzhe was taken aback and asked, “How did you come to that realization?”

“Um…” Shu You blushed slightly and casually said, “I found out unintentionally.”

“Now the question is, what should I do?” Wu Youzhe said, looking worried. He had no experience dealing with this kind of situation.

How would he know what to do when someone turned into a pervert?

Wu Youzhe furrowed his brows and suddenly noticed something. He was startled and asked nervously, “Shu You, what are the specific symptoms of being a pervert?”

Shu You hesitated and carefully answered, “Palpitations, insomnia, and frequent dreams.”

Wu Youzhe’s expression immediately turned sympathetic. “Shu You, do you grind your teeth?”

“Ah,” Shu You wondered, “I don’t grind my teeth.”

“If you don’t grind your teeth, why are your lips swollen like that?” Shu You remained speechless.

Damn it.

What does swollen lips have to do with teeth grinding?

The two of them walked side by side, and suddenly, their vision blurred as two men appeared in front of them.

Dressed in serious black suits and sunglasses, with muscular bodies and tall stature, they looked like legendary…

Shu You blurted out, “Men in black.”

Wu Youzhe rubbed his eyes and said, “Debt collectors.”

They exchanged a glance and said in unison, “Looking for you.”

Shu You “…”

Wu Youzhe “…”

The two men in suits then spoke, “Hello, are you Mr. Shu You?”

Wu Youzhe breathed a sigh of relief. It was a good thing they weren’t looking for him. But he still worried about Shu You.

Shu You was also shocked and asked, “W-Why are you looking for me?”

He blinked his eyes and said, “Just to clarify, I can’t do autographs or take photos, but exchanging contact information is fine.”

The two men in suits looked at each other and then spoke again, “Mr. Shu, that’s how it is. We were sent by Mr. Lin to take care of you.”

“Oh,” Wu Youzhe nodded, “Shu You, your boyfriend is really good to you.”

He envied and turned to look at Shu You, only to find that Shu You was frozen in place.

“Shu You,” Wu Youzhe waved his hand in front of him, “What’s wrong with you?”

Shu You stood still like a wooden chicken and murmured to himself, “I knew it.”

He knew that it wouldn’t be so easy for Lin Mingxu to let him go. There might be some other plan.

And now, there were two more pairs of eyes, four arms, and four legs all staring at him alone.

Shu You immediately felt the pressure from the darkened protagonist.

And honestly, he did consider running away again, but upon careful consideration, he chickened out.

If Lin Mingxu could find him once within 24 hours, then he could definitely find him a second time.

Who should he blame?

He could only blame Lin Mingxu for being too capable.

The two bodyguards were professional and dedicated, almost inseparable from Shu You. As the group reached the airport exit, Wu Youzhe was about to hail a taxi when the black-suited man on the left stopped him and quickly brought a black Audi.

Wu Youzhe “…”

He felt that he was a bit incompetent as Shu You’s manager.

The four of them squeezed into the car, tightly packed. The two men sat in the front, while Shu You and Wu Youzhe sat in the back.

On the way, Wu Youzhe couldn’t help but ask, “Shu You, have you reconciled with your boyfriend?”

To be able to send bodyguards for protection…

It seemed like he came from a wealthy and successful family. It made Wu Youzhe sigh with emotion.

Shu You absentmindedly replied, “Maybe.”

If they considered it a reconciliation when one side chased and the other escaped, then maybe they had reconciled.

Wu Youzhe was shocked. “Wait, let me process this for a moment.”

The two had a fight, and Shu You ran away. A strange thought came to Wu Youzhe’s mind, “Shu You, what did you do?”

Shu You looked indignant and said, “I didn’t do anything.”

“Just almost ran away with the ball.” But there was no ball, and it would be worse if there was.

Wu Youzhe “…”

He couldn’t help but frequently glance at Shu You’s belly.

They dropped off their luggage at the hotel where Shu You had stayed before, and drove to the filming location. As soon as they arrived, Duan Siqi excitedly ran over. “Shu You!”

“I’m so happy you’re back. It wasn’t in vain that I recommended you to the production team.”

Shu You asked in surprise, “You recommended me?”

Weren’t they supposed to have an internal agreement?

“Yes, it was me.” Duan Siqi chuckled, “Someone unexpectedly dropped out, so I quickly recommended you.”

That’s how it was.

Shu You was about to speak when his phone suddenly rang. He picked it up and became instantly anxious.

It was Lin Mingxu.

He quickly gave Duan Siqi a signal and discreetly moved to a quiet corner. “Lin Mingxu.”

The man’s voice sounded slightly hoarse, reminiscent of before.

Shu You blushed and shook off the wild thoughts in his mind. He coughed and said, “I’ve arrived at the filming location, and I’ve met the people you arranged.”

His tone unintentionally carried a hint of resentment. “Lin Mingxu, you don’t need to have someone specifically watch over me.”

“Is that so?” Lin Mingxu neither confirmed nor denied it. “If no one is watching over you, what if you run away?”

“I won’t run away at all, okay?” Shu You grumbled. “You’re just wasting money like this. It would be better to give it directly to me.”

He would have a strong sense of professional ethics and definitely wouldn’t run away.

Lin Mingxu remained silent.

Indeed, he was too angry at the time and forgot about this.

Shu You muttered to himself, “And look at the production team, they’ve invited so many top celebrities, and none of them have bodyguards. Only I have them. If this gets out, people will say I’m being arrogant.”

“It’s okay.” Lin Mingxu calmly said, “You work hard to become a top celebrity, and no one will say you’re being arrogant.”

Shu You “…”

His boyfriend really thought highly of him.

Shu You tried to persuade Lin Mingxu, but he refused to withdraw the bodyguards and told him one thing, “I have already prepaid their entire year’s salary. You figure it out.”

Shu You “…”

Oh no, just thinking about how much money he would spend in a year, he suddenly felt like a big capitalist.

After a pause, Lin Mingxu suddenly said, “I won’t come over these days, so don’t run around.”

Huh?

Shu You was surprised by Lin Mingxu’s unusual tone.

He hesitated and asked softly, “Lin Mingxu, is there something wrong?”

Saying such things, combined with the exaggerated bodyguards, a thought suddenly popped into Shu You’s mind. Could something have happened?

However, Lin Mingxu casually replied, “Nothing.”

He quickly hung up the phone.

That slight bit of annoyance in Shu You’s heart disappeared instantly.

Since there was a reason behind it, he wasn’t that upset anymore.

However…

Shu You looked at the two bodyguards with a hint of mischief in his eyes.

For some reason, the two bodyguards trembled.

They exchanged glances again, and the one on the left spoke, “Mr. Shu, do you have any instructions?”

“No, no.” Shu You smiled brightly. “I just wanted to ask if your security company has any package discounts or membership cards.”

The bodyguard’s eyes widened.

At that moment, Wu Youzhe came over and handed a cup of hot milk to Shu You.

Shu You instinctively took it and took a sip. “Brother Wu, why are you suddenly being so kind to me?”

Wu Youzhe nervously said, “Take it slow, don’t choke.”

He anxiously added, “I just searched online, and it’s not impossible for men to get pregnant. Please take care of yourself.”

Shu You chuckled.

He spat out the milk with shock and counter-questioned, “What kind of website were you browsing, Brother Wu?”

Wu Youzhe was stunned for a moment. “The Internet.”

“…”

It was evident that he was an experienced netizen.

Shu You was shocked and asked again, “Why do you think men can give birth?”

“Well…” Wu Youzhe’s face turned red. “It’s not that I think too much, but when I thought about it, it seemed reasonable considering it happened to you. It’s not entirely impossible.”

Shu You wondered how many stereotypes Wu Youzhe had about him.

Late at night, Lin Mingxu and Zhu Feiche got off the car and walked side by side towards the villa they were heading to.

The front gate was wide open.

The once luxurious decorations now carried a sense of desolation. Lin Mingxu walked in without hesitation, and in the living room, Lu Chenbi sat on the sofa, looking dejected.

When Lu Chenbi saw Lin Mingxu entering, he suddenly realized, “It’s you.”

“It’s all because of you,” Lu Chenbi accused.

Without looking at him, Lin Mingxu scanned the surroundings and asked, “Where is Lu He?”

“My father was admitted to the hospital.”

