Chapter 43: Mr. Gu is Too Cheating
Lin Qingyan’s training had been going smoothly these past few days. His body had adapted, and his singing and dancing skills had almost recovered to 70% of his previous life’s level. At least, the remaining 30% still required time.
Tomorrow was the audition day, and he was still confident. In his past life, he had been quite interested in this show, watching every episode. He knew the average level of the contestants, and his current abilities were definitely above average.
If nothing unexpected happened, he would be selected.
However, when Lin Qingyan learned that Gu Fei was going out of town for a week, the excitement he’d felt subsided, replaced by a slight disappointment. For the past two weeks since his rebirth, he had been with Gu Fei.
He couldn’t quite describe the feeling, a mix of disappointment and reluctance. He had unconsciously become accustomed to having Gu Fei by his side.
Even though the man was taciturn and often wore a forbidding expression, Lin Qingyan felt secure when he was around.
His assistant, Yang Jing, and the driver were already waiting outside the villa.
Lin Qingyan saw Gu Fei to the door. Despite his disappointment, he smiled, saying, “Ge Fei, be careful on the road.”
Gu Fei handed his suitcase to the driver, turned to face the young man, and slightly bent down to meet his gaze. “Do you remember you asked me why I let you join Yi Hua Entertainment?”
Lin Qingyan looked at the handsome, mature man’s face, meeting those deep, gentle eyes. He heard the man say, “Because you have the ability.”
A faint smile appeared on Gu Fei’s usually expressionless face, like a spring breeze sweeping across a frozen mountain, melting the hard ground and sprouting tender green shoots.
Lin Qingyan stared, speechless for a moment.
Gu Fei’s smile deepened, with a hint of helplessness and an indescribable complex emotion. Even his usually calm eyes were tinged with a smile. He leaned in slightly, closer to the young man, and whispered, “What are you staring at? What should you say to me?”
“Ah?” Lin Qingyan was caught off guard, his ears quickly turning red. He instinctively tried to push back but failed, because his waist was intercepted by a strong arm, and he fell into a large, warm embrace.
Gu Fei’s voice sounded in his ear. He said, “Kid, good luck tomorrow.”
It was just a farewell hug, lasting only two seconds before Gu Fei released him. Under Yang Jing’s incredulous gaze, the man turned, calmly opened the car door, and got in.
“…” Yang Jing silently closed his mouth, still looking utterly astonished. He trembled slightly as he said to the clean and pretty young man, “That, Young Master Lin… we’ll be going now, you can go back.”
Lin Qingyan was a little dazed. “…Mm.”
He stood there, watching the black car gradually shrink and finally disappear around the corner. His heart beat faster than usual, his heart even felt hot.
Gu Fei… that man… was too unfair.
On the way to the airport, Yang Jing, sitting in the passenger seat, secretly glanced at his boss in the back seat. Mr. Gu, who was always serious and unapproachable at the company, seemed to be in a good mood, his brows and eyes softened.
However, even more surprising things were yet to come.
Gu Fei looked down at his phone screen for about ten seconds, then suddenly curled his lips into a smile. Although it was still a subtle smile, he actually smiled!
And it was a lovestruck smile, the kind of smile you get when you’re in love and spring is in the air.
Yang Jing mentally cursed several times, goosebumps rising all over his body. Just as he wondered if he was hallucinating, he met his boss’s calm eyes and calm face, as if what he had just seen was an illusion.
…
Yang Jing silently averted his gaze, sitting upright, not daring to look back for the rest of the journey. Even though he was a seasoned middle-aged man, the scene he had just witnessed was hard to digest.
He suddenly remembered Gu Fei’s unusual behavior in the past two weeks. The man who had previously been a workaholic, almost always working overtime at the company, had significantly reduced his overtime hours recently and left work on time.
Even if he still had work to finish, Mr. Gu would take it home.
Gossip-mongering colleagues at the company were discussing why Mr. Gu had changed. The first thing they ruled out was that he was in love; the second was that he was off saving the world. The final conclusion was… well… no conclusion.
Yang Jing felt like he had guessed some earth-shattering secret. The rumored cold and emotionless Mr. Gu might actually, possibly, perhaps… be in love?
And his love interest might be a clean and pretty boy?
Damn?!
Gu Fei, of course, didn’t know his subordinate’s thoughts. He lowered his eyes, continuing to look at his phone. The screen displayed a WeChat chat interface. The contact, labeled “Yan Yan”, had sent a message a minute ago:
——Ge Fei, I forgot to say earlier, I will miss you.