Lu Chenbi wiped his face, seemingly not too angry. He looked despondent and said, “You came here to enjoy the show, didn’t you? You’ve won, my family is ruined.”

“Do you have something to say? Say it quickly. I’m about to move out,” Lin Mingxu added deliberately, “Don’t imitate Shu You.”

Lu Mingxu: “…”

Zhu Feiche curiously asked, “What happened to Shu You?”

Lu Chenbi gave him a complicated look, raised his hand to mess up his own hair, and said gloomily, “Nothing, it’s just that I lost the most precious thing to me.”

Zhu Feiche was even more curious, “But you’re still alive, right? Your life isn’t at stake.”

“Yes.” Lu Chenbi nodded. “But now I feel like I’m worse off than dead. I’ve lost all hope and confidence in life.”

Zhu Feiche: “…”

For a moment, he could empathize with him.

The atmosphere became somewhat awkward.

With Lu He absent and Lu Chenbi in this state, a random thought crossed Lin Mingxu’s mind. What would Shu You do or say if he were here?

He suddenly found the revenge scene in front of him dull.

Lu Chenbi didn’t resist at all and directly signed the documents brought by Lin Mingxu. With his objective achieved, Lin Mingxu left Lu’s residence with Zhu Feiche.

Zhu Feiche stretched lazily and casually asked, “Finally, we can take a break. Lin Mingxu, what are your plans?”

Lin Mingxu replied calmly, “I will continue working.”

“Hey.” Zhu Feiche raised his eyebrows. “Will you ever enjoy life? Oh, by the way, what about Shu You?”

Lin Mingxu suddenly smiled mysteriously and said meaningfully, “You’re right.”

“I’m going to find him now.”

Zhu Feiche “…”

Did he see it correctly?

Lin Mingxu was just laughing earlier.

It was that smile that made him feel a bit uneasy.

---

Shu You quickly turned off his phone after sending this message.

He stared blankly out the window, and suddenly someone poked his shoulder. “Hey, young man, can you help me see what kind of ticket this is?”

Without lifting his head, Shu You muttered, “It’s a return ticket.”

The other person “…”

Shu You suddenly snapped back to reality and instinctively covered his mouth. How could he have such a thought?

Even if he bought a return ticket now, he would definitely have his legs broken by the furious Lin Mingxu.

Thinking about how angry Lin Mingxu was in the office that day, not only did they break up, he even ran away, Shu You wished he could kill him.

He trembled and quickly turned his head to look at the ticket in the other person’s hand. It was a coincidence—it was the seat next to him.

The man sat down, wiping sweat and smiling. “Young man, are you also going to Songcheng?”

Shu You waited and wondered where Songcheng was.

He had never heard of this place; he bought the ticket randomly.

Shu You quickly checked and found that it was a small first-tier city, about one to two hundred kilometers away from the city he previously lived in, Baijing City. Not far, but not close either.

That’s good.

He took a deep breath, thinking that it was just a short stay. He had money with him and could stay in a hotel. He could stay for a few more days and consider it as a way to relax.

As for the rest…

Shu You chatted casually with the man for a while and learned that he was going to Songcheng to visit his son, who was starting university.

“My son is about the same age as you, and he’s studying for a master’s degree. He loves watching stand-up comedy, just like you.”

“Hey young man, could you give me an autograph? It would be a small gift for my son. Hehe.”

Shu You gladly agreed.

Not only did he sign his name, but they also took a photo together, and he wrote a paragraph with great enthusiasm.

The two parted happily at the train station. Before leaving, the man wanted to treat him to a meal, but Shu You firmly declined.

Shu You walked out of the train station with his suitcase, hailed a taxi, and headed to a hotel near the local stand-up comedy theater in Songcheng. He checked in and settled down.

It was already past 10 PM that night when he finally dared to open his phone and take a quick glance.

Just one glance.

The phone froze.

The notification bar was filled with missed call notifications and messages from Lin Mingxu.

Shu You had set his phone not to display message content, so he only felt a sudden jump in his heart and quickly swiped to find a message from Wu Youzhe.

When he left, he had told Wu Youzhe in advance that he would be going out to play for a few days and not to worry.

So Wu Youzhe wasn’t too surprised, but he was still shocked.

Wu Youzhe: Shu You, what the hell did you do? Your boyfriend called me.

Shu You’s heart skipped a beat again, and he quickly replied, asking what he said.

Wu Youzhe replied almost instantly: “Where did you run off to? You didn’t explain anything to me. Turns out you ran away from home. Your boyfriend is going crazy. I dare not even look at him. I’ve been alive for forty years, but I’ve never seen such a terrifying person.”

The following lines describing how frightening Lin Mingxu was are omitted.

Finally, Wu Youzhe got to the point: “Shu You, come back quickly. Whatever it is, we can talk it out. Look at me and my wife, we talked it out just fine that day. Last time she saw me, she told me to get lost, but this time we had a good meal together.”

In any case, Shu You, come back.

Shu You pursed his lips.

He knew that Lin Mingxu would definitely be angry, furious even, but when he heard it confirmed, his heart still stirred up waves.

Lin Mingxu cared about him, right?

He said he liked him.

At this moment, Shu You felt like he had eaten a strange flavored bean, sour and sweet, bitter and spicy all at once.

But the next second, he remembered how he had fooled Lin Mingxu and then ran away.

He immediately buried himself in the blanket, afraid to show his face.

Forget it, being an ostrich is quite enjoyable.

Anyway, he couldn’t see how bad it was outside. Should he go find the original author of the book and ask why the protagonist and the love interest had to be together?

Then, as he was lost in thought, probably due to exhaustion from the past few days, Shu You dozed off.

At this moment, Lin Mingxu was truly going crazy.

He wished he could find Shu You right now.

Immediately, right away, this very second.

That day, Shu You dropped a bombshell and quickly ran off before Lin Mingxu could figure out how to handle it. Lin Mingxu had to change his strategy. He knew he couldn’t act impulsively these days and had to give Shu You some space.

But he never expected that after enduring for three days, he couldn’t hold back anymore. He found out from Wu Youzhe the filming location of Shu You and hurriedly rushed over, only to find that Shu You had already finished filming and left.

Finished.

Left.

Very well, he dared to do this.

At first, when he heard the other party mention breaking up in the office, he was furious beyond words. But he restrained himself and actually believed Shu You again, willing to give him seven days. And what did he get in return?

Nothing but lies upon lies.

Lin Mingxu didn’t care if Shu You had ulterior motives for showing affection toward him, but he couldn’t accept his departure. If he wanted to deceive him, then he should be prepared to deceive him for a lifetime. Stopping halfway, leaving midway, changing his mind—those were all behaviors he couldn’t tolerate.

The darkness in his heart surged forth. Since his rebirth until now, the beast that had been gradually worn down by the young man seemed to break free from its chains at this moment.

With a gloomy face, the man made a few phone calls.

Half an hour later, Tang Le rushed over in a hurry. Before he even got close, he trembled at the sight of Lin Mingxu’s sinister gaze.

“CEO Lin…”

He hadn’t known Lin Mingxu for long, but it was the first time he had seen him so repressed and angry.

It was as if something was already out of control, but he was desperately holding onto the last thread, waiting for a moment when his sanity would completely collapse.

No one could say what would happen then.

“Inform Zhu Feiche to start closing the net,” Lin Mingxu’s words were as cold as ice. “Tell him that he’s in charge of everything from now on.”

“Don’t contact me for the next few days. I have something to take care of.”

Something.

Tang Le pondered for a moment but couldn’t recall any other important matters concerning Lin Mingxu.

Although he didn’t know about the plan between CEO Lin and that Zhu executive, he could sense that the plan was significant. In such a moment, could there be anything more important than this?

His thoughts circled around, and he replied with a nod.

Lin Mingxu added, “Delay all my appointments for the next few days.”

He was going to find someone.

Tang Le was surprised. It was the first time he had seen Lin Mingxu postpone work.

Without giving any further instructions, Tang Le left. After he was gone, Lin Mingxu sat behind his desk, rubbing his throbbing temple, feeling somewhat fortunate that he was reborn.

Because of it, he knew some hidden places, the people in the dark corners, and the ways to find Shu You.

He used to think that being reborn was meaningless to him, but now he realized that fate had given him something perfectly timed.

That young man who had infuriated him to no end, the one he wanted to disgust and drive away, had unknowingly had such a profound impact on him.

Shu You.

Shu You.

Shu You.

Lin Mingxu silently repeated that name, his eyes filled with dark depths, like an unbreakable black mist that had accumulated to its peak.

He would find him.

With a crack, he broke the pen in his hand.

On the first morning, Shu You slept until he woke up naturally.

He rubbed his sleepy eyes and looked around the unfamiliar room setup, only then remembering that he was away from home—or rather, wandering around.

He was so hungry.

Shu You ordered a table full of breakfast, which the hotel quickly delivered. But as he looked at the abundant food in front of him, he suddenly lost his appetite.

He took a bite of bread absentmindedly and weakly lay back on the bed.

What a miscalculation.

He had thought of staying in a hotel near the talk show theater, where he could also watch performances to pass the time. But now that he actually tried to implement the plan, Shu You realized that he didn’t want to go out at all.

He just wanted to lie down.

Lying down was quite nice.

It was good for the back and could relax the mind and body. Since he had nothing to do, he decided to surf the internet for a while.

After a night’s rest, Shu You turned on his phone again.

The unread messages were still there, stubbornly reminding him of their presence. Unable to resist, Shu You opened and read them.

“Shu You, answer your phone.”

Shu You answered the phone.

“Shu You, where are you? Come back, let’s talk. I’m at your filming location.”

“Shu You.”

“Lin Mingxu went to his filming location.”

Shu You’s heart skipped a beat. Fortunately, he had managed to create a time difference by running away quickly.

Although there was no one else in the room, Shu You couldn’t help but shiver.

He crawled back into the covers and called Wu Youzhe, “Brother Wu.”

“Shu You.”

Wu Youzhe’s voice suddenly increased by eight degrees. “Where did you go?”

Shu You was taken aback by the loud voice and quickly moved the phone away, awkwardly replying, “Nowhere, just nearby.”

“Where exactly nearby?”

“Just nearby, around the area, not far.”

Shu You cleared his throat and said, “I’m not telling you for your own good.”

Wu Youzhe agreed.

Seeing Lin Mingxu’s appearance yesterday, Wu Youzhe was genuinely afraid that he would be implicated and end up in a terrible situation.

Wu Youzhe believed he had experienced storms and waves, but in front of Lin Mingxu, he still felt his heart pounding.

Because of this speculation, his voice instantly lowered by several decibels, and he cautiously asked, “So, what are your plans now? What are you going to do?”

“Nothing.”

Shu You explained, “I just want to relax and take a break for now. Once Lin Mingxu calms down, I’ll figure out what to do.”

“But-“

Wu Youzhe thought to himself that it wouldn’t be easy for Lin Mingxu to calm down based on his current state.

Worry filled him as he said, “Can you handle being alone outside? Have you eaten? Where are you staying? Oh, right, the production team asked me to tell you not to go too far and not to take on any other work for now. It seems like they haven’t finished everything.”

Not finished.

Shu You felt that he had performed quite well, and he had done well in the first round. How could they not have finished?

But since the client’s father had spoken, Shu You replied confidently, “Don’t worry, I can at least hide in the hotel for half a month.”

After half a month, Lin Mingxu’s anger should have subsided, right?

He wasn’t entirely sure.

After hanging up the phone, Shu You ate a few bites of food, put on his clothes, wore a hat and a mask, and planned to go out for a stroll.

The surrounding area was a bustling commercial district. However, as Shu You walked around, he felt a sense of boredom.

It was dull.

Biting his lip, his steps unconsciously led him back. Just as he reached the same street as before, he suddenly felt a familiar figure on the side of the street.

It looked a lot like him.

Shu You trembled for a moment and quickly shook his head. It couldn’t be him. It must be his own mistake.

He had mistaken someone before at the hot springs, right?

And Lin Mingxu had no idea that he was in Song City. How could he appear in front of him?

At that moment, the other person turned around, and indeed, it was a stranger. Shu You breathed a sigh of relief and suddenly heard a couple arguing nearby.

The owner of a roadside clothing store peered out from the window, holding a handful of melon seeds.

Shu You hesitated for a second, leaned towards them, and their eyes met, reaching an instant understanding.

The store owner willingly moved aside and extended their hand.

Shu You grabbed a handful of melon seeds and started cracking them open.

“You don’t answer calls or reply to messages. Do you think I can’t do anything to you?”

Shu You crackled the melon seeds.

“We were doing well, but you said let’s break up. What did I do wrong?”

Shu You crackled the melon seeds.

“What does sending a message mean? You don’t even have the guts to break up with me face-to-face, you coward.”

Shu You suddenly couldn’t continue cracking the melon seeds.

He turned to the store owner weakly and asked, “Is it scummy to break up over a message?”

“It depends on the specific situation.”

The store owner spat out the melon seed shell, thought for a moment, and said, “It’s not scummy, but it shows cowardice.”

Shu You’s knees felt weak.

He couldn’t continue shopping, so he sullenly walked back.

When he reached the vicinity of the hotel, Shu You felt a daze as if he saw Lin Mingxu again.

It’s fake, just an illusion.

Either that or someone wearing a similar coat, a trendy and popular style that many people wore.

Shu You snapped back to reality but still stood in place for a while before returning to the hotel. He entered the elevator, swiped the card, and entered his room.

As soon as the door closed, Shu You let out an inexplicable sigh of relief.

Then…

“Knock, knock, knock.”

The door made a sound.

Shu You stopped his steps and turned to open the door. As soon as the door cracked open, a familiar figure in a suit and leather shoes forcefully pushed the door open and locked his sharp gaze on him.

Under that hawk-like gaze, Shu You’s face turned pale, and his hair stood on end.

Yes, yes, it was Lin Mingxu.

How did he find him here?

---

Shu You trembled and instinctively tried to close the door. But it was too late. With a slight force, the man closed the door directly, his finger slightly hooked, and even locked it.

Hearing the clear sound of the door locking, Shu You swallowed hard and instinctively stepped back, pressing his back against the wallpaper, as if trying to blend into the background.

Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no.

Those two words kept flashing in his mind, and he stammered, “H-how did you…?”

“Shu You.”

Ling Mingxu’s expression was obscure and unclear, making it difficult to discern his true thoughts. He stared at the person in front of him and said coldly, “You’re quite unexpected.”

“Y-yes, yes, yes.”

In Shu You’s mind, the barrage kept replaying, and he murmured, “How did you find me so quickly?”

It hasn’t even been 24 hours yet, it makes me feel so defeated.

As if he were a small monkey unable to escape from the Five-Finger Mountain of the Buddha.

And at a time like this, he actually had a thought—truly worthy of a protagonist.

Ling Mingxu didn’t hear his inner praise. His expression grew even colder.

He took a step forward, forcing him back, causing Shu You’s hair to stand on end. His face turned pale, “L-Ling, Ling Mingxu, you…”

“What about me?”

The man stopped in front of him, their faces almost touching. His handsome face loomed large, and Shu You could even see his own terrified expression reflected in his eyes.

Ling Mingxu raised his hand and lightly pressed it against Shu You’s shoulder. Though seemingly casual, there was a growing intensity in his tone, “Tell me. What was the real reason for our breakup?”

That hand felt like a shackle, firmly gripping his right shoulder. Heat and strength surged through, rendering Shu You immobile. He shrank his head like a quail and stuttered, “I… I just… I discovered myself.”

“You discovered yourself?”

Ling Mingxu’s face twisted for a moment. He enunciated each word, “I still remember when you told me last time that you had an epiphany and understood what is truly important in life.”

It was Shu You’s nonsense when he first arrived, just to prevent Ling Mingxu from driving him away.

Shu You didn’t expect him to remember that conversation from so long ago. He trembled and his voice shook slightly, “Y-yes, that’s right.”

He struggled to swallow his saliva and said with difficulty, “A person’s self is sometimes like an onion, with many layers.”

“I’m just peeling away layer by layer, just like an onion. Ling Mingxu, what are you doing?”

Before he could finish his nonsensical words, Shu You felt a weight on his waist. The world spun before his eyes as Ling Mingxu lifted him up.

The man’s strong arm tightly held his waist as he took a few steps and threw him forcefully onto the bed.

Dizzy and disoriented, Shu You climbed up in a disheveled manner, “Ling Mingxu, what are you doing?”

Ling Mingxu stood by the bed, looking down at him from above, his gaze sharp as ice.