Perhaps feeling it was too formal, Lin Qingyan hesitated for a moment, then sent an emoji: a little cat shaking its head, with round eyes and a cute round face.
“There’s no special meaning. Young people these days like to send emojis when they chat.”
Of course, the people who usually contacted Gu Fei were company subordinates, discussing work matters. No one dared to send this kind of emoji to the cold-faced boss, unless they were looking for trouble.
Of course, friends also sent emojis when chatting with him, especially An Yu. However, An Er Shao sent those cheeky and annoying pictures, the kind that made you want to punch him. Gu Fei endured it, considering their years of friendship, and refrained from blocking him.
At this very moment, Mr. Gu, with his cold and aloof expression, looked at the young man’s two messages repeatedly before coldly replying with one word: Mm.
He paused for two seconds, his long, slender fingers tapping three words on the phone keyboard and clicking send.
Gu Fei: Me too.
The young man, who was also looking at his phone, felt anxious. After seeing those three words, he couldn’t help but curl his lips, his peach blossom eyes curving into crescent moons.
Did that mean… Gu Fei missed him too?
——
“Teacher An, I heard you’ve returned to Nancheng these past few days? Our program is starting auditions tomorrow. If you’re free, would you be interested in taking a look?”
The call was from the assistant director of Tomorrow’s Star. An Jing considered his schedule for tomorrow; he was indeed free in the afternoon. He was always conscientious about his work, and as the producer of the show, it wouldn’t hurt to take a look.
“Okay, I’m free in the afternoon. Send me the time and place… mm… goodbye.”
As soon as An Jing hung up, An Nanyi, who was sitting beside him eating snacks and watching a movie, leaned over. He had been paying attention. “Big brother, are you going to the Tomorrow’s Star auditions tomorrow?”
An Jing hummed. “I remember your audition is the day after tomorrow?”
This show had a large investment and received much attention; the judging panel alone was enough to draw attention, so many people signed up. The program selected 1,000 trainees from numerous applicants for auditions. Only 88 trainees who passed would officially participate in the program, and ultimately, only eight would debut.
Because of the large number of participants, the auditions lasted ten days.
An Nanyi’s audition was the next day.
“Yes, my audition is the day after tomorrow.” An Nanyi said with a smile. “Big brother, do you remember the high school classmate I mentioned a few days ago, Lin Qingyan? He’s auditioning tomorrow, and you might see him.”
“I hope Yan Yan passes. Then we can train together. It sounds nice.” He frowned worriedly, muttering in a low voice, “But I’ve never heard him sing or dance. Why would he suddenly participate in a talent show?”
Upon hearing this, An Jing imperceptibly frowned. “Nan Nan, you’re very close to this Lin Qingyan?”
“Yes, we were good friends in high school.” He sighed regretfully. “Unfortunately, he dropped out of school in his third year.”
An Jing: “Huh? Why?”
An Nanyi propped his chin, thinking. “Mm… I’m not entirely sure. People said he fought with gangsters outside school, that he was behaving badly, etc. But I believe he’s not like that; it’s just hearsay.”
After hearing this, An Jing pursed his lips, his sharp brows furrowing deeper.
Seeing his older brother’s expression, An Nanyi secretly curled his lips, a hint of amusement flashing in the depths of his eyes.
He wasn’t originally very interested in Tomorrow’s Star, but he had inadvertently learned that Lin Qingyan had joined Yi Hua Entertainment and was preparing to participate in the show.
An Nanyi had a close friend who was a trainee at Yi Hua Entertainment and would also participate in Tomorrow’s Star auditions. This friend told him the news.
That friend complained to An Nanyi that the company suddenly had a new trainee who was given a spot in the talent show auditions as soon as he arrived.
Not only that, the newcomer was also close to Yi Hua’s young master, Lu Yu Qi, clearly someone who had gotten in through the back door. The friend disdainfully said, “He’s just good-looking, what’s so great about that?”
An Nanyi casually asked how good-looking he was.
The friend sent a stolen photo; the angle was blurry, but he recognized him immediately: Lin Qingyan.
Lin Qingyan, Lin Qingyan again!
Why does he keep appearing?
An Jing was the producer of the show. If Lin Qingyan actually passed the audition… An Nanyi couldn’t imagine it. Even with only a one in ten thousand chance, he wouldn’t allow it to happen.
Therefore, he decided to participate in the talent show as well.