Each piercing look made Shu You feel timid, and his voice involuntarily grew quieter, “I-I just woke up not long ago, I’m not really tired, you don’t have to make me lie down.”

Ling Mingxu: “.”

“Hey, hey, hey!”

Shu You saw him about to raise his hand, hastily covering himself with the blanket, and shouted, “No domestic violence!”

“No domestic violence.”

Ling Mingxu sneered, “Since you want to break up with me, it doesn’t count as domestic violence.”

Shu You “…”

He quickly changed his tune, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I’ll tell you now.”

“I…”

He didn’t dare to meet Ling Mingxu’s eyes, stuttering and stumbling for a while, he mustered the courage to say, “I apologize to you, I’m sorry. I just realized that I may not have feelings for you anymore.”

“No feelings?”

Ling Mingxu didn’t make any moves this time, he just stood there and repeated those three words.

He looked terrifying.

Shu You suddenly felt weak in the legs.

As he desperately tried to feel the sensation in his legs, he stuttered once again, “I-I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I just woke up not long ago, I’m not really tired, you don’t have to make me lie down.”

Ling Mingxu’s expression remained cold and his eyes narrowed dangerously, “It seems that you still don’t understand the consequences of your actions.”

Shu You’s heart sank, realizing that things were about to take a turn for the worse.

He desperately tried to feel the sensation in his legs while stumbling and stuttering once again, he said, “Ling Mingxu.”

Ling Mingxu’s gaze remained heavy, staring at him intently.

Shu You’s heart began to tremble. He turned his head away, unable to meet the man’s eyes, and said softly, “There’s no reason.”

“Feelings are like that for everyone. Sometimes you suddenly like someone, and sometimes you suddenly don’t have feelings anymore.”

“I won’t.”

The trembling feather of the hummingbird fluttered lightly, causing ripples to spread across the calm lake. Ling Mingxu said in a faint tone, “I won’t suddenly like you, and I won’t suddenly stop liking you.”

“I…”

Shu You bit his lip, realizing he had nothing to say.

However, Ling Mingxu continued speaking.

“Shu You.”

The man looked deeply into his eyes, staring at him. “I gradually fell in love with you.”

From being half-dead angry at him, to unconsciously being attracted to him, and then realizing his own feelings, Ling Mingxu gradually understood himself through their interactions.

Now, he understood what he wanted, but Shu You wanted to leave.

How could that be possible?

How could he allow it?

Ling Mingxu’s eyes grew darker.

Suddenly, he raised his hand seemingly casually and placed it back on Shu You’s shoulder.

The man lowered his head slightly, looking into his eyes, their gazes locked.

“Shu You.”

He called his name again.

Ling Mingxu’s eyes grew deeper and more obscure, like a maze that couldn’t be escaped. Unable to resist, Shu You couldn’t help but raise his head to meet his gaze, and then, as if being enchanted, he sat dumbfounded on the bed.

His hair was still disheveled, his delicate face filled with confusion, and only his eyes remained bright, though they were somewhat vacant at the moment.

Silly, but adorable.

It was only in moments like these that Shu You could truly be obedient.

Ling Mingxu’s heart softened instantly.

He slowly bent down, getting closer and closer, and in the inch by inch distance, gently and soothingly kissed his lips.

His pale pink lips were as soft as his current mood.

First, they aimed for the lip bead, then outlined the entire lip shape, gradually parting the lips and firmly locking them in place, savoring them without hesitation.

As if fully focused, doing the most serious, earnest, and meticulous thing in the world.

The lips of someone you love are sweet.

Sweet to the point of making one forget everything else, difficult to resist.

And unwilling to resist.

One kiss.

Another kiss.

And yet another.

Shu You’s legs grew even weaker.

He mumbled to himself, wondering if he was going to become lame, only able to rely on a wheelchair in the future.

Then he realized that he couldn’t feel his legs at the moment, so why was he thinking about the future?

In a series of affectionate moments where both sides were indulging, he noticed something else.

He couldn’t feel his mouth either.

It seemed numb.

Like a peculiar ailment, it slowly and persistently invaded his limbs through his lips, tongue, and brain, rendering him unable to move, in a dazed and confused state.

And he found himself in an embrace with Ling Mingxu.

For a long time, really long and not just a sensory illusion, Shu You couldn’t hold back any longer. Panting heavily, he kept shrinking back, saying, “Wait, wait.”

Ling Mingxu reluctantly let him go,

his anger slightly subsiding.

The man’s eyes were filled with tenderness, devoid of the previous coldness. His voice also carried a hint of delight. “What is it?”

“Don’t you feel anything either?”

Shu You “…”

He was dumbfounded, taking a while to regain his composure. “You…you did all this just to prove that?”

“Yes.”

Ling Mingxu admitted directly.

At this moment, he was sitting on the bed with Shu You, intimately embracing each other. The man’s broad and sturdy chest was reliable, like an indestructible wall, an inescapable barrier.

Shu You took several deep breaths, his face flushed. He said, “How could you do this?”

“We’ve already broken up,” he emphasized forcefully. “What you’re doing is forcing someone to kiss you.”

“Forcing?”

Ling Mingxu’s face immediately darkened. “Are you saying that you were forced, that you don’t like it?”

Shu You gritted his teeth. “I don’t like it.”

“Is that so?” Ling Mingxu sneered. “If you don’t like it, then why did you kiss me for so long?”

Shu You’s face turned even redder. Angrily, he said, “That’s because you used your charm to bewitch me, taking advantage of me in a vulnerable state.”

“Very well.”

Ling Mingxu didn’t expect that Shu You would mention charm. His gaze turned cold. “I don’t believe that you don’t like it.”

He reached out directly, his left hand holding him down while his right hand removed his down jacket.

Shu You “…”

He was stunned, instinctively struggling. “Ling Mingxu.”

Ignoring his protests, Ling Mingxu firmly restrained his flailing arms and kissed him again. Shu You was instantly stupefied. “Ling Ling Ling Mingxu, you…”

The man looked deeply into his eyes, his lips curling. “You don’t like this either, right?”

“No no no no no,” Shu You stammered.

Ling Mingxu bit his lip, his gaze turning fierce. “You don’t feel anything either, do you?”

“No no no no no,” Shu You repeated.

After contorting his expression for a while, Shu You lay on the bed, barely breathing, his eyes lifeless, staring at the ceiling.

His clothes were a mess, his hair was disheveled, and his mind was even more chaotic.

It was over.

This time, his mind wasn’t filled with scrolling barrage comments. There were only two words occupying all the space.

It’s really over.

Ling Mingxu turned and entered the bathroom. He soon came out and stood by the bed, looking at Shu You calmly, coldly asking, “Still no feelings, still don’t like it?”

“No.”

Shu You, gasping for breath, responded weakly. Seeing the furrow on Ling Mingxu’s brow, he quickly added, “No, that’s not what I meant.”

Ling Mingxu furrowed his brow. “Then what do you mean?”

“I… I… I…” Shu You choked back his tears. “I just didn’t want to say it.”

“Oh.”

Ling Mingxu raised an eyebrow. “Unfortunately, I only heard your rejection.”

Shu You “…”

He felt like his world was collapsing.

Ling Mingxu’s anger finally subsided.

Just a little.

He calmly spoke, “It’s okay.”

“If you don’t like it, we’ll do it until you do.”

“If you don’t feel anything, I can take you to see a doctor.”

No, Shu You didn’t want to embarrass himself by going to the hospital.

He lay on the big bed like a fish out of water, completely lifeless.

After a while, he said in a wavering voice, “We can’t continue like this.”

“Oh,” Ling Mingxu narrowed his eyes. “I don’t see why not.”

“We can’t,” Shu You rolled into the blanket, wrapping it around himself three times. It seemed to bring him a sense of security. He said with frustration, “Even if we haven’t broken up, you still can’t do this.”

“What’s wrong with me?” Ling Mingxu stared at him, coldly snorting. “Since we haven’t broken up, what’s wrong with me doing this?”

He had spoiled this little bastard too much.

Afraid of scaring him, afraid of surprising him, worried that he couldn’t handle it, he wanted to proceed gradually, to give him a perfect experience.

And what happened?

He ran away.

Or rather, he deceived himself and ran away.

Ling Mingxu gritted his teeth, his face turning cold again. “Shu You, no matter what, I don’t agree to break up.”

At this moment, the man seemed to finally expose himself, pouring out the shadows in his heart, his voice chilling. “Pack your things, and come back with me now.”

Shu You bit his lip. “No.”

He had just uttered a word, and Ling Mingxu’s gaze grew even deeper.

“Shu You,” the man said softly, “I’ve always had a feeling. You know what kind of person I am.”

Shu You felt like he was implying something, but he couldn’t be sure.

Ling Mingxu’s hand, at some point, returned to his shoulder, exerting a subtle force. Shu You could only hear the man’s low and deep voice saying, “Shu You.”

“You wouldn’t want to see my true methods, would you?” Ling Mingxu said, his meaning unclear.

Shu You “…”

He got up from the bed and started tidying his things. Suddenly, he remembered something and spoke up, swallowing hard, “But Brother Wu told me… the production team said there are some things left unfinished and they might need me to come back.”

“I…” He looked at Ling Mingxu with hopeful eyes. “Can I go back and finish it?”

“You can.”

To Shu You’s surprise, Ling Mingxu agreed.

However, the man quickly added, “But I’ll go with you.”

“No, no, no,” Shu You trembled. “I won’t be able to work properly if you come with me.”

To prevent Ling Mingxu from objecting, he immediately leaned in, trying to please him, and hugged the man, rubbing his head against his chest. “Don’t be like this, I was wrong, I know I was wrong. I promise, this time I won’t run away.”

“Not running away?”

“Not running, not running,” Shu You opened his eyes wide and solemnly declared, “Whoever runs is a puppy, I won’t run, and I won’t be a puppy.”

Ling Mingxu stared at him, his meaning unclear, and said in a calm tone, “Then tell me, do you really have no feelings for me?”

“After saying so many words of love to me, now you say you don’t like me anymore,”

He didn’t believe it.

Even if it was true, he would make it false.

“I…” Shu You opened his mouth, his face flushing. “I… I do have some feelings, at least my body doesn’t lie, and I can’t deceive myself.”

Ling Mingxu’s expression slightly changed.

Buzz.

Buzz.

The atmosphere became subtle again, but their phones rang, one after the other.

Shu You was startled, hurriedly answered the call—it was Wu Youzhe.

“Shu You, the production team is urging you. Hurry back, they said they’ll pay you more.”

Shu You replied, “Okay.”

Before ending the call, Ling Mingxu briefly spoke on the other end.

The man walked over in big strides and directly took Shu You’s phone.

Shu You shrank his neck and didn’t dare to stop him.

Then it was Wu Youzhe’s turn to shrink his neck.

“Yes, yes, yes, I understand, I’ll do it, I’ll do it,” Shu You could hear the flattering tone of his own manager on the other end of the phone.

Shu You, go ahead.

After confirming Wu Youzhe’s words, Ling Mingxu returned the phone, gazing deeply at Shu You.

Shu You quickly defended himself, “Look, this time I really didn’t lie to you.”

He blinked his eyes, confidently saying, “I will succeed in my career. As your boyfriend, shouldn’t you be happy for me?”

“Oh,” Ling Mingxu raised an eyebrow. “So now I’m your boyfriend again?”

“Yes, yes, yes.”

Shu You hesitated for a moment and said, “We won’t break up.” He wanted to get through this for now.

They weren’t breaking up, but the problem hadn’t been solved either.

Ling Mingxu knew this very well, but since Shu You had indeed let it slip, he decided to step back for now.

“Turn on your phone, and don’t ignore my calls. You should reply to my messages promptly, understood?”

“I understand.”

Shu You replied, lowering his head and saying, “Boyfriend, you can rest assured.”

He called him ‘boyfriend‘ over and over again, obedient and sensible. He even raised his head, seemingly sincerely looking at Ling Mingxu, “Wait for me to finish the show, and then we can have a serious talk.”

A man’s mouth, a deceitful ghost.

But Ling Mingxu couldn’t help but want to believe him, time and time again.

However…

After being deceived, Ling Mingxu wasn’t so easily appeased.

The man narrowed his eyes and suddenly said meaningfully, “That will depend on your performance.”

“What?” Shu You was momentarily confused, not understanding his meaning. “What do you mean by ‘depend on my performance’?”

Ling Mingxu let out a light hum and glanced down.

Following his hint, Shu You looked down.

Damn it.

He understood the logic, but why was it so big?

---

Lin Mingxu raised his eyebrow and said, “Afternoon flight.”

“Yes.”

With the words spoken, Shu You forced himself to continue, “The contracts have been signed, and the plane tickets have been bought long ago, yes, it’s been several hours.”

“I…” He paused, avoiding eye contact and said, “I just wanted to tell you before I leave.”

“Okay.”

Lin Mingxu’s gaze softened. “I’ll drive you to the airport.”

“No, it’s not necessary.”

Shu You shuddered again and quickly declined, “I’ve already talked to Wu Ge, he’ll pick me up.”

To prove the truth of his words, he immediately called Wu Youzhe.

“Brother Wu.”

“Shu.”

This time, Wu Youzhe didn’t respond in sync, and asked in confusion, “What’s wrong? Suddenly you don’t want to go to Siberia?”

“No.” Shu You cleared his throat. “Come pick me up, I’m ready.”

“Now?”

Wu Youzhe couldn’t help but say, “The flight departs at seven, we can make it even if we leave at five. It’s only a little past noon now.”

“Yes, yes, we’re running out of time. I’m heading home now, and I’ve packed my luggage.”

Shu You quickly interrupted him and hung up the phone, trying hard not to look at Lin Mingxu. He spoke quickly and mechanically, “Lin Mingxu, there’s something else I want to tell you.”

Lin Mingxu asked, “Go ahead.”

“I…” Shu You stumbled for a moment, gathered his courage, but still couldn’t look at Lin Mingxu directly, and blurted out, “Let’s break up.”

“What did you say?”

Lin Mingxu’s face darkened, and he suddenly said in a soft voice, “Don’t joke about this.”

“I’m not joking.”

Shu You avoided eye contact and continued, “You didn’t hear wrong, I said we should break up.”

Lin Mingxu froze. “Shu You, do you know what you’re saying?”

“I know.”

Shu You braced himself, clenched his fist, and disregarded everything as he said, “I’ve thought about it these past few days, and I feel like we’re not suitable for each other. It was always my one-sided wishful thinking to keep you. Didn’t I say before that I would leave once you succeeded in your business?”

“I’ve been with you through the lows, and now I see that you’re doing well, so I can rest assured. Take care of yourself in the future.”

He spoke faster and faster, but his words became more and more chaotic. Eventually, he didn’t even know what he was saying, his mind was buzzing with all kinds of thoughts flying around.

Then he repeated everything he could say, and when he finished, Shu You numbly said, “That’s it, I’ve packed my things, and the money I owe you is on the table at home.”

“I’m rushing to catch the plane, I’m leaving now.”

He turned to leave, but Lin Mingxu suddenly reached out and grabbed him. “Shu You.”

The man’s face was unusually ugly. “Watch your words.”

“I…I didn’t say anything wrong.”

Shu You still didn’t look at him, keeping his head down. “I’ve been thinking about these things for a long time, and today is an opportunity. I’m going on a business trip, and it’s a good time for us to separate and calmly move on.”

Calmly move on.

A surge of anger flooded Lin Mingxu’s mind, but he tried hard to restrain himself, gritting his teeth and asking, “Why?”

Shu You turned his face away. “No reason, I just feel it’s not right.”

“Not right.”

How could Lin Mingxu accept such a reason?

He had already planned their future together, imagining how they would spend their lives with each other. Now Shu You stood before him, happiness within reach, but Shu You shattered it with a bang and used this ridiculous excuse.

Lin Mingxu couldn’t accept it.

The man coldly said, “I don’t agree.”

“It doesn’t matter if you don’t agree.”

Shu You suddenly raised his head, gritted his teeth and said, “I’ve agreed unilaterally. We’re just dating, not married. If I want to break up, I’ll break up.”

He forcefully shook off Lin Mingxu’s arm and turned to leave. But the man quickly caught up with him and blocked him at the door. “Shu You.”

Shu You had never seen Lin Mingxu’s expression so terrifying.

Not only was his face dark, it was completely distorted.

His deep black eyes were almost devouring, and it took great courage to meet his gaze.

Shu You pinched his thigh hard and met his gaze with force. “I’m leaving, I have to go to work.”

“You’re not allowed to go.”

Lin Mingxu held onto his hand tightly. “Explain yourself clearly.”

“I’ve already explained it clearly, haven’t I?”

Shu You tried to appear relaxed. “You heard everything too.”

Lin Mingxu angrily said, “Say it again.”

“I…”

Seeing him like this, Shu You suddenly felt a little scared.

He swallowed and decided not to provoke him too much. “I really have to leave, I have to catch the plane.”

“Don’t go.”

“If I don’t go, I’ll have to pay compensation, and it won’t be good for my reputation. How will I get future acting jobs?”

“You don’t need acting jobs anymore.”

Lin Mingxu’s tone was icy. “I have money, I can support you.”

“That won’t work.”

Shu You panicked. “I don’t need you to support me. I can take care of myself even if I have fewer limbs.”

Unexpectedly, Lin Mingxu stared at him ominously. “I can break your legs.”

Shu You “…”

He felt that Lin Mingxu’s words were true.

He dared not speak randomly anymore. He listened to Lin Mingxu and said, “Why did you suddenly bring up breaking up?”

“Just…just what I said earlier.”

Shu You gritted his teeth and persisted. “I know you don’t like me. It was me who pursued you so persistently from the beginning.”

“No, I don’t dislike you.”

Lin Mingxu suddenly interrupted him. “I don’t dislike you.”

Shu You opened his mouth but couldn’t say anything.

Lin Mingxu stared at him intently and said each word slowly, “During this time, you must have felt that I like you.”

“Shu You, maybe our start wasn’t so perfect, and I know there are many complicated things between us. But I like you, there’s no doubt about that.”

“Don’t break up, let’s have a good relationship.”

From now on, from this moment, to the future, to a lifetime, let’s have a good, slow relationship.

Lin Mingxu restrained himself slightly and tried to be as rational as possible. “Shu You, you’ve said so many times that you love me, were they all lies?”

“I…”

Shu You felt like he was lifting a rock to smash his own foot.

But he couldn’t say that those were lies. Otherwise, he might not be able to walk out of this building intact today.

Shu You struggled and said, “Lin Mingxu, how about this? I’ll go on the business trip first, and when I come back, we can talk slowly.”

His attitude seemed to soften a bit, as if he had loosened up.

Lin Mingxu furrowed his brows. “You’re going for a week?”

Shu You avoided his gaze and said, “Yes.”

Unexpectedly, Lin Mingxu said, “Alright, I’ll go with you.”

“No.”

Shu You quickly refused. “Filming is busy, and you’re busy with work too, right?”

“And how can I work properly if you’re there too?”

That’s true.

Lin Mingxu’s plans were critical at the moment, and his spontaneous suggestion of going together was just a reflex.

But the current situation didn’t allow

him to accompany Shu You on the business trip.

Lin Mingxu furrowed his brows and looked deeply at Shu You. “Just for seven days.”

“Yes.”

Shu You reluctantly agreed, thinking it was fortunate that he impulsively lied about seven days.

Lin Mingxu didn’t say anything.

Shu You pursed his lips. “Brother Wu is still waiting for me. I’m leaving.”

Taking advantage of Lin Mingxu’s slow reaction, he quickly turned and left.

The faster he ran, the faster he ran out of the office building without looking back, his feet almost sprinting.

When he returned home, Wu Youzhe’s small car had just arrived downstairs.

Wu Youzhe looked bewildered, still trying to figure out what had happened, when Shu You rushed past his car and ran into the building, leaving behind a trail of dust.

“Shu…”

Less than a minute later, Shu You burst out of the building again, dragging a large suitcase.

“You.”

Wu Youzhe choked for a moment and quickly went forward to lend a hand, helping carry the suitcase.

After closing the back door, Shu You sat in the passenger seat and said two words, “Go fast.”

Wu Youzhe “…”

He felt like they were fleeing.

Wu Youzhe started the car and headed towards the airport, unable to hold back from asking, “What’s going on with you?”

“Nothing.”

Shu You’s face tightened, as if he had changed into a different person. He briefly explained, “I just suddenly wanted to escape this damn life.”

Wu Youzhe “…”

No, Shu You hadn’t changed, it was still him.

The airport was quite far away, and for some reason, there was traffic today.

The small car slowly moved along the elevated bridge, and the atmosphere inside the car was strange. Wu Youzhe didn’t ask too many questions. Suddenly, Shu You’s phone rang, and he jumped as if he were a fish out of water, as if the phone was scorching hot and about to explode.

Wu Youzhe, “Shu You, tell me honestly, are you running away because you owe someone money?”

“No.”

Shu You denied, picking up his phone and looking at it. It was a message from the service provider. He relaxed slightly, but his expression remained serious. “I never owe anyone money.”

“Then someone owes you money.”

“It’s impossible.”

Shu You immediately denied, “No one can owe me money, I never borrow money.”

Wu Youzhe understood, never ask Shu You for money.

“Oh, wait a minute.” Wu Youzhe suddenly remembered something and asked Shu You, “Didn’t you sign a promissory note with your boyfriend for 7,000 yuan?”

Unexpectedly, Shu You calmly replied, “I will pay him back in these few days.”

“Oh.”

The small car finally arrived at the airport, but they had come too early, so there was nothing to do after getting the tickets.

The two of them sat in the waiting area, looking at each other, their eyes meeting, feeling idle. Wu Youzhe awkwardly said, “Um, I have a dinner date with my wife tonight.”

Shu You was taken aback, “It’s only 2:30 in the afternoon now.”

“I have to go home and tidy myself up,” Wu Youzhe said apologetically. “I haven’t seen her in a long time, I thought if I spruced myself up a bit, it might help mend things between us.”

Wu Youzhe had some expectations, “I’ve been on a diet recently, do you think I’ve lost weight?”

Shu You stared at him for a few seconds, under Wu Youzhe’s hopeful gaze, he chose to go against his conscience and said, “You look good, especially your hairstyle.”

“I haven’t had a haircut in three months.”

“But you reminded me,” Wu Youzhe said again, “I’m going to get a haircut now.”

He waved goodbye to Shu You, leaving him alone at the vast airport, watching people coming and going, in

the midst of the bustling world. The next moment, his phone buzzed, and Lin Ming called.

Shu You only glanced at the screen and his heart skipped a beat.

To answer or not to answer.

That was the question.

The phone continued to buzz, reluctant to let go. Shu You struggled for a moment, extending his finger to touch the screen, but the other party hung up, and the screen returned to calm.

Shu You…

Soon after, he received a message.

Lin Mingxu arrived, let me know you’re safe.

Oh right, he needed to report his safety.

Shu You suddenly felt fortunate that he hadn’t told Lin Mingxu the exact shooting location.

He also felt fortunate that the country was so big, allowing him to fly anywhere he wanted.

However, with Wu Youzhe gone, Shu You was alone, and his thoughts began to drift aimlessly.

The protagonist has arrived, and their love story is about to begin. This cannon fodder character should indeed exit the stage.

Ah, it’s a pity that he has almost forgotten the original book, so he is not clear about how their relationship developed afterward.

But after all, they are a couple, so it should gradually…

Just as Shu You thought of this, he suddenly couldn’t continue. His heart felt suffocated, and he felt uneasy. Subconsciously, he shifted his thoughts to something else, something important, like money.

Money was his biggest reliance, the urgent need for his livelihood.

From a young age, Shu You knew that money was extremely important, and he understood that life was unstable and had no support. Only money could provide him with enough security.

When his parents were constantly running around because of money and they moved from place to place, Shu You tried to save his pocket money, hoping to buy them a day to spend time with him.

But that night, his parents could only helplessly pat his head and say they would send him back to their hometown, telling him that the money he had saved was far from enough.

So, Shu You became more and more thrifty and frugal. As he grew up, he realized that it was just a childish act, but he couldn’t change his habit of being stingy and frugal.

It was the same since entering the book.

No money, no savings, and being powerless in the face of problems—these were the thoughts that occupied Shu You’s mind.

The resurfacing of bad memories made him think of nothing but obtaining enough money.

That’s why he and Lin Mingxu were fundamentally not on the same path. Their views on life, the world, and values were not compatible, and there would be no result if they were forced together.

Lin Mingxu believed that he could return to the peak no matter what. He had confidence and ability. He was an awe-inspiring talent and would inevitably become successful.

But Shu You was just an ordinary person who only wanted to live an ordinary life, earn enough money to buy a small house, decorate it into a cozy nest, and peacefully go through each day.

It would be even better if he could raise a dog.

Without Linda, he could have Carla.

But Carla seemed a bit unpleasant. Maybe he should call her Mira instead.

In Shu You’s mind, a small boat drifted back and forth, unable to return to the shore. Finally, after enduring until the designated time, he quickly boarded the plane and arrived at the filming location an hour later.

It was a famous tourist city.

The production team sent someone to pick him up at the airport.

With beautiful scenery and clear blue skies, Shu You got into the car and headed to the filming location. As soon as he got out of the car, a familiar figure came rushing towards him. “Shu You, Shu You, Shu You!”

Without thinking, Shu You opened his mouth, “I don’t have a private plane. Duan Siqi, why are you here?”

“I’m a guest,” Duan Siqi said with delight. “I heard that you were coming, so I agreed to come as a guest.”

He casually pushed his hair back, striking a graceful pose. “You should know that my appearance fee and popularity on this variety show are…”

Shu You interrupted, “Everyone wants to beat you up.”

Duan Siqi’s expression turned furious. He glared at Shu You and said, “Aren’t you my happy playmate anymore?”

“Um…”

Shu You hesitated for a second and said, “As long as you don’t mention your unrequited love history.”

“Oh, that.” Duan Siqi blushed when he heard this. He shyly said, “After the last recording, I had a good talk with Sisi. She agreed to give me a chance to pursue her.”

Shu You thought, “Is that so?”

Love truly made no sense.

His expression became complicated, and Duan Siqi got annoyed. “What do you mean? Do you, like my older brother and Rohan, think that I can’t win Sisi’s heart?”

“No, no.”

Shu You quickly denied, thinking to himself that sometimes love didn’t follow ethics either.

He sighed softly and said, “That’s great, I envy you.”

Duan Siqi’s courage is admirable, despite repeated setbacks that haven’t defeated him.

That evening, Shu You lay on the hotel bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.

It was only a little past ten o’clock when the phone rang again, and it was Lin Mingxu.

Shu You took a deep breath and deliberately hesitated before answering.

The other person was patient, and the phone kept ringing until he answered.

A man’s voice came through, gentle and particularly clear in the dark night, as if he was right there. “Are you asleep?”

“Yes, I am.”

Shu You pretended to be in a good mood, just like usual, and asked, “Have you slept?”

Lin Mingxu replied, “I’ve also laid down.”

“Oh, that’s good.”

Shu You only held on for a few seconds before his tone became dry. He mumbled and chatted with the other person for a while, then suddenly spoke up, “Lin Mingxu.”

The man paused, waiting for his next sentence.

Shu You stammered, “Have you looked at the information of those decoration companies?”

Lin Mingxu raised an eyebrow, “No, what’s wrong?”

“Well, why don’t you take a look first.”

Shu You didn’t even know what he was saying, almost speaking nonsense, “I… I trust your taste, and I don’t understand these things very well. You can take a look, get an overview, and just let me know.”

“Well, I don’t have any specific requirements for decoration.”

He didn’t plan to go back.

He didn’t want to witness someone else’s story unfolding.

What the house would look like after being decorated no longer mattered to him.

Since seeing the protagonist suffer, his heart felt like it was weighed down by a huge stone. Now, that stone was becoming heavier and heavier, making him feel very uncomfortable.

“Lin Mingxu.”

Shu You pursed his lips and softly said, “I’ll be shooting all day for the next few days, and I’ll be coming back late at night. The signal here seems to be bad, so it might be inconvenient to contact me.”

He asked the production team today, and if the shooting went smoothly, he could finish his part in two or three days by squeezing his schedule.

Then he would go far away, to a place where Lin Mingxu couldn’t find him, and start over.

After a while, Lin Mingxu’s faint voice came, “I understand. Goodnight.”

Shu You quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

But he also felt a bit lost.

The next morning, Duan Siqi came to find him.

As soon as he opened the door, the other person was startled. “What the hell happened to you, Shu You?”

The person in front of him had heavy dark circles under his eyes, revealing a weak and exhausted smile, as if all his energy had been drained by an all-nighter.

“It’s nothing.”

Shu You wiped his face and grinned, “The scenery here is really nice.”

Duan Siqi said, “Isn’t your room facing the back building? What scenery can you see?”

Shu You changed the subject, “Of course, there are beautiful views everywhere. Just think about it, what did you see when you came to the mortal realm this time?”

Duan Siqi remained silent.

He felt like he was being questioned about his soul, and his mind went blank.

However, although Shu You looked physically exhausted, he was still very efficient at work. Duan Siqi suspected that he could seamlessly switch between two personalities; otherwise, he couldn’t explain why he was full of energy as soon as he stepped in front of the camera.

Unable to hold back, Duan Siqi asked, and Shuyou looked at him with a dumbfounded expression, “Of course, there’s a reason for it.”

Duan Siqi asked, “What reason?”

“I’m someone who values money.”

Shu You reasoned, “If the production team gives me so much money, how can I not work hard?”

Duan Siqi understood.

Perhaps it was because Shu You was in a particularly good state during the shoot, everything went unbelievably smoothly.

The crew praised him.

The whole day passed, and when they finished work in the evening, everyone scattered after dinner. Shu You returned to his room alone and took out his phone to take a look.

Lin Mingxu had sent a goodnight message.

Shu You couldn’t describe the feeling in his heart.

The next two days passed in the same way. On the afternoon of the third day, Shu You packed his luggage and checked out of the hotel.

He randomly bought a train ticket at the station and, after boarding, sent a message to Lin Mingxu.

The last message.

I’m sorry.

---

Shu You walked home with the same pace.

As soon as he entered the house, he anxiously grabbed his phone and rushed to the balcony.

He opened the contacts and searched for someone to consult about his current relationship problems.

Lin Mingxu was the one he sought advice on relationships from.

Chu Qing seems to be currently single, and the important thing is that she knows Lin Mingxu too.

Duan Siqi is just an inexperienced person with one-sided opinions. Forget it.

After searching, he could only find Wu Youzhe.

At least what he said last time made sense.

So Shu You dialed Wu Youzhe’s number.

“Brother Wu.”

“Shu You.”

“Brother Wu.”

“Shu-.”

Wu Youzhe quickly covered his mouth and cautiously asked, “Do you need to be discreet now?”

“Need, really need.”

Wu Youzhe was puzzled, “So, where are you now?”

“At home, but that’s not the point.”

Shu You leaned against the balcony, with a distressed expression, “I feel like I’m done for.”

Wu Youzhe exclaimed, “Done for?”

“I’m facing a very serious matter right now, and I find it difficult to face.”

Wu Youzhe was shocked, “A very serious matter?”

“Yes.”

Shu You paused and lowered his voice sadly, “I don’t know what to do now.”

It was rare to see him in this state, and Wu Youzhe wondered, “What happened to you?”

“I…”

Shu You struggled to express himself, stumbling over his words, “In any case, this matter is very terrifying and terrible. I just want to find a remote place away from people, preferably a place where there are no signs of human presence, like a place where birds fly and no paths can be found. I want to be alone for a few days.”

Wu Youzhe was speechless.

He felt that such a place might be called Siberia.

“Uh,” Wu Youzhe thought for a moment, “How about going to shoot a show? I’ll urge them, and the negotiation is almost done. We can sign the contract tomorrow, so you can leave as early as tomorrow afternoon.”

“Okay.”

Shu You hung up the phone and glanced nervously at the living room.

Fortunately, Lin Mingxu wasn’t there.

Shu You put away his phone, took off his coat, and walked into the kitchen to start cooking.

Cooking is good. While stir-frying the dishes, he let his mind wander.

The next morning, Shu You got up early and started packing.

Lin Mingxu had already gone to work. He was the only one rummaging through the house, hesitating.

Sometimes he put a few pieces of clothing in, then wondered if he really needed them.

Sometimes he put in a few items, then contemplated if they would be useful.

Going back and forth, the morning passed, and he only packed the things needed for the trip.

It felt as if he was just going on a business trip.

At this moment, his phone rang, and Wu Youzhe sent him a message saying that the contract was signed and asked if he wanted to buy a plane ticket.

Shu You gritted his teeth and replied with a “yes.”

Wu Youzhe was also efficient in his work. He quickly sent him the flight information and said he would pick him up. Shu You glanced at it without much interest and replied with a simple “okay.”

Then he sat on the sofa in a daze.

Time passed bit by bit, and Shu You didn’t know what he was doing. His phone rang again.

On the other end of the phone, he heard Lin Mingxu’s voice, “Have you had lunch?”

“Not yet.”

Shu You didn’t feel hungry.

Lin Mingxu said, “Then come to the company, let’s have lunch together.”

His tone sounded like a boyfriend casually inviting someone to have a meal.

Shu You “.”

Shu You agreed absentmindedly. He went to Lin Mingxu’s company, and as soon as he entered the office, Lin Mingxu smiled and looked at him, “Why are you so slow?”

“I…”

Shu You acted as if nothing happened, “I came by bus, and I could get a 5% discount by scanning the QR code for payment.”

Lin Mingxu “.”

He took a deep breath, “What do you want to eat for lunch? I’ll order takeout.”

Shu You raised the bag in his hand and shyly lowered his gaze, saying, “What should we order for takeout? I’ve cooked and brought it for you.”

Lin Mingxu replied, “Three dishes and a soup, quite abundant.”

If there’s food at home, there’s no need to order takeout. However, Lin Mingxu furrowed his brows as he noticed that Shu You hadn’t eaten much.

He couldn’t help but ask, “You work hard, so eat more.”

Shu You replied timidly, “You can eat more too.”

“But I don’t need to.”

Shu You said seriously, “We’re planning to renovate our home soon, and it will cost a lot of money. Just thinking about it makes me lose my appetite.”

Lin Mingxu “.”

He felt the need to address Shu You’s excessive frugality.

“Shu You.”

Lin Mingxu couldn’t help but ask, “Why are you so thrifty?”

“Isn’t that how it should be?”

Shu You was surprised by the question, “We don’t have money now, so of course we have to save.”

“Even if we have money, we can’t just spend it recklessly. What if we need money in the future and can’t afford it? My mom used to tell me that in life, no one can guarantee they won’t face difficulties or expenses.”

Lin Mingxu thought he made a valid point.

“But…”

He carefully chose his words, “Can’t you be a little more lenient with yourself?”

“It’s not that I can’t.”

Shu You thought for a moment and said, “When I have money, I will spend it appropriately. It’s just that we don’t have money now.”

“You don’t have to worry, I have money now.”

The company recently closed several big deals, and the investors’ money hasn’t been fully spent yet. Although it’s not as prosperous as the Lin family used to be, they still have enough financial resources.

Unexpectedly, Shu You said solemnly, “Your money is yours, not mine.”

Lin Mingxu felt a strange feeling in his heart.

But wait…

He suddenly noticed a contradiction, “If my money is my own, why do you have a hard time eating because of the renovation money?”

“Uh…”

Shu You was taken aback but quickly reacted, smiling and saying, “I care about you.”

He wagged his head like a little dog, looking at Lin Mingxu with anticipation, “It’s not easy for my boyfriend to earn money.”

With those words, a softness spread in Lin Mingxu’s heart.

He couldn’t help but softly say, “It’s okay.”

“I will earn a lot of money so you don’t have to save anymore.” In the future, he will have plenty of money, and Shu You can spend as he pleases.

Shu You’s heart suddenly skipped a beat.

He couldn’t describe the feeling.

Instinctively, he lowered his head and focused on eating, avoiding the gentle gaze from the man.

After finishing the meal, Shu You packed up the lunchbox and went to the pantry to wash it. He was absent-minded throughout the process.

When he returned, it was time for the lunch break, but Lin Mingxu didn’t seem to have the intention to rest. Instead, he gestured to Shu You, “Go to the rest area and take a nap.”

“Aren’t you going to sleep?”

Shu You felt that Lin Mingxu had good health and abundant energy, but taking a nap during lunch break was still important.

Lin Mingxu replied, “You go first, I’ll finish reading this document.”

“Oh.”

Shu You thought it was still early, and he was indeed a bit sleepy.

He entered the adjacent rest area alone and lay down on the bed, dozing off for a while. In his half-asleep state, the office door outside suddenly opened with a bang, and someone walked in quickly, followed by another set of footsteps.

It was noisy and chaotic, followed by voices.

The voices were quite loud.

The rest area door was half-open, so it was easy to hear the commotion outside. At this moment, there were three people outside: Lin Mingxu, his assistant Tang Le, and another person whom Shu You couldn’t recognize.

Lin Mingxu had a guest.

Shu You didn’t open his eyes, but his ears, being passive organs, could only take in the sounds.

“Mr. Lin, would it be possible for me to take just five minutes of your time, or even three minutes? Please take a look at the designs from our company. We have received positive feedback from our clients regarding our home decoration services.”

The stranger spoke earnestly, “Our company also has experience in villa interior design.”

“I know you haven’t chosen a company yet. Can you take a look at our designs? Having an additional option is always a good choice, isn’t it?”

Wow, the other person is quite good at sales.

If it weren’t for the fact that the villa wasn’t his own, Shu You would have been tempted.

Tang Le felt a bit embarrassed, “Mr. Lin, I’m sorry. I didn’t handle it well. No matter what I said, he refused to leave.”

“Cough,” Mr. Ming awkwardly cleared his throat, “I came here last night as well, but you had already left by then. Today, I came in by myself when the receptionist scheduled an appointment for me. However, I couldn’t wait, so I sneaked in while she wasn’t paying attention.”

They were from a small company, and Tang Le had already ruled them out after consulting with them. If they followed the normal process, there was no way they would get this project.

“Mr. Lin, please take a look at our designs. They are really good. I’ve also seen the layout of your villa, and I’m confident that we can make it beautiful and stunning for you.”

Finally, Lin Mingxu spoke from inside the room.

His voice was faint, with a touch of coldness, “Put the documents down.”

“Alright, Mr. Lin.”

Mr. Ming was happy and couldn’t help adding, “Mr. Lin, I have prepared three different proposals specifically for your villa. They are all in the folder, along with my contact information. Feel free to call me anytime if you have any questions.”

Reluctant to part, it felt like the other person was very persistent.

Shu You couldn’t sleep at all and walked out.

As the door to the rest area opened, he immediately saw the people outside.

He looked familiar.

The young man had a sleepy look, slightly messy hair, and stood at the entrance of the rest area without moving. Lin Mingxu glanced at him, and his eyes immediately softened.

The man walked over, naturally revealing a hint of doting, and asked in a low voice, “Did I wake you up?”

“It’s fine.”

Shu You didn’t notice his slightly stuffy nose, sounding a bit coquettish. On the other side, Tang Le escorted the other man away. Suddenly, Shu You remembered who the man was.

He was here last night, he remembered now. It was the young man who had an argument with the security guard at the exit.

Curiously, he asked, “That person just now…”

“A representative from a decoration company.”

Lin Mingxu’s tone was flat, “If you want to see it, go ahead. If you don’t want to, it’s fine.”

He only allowed the person to leave the materials because he seemed persistent. However, the chances of him adopting their proposal were slim due to the small company’s qualifications.

Shu You responded with an “Oh” and reached out to pick up the folder. Since it was about decoration, he could take a look as well.

Opening the first page, it was the company introduction.

Indeed, it was a small company, recently established. But the folder was thick, meticulously categorized with a lot of relevant information. It was clear that the person who prepared these documents put a lot of effort into it.

Shu You couldn’t help but feel a bit impressed. He carefully looked through a few pages and saw a design drawing with a designer’s signature in the bottom right corner.

It should be the name of that Mr. Ming, it sounded nice, just a bit feminine.

Ming Qiuyun.

“Ming Qiuyun.”

Shu You murmured the name to himself and suddenly felt like he had seen this name somewhere before.

Then, his mind exploded with a revelation.

Ming Qiuyun was the name of the protagonist in the original novel.

The original novel.

The protagonist’s love interest.

Lin Mingxu’s official character.

Because the surname was rare and the name was quite unique, it left a deep impression on him.

He couldn’t flip through the folder anymore.

Shu You’s heart skipped a beat, and he blurted out, “Lin Mingxu, I have a flight this afternoon, so I’ll leave first.”

